Instead of Housework...

I looked at my dishes yesterday (and when I say my dishes I mean the teens' dishes) and decided it would be way more fun to make something for school.
I used the printable pages from National Geo for Kids to make a information-type colouring book in ppt. It took a really, really long time. So, if anyone would like to snag a copy I am very happy to share (just click on the picture)!
 I am thinking that I will print the pages (there are 21 in all) in booklet format and give one booklet to each child with the heart crayon ( I still haven't made but totally plan to...) as a Welcome Back gift. There are actually 20 more pages, but Google Drive kept yelling at me (the file was too big), so here is the first half. If you're a follower, and would like the second half, let me know in the comments section below.

I also printed all my bb headers onto cardstock (there were a lot of dishes to ignore) and started assembling the Author Study folders I am making thanks to the freebie that Amanda at Teaching Maddeness has created. If you haven't already checked out her blog, I recommend it 110%. My gosh, it's wonderful! Click the picture to go to Amanda's page.

My big plan for the weekend is to go into the school tomorrow and start to get it organized and ready for the kids. I am bringing the hubster as I will need his muscles to move some shelves around.
Time to get crackin'! Luckily, I waited long enough yesterday for the teens' to get up and do the dishes..Now onto bigger and better things..Organizing the upstairs closet!!! Or more blog stalking/pinning/creating...
Hmmmmm

Anyone Else Starting to Feel a Little OVERWHELMED?

Absolutely true! I have been working on and thinking about the upcoming school year for weeks. I really truly love my job..not an epiphany but a fact. However, I always find that by this time in the summer, with only a week until school starts, I begin to panic. A little. On the inside. 

I have started making lists of things that need to be done, and they are getting longer and crazier. It's time to take a deep breath and relax. But, as soon as I do that I am back to thinking about everything I need to do..and feeling guilty about all the things I should have done this summer..it's a vicious cycle.

My current obsession is about Home Reading. Every year, I have had a HR program. Which is fine and dandy BUT every year I taught mainly (90%) grade 2s. This year, I will be teaching mainly (95%) grade 3s. To make things a little more complicated, I am teaching 15/20 of the same kids. I feel like I should change things up. So, HELP! 

Any ideas or resources about HR in upper primary? I'd love input. Right now, I am considering a monthly calendar type idea, but most of my kids are independent readers so the log/program has to be kid-friendly.

I'd appreciate any ideas you have...Also, what do you do to de-stress? I used to garden (I love flowers) but even that seems daunting right now...

Genre Posters...Chevron

I have spent the last while looking for genre posters. I couldn't find ones that fit my "theme-ish"
classroom idea so I made my own. I used free chevron backgrounds in blue, green and purple (blue=fiction,
green=nonfictin, purple=poetry) and images of books as the examples. I used Beth Newingham's posters as inspiration, and the dictionary for the definitions of some of the genres.
I also included Author's Purpose on each poster. I then created labels for my books so that kids can easily tell what genre they are reading. All of this is for the "20 BOOK CHALLENGE" that I intend to do with
my third graders this year. Yes, it is based on "The Book Whisperer" by Donalyn Miller-although hers is a 40 book challenge. I am hoping to do 2 twenty book challenges instead of 1 forty book. This way, my kids won't get overwhelmed. I also expect all readers to complete the challenge, as I have books in each genre at all reading levels available to the kids.
I tossed around whether to use the challenge in IR or take home reading. I opted for IR, as it will be easier to monitor and conference with each student.
SO, here are my little creations. Click on the picture to download from Google Drive...

Reading Log

12 Genre Posters

We go back to school in ten days...is anyone else starting to feel a little overwhelmed? Baby steps to the escalator...(which is a quote from a movie I watched but can't remember the title of)...

ps For some reason, the pictures on the reading log uploaded all weird to Google Drive. If you'd like a copy of the Book Challenge emailed to you, let me know in the comments section. 

Took-Me-Forever B2S Flippy Book...PLUS Template

Well, it took me hours (days) but I finally succeeded in making my very own flippy book for back to school. Each year, I try to do something different, as I am very cognizant of the fact that I teach many kids from the same family or many kids for two grades. I don't want to be the teacher who uses the exact same go-to's every year so that parents come in to Meet the Teacher and hand over worksheets that both their kids complete...4 years separately. (Yup, that happened to a teacher I know...)

So, here is what I did.
I used free fonts (KG fonts, Hello fonts, Primarily fonts) and borders from tpt and some cute clipart that was either in ppt already or I had on my computer. That was the easy part.
I decided that I only wanted to have 5 topics in my flippy book: welcome, communication, math, literacy, and general info. The sixth page would be the title page with my name etc.
Then I had to decide which topics required the most information. For example, literacy had more components than communication so it is near the end of the flippy book as the page is longer.
Then, I "guessed" the size of the boxes of text and printed out the papers, glued them back to back and folded them up. This, was BY FAR the most frustrating and time consuming part. BY. FAR.
Okay-so finally everything lined up and was good to go.
I typed my info into the boxes, using a different font for each.
I printed the file.
**I glued the papers together..CONFUSING BUT MUST READ...the flippy books have to be glued or photocopied in a certain way. The title page is glued to the last page (6) upside down...so, you end up with the title box on one side and the general info on the back but on the bottom...REPEAT for every page...that means that page 2 and page 5 go together and page 3 and page 4 go together.
I strongly recommend folding them at this point and jiggying things around if you need to.

My plan is to use 3 colours of bright paper to p/c the pages onto (for 6 pages of flippy book you only need 3 pages), staple and send home for parents. I am trying to decide whether to put a little magnet on the back so that my family's can hang them on the fridge.

So, here is the finished product:

FLIPPY BOOK...pdf version...my fonts, pictures, etc...

will have to add your own text and cut & paste it in...

ppt version-some of the titles are cut off...

you'll have to add your own/jiggy the fonts around...can type right onto page..

 I have uploaded a copy of my ppt flippy book so that you can edit it and add in your own information if you'd like to use it. Just click on either picture :)  Or the pdf version with my fonts etc.

What do you send home for parents at the beginning of the year?

 

My Memory Book Creation

I've done a Memory Book with each of my classes for the last few years. Each time it's been

a different format..I've been trying to find my groove, I guess :)

So, this summer, I took the plunge and designed my own lil' book. It includes each

month of the year, a faves page, title page, autograph page, photo booth page, my goals, and I heart page.

For every month I included a picture prompt because I found that my kids had difficulty

thinking of something to draw. I've also included a shorter line in the writing part so that kids will

remember a title at the top of their writing. I am pretty excited about how this turned out!

I bought 1 inch binder rings from Amazon for $5 for 50. I use the rings

to bind together the books as I've found that it's the easiest/most

effective way of binding them. I also like to add special artwork, reading

responses, journal entries to the memory books so they end up

getting pretty thick. I have the kids glue the month to one side of construction paper

and we put something that we did in class on the other side. Then, I laminate the pages.

All work is kept in a file folder until the end of the year. Click on either picture for this document!

Please leave a comment if you do happen to download it...and any suggestions or questions.

B2S Treat Idea

Wellllll...maybe not a treat so much as a little gift for the kids...

Like everyone else, I have a tub of broken, dull crayons that seem

to grow each year. (you know; the ones that we pick up off the floor,

rescue from noses, stop from being eaten all year long). What to do with them??

This year, I've decided to try making these:

using the IKEA silicone ice cube heart trays I bought.

I have Googled and Pinterested (sp?) and, according to some very

adventurous bloggers, if I keep the heat at 220 or less, the trays WON'T

melt but the crayons will...worth a try!

So, here is my plan. I am going to make a multi-coloured crayon

for each child with a little colouring book. My "thing" is I {heart} t-shirts, of which I

have collected quite an assortment, so I made the cover of the

book in this theme. I plan on putting the book, crayon and magnet with

my information in a little bag for b2s in September.

Honestly, I've been doing little bags for the kids each year since 

I started teaching grade 2/3, but didn't think the kids really noticed.

Then, this June I had a parent approach me to tell me that her daughter 

(who I taught 4 years ago) still has the little gift I gave her at the

beginning of her grade 2! Wowza! So, I'll continue the tradition...

[this is the little colouring booklet I made] 

I should add that every year I do something different so that the kids

who I have taught already have something special and

the kids who have a sibling that I taught

have something brand new.

Do you have a B2S tradition that you do for your class? I'd love to 

hear about it if you do!

ps I will let you know how the crayons turn out!

 

Currently August

I am linking up with Farley for August's CURRENTLY linky party. 

This month, there are a few things that participants are asked to do...

which I think is a marvelous idea! 

I will be commenting on the two link-ups before mine and the one

after. Fun times! It's pretty exciting to realize that someone

will be commenting on my contribution, and I can't wait

to read/comment on others'.

Pretty self-explanatory but I'd like to highlight a couple of my points:

I have started watching lots of BBC tv series over the past few months.

Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Upstairs Downstairs, Luther

and now Call the Midwife. If you haven't watched it yet, I recommend 

trying it out. (**warning-it makes males squeamish). The series takes place in East London 

in the 1950s. Itfollows a group of midwives as they help deliver babies in one

of the poorest regions of London. It's funny, dramatic, heartwarming

and suspenseful. 

My husband bought me a Samsung Galaxy tablet and I am in love; 

especially with the Kindle app. Reading is my passion, and my 

favourite genre is mystery/suspense. Recently, I've discovered 

The Hangman's Daughter series and have been flying through

them ever since.

Back-2-school- eeeekkkk...

{click on the pictures to go to websites}

1. I have a Smartboard in my classroom. Our school was actually

one of the first to get them in our school board. I do love the EXPO

chalkboard markers, though. I use them on my one

remaining chalkboard. They are lovely, bright and colourful. Added bonus=

they last a loooooong time.

2. To the chagrin/horror of my teen daughters, I LOVE cords. They're comfy,

versatile and downright snazzy. This fall, I'd like to buy a few new pairs

(seems like my others are 2-3 years old). May have to hide

them in the bottom of my basket, though, if I go shopping with

the teens for b2s.

3. My third B2shool must have is Jen Ross' Spelling Throughout the Year unit for 

third grade. I am really excited about this unit and how much

time and creativity Jen has put into the pack. She has even included a blog

post about how she organizes the weekly work! Awesomesauce!

Whew!! Lots of typing. Thanks for sticking by to the end.

Don't forget to link up!

ps. If you have any favourite television dramas you'd like to recommend, please

let me know. I'm almost all out! 

Monday Made It...on Tuesday

I am linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It...on Tuesday.

If I knew how, I'd add one of those

cute little embarrassed emoticons...

Is it still a freebie if I don't sell stuff? Anyway, here is a little pennant that I have made for 

back to school...I plan on 

having the kids each finish one and then I'll hang 

them/string them on our hallway bulletin board. I am
sincerely hoping that they are done in time for Meet the Teacher.

I've also been working on pennants/banners/bunting in a green, blue, purple

colour scheme to use as headings for my bulletin boards. The letters are on chevron

backgrounds and I've included polka dots for fillers.

I don't go back to school for 5 more incredibly lazy weeks. When do you head back?

  

Where Did July Go & Pennants...Buntings...

Ummmm...where did July go? It's been a hectic month, but wowzers it went by FAST. As I was watching Season 2 of Call the Midwife (great/fantastic/superb show), I made these pennants/buntings/flags for my classroom.
I plan on printing them on cardstock (Michael's has oodles of different patterns), laminating them and using them along the top of my bulletin boards.
I have made Math, Reading, Writing, Calendar and Numbers...I also made one of a larger size for my strength wall called Our Strengths.
I used the font October heat from First Grade News and the free clip art Five Little Owls from The 3am Teacher.

I am hoping that by adding a light colour behind the letters, when the pennants print the letters will stand out. Time will tell! Well, time and waiting for my cyan cartridge so I can try them out...

Welcome Back Prezi

Here is a short (but sweet) Prezi welcoming the kids back to school. It didn't take too long and Prezi has improved some of their features. For example, you can search for an image directly from the Prezi site instead of opening a new window and doing it through Google images.
I plan on showing this on my Smartboard and letting the kids ask questions as we go. Last year, I didn't teach them how to make a Prezi, but I may this year.

welcome grade 2/3 on Prezi

Pinterest Linky Party

I have been pinning away and neglecting my blog :) So much to do so little time. We go back to school on September 7 so I figure that I have time...to pin. lol

I am joining up with Amanda from Plumdoodles (love the name)  Pinterest Linky Party. She is asking that we reflect/share some of our favourite pins, boards, ideas etc. Here are some of the pins that I have made over the past month or so...

1. German Pancakes
These. look. delicious.  My kids looooove pancakes, strawberries and sugar. This recipe reminds me of my Yorkshire pudding recipe so I am extra excited to see how they turn out. I am thinking the first day of school?  Admittedly, I am more of a bleary eyed, Eggo and orange juice mom in the morning BUT I have the best intentions. Perhaps breakfast-for-dinner on the first day of school is a more attainable dream.

2. Magic Playdoh

Well, first off  it's MAGIC. What more can I ask for? Like many of you, I give the kids a little welcome back package on the first day of school. Usually, it consists of  a poem and matching items (choc. kisses, eraser, Smarties, etc). This year, I was looking for something different (new provincial guidelines=no treats). When I saw this idea, I just KNEW I'd have to try it out. I make the playdoh, add a dash of food colouring to the middle of each small individual ball, put them in baggies and attach the poem. Let the fun begin!!

3. Bulletin Board Showcasing Each Student

I am definitely not a good bulletin board person. I find them quite challenging and spend loads of time stalking blogs looking for ideas. When I saw this idea, I thought BRILLIANT-I may have even shouted it out. I have lots and lots of borders, free bristol board and two teens to be bribed help me. My plan is to make one for each kid, which will include their name and photo. We have a laminator at our board office so I can laminate them in Sept. I also have a big bb in the hallway that I plan on hanging these on for the school year to showcase each piece of work. YAHOO!

Btw, I 100% encourage you to check out her blog by clicking on the picture-Victoria has sooooooo many awesome ideas!

4. Last One...

I would like this bedroom. We are in the process of redoing our bedroom and I would like it to turn out like this one. On a budget. With no time to spend on it. Tomorrow.

Too Cool For School Linky Party

It is incredibly hot in Ontario, too! 40 degrees C with the humidex-YUCK! So, I am linking up to this linky party with I Love 2 Teach because I agree that it sounds cool.

At our Dollarama (dollar store) we can buy sheets of Avery mailing labels for $1 for 10 sheets of 30. Using MS Word, I have made genre labels for my books. There are two book labels on each shipping label...I cut them in half, stick the label to the upper right hand corner of the book and put a piece of packing tape over the label to "laminate" it. Now, the kids can easily sort the books and make sure that they stay together (they put the books in corresponding bins). I have to admit, it is a work in progress, but worth every minute! I am working on the same thing for my leveled Home Reading books. I am going to include the level and fiction/nonfiction designation. Click on each picture to see it in full screen...

 

ABCs of Grade 2/3

Voila...I have made a pamphlet/brochure to send home with my class on the first day of school. It has a catchy title and was made in a Scrapbook program that I picked up from a garage sale for five dollars. I've read MANY ABC brochures that were made by teachers-this is not my idea. However, I love it. Last year, I made a class handbook, but it was kinda bulky and time consuming. The brochure is colourful (and won't be expensive to photocopy in colour) and short...gotta love it :)
Here is a copy of my brochure.

I brainstormed one idea for each letter of the alphabet and then wrote a short description for each. The Scrapbook program was incredibly easy to use.