Are You Ready for Back to School?

Here is the south it's only July, but that means the shelves are full of school supplies and kids are getting excited to head back to class. Even though we'd rather spend a few more days laying by the pool, I guess it's time to starting thinking about that first day and week. If you are anything like me, you know it is a MUST to keep elementary kids entertained that first week with lots of brain breaks and fun activities. That is why I LOVE to do some fun candy themed experiments!

One of my all time favorite experiments involves Pop Rocks, Coke and a balloon. The challenge is to see if you can blow up a balloon only using the materials provided, and that doesn't include your mouth! Don't forget to use these candy experiment experiences to introduce the scientific method!

Another one of my favorite candy themed activities for the first day or week is the "Can you blow a bubble?" graph. First, pass out a piece of bubble gum to each child. At this point you have already won the hearts of the kids in the room... I mean bubble gum from the teacher on the first day? How cool is that!?!? After you have challenged the kids to blow a bubble, pass out the graph. The students should follow the directions to ask 15 kids in the room if they can blow a bubble. Here's the catch... the kid must PROVE he or she can actually blow a bubble. This is where it gets funny. With my experience most of the younger kids can't actually blow a bubble. At first they feel embarrassed, but when they realize most of the class can't it becomes really funny. 

The bubble blowing graph always leads me into a fun how to tutorial. I try my best to teach the kids how to blow a bubble and then prompt them to write their own how to paragraph. 

Seeing all this candy makes me want to head to the candy jar! These graphs and experiments and many more are included in my tpt Candy Back to School Unit. 

Back to School Sale and New Unit!

Visit my tpt store for a back to school blowout! 

Road Trippin' Through the Common Core:

A reading and writing unit that teaches the 5 w's and h as well as beginning, middle and end.

Includes posters for who, what, when, where, how and why!

As well as graphic organizers to help your kids organize thier thinking!

Get it here... Don't forget it's 28% off!

I survived!

Well fellow teachers... I survived the first day! I'm exausted, but had a wonderful day of candy themed fun! Today we used bubble gum as our candy of choice. The students graphed who can blow a bubble, wrote how to blow a bubble and even created a craft of us blowing a "bubble". Check it out:

I saw somthing similar to the really cute bubble gum picture graph on pinterest this summer! One of the first grade teachers at my school gave me the how to writing idea... genius! The personal graph is part of my candy back to school unit.

Hope any of you other teachers who had your first day had a wonderful one!

Classroom Reveal!

I've been working, working, working all week on my new second grade classroom. As usual, I kept with my candy theme, but really tried hard to keep it simple and clean appearing. Here are some pics:

 This is my room from the door. It looks pretty simple, but once the little people get here it will be full of fun and excitement!

My blank bulletin boards! I always start my year off with blank boards. Before you know it, they will be filled with anchor charts and evidence of learning!

This is my guided reading table/area. I keep my sets of books in the colorful drawers. I also use this area as my desk. Above the blue bulletin board it says, "reading is thinking"... taken from the all time best book ever written! 

 Last, but not least... my newly painted chevron bookshelf! Isn't this the cutest? I love it! One of the girls at my church painted it and it makes me happy every time I see it.

Facebook Fan Only Freebie!

Like my facebook page and grab these 9 super cute binder covers! 

Visit and like my fb page here!

Roll Out the Red Carpet... We Are Going to Hollywood!

I am so excited to have finally finished my Hollywood reading and writing workshop unit! This unit is so much fun for the kids and for the teachers. I'm planning on starting it the second week of school, so I will post lots of pictures and ideas. The unit teaches the 2nd grade character standard as well as narrative writing. Also, if you are a Georgia 2nd grade teacher, we will be teaching the Georgia historic figures as "Georgia Stars". I also will incorporate a movie making aspect to the unit as well. The parents always love coming for the "Movie Premier" and see thier kids win "Oscars"! 

If you are interested, you can grab the unit here!

I Was So Close...

I almost did it... I almost survived the month of July without buying school supplies! Oh how the primary colored displays and crisp new notebooks call out to me... Buy me! Buy me! Well, I really did make it until yesterday. But I do have to say once I let loose I went a little crazy! 
Here are some of my buys:

Is this cute or what? It is a vinyl curtain from Ikea ($14)! We can't hang curtains, so I'm not sure what it's purpose is going to be, but I just couldn't leave the store without it!

Speaking of IKEA... I also couldn't leave the store without this orange polka dot rug. The best part is that it was only $19! 

My next stop was Hobby Lobby for this really cute chevron fabric. I can't wait to see my bulletin boards this year! 

Last but not least... Mod Podge! Why? I don't know, I just thought I needed it. Maybe one of my crafty friends will teach me how to use it! 

(Hint, hint Mrs. Bell)

Roller Coaster Unit!

I've been working, working, working on a new roller coaster unit for my upcoming 2nd graders. I'm really excited about my attempt at fully integrating project based learning and what it will do for my little learners. Here is a vocabulary poster for the new unit:

Be sure to check out my tpt store here for the unit in a few days! 

Candy Experiment on the First Day? Is she CRAZY?

I've been getting so excited for the first week of second grade! I'm so pumped that my first days of school will involve candy and experiments! I know... I know... I must be crazy, but it will be memorable!

pop rocks coke freebie

Binder Covers Anyone?

What teacher doesn't have a million binders? I made some cute binder covers in polka dot and chevron to help keep us organized! Just add your initals or subject area. I even got some team spirit and included a red and black UGA cover and my favorite ORANGE and BLUE Auburn colors. Hope you enjoy the freebie! Binder cover freebie

Are you ready for... Back to school?

I feel like I've been running around like crazy preparing to go back to the second grade classroom! I love second grade, but you know how it is changing grade levels... My most recent creation is labels. I LOVE labels! I will have labels in all different sizes ready "just in case". Here are some chevron labels I've been working on:

Here's a link to the chevron primary colors labels freebie: chevronwriteonlabelsavery5163