Life Under the Big Top

Over the last few days I have realized that my life has become a large balancing act. I feel as though I am preforming show after show under the Big Top. Here are some of the acts I have been preforming:
1. BLOG CONSTRUCTION: As you can see I have decided to makeover my blog. I still need to create a new button and make a couple of tweaks and I am not sure if I like it or not... all feedback is welcome!

2. COMING SOON: Totally Time!

I am working on a new unit for my TPT Store on Time. I am supposed to be working on more phonics units for my megapack but that can wait... I was inspired by another act I am preforming.

3. LESSON PLANS: We are in our 20th week of school and I am trying to stay ahead as much as possible. How? By lesson planning as much as possible.. I currently have reading and math  completed to the end of February. I keep telling myself that I am already half way done the year with them and the more I can get done at a time the better! (I will let you know how my progress is) Why am I doing this you ask? That takes me to my last act...

4. STARTING SOON: Graduate School! I got accepted to Walden University for my Masters of Science and I cannot wait! However, that means I need to do as much as possible and NOW.

As for now my Big Top is closed and I am going to shower and go to sleep.

New! My Reorganized Library

This year I have leveled all of my books and am continuing to add books and books and books. My students love it and I am so glad. Here are some pictures. I apologize for the quality. I was having trouble getting my flash to work on my iPhone.

I have found the buying books in the dollar section at Target, at the Dollar Store, and through Scholastic is the cheapest way to find books. My parents also have an amazing friend who goes to yard sales and finds wonderful deals. It is my goal to have books for each letter of the alphabet and to place them in folding red crates from the dollar store!

How do you use your library and find your books?

Now Featuring: Short Vowel Unit

35 pages of short vowel practice and assessment! I have finally put the finishing touches on my short vowel unit. Even though my students are already pretty great with short vowels I cannot wait to use some of these activities with them throughout the rest of the year to review.

Click Here to purchase this product.

Unfortunately, my blog post for tonight is advertising and no cute pictures of my nephew. Hopefully, next time I will have a picture of two of my newly revamped classroom library and perhaps even a preview of the long vowel unit I intend on making. (Depends on how much of a balancing act my life becomes!) 

I am off to get a wonderful night of sleep before FRIDAY and Chick-fil-a Lunch. What motivates you through the week? Me, it's eating Chick-fil-a with my kiddos on Friday. Doesn't take much! 

Coming Soon: Short Vowels

Over my two week long Christmas Break, I was fortunate to be able to babysit my adorable nephew! He is now 4 months old and acts older. He spent his days playing in his saucer and even trying to hold his own bottle. He was enjoying spending time watching tv and even got upset with me when I accidentally blocked his view. He is turning into quite the character, and I must admit that it was a pleasure spending time alone with him and bonding. He has been working on rolling and even is starting to laugh and giggle. It was an honor to babysit even though I was named Crazy Aunt Krystal.


On the flipside, once my sweet little nephew tuckered himself out from playing, giggling and watching the world, I was able to watch him take a nice cozy nap and get some work down. I began working on a new unit. So far in my class we have focused a lot on vowels in our phonetic work. I decided why not make a vowel unit... I started with the easiest.... SHORT vowels.



With hope this Short Vowel Unit is going to part of a larger vowel unit that will become available for sale on my TPT Store. I am not quite finished with this unit but until then here is a sneak peek of what the unit will contain:

I have made two games, a center activity, one worksheet, and fluency practice with short vowels.  Keep an eye out for this unit to be finished... that is if I stop tackling 15 projects a day ( i.e., getting two weeks ahead on lesson plans, a diet, reorganizing my organized closet, and even redoing my classroom library... pics to come soon).

Oh and in case I forgot... I am now wearing a ring that holds the promise of marriage to the most wonderful man... no NOT an engagement ring.... well not yet. 

Now Available: Place Value Unit

I have finished my place value unit. It is now for sale on my TPT store. This unit is a 45 page unit that includes nameplates, charts, worksheets, posters, and games. I cannot wait to use this next year with my second graders!

Click here to view this complete unit.

I would be happy to change anything that is in color to black and white upon request. Just let me know.

I am now going to spend the rest of the day cleaning, gift wrapping, and maybe making anchor charts.

Coming Soon: Place Value Unit

We are currently working on curriculum guides at our school. When I was glancing over my math curriculum guide I realized that one of the hardest things for my students to grasp this year.... PLACE VALUE...

I was sick with a cold on Tuesday and couldn't sleep due to the decongestant, so my mind kicked into gear and I decided to make a Place Value Unit with many different ways of reinforcing place value.

Here is a sneak peek: 

Contents

Comparing Worksheet

Place Value Posters

This whole unit will be available soon on my TPT store. 

How do you teach place value?

Topics

At the school where I currently teach we have a very scripted English program. We only teach students how to select a topic during one chapter. I believe that this is a skill that needs reinforcement... so what is better reinforcement than creating a game?

Click here to download this game at my TPT store. 

This game could be used for individual practice, group practice, or partner practice during centers. I know what you are thinking... we don't have such a scripted program for English. So what? I plan on using this game to teach main ideas and details wherever I go. I currently have a few students that have a struggle choosing the main idea from a list of details. (This also helps students synthesize complete sentences!)