Time Flies, But Humans Crawl

So once again, I am NOT dead.  I just have decreasing amounts of time that I can call my own.  Here's a quick update on all my doings since...well since the last time I was on this blasted thing.

TeachersPayTeachers:  Good news on this front - I have been hard at work creating several new products that hopefully will help someone out there with different aspects in their classrooms:

These little beauties were a lot of work!  But totally worth it if you're like me and LOVE math journals.  You can grab your own copy by clicking the link here!

I also have been busy with this little guy: he just came back from his JC Penney Pictures.  Check out the Chucks!
He turned 2 years old on November 17 and he is growing up so fast.  He has an attitude, a distinctive personality, and a temper.  He also swaggers when he walk.  A SWAGGER people!  He STRUTS.  S. T. R. U. T. S!!!

He runs away from me after a bath and I end up chasing his bare butt down the hall into the living room.  He loves a bowl of Fruit Loops and his inner Southern diva makes an appearance whenever there is sweet tea around.  I've got my hands full.  I wouldn't want it any other way.

School is school.  I've been informed that my new place of employment has an expectation that ALL of the teachers on a grade level MUST teach the same lesson, at the same time, and give the same assessment.  I'm struggling with this, I must admit.  These past few moths with this initiative have made me question my ability to teach and to teach well.  I AM  a good teacher.  I am creative, innovative, and I think outside the box.  Yet, with this new mandate, I feel that on one hand they crave for the kind of teacher that I am, yet they want all students to have the same opportunities (hence the same lesson/assessment/minutes) so they don't have to answer questions by parents asking "How come MY child didn't get...?"  I get it.  But I still struggle with the concept.  For years they have harped on and on about how each child learns in different ways and they have paid large sums to train teachers in differentiation (that's the "key" term educational-people like to use) and now this school wants robots.  Is it me or is there something amok here?  Sorry - it's my rant for the time being.  As I said - I'm struggling.  If you can spare the time, please pray for me.  I need strength.

And last but not least, I have fallen in love with CLOSE READING.  The way that I understand it is that a student reads a passage written at least 1 to 2 grade levels above their current level at least 3-4 different times.  Each time the student reads the passage, they are looking for something different.  The teacher directly teaches the student how to FIND EVIDENCE (using highlighters, numbering paragraphs, etc. ) how to CITE EVIDENCE (Underlining, circling, or squaring off) and how to use sentence frames when DISCUSSING EVIDENCE with a partner ("On line 3, it says....").  What a difference this teaching method can make for students!  Not only are they learning to look closely at a passage in order to ask and answer questions, they are working on reading fluency without even knowing it!  Holy ABC's Batman!  That's incredible! In honor of this newly found teaching directive, I am offering you, my loyal readers a freebie.  All you need is a copy of the book "Pumpkin Fiesta" by Caryn Yacowitz which you can find in any public library or at Amazon.com.  (Check out the cover above.)

If you want your copy of four days' worth of activities to go along with this wonderful book, just click the link below!  I am currently working on more so if you like these activities, please shoot me a  note and name a book that you are looking for and I'll try my best to create something for you.

Pumpkin Fiesta Close Read Activities

Until then,

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Shauna

Well, Well, Look Who's Alive...

I know - I take a few weeks off from blogging and I suddenly feel as if the world has gone off and left me.  Serves me right.  Oh well.  I have been busy keeping up with my grade level (that's one huge bag of hot mess right there), learning my districts' new "Infinite Campus" computer system with all its idiosyncracies and grade book (yet one more hot mess - this one steaming), and most of all reminding myself of what's important in life - THE BEAN.

Speaking of my little bundle of joy (he's not so little anymore), here he is helping out Mom find the just the right cauldron for a sentence center.  I'll write about that next week - promise.

Until then, I wanted to check in and assure all that I am indeed alive and well and Bean is growing like the string that he is. Check out that ladykiller smile!  I'm going to have a problem on my hands in a few years.  Lord give me the strength.  

Shauna

Whew boy!

This is how I feel. Too bad I can't trade places with Bean!  It was a short week (thank you Labor Day and Staff Development) to give me a 3-day week. But still, OMG I'm pooped.

I have 26 students in a room that would be better equipped to handle 18, the AC was off today due to some sort of malfunction, and the outside temp was in the triple digits.  To think I wanted to live in Vegas! 

Things are plodding right along in Room 35a though. We start our quarterly assessments next week (always fun to hear 26 times about how Dad and Rob [pronounced like robe by seven year olds] went fishing.) I just can't wait. 

Here's a clincher: on Wednesday I was observed. OBSERVED! To be honest, I knew it was coming soon I just had no idea I was going to be first. Oh well.  Nothing bad to report: continue to use CHAMPS, blah blah blah. Same old same old.  

So today after school I spent 2 1/2 hours doing lesson plans, copies, and other good stuff done so I could concentrate on Bean for the entire weekend. That's good. I finally cleaned out a closet at school and was able to put the last remnants of my things away in one spot that's just for me. That's really good.  AND I left with my desk clear and my plans in plain sight. That's great. 

On that note I will leave you with my handsome son misbehaving in the Burger King. I have turned into one of those parents that I used scowl at and think "what is wrong with those people? Have they no manners? Don't they teach their children how to behave in public?"  Now people look at me and think the same thing.  My response: he's only little once and later when he's bigger, he'll act responsibly. Until then kiss off. 

Leave a comment about your questionable parenting skills below. 

Until I return, Have a great weekend. 

Shauna 

It's A Wrap!

The first week is over.  I've met my students, passed out endless notes from the office to parents, and even had a spelling test.  Whew!

In all, it wasn't so bad.  I mean we all have expectations that sometimes go just like we planned and other times they run off the track even before the engine starts up.  For me, I'd say it was a 60/40 split.  Certain things that I am used to are no longer there, and other things like having last hour prep is a blessing.  I still think that this year is going to be fun, but I have to have a disclaimer thrown in.  With 27 students in a room designed for 16-18 is a little tight.  Centers will have to be re-thought and however much I hate keeping students in their seats all day it is proving to be a must.  Thank heaven for GoNoodle.com!  Brain Breaks are a must!  If you don't know what GoNoddle is, you need to check it out posthaste!  (Hmmm three exclamation points in a row.  Note to self: you sound like a overexcited teenage girl at a One Direction concert.  TONE IT DOWN.)

What else happened this first week of school?  Birthday cupcakes, math assessment test 1&2, QSI assessment, 1minute reading fluency assessment, and a child who thinks mulling, whining, and talking back is sexy.  I told it wasn't and ignored him.. He'll learn.  (I hope.)

So…back in July I had to buy a new printer.  The old one just gave out.  No surprise.  Anywhoo… I took myself off down to Fry's Electronics SuperStore and talked to a salesman and told him what I needed.
*Low cost.  I'm a teacher, not friggin' Bill Gates.
*Low cost to replaced ink.  Once again, Warren Buffett I am not.
*Be able to print pictures as well as lesson plans.
I ended up buying an Epson WorkForce 3540 and for the most part I'm happy.  Yet, I sense a "but" in there.  There is.  I seem to run out of ink at an incredible speed.  Printing a t work is not a viable option because they are as reliable as Lindsey Lohan.  One day they are on top of everything you send them, and the next, they are spitting out printing jobs from two years ago by teachers who have since died.
I love my job. Sometimes.

Well, Bean is hungry, I am tired, and now I have to go to Target for more ink.  Crap.  Hope your first week went great and here's to your second week going even better.

Until I return (with more ink),

Shauna

Truck Driving Accident Leaves One (Mostly) Dead

Well the week before school begins is over.  Classrooms are ready, copies are made, and pencils are sharpened.  Fantastic.  I meet my new bunch of Superheroes on Friday night and they seem…little.  You forget how small they are when they step into your room fresh out of first grade.  But they all have sweet smiles minus a few teeth, and a look akin to fear in their eyes.  Fear? Why fear?  They have no idea who I am.  What is their classroom going to look like?  Where are they going to sit?  Are any of their friends in the class too?  Fear.  But, by the time I've asked their name, commented on their shirt/hair/and or missing teeth, the fear is replaced by hope.  A New Hope, for you Star War fans out there.  Yes, A New Hope.  A hope that she doesn't seem to be so bad.  A hope that she is as funny as she looks.  And a hope that this year is going to be AWESOME.

Their hope is totally warranted by the way.  I AM not as bad as I might sound.  I AM as funny as I look, and WE ARE going to have a totally rocking' year.

On another note - here's Bean.  Long story into short:
He was crying.  Mommy went to investigate. He ran over Edison with his truck.  Edison had lost the will to live.  He was unresponsive at the scene.  TeddyBear 911 was called.  Medics pronounced him DOA at the scene.  Mommy came.  Lifted said truck off Edison with her brute strength, kissed poor ole' Edison and he popped right back to life.  Mommy is a miracle worker.  Smiles were back within minutes and the truck driver was cited for reckless driving on the patio.  Was issued a ticket and a mandatory appearance in truck driving court.  Little Bugger failed to show.  Warrant issued.  Driver's license has since been revoked.  May be returned upon 1)proof of insurance  and 2)16th birthday.

Have relaxing weekend until you are (anyone in the Clark County School District) back to work on Monday.  If you are already back to work - enjoy your weekend!

Until I return, 

Shauna 

Stop! Collaborate and Listen...

So I was trolling Pintrest the other day and I came across these little beauties.  And I thought to myself, "Hey there self!  I have an idea!" So I downloaded these little guys and made some of my own. If you want both sets for yourself, just follow the links.

Courtesy of Rock & Teach Blog 

"Super" Choice Rewards 

Mine tell the students that are making "Super" Choices to redeem them for a prize at the end of the day.  I was thinking giving them Jolly Rancher or some other small piece of candy.  Nothing big, but hopefully I'll run out of my version and still have plenty of the Stop version.  We'll see what happens.

Well, it's Monday which means that on Wednesday, I report back to duty.  My summer is indeed over and in all, it's been good.  I spent some quality time with The Bean, got back to work doing this blog thing, which I must say in retrospect and hindsight, I have truly missed, and I have recharged my batteries and put some things that I have done in my past classrooms into perspective.   So, did I "GO"anywhere?  Did I "DO" anything?  In short, the answer is a resounding "NO."  Did I rest and relax?  Did I enjoy myself?  Did I grow?  Hell yes.  (Can I say hell on this thing?  Oh well, I just did. Sue me.) 

FIrst day back with students is Monday the 25th so I'll be back on this thing then.  Until then, If you haven't yet gone back, enjoy the last few remaining hours until your school year begins.  I know I will.

PS: I'm still waiting for folks to enter to win a set of my Voice Chips - what have you got to lose?  Enter today by leaving a comment, choosing to follow me on Blogger, or leaving your email in a comment below.  Time's running out!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Talk Like A…Voice Chips Freebie!

Want to make these fantastic little things? Voice Chips are here! (And they are ((mostly)) free!!)

Voice Chips add fun and laughter to a otherwise "boring" lesson.

Then this is what'll need: 

Avery FULL SHEET Mailing Labels Item #8165 is a MUST for this project!

Avery FULL SHEET shipping labels (found mine at Staples), package (or two or three) of 1 1/2 wooden discs from Michaels, and the download from me, which you can get here. 

This is what you do: 

Print out the voice chips on to the shipping labels and cut them out.  Apply them to the wooden discs.  Use.

Simple.  Fun.  Easy.

So how would I use them?  How about have a student pull one from a bag and read a poem to the class using whichever "voice" he chose?  Have each student pull one and read a line/paragraph from your reading selection?  Read the Word Wall during centers?  Review for a test?  Share a story wight eh class or share buddy?  The list is endless.  Imagine the fun your class could have using different voices during class?  

Tell how you might use these in your classroom in the comments below!  Leave your email address as well to enter to win set ready-made!  A winner will be chosen at the end of the week! Good luck!

Until I return,

Shauna

Goodie Goodie Bags AKA "2nd Grade Swag"

So I'm officially done getting ready. Put the finishing touches together today : Welcome Goodies a la Shauna'mar style. 

Here's what's in these little beauties: 

An eraser, a pencil sharpener in the shape of a fish to pay homage to Aquaman, and a Spider-Man candy. I used the pencil keep the bag closed. In all, I think they turned out pretty darn cute. 

I'm gonna sit tight until next Wednesday when I'm supposed to show up for my "official" first day back. A few more lazy days with Bean won't hurt either! 

I mean who can resist that boy/cat face? 

Tell me about your 2nd grade swag in a comment below! 

Until I return, stay cool ! 

Shauna 

My Sweet Summer Is Gone and Classroom Reveal 2014-2015

It's gone. Over. Another summer has come and gone. I've spent the last two days turning this: 

And this: 

Into this: 

No Wonder Woman I'm tired! 

As you can see I've turned a pole of teacher junk and an empty room into "The Hall of Justice" where all my superhero friends hang out.  Superman himself greets you at the front door with any important messages you need for the week, Ironman looks over our Common Core vocab word wall, Captain A helps to remind us to follow the rules, Batman stands villi grant over our Outstanding Work, Spidey looks over our rotation board for math & reading, and finally the Green Lantern shines his light on our regular word wall. 

Tomorrow I will start pulling materials: textbooks, student journals, and copies I need for the first week or so. I will also complete my "goodie bags" and place them on the desks. Because I am slightly crazy and everything must "coordinate" I splurged and ordered my Tervis Tumbler for school. Check this out: 

Ain't it swell? It should be here before the 20th. I had a superman insulated cup with a straw last year, but...Bean grabbed it and dropped it, shattering it into at least three pieces, none of which could water any longer. Oh well, I still love him.  

Well that's about it for me tonight. I think I will sit outside and enjoy what's left of the cloudy day and dream of home (I miss you Bainbridge Island!) while my darling child picks all the baby limes off of the lime tree. 

Until I return, I remain yours,

Shauna

Pass the Popcorn Please!

So this post really has almost no school-related content with the exception of I picked up my keys today and peeked into my room. Depressing. More on that next week. And I bought a new lunch kit from Costco.  $13.99 for three kits: while at Target you can buy one for $8.99 with a $1.50 off coupon. I love Costco. And their polish dogs, but that's an entirely different post. 

Moving right along: last night I caught an exceptionally good movie. 

Now, long before I decided to teach for a living I entertained the idea of cooking for a paycheck . I went to culinary school. I spent seven, yes seven, years working my way around several kitchens and even a bakery here and there before deciding that maybe, maybe I should do something else with my life. However, just because I gave up that life for this one doesn't mean that I hate to cook. Just the opposite, in fact. I bake regularly. I take those treats to the teachers lounge because I don't need all that stuff at home, but I don't want to just toss it out either. So, everybody gets to indulge.

Anywhoo, I loved this film. I know what the critics said. But I am not a paid critic . I am a person who loves the movies with my jumbo sized popcorn and cherry coke. This film was terrific. If you want a feel-good, make you hungry, wanna root for the underdog type of movie, then by all means but your ticket now. It reminded me of "Bride & Prejudice" a Bollywood adaptation of Jane Auten's classic. Can anyone say Martin Henderson-yum? Which by the way now I have to watch AGAIN tonight just because. 

Anywhoo, to say I loved The 100 Foot Journey is to be an understatement. See it! With a jumbo sized popcorn and a large cherry coke. 

If you have seen it as well, leave a comment below! 

Shauna 

Projects Complete!

Wow. All I can say is just, wow! Don't you love Kevin Henkes? Anywhoo...

I have spent the past two days completing a few projects that I had put off until now.  I know, but time has gone by really fast this summer cuz' Bean took up most of it! Holy Toddler-time, Batman! 

I designed new superhero name tags, laminated and cut 'em out, printed, laminated & cut out task cards for: spelling, reading fluency, & poetry, got my new Secret Star Student program together, and made 25 Fack Track Math folders: labeled, printed off graphs and practice pages. I also made rhythm sticks (2 sets) and designed a behavior tracking sheet for the clipboard which I'll talk about next week.  I guess there really is no rest for the wicked! 

In other news, Bean thinks he's a cat. I offer proof: 

He sees my paper baskets and must try them out for comfort.  He does the same thing to laundry baskets and small boxes.  He's the human equivalent to SkippyJon Jones. 

That's all from me today. I must go and rescue Edison Bear from the clutches of the evil Gizmo and restore order in the land of Bean. 

Until I return, I remain loyally yours,

Shauna

Back to School Letter 2014 and…Flying Sharks

So Bean here was helping Mommy shut all the doors when the rain started yesterday and good ole' Edison was right there helping out his good buddy, when, as you can see, Edison got stuck in the jam.  Bean was distraught 'cuz his buddy there couldn't get out.  So what did Mommy do?  Pull out her camera of course and snap a few pics BEFORE liberating Bear.  Any mommy would have done the same.

Anyhoo, I have promised my 2014 Back to School Letter and a promise is a promise…so here it is!

It's similar to last year's but with a few changes.  

In other news - I just wasted  spent some QUALITY time with SyFy's fantastic movie Sharknado 2.  Why, you ask?  Because I sat through the first one last year.  My experience sums up in the following pic:

Ian Ziering (spelling I hope is correct - I stopped following his career after BH 98120) flying through the skies of New York wielding a chainsaw aiming for the shark that ate Tara Reid's hand.  Does SyFy give refunds on my time?  Probably not.  Will I sit through the third one that they are making?  Absolutely.  But I must say this: the whole thing could have been avoided if Batman had used his trusty Shark Repellant. That stuff works like magic.  

I predict:  because I mentioned this high-quality hollywood weekend offering, this post will be the most read post of my blogging career.  Oh well.  One must do what one must in order to attract readers.  

Until tomorrow, 

Shauna

Thank You, UPS Man!

I was waiting and waiting. (Only 5 days, but who was counting?) and yesterday, around 3 pm there was the anticipated knock on the front door. My goodie box had arrived! Yay! 

Well, what was inside my goodie box you ask? Scroll down to see for yourself! 

1: the box before I unpacked it. Almost like Christmas but without the annoying tinsel crap in the carpet.

2: mini-flip books. Students will be able to grab one when they are working on independent work. 

3: 1 pound of HUGE colorful buttons. These will work perfectly with my second favorite purchase from TpT called "Blooms Buttons" - check it out, great product! 

4: dry-erase sleeves. Hopefully these will cut down on paper copies at different centers. 12 to a pack. 

5: comparative and superlative game. Great for a center.

6: quad-fold writing folders. 12 for $10. Not bad. 

But Wait! There's More! Two games for centers and word work, plus a mystery box. Keep scrolling !

How could I have forgotten my math counters? I used paper ones last year and it was a mess. So hopefully these chips will work better and be easier to handle!  

All this for only $97! Holy budget-saving, Batman! Thanks Oriental Trading!!

I know that I said yesterday I was going to share my B2S letter but this was way more exciting for me. I'll post the letter on Monday. Until then, have a great weekend everyone! 

Shauna  

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall...

I am not on Twitter.  I don't have Facebook. I don't Instagram. This blog is my one concession to social media that I'll get close to and I'm fine with that.  But if I did, this would be my post for the day:

Dear God,
Concerning your weather pattern for the greater Las Vegas area: I. AM. NOT. AMUSED.

Background information:  todays' weather is Hot.  Humid.  Nothing compared to the weather of Louisiana or South Carolina, Alabama, ect.  However for me,  I repeat - I am not amused.

Now, moving right along. Teachers Pay Teachers is having a sale!  It doesn't start for a few days yet, but there's no rule that says you can't fill your cart now!  It's a great time to get some of those coveted items off your wish list and onto your desktop.  Basically you can save up to 28%!  Fabulous!

Yesterday I teased that that I was going to talk about my what my thinking cap thought up during the summer concerning my classroom procedures.  What promoted this thinking? you may ask.  Well, I was browsing along YouTube one day and I came across a video of a teacher going over her procedures binder.  I was intrigued.  So I looked her up on TpT.  And I gave way to temptation and bought the darn thing.  Then I sat.  I stared.  I felt totally lost and helpless looking at the blank boxes and thinking what have I got myself into?  I know what works in my classroom, yet this past year thinks didn't really "click".  I wanted a change - but for the better, right?  Check out the video below to see my inspiration itself.

So I emailed the lady.  I asked nicely if she could show me what her pages looked like to give me a better idea of how I could start. Not so I could copy, just start the ole' brain working, right?  No reply.  Nothing.  Like a slow breeze on an old windmill in the middle of an abounded town kinda silent.  Oh well.  I sat down and started to type.  I guess  I didn't know how much I needed to get out and down on paper!  However, I believe it was totally worth it.  Four pages of procedures and three pages explaining in detail my classroom jobs later, I have a lovely little binder not only my review but for any sub that may come in and would like to know a quick rundown on what to expect of my students.  Thanks CFClassroom.com! Now, if things change or I need to add/remove things, it's super easy to do.  If you are thinking about doing something like for yourself, I highly recommend it.

I also found that as I was typing these things up, I was reflecting about how I wanted my classroom to sound like and look like this year.  Isn't self-reflection a huge part of our job?  Well, I did so much reflecting that the Evil Witch was asking ME who the fairest in the land was.   I discovered that I, at times, was a lazy person who was going through the motions of being a teacher, not becoming an educator.  These procedures that I'm going to put into place this year are going to help me in that journey.  I won't lie - it seems daunting, hard, and stressful.  Yet, I am looking forward to each step of the path because I know that I will come out a better person.  A better teacher who CAN manage a classroom and have fun while doing it.  How's that for reflecting, huh?

Tomorrow I'll post my Welcome Back Letter version 2.0 and maybe a picture of the Bean doing something absolutely adorable.

Until then, I loyally remain,

Shauna

Smilebox Trial Run

Two posts in one day?  Are you trying to kill yourself?  Naw, I just had to give this new app of mine a dry run.  Enjoy! 

PS: be sure to turn your speakers on!

Shauna

Create a slideshow

Group Organization and a Freebie!

So, this year I have decided to try small groups in both Reading and Math.  I am also trying my hand at a 2nd grade version of a homework planner.  In order to do this and have organization, Target has stepped up and provided me (at my expense of course) with PLASTIC 3-pronged folders!  Fabulous!  Now hopefully, they will last longer than the paper ones!  Let's see what I did with 'em!

First for the homework planner.  Nice bright yellow.  No hiding this in those backpacks!  

Here's what's inside:  (the pictures show a skinnier version, but they print out landscaped)

Click the link for your free copy! 

I printed about 5 of them back-to-back and placed them into the folders.  The students will be responsible for copying down the homework each day in each subject.  I will have them do this at the end of the day so I know everybody is doing it correctly.  I'll have my copy on the elmo for them to copy from.  

For the reading log, they need to tell me the date, the title of the book they read, and the start page and the end page.  Their parent needs to sign it each night.  For the past few years, I had a reading log that had the above information, plus a question for them to answer.  For example on Monday night it was: Tell about your favorite character in the book.  Tuesday was: What is the main problem of the part your read?  So on and so on.  I had parents complain that the reading homework was taking longer to complete than the rest of the homework itself.  I was trying to incorporate higher-level thinking questions into their homework.  But alas, I had to decipher the students failed attempts at complete sentences and I thought "There has to be a better way."  So evolved this.  Short, sweet, and to the point.  Just how I like it. 

For guided reading, it is a bright red.  Just because. 

Here's what's inside so far:  

A hot/cold reading graph for kids to monitor their own fluency.  More things will be added as I start reading groups and find resources and response worksheets as per the groups needs.  I found the graph on Teachers Pay Teachers and you can pick up your own copy here for free! 

For my guided math groups, I chose purple 'cuz it's my favorite.  What can I say?  There's nothing in it so far, but like guided reading, I plan on adding a graph for their math fact fluency, and other goodies that they'll pick up during group work time.  

Well, that's it for today. Tomorrow, I'll discuss all the great things I thought of procedure-wise over the course of this summer.  In retrospect, I did a ton of thinking this summer! No wonder I'm pooped!

Until then, I remain, always yours, 

Shauna