A New Year, A Lot of Fun

I am so excited for this school year! Already, the students and I have quickly gotten to know one another and dove in head first learning. We have been busy practicing our math facts to fluently add and subtract numbers within 20. One strategy is to remember our doubles facts. The children had a great time learning the doubles rap. Check out their version!

It's March already! Where did the time go?? Last week was so busy; with our class performance at the Midnight Rooster, the Read Across America celebration, and trying to squeeze in progress reports.

I am so proud of my 2nd graders performing their reader's theater play Hansel & Gretel and the Creepy Woods by Jeannette Jaquish. That script and others can be found at www.theaterfunscripts.com They really rocked it! Not only did they get in character, had expression, but also remembered their lines WITHOUT their scripts! That'll really be an event to remember. Check out their play and other pictures from Read Across America Day. 

I'm so excited about my new website design! Great thanks goes to McKenna at Project3Designs. She listened to the vision I wanted to depict on my webpage and kept me involved in each step of the process. Learning at any age can take you any place you want to go. Live.Dream.Fly  

Testing

Its that time of the year when teachers evaluate where their students are, and what they need to do to change instruction to improve for the rest of the year. My 2nd graders just took the math map test. I was anxious to see the results and am so happy that each child has improved. The improved descarte on the map site has been beneficial in my planning. Check it out if your students take the map test.
http://www.nwea.org/

Liebster Award!

Guess what? I was nominated for a Liebster Award from Mrs. Barcomb at Get in the Game http://getinthegamewithmrsbarcomb.blogspot.com/ This is for new bloggers that have less than 200 followers. I am very excited to be recognized and hope for new bloggers to join.


Once you receive a nomination, here are the rules:

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.

3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

4. Choose 11 other blogs with fewer than 200 followers to nominate and link them in your post.

5. You cannot “tag back” the other blog, but leave a comment on this post with the URL of your Liebster post so I can learn more about you & see whom you nominate.

11 Random Things About Me:

1. I ran a 5K today.

2. I am registered to run a MARATHON, so hopefully I don't chicken out.

3. I am an only child.

4. I enjoy playing golf.

5. My birthday is 2 days after Christmas.

6. I had a really difficult time deciding on my blog name.

7. My hometown is over 700mi from where I live.

8. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.

9. This Christmas will be my first one in SC.

10. I have a bull mastiff, named Gigi. 

11. I love having company.

My Answers from Mrs. Barcomb at Get in the Game:

1. If you had lots of time and no financial worries what would you do?

Answer: I would travel! If money was no object, I would travel around the world and visit as many places that I could.

2. What is the best part of teaching?

Answer: The best part of teaching for me is to know that I actually taught a child how to do a skill, and then they are able to apply it on their own. 

3. What hobbies do you enjoy?

Answer: I enjoy golfing, reading, shopping, and creating fun ideas for the classroom.

4. Are you ready for the Holidays or a last minute shopper?

Answer: I am more a last minute shopper. I do get gifts here and there, but I always think that I will find something better if I keep looking.

5. What was the best vacation/trip you ever took?

Answer: The best vacation I ever took was to the Italian Lakes in Europe. I traveled to Switzerland and Italy. My favorite place was Venice. I stayed at the Danieli Hotel, where movies have used as their set. Another favorite trip was to Yosemite National Park.

6. Share the funniest kid story you have since teaching.

Answer: As a second grade teacher, I have never officially had "share and tell," however in the same school year, one student brought a day old kitten in their backpack and another kid brought an old grenade.

7. Do you have any pets?

Answer: Yes, one bull mastiff 2 1/2 yr old dog named Gigi

8. Do you have any tattoos?

Answer: No

9. What kind of music do you listen to?

Answer: Anything on the top 20, oldies, pop music

10. If you could invite someone to have lunch with you who would you invite?

Answer: My parents

11. What do you watch on TV?

Answer: Currently, I am watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play football! I also watch a lot of reality TV.

Questions for you:

1. When did you know you wanted to be a teacher?

2. What is the hardest part of teaching for you?

3. How late do you stay at school at the end of the day?

4. How often do you change your bulletin boards in the hallway?

5. Do you have any other paying jobs, besides teaching?

6. How do you include parents in the classroom?

7. When do you do your lesson planning: during the week, the weekends, daily?

8. Where do you find cool graphics/ideas for your blog?

9. Do you eat with your students at lunch?

10. If you could wear a school uniform, would you rather that than deciding what dress clothes to wear each day?

11. What gets you through a long school day?

My nominated blogs:

Ms. Pretzel

Kinderaffe 2nd Graders

Little Second Grade Somebodies

Teach to be Happy

Sparkle in Second

Psyched to be in Second

2nd Grade Glance Blog

Run Teacher Run

Mrs. P.'s Sweet Peas

Carrberry Creations

Southern Sweetie in Second

***Please leave me a comment on this post to your Liebster post. Looking forward to hearing from you***

Fire Prevention Week

Our class picture of 1st nine week honor roll students! Keep up the great work.