Penguins

Hi all! I have been stuck in the house all day because the tree cutters are here. I had no idea it was an all day project! I had much to be doing other than sitting at home.

So in order to cure my boredom, I got busy with some math stations (among many other things). I am working on a theme unit of penguins for our return in January. My kiddos have been working on comparing numbers, greater/less than, rounding to the nearest ten, and skip counting. So I made these guys with some cute penguins!
Check it out and leave me some comment love...

I am working on penguin poems, can/have/are charts, and a reading response to Tacky...BUT I need some ideas for literacy stations. I am STUCK on word work...I will be implementing the Daily 5 when we return, and I am trying to come up with some word work stations that can be the same each week with just the word or phonics skill changing...but I am at a loss as where to start! So help a fellow teacher out and tell me what you do for word work. (Note-these kids are VERY visual...so the normal dry erase boards and magnetic letters will not keep them working!) =)

Currently...

I have been so busy with my graduate program that I never have time to do the fun bloggy stuff! Now that my Master's is DONE, FINSHED, and finally put to rest....I can get back to blogging and blog stalking! Farley, at Oh' Boy 4th Grade is hosting a Currently December linky party... so I thought I'd join up!
Click here to link up!

Gingerbread Love...

Update: Gingerbread Literacy Activities & Gingerbread Numbers have been posted to TPT and TN. =) Check below for a rounding freebie!

It's the afternoon and I am still in my pj's! =) I *wish* I could say I just rolled out of bed, but that is not the case...I have been busy working on some gingerbead-ish things for my class this week. After blog hopping, well, stalking, I found lots of great stuff (which I will be using!).

Here comes the but...But I really needed something more for my second graders. I needed fun incorporated with skill review because we have a big *theme* test this week in reading!
So I have been busy at work with this...

which led to this...
and three hours later...this...

As if that wasn't enough...I started thinking about math...
and more math
which then became this...

Here's a freebie for you!Click on the picture to grab it.
I think I may have lost my mind. What should have taken me no time to write lesson plans for this week...has now not even been started! =) I have my math stations and my literacy focus...now to spread them across the week!!!
And just to be clear, these are geared toward my second graders...(I know the blog still says first...I have both now! =))

If you have read this far...you are in luck! I think I need someone, well probably more than one someone, to proof these and give me some feedback! So I will give both units AWAY to the first three people willing to proof and provide feedback. =) Just leave your name and email in the comments. I will email them to you! =)

Punctuation...

Over at the First Grade Parade, I got these SUPER cute Writer's Eye bulletin board signs...

Well, I needed some for punctuation. So here they are...idea totally inspired to match Mrs. Caroll's Writer's Eye at the First Grade Parade.

Click here or on the picture to grab them! Let me know if you would like me to add more...My brain ran out of umphhhh while I was working on them. And I really only need these right now.
Please leave me some comment love if you download them! =)

December already???

Oh my...the last time I blogged, I could not believe we were at the end of October...and now it's December! I somehow managed to miss the month of November.

I have been crazy busy trying to finish my last graduate class and cannot wait for December 11th to come! I will be done and have my Master's in Brain-Based Teaching in Literacy. =) I have learned so much that my brain is on overload...I don't know where to begin to change my teaching...I *think* I may take some time over winter break to figure that out.

I am hoping to be able to blog and create more. Every day I find something wonderful you all share and I want to share too!


I was so excited to get the Sunshine award from Stacy over at 2nd Grade Paradise. You have to go check her out! She is fairly new to blogging too. But she is SOOO funny. While you're visiting, make sure to follow her to.

So....The "rules" for the Sunshine award are: 1. Thank the person who gave this award and write a post about it. (already there!) 2. Answer the following questions below. 3. And pass the award to 10~12 fabulous bloggers, link their blogs and let them know you awarded them.

Favorite color? Purple...it just makes my heart smile! I heart all shades of purple...

Favorite animal? Dogs...would have to be, as my ShihTzu, Mr. Cooper is the love of my life...I know, kinda crazy...but when you have no kids, the dog becomes the kid! Great to snuggle with and let's me do my thing...and best of all, he doesn't talk so when I come home from work and just want quiet...I get it! =)

Favorite number? 24...For a few reasons...which I can no longer remember but there used to be! Several years ago I got hooked on NASCAR...so I am a huge fan...and 24 just so happens to be Jeff Gordon (don't judge *wink, I know he is not the favorite!). Besides the fact he drove the #24, he was also my grandma's favorite when I was growing up.

Favorite drink? Coffee...I used to be a Starbucks Mocha girl...until my sister got me addicted to Dunkin Donuts iced coffee...Mind you, I live 30 minutes from the DD and 40 from Starbucks...so whenever I head into town, it is a huge choice of which to have!

Facebook or Twitter? I am a Facebook girl...I tried twitter and within a week, I was dealing with spam and not-so-very-nice messages and posts...twitter is not my friend.

Getting or Giving? Giving...I love giving and sharing...probably too much! I think I may need a 12-step program for this...I give so much from my classroom that what I need when I need it...always seem to be in another teacher's room!

Favorite day? Hmmm...I guess this would be Sunday...no particular reason, other than I can sleep in!

Favorite flowers? Roses...purple, of course!

Passing this award onto...
Hope at 2nd Grade Shenangins
She is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! She has a knack for creating fabulous units...she always gives me the spark I need to get moving!



Kelli at Castles and Crayons
Her blog is so cute!!! She just posted some really cute activities to go with There Was An Old Lady...


Anna at Crazy for First Grade.
Another amazing teacher!


dandelions and dragonflies
She is so gifted with organization! She makes me jealous...=)

Jennifer at First Grade Blue Skies
Her blog design just makes me smile...She has FABULOUS ideas too!

I know I am supposed to have 10 to 12 and I could go on and on...as I am now following 300+ blogs...but my head is a hurtin'...=) It's been a long, crazy month!

I am hoping to have some holiday things to share this weekend! Be sure to stop back by!