It's GIVEAWAY time!!!
I've partnered up with Anne Rozell at Believe to Achieve to help her promote her new blog! I am excited to announce that we will be giving away a $75 TpT gift card!!! How exciting is that?!?! Head over to Believe to Achieve for your chance at winning this incredible prize! GOOD LUCK YA'LL!!!
FREEBIE GIVEAWAY GALORE
Happy NEW School Year friends! As a gesture to all of you and all of my teacher buddies, I've made several of my teaching products FREE! This is for a limited time, so please gather your freebies SOON! I'd appreciate it if you left me feedback on your freebies, and also followed me on TpT if you aren't currently doing so. You won't want to miss out on future freebie giveaways! I will be doing new MONTHLY freebies!! The more feedback I get the more items I will make FREE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! <3 <3
Click the photos to access your FREEBIES
Click the photos to access your FREEBIES
Fabulously Loving First
I've absolutely loved getting to know my new Firsties! I was nervous about switching grade levels this year, because I was pretty comfortable with teaching second grade, but I've just decided I love teaching regardless of grade level!
- my new bulletin board
My Firsties are out of this world adorable and innocent. 
I've also liked coming up with new materials for first grade. Today we played a new game called Gather the Apples. The students took turns spinning the spinner and gathering apples, if they landed on a worm they had to put their apples back into the pile. At the end of the game, the kiddo with the most apples won! I loved how much laughter and counting was taking place! It was a success! Once a new game is taught and learned it will go into a station basket. I also do that with any hands on activities we do in class. Stations are such a great way to reinforce learning, and the students love them. You can purchase Gather the Apples, it's part of my Apple Themed Math Center packet.
I hope everyone has had a great start to their year!!
Flexible Seating
Hi Friends!
So last year I tried the new "hype" of flexible seating, actually I'd call it more "Flexible Seating with Options". It's not quite flexible seating where I've gotten rid of all the desks and tables. I haven't totally gotten rid of desks for the children because research shows that many children thrive from having their own "personal space", so to totally get rid of that option for children could in my opinion, be counterproductive. However, all children learn in different ways and in different environments, therefore, I truly believe in my "Flexible Seating with Options".
Here's the scoop:
Each child is assigned their own desk- they get to choose their own desk on the first day of school, maybe they like the front, maybe the back...I obviously don't know them yet and we're all a little uncomfortable on the first day, so I do whatever I can to make them more comfortable and I've noticed by giving them freedom before school even starts shows them I respect and value their wants and needs. With that being said, they have the option of being at their desk as much or as little as they please.
During whole group lessons, I teach on the floor with the children surrounding me. I have blankets, pillows, yoga mats, butterfly chairs, and beanbag chairs for them to sit on or with(if they want to). I never force anything upon them, but instead give them a lot of freedom and choices.
During independent work time, children have the option at working at their assigned desk areas, on the couch, on the floor with clipboards, on yoga balls, in beanbag chairs, with a yoga mat, on a blanket, or on one of the many fun rugs I have placed around the room. Even with all of the seating options, many children will still find it most comfortable to work at their desks, therefore I am totally against getting rid of desks altogether.
I have enough clipboards and seating options to accommodate all students in the classroom, just in case all students would like the option to work away from their desks and on the floor.
At the beginning of the year we establish firm procedures and routines for flexible seating (I will go over those in a later post). Please feel free to ask any questions!!
<here's a photo from my room last year, you can see my couch, butterfly chair, rug, pillows, and beanbag chair. These are only a few of the options I offer for flexible seating!
So last year I tried the new "hype" of flexible seating, actually I'd call it more "Flexible Seating with Options". It's not quite flexible seating where I've gotten rid of all the desks and tables. I haven't totally gotten rid of desks for the children because research shows that many children thrive from having their own "personal space", so to totally get rid of that option for children could in my opinion, be counterproductive. However, all children learn in different ways and in different environments, therefore, I truly believe in my "Flexible Seating with Options".
Here's the scoop:
Each child is assigned their own desk- they get to choose their own desk on the first day of school, maybe they like the front, maybe the back...I obviously don't know them yet and we're all a little uncomfortable on the first day, so I do whatever I can to make them more comfortable and I've noticed by giving them freedom before school even starts shows them I respect and value their wants and needs. With that being said, they have the option of being at their desk as much or as little as they please.
During whole group lessons, I teach on the floor with the children surrounding me. I have blankets, pillows, yoga mats, butterfly chairs, and beanbag chairs for them to sit on or with(if they want to). I never force anything upon them, but instead give them a lot of freedom and choices.
During independent work time, children have the option at working at their assigned desk areas, on the couch, on the floor with clipboards, on yoga balls, in beanbag chairs, with a yoga mat, on a blanket, or on one of the many fun rugs I have placed around the room. Even with all of the seating options, many children will still find it most comfortable to work at their desks, therefore I am totally against getting rid of desks altogether.
I have enough clipboards and seating options to accommodate all students in the classroom, just in case all students would like the option to work away from their desks and on the floor.
At the beginning of the year we establish firm procedures and routines for flexible seating (I will go over those in a later post). Please feel free to ask any questions!!
<here's a photo from my room last year, you can see my couch, butterfly chair, rug, pillows, and beanbag chair. These are only a few of the options I offer for flexible seating! New Website Design!
I am so excited about my new website design! Thanks to Tenille designs for her amazing work!
Today was a fun day in second grade. I decided to give my kiddos a new experience and let them try sushi and wasabi! Most of the class tried it, some refused, I even had one run away! It was the first time all but one of my students had even tried sushi, and most had never even seen it. I love giving them life experiences.
This week was exciting and somewhat stressful...
Here's my little Jonah at preschool. He is so stinking adorable! I can hardly handle all of his cuteness. I am so proud of how much he has grown up being in preschool this year. He is so much more independent now.
And here is Dominic. He had quite a spill playing at recess this week... chipped his permanent tooth. UGH! It kinda reminded us of LLoyd from Dumb & Dumber... if we don't find light in these situations we will just cry!
Anthony's phone broke, we found out the lot we bought for our new house is on top of a natural spring (sigh), Dom chipped his tooth, and on top of all of that we are in the busiest time of the year at school. With all of that being said, I am thankful for my beautiful family and wonderful job. I love that I get to work with my hubby everyday and that my kiddos are at the school, too. Life is hard, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Annnnd the hubs and I decided to plan a getaway to sunny Vegas for the week for Spring Break... Can't wait!!
Today was a fun day in second grade. I decided to give my kiddos a new experience and let them try sushi and wasabi! Most of the class tried it, some refused, I even had one run away! It was the first time all but one of my students had even tried sushi, and most had never even seen it. I love giving them life experiences.
This week was exciting and somewhat stressful...
Here's my little Jonah at preschool. He is so stinking adorable! I can hardly handle all of his cuteness. I am so proud of how much he has grown up being in preschool this year. He is so much more independent now.
And here is Dominic. He had quite a spill playing at recess this week... chipped his permanent tooth. UGH! It kinda reminded us of LLoyd from Dumb & Dumber... if we don't find light in these situations we will just cry!
Anthony's phone broke, we found out the lot we bought for our new house is on top of a natural spring (sigh), Dom chipped his tooth, and on top of all of that we are in the busiest time of the year at school. With all of that being said, I am thankful for my beautiful family and wonderful job. I love that I get to work with my hubby everyday and that my kiddos are at the school, too. Life is hard, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Annnnd the hubs and I decided to plan a getaway to sunny Vegas for the week for Spring Break... Can't wait!!
Currently...February!
I am linking up with Farley for February's Currently: Here ya go!
I am literally sitting on couch trying to figure out the best way to get as many followers as possible! I am in the process of a blog redesign and I've paid a pretty penny to get an amazing blog design and I do not want it to go to waste! I've done linky parties, started an Instagram for Sparkle in Second, I am going to do a Currently every month, and I am going to start following more blogs myself. If anyone is reading this and has some advice, please let me know! I would be super happy! THANK YOU!
BTW, I just went completely overboard at Target and the Dollar Tree today. It was like Christmas morning!!!! The stuff completely adorable!! I died and went to heaven! Thanks to my super awesome hubs who spoils me rotten especially when it comes to my classroom...
Also big news for me... I've been completely blonde forever and yesterday I went partially brunette and I am loving it!!!
I think that's all for now!
I am literally sitting on couch trying to figure out the best way to get as many followers as possible! I am in the process of a blog redesign and I've paid a pretty penny to get an amazing blog design and I do not want it to go to waste! I've done linky parties, started an Instagram for Sparkle in Second, I am going to do a Currently every month, and I am going to start following more blogs myself. If anyone is reading this and has some advice, please let me know! I would be super happy! THANK YOU!
BTW, I just went completely overboard at Target and the Dollar Tree today. It was like Christmas morning!!!! The stuff completely adorable!! I died and went to heaven! Thanks to my super awesome hubs who spoils me rotten especially when it comes to my classroom...
I think that's all for now!
I love VALENTINE'S DAY!
I absolutely ADORE Valentine's Day! My mom always made Valentine's Day so special for me as a kiddo and to this day I've always loved Valentine's Day! I love spoiling my husband, kiddos, and students on the day all about LOVE. I think I almost love vday as much as I love Christmas! I love it SO much that I made a VDAY freebie for all of you!
My kiddos are all about coloring, and to be honest- SO AM I! I even have adult coloring books at home. I love sitting down with my art stuff and coloring. So, naturally I came up with spelling tests that are also coloring pages! My student's love all of the different templates, they have also been doing great on their tests! I think the coloring helps ease the stress kiddos sometimes have when taking tests!
Here is a Valentine's freebie for you to use this week and next!
You should totally check out the entire packet! It has changed my way of giving spelling tests!!!
I hope you are having a LOVELY February!
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