Sunday Scoop

I'm linking up with the Teaching Trio for the Sunday Scoop! It's been a while. I seem to have a rollercoaster type of blog writing. Very active, and then ghosting. Very active, and then ghosting. And so on. School just got busy! We all know how it is! :)

Sunday Scoop

Hi everyone! I'm linking up with The Teaching Trio for Sunday Scoop.

I really need to go grocery shopping, and I'm thinking I should do it today. My local grocery store was voted in the top four best places to work in America and they're celebrating today by handing out free cake and clementines! That sounds like a great way to shop...while having a snack! :)

I'm also very jealous of people talking springtime weather. Last weekend was a bit of a tease for us in upstate New York - gorgeous and 60 degree. This past week has been FREEZING and SNOWING and WINDY! I'm just crossing my fingers that spring will come soon! And stay!

I can't tell you how many times my second graders write to me about Lucy in their Reader Response Journals. Or "Loosy." She's just so darn cute.

Sunday Scoop

I'm linking up with The Teaching Trio for The Sunday Scoop!

I'm reading the book The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I highly recommend it! All about occupied France during World War II, focused on the lives of two sisters living separately and fighting in different ways. So, I'll finish that up and tidy the house up for the meeting tomorrow! I'm dreading vacuuming. My dog always freaks out when I vacuum!

Although it is February, we have a beautiful 55 degree day here in upstate New York! I don't know how long this weather will last, but I'm going for a hike with my dog on a nearby trail!

And I am very excited for a delicious Italian meal tonight! Plus, I won't feel guilty leaving the dog alone because she will be POOPED after a hike! :)

Sunday Scoop

Hi everyone! I'm here to link up with The Teaching Trio for The Sunday Scoop!

It's my last day of vacation!

I've been semi-productive this break, but now I feel like I need to tidy up the house, organize my school things before tomorrow, and lounge in my pajamas for a bit! So, nothing pressing to do, just odds and ends!

I have started the TPT updates, a great synonym and antonym review product and a Making and Changing words activity! I am on a word work roll! So, if I get nothing else done today, at least I did something! :)

Sunday Scoop

I'm back this week, linking up with The Teaching Trio for the Sunday Scoop!

It's been snowing for HOURS and it's supposed to snow ALL NIGHT and ALL DAY TOMORROW!

So, we'll wear our pajamas inside out and backwards, crossing our fingers for a snow day!

(I love school and teaching, but I live 45 minutes away from my school. If the weather really is bad, I'd rather stay home than battle the conditions and poor visibility! Plus, wearing pajamas all day is always sweet!)

Now, I'm thinking that going to bed after writing this post will be good for me. Last night I stayed up WAY TOO LATE. I got sucked into that Netflix documentary, Making a Murderer. I can't say how many episodes I watched in a row, only that it was too many.

Oh, and I definitely need to buy white string before Thursday. I got a bunch of black lights from the store this weekend. I'm planning a secret agent laser themed afternoon, where the missions include review from our insects unit. I think it will be a lot of fun!

And don't forget about the TPT sale coming up! I have a TON of stuff wish listed. As always.

The Sunday Scoop

I'm a first timer linking up with The Teaching Trio for the Sunday Scoop!

3 things I HAVE to do:

I've been teaching the CCLS Second grade ELA domain 8, Insects, for about a week now. It's been a blast! Each story is told from the perspective of a new insect. The kiddos love that I wear my antennae while reading the stories. I tied this unit into writing by sending the kids letters from an entomologist each day during writing. This mystery entomologist gives clues about the next insect they will learn about. The class guesses the insect, then completes a close read and text dependent questions about that insect. I work with my lowest kiddos, and I let the higher kids work independently with support from a TA. It's been going really well! So, I want to plan a VERY exciting end of unit review. I saw Hope King, from Elementary Shenanigans, plan a SPY DAY! Now I'm thinking about doing a secret agent day. She used white string ALL OVER and black lights to look like lasers and I already downloaded a fun (free) finger scanner app. Here are the insect review activities we can do that can go along with a SECRET AGENT room transformation:

1. Insect Riddles

2. Kids create their own insect riddles to stump their peers

3. That vocabulary guessing game where you have a word on your forehead and peers give you clues to guess what it is. You know what I'm talking about? I'm thinking about making these as headbands.

4. Insect researchers

Maybe the kids would have like 4 different missions throughout the afternoon. I want to do this on my double special day so we can have a normal morning, and then I can use my special and lunch to transform the room and get it ready for an afternoon of review.

Next up? Authors Purpose unit. I made 12 different short passages for my kiddos on Friday. I labeled pie plates as Persuade, Inform, and Entertain. Each group of 3 had to read through the 12 passages and sort by author's purpose. The first team who finished got to play PIE FACE!!! Everyone eventually finished, so we all got to play. I want to add more passages, an answer key, directions, and more ideas to complete a TPT mini unit. 

After that....I volunteered to be on a Strategic Partner team at my school. We're working to improve our school's academics with some outside help. Every once in a while we have a four hour meeting from 5-9. And it's tomorrow. The meetings are interesting and go quick and we get pizza....but thinking about teaching all day and then going to a meeting is a bit daunting.

2 things I HOPE to do:

My kitchen is messy. I never cook more than grilled cheese and yesterday I experimented with a casserole, leaving behind a mess. I contained most of the mess to the sink and stove top...but it still needs to be cleaned.

It's a chilly, rainy day. Perfect for lounging around all day. But, I have an energetic dog who will whine and cry until she gets some exercise. She loves walks. So, I might have to bite the bullet, get out my rain boots, and the her for a walk. Up here is western New York, we're pretty lucky to have rain in January and not 3 feet of snow, so I should just grin and bear it. :)

1 thing I'm HAPPY to do:

Obviously, hanging around in my comfy, cozy pajamas on my couch is the ideal way to spend a Sunday morning! It's even cozier with my dog's head resting on my leg, keeping me warm on this chilly day. I have made a resolution to be a better blogger this year! That means posting regularly and finding some great link ups to contribute to, so here I am! A week and a half into January, and I am totally keeping up with this resolution. :)

P.S. I'm having a 20% off EVERYTHING sale on TPT. Check it out!