Non-Fiction Research

We are ending our year with some Non-Fiction writing in our classroom.  The second grade is going on a field trip to the aquarium, so the students chose a sea animal to research.  We borrowed some books from the library and, with help from our technology teacher, found some pretty cool facts online.  We used the following websites to find kid-friendly facts about our animals:

World Book Kids

World Book Student

Animal Fact Guide

Kids' Biology

Today we started off by reading our sources with a partner.  The kids did a great job reading with their partner and discussing their new learning!

Our next step will be to take notes on the research that we have done.  Then we will be putting our notes into sentences...paragraphs...books!  We'll be non-fiction authors before we know it!  I'll be sharing pictures as we continue our project.

Five for Friday!

Yay for Friday!  It's that time of year when the days go by way to fast and way to slow at the same time.  If you're a teacher, you know what I mean.  There is so much testing and loose ends to pull together before we release our students to the next grade.  On the other hand, we can taste summer (and so can our students!).  It's a crazy time of year.

1. I shared the blog planner I've made for myself for Made-It Monday this week.  I received lots of requests for it, so be on the look out for it soon!

Click the picture to learn more!

2.  For the #PADteacherchallenge on Instagram, I shared photos of my handwriting.  I've been told all my life that I should turn my handwriting into a font.  With all this new-fangled technology we have now, I could actually make that happen.  What do you think?!

3. I can't let a Five for Friday go by without sharing a photo of my puppy.  He was keeping an eye on the neighborhood at my friend's house.  Yes, he's standing on a computer tower.  Whatever works!

4.  The Tooth Fairy came today!  The dentist from our town comes every year to do a presentation for the second graders.  She brings along what I can only imagine is her secretary, dressed as the Tooth Fairy.  The kids get a kick out of it.  The kids get a goodie bag of floss and toothbrushes.  This year the teachers got a present too.  Missed out on getting a picture of the Tooth Fairy, but here's my present!

5. My special ed teacher is getting married this weekend, so I had my kids make cards for her.  They came out so cute!  Hopefully she's too busy to read my blog this weekend, since it's surprise!

Happy Weekend!  I have a double graduation and a wedding over the next two days.  I'll be one busy lady!  What's in store for you this weekend?

Liquids!

As part of our Gems-Net Science Kits, we are exploring solids and liquids.  We finished up solids, which you can read about here, here and here!  The students had a great time with all the hands-on experiments.  Now it's time for liquids.

We learned that the properties of liquids include transparent, colored, translucent, viscous, etc.  Big words for second graders!  They are soaking it all in, though (haha, get it?).

Today we learned about liquid levels in a bottle.  We explored what happens when a container is tilted, placed on its side and then upside down.

We recorded our results on the template provided by the kit:

Then we answered the question, "How do liquids change in a container?"  A major part of these kits is writing in response to their discoveries.  My students are definitely becoming better writers!  The vocabulary they use is just as impressive.

Here's a picture of one our liquids rolling around!

Happy {almost} Friday!

Monday Made-It!

I'm pretty sure I haven't done a Monday Made-It since, ohh, August?  For some reason, I just have more time in the summer and I can't quite figure out why... haha!  I just don't have the patience to create things during the year.  I'm not really a creative person, so it takes A LOT for me to make something on my own.  But, thanks to Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics, I'm getting better!

My Monday Made-It this week is for all you bloggers out there!  I am a planner, an organizer, a list-maker.  I am obsessed with calendars.  I like to have things written down.  So I created my very own blog planner!  I was inspired by The Eager Teacher to create this.  Not all of her pages worked quite right for me, so I tweaked it to fit my needs.  And, honestly, it's still not all the way right for me.  But eventually I will get it right!

Here is the cover (which is just so darn pretty to look at!):

I have the monthly calendar first:

I use my fun flair pens to make everything prettier!

Next, I have a weekly calendar:

There are boxes for each day of the week.

As well as sections for to-dos, projects and collaborations (linky parties, giveaways, etc).

The third section is for blogging ideas.

I use it to write down topics I want to blog about.  The checkboxes on the side are my favorite!

The last section is where I take notes about products that I want to create.  It's hard to keep them all in my head!

Once I finished the planner, I had it bound at Staples!

I'm not going to lie, I'm kinda obsessed with my planner.  I may be making more in the future!  I do know that some bloggers find a planner to be cumbersome and just extra work, which is completely understandable.  I don't use my planner all the time, but I do really like having it.  It definitely helps me feel more organized.

Happy Monday!

Five for Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!  How many Fridays do you have left??  That's way more fun to count than Mondays.  We only have 5!  It's exciting but nerve-wracking at the same time.  I am looking forward to the warm weather and sunshine, but how am I going to finish everything before the last day?!  Eek!

Here are my 5 random pictures of the week:

1.  My husband graduated this weekend!  So darn proud of him.  I think he is relieved to be done.

2. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!  Our parents bought us Panera for lunch today - yum!

 3.  Also for Teacher Appreciation Day, our PBIS team put together folders for each teacher.  We had each student in the school choose at least one teacher and write a note/draw a picture describing what they liked most about that teacher.  The students loved helping out and it definitely put a smile on many teachers' faces!  You can grab a free copy of the cover and the student template here.

4.We've been practicing our math facts to get ready for 3rd grade!

 5.  We also created a chart to help us remember how to get ready for third grade.  We choose 3 to read during Morning Meeting every day.  I think it has had a positive effect!

How was your week?  Go share with Doodle Bugs Teaching!
Happy Friday!

P.S. - I vow to be a better blogger next week!

Fabulous Feedback!

Who doesn't love positive feedback?  It's a wonderful thing!  Did you know you can leave feedback on your purchases from Teachers Pay Teachers?  You can!  You even receive credits for the comments you leave to use towards future purchases.  It's a win-win situation for everyone!

Sometimes buyers leave comments that say, "great" or "thanks."  While we all appreciate a good thank you, these just aren't super special.  However, there are some comments that are out-of-this-world!  These are buyers who go above and beyond and really put some thought into their comment.  As someone, who works super hard on all my products, it feels great to hear how much someone appreciates it!  It makes my heart smile!

I thought I would link up with Christina Bainbridge for her Fabulous Feedback Linky Party.  I am going to showcase the best feedback that has been left in my store.

Here are my 3 most favorite comments that I have received.  Seriously, these guys are wonderful!

 1. Writing Journal Prompts

2. Writing Mini-Offices

3. Owls in the Classroom

Do you see your TpT name on any of those comments?!  Today is your lucky day!  Leave me your email address in the comments below and you get to choose any item from my store for free!  Thank you for sharing your thoughts, you are awesome!

If your name isn't in those comments, no need to fret!  My entire TpT store will be 28% off tomorrow and Wednesday in honor of Teacher Appreciation Day.  That's right, I appreciate YOU!

Happy Shopping!

Five for Friday {Linky}

It's Five for Friday time!  If it weren't for Doodle Bugs Teaching, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be blogging at all right about now.  The end of the year is approaching and my spring allergies have hit hardcore.  To say I'm walking around in a daze would be an understatement.  

Here are my 5 randoms of the week...

1. My husband and I got to go for a walk on the beach last night.  I love living in RI!  We were in jeans and sweatshirts, but summer IS coming!

2.  Grabbed some cute chevron buckets from the Target Dollar Spot.  Not sure what I am going to use them for, but I sure am excited about them!

3.  Finally finished my subtraction set!  I made the addition set in the fall and my co-worker has been waiting a while for this one!

4. My sister bought a house and we found this on the wall.  Be cool, stay in school.

5.  These creepy crawlers have invaded my classroom.  Ew!  One of my girls found one in her hair.  Downside to spring, I guess.

Happy, happy Friday!