Story Sequencing Activities for 2nd Grade Reading Street

Took a bit off to spend some daughter and me time!  Plus, I have this obsessive personality when it comes to making things and sometimes I don't know when to slow down and I just get burnt out.  I was a bit burnt and needed a little thinking time!  Does that happen to anyone else?

When we got our new reading series a few years ago I was a bit nervous.  We went with Scott Foresman's Reading Street.  I really have enjoyed it.   I found myself wanting to have the kids sequence the story so a co-worker and myself last summer made up these sheets.  It's a cut and paste activity.  At the beginning of the year I would do it with the students and towards the end of the year they were able to do it by themselves.  I would sometimes let them work in groups.  To add a bit more of a challenge, I have my kiddos write underneath what PAGE they found this on!  I have really enjoyed that.  If this sounds like something you're interested in and would like a closer look, check it out on my TPT store.  I recently bundled all Units together to save people $5 too.  Click the pictures below for the link back to the store.

          

             

             

My week off had me all crafty!  I made my sweet pea this super funny shirt!  She just makes the best model to all my crazy Pinterest tries.  I have many a Pinterest FAILS but I gotta say, I think I nailed this one!  Have a great day!

Birthdays: Full & Half

I remember being in elementary school and getting so excited for when it was someone's birthday in our class.  It meant treats and celebrating that person...but mostly treats *side note: was a chubby kid/liked my food*.  I loved it when it was mine too but I was an August birthday which at that time meant SUMMER birthday so we would always celebrate it on my half birthday.  Nowadays, my birthday is normally the first week of school (or in this year's case the first day of school (suck)!

I always try to think of different things I can do to help make my student's birthdays special for them and still not take up too much time in our school day.  My favorite thing I like to do for them is a class book for them to keep.  Each student gets a sheet to complete and they have to write some nice thoughts to the birthday student.  It may be well wishes for their birthday or just some things they really like about the person.  I try to keep this pretty open (kids are pretty good at thinking of something).  Then at the end of the day I take all those pages and pop a cover on it and bind it together (or staple) and send it home with the birthday/half birthday student!

What is the birthday student doing while the kids work on their book?
I've done a few different things in years past.  I have a Happy Birthday Word Search that I let them work on while I give others about 15 minutes to complete their page.  Another option is just have the birthday sheet on the desks in the morning and have them work on it right away in the morning and anytime they finish early... letting them know you need to have it back by the end of the day.  This has worked out well too.  You just need to figure out what works best for you and your class and go with that!  You may want them to fill it out prior to this student's birthday/half birthday so it's not such a rush!  To each their own :)

Other things I do for my students is present them a pencil with a "Happy Birthday" paper balloon topper, a bookmark (Target bin buys), and a signed birthday certificate.  This year as a gift for my students I'm thinking about buying 25 or so boxes of crayons (when they are super cheap) with a little tag that says, "Have a Colorful Birthday" and then a few birthday coloring sheets.

I always try to make sure to make those half birthdays just as important for my kiddos as my full birthdays because I remember being the Half Birthday Kid (It kinda sucked).  But I'm a bit weird, I like all things I give to my students for their half birthday to actually say "Happy Half Birthday" which is why I started making up my own stuff for birthday resources.

Anyways, if you want to check out this packet click on the pictures below and check it out!  There is a Happy Half Birthday for every Happy Birthday Resource (in case anyone else out there is as weird about that as me).

Click to View on TPT

Second Day of Second Grade

Each year there is a few different days that I truly look forward to.  Days like Spooky School, Grinch Day, & Second Day of Second Grade.

I truly love this day.  When I first started teaching my mentor teacher told me about different things she does for the 2nd day of 2nd grade.  I took her activities and many ideas floating around in my head and just rolled with it!  Every subject on the 2nd day revolves around the #2.  I really have found this builds excitement among the second graders for this year of second grade.  It pumps them up to be a second grader.  It's always tough coming back from summer and so it's nice to have a day of some unique activities.

This packet that I created has so many different activities that I never can do them all in one day.  I like to pick and choose some of my favorite activities and just go with those.  I mix them up each year too, so I don't get too sick of things.  Every year I seem to think of 1 or 2 new ideas that I end up adding to this packet so if you do purchase it, every year be checking for a redownload.  It's funny... the best ideas I get come to me at such random times.... washing my hair in the shower, driving to school, going on walks with Grace.  It seems like everytime I get a great idea I never have a pen to write it down!  Many ideas of mine have probably gone forgotten because of this.

Click to Purchase or View in Further Detail

Here are some highlights from this packet (my favorites).

Two Posters

Double Bubble Activity

Naming Seconds

Shoe Sort

2nd Day of 2nd Grade Would you Rather 

There are many other 2nd Day of 2nd Grade activities in here, and I hope I have convinced you of the greatness of this day!  Let's get those 2nd graders excited to be in 2nd grade!!!  

Having a Baby?

Congratulations!  

I am not...

But not too long ago I was... been there, done that (hopefully will do it again someday, but my little darling is only 9 months old... I'm in no hurry...I just gained the ability to roll over in bed again, I'm not ready to give that perk up!).  When I did find out I was having a little one, I wanted to share it with many people but I found myself MOST excited to tell my class that year.  I waited long enough to be safe because I'm a major worrier... but the first people I felt like telling was my class (beyond family).  It was exactly what I imagined!  I did a code sheet where students had to figure out my "secret message".  The message says, "I'm going to have a baby".  I told the kids once they figured out the code to flip their papers over and don't say anything until everyone was done.  This was comical.  Some of them were flipping out!  They wanted to announce it so bad, and I had one slow worker who was not figuring it out fast enough and the class was going nuts.  Once they had all figured it out though we all celebrated!

I did another fun activity when I found out the gender of the baby.  We did a bunch of graphing and predicting about what they thought I'd have... and then the fun part.  I randomly handed out blue and pink balloons poking a hole in all the blue balloons.  When the kids went to blow up the balloons... only the pink ones blew up!  It's a girl!!!!

There are so many fun little things you can do in your class to enjoy this special time in your life.  They get pretty excited about it too because let's face it, you're a big part of their life!

I put all of these ideas and more into this little packet on my TPT store.  If you're interested (having a baby or know someone who is) check it out!  It's got some class books you can make, the two activities I talked about, and a great way to get some ideas for baby names! To pick one up, click on the first picture below and it will take you to my store.

Hello Blog-o-sphere!

I'm trying out this whole blog phenomena.  I've followed them for so long and just decided I might as well try it out.  Well here are a few thing about me: 

• First time blogger
•  I teach 2nd grade 
• I teach in what is known as "stick builts" as we have run out of room in the actual Elementary School... thus my blog title "Stickin' to Second Grade".  
• I just started selling some of my products on TPT
•  I'm a new Mommy (well sorta new).  My daughter is 9 months old.  
• I've been married to my husband now for 2 1/2 years.  

Anyways, those are just a few bits and pieces.  I hope to keep posting more when I think of something worth sayin!  

My little girl

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (hopefully...)