Linky Party: Then & Now

Hi Friends!

Kate over at Second Grade Sparkle is hosting a fun linky party!  You have to post a picture of yourself when you were in the grade you now teach (or close to it) and a picture of how you look today. I don't have a picture of me in first grade which is the grade I teach, but I did find one of me in fourth grade.  Join in on the fun!!
 

1969 Fourth Grade-9 years old

 

40 years later...2009 

 

Join in on the fun!!
Rules
Post a picture or two of yourself when you were in the grade you currently teach or close to it.
Share a current picture of yourself.
Check out the other teachers who have linked up.
Second Grade Sparkle
 

This Will Make You Smile!

I recently saw this video on Faceboook and promise it will make you smile.

Happy Weekend!!



Pinterest Pins at my Fingertips

Hi Friends!

Don't you just LOVE Pinterest!!!  I know I do.  I've spent my fair share of time pinning all

kinds of school related things.  I've pinned so many that sometimes I forget what I've pinned even though I really wanted to make or use something I'd pinned.  Do you know what I mean?

So, I decided to print things that I really want to make or do.  After printing,  I put the

 pictures into a binder which I've organzied by subject area.  Now I have these

 pins right at my fingertips when I need them.  I keep the binder at school for inspiration

when I am planning.  Here's a look at my binder.

 

 

 



Word Banks

Hi Friends!

Do you make seasonal, holiday or thematic word banks?  I have been making them with my

students for years.  I've made the word banks in a variety of ways.  Sometimes I use a large piece

of butcher paper that I cut into a shape related to the topic.  After recording the

words the kids dictate to me, I ask them to illustrate each of the words.  I glue each picture next to

the corresponding word on our chart.  Other times, I have the kids dictate words related to our topic and I write the words on 3x5 index cards.  They illustrate the words and put them in a pocket chart.

The kids have access to these words when they are writing.  They can go to the pocket chart, take

a word they need to their desk, and then return it when they are done.  I really like using index

cards because when I am done with a particular theme, I can take the words out of the pocket chart,  put them on a metal ring, and keep them in the writing center all year. 

Here are some photos showing how I used index cards for our Halloween word bank.



I use metal shower curtain rings to hold the cards.

 

 

 



Leaf Collection

Hi Friends!
The trees here in the midwest are so beautiful in the fall. 
Every year I ask my students to find as many different leaves as they can and bring them to school.
I tape the leaves to large poster paper and have the kids try to identify them using a couple
of resources I have just for this project.  The kids love doing this!  They are always so engaged and
serious about correctly identifying each leaf.  Here are some pictures of the kids hard at work and
two resources I use for this project.
 



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