Five for Friday on Sunday

It's Friday again.... or Sunday?, when I'm actually able to finish this post! Better late than never!

#1. Halloween is seriously right around the corner!! I mean, really... where is this year going? It's def been a whirlwind, for me at least! Our Halloween projects and activities official started this week. Our classrooms are really starting to look "spook"tacular. 

We started our week with some scary stories. Each child picked to write a spooky story about either a witch, vampire, or Frankenstien. We had them work through the writing process and turn their stories into final copies. We used our writing toppers from our Halloween unit to jazz them up a bit! They turned out adorable super scary.

We also did some opinion writing this week with some inspiration from Amy Lemons' spiders. We are just amazed by her! We read a ton of informational spider books throughout the week. The students then had to use their new information to answer: Do you think spiders are creepy or cool? Some just couldn't decide because the creepy things about spiders makes them so cool! lol, second graders are so insightful sometimes. Check out some of our finished products...

#2. This past week we also started telling time. Our cuties got o'clock and thirty without a problem but were really struggling with the five minute intervals. Sister 2 whipped up this cute Halloween inspired I-Spy. Grab it from our TPT store here... free!

I also pulled out our brand new telling time floor mat for some additional practice. I had my students go out into our pod with a parent volunteer to practice telling time.

#3. This week we were also working on making visualizations. We have two poems that we just love for this strategy. One is about a pencil and the other is about an unusual pet. Grab them both here. Our students were so surprised to find out what the poems were actually about!

#4. My wonderful room mom knows just what this mom-to-be craves and popped by this week with my FAVORITES. Kind of random but my baby loves soup and McDonald's breakfast sandwiches.

#5. Remember how last week Big Boy swung by school with ice cream sundaes?? This week Olive Garden came to my classroom with salad, breadsticks, and pasta! They brought chef hats and name tags... the kids (and their very hungry teacher) were in heaven! MMM thank you Olive Garden!

Now I just need to get Sister 2 to give Chili's a call back! I'm hoping they want to bring their famous (and our favorite) chips and salsa!

The Lions are on so I'm off to relax before our weekly Soup and Sandwich Sunday dinner tradition!
-Sister 3- 

A Day in the Life of the Sisters

Today we are linking up with our friend from Second Grade Nest!

Here's a look into our day!

We wake up between 6:30-8:00. [no no we don't live together.]  I'm ALWAYS the last one up.  I'm just not a morning person... thankfully school doesn't start until 9:00.  As soon as we get to school we make a cup of something!  Sister 1 drinks hot chocolate, Sister 2 drinks tea, and I drink my decaf.  Having a Keurig as school is AMAZING.  Then we spend some time chatting with each other and checking our email before the morning music starts.  Our school welcomes our kiddos with some upbeat music to get them pumped for the day!  Once the bell rings we take attendance.  Each class has their own office folder.  

These two cuties swear they didn't plan this! How cute are they?!?  After we settle in we go over the agenda of the day and review some of our learning objectives. 

First up is math.  This week we've been working on telling time.  My class calls our clock, Judy.  Most of them even say hi to Judy when they come in... strange? Maybe, but whatever gets them excited to tell time!  This week we're also studying time lines, so we thought why not kill two birds with one stone.  

I swear the "sharp" pail was full before school started! But after math, I always have to sharpen pencils.  I really don't know how they are all dull at the same time? Do they purposely break them just to torment me?

The rest of our morning seems to be lost because my next picture is lunch.  We hit up Subway, for the second time this week.  Don't judge. hehe

After lunch we had to take advantage of our beautiful 74 degree day!  But when we came back in, it was time to get back to business.  First we finished up a poem we had started  before lunch.  Then I went through everyones "Book of Poetry."  Each student selected their favorite poem and we did a run through of our program...  Tomorrow we are hosting, "An Afternoon of Poetry." We'll fill you in on this tomorrow!  

Next we worked on our informational research project.  The sisters and I each did it a little bit differently.  Sister 1 decided to do her research online and display it on the Smartboard.  Sister 2 is doing hers with a book.  I decided to print off a pocket book for each one of my students... tons of prep work.  I'm the crazy one!  But they all LOVE their little book on elephants. Soooo it was worth it. 

Finally, it was time for specials.  Today our class had science.  The science teacher comes to our room.  I always leave and sneak to Sister 2's room with Sister 1.  I forgot something I needed on my desk so when I snuck in to grab it I couldn't resist snapping a picture of these really cool bridges they where building.  How fun!

The sisters and I have prep last hour.  We generally spend all of it catching up preparing materials.  

Today we were busy.  I hung out with the copy machine for about a half hour.  I also hung up our pop can drive posters.  We got ready for our volunteer luncheon, Cinco de Mayo style.  We love our kindergarten teachers for making those adorable centerpieces!  Finally, after school made a few phone calls to parents.    

After school, Sister 2 had to run to all of her sons baseball practices.  3 boys, I don't know how she does it!  Sister 1 stayed late at school putting the finishing touches on the volunteer luncheon decor.  I had to scoot to the grocery store to get stuff for our "Afternoon of Poetry." Two trips later I had it all. Note to self, always make a list.  My mom and I made cupcakes, Rice Crispy treats, and a butterfly goldfish snack we found on Pinerest. We went a little over board!  We were so busy with the treats that we decided to order a calzone for dinner.   

After dinner, I took my little Bella Baby for a walk.  I couldn't get her to smile, she wasn't in the mood for a picture!  And now... the Wings are playing. It's finally time to relax.  

Phhew I'm tired! 

It's TIME!

That's right all...it is time to teach TIME!  We are just getting started but there is definitely a wide gap in how much knowledge my kiddos have....from some who think it's "easy peasy lemon squeezy" (no kidding that is the exact words) to some who asked which hand is which.....see?  Large gap!  So today we started easy and are going to spend lots of time practicing! 

We started talking about the differences between analog and digital clocks.  Enter problem #1!  Our school opened 11 years ago and they installed ALL digital clocks.  That is right....in a school....in an elementary school....where we teach time. I mean come on people...way to make this TOO easy for the students!  In all seriousness, most clocks and watches these students see/have are all digital which is why some don't really get it when it comes to analog!  But despite our clocks (which all three of us lovely sisters cover up...yes we are mean), we will get them to be able to read the "other kind" of clock!

After discussing analog and digital, a.m. and p.m., which hand is which (trick....tell them the word hour is short just like the little hand and the word minute is long just like the big hand....no not rocket science but whatever helps it stick) we worked on telling time to the hour and half-hour.  We worked in a whole group then I gave them each Judy clocks and called out times they would have to hold up.  Next, we moved to partner work where they "quizzed" each other.  All simple but all great beginning practice and they love working in pairs! 

Stay tuned for upcoming time fun....

Time keeps on slipping, slipping...

into the future.  :)  Ok...it's just one of those songs that gets stuck in my head when I'm teaching time.  Oh and Kesha's ever catchy "Tik Tok."  So, as I was creating our new Telling Time unit, I couldn't help myself by naming it "Tick, Tock on the Clock!"  Check it out at our TpT store. 


TpT Unit

We also have a great time game posted as well!

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But, that's not all folks.  I also wanted to share with you some YouTube clips that are fun and educational at the same.  Ohhhh yeahhh..who doesn't love a quick movie clip on these nasty winter days?!

And I almost forgot that I wanted to show you all this fabulous, EASY, delicious dinner....from my cookbook Pinterest.  It's actually from Kraft and is called Ravioli Bake.  Try it, I promise you'll like it.  I'm always looking for quick, "homecookedish" meals and this has become a crowd pleaser in my house. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!  If you've made it this far and are one of the 1st two people to comment below, you will get our Time Unit for FREE.  Ready, set, go. :)

1 more day!?!?

Happy New Year everyone!  I feel like I have been away from the "school world" for so long yet thinking I only have one more day is making me feel a little anxious.  Now don't get me wrong....I am sure you all feel this way.  NO one feels sorry for us for having to go back to work...and trust me I am NOT complaining about the length of time off.  Just seems like I always have lots of plans and before  I know it, it's time to return.  I've used the last few days to do laundry, returns, take down most of the decorations (no not the tree...yet) and work on some new things for TPT that we will be using soon.  Yes, it's been a BUSY few days.  My boyfriend wonders where I went! :)  I do miss my class and my "sister time" so going back isn't all bad.  To be honest with you, I will mostly just miss sleeping in!  Lol.

I share in Sister 2 and Sister 3's sentiments about our blog and TPT store!  I feel very blessed and excited to see that so many of you have enjoyed the ideas we are sharing and that you are bringing them into your classrooms.  Our first quarter surpassed what all three of us could have imagined.  So thank you, thank you, thank you!  When we return, we will be easing our kiddos back in by working on activities from our New Year's pack as well as our winter pack!  If you have the week or two back covered, you can look ahead as I did over break and start prepping for Valentine's Day!  Yes I said it....but people, February will be here before we know it!  We have created a Valentine unit that is packed with a variety of both ELA and math activities!  You can check it out here.  My class loves data collecting, analyzing, and graphing this year so we've included 3 different activities for this in this pack.  I get so excited making these activities, I forget we like to stay ahead of the game and we have about a month until we can use this!  We also are starting to prepare a few small activities for when we start teaching time and money.  Sister 3 blogged the other day about our telling time scavenger hunt and we've also made a fun money activity where students have to match money amounts, with the correct dollars/cents, with the correct money words.  If you are working on money with your kiddos, or planning ahead as we are, check out our money snowmen here. 

Also some news about when we return, I will be having a student teacher!  This is my third experience having one.  The first two went well and I am anticipating this one to be great also.   I am looking forward to "paying it forward" once again and sharing my knowledge with someone new.  Let's face it, another set of hands is always welcome and I know together, she and I will be able to do so many things with "our" class!  

Well the tree isn't taking itself down now is it?  So I'm off to complete that one last thing around here.  Tomorrow I will help my boyfriend take down the tree we put up at his house  and then it's time to settle in for a few last relaxing hours of vacation.  I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!  I hope that we can continue to share great new ideas with you.  If there is anything you would like to see, please feel free to let us know.  We love hearing from you and never stop learning from all of you amazing teachers as well!  

-Sister 1

Happy 2013

Hi everyone! Sister 3 here. Happy 2013! 

I rang in the new year in Nashville, Tennessee!  If you've never been it's an awesome town.  We toured the Jack Daniel's Distillery, saw a comedy show at Zanies, visited the Grand Ole Opry, and explored downtown. If you love country music [like I do!] this is the city for you.  Almost every "local establishment" has live music. Honky Tonk Central was our favorite.  

The city hosted a New Year's Eve bash with a lot of great entertainment.  Unfortunately, it was raining but we didn't let that ruin our night.  We watched the big music note drop at midnight and danced in the rain.  

Needless to say it was one of the best trips!  

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I'm amazed by the success of our TpT store! Thank you all so much. We couldn't have asked for a better first quarter at our store. 

I just uploaded a Telling Time Scavenger Hunt and Worksheets. Check it out here!