2nd Grade Common Core Standards

I received a few emails asking to make 2nd Grade Common Core Recording I Can Notebooks.
It sure made me appreciate 2nd grade teachers.  Their math gets much heavier than first grade!

Here is a peak:

You can get your own copy here.  :)

Have a terrific THURSDAY!

-Danielle

Conference Paperwork

I am attaching some of the paperwork that I send home for conferences.   :)

Off to bed for me!

-Danielle

Animal Unit Finished!

I will be posting my students photos soon!  They have already finished their fantasy animal stories.  This week they are working on their non-fiction stories and we are adding our labeled animals to the shared first grade animal hallway display!  ;)

Here it is:

You can see the entire unit at TPT if you click the PREVIEW button on the page here. 

Have a terrific Monday!
-Danielle

Have I Got the Book for You!

This is my absolute new favorite children's book!  I saw it recommended on proteacher.  I ordered it and just picked it up from the teacher store.  I am going to use it with persuasive writing and have my students try to sell something later in the year.

This book is absolutely hilarious.  I recommend it to all ages!

You can check it out here!

Hand Signals

How I love using sign language in my classroom!

It all started with minoring in American Sign Language in college.  When I started teaching I said, "Well my degree isn't going to go to waste."  I started teaching the students how to ask for the restroom.

That slowly moved to teaching the signal for drink.  Then I moved to washing hands, yes, no and wait.

Days like today it makes me happy that I take the time to teach signals to my class.  It is nice to teach a group and being able to nod or show the sign for yes and not miss a beat.

I remember the days when I was student teaching.  (So embarrassing to think back- my cooperating teacher must have been an angel!)  I would get so excited when students would participate and hold up their hand.  It never failed that every other day someone would break our engaging lesson with an, "I have to go to the bathroom!"  I would say yes and then try to regroup.  Once I gained my own classroom I have always used signs and I just love it!  :)

I have an ASL alphabet chart hanging on my wall that the students use.  I also teach them many signs for social studies and science topics throughout the year. 

If you haven't incorporated something like this into your classroom, I highly recommend it!  ;)

Just start with teaching them to cross their pointer and middle finger then moving their hand left to right.  Try teaching them to use this when asking to use the restroom.  When you see how well it works, you will want to teach them even more!  :)

-Danielle

Reading Response Notebooks

Happy Monday!

I was inspired by the very talented Hilary Lewis to create a new Reading Response Notebook for my kids.  I have been using her FREE homework template as my homework reading log.  (I just simplified it a bit.) 

Here is a glimpse of my student class version.  :) 

You can download your own version here. 

-Danielle

2D Shapes

I hope that you have had a relaxing weekend!

I have been busy finishing up my animal unit.  (It is almost complete!  I accidentally left the book I needed at school.)

I have also started my 2D shape unit.  I am bound and determine for my first graders to learn their 2D shapes.  I have even decided to make motivation bags.  These bags are full of yummy treats using most of the 2D shapes.

Here they are minus the pentagon and trapezoid:

Each bag is labeled with a child's name.  Next time I do this, I will allow the students to personally pick out their flavor choice so that it is extra motivating!

Here is what I used:

Circle

ellipse

Hexagons (next time I will just use the Little Debbie cakes because I had to hunt for good hexagons.)

Oops!  I took it upside down! :)  I cut these in half to make trapezoids.

I cut the ends off at an angle and then cut diagnol lines to make parallelograms.

I cut each cheese slice in half and chopped off the corners to make pentagons. I placed parchment paper between each slice so they won't stick.

I am going to go buy triangle shaped crackers tomorrow morning.

I also have tracing shapes, posters and other shape activities lined up for the week.  This is just a little bit more motivation for them to learn their shapes for good!  :)  Once they can tell me the shape, they can eat the shape.  I obviously will keep the cheese out of the bag!

Any cheap and fast ideas for octagons?

Have a great week!
-Danielle