Partner Wheel Freebies

Hey Friends!
I wanted to follow up last week's post about partner wheels with some freebies for you. My awesome techy husband worked on these partner wheels for me, and I am passing them on to you!! =) When you print, make sure you print 2 of them, one for the front wheel, and one for the back. You may also want to print them in two different colors. There are wheels for classes of 18, 20, 22, and 30. To read more about the partner wheels be sure to check out my "pinspiration", Karen and her awesome blog Flamingo Fabulous in 2nd Grade. Have a wonderful week!!

Happy Blogging!!!
-Jackie-
partner wheel 18 students
partner wheel 20 students
Partner Wheel 22 students
Partner Wheel 30 students

This might be the best Pinterest find yet!!

Hey Bloggy Friends!!
As I was "pinning" a few nights ago, I came across an amazing way to quickly pair students up. Karen from Flamingo Fabulous in Second Grade shared her partner wheel with the blogging community. I thought this was the absolute best thing since sliced bread, but her version was for 24 kids, and I only have 18. My very awesome husband designed a wheel for me with 18 spots. I LOVE it! I am taking Karen's word that the kids who shouldn't be paired up will never catch on to my sneaky scheme!


To print my copy out, click on the picture of the wheel, and right click on it. Copy the image and paste it to a word doc. You can then make it bigger if you'd like to. Print 2 copies of it. Make sure the button "fit picture to frame" is checked. Cut out the small wheel and fasten it to the larger wheel with a brad fastener.



Be sure to check out Karen's Awesome Blog and fabulous ideas! Thanks Karen!! =)

It's time for the BACHELOR... who is Ben going to pick this season?? I can't wait to find out!
Happy Blogging!!
-Jackie-

Happy New Year and Math Workstation Freebie!

Happy New Year!
As much as I wanted to lay around and be lazy during my winter break, I just couldn't! My first week off was spent shopping (last minute of course!) and cleaning the house to get ready for Christmas.
The major teacher geek (ultimate professional) in me asked Santa for 2 books, The Book Whisperer and Debbie Diller's Math Workstations. Santa was SO wonderful and brought both of them to me! Hopefully he didn't have to search through too many stores to find them. I know they're hard to come by.
Anyway, I just couldn't wait to read them both! I started (both of them) once my family left and little one went to bed. I alternated books as I finished reading each chapter. You could say I was "voraciously" reading!
In order to get my mind wrapped around the math workstations, I did lots of brainstorming and pinning lots of great ideas. In my head I know what I need to do when we start back in order to have a smooth transition into the stations. It'll be a little tricky starting them up in the middle of the year, but I figure it's better late than never!
The last math skill that my students were working on before break was adding two digit numbers with or without regrouping. I wanted to adapt the game "trade or no trade" to fit my class and previous teaching. Help yourself to my version of the game. Please let me know what you think. It's nothing fancy (I haven't invested in way cute clip art), but it'll get the job done. I plan on making the same game with subtraction, and hundreds for my high achievers.
May you have a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!!
-Jackie-
Addition Regroup or Don't Regroup

Where, oh where have we been?

Wow!! It's been quite a while (5 months to be exact,) since we've blogged! This school year has overwhelmed us both to huge degrees that something had to give. Unfortunately for both of us, it was our super fun and awesome blog. We're sad that we haven't been able to share our school year thus far, but our (at least my) new year's resolution is to be a better blogger!
Here's a very brief rundown of my year so far... As many of you know, I was able to loop up to 2nd grade with my amazing class. The year got off to a great start!! I knew exactly what my returning kids' skills were and we were able to hit the ground running. Since there were only 13 of my kids who actually returned, my class was filled to Florida's class size capacity with 5 new students. I spent a majority of the end of August-September assessing them, and planning for their instruction. I was thrown for a bit of a loop when I discovered one of my new sweeties is on the autism spectrum. Although he needs a lot of one on one attention, he has been welcomed with huge open arms by each and everyone of my former and new students. They love to assist him in any way possible. They are all wonderful role models and helpers. By October we were rocking and rolling with Daily 5, writer's workshop, and everything else that makes 2nd grade wonderful! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the curriculum too! It's fabulous to be able to write directions on the board on the first day of school and for the kids to be able to READ it and DO what it says!! I may not leave 2nd grade now. :-)
The change for me to my new 2nd grade team has been an adjustment. Due to my own personal request for keeping my 1st grade classroom as well as the lack of available classrooms upstairs, I am completely separated from my 2nd grade teammates. Of course we have a phone and email to connect with, but it's the lack of face time that I am missing. I am adjusting well though, and of course I still have my sister and 1st grade friends to bounce ideas off of. It helps that I am the team leader and we are required to have PLC (professional learning community) meetings each week in my classroom.
I think the "thing" that's weighed the most heavily on me (and my sister) is our new teacher evaluation system. Our district(county) has adopted the Marzano teacher evaluation system. Getting used to all of the new language, different domains, observations, etc... has been so time consuming! I've spent hours upon hours online researching different rubrics "scales", and learning goals. It has worn me out to the point where I stay away from my computer (except for facebook and pinterest of course!)
I had two amazing junior interns (Miss S. and Miss A.) who helped me tremendously. I'll post pics of their awesome bulletin boards once I get back to my classroom. I also have a fabulous parent helper (Mrs. W.) in my class each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. It's like I have my own personal para two times a week! I am sooo lucky!
I've also been spending lots of quality time with my little girl. She's growing up so fast and I don't want to miss a thing. I feel like her fist three years have been a blur and I don't want her next 3 to be the same, so I've been devoting my time after school until her bed time to her.
Although I would LOVE to have another 2 weeks off, I feel refreshed and ready to get back to my kids for the long haul. Our next break isn't until April! I have some lofty goals for the new year, one of which is to implement Debbie Diller's Math workstations! I've read the book during this vacation, and I am ready to go!! It's pretty crazy to start something new in the middle of the year, but if anyone can handle it, it's my kids. They are so adaptable and love to do and try new things. I've got a working camera again, so stay tuned for new pictures of my classroom and other happenings in my class!
Happy Blogging!!
-Jackie-

P.S. I would love to thank Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for nominating us for The Versatile Blogger award and Marcy at Buzzin' On Cupcakes for the I heart your blog award. We appreciate your nominations and vow to be better bloggers!!! xoxo

I don't know about you, but I am tired!

Wow... who knew that starting the school year in a new grade level would wipe you out?!! It really hasn't helped that I've been sick too. Starting the new school year and being sick at the same time is NO FUN! On a very positive note, I absolutely love my class (hence the reason I looped with them)!! I have 14 students that I had last year, and 2 new (to me) students. My newbies have been welcomed so nicely by the others, and they've become quickly acclimated to their new friends and teacher. It's such a wonderful learning environment for everyone! We're all so blessed!
The best part of having the same kids again, is definitely not having to go through the the "getting to know you" part of the year. I love not having to stress over figuring out what makes them "tick", what their exact reading level is, and how to motivate them. It's fantastic to know exactly who is talking to me even when my back is turned. It's wonderful that they know ME! They know my "teacher looks". They know that when the tone in my voice changes, I mean business. They know my routines and procedures (even though I taught them again). Most importantly, they know each other, and they treat each other like family. Not the brother/sister who fight constantly kind of family, but the family that truly cares for each other's well being. They take care of each other, they love each other, and I love them for that!
It's so early in the year, but I predict that it's going to be my best school year yet!
Happy Blogging!!
-Jackie-

Last linky before school begins...

Amanda at Plumdoodles is having a Pinterest Linky Party!! She would like us to share our favorite pinboards, Pinterest inspired projects, or just share some great ideas we've gathered! I've been very "pinspired" this summer and although I haven't made too many things yet, they are absolutely in the back of my mind waiting for me to make them!!
My little girl turned 3 years old in July, right around the time I started "pinning". I was able to pin so many great Minnie Mouse/ hot pink/ zebra print things to my "Party Ideas for Mak's B-Day" board!!I was really pleased with how it all turned out and Makenzie had a wonderful time with family and friends!!


Today I went to Target and in the dollar spot I found the foam clocks inspired by this pic! I can't wait to hang these on my wall and never have to hear the question "when is lunch?" again!!!
Thanks to Christina Bainbridge, I've been inspired to do a Math Focus wall!! Here's a pic of an "Envision Math" focus wall that matches my curriculum. =)
Finally, the BEST dinner (BY FAR) that my hubbby made this summer came from my pin on pinterest!!! Check out these delicious Ham and Cheese Sliders!!! They are to DIE for!!
I LOOOOOOOOVE Pinterest!!! Click here to link up to this fabulous linky party!!!


You can also find my pinboards by clicking here!!
Happy Pinning!!!
-Jackie

Freebies!!

I've been busy busy busy!! It's not enough that I spent three days this week fixing up my classroom... I just HAD to make labels for everything to coordinate with my Zebra theme!! I know, I am a huge OCD/Type A personality!! I just can't help myself. I have the NEED to make everything match!!! I can't let my sister be mismatched either, so I made her some labels to match her polka dots too!! Please enjoy these freebie printables... and leave us a comment to let us know what you think!! =)
Happy Blogging!!!
-Jackie-
Zebra Supply Labels


Zebra Book Basket Labels 2011



Zebra Job Cards



Polka Dot Supply Labels 2011


Polka Dot Job Cards