You know what Europe looks like....

Short and sweet today...as my to-do list is ever growing :(

I had to post about somethings that were said today.  They were learning about continents and taking a trip around the world,  one student not prompted by anything, asked me...

"Do you know what Europe looks like?"

Here's a picture for reference, maybe I'm missing something ;)

"Mr. Crab's daughter- off of Spongebob"

Here's her picture: 

Nope....not seeing it ;) 

Onto my next story: 

So persuasive letters, one fellow was trying to convince his parents to let him get a dog.  He said he would clean up after it even the "rainbows and waterfalls."

He wanted me to read over it and I said, "what does that mean?"  He whispered it was a code word for Number 1 and 2.  

Rainbows...and waterfalls.....   :)

Never a dull moment!

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2nd Grade CCSS Quick Checks

Ok so first I'll share a funny story from recently:

We were playing a Jeopardy game to review economics the ending question asked you to

"place your wager"

One of my 5th graders was (in complete seriousness), "what is place your wagger?"  

I was thinking....What?!.....then I went over and said, "Oh, wager like a bet on how much money 

you'll make ."  Ha, it was pretty funny.

My newest project was working on these quick checks for Common Core.  Filling up time is always a problem especially for subs.  I have some fillers myself, and I'm all for fun,  but being a sub it would be nice to have something for every classroom that would be beneficial and academically related --so in other words----not a game :(

These are what I came up with for my grade level: 

I'm pretty excited because they can be used for all these things: 

* exit slips

*fillers - academically related!!!

* morning work

* task cards

They cover MOST standards (not all can be assessed with a question) and are a quick question or activity for the class that checks where they are in relation to the CCSS.

They even have answer clues and reasoning to help.

Having these would be great going out the door and being able to check quickly with a few minutes if a standard is addressed.  

     

Did I mention they have Language Arts and Math Standards included?!  Yep I wanted them all in one place and they have covers for the cards as well.  

Click any of the pictures for more information.  

Do you think other grades would find these helpful?  I made them because I already had experience with this grade level and standards but others would be easy to make!  Let me know your thoughts!

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My first award!

Well I have tons to talk about but if you don't have time just read #1 (hopefully it will provide your daily entertainment!)


1. Kid-ism - my students have come up with some dandies (spelling?) this week!  I use this term for those things the kids write/say that I find pretty fun.  You have to find some laughter in the day, right?!  Check out these winners:

I had some heels for P/T conferences sitting by my bag.  A student spots them, "What are those for?" 

I said, "Later."  She responded, "For the book fair?"  

Yes, that's where I always wear my heels ;)  

"Do you like my headband?"  "Yes."  Student responded, "I found it on the street" 

2. My first award - WHOA!!! I was so excited!!! My students nominated me for Character trait of the month- responsible!  They had to write a letter and everything!! It just melted my heart- that they would do something like that for me :)  

Take a look: 

My first teaching award- SWEET!!

3. P/T Conferences

Had the first round of these and halfway done!  Interesting first experience as meeting parents always is!  I think collaborating for the benefit of the student and getting on the same page is always good!  

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Checking In

Onto my second full week teaching everything!!!!  Think I'll stick with another top 5 this post because I have some funny stuff!


Top 5 from last week and this week:

1. We've been working on contractions. I asked one student what two words make up the contraction "I've" , I got the response "I love" - How cute and funny!!

2. I'm like a proud mama! My students continue to impress me!! I love this feeling!! We've been working on strategies and showing our thinking (Investigations....anyone?!)

They come up with way more ways than in our teacher manual- and ways I would have never thought.  I've told them how awesome they are - hope this continues!!  We've also had some pretty big breakthroughs with some students that also make me super proud.

3.  We start science inquiry this week!!! Yay!! I love science! Teaching the scientific method has been great so far!  I'm so excited to start the gummy bear lab with this group tomorrow (I've already done it with my summer kids, but this one is all spiffed up!)

4.  I'm loving Common Core checklists!  I won some from a giveaway and what a lifesaver! There are plenty of free options too (check TPT)

With some principal visits, my supervisors visits and other people coming in the classroom this helps me plan and be more accountable (although are grade won't have CCSS for 2 years)


5.  For writing, we're studying Robert Munsch as our Authors and Mentors text! A ton of his books are on Tumblebooks- so definitely easy to find.

I cannot stress how much the kids love them! The comeback lines (what we studied today) are the thing I think they love most!  They read right along with them even if its the first time- not to mention how funny they are!!!

Check some of these out:




What's your favorite Robert Munsch book?!

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Week 2 and Contraction Game

Week 2 finished!  Finally getting used to some kind of schedule- albeit that does not mean I'm still not SO tired all the time and may or may not be going to bed at 9 o'clock just so I can stay awake all day.

I'll do my Top 5 from this week (I think you're gonna like these :)

1. Contractions Game: This game/center/lesson can be done when learning about contractions and can be used in various ways throughout the classroom.  I created it because it fit with what we were learning about for spelling and grammar plus it's versatile and the students can play it independently if they want later.

Click the pic below to head over to my TpT store and check it out. 

It contains lesson activity, 2 different games to play, a center and extra lesson/activity ideas! Not to mention 21 pairs of contractions to use :)

2. I have already gotten some love notes from my kiddos (YAY!!!! ) They are so encouraging- most of the time.  One girl told me one day "I was too dressy" and the next day "I look like a teenager."  Oh well...I'm loving all the hugs and excitement that the classroom contains. 

3. Kid-isms- the things they say that make my day

• One student pronounced my name Ms. Hogalog (hog-a-log) even though it is Ms. Haslag (Haus-log).  
• One student wrote on their paper that their favorite book was: Gasy Dragon - it was hard not to laugh out loud on that one :)
• During conferencing during writing workshop one boy was writing and drawing a picture and for the life of me I couldn't figure out what "Hobe Lobe" was until it hit me walking around the room - HOBBY LOBBY!  I was like "I know what you're writing about!!! I LOVE HOBBY LOBBY!" 

4. Brain breaks are lifesavers- jumping up and down, hopping, climbing a ladder, wiggling - all these things make our extremely long math class seem shorter.  I even get in on the exercise and believe me it DOES HELP!  I can refocus too!

5.  New attention getter: I'm sure you've all heard: "Clap once if you can hear my voice, clap twice if you can hear my voice" Well my teacher adds "Hands on your hips if you can hear my voice, finger on your lips if you can hear my voice" Then the students are making the quiet sign (with finger on lips) I thought it was a great twist that definitely works on following directions and quiet signals in the elementary grades.

I just wanted to thank you all my followers- for following me on this journey! You guys rock!

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Professional Dress and Fun Craft

So I have three different things to talk about.......so hang on........it is all pretty cool, I promise.

First, so for one of our classes we have to dress up because, hey we are going to be teachers and have to dress up so this is an example of what I wore for "professional dress" points the other day:

I wouldn't normally post something about my outfit considering I don't really consider myself a fashionista...like some of the other awesome bloggers out there, but I love my black cardigan thing. 1) its great to throw over a cami or any shirt really. 2) It is lightweight and great to layer with. 3) It can hang low, but look at the versatility people...IT CAN TIE!!!!!!!! This was one of my greatest discoveries so...if you have a long-ish cardigan give it a tie :)

Especially over a skirt it can really emphasize the waist as well.

Ok 2nd thing: I'm sometimes a crafty person...sometimes!  Well I wanted to share a craft I did a couple years ago that I still love because hey 1) it has rainbows. 2) I put a lot of work on it. 3) I've never seen anything like it and people it's very easy and so easily customizable.

So take a looksie at my picture frame:

So here are some steps if you want to take on this project: 

Materials: 

picture frame

seed beads

jewels 

craft glue

acrylic paint

toothpicks

1. Paint any picture frame (mine has a lip on it so it think it holds the beads better) I chose a rainbow theme.

2. Use glue to put beads on (you can probably tell I used different sections at a time and thought ahead what I wanted to do) I used toothpicks to do this (time consuming but weirdly relaxing in knitting-focusing kind of way)

3. Admire your work- it is really that easy.  Oops...but a picture in it too!!!  I'm sure you could put on some kind of sealer spray on it but the glue really holds!!

Let me know what you think....pin it on your crafts board if you're inspired. :)


ok third....just another kid-ism from my last day at practicum:

So we were reading a book about a sick dragon, the teacher was prompting them asking, "What do you do a lot of when you are sick?"

One student answered, "Bless-yous" (sneezing)

Its the little things that make me smile  :)

HAVE A BLESSED EASTER EVERYONE!

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Lazy Monday

Well I'm to get some inspiration aka pack because I'm leaving tomorrow for Washington D.C. for presentation- how crazy is that?!

My first conference presentation and its International?!  (that's intimidating) good thing I'll have my professor with me :)

Now if only my fear of flying would go away....things would be much easier.  I would appreciate any tips anyone has about dealing with nerves!!! Either for presenting or my fear of flying...guess I'm overcoming a lot of   fears lately since I never liked public speaking either! (I have to admit I'm getting much better) What is about a group of kids that I can be in front of no problem but a bunch of people my age and i'm tongue-tied and terrified.

I'll leave everyone with another one of my "Kid-isms" from today: (these never fail to make me smile):

Reading from a poem in the hall, it was about the student's sister-

              The line read, "She is as beautiful as a puddle."  ???????



Also, anything I HAVE TO SEE in D.C??????????  Thanks in advance!

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Kid-ism and a Great Blog

Clothes packed, nails painted...feeling productive! Now only if my headache would go away :(

Not ready for Spring Break to end!  Thought I'd share this amazing website I found! Well its a blog really....BUT ITS AMAZING! Basically my whole Kid's Crafts (ideas for camp) is devoted to it!  By the way..if you aren't following me on Pinterest you should!

So onto this amazing website....E IS FOR EXPLORE!

I have found a TON of science ideas!!!! But they have ideas for other subjects as well, all in one place!!! It is worth checking out for sure!   Whether you are looking for activities for kids or new exciting ways to introduce material in your classroom, I'm telling ya there is something for everyone!

By the way: I'm in no way compensated or anything like that for this....I JUST LOVE IT THAT MUCH!!!!


So I thought I'd end the weekend with a "kid-ism" one of my kids said the other day (just in case you might need a laugh)

(talking about glasses)...."Ya, I think I might need glasses too,  when I close my eyes....my vision goes black."   In that case, I think everyone might need glasses.  Tee-hee :)

I Love "kid-isms" they crack me up!!! Hope your weekend ends well! I'm off to do more planning.

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