~~I've been BOO'd~~

My faithful friend, Laura @  Love to Teach :) just BOO'd me!!!  She must know that I LOVE
Halloween!!!  I must admit that I began the BOO game at my school 2 weeks ago.  Shhhh!!!! Kimberly doesn't know it was me!!!


 

                                     

Here's how to play:
Choose a fellow blogger that has MORE followers, another that has about the SAME number of followers, and last, someone that has LESS followers.  Lastly, leave them some love by offering them a goody from your store as their "treat."

My first blogger that I choose with MORE followers is Mel D.  @  Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations . Her blog is the very first blog I ever laid my eyes on.  I had no idea that blogging even existed!  I fell in LOVE with her ideas and activities the minute I began reading her blog. She is the reason I became a blogger.   I use many of her products/activities in my classroom: behavior tickets, noise level poster, Dr. Seuss hand print activity, and so many more!! Please head over to her blog and show her some blogging love!!

   

My second blogger I choose with about the SAME amount of followers is Ms. Walter @ Hoot Hoot Hooray!.  I met this wonderful blogger while I was trying to figure out this whole blog thing!  She is the sweetest and most wonderful blogging friend I have met!  She entered my first giveaway. After reading her sweet comment,  I headed over to her blog and checked it out.   I steal borrow from her all the time!!!  Please head over to her blog and show her some blogging love!
   
My last blogger with LESS (but catching up to me fast) followers than me is Sarah @ Wishful Teaching. I met Sarah in blog land too!  She donated a packet she created and was part of my first giveaway.  Sarah and I learned about blogging together.  I do admit that she is becoming much better than me with creating some awesome products!  We have helped each other through the learning process with creating new units and blogging.  I use A LOT of her ideas in my classroom!  Please head over to her blog and show her some blogging love!!!

I want to thank these awesome ladies for being faithful followers of my blog!  I do not sell any of my products so feel free to download and share as much as you want!!! 

~~Frankenstein Writing & Freebies~~

My favorite holiday of the year is finally here~~Halloween!!! I really don't know why I love Halloween, I just do!  Maybe it's the spooky stories, zombies, bats, ghosts, or horror movies, which ever one, I love Halloween!  My first Halloween treat of the season was homemade.  Check out these precious candy corn treats!!

Now...my writing assignment
I finally found something my students adore~creating a Frankenstein!  In English this week,  students created their version of Frankenstein and wrote creative stories about his/her life.  The final essays came out A-MAZ-ING!  I couldn't wait to hang them in the hallway for everyone to see.  The students were so excited about this assignment.  I am so glad I searched Pinterest!  Check out the finished essays!  Don't worry~~~I posted links of the bubble map and lined paper we used!

First, we brainstormed about Frankenstein.  I allowed each student to tell me everything they knew.  We had quite a discussion about if Frankenstein was real.  After sharing their thoughts, I read the students a cute story. 

Next, I gave each student a copy of a bubble map.  They had to write about his/her Frankenstein~~where he/she lived? who were his/her friends? what does he/she look like? what does he/she eat?  They were instructed to write at least 3 details in each bubble. Many of them just had to draw a picture of Frankenstein on the back.  They couldn't contain their excitement! Check out some of the sample bubble maps. Grab your free copy (HERE).

Then (the next day), students used the details on the bubble map to write an essay.  This essay was a simple writing assignment.  Students had to come up with at least 5 complete sentences~we're having a bit of trouble with this skill lately.  Check out some of the sample writings.  Students did all editing at home with their parents.  You can see below how the editing was done.

 

Last, students copied their edited essay on lined paper.  Grab your free copy (HERE).

After putting the final touches on their essay, students created their Frankenstein.  I gave them a piece of green construction paper and a pile of other colors~~then told them to go create!  Check out the finished essays.

Don't forget to grab your free copy of the bubble map and lined paper below.

 

Free copy of paper: (HERE)

 

Free copy of bubble map: (HERE)

Hope everyone has a safe & spooky Halloween season!

~~~Pets in the Classroom Grant~~~

I couldn't wait to see my students' faces as they entered the classroom today.  My classroom has a new friend~~~our pet hamster!  The students were so excited and jittery as they walked into the classroom and saw the brightly colored hamster cage on the table.  I applied for a classroom pet through Pets in the Classroom Grant and was awarded a hamster. There are 6 grant types: 1) Rebate Grant   2) Sustaining Grant   3) Petco Grant    4) Petsmart Grant  5) Pet Supermarket Grant  and  6) Glofish Grant.  I applied for the Petco Grant.  It was so easy and simple to apply.  I filled out the application online, told them about myself, my students, and classroom.  Within 2 weeks, I received a coupon for a free hamster cage and 50% off  a hamster.  The total for my hamster and cage came to $11.  The best part of it all~~you can re-apply every fall for a pet in the classroom.  My daughter has had several hamsters over the last 5 years so I was very familiar with raising a small animal such as a hamster.  However, I never had a live animal in my classroom.    I can't wait to see what adventures this tiny, cute, adorable hamster has in store for my classroom!!!! 

Please check out Pets in the Classroom and apply for your very own classroom pet!!! 

 

Click (HERE) to find out more!!!!

 

 

 

Here is our "Free" cage!!!

Here is our cute, new, fluffy friend!!! Isn't he adorable?!




 

 

 

~~Winner, Yahoo!~~

A HUGE thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway!!  I am well over 100,000 page views!!!  I am overwhelmed with excitement and joy.  I never dreamed that my little blog would be a hit.  Drum roll please~~~~the winner of a $20 Target gift card is......Aimee @ Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks .







In other news:
I want to give a shout out to my two AWESOME and BEAUTIFUL room moms~~~Anne & Kristi!!!  They are helping out so much in my classroom.  They are in charge of my weekly "Behavior Parties" every Friday.  At our first party, the students were treated to ice cream S'mores!!  Talk about Yummy and Good!!!!  Students earn their way to the party each Friday.  Any student who moves his/her clip to the behavior chart does not participate in the party.  In my 18 years of teaching, I have never done this before.  This year's class is challenging and need some motivation to behave each day.  I can't say that every student has been to the party; however, out of 22, 18 students have been to the parties.  My goal this year is to have all 22 students at the "Behavior Party" every Friday!!!  I am just about there!!!  I am still looking for ways to help those who are still misbehaving and having trouble listening.  Don't worry~~~Pinterest & Blog stalking have been a must these past few weeks!! 

~~Hurricane & Giveaway~~

What a week!!!  I am going to place blame with Hurricane Isaac for my absence of posting.  Monday, August 27th was my first day without power, and Friday, August 31st was my last day without power.  That's right~~5 days of no lights, AC, Internet, telephone (except cell), and television.  School was closed from Tuesday, 8/28 to Tuesday, 9/3.  Not only were my students in rare form after returning from an "unplanned" vacation (did I mention they are still in vacation mode after 3 days back), but I am now dealing with a damaged house in St. Bernard Parish.  I am originally from St. Bernard and moved to Hammond after Hurricane Katrina.  I lost everything in 2005~~house, car, and dream teaching job.  My brother rebuilt my house and now lives there with my nephew.  I feel that 2005 is coming back to haunt me again with the numerous phone calls to insurance companies and appointments with adjusters.  All in all, everyone in my family is safe and healthy.  God is definitely good to us.  Material things are repairable and can be fixed.

I am thankful for all of my wonderful readers here in blog-land!  I have 188 followers and my blog has been viewed 100,000 times!!!  I think a giveaway is in order to show my appreciation to everyone who follows me and takes the time to read my posts.

The following pictures show what  I worked on during Hurricane Isaac!!!  Let's just say..my hand hurts!!!

 



You are looking at yards and yards of laminating to cut out!!!  I did, in fact, cut everything out before returning to school.  My centers are very happy right now!!!

Please check out what my daughter worked on while the lights were out during the hurricane.

This is me!!

 

These are her clay creations.  Aren't they precious!!!!

 

Now, are you ready for a giveaway??!!  I am giving away a $20 Target Gift Card!  I have not created any products since school started~~but who doesn't love Target!!  I might even get my daughter to throw in some of her creations!!!

 

Thank you for your continued support!!!!! Good Luck to All!!

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/466e3d2/



~~Back in Action & Monday Made It~~

Oh, yeah, it has been a Crazy and Hectic first week!  My kiddos keep me on my toes all day, and I barely have time to eat!!!  But....I just LOVE all of them.  They are always smiling, laughing, and offering a joke for some smiles :) 

Here are some pictures of our first week projects and activities.  We had a very productive week learning all about each other and classroom procedures.  I did, however, manage to incorporate some reading, spelling, English, and math...sneaky of me!! 

I am not sure if this counts as Monday Made It~~~I think it might!!! Don't forget to link up with 4th Grade Frolics~Monday Made It and check out all of the wonderful projects!  I must admit that I was very productive this summer because of Tara and her AWESOME, TERRIFIC idea of Monday Made it!!! Thanks Tara!!!! 

Here is my word wall in action. Each color represents a subject:

green~math, yellow~English, red~reading, orange~religion, blue~science



Center Signs

Sharing Boards

We use Treasures Reading Series and our first story is First Day Jitters.

Compound Words

(front of mini-cards)

inside mini-cards

Guess I should have spell checked this one!!

ways to show a number using paint chips

(Students LOVED using these!)

Pinterest inspired hand wreath

bottle cap flash cards

My students LOVE using the paint chips in class.  We also made compound words by cutting paint chips in half.  They were amazed that I could actually get these from the store for FREE!! 

I am also linking up with The Organized Classroom Blog~~Name that Schedule Linky.  I have always done language arts in the morning.  I feel that students are refreshed before lunch and enrichment classes.  After lunch/recess, I like having the students do more hands-on learning like math, science, social studies, and religion.  Please check out my schedule that I am currently using.

I hope everyone has a wonderful first day~~I have been in school for 10 days already!!



~~A Classroom Tour & Monday Made It~~

Today was my first day of school!!  I just LOVE all of my students~~22 wonderful kiddos!!   I am definitely looking forward to a year filled with excitement, laughter, learning, & memories.  I am also totally exhausted from standing up all day.  I must say I haven't stood on my feet this long since May 25th!!!  All in all, I am excited for tomorrow and can't wait to begin the learning journey with my 22 babies!!

Here is a tour of my finished classroom and a few projects I have been working on since I last posted.  Please enjoy!!!!  I would LOVE to hear what you think of my decorated classroom!!


Don't forget to check out 4th Grade Frolics: Monday Made It for more awesome ideas!!!!
I am also linking up with 2 Busy Brunettes for a Classroom Theme Linky!!

       

These are my bulletin boards.

Classroom Centers

Right side of my classroom

Left side of my classroom

Teacher desk area

Click here for the clock numbers FREEBIE:  Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons

I put these on the desks for Supply day~~Handbook, About Me Bag Activity, Back-to-School Snack, and magnet with my information & numbers.

Click here:  Fun in First Grade to grab the About Me Bag Activity FREEBIE!!

Click here: 2nd Grade Shenanigans to grab your Back-to-School Snack FREEBIE!!

Birthday Straw Balloons

Click here to grab your FREE balloons: Teaching in Flip Flops

These are the gumball machines I made for my partners & myself.

I hope you liked my classroom tour and Monday Made It Projects!! Hope everyone has a wonderful school year!!!