I'm Back!!!!

After being without a personal computer for months, my car catching on fire, lots of busy activities with my family, and being sick for almost 2 full weeks ... 

I’m back!

I have really missed my computer and I am super excited to have a new one!

My BEST friend and teaching partner, Alison, has been working overtime for the two of us & I could not have a better friend.  The next blog will show you what she has invested a HUGE amount of time on. 

You don't want to miss it!

Back to work!

Karen

Facebook Frenzy #1 For Us!

If you have never participated in a Frenzy, it is never too late to start.  They are tons of fun & you can grab a variety of free products to use with your students.  It is like a weekend of flash freebies!!! The Facebook Frenzies were started by the amazing Heather over at Creation Castle.  Hats off to Heather!!!

You do not want to miss what these talented educators have in store for you!

We are in the Kinder Math/Science Rotation!

Facebook Frenzy Map

Click on the words above to get to the Frenzy or choose a link from below to go to the spot that your would like to start with! Have a ton of fun traveling around the different frenzies & picking up cool free activities.

The Frenzy officially starts on December 6 at 8:00 am EST and ends on December 9 at 8:00 pm EST

K Math/Science - https://www.facebook.com/mrspspecialties

K ELA/Social Studies - https://www.facebook.com/TheReadingBungalow

1st Math/Science - https://www.facebook.com/FriendlyFroggies

1st ELA/Social Studies - https://www.facebook.com/DynamicDualLanguage

2nd Math/Science - https://www.facebook.com/AllSmilesInSecondGrade

2nd ELA/Social Studies - https://www.facebook.com/StuckeyInSecondGrade

3rd Math/Science - https://www.facebook.com/EvilMathWizard

3rd ELA/Social Studies - https://www.facebook.com/comprehensionconnection

4th - https://www.facebook.com/4thGradeRacers

5th - https://www.facebook.com/theresourecefulroom

6th-12th - https://www.facebook.com/MathScienceSocialStudiesOhmy

Music - https://www.facebook.com/IamBullyproofMusic

Clipart - https://www.facebook.com/CarasClipstpt 

Happy Hopping!

Karen & Alison

Teachers Pay Teachers SALE!

Head over to our store &

find some great items!!!

We have posted several new products!

Here are just a few:

     

            

You do not want to miss this sale!

Click on our button below!

Happy Shopping!

Karen & Alison

Building Vocabulary

Building vocabulary relating to science is very important to help children fully understand the concepts being taught in the classroom.

There are a number of ways to build their vocabulary in the classroom.  So many of my readers are pros at it!

One way is to create a word wall by adding the vocabulary words as they are being taught in the classroom.  You could put them under an alphabet strip/letters or in a grid format depending on your wall space.  I used the tri-fold foam boards for easy travel & organization. I placed them on top of my cabinets to get them as low to the children without furniture covering them up. Then we were told to take everything off our cabinets and they had to go.

Now I make them in a different way.  I make smaller anchor charts with the vocabulary word under the given topic & a picture clue to match.  They seem to be effective with my class. These anchor charts are 2 sheets of paper turned long like a hotdog.  You trim them in the middle and presto a compact anchor chart that does not take up too much room!

These match the 2nd Grade Cy-Fair study guide.

If you need some made for your class, feel free to email me @ planethappysmiles@gmail.com

Here are the posters I have made.  You can find them in my TPT store.

Nature of Science

Matter

Forces & Energy

Earth's Resources

Animals

Plants

I am currently working on:

Habitats

Astronomy

Butterflies

Weather

Another way I have tried to increase their vocabulary is by making stations that they use their words often.  I am in the process of putting them together to load online soon!

Once I load my stations there are cards you can use for your word wall & for the small group activity.

Two other anchor charts you may love are ...

Scientific Process (Newest Addition)

Properties of Matter (Best Seller)

I have a few others I am in the process of completing and I will load them soon.

Happy Vocabulary Building!

Karen

My Schedule for 1st Grade

I am so excited to be linking up with Susan Jones from:Sometimes I  TGIF!  Thank God It's First Grade!

 Click on the picture to go to her site & link up! 

I can't wait to see what you are doing!

Schedule Linky:

Here is my schedule for 1st Grade! 

I hope it gives you a peek into my day

and how busy it is!

I was busy in Kinder,

but I did not have the time constraints 

of switching classes.  

Moving from Kinder to First Grade

has been GREAT!

 Here is a look at my day ...

My partner at All Smiles in 2nd Grade created

schedule cards for a "Target" Pocket chart or for a 

standard schedule chart.

 She keeps a happy face clip on the side of the chart 

to keep them focused and on track.  Her kids love to

move the clip down as they go through their day. I use

the polka dot set to match my room.  They look great

with my decor, too!

It is a win-win!

She made them in more than one design to fit more

classrooms.  If you need a different design, feel free to

message us!  Below are the designs we have.  You can

click on the style you like to go to the store:

Zebra

Chevron (rainbow & white)

Chevron (rainbow & black)

Chevron (black & white)

Chevron (aqua)

Polka Dot (black & white)

Here is a picture of the zebra cards that Karen uses:

May your year run smoothly!

Happy Teaching,

Alison

Organization~ in 2nd

Organization is key in very classroom to have your year run smoothly.  I have been working really hard on my organization this year since I am new to 2nd grade.  I created these binders to help tame the copies.  Our district has a HUGE amount of copies for the children to practice math skills in 2nd grade.  So ... I had to tackle that pile of copies that I kept sticking in my "To File" drawer & organize myself for the years to come.  Here is how I did it!

I created a binder for every skill in our curriculum and added clear sleeves inside for all of the copies.  You could even make one HUGE binder and use the covers as dividers.  (I will custom create any that you need if you love my design!)

Here is a picture of the Polka Dot Cover for Math.  It comes in zebra (of course), too:

Here is a picture of the matching spines:

I love them!!!  Each different subject is a different color so I can find them with ease in my cabinet.  Yes ... I guess I am kinda a dork!  I just love organization!

If you love organization as much as I do, I put these in my store in 2 different designs:
Zebra
Black & White Polka Dot

Last tip:  To help keep the ink from the printers from attaching to my clear binder fronts, I always put them in clear sleeves 1st.  Now they do not transfer & I can reuse the binder later in life if I ever need to!

I hope this helps you organize your math files.  Soon to come my science set, it is looking good so far!!!
Happy Organizing,
Karen

Interactive Anchor Charts

We are so thrilled to be linking up with Tori again for
Monday Made It!

Anchor charts are so  important for teaching young children!  We love making them in our classes.  Here are several that you can find in our store.  Creating meaningful anchor charts can be so time consuming.   We use Velcro to make them more interactive while teaching & also make them usable for “switch classes.”  This way you can brainstorm and create the anchor chart with both classes and still make the charts feel brand new to both classes.  We are firm believers of:  “Work smarter & not harder!”

To visit our store go to: Planet Happy Smiles

& click on the tab for "Anchor Charts"

Here are some of the charts available in our store:

 We hope you find these useful for your classroom, too!

Happy Anchor Chart Making!

Karen & Alison