Summer Buckets!

Do you give your students gifts at the end of the year? 

Last year, I gave my students little summer survival cups filled with goodies to help get them through the summer. They were cute, but not very "useful"... 

So this year, I decided I should have my end of the year gift pull double duty! I wanted them to be cute and meaningful, but also useful...

 Enter "Summer Buckets" (insert trumpet sounds...)

 

I am sure you've seen these on Pinterest... such a CUTE idea! Hope King has a whole unit on TpT for these too!

 I decided I would put my own spin on this fun summer idea and fill them with activities and little mementos that will help keep most of what my students have learned this year "fresh" in their minds.

(these are NOT done btw...Sooooo need to be WAY CUTER! LOL! )

So here's what I am filling our summer buckets up with...

Any and all left over workbooks. We have  a lot of consumables in our classroom, but we don't always use every page. To help clean out my room students review skills, I am adding our unused portions of those workbooks to their buckets. 

So far they have a math consumable and a grammar one...but don't worry... I am still looking for more! ( I think I may have a science one by the end of the week... )    

I've also added a cursive packet... What kid isn't excited about learning cursive?!?

  I have to admit, I found the ones I am using in a cubby from last year (That's where those went!) But I found this cute one for you on TpT for you!

We've been working on our basic facts ALL year, so I don't want my kiddos to loose ANY of that fast fact fluency. 

I made a simple set of basics fact cards (you can check those out here) 

Students will write the answers to their fact cards to make them self checking. 

I also printed multiplication basic fact cards for students to start practicing those facts. 

You can grab both units here in my store. 

We are also working on our class book, "School Days". 

This is a collection of writings that focuses on  Students' favorite day in second grade. Once the book is "published", we will add those to our buckets. 

The last thing we will add are Hope King's ADORABLE Paperbag Memory books. 

We've started them, and the kiddos are LOVIN' adding their fav's from the year. 

Those are our "Summer Buckets". I can't wait for the kiddos to take them home! I will post a picture of them once they are beautified! 

 

Five for Friday~ May 17th Addition

I don't know how I made it... but i did! It is Friday, guys!!!!! Seriously... LOL!

 Although I feel like the year has just flown by, these last few weeks are crawling! I can't believe we only have 11 days left! I NEED MORE TIME! LOL! 

Well anyway, I thought I would link up with DoodleBugs to share with you 

five randoms from my week. 

1. Ronnie D. Concert

We started our week out with a concert. The kiddos had a blast listening and playing along with children performer, Ronnie D. We even listened to his CD back in the classroom during independent math time. 

2. Book Reports

With the year winding down, I love having the kiddos complete book reports on a self selected chapter book.  You can grab this fun FREEBIE here

3. NO PRINTER?!?

This week we have been living without a printer....

It has been the hardest week of my life, people!!!! The printer repair guy said it is Done... Kaputzd...DEAD! 

I say... #blameitontpt... 

4. Stuffed Animal Day

My 2nd graders worked hard to get 35 compliments this past 9 weeks. To celebrate, they voted  for a stuffed animal day! 

I loved how they had their stuff animals "attend school" like they do...

They had their own books to read.

 and helped to complete classwork. TOO CUTE!

It reminds me that sometimes kids need time to be just kids. 

5.  Oh Baby!

I can't believe my little guy is already  five months old! In two and half weeks I will get to spend ALL my time with this Q.T.! 

My sister sent me this picture yesterday... I love how my first born photo-bombed it! Do you see her back there?  LOL!

Well those were my five randoms for the week. Be sure to link up or stop by DoodleBugs and see who else linked up!

 

 

End of the Year SURVIVAL!

 I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by!!! We are on our FINAL count down (T-minus 18 days!) and my-oh-my are my kiddos getting restless! 

Luckily, this resourceful teacher knows the best remedies for "ants in their pants" students is fun and engaging activities that get them up out of their seats and moving! 

Here are a few activities I am utilizing to help get us to the end! :)

Dry Erase Desks!

I love using white boards and dry erase markers in our classroom. Desk tops make the perfect wipe off writing space as well. Although, I do use the desk tops for dry erase activities through out the year... we have a renewed love for it now that paper and attention spans are running low.

Here we are using them to sort words by their phonics patterns. 

Fun Crafts

Another way we are surviving: CRAFTS! CRAFTS! CRAFTS! 

And not just the usual one day crafts... but multiple day crafts!

Last week, we worked on creating autobiography scrapbook pages. The students each brought in five pictures. Then, students wrote about each picture. Finally, I pulled out my left over scrapbook paper and fancy scissors and students went to town gluing and decorating their autobiography pages. 

 We even finished them off with their names with foam and scrapbook letters.  
A five day writing activity and the students wanted to reread and correct what they wrote?
YES PLEASE!


Hands On Math!

I try to make every math lesson fun and engaging.. but at the of the year it is a MUST! This time of year I pull out all the games, centers, and manipulatives. They are great for review and it keeps the kiddos' minds engaged!

 Here we are completing a "Fraction Hunt". (Grab that FREEBIE here)

 Using dollar section from Target clocks to practice telling time. They LOVE challenging each other.

This week are having diving right into measurement.  You bet I am biting the bullet and using rulers EVERY.CHANCE.WE.GET!

Technology!

With classroom supplies running low, a teacher needs to find new and creative ways to "teach" lessons. Call in the technology!

I love using programs like Google Earth to take a lesson from ho-hum and boring to instantly interesting with an interactive 3-D map!

Here, we used Google Earth to look at our Nation's Monuments. The kiddos LOVE flying into the little 3-d bubbles and see the street views.

And my last "Survival Tip" for teaching until summer.....


ROUTINE! ROUTINE! ROUTINE!

The end of the year is not the time to get lacks on routines! Students will take full advantage of a moment of weakness and before you know it, all your students will be behaving like monkies! LOL!

No, I am not throwing up gang signs in my room. This is my reminder for small group time to "ask three before me". If I forget to do this even once, they smell blood in the water and crowd around me

faster than I can say shark! LOL!

Moral of the story... stick to the routines the best you can!

Well those are few things that will help get me to the end. If you have some other ideas for "Teaching Until Summer Survival" leave me a comment below! Enjoy the rest of your week!

Sale Purchases, Mother's Day, and Book Report Freebie!

So did you go crazy this past week during the BIG TpT sale? I know I went *a little* crazy... 

 BUT I HAD.TO.HAVE.IT.ALL!!!! LOL! Here's a peek at what I snagged up:

 For the end of the year I purchased these adorable units from Hope King over at Second Grade Shenanigans.

 

I know my kiddos will love the candy bar awards and the paper bag memory book. I just hope my printer makes it 'til then 

For those of you who follow me on Insta you saw this picture earlier this week:

I just hope my personal printer can handle these ADORABLE assignments! :) 

I also grabbed up the other Mrs. King's Busy Teacher May Addition. 

If you're not familiar with her Busy Teacher units, you are missing out! As a new mommy, they are truly a LIFE SAVER!!!! LOL!

I also snagged some uber cute graphics and borders for a few projects I am working on! 

Ok... Now onto Mother's Day. We are in FULL swing for Mother's Day in my room. 

We just finished these adorable purse writing craftivities.  Daina from Sticky Notes and Glitter was such a sweetie and added "Grandma" pages for my lo's without an active mother.  

  

Tomorrow, we are adding little messages to these ADORABLE paper flowers

    

Once they are assembled they will look like this:

Ok... Thanks for sticking with me! Now to share this ADORABLE book report freebie with you.

Every year, I usually have my students complete "book reports" on a chapter book of their choice. In the past it consisted of a "worksheet writing up" and a craft (like a diorama or poster). 

This year,  I've spiced up our book report into a book craftivity! 

The kiddos are sooooo excited to make these! 

Click the pictures to download this cutie activity for FREE!!

(sorry the pics are so grainy... the camera on my phone is TERRIBLE!!)

Teacher Appreciation Sale and Fraction Unit!

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and I am so excited to be participating in the Appreciation Sale through Teachers Pay Teachers on May 7th and 8th!

 

  Thank you to Zip-a-dee-doo-dah Designs for this adorable graphic!!

My ENTIRE store will be 20% off! Include that with the additional 10% that TpT is offering, you get a combined total of 28% off! What a DEAL! 

I am already filling my basket full of goodies I've been eying to get me ready for end of the year and next year.

I've just uploaded my newest unit, Fractions! {A Common Core Teaching Unit} just in time for the sale. Click the picture to check it out. 

 

I've also bundled 3 of my best selling writing craftivities. Individually they are $3 a piece, so at $6 for all three, you are getting one unit free! Click the pictures to check them out! 

 

I'll be back later this week with some Mother's Day craft ideas.  Don't forget to fill those baskets!