Topic, Main Ideas, Details, etc.

I found a beautiful season graphic organizer to help us organize our thoughts and ideas about a topic, the main idea and the details to support the main idea. Additionally the graphic organizer had a space for the conclusion or summary sentence. Here is an example:

New Technology Games Added

WOW...we now have more strategic, academic, and fun games to choose from. I keep finding valuable websites that offer students the opportunity to practice their math facts and strategies.
Three sites in particular:
www.funbrain.com
www.academicskillbuilders.com
www.coolmath.com

Wordle

Creativity + Endless Possibilities= Wordle

Starting a Christmas Tree Ornament

LET the decorations begin! We have started to get the ornament juices flowing and the crafts are beginning to spread across the back counter! My students are so eager and precious when they are delicately sprinkling on the glitter, adding the sticks, and painting the bulbs!

BUT...we still patiently wait to celebrate the true meaning of the season!

84 blogs

WOW...I'm now following 84 blogs! It is hard to believe last year I didn't even understand blogs or have one, now I two and can't keep up with the many phenomenal educator bloggers! I'm inspired to add videos, pictures, etc. but time has been my biggest hurdle...and of course...teaching :-) I continue to be encouraged by other educator bloggers to challenge myself to add more gadgets and gizmos to my blog! :-)

Thank You Firefighters!

This weekend our village had a massive fire. 5 downtown business were effected by the fire. Slowly they are coming down right before our eyes-literally-we can see it happening out of my 2nd level classroom windows! Our village will be forever changed, on part of our history is now lost (except for photos, memories, etc.).

Today we honored the firefighters by writing them a thank you letter! My 2nd graders composed letters that made me tear. "Thank you for your service and your bravery." "What would we do with out you?" There letters were compelling!!!

Now, we move on! Now, we move forward! Now, we assist in redeveloping our village!

Santa needs a new suit

After dsguising a turkey so it would not be hunted for Thanksgiving, my students were eager to decorate or complete another activity where they get to "hide" someone or something. After reading a few blogs and searching for an activity, I came upon, the book Santa Needs A New Suit and then found a teacher that completed an activity with her students based on the book. They needed to give Santa a new suit. Well, we now have read the book and my students are happily designing a new suit for Santa (some clever ideas are in the works).