Back into the teaching blog!

Wow ! It has been a long time since being on my teaching blog, to be honest I was feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and frustrated. I had this vision of what I wanted my blog to look like and be and it just wasn't turning out to go that way. So, I needed to step back and take a break. I took many months blog "stalking" as usual. Continued to practice building on my blogging skills and figuring out how to get the appearance of my blog to be what I wanted.  Although it still isn't everything I want it to be, I have come to the point that I am not going to sit back and wait any more, I am going to put myself out there with the rest of the wonderful teachers and blog away. So, to all those wonderful teachers who have inspired me and continue to be the motivation to me everyday to keep working on my own professional teaching/sharing blog, thank you!

A-Z Blogging Challenge E

E Engaged...Actively engaging students in learning. Making learning meaningful and engaging for students. Let them take part and lead learning in the classroom.

Definition of ENGAGED

1: involved in activity : occupied, busy

2: pledged to be married : betrothed

3: greatly interested : committed

 

 

A-Z Blogging Challenge

Since I started this late I have to catch up to letter D. When I think about my life the most inspiring things to me are my children, my husband, and teaching. Those three things have taught me so many life lessons and have contributed to what each letter of the A-Z Blogging Challenge stand for.

Join in on the blogging challenge by going to http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/

A-Z Blogging Challenge 

A- Adventure Each day as a mother of two boys and a teacher of second grade I take on adventure. I look at the excitement in my students eyes when they try a new challenge, or take the plunge to try something new.  I think as a mother and a teacher you have to be adventurous, explore with you children and students and learn together. 

B- Belonging Creating a community where all students feel like they belong and can be successful.

C- Communicate I try to communicate with my students what I expect them to accomplish, that I believe in them, and that they can truly do anything they put their mind to.

D- Determination If you have ever read Patricia Polacco's book Junkyard Wonders, it defines determination. The story brought tears to my eyes in front of my students, and reminded me that all things are possible if you put your mind to it.

Do you Snazzy Snack???

After do the basic handwriting practices activities I want something more to motivate my students to apply proper handwriting techniques. Where else to look for great ideas, but searching the internet at the amazing teacher websites. After searching for ideas, I stumbled across one of MY Favorite teacher websites by Christine BainBridge http://www.bainbridgeclass.com/. Not only does Mrs. Bainbridge do amazing things in her classroom, but she shares her great ideas with other teachers. So, after visiting her site I began doing Snazzy Snack with the help of her resources and then have furthered my own Snazzy Snacks by finding other fun snacks that kids love. The students are highly motivated to have extra neat handwriting, especially since they have to be able to read their own directions to be able to create their own Snazzy Snack. It wouldn't be right to end March without a Leprechaun Snazzy Snack so we made Leprechaun Pie. To my surprise this was my classes favorite recipe so far :)

 

Leperchaun Pie

Pistachio Pudding

Milk

Chocolate Coin

Whip Cream Topping

1. Make Pistachio pudding according to box instructions

2. Put a scoopful of pudding in your cup

3. Put your chocolate coin in your pudding

4. Put Whip Cream on top

5. Gobble up your yummy treat, and see if your lucky to find a chocolate coin.

You know your a second grade teacher when...

Babbling Abby is hosting a linky party to highlight those special moments that only a teacher would recognize. My last link-up was so fun I figured it was time for another one!

You know you're a second grade teacher when...
- You get called mom a couple times a day by children not of your own.

- You hear your name a million times a day.

- You feel the need to recommend books to random kids and adults.

- You love the school supply aisle.

- You look forward to cutting out your laminating.

- You remind your own children to be respectful, responsible, and safe.

- You are excited for the first snow day or late start :)

- You can't think of your students being with any other teacher besides you.

- You leave school with a smile everyday knowing you made a difference for at least one child

- The last day of school is happy, sad, eventful, and overwhelming.

Your turn!! Go over and get linked up!

How do you publish student's stories?

I always want my students to take pride in what they write, so after we have a conference over a piece of their writing they are able to publish their stories. A few resources they can use to publish their stories include...

http://littlebirdtales.com/
http://storyjumper.com
http://storybird.com
Microsoft word
Wordle
Tagxedo

What are some resources you use for students to publish their work?

How do you motivate your boy writers?

This year in my classroom I have been following the format of No More "I'm Done!": Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades by Jennifer Jacobson, I absolutely love this book and recommend it to any primary teacher! Using the format Jacobson recommends I have noticed a huge desire in my students urge to write, but I am always looking for more great ideas on how to get those harder to reach students to want to pick up the pencil and write. Here are two books that have really got the boys in my room to become authors.

Check out the author's website with great ideas to use in your room also. This books explores writing Haiku with all the nature loving concepts boys love :)
http://hmhbooks.com/guyku/resources.html

The boys in my room also love dinosaurs and any amazing animal fact they can find out. In the book Dinosaurs Galore the author uses interesting facts in a rhythmical way to increase the author's voice and appeal to the young audience. My boys are always going back to this book to reflect on ideas for their new stories.