Tagged and Flying High With Place Value

     I've been tagged by 3 lovely ladies and I will be responding to ALL 30 of their questions! More on that in a bit. I have been gone for almost 2.5 weeks from school from sickness and spring break. It is so great to back to teaching! The first week back was craziness. My sweets needed to be reminded of some of our class rules after a sub and spring break. We started a new math unit Envision Math Topic 14 - four digit numbers. The unit I created "Flying High with Place Value" was excellent to introduce the first lesson and use as reinforcement. I created this mini anchor chart to show different ways to show a number. It's part of the unit Flying High With Place Value ~ the sweets loved it!

      Now I'm playing tag!

Here are the rules:
~Post these rules
~Answer the 10 questions that the tagger posted for you
~Create 10 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag
~Tag 10 people and link them with your post (and let them know they've been tagged)

FIRST, I was tagged by Run! Miss Nelson's Got the Camera

Which do you prefer teaching Reading or Math?
I love both, but teaching math seems to be so much easier to make hands on and I feel like it is much more concrete. It probably helps that I am in LOVE with our curriculum EnVision Math!

Where's your favorite place to find clip art?
ETSY!

Do you count spelling tests as a reading or writing grade?
At my school we count spelling tests as a Spelling grade. There is a spelling grade on every report card. I thought this was normal for every school but maybe we are the exception?

Favorite website for your students?
The EnVision Math website that comes with our curriculum. Every lesson has a step by step animated lesson.

Point and shoot camera or DSLR?
A Canon EOS 60D :) I love it!


Do you arrive to school early or stay late?
It depends on the week and how I'm feeling. I usually have between 40 mins - 60 mins before my sweets need to be picked up.

Coke or Pepsi?
HANDS DOWN Coke!!!!!!!!!!

Michael's or Hobby Lobby?
Michael's. . . I don't have a Hobby Lobby near me.

What is your favorite read aloud?
Can a primary teacher really only have one? I really love to read The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen. It is SUCH a great story. Super interactive!

Winter break or Spring Break?
That's a hard one ~ whichever one is closer! HAH

SECOND, I was tagged by Adventures in Second Grade

What are you most proud of in your classroom?
My sweets! I love the kids in my class!

What is your favorite unit to teach (any subject)?
This is my first year teaching my own class and I'm still discovering this ~ I think it may be penguins :)

What inspired you to begin teacher blogging?
The AMAZING inspiration and encouragement I received from other teacher bloggers!

Teacher's Notebook or Teachers Pay Teachers?
That's a tough one. I started my TPT store first. . . so whatever that tells you . . . lol

What is the best field trip you've ever been on?
It was actually one that I went on during college with my Teaching Science in the Elem class. It was to the Solid Waste Authority Management and it was AWESOME!

What inspired you to become a teacher?
My third grade teacher, who is now the Dean of Students at the school I teach at. Yes I teach t the school I went to before I was home schooled :) And yes I am no coworkers with some of my elementary teachers!

What are you doing/did you do on your Spring Break?
I recovered from an illness. The original plan was to take a mini trip to Tampa ~ Lakeshore Learning anyone?!? It is the closest one to me :-/ It is so much fun to go somewhere new and just explore the place!

What is your favorite book to use in the classroom?
That is impossible for me to answer. I LOVE books ~ I have a bit of an obsession with them ~ all kinds of books kids books ABSOLUTELY included!!

Do you have a classroom pet? If so, what?
No . . .

What frustrates you most about teaching?
This is a little bit difficult ~ The things that have frustrated me or do frustrate me are EXCELLENT "teachable moments" for myself.


THIRD, I was tagged by 2ND Grade Mon-"Stars"

What grade levels/subject areas have you taught?
I currently teach second grade and I love it! I have experience teaching third grade, fourth grade, kindergarten, and fifth grade. I also help homeschool so that is a lovely range of ages!

What is one thing you always have in your "teaching bag"?
The ability to think on my feet and switch up what isn't working / make something happen.

What is the funniest thing a kid has shared with you this year?
One of the students I know has slipped multiple times in one afternoon. I kept asking him if he was alright and I quote "I love sliding. I did it on purpose." I just had to work on having a serious expression.

What is one thing you are already planning for next year?
Integrating all the subject areas and to have learning thematic as possible! I can't wait and the other second grade teacher is RIGHT on board! Yahoo :)

What has been the best moment this school year?
Seeing the classroom community grow and develop in my room. It's like we are our own little family!

What are your summer plans?
Read. Create. School Stuff. Blog. Blog Stalk. Explore New Places.

What is the best workshop/conference you have been to?
I'm honestly not sure. . . I went to a workshop on assessment. The speaker was one of my old FAVORITE college professors.

What is your top go to website for free Lesson ideas?
Teachers Pay Teachers!

What is one thing non-educational you hope kids leave your classroom with?
A love for the Lord . . . I teach in a Christian school and it is a wonderful privilege.

What is your best time-management tip?

The way I handle my grading system. You can read it HERE.


FOURTH, I was tagged by Luckeyfrog's Lilypad


Did you take lessons in anything as a kid?
YES. . . Piano, Voice, Drawing, Tennis, Soccer. . . I believe that is all :)


What is the one book you recommend to a new teacher?
The First Days of School by Harry & Rosemary Wong


Who is your favorite children's book author or illustrator?
I honestly don't have a favorite a LOVE a lot. 


If you could only listen to one musical artist/group for the rest of your life, who would it be?
I would probably listen to a non-lyric musical artist such as Escala.


What is your favorite dessert?
Anything Gluten Free ~ I have Celiac's Disease and LOVE sweets!


What is your biggest strength as a teacher?
I truly believe it is my desire to honor and glorify God with my life. It makes it really hard to do anything than the best you can for Him. Nothing more, nothing less, all by His grace for His glory!


What is your favorite piece of clothing?
Sweaters! I am always cold. I truly believe you can never have enough sweaters! Yes I know I live in South Florida :)


What is the last thing you bought?

A jewelry set from one of my favorite jewelry makers. He does art shows around South Florida and I love his stuff. 


If someone gave you $500 for your classroom right now, what would you buy?
Books! Particularly Guided Readign book sets to use in small group. I don't really have that many and would like to really implement Guided Reading but need some more book sets. I'm working on it!


What is your favorite vacation spot?
Our family home in Arizona. I absolutely love the town of Cave Creek/Scottsdale :) They also have a Hobby Lobby and some awesome teaching stores!


Since I just answered FORTY questions I will be back to tag some fellow bloggers with my list of questions! I have some questions I can't wait to read the answers to! If you have read this whole post I applaud your patience!!!! ^insert clapping^


I also am working on some book units. I love reading a book to my kids and having math and literacy etc. components to go along with the book. Here are some of the books that are creating ideas I'm my head. . . 

PLEASE let me know your thoughts! Any preferences or suggestions? I'm all ears!

Missing My Sweets, Sub Stuff, and a Freebie

Sadly I've been out of school for one whole week sick, in and out of doctors' offices and hospitals. I truly love my job and my sweets. It is simply killing me not to be teaching them! I have been reading a ton on teaching methods, strategies, etc. and just want to go and use it all. Next week is Spring Break!! (of course all plans for day trips and the like are cancelled because I'm sick :(. 

I have been making labels like crazy for everything in my classroom. I have also really pondered the whole sub system. I am not entirely certain how emergency sub plans work. Are they super generic? Detailed? For every subject? I would love to read how you all organize and handle the whole sub situation.

I've also have been creating things for my class because I just can't wait to get back into school.

There Was An Old Lady Who. . . Cause and Effect

Flying High With Four Digit Numbers

I have a freebie from this unit: Synonym Student Book. Get it HERE.

If you download this freebie please let me know your thoughts! When I make things I want to make sure they are helpful to other hard working teachers!

By the way the first 3 people to follow my blog and follow my TPT store will get the Synonyms, Antonyms, Homophones Galore Unit for free. Don't forget to leave your email. I would love feedback on the product of course ~ want to do the best I can!

Spelling Speed Words Double Consonants

A couple of weeks ago I created a spelling game for my sweets to use that coincides with our spelling program (Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections ~ AMAZING). Before I began creating my own stuff I searched all over TPT and TN looking for some materials that go right along with our spelling program and couldn't find anything. I try each week to create a game to help students simply spell the word and a game to help students identify patterns in the words and sort them accordingly. This week we began with an anchor chart with 3 words on. I had the students at the rug and read the words to them. I asked them if they could see any patterns in all three words. . . and they DID! I haven't quite taught a spelling lesson like this before and I am never going back to the old way ~ I loved it and my sweets LOVED it. Every time we identified a pattern we wrote in on the chart. Then to wrap it up I had them turn-and-talk to a partner and try to each come up with a word that fit the pattern. It was so much fun and then they were allowed to write it on a post-it and place it on the anchor chart. Honestly, I was a little disappointed that today in spelling there was no new skill just a simple review which they ROCKED. It's so true if you are excited about what you are teaching your students will be excited.

This took about 25 seconds to make before I began teaching it with the sweets! 

Speed Spelling Double Consonant Words

Just wondering. . .

Does anyone else use Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections (I use third grade in second grade)? 

How do you teach spelling?