As many of you may know, Watermelon Day is celebrated in August.  We decided in 2nd grade to make this a "Fun Friday" reward.  Rayann picked up some watermelons at our local farmer's market, because they HAVE to have seeds.  First, we estimated the weight of our watermelon.  We got everything from 50 pounds to thousands of pounds.  We gave them each some green paper and let them draw a watermelon and write their guess on the watermelon. Next, we weighed each student and the watermelon.  If their weight was above that of the watermelon, their name went above.  If it was below, it went below the watermelon.  We totally were off on the weight of the watermelon!  I thought it weighed about 50 pounds, because it was SO heavy!  I think I need to work out!  It was only 19 pounds! Then, they got to guess the circumference.  I let them cut a piece of yarn for their guess.  They then got to check their guess with the watermelon and yarn to see if it was too long...

MY CLASSROOM: 1st grade This is my Daily 5 board----- and my lift off to a great day poster.... Material for the board came from JoAnn Fabrics..... I have a sink and cupboards this year... I decorated above the cupboards and cubbies with my favorite books and book friends. I do all of my Calendar on the SMART board but... still want a Hard copy in the room.... Thisis also my spelling list, vocabulary list and language arts word wall for te week... after the week they get moved to the Word Wall up above. Fabric that I used form JoAnn Fabrics.... Love the fall colors and the dots! This is my common core wall.... where i can list all the standards and my focus question for the day in each subject. I used ribbons and anchored it with buttons---- Thanks to DEANNA JUMP for TPT Common core standards for 1st grade!!!! My cubbies.... My room is a work in progress.... Tiffany Gannon ( Lemonade Stand Teacher) room post was soooo cute--- She has the nack for style and...

 Behavior Buckets in Bulk These buckets travel!   Pick any theme.... These cards were made from paper bought at the dollar store. This is a sliding scale---- let them earn back and pull their pins for the good ones too!! When I say behavior buckets in bulk.... I mean it!!!! I made one for each of the Lemonade Stand Teachers (2nd grade)  and three for the 1st grade ( that includes me- new 1st grade teacher) and I made one and sent to my best friend in OHIO for her second grade classroom. She's doing a school wide construction theme this year... so that's why I used the orange, black and green and hard hats. You can make these for as little as you want.... these buckets were form the dollar store... so were the pins, and the paw prints came from my local teacher store. The Learning Circle My firend from the Lemonade Stand Teachers posted bucket cards for FREE.... click on classroom management on our blog and print them!!! or make them with your theme!!! ...

 Hey everybody! Just wanted to show off my new LOVE, Candy jars and clipboards! I had a very cute candy jar for my classroom. Did you notice the HAD... My student teaching experience was soooo AWESOME-- my co-operating teacher made me a candy jar for a gift at the end of it. I have used it ever since. I found out this summer that I had to MOVE from second grade ALL THE WAY down the hall to 1st grade!!! ( I miss my friends and second grade blog starters- the hall is too long!!) Sooo... back to my story...in the move my jar got broken by my best friend! How could I be mad.. she did drive 8 1/2 hours to help me move and re-set up my new classroom!!!! So I had to go searching for a new jar---- drum roll please... Here it is and it's soooo cute!!!! I love it. The funny thing is the same day I revealed my newPOWER PELLETS jar one my new friends' and first grade teacher got a jar form a student!!! SOOO>> I took pictures of both to show them off!!! Aren't they sooo cute?!! ...

http://www.myscrapnook.com/scrapBook/?action=thegallery&id=8750  OK..Trying to figure out an easier way to create all these SUPER CUTE blog posts that look like scrapbook pages. Found this FREE tool bar and program called SCRAP NOOK. Sooooo... I made a few pages and can't figure out how to save them to my PC to insert in our blog. BUT... can link it here :(     Is it a pain to click the link? I don't know----- give me your feedback---- I want it cute when you look at it!!! Any ideas?! Holly Just 1 of the FABULOUS Lemonade Stand Teachers!...

Hey everybody!  We are linking up again for "Three for Thursday!"  I think I have narrowed down my favorites but I love so much!  My Favorite Font  This really was tough to decide on!  I L.O.V.E. fonts!  But I probably use this one the most.  My Favorite Blog Abby has so many great ideas!  I have bought several of her TPT items and all have been great.  But there are SO many other blogs out there I love!  They have truly changed the way I teach. My Favorite Online Resource Click above to follow me.  You can find so many great ideas and pin them for future reference.  I am addicted!!! I also have to mention this site.  If you have a SMART board, you have to check it out.  You can find lessons for just about everything. What are your 3 faves?  Head on over to Blog Hoppin' to share! ...

We are linking up again with Blog Hoppin' for "Where It All Goes Down Wednesday!" We are in our third week of school, and after looking at everyone's classrooms, I realize I still have a lot of work to do!  I just snapped a few quick shots this afternoon before heading out the door. Babbling Abby inspired the sign.  She is so creative!!! Our school is pretty new, but our classrooms are fairly small.  I have 21 students, and we can barely move!  It is tight!  My teacher table is over in the corner with all my small group supplies.  I got my word walls from Teachers Clubhouse .  I love that site!  It really has some great resources.  I added the yellow pom poms this year.  I made them for a party I threw and reused them.  This is my little corner of the room!  I wrapped my desk with polka dot wrapping paper.  That made it look a hundred times better!  My carpet area is right there below the SMART board.  We just adopted enVision math this year, ...

Ok... so today I had this epiphany!! I needed a great teacher table activity for helping students practice comparing numbers. ( you know... greater than, less than and between)  So... I went into my teacher closet and looked on my math manipulative shelf looking for an idea. And then it hit me!  I saw the six decks of  large print playing cards that I bought over the summer at the Dollar Store. That's when  icreated the game FLIP it!( so not totally taking credit---- but I did think of it for this purpose :) I gave each student at the table a deck of cards.   They had to put the cards facedown and when I said FLIP IT! They had to flip one card over. Then three number cards were on the table. They had to tell me who had the greatest number, who had the lesser number and what number would fit between the two numbers. If they drew a letter card they had to keep drawing until they flipped a number. If two of the same number came up I would lay them on top of each other and...

 This post is to join BLOG HOPPER'S TEACHER WEEK!!! It's teacher talk Tuesday! I love teacher talk!!! I love talking teacher to everyone I know!!! I have been teaching for three years in the public school and before that I taught preschool and infant/ toddlers. Soooo.... maybe I can give a little advice to some newbie teachers...... 1. First don't take it personally when everyone refers to you as the NEWBIE. They don't mean it it, it just makes them feel superior to you for a whopping year!!! (Even if your ideas are better than theirs!!! haha!) They earned the right.... so....  suck it up and roll with it. 2. Next... become best friends with the custodial staff. They will find you anything you need and clean up after every mess and project in your classroom with a smile. They love teachers who are nice to them.... be that teacher!! 3. Pick your friends and do it carefully. The old additage: you are who you hang with ....IS TRUE! Surround yourself with the most pos...

Tell us a little something about you... Hi! I'm Holly Harwood. I have been married to the same wonderful man for 15 years and have three children, two boys and a girl. It's always busy at our house with two dogs and thre e kids. We love to go, go, go!   I started blogging with my class last year and my teaching partners talked me into starting our own! We are so excited to enter this new world of so many fun, and creative ways to teach! How long have you been teaching? This is my third year teaching. I have taught kindergarten, 2nd and now this year I'm teaching 1st. You might not know........ Well, you might not know... I love books! I love to read as much as I love to teach! I love to use books to help get students excited about reading and the lesson I'm teaching. I could spend all day at any bookstore and I have a kindle! I love to touch the books and   read through children's books for fun! What are you looking most forward to this school...

Our district uses the Treasures Reading Series for the reading curriculum.  This week we are reading Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea.  (Gotta love Cynthia Rylant!)  The comprehension strategy for the story this week is story structure.  We are talking lots about the beginning, middle, and end of a story.  It is so important that the reader stops throughout the story to check for understanding.  Therefore, I have done lots of modeling of this strategy so far.  Anchor charts are great when working with the whole group, but students should eventually gain independence while reading.   We have this story structure chart in our practice books, but they haven't came in yet.  I created this one you can download for free.  Click the picture to download it.  Enjoy!   ...

Tell us a little something about you... Hi! I am Tiffany, one of the three contributing teachers at The Lemonade Stand blog.     I have been married for 4 years to an amazing guy, Todd!  I love to travel, cook, shop, and decorate.  We have two dogs, Copper and Bentley.  How long have you been teaching? I am currently in my fourth year of teaching.  I taught third grade my first year, and then moved to second grade the following year.  Second grade, in my opinion, is the perfect grade!  I love it!  I have some fabulous colleagues who inspire and motivate me each and every day. You might not know... I absolutely L.O.V.E. to decorate!  And too much!  I am seriously a fanatic!!!  I think about it way too much and rearrange my house to a fault.  I am going to have to get a better-paying job to support my habit! Ha! I am contemplating doing a decorating blog if this one goes well. What are you looking forward to this school year? I have a really great class ...