Amazing Animal Prints

This was a very exciting day for my kids.  A friend of mine sent me some pictures that he had taken from some of his trips.  He sent me fourteen 11x14 prints of land and sea animals. My class LOVES animals, so when I brought in these large animals prints, they were beyond excited.

I knew my kids would love having animals pictures around the room, but there is so much I can do with these.  On the first day, we focussed on the gorilla picture and I wrote "I'm wondering..." on the chalkboard.  The kids had to look at the picture and finish my statement.  Here is some of the work (most of it is not finished in the pictures I am posting.)

As my kids get more comfortable researching, I am going to use the pictures to have groups research information about the animals.  We will also use the pictures to discuss food chain and habitats.

Enemy Pie

I love reading the story Enemy Pie with my class!  It is such a great book with such a good message.  My kids have since asked for me to play the book on Tumblebooks they liked it so much.  We were able to talk about what makes a good friend. We tied in antonyms with friends vs. enemies and we tied in character traits.  My kids were able to write about being a good friend. As a fun ending activity with the story we made "Friendship Pies," that were extra sweet.  I used individual graham crackers crusts, pudding snack packs, and marshmallows.  This was a great way to wrap up Enemy Pie.

First Day Jitters

Our first day of school was a success! The day just went so well and I love my kids!  They loved hearing the story, The First Day Jitters and having their Jitter Juice.

Back to School Hallway

I must first stay by explaining my theme for the walls outside of my classroom.  There is another second grade teacher that will be retiring after this year and she requested that everyone choose a Disney movie as their hallway theme.  Since this is my first year in second grade and I was one of the last to join the group, many of the movies that I would have chosen had already been claimed.  I finally decided on Mary Poppins.  I do love this movie!  So my hallway theme is Mary Poppins.  Here are some pictures of my hallway and my door.

 On transition day my students used a technique called chalk painting to make their kites.  I felt this craft really related to Mary Poppins, because of the song in the movie, "Let's Go Fly a Kite."    I also took their pictures like they were holding umbrellas, Like Mary Mary Poppins, to use as a cute way to display their work.

 Just to make it a little more personal, I put a picture of my face on Mary Poppins. The kids at Open House seemed to think this was very funny.

 Also, on transition day, the kids completed a writing prompt that had them imagine what their kite would see from the sky.   I was amazed at my students imagination when it came to what their kite would see.  I wish I had taken more pictures, so that may be coming in the future.

 I have to admit that I hate putting paper on the doors before decorating it. By the end of the first week, the kids had knocked into the door and either torn the border or marked up the paper.  This year I copied an idea from Mrs. Huber, another second grade teacher.  In fact a large number of teachers copied this idea.  I painted the inside of my classroom door with chalkboard paint.  Later in the year, I may have the kids use the door during a reading or math center.  Make sure you put two coats on if you try this idea.

To be honest, I do not love the frontside of my classroom door.  I should have added a border and spent some more time on it.  I used black and white polka dotted wrapping paper from Hobby Lobby. This paper is actually very durable and you get so much paper on each roll.  The posters or signs are centered around my Mary Poppins theme.

CLASSROOM 2014

I am posting some pictures of my classroom setup this year.  I moved to a new classroom over the summer and this room is a bit smaller than my previous two classrooms.  I got some  shelves that were smaller which helped a lot.  It really did make the room look a lot bigger.

 For my bulletin boards, I decided to paint one of them blue and one with black chalkboard paint.  I prefer painting the bulletin boards than to using fabric or paper.  It lasts all year and if I get tired of the color I can paint over it.

Please disregard the mess in this picture. This picture was taken during the cleanup phase of getting my classroom put together.   I wanted to add this picture so you could see my other bulletin board.  I painted it with black chalkboard paint.  Later in the year, I will write things on this bulletin.  In the past I have displayed our "I Can" statements and used it as a writing board to display what we are working on in writing.

 This is my reading loft.  My students love to get in the loft during independent reading time. I usually allow two students to be in it at a time.  Kids also play in it during indoor recess.

 This was the night of Open House.  I had a great turnout!  This kids loved seeing our new room.  My new chairs hadn't arrived yet, that's why there are no chairs at the tables.

During Open House I typically display a powerpoint on the SmartBoard, but this year I wrote everything that needed to be accomplished on the chalkboard.  My projector hasn't been installed in my new classroom yet, so I had to go old school.  I have to admit  I still love writing on the chalkboard. 

In this picture you can see my past class pictures displayed above my desk.  My kids love seeing the students that I have taught in the past and in many cases there are siblings in the pictures.  

The picture framed hanging on the walls is where I write my daily objectives (I Can's) for each subject.  

You can also kind of see the rug where we have circle time and many whole group lessons.

 Many teachers make curtains to hide their materials on the top shelf.  I found some very inexpensive roman shades at The Christmas Tree Shop that I decided to use.  I love them, because they are the perfect size for displaying posters and anchor charts and they add some color to the room.

I am updating my calendar area, but all of my materials haven't arrived.  All of the red book bins hold books that are labeled by their level.  At my school we use Fountas and Pinnell to diagnose each child's reading level.  My students know which books are "right" for them and they can go and choose a book at that level.

I also put the student's reading journals and extra loose paper around the books so encourage kids and give the materials need to write about what they are reading during independent reading time.

Another picture of the reading loft.

I downloaded the "I Can Be a Good Listener" signs from First Grade Fever by Christie http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/First-Grade-Fever-By-Christie.   It was free and I think it is absolutely adorable!  Thanks Christie!  I glued ribbon on the back to hold it together.

I have had such a good time putting my new classroom together.  There is still some work to be done, but that goes without saying in the teaching world.  :)