summer sale

It's almost the end of the quarter! It's summer! What a perfect excuse for a sale at my TpT store!

Happy shopping!

      

place value games

I'm so excited to be going back to 2nd grade next year. Even though we're on summer break, I can't seem to stop thinking about next year. The best part about "working" during the summer is that it's on my own terms. I do it when I feel like it.

My state implemented the Common Core Standards last year ~ during my brief interlude back to 4th grade. So, going back to 2nd with a new set of standards is like starting all over again. Sort of. It seems to me a lot is still really the same.

While I've been cozying up with the standards and surfing the net, I came across a video on the Teaching Channel (nerdy, right?) about two place value games. The kids in the video seem to be having fun (while learning!), so I bet my kids will too.


I didn't find a link on the site for recording sheets, so I created my own. And guess what, I'm gonna play nice and share with you. Click on the picture to download.

There's a second page for the 101 and Out game so, when copied back to back, four games can be played. 

I'm planning on introducing the games as a whole group activity, like the teacher on the video, then including the games in centers/rotations.

      

giveaway

The Tattooed Teacher is having a 500 follower and blog birthday giveaway. She's giving away l.o.t.s. of stuff. Head on over to enter.

     

currently ~ the end ~ the beginning

It's time to link up with Farley's Currently link party. 

I am wishing we could go to Hawaii. We went to Disneyland in February ~ our annual trip. We want to go on an Alaskan cruise. We are planning for that to happen in a few years with the whole family.

The end? 

There are lots of endings happening these days. First, the end of this school year. Yesterday was the students' last day and today was a teacher work day. On the last day of school nobody cried ~ not me, not them. I had a good class this year, but still nobody cried.  

I've spent the last few weeks not only getting ready to end the school year, but to end teaching 4th grade.

This also marks the end of an era with our current principal. She has accepted a job out of state and will leave this summer. We also have lots of teachers leaving our building, so this is the end of teaching with them. 

The beginning?

The end of teaching 4th grade means the beginning of being back in 2nd grade! During this whole year of being back in 4th grade, I have felt that somehow I was in the wrong place. I n.e.e.d. a summer break, but I am also so excited about next year. Today I moved all my stuff back to my old 2nd grade room. It felt like coming home. 

With so many people leaving our building, the new school year will bring a different dynamic to our school. We don't know who will be our principal and our vacancies have not been filled yet. All this mystery will happen over the summer. 

The thing I'm most excited about right now, though, is that it is the beginning of the summer! I'm looking forward to more time with Greg and the kids, plus all the crafty possibilities. I have lists and lists of ideas in my head, written down, and on pinterest. There are books and books to read. Oh, and there's the house projects. There are several rooms that need a good organizing. But I'm not putting any pressure on my self. What gets done will get done. 

But for right now, I'm just staying up as late as I want since there's no reason for me to be up early tomorrow!