2 month TPT anniversary

It's officially been two months since I uploaded my first paid item.  Here are my stats:

50 followers 

32 products

I've sold 261 units.

Earnings:  $411.29

I'm feeling very blessed and appreciative to everyone who has supported me.  Thank you!

Can I buy these in bulk?

Random Post for the day.....

BEST

Christmas Candy

EVER!!!!

Do I need to go on?

Free "App" of the Week

Every week, I try to include a FREE educational app in my weekly newsletter.  I introduce the app to my students at the beginning of the week.  When they visit the iPad Center during the week, they have a chance to play that particular app.  At this point in the year, I actually "lock" my iPad so they only have access to play that one app.

Click here to find out how to lock your iPad so children can only play one app.

Click here to download this week's FREE app.  

Turkey Words

My Class Song

I love, love, love this song!  I wish we could play it over the loud speaker every afternoon.  During my "Meet-the-Teacher" QR Code Scavenger Hunt, I had the students and parents listen to this song at one of the stations.  Now, we listen to this song every Friday afternoon before we go home.  It's honestly my favorite part of the week.

Click here to download the lyrics.

Ranger Cookies

Yummy, yummy, yummy!

Ranger Cookies are one of my favorite type of cookies.  Coconut and Rice Krispies seem like a weird combination, but I promise you won't be disappointed.  

Click here to download the recipe.

Keep in touch with PARENTS!

As a mom, I absolutely love it when my children's teachers keep me informed of what is going on in their classroom.  The more reminders the better because let's face it- we're busy people and sometimes forget things.

Here is a list of ways I keep my parents updated.  I promise it's not as hard and time consuming as it looks.

1.  EMAIL
At the beginning of the year, parents fill out a form with important information.  This includes an email address for mom and dad.  (Click here to grab this FREEBIE.)  I send out email updates about two or three times a week.  I admit that seems like a lot, but again I feel like parents need a lot of reminders.

2.  Weekly Newsletters
I send home a newsletter every week with important announcements, as well as a joke, free app, and weekly website.  (Click here to view an example of my newsletter.)

3.  Keep an updated website.
I try very hard to update my website once a week.  I upload my weekly homework plan, as well as my newsletters, study guides, and school announcements.  If you don't have access to create a class website through your school, then try out Weebly or Shutterfly.  

4.  Twitter
I created a Twitter account this year for my parents and students.  I absolutely LOVE it!  It's easy and fun.  I also try very hard to only send out NEW information via Twitter.  That means I put stuff on Twitter that I do NOT send in an email or mention in my newsletter.

5.  Text Messages
I signed up at Remind101 this year and think it's absolutely fantastic!  Parents can receive FREE text messages about things going on in your classroom.  Again, I try to ONLY send out NEW information via text.  My goal is for a  parent to sign up for email, twitter, and text messages.  Therefore, I try not to duplicate the information I send out.

6.  Blog
I created a class blog that I try to update with pictures of things that happen in our class.  I want this year's students to start visiting it on a weekly basis, so I've started posting questions for them to answer.  (Click here to check it out.)

Thanksgiving Plays

     

      During my fourth year of teaching, I saw two Thanksgiving Plays in a teacher resource book.  I immediately copied them, passed them out, and told the students to memorize their lines.  At that time, it didn't even occur to me to tell them to wear costumes.  My-oh-my.... times have changed!

      Over the years, I've made many changes to my Thanksgiving Plays.  At one point, I decided to create my own plays based on those "original" two plays.  I've added different parts to fit the size of my class.  I've added a little humor.  I've added costumes.  I've added props.  

      Every year gets a little better.  I pass out the plays the day after Halloween.  Everyone has at least three lines.  The students are told to memorize their plays.  Students are told to wear costumes.  (I've actually had quite a few costumes donated over the years, so I happily pass those out to the students that need them.)  Parents and families are invited to watch the performances.  I also invite my administration to view the plays.  It really is quite impressive if I do say so myself.

Click here to view this year's plays.

       

Answer Keys ??

I need feedback from anyone that downloads stuff from TPT. 

I have gone back and forth with the idea of including an answer key with the items I sell on TPT.  Some of my products have an answer key and some do not.  It does take a little more time to create one and I was wondering if it's really worth it.  Please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts.  

I really appreciate any feedback you can give me since I'm always looking for ways to improve my products.

Gracias!

Thanksgiving Mad Libs

Are you looking for a fun and educational Thanksgiving activity to do with your students?  Look no farther!  I found a really cute Thanksgiving Mad Libs on Pinterest for FREE.

Click here to download your copy.

Click here to download a worksheet I created so students can record their answers without looking at the actual story.  

** I have found that students that look at the Mad Libs story before completing the assignment never turn out as funny as the spontaneous answers. 

Enjoy!

Cute Clipart

I absolutely LOVE cute clipart.  It started back in the day when my supervising teacher introduced me to Carson Dellosa.  At that time, I quickly became a pro at copying it out of a workbook, resizing it, and adhering it to my worksheets.  I admit that I became slightly obsessed with Dellosa.  I especially loved their clipart CD's.  Over the years, I've also used CD's from Cliptures and FREE clipart from Discovery Education.

However, my latest clipart obsession is something my friend Teresa introduced me to.  It's simply FABULOUS!  Best of all, it's FREE.

Click here to check out My Cute Graphics. 

Update on my TPT Adventure

Thank you again to all of you who continue to purchase my creations. It truly fills my heart with joy.  Here are my latest and greatest stats:

I published my first "paid" item on September 23.

I've uploaded 27 different products.

I've sold 191 "units."

My total earnings are $288.  (However, I spent $68 on the paid membership and two different fonts.  That means I've made $220.)  

I currently have 46 followers.  

I haven't done any true "marketing", but hope to do so within the next couple of months.

Until next time.....

Possessive Nouns Continued.....

Last week, I taught singular possessive nouns, plural possessive nouns, and irregular plural possessive nouns.  I still can't believe I crammed all of that information in one week.  I will definitely be revisiting this skill, but felt confident in the lessons I taught my students.  On Thursday morning, I created a fun and easy review game.  I hope your students will enjoy it as much as mine.

Click here to grab the Possessive Noun Review Game.

This game covers all of the possessive nouns listed above.

Turkey Recipes

Calling all cooks......

Have you ever asked your students about cooking a turkey?

Go ahead..... ask them.... and then you'll fall over laughing.  

Most students think you cook a turkey in an oven set to 15 degrees for only 30 minutes.  If only.....

Every year, my students write a recipe for a Thanksgiving turkey.  The less they know, the funnier the directions turn out to be.  

My students write a rough draft on notebook paper.  I edit them before they write a final draft on "fancy" stationary I created. 

Afterwards, I adhere it to brown construction paper and laminate.  I don't laminate a lot of things, but these are too cute to pass up!  Or, you could collect all the final drafts and create a class book titled, "Our Turkey Recipes."

Click here to grab the Turkey Recipe FREEBIE.

  

Possessive Nouns

I think QR Codes are pretty spectacular!  

I think possessive nouns are NOT spectacular!  

Well, at least in the world of second graders.  Once I teach my students about that lovely apostrophe, they like to start adding the apostrophe to every plural noun they can think of.  Okay, perhaps I'm exaggerating just a little.......

Do you have an iPad?  If so, click here to see what I just found on TPT.

I can't wait to use this FREEBIE at my literacy centers this week.   

Let's color a turkey!

I know coloring might be frowned upon in our days of teaching common core, but let's face it....... coloring is fun and frankly our students need a little fun every now and then.  I found this super cute turkey and (gasp!) let them spend time in class coloring it.  

(Click here to grab your copy of this cute turkey.)

Drug-Free Week CONTINUED.......

(Click here for my post about "iTune Out Drugs.")

I wrote the word "Drugs" in a circle and made a web as we brainstormed all different types of drugs.  I'm always saddened at how much they already know about drugs.  I even tell them that medicine is a drug.  They are always shocked to hear about that.  

At the end of our brainstorming session, I tell them why people take drugs and why it's so hard for people to stop.  My message is clear- DON'T EVER TAKE DRUGS! 

We also discuss all the different reasons why drugs are BAD!

I always follow up with a great book called, "Smoking Stinks!"