Monday Made It.. Take 2

I finally got a little motivation to get some stuff done for school... although... as the hubs says, "You realize school doesn't start back for another month..." (You know with that look that says you are a crazy person). Ha... I guess I am a crazy person then! So I am linking up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for her fabulous Monday Made It!

I actually got ALOT of stuff accomplished this week for the home and the 2nd home (school)! I tried to go up to school, but my hallway is the laaasssttt to be cleaned..poo! So I stayed home and got some projects completed. 

I got an amazing deal on a vintage buffet off Craigslist... only $80!!

So, I painted and distressed it! I love it! 

Final look:

My project this week will have to include heading to Home Goods to start decorating the top of this thing!! 

That little art piece above my new buffet... Yeah... I made that! 

My sister and I started this project and then she kinda left me with it... Here is the one I made for her:

That's right... I made 2 sets! It was tedious but they turned out pretty cool! We started with 2 1x6 pieces of wood. We got Home Depot to cut them and then we stained them with some leftover stain I already had. It was an easy project just a little long! Took a couple days! 

And now a few things for school:

Last year I used a clipchart (which was great), and the teacher next to me would carry around this stick all the time. It was such an easy way to use a clip chart, I had to copy! So she inspired me to create this:

I just used a regular old yard stick and painted my colors with some regular craft paint. 

My last creation was a pinspiration....

I got my frames from Michaels $3.99/piece for 5x7 frames. 

Love how these turned out!!

Ok... I think that is all for this week.... now.... must sleep! 

Happy Monday!

Monday Made It

I have taken ALOT of time away... but I'm back!

There are some major changes going on in my school next year. An addition on our building, LOTS of new teachers, and a new principal... lots of change!! I am a very flexible with change... not one to normally stress out...but I have a feeling this year may be a little different. We have a lot of new teachers and many of them are coming to second grade. Four new-to-our-school teachers will be added to my team!

I'm trying to not think about all this until at least July, and so far I have done NOTHING school related (besides some tutoring on the side). But, today I actually started getting some stuff organized. I still have committed to myself I won't go in to school until July, at home there are a TON of things I can do!

So, I am doing my first link up of the summer for:

I really only made one thing this week and it was inspired by this pin:

This is adorably handwritten, but I made it a little more my style:

I plan on getting it printed LARGE and hanging it on my door with a cute border around it (hoping to cover a hole that someone punched in my door!!)

You can download this freebie if you "Like" me on facebook and Click on my "Fan Freebie". 

Hope to have more for you soon! :) Happy Monday reading.... I think I am off to the pool!

math centers = loud

Yes, it is loud! I don't mind it so much, because I know MOST of the kids are learning something important, but DANG it is loud! Sometimes it's hard for me to teach a small group it is so loud.

So.... I took a break from math groups (and blogging... if you didn't notice!). I don't know if it's the last month of school or just the pure loudness of math center time, but I needed a break from the everyday routine of it all. So we have scaled back... and I mean waaaayyy back to once a week. I feel bad because I know whole group doesn't always work out for all my kids, but I have a few stinkers this year that will not stop talking LOUDLY! 

Anyway, I really do enjoy math rotations when they are being performed correctly and when I can meet with small groups and really get that "bang for my buck". As I mentioned before, I am beginning to feel the summer itch in these last few weeks of school, and to be honest the games in math rotations have been "rotated" one too many times! So, when I was recently asked by Casey at the Second Grade Math Maniac to check out her "Take Home Math Kits", I was hoping they would be a good fit in my math centers. Her packet includes a TON of games at all different levels, so I picked out a few that would support a skill that my kids need major practice... MATH FACT FLUENCY! 

Most of my kids are decent with their facts, but as 3rd grade approaches I am scared for them. It is no joke.. and if you are a third grade teacher you know what I am talking about. Casey has some great games in her kit. 

This kit is actually designed for kids to take home games to practice, but my kids aren't real fond of "homework", so they worked out perfectly in my centers. There are games with a similar format that deal with a range of skills from telling time to shapes to subtraction facts. 

My kids especially enjoyed playing paper plate subtraction. 

**Picture coming soon!!**

(Of course, I left the camera I took the pics on at school!)

Anyway, I would totally recommend this product and she has it on sale right now! Click here to check it out. 

If you have any ideas on how to keep my math groups quiet, so I can stop feeling guilty and get back into the groove of math rotations... please leave me a comment!