New Year's Linky

I'm linking up with one of my best blogging buddies, Jen Ross, from The Teacher's Cauldron. She's having a link-up for us to share one personal and one blogging resolution. And, we all know that resolutions only work if we tell hundreds of people about them, right? 

Personal Resolution

Well, my one personal resolution is to write neater when I'm not writing for and with my students. I actually have really nice handwriting when I'm around my students.

Neat right? But, something happens when I'm writing notes to myself.

I bet you can't even read it! Well, my resolution is to write neater when I'm not with my students so that I can actually read my notes and lists and stuff.

Blogging Resolution

My blogging resolution is to try my best to not take an hour or longer to write my posts. Seriously! It takes me f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to write every single post. It could be because I write, look at facebook, answer emails, and do about 10 other things at the same time! I LOVE to blog, but, I have got to try and give it my full attention so that I finish my posts in a timely fashion. Does anyone else multitask while you're blogging? While I am writing this post, these are the other things I did at the same time:

1. Answered 2 emails 

(one from Alessia and one from Kristen).

2. Took this picture of my yorkie, Max 

(to show Kristen!)

3. Watched a really cute video of Kristen's new yorkie, Koda, playing with his squeaky toy!

4. Pinned a few things to a new collaborative kindergarten pinterest board. You should check it out!

5. Wrote a few comments on facebook to my buddies.

I think you get the hint! I resolve to write a blog post and do nothing else at the same time. Let's see how long that lasts!

I look forward to reading about everyone's resolutions. And, to writing neater. And writing quicker blog posts. Wish me luck!

First Week of School Activities

I am happy to report that I survived my first week of school! 

It was actually my best first week of school in 18 years.

I already know and love my first and second graders, and they 

came back to me still trained, so

I just needed to train my kindergartners. It's definitely a 

work in progress! They are so stinkin' cute, but, most of them

cannot sit still yet or fight the impulse to blurt out anything

at any time. We didn't accomplish as much as I had hoped, but, I did accomplish the most important thing...keeping them happy and occupied so they wouldn't miss their mommies!

In kindergarten, we brainstormed some rules in the classroom, in the lunchroom, on the playground, and in the hallway. Then, they illustrated their favorite rule in each category.

We also made a class book, introducing ourselves. This is always a hit, because they love when I read it out loud and they have to guess who is who. 

You can find the templates to this book for FREE here!

In first grade, the children completed some stations.

ABC Order

All About Me Essays

Welcome Back to School

Trivia Game

We also made a tree map about First Grade.

The children made their own, but, I forgot to take

pictures. After they made their tree maps, they filled

 out a web like the one below. 

(My awesome student teacher made the above and below charts.)

Next week, they'll copy their web onto pretty paper. When they are done, they'll have a nice 5 sentence paragraph.

You can find these activities in my

Back to School Activities Pack for First Graders!

My second graders made a class book about our rules and procedures.

They also made the same tree map, web, and 5 sentences paragraph as my first graders. In my back to school activity packet for second graders, I differentiated this activity and made 2 harder versions. However, I chose to use the easier version. (And, I remembered to take pictures!)

Here are some finished paragraphs.

You can find these activities in my

Back to School Activities Pack for Second Graders!

On a side note, my little yorkie, Max, is not thrilled that I returned to work and can't be home loving him all day.

I think he's upset with me! What do you think?

12 on the 12th!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and posting 12 random pictures from today. Actually, I am going to take this opportunity to post some pictures of my two adorable yorkies! I hope you find them as cute as I do!

Here's Max!

1. What do you mean it's time to get up?


2. Nope, I just can't do it!


3. Maybe if you tickle my belly, I'll get up!


4. I'm just going to stand here and look cute as you get ready for work!


5. Now, I think I'll play with my toy!


6. On second thought, I'm just going to hide from my crazy mommy with the camera!


7. Now it's time to try and wake Buddy! I try to coax him with the massager.


8. This is harder than it looks!


9. All right! I'll perk up for one picture only!


10.  And then it's back to bed!


Just think, all of this happened before 7:30 am! Time to go to work!

11. Once I got to school, I noticed that my lima beans had grown a lot last night. I usually just grow mold, so this really made me happy.

12. Finally, back home and ready to snap one more picture of Buddy doing what he does best!

I know this was a really sneaky way to show off my two little yorkie terrorists, but, a proud mommy's got to do what a proud mommy's got to do!

I hope you all link up, too! Thanks for looking!