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Friday, January 31, 2014

My FIRST Five for Friday!!

Hello Friends!  Today felt like Monday since we have been out of school for 2 1/2 days, but it's Friday!  I love that!  Since it is Friday, I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching Five for Friday!



Here are 5 random things from my week this week!


I enjoyed my first snow day as a teacher this week!  Only being in my 3rd year of teaching, we have lucked up with early releases or delays due to bad weather so far.  But I had 2 snow days this week and an early release on Tuesday.  I enjoyed my first snow day by starting out with a yummy and relaxing breakfast!



I usually make my breakfast the night before and pack it with my lunch and eat once I get to school and somewhat settled.  I always get to school just before 7 so I have plenty of time to get some stuff done before kids get there starting at 7:45.  I just can't make myself eat breakfast at 6:30 before I leave the house!


Before our snow days, I finally got around to taking pictures of our January-February bulletin board!  We did all of the crafting and work before track-out in December, all I had to do was take Santa down and put Olaf up when we came back in January!
I don't know about your kids, but my kids are obsessed with Frozen...and I have to say I am too!  I am big Disney kid, so working with 2nd graders is just perfect!



We showed off some of our new three-digit math strategies and did a little craft for our bulletin board.  The kids loved it!  And I love hearing all the other kids/students (K-12) coming down the hall talking about our bulletin board.  Everyone LOVES Olaf!


Starting when we returned from track-out in January, a team-mate of mine and I began flipping our classroom for math instruction.  I will have to write a blog post just about how we have it working in our room, but I used some time of my first snow day to start working on getting some video lessons for next week done!





21st Century skills - do you have to "teach" these to your kiddos?  This is a big part of our new teacher evaluation instrument and my mentor coordinator has been on me to focus on these skills more and more.  So during my snow days, I finally got around to getting some posters I made printed.  I laminated them this morning and got them posted in my room.  My kids were so intrigued and were like "wow, that is a lot of skills".  Now, I just have to figure out how to incorporate them into our discussions, but at least they are on the wall!  And the best part, she stopped by to chat while I was working on cutting them out...brownie points!




As mentioned earlier, I am a HUGE Disney fan!  Over track-out in September my dad and I took a week and went to Disney as a father-daughter trip.  It just so happened the day we arrived the new Vera Bradley Disney collection came out and I was so excited.  But I convinced myself I only needed a zip id case even though I drooled over all the pretty bags.  Well about 2 weeks after we got back, I decided I wanted the Vera tote as a new school bag, but of course they were all sold out online.  We took a quick weekend trip in December for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party and they were no where to be found on the Disney property.  But Monday morning it was back in stock online and I was immediately online and ordered my bag.  It finally came today and I am over the moon in love!  It matches my duffel I got for Christmas!










Have a great weekend!

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Snow Day #2

Well, we had another Snow Day again today, but just got an email that they are working at school to get everything cleaned out so we can return at some point tomorrow.  Pretty good week, day and a half at the beginning of the week, 2 and a half days off, then back for probably a part of a day.  I could get used to this!

Well besides printing a lot of things and pulling other activities for the next couple weeks that I need to get copied tomorrow, I finished my 21st Century Skills posters and they are now in my TPT store.

On our teacher evaluation instrument, one of the new big components is teaching and assessing 21st century skills.  So, I need to post these in my classroom so that I can remember to talk about them with my students.

Head on over to my TPT store to check them out!


-Allyson

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Snow Day Productivity!

Well, I can now say I have officially had my first Snow Day as a teacher, and boy did I get a lot done.  Being in NC and only being in my 3rd year of teaching, I have "lucked" up with only have delays or getting out early for winter weather the past two winters, but we got hit last night and ended up with around 4 inches at my house.  School is still not safe for return, so we have off again tomorrow.

But, besides sleeping late, not showering all day (probably TMI), getting in a little extra exercise, I started and finished my next unit for TPT!  Basketball season and March Madness are quickly approaching.  I'm currently sitting here watching my team, NC State play and  hoping they can pull out a win against FSU!  Not expecting them to go too far in the NCAA tournament, if they get there at all, but a girl can dream.  Now, back to why you might be here...I have made a March Madness inspired unit for your 2nd Graders!


There are a ton of Language Arts and Math activities packed into 46 pages!  This unit covers grammar, writing, comparisons, telling time, measurement, math facts, three-digit addition and subtraction, double-digit addition and more!
Go check it out - click the picture above to head over to my TPT store to check it out.

Next unit/activity on tap...Flat Stanley!  Stay tuned...I hope to make some progress on this one tomorrow since we are still "snowed in"!

-Allyson

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Just for the Teacher Linky Party

Well, my first night of blogging, and I'm joining a link party - whoop whoop!


The product I am sharing is my one of my newest units on TPT and is just in time for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games!  Included in this unit are comprehension passages, grammar activities, math practice pages, and MORE!

Click below to check it out!


I also have a Canadian version that has been tweaked for my Canadian friends!

Hello and Welcome!!

Hello teacher friends and readers!

My name is Allyson Sutton and I am a 3rd year teacher at a charter school in North Carolina.  I became and TPT seller in October and decided this week to join the blogging world!  Here is a little about me!

*I attended Meredith College in Raleigh NC - Go Angels!  I received my BS in Child Development as well as my K-6 teaching license.  I was also a NC Teaching Fellow, so I had so many wonderful experiences to add to my college experience. 

*When applying for teaching jobs, I applied to one school, had one 2 interviews at that school, landed the job two days after graduation and am now working on my 3rd year!

*I teach 2nd grade - the perfect grade level and I love it!

*I am such an organized person!  One of my co-workers recently called me the "Queen of Organization".  I just can't stand clutter and things not having a place.  I hope to share some of the things I do in my classroom to help stay organized, so maybe I can help you too!

A Few Of My Favorite Things:

My Birthday: August 21

Favorite Color:
Pink

Favorite Flowers: Gerber Daisies & Sunflowers


Favorite Fast Food: Chick Fil A, Bojangles, Moe's


Favorite Restaurant: Chili's


Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Old Navy
Favorite Sports Team:
NCSU!  GO PACK :)

Favorite Author/Book Series: Patricia Polacco, Splat the Cat


Favorite Dessert: Cookie Cake


Favorite Candy: Reese's Cup


Favorite Drink: Coke Zero


Favorite Place to Go : Disney World


Favorite Holiday: Christmas


The reason for the name of my blog - My alma mater, Meredith College, recently began a new ad campaign with the motto "Going Strong".  As an all-women's college, Meredith pushes its students to be confident and educated leaders in their field.  So as an alumna of this great institution, I couldn't think of a better way to salute a place that made me the woman and teacher that I am today.  I also want to instill this confidence and leadership in my students on a daily basis, so, we are "Going Strong in 2nd Grade"!