Crazy Busy!

Ok, I know we all can relate. I have been soo busy with the holidays that I have not posted in a looong time!! Well, I am finally on Christmas break (LOVE IT) and have a little free time!
I meant to post this pic before break just in case you needed any ideas for gifts but.....
please see above. :)
I made these gifts for my second grade team. They were super easy and not very expensive. I bought  frames from Michael's in a 4 pack for $19.99. I bought 2 packs with my 40% off coupon on each. I bought the initial letters there also for $2.99 each. I printed a background (chevron, swirly, etc.) on cardstock and hot glued the letter in the middle. I added ribbon to hang and turned out super cute! They LOVED them! Good idea for end of the year gifts also.
 Oh, and I made one for my son's teacher too.

Cyber Monday Sale!!

Hi friends! I don't know about you my Thanksgiving Break has gone waaaayyyy too fast! I always think of things that I want to get done and have all these great ideas to create for school that I never get around to doing? How about you? Do you get to all the things you have planned? So is the life of a teacher!
Well I am joining in with many other TPT sellers and having a sale on my store. Everything in my store is on sale for 20% off!!

You can find it here:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tiffany-Ellis
I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving and are gearing up for the crazziness to come!! :)

Yes, I am still alive!! The craziness of the beginning of the school year has kept me busy as ever!!
We are slowly but surely getting into a routine. Daily 5 is going well and I may even get to Word Work this year before November! Usually it takes my class until about December but this years class is on the ball!! I am still working my math block and trying to figure out exactly how I am going to run it. If you have ideas, or would like to leave comments on how you do your math time, I would LOVE to hear from you!!

LOVE, LOVE my new class!!

Hi guys! I am super sorry I have been neglecting my sweet little blog the last month. Well, school has started and you KNOW how crazy that is!! I have an awesome group of kiddos this year and am loving it! It also helps that I only have 23 students down from last years 28!! It makes such a HUGE difference! Doesn't seem like that big of a difference but teacher friends you know what I am talking about!! I hope your new school is starting off as wonderful as mine. Leave me some love and let me know how it is going for your beginning of the year!!

Let the Craziness Begin!!

So tomorrow is the start of Teacher Workdays! Exciting but sad at the same time. I know I have been slacking on the blog updates but I promise I will do better!! When do you go back to work?? Our kiddos don't come until the 27th so we still have some time to prepare!

Here is another of my Value Bundles just in time for Back to School! This is the Chevron print.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chevron-Colorful-Value-Bundle-836220

 

Happy LAST day of summer!!!

Where did summer go??

I know all you teachers are feeling the same! We soooo look forward to our summer and then we wonder, what did I do this whole time?? Some of you may already be back! (sigh) It is a bittersweet time of year and I know you know what I mean! Sad our summer is gone but excited to start the new year!! This is my last week off so I am trying to get enjoy as best I can. I recently just put a bundle pack of my 3 best selling items on TPT. It is a bundle of my Behavior Chart, I'm Done! Poster and Lunch Choice Poster. It is in Polka Dot bright colors. All for only $6.50! What a deal! I know we spend so much of our own money at the start of the year (all year) so I thought I would put something together that is affordable for all! Enjoy!!
How has the end of your summer gone?

Click on picture to go to my store.

Busy,Busy!!

Sorry I have not been posting much, we have been sooo busy as the end of summer is nearing! :(
I am also getting ready for my husband's deployment to Afghanistan (another sad face).
On a happier note, we found some great deals while school shopping this tax free weekend! ( I also stocked up on some new make-up and brushes. If you have not tried the Urban Decay Naked Pallet, you are missing out!( Look it up on youtube, that is how I found out about it. LUV it!!) :)
Anyway, here is my latest product. I revamped my Book Bin Labels and now have them in the ohh soo popular chevron background. Click on the link below to see them in my store.....

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chevron-Book-Bin-Labels-806045

Happy Sunday!

Another Teacher quote freebie!!

August 1st, I can't believe it! Where has my summer gone??!! Well, I know we are ALL anxious to get our room together, organized and decorated (he he) :) Here is another quote that I made. Again, I found the quotes on Pintrest and just made them into my own. Click on picture to download.

Happy Thursday!!

Cutsie Teacher Quote Freebie

I'm baaack! I have been off with the lovely family on vacation but it is time that I get back to (some) work!  :) Anyway, I have not done much but here is a cute quote I found on Pintrest from
 itswrittenonthewalls.blogspot.com. I just copied the quote but made my own version. (I am not selling so hope that it is ok)
I have been finding cute teacher quotes, printing and framing for my classroom. Easy, cheap and oh sooo cute! Hope you like it. More to come soon. Click on it to get it.

3 for 3 Giveaway!!

Hello ya'll! I am participating in Teachntex.blogspot.com's 3 for 3 Giveaway this week! She is celebrating her blog anniversary AND reaching (originally 300 followers) but now almost 500!! Wow! Check out her blog and enter to win "Blogger's Choice" products from amazing  teachers TPT store! You knwo we love some TPT!! Sorry I am posting so late about this, I am currently vacationing in Biloxi, MS with the ENTIRE family! Contest will run this week so you still have a chance!

Click on picture and head on over to check it out!!

Reading Response Freebie

Here is a Reading Response that I created last year for my students because I did not feel that they were putting much effort into their reading homework. This holds them more accountable. I meant to share it when I made it then forgot and as I was going through my docs there it was. So here it is just for you!! Hope you enjoy....

Click on it to download.

Liebster Award!

Hello All! I have been nominated for my first Blog Award and I am  honored and super excited ! I love blogging and finding new ideas from so many other teacher bloggers. I have learned SOOO much since I started last year!! Thank you so much for nominating me Portia from Tidbits From Ms. Pitts!!

 

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. I love it and am happy to be part of it!!

Here is the criteria that I need to follow:

1.  Link back to the blog that nominated me. 
2. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.
3.  Share 11 random facts about myself.
4.  Create 11 questions for my nominees.
5.  Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers. 
6.  Contact my nominees to let them know that I nominated them.


So here goes...
1. Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I have always wanted to be teacher since as far back as I can remember. I used to make my little brother sit and be the student while I "taught" him. :)
2. What are a few of your favorite TV shows?
I am not much of a sitcom fan but I LOVE some reality T.V.! My fave right now has to be Big Brother! (sorry to admit that)
3. How are you spending your summer break?
I just had my mom visit from Idaho and now we are gearing up for a week in Biloxi, MS where we met up with ALL my family. We do it ever year and have a blast!
4. What educational websites or apps do you like for your students to utilize?
I like to use:
bookadventure.com
reading.ecb.org
coolmath-games.com
spellingcity.com
abcya.com
funbrain.com
ixl.com5. Where are your favorite places to shop? I really like NY and Co. for work clothes, Old Navy and Gap for casual. For household I love Pottery Barn, Etsy, Target and Michael's.
6. What is your pet peeve? When parents actually think that I am the one treating their child unfair or it is my fault that they are misbehaving in class. Urks me to no end!!
7. What makes the state you live in a great place to visit? The beaches!
8. What is your favorite subject to teach? Why? Reading, I love to watch the children grow in their abilities and their love for reading! I try really hard to show them how much fun it is to read and how they can learn so much from just doing it!
9. What's one new thing you are going to implement this new school year? Why? Using a student dictionary. I have wanted to for awhile and never have. I think it will be a huge help for the spelling strugglers.
10. How do you manage grading papers where you are not left with stacks upon stacks? I grade the most important ones and then just check off on the others.
11. What random act of kindness have done in 2013? Well, I enjoy cooking and I am always making things for others.  I bring in the office staff goodies during the summer and I bring my teacher friends lunch from dinner leftovers during the school year.

11 Random Facts About Me:
1. I love to make things (crafts, sew, decorate, etc)
2. I love to eat healthy and try new recipes
3. I enjoy working out (yes I really do) :)
4. I ran a marathon (Marine Corps Marathon) two years ago
5. I am married to a Marine (could have figured that out huh?)
6. I was the first person in all my family to go to college
7. I love shopping and fashion
8. I was a stay at home mom with both my kids before I was a teacher
9. I love action movies
10. I adore Pintrest
11. I have 2 tattoo's

My Nominees
 Fun in Second Grade
Life, Love, Literacy
The Sweetest Thing
Simple in Second

 Questions for my Nominees:
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?
2. What grades have you taught and which do you like the best? Why?
3. What are some of your hobbies outside of teaching?
4. Do you like to travel? If yes, where are places you have been?
5. How do you use technology in the classroom?
6. Do you like/not like the new Common Core?
7. What kinds of movies do you like or have seen lately?
8. Are you a city or a country person?
9. How do you get the attention of your class?
10. How many hours a week do you spend working at home during the school year?
11. If you were not a teacher what would you be?

I can't wait to hear all your answers! Thanks again Portia!!

Creating a Collage

Well...I finally figured it out! I now know how to create a collage in a super simple way rather than the tedious work of saving each slide and uploading one at a time! (And I didn't even have to ask my 14 year old son!) Thanks to a tip from a fellow Second Grade blogger Kristen over  at http://teachntex.blogspot.com/ (LOVE her blog, lots of great ideas!) who sent me to another fellow blogger Jivey and her tutorial on how to make them here http://ideasbyjivey.blogspot.com/2013/07/throwback-thursday.html
If you haven't visited them yet you are missing out! I just made this from one of my previews in just a few minutes.....

I know it would save SOO much time if there are more slides! 

Thanks Kristin and Jivey!

Social Studies for K-3

Here is a new unit I created to use for K-3 Social Studies Community, Rights, Responsibilities, Rules and Laws. Great for start of the new school year (yikes, already!) Yes, if you are like me you are already planning your little heart out and trying your hardest to get organized!!
Check it out and let me know what you think......

Monday Made it!

Hey there! Sorry I have not been blogging this week. My mom is in town visiting and that means we have been...... SHOPPING!! It was also my youngest son's birthday party so I have been busy getting ready for that (welllll ok, no THAT busy since Chuck E Cheese was in charge) but you know, a little busy. :)
So, I was browsing around and decided to link up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It.
Anyway, my son wanted a Wrestling cake sooooo (enter Pintrest) and voila! Here is how it turned out.......

Not too bad! :)

Let me know what ya think and don't forget to link up!!

My Family Wall

Since I blogged about the  gallery wall I made  in a previous post I felt I needed to show it! It all started when I wanted to decorate our loft with some cutsie ideas I found on Pintrest. Of course the hubby was NOT buying it. I wanted cute, he wanted movie or sports theme, (uh no) is what I was thinking! So I came up with an idea to compromise and take things from each of us to make a family wall. I hit up etsy and found the perfect stuff! I did maps from where each of our grandparents where from, cool prints from the cities we grew up in, a NY Giants (ugh) print for his home team, U of AZ from where I went to school, and a family print with our names and birthdates. I am not done and still am going to add more. I want to add some old family pictures like of grandparents, a Marine Corps print that is still being shipped, a teacher print (of course he! he!) etc. All in all in turned out pretty cute and I was so proud of myself for doing it! Yay summer! All prints are from etsy.........

 

Let me know what you think!!

Bloglovin Craziness!!

Well, I am not sure about all the new craze but I figured I would go along since I don't want to be left in the dust. I will do it now and then figure it out later! (Isn't that always the case!) :)
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

My first ever July Currently Linky Party

Yay! I finally figured out how to do it! Sorry it took so long for those who posted after me. I was having technical difficulties! He! He!

*I am listening to my boys (hubby and 8 year old, 14 year old is out) have dinner without me since I am trying to figure this Linky Party out!
* I just finished (or mostly finished) decorating my loft. I did a family wall like a gallery wall all of prints from where we are from and all about. Will post soon. And made some super cute pillows with some fabric I bought. Turned out fabulous!
*I am thinking of all the stuff I still need to do around the house before my mom comes to visit on Tuesday.
* I am wanting to have all the energy to do it when all I want to do is relaaaaxx!!
*I am really needing a glass of wine. Thanks to my hubby who just brought me one. :)
* I cannot do it all in one day, tomorrow I will take some breaks and time for myself. After all it is SUMMER!!
Head on over to Oh' Boy Fourth Grade at......

 ...to join in! Thanks Farley!!

 

What we have been up to...

Wow, it has been a busy couple weeks! I can't believe it is already May!! Well, we have been working on our Australian Animal Research papers. If you teach second you know how hard it is to get students to research and then write about it! They just don't understand how to get the important information. So I modeled how to research the animal first. I did a graphic organizer as a whole class and then wrote about it as a whole class. I put it on chart paper so they could refer back to it. I then had them work in partners, choosing an animal from a list. I had them take their graphic organizers with important questions we came up with (Where does it live? What does it eat? Characteristics? Fun Facts) to the computer lab. Then they had to take that information and turn it into a 4 or more paragraph paper. They also created a One Pager to go with it. Most of them did okay with this assignment. I had a few strugglers that I had to help with organizing what information went in each paragraph. Here is how they turned out.....

 

I also created a travel brochure for them to write about Australia. (If you don't already know, I work at a International school where each grade studies a country. Second grade is Australia.)

I wanted to make something fun that they could write about information and also create pictures. You know how they love to draw!! This is what I came up with....

Could not get this picture to rotate :( 

 

 

Hope you have a great week!!!

Adjectives and Poems Oh My!!

So it is about that time of the year for Poetry! I have so much fun teaching Poetry and the kids always love it! First we are going to review adjectives because you know teaching them once is never enough! I am going to do this cute idea from swimmingintosecond.blogspot.com

http://swimmingintosecond.blogspot.com/2011/10/happy-birthday-to-me-and-freebie-for.html

where she made a cute book of adjectives that the kids write about.
 Then I am going to do Hope King's Unit on Poetry that she made. It is super cute and is called ipoetry, using the idea of an ipod or iphone. You can find it here http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iPoetry-A-Poetry-Unit .
We are finishing up our Australian Animal Research papers and let me say I am pretty impressed at how well my kiddos have done on it. They researched animals with their partners, filled out graphic organizers with the information and are now doing their final drafts. They are good!! I am really proud of how far they have come in their writing!
We also have an Awards Ceremony for the 3rd nine weeks (yay!!) and an early release this week for Professional Development, so we are super busy!! This year is flying by! Have a great week!!
What are you teaching this week??

Bedroom Makeover

Hi All!
 I know it has been so long since I posted but I have been so crazy busy!! So I wanted to show you what I did to my bedroom ( I know it is not school related but sometimes it's just fun to learn about the person who is blogging). :)
Anyway I saw this picture and read about this room makeover on Pintrest, you can read about it here:

http://runninglawyer.blogspot.com/2011/08/master-bedroom-makeover-before-after.html
I REALLY loved the color and the whole room so I basically copied the entire thing. I went and bought the paint color and here is how it turned out, the before and after:

 Before:  BORING!!

 After: BEAUTIFUL!!

I absolutely LOVE it!!
What do you think??? Leves me some comments and feedback!!