My Favorite Fonts Linky Party

I admit, I have a slight addiction to downloading fonts.


Maybe slight ain't quite the word I should use.  Step one to recognizing addictive behaviors is admitting you have a problem.  


I have a problem when it comes to downloading fonts.  :)


Natalie at Teachery Tidbits is having a linky party to share your most favoritest fonts.  

Between my computers at home and school, there's no telling how many fonts I've downloaded just this year.  I love Windows 7 because instead of installing the font the old way, you unzip it and click the install button at the top of the unzipped folder.  Thank you, Bill Gates!


So, here's some of my favorite fonts!

I also have a lot of the Janda fonts (dafont.com) on my computer at school.  They are too stinkin' cute!  I have 2 of them on my home computer but they aren't showing up at the moment...need to investigate!  

Anyways, link up with Natalie's linky.  Discover a new font or fifty :)

Happy Memorial Day!

Short and sweet today because I'm home with my loves enjoying a wonderful day off!  Remember those who served (and their families!) and gave their all...we are lucky to enjoy the benefits of their sacrifices!

4 days left!  Tomorrow is our last FULL DAY and the rest of the week are half days...  Already thinking of goodies for August... been pinning my findings to my Back to School board on Pinterest.  Trying to think of a good theme...thinking owls but not a definite yet.  Mary Engelbreit has always been my favorite :)  Hard to give that up!


Enjoy your Memorial Day!!

Fluency help

8 days to go....cue the choirs of heavenly hosts....ahhhhhhh!

In looking at my year end testing results, I've noticed growth, growth, and growth! (yay!) But...yes, nasty little 'but' in the middle of my high fives...

Fluency...not so good.

So, I'm looking to add to my pretty puny bag of tricks for fluency for next year... anyone have or know of any good resources I can get my hands on?  I've browsed on TPT but nothing is really sticking out in the 9 million results that came back.  

The problem is with my more advanced readers...the ones that are reading on 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade reading levels.  Their fluency is low because if they are reading on those levels, they should be reading fluently (yes, definitely) at that level.  My weaker readers are good with their fluency because they are reading on or just below their grade level.

So, help?  Just point be to the magic packet that will cure my fluency woes....I wish :)

Hello! Randomness to catch up on...

Hi again dear blogland friends...


Yup, it's been a busy few weeks, starting to work on end of the year stuff (OMG I've got 3 weeks left!!!) and have been year end testing, professional developing, and creating fun things for my kiddos.  


My class's Flat Stanley projects have been rolling in.  This year I've had a great turnout, mainly due to the fact that I told my kids NO CELEBRITIES.  Sorry, but in the 5 years I've taught in 2nd grade, I've had 2 come back from the White House (thanks Obama's staff) and 1 from the Atlanta Braves.  Projects have come in from Georgia, New Jersey, Missouri, and Tennessee.  We haven't gotten them all back, but I'm really pleased with the effort the family members and friends have put into these projects :)  Yay for friends and family!  I'll try to remember to take some pictures of what comes back...my mind is pretty slippery lately!


Our testing season begins in full force next week for grades 3 and up.  Say a little prayer to the AYP spirits that be that we'll get out of school improvement...if we make it in math again we'll just be in SI for reading...please please PLEASE!


Last week, my school had the PLEASURE of having John Antonetti come visit our school.  I can't say enough about this dude...other than he is freaking AMAZING!  If you are familiar with Ron White (the Blue Collar Comedy comedian...) imagine an educator's version of him and you've got John.  

If you can get him to come to your school, I tell you, you WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!  He is everything that is missing from education, starting with COMMON SENSE all the way to REALISTIC!  I learned a lot, especially from his cubing lesson planning.  I cannot say enough...I'm so excited to work on putting these techniques to use for next year.  

And my last little bit of randomness and shameless plug for tonight :)

I just finished my latest unit for TPT called Number Sentences:  Equal or Not Equal.  I was very surprised at how little there was out there for kids to practice basic equations using the equal and not equal signs.  So, little me created a whole unit.  It has 22 pages (including answer keys) with facts to 20 (addition and subtraction), 2 digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping, and create your own equation practices.  I can't wait to use it in my class next week.  We've been practicing these all this past week but haven't had any materials to use...until now!  The first 3 people to comment with their email will get it free for being totally awesome and patient reading this boring, random rambling.  Let me know what you think about it.  I'm really excited about it!


I've also discovered the wonder that is Jing.  Anyone use it?  I love it because I can take a screenshot on not have to buy OneNote!  LOVE!

Enjoy your weekend!  Happy Mother's Day to all Moms, biological or not!

Slacking, New Unit, and Funny for Friday

Yup, I'm a slacker (at least as far as blogging is concerned!)


I had a wonderful Spring Break and not so wonderful return to school.  Anyone with a 2 year old who has learned how to climb out of a crib, walk downstairs, climb into their parents' bed, and sleep like the letter X knows what I'm going through right now.  Argh!


Posted my new Homophone Hoopla! unit on TPT and TN if anyone is interested in browsing.  Also posted my April Themed Two-Step Word Problems...thinking about doing a May themed, too, but haven't gotten around to starting that one, either (slacker!)

 

A friend of mine just emailed me this photo and I about D.I.E.D. laughing.  So, I had to, just HAD TO share it with all of you.  Hope you find it as hilarious as I did.  


Happy Friday dear friends!

Out of school today, living in blogland...

Well friends, it's FINALLY here...


ahhhh...Spring Break....a day early thanks to my division for giving us a "at-home" workday!  As much as I'd like to actually have a day in my classroom to purge, plan, and prep, I couldn't bring myself to do it.  It's Spring Break for Pete's sake!


So instead of living at school, I'm visiting and catching up on my blogland happenings.  I'd like to share and pass some along to you.


Please visit Mrs. Castro's Class, she's sooo close to 50 followers and her blog is awesome.  She's a 2nd grade ELL teacher with a cute upcoming unit :)

I'm also rewarding my followers...hehe...with one of my newest units.  I have been working each month making two-step word problem units based on the current month.  I posted my newest one for April on TPT for $1.50.

Not the greatest picture, but the first 3 people to comment with their email address get this FREE.  Try to do this monthly for all my awesome followers :)

April Currently and Post-it Goodness

As you will read in my Currently, I am CURRENTLY at work.  Yes, my kids are working on their Flat Stanley project, so I made a new Heyyyy Girl.  Read my Currently to find more.

Link up with the awesomeness that is Farley and do your own Currently :)

Also, wanted to share this tidbit of knowledge.  Who here loves Post-it notes?  I invented Post-its.  (Thanks Romy and Michelle)  But seriously, they are some of the most awesome things.  Just found this, but 3M has a link on their page to all kinds of activities and PRINTABLES for POST-ITS!  If you've seen the printable Post-it template on Pinterest, you already know the POWER that is PRINTABLE POST-ITS.  Look on my boards.  I'd link, but Pinterest is illegal at my school...and this is illegal enough lol.  Check out this link and browse to your printable heart's contentment.

Post-it Link

Ta-ta for now!