Teachers Pay Teachers Sale!

Head over to our store &

find some great items!!!

We have posted several new products!

Here are just a few:

          

                 

You do not want to miss this sale!

Click on our button below!

Happy Shopping!

Karen & Alison

Building Vocabulary

Building vocabulary relating to science is very important to help children fully understand the concepts being taught in the classroom.

There are a number of ways to build their vocabulary in the classroom.  So many of my readers are pros at it!

One way is to create a word wall by adding the vocabulary words as they are being taught in the classroom.  You could put them under an alphabet strip/letters or in a grid format depending on your wall space.  I used the tri-fold foam boards for easy travel & organization. I placed them on top of my cabinets to get them as low to the children without furniture covering them up. Then we were told to take everything off our cabinets and they had to go.

Now I make them in a different way.  I make smaller anchor charts with the vocabulary word under the given topic & a picture clue to match.  They seem to be effective with my class. These anchor charts are 2 sheets of paper turned long like a hotdog.  You trim them in the middle and presto a compact anchor chart that does not take up too much room!

These match the 2nd Grade Cy-Fair study guide.

If you need some made for your class, feel free to email me @ planethappysmiles@gmail.com

Here are the posters I have made.  You can find them in my TPT store.

Nature of Science

Matter

Forces & Energy

Earth's Resources

Animals

Plants

I am currently working on:

Habitats

Astronomy

Butterflies

Weather

Another way I have tried to increase their vocabulary is by making stations that they use their words often.  I am in the process of putting them together to load online soon!

Once I load my stations there are cards you can use for your word wall & for the small group activity.

Two other anchor charts you may love are ...

Scientific Process (Newest Addition)

Properties of Matter (Best Seller)

I have a few others I am in the process of completing and I will load them soon.

Happy Vocabulary Building!

Karen

My Schedule for Second Grade

I am so excited to be linking up with Susan Jones from: Sometimes I  TGIF!  Thank God It's First Grade!

I love to share and see what everyone is doing around the world.  Click on the picture to go to her site & link up!  I can't wait to see what you are doing!

Schedule Linky:

Here is my schedule for 2nd Grade!  I do not have too many changes or interruptions because I teach Math/Science.  It seems the Reading/L.A./Social Studies teachers have more activities that are extra.

 Here is a look at my day ...

I created schedule cards for my "Target" Pocket chart or for a standard schedule chart.  I use these to show the children what kind of a day we will have.  You can change out the cards easy when using the pocket chart for those special days when you have parties, pictures, author visits, etc.  I find that it helps the kids stay on track & also helps those who need to know what is next but they can't remember day-to-day. I also like that the clock is attached.  No more falling out and getting lost & if you laminate it, you can use them year after year.

I will never have to print extra clocks again.

(Can you tell I did not like remaking :o)

 I made them in more than one design to fit more classrooms.  If you need a different design, feel free to message me!

Here are the designs I have, you can click on the style you like to go to the store:

Zebra

Chevron (rainbow & white)

Chevron (rainbow & black)

Chevron (black & white)

Chevron (aqua)

Polka Dot (black & white)

Here is a picture of my zebra cards that I use:

Hope your schedule is a "Happy" one!

Happy Teaching,

Karen

Organization

Organization is key in very classroom to have your year run smoothly.  I have been working really hard on my organization this year since I am new to 2nd grade.  I created these binders to help tame the copies.  Our district has a HUGE amount of copies for the children to practice math skills in 2nd grade.  So ... I had to tackle that pile of copies that I kept sticking in my "To File" drawer & organize myself for the years to come.  Here is how I did it!

I created a binder for every skill in our curriculum and added clear sleeves inside for all of the copies.  You could even make one HUGE binder and use the covers as dividers.  (I will custom create any that you need if you love my design!)

Here is a picture of the Polka Dot Cover for Math.  It comes in zebra (of course), too:

Here is a picture of the matching spines:

I love them!!!  Each different subject is a different color so I can find them with ease in my cabinet.  Yes ... I guess I am kinda a dork!  I just love organization!

If you love organization as much as I do, I put these in my store in 2 different designs:
Zebra
Black & White Polka Dot

Last tip:  To help keep the ink from the printers from attaching to my clear binder fronts, I always put them in clear sleeves 1st.  Now they do not transfer & I can reuse the binder later in life if I ever need to!

I hope this helps you organize your math files.  Soon to come my science set, it is looking good so far!!!
Happy Organizing,
Karen

I am so thrilled to be linking up with Tori again for
Monday Made It!

Project One:

These are recycling bins I made for the classroom this week!  I am using them at home, too!

I did not include a “Glass” sign due to safety reasons.  The kids love bringing their recycling to school. 

You can find them in our store @ Planet Happy Smiles

Happy Recycling

Project Two:

This was a project I made for another classroom & I love the way it turned out!  There are pages that include all of the alphabet letters 3 to a page for making copies (black & white).  You can also have them printed on colored tag for station activities or morning activities.  I made cover pages so you can make the set into a book format.  I also bundled our letter mats & certificates into this pack.

click on the picture to get to our store.

I hope you love this pack!  It was a ton of fun to make for a wonderful person!  I love making products for others & I miss the kinder kids!

Happy Teaching!

Karen

Popcorn Alphabet, Word Wall, Words & Number Stations

Check out our newest addition to our store!  This pack has both math & language stations. 

It is based on the Cypress Fairbanks List of 35 Kindergarten Words.

A fantastic set for parents & teachers!

1st & 2nd Grade To Be In The Store Soon!

If you would like us to add to the pack,

please message us!

Click the picture to go to our store!

Happy Teaching!
Karen & Alison

Properties of Matter Anchor Chart

New Product:

Click the picture to go to our store!

Properties of Matter Anchor Chart

These pieces will help you create a fun anchor chart for your students.

What’s included:

Title for anchor chart

14 different “properties “ cards with corresponding pictures

Lines to make your web
Directions to help you create your chart

Here is my chart already made with the velcrow!  Yahoo ... easy to prepare year-to-year

Happy Teaching!

Karen