Long time, No Post and a Back to School Sale

I would like to thank all of you that became followers of my blog this summer. It has been two months since I made a post, I literally had to step away from my computer and college this summer so I can just focus on family. I have truly enjoyed my break away from everything and sometimes you just have to relax. I can't say that I have not blog stalked anyone or visited pinterest but it has totally been taken down a notch. Now that I am back in the swing of things, its time to blog once again! I'm glad my followers still had faith in me and to those who visited my store, thank you (that's still a work in progress)!!

As you know, It's a BACK TO SCHOOL SALE on TPT! All of my items are 10% off and if you enter BTS12 during checkout, you will get an additional 10% off. That's right, 20% off! Don't miss this sweet deal, my sale will go until 11:59 tomorrow! Have a great night and don't forget to shop til you drop!

Here are some of my items for sale!

Speller's Choice Homework on Sale for 10% off

Money March Madness Basketball Themed Unit on Sale 10% off
This is a 55 page Basketball Unit. This is one of my best sellers!

Summer Reading Linky Party!!!

I am linking up with Clutter-Free Classroom to share summer reading plans. About 4 years ago, I restructured my Math block. Although my students were performing well in math, I found the method rather boring and dated. I begin to read  research that suggested that students could benefit from a Math Block similar that was set up like my Reader's Workshop and Guided Reading. So I overhauled the old way and begin to look for books that I could use to get me started.  Here are the three books I have read and will do some refreshing over the summer. These three books have been instrumental in changing the way  I do math.

  I first started with  Larry Ainsworth's, Five Easy Steps to a Balanced Math Program for Primary Grades. This was an excellent guide into understanding the steps to implementing a balanced math program. It was my foundation to change the way I did things. It focused on what should the importance be placed on during math, how to set it up, and also grade level specific strategies with step by step guide.
Although Ainsworth's book laid the foundation for my new and improved math block, Sammon's book provided me with a new framework for approaching my math block. One day I accidentally ran across a website that gave great detail about their math block and how it was setup. I was thinking this is just like Guided Reading but no one wrote the book on Guided Math until a year after I discovered the site. One day I decided to just look on Amazon because I was like, there has to be something written by now and then I found Laney Sammons. I couldn't put down the book. I think I finished reading it in less than a week. I was just so excited about me new found information. Please let me know if you would like to have a book study with me about any of these books. I don't want to go into details, I want to make this a discussion if possible. I would like to share my plans on how I set up my Math Block. I would love to provide you with a sample of what my weeks looks like.
Please comment to join the discussion and I can set up a book study.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

Double Fact Swag Video- Created with my class!

This year we really got into creating learning music videos and doing some Green Screen Productions. This year I believe I wrote about 20 learning rap songs and my students were excited to learn each and every one of them. I have always wanted to create videos but never acted upon it until this year. This was the perfect class  to create them. This was really a class of personalities!! I have created many podcasts, online tutorials, and this year music videos were a hit. This is the first video I made and started my own record label...ha! It's not copyrighted but it's Mrz. Hayez Clazz Recordz....my kids flipped out when I told them about this (so did my hubby). I wrote this song at first to the tune of ABC to help students learn their double facts and then spiced it up when I heard someone humming this rap song. So with all that been said...here is my video...
May I present to you Double Fact Swag.....(Don't laugh..hehe.. and Enjoy!)

I also have this on my Facebook page. Feel free to like my page and this video!

Currently...June Edition!!

Linking with Farley from Oh Boy Fourth Grade to let you what is currently going on in June. Don't forget the Giveaway hosted by Tattling to The Teacher! There are many items you could win. You have a chance to enter up to 45 entries. It ends tomorrow night! Good luck!

Giveaway.....Hosted by Laura from Tattling to the Teacher

My good friend and blogger buddy is hosting a Giveaway to celebrate her fantabulous blog's new look. Becca Paro from Jumping Jax Designs did a wonderful job designing her blog. In the next week or so, I'm putting in a order myself. Now on to the GIVEWAY..the Giveaway includes lots of free items created by very talented women. I have also included one of my best selling items from my TPT Store the Money March Madness Unit in the giveaway.I am so excited to be apart of this event. Money March Madness Unit includes 55 pages of activities that will help students practice their money skills up to $1.00. The Rookie Coin Sorter is free. Click on the picture to download.

Enjoy this Freebie! Just click to download it.

Combination Flap Book

Free Throw Game(Played like Go Fish!)

Posters for all coins and 1 dollar bill

Making Combinations

If you looking for more activities for your students to practice their money skills, I also have a Money Math Menu for sale for $1.50. The Math Money Menu is THE best selling item in my TPT store.


 

If you would like to enter to win Any Item of your choice from Laura's TPT shop, my Money March Madness Unit(valued at $5.50), and many other freebies head on over to Tattling to the Teacher by clicking on her button to win. . Stay tune for more fun ideas and freebies.Good luck and thanks for following and viewing my blog.

You know it's Summer Vacation when....Linky Party

I have not blogged since March 25th. I have been drowning in papework from school and work. I honestly did not get a break until I turned in my keys/signed them out at 2:23 p.m., May 25,2012. But today I'm linking up with Kindergarten Lifestyle to tell you how I know it's Summer Vacation.

Money March Madness- Basketball Themed Money Unit and a Giveaway!!!!

So glad to be posting today!!!!! I finished my Basketball themed Money unit today and I now have it on sale in my TPT and TN stores. It's 55 pages of sorting, counting, making flapbooks, circle mapping, games, and more. This will be a great addition to your money unit. Students will loving playing my version of "Go Fish" called "Free-Throw" and the Popular "I have, who has?" Take a look at the preview provided or thumbnails. Students will be excited and eager to learn the money skills with this unit.Students will love the lively graphics and fun activites I  am also adding a Math Menu where students get to make delicious choices that will help them practice money skills. It's only $1.50. The Math Menu will help you differientiate math activities in the classroom during your money unit. . Check out what's included in the unit below and take a look at the pictures. The first 3 people who leave a comment on this post, follow me TPT and TN, and follow my blog will receive  this unit for free.   
Here's what's included: Click here to go directly to  my TPT store to purchase it or here to get it at my TN store.

This Money March Madness Unit will help students practice money skills up to $1.00.
This Basketball themed Unit includes:
1. Mad Money Matchup- 1 Coin Sort/Word/Picture and a paper folding pattern included
2 Slam Dunk Shoot Out Cut and Paste Sheets- Matching coin values with set.
2. Slammin Flap Book with Brainstorming Sheet for what Equals 25, 50, 75 cents and Sort cards included to add to flapbook
3.Double Dribble Words- Students will express coin amounts in words
4.Free-Throw Game played like "GO FISH" 48 cards included.
5. Let's Go Shopping- Students will shop in Courtside Store and make combinations that equal $1.00. There are 17 items for sale in the store. Page 2 Student will make 8 combinations that equal one dollar. Answer key included.
6. Posters- 6 posters are included for 5 of the coins and the dollar bill.
7. Color Coded Coin Sorting Page with hidden picture once completed.
8. Basketball Themed Coin Sorting Mat
9. Sort and Graph Money- After students sort money they can fill in this graph.
10. Circle Maps- 6 Cirle Maps are included. Each map ask 4 questions  about each coin and the 1 dollar bill.
11. Face in a dolar bill- Students can draw or add a picture to dollar bill.
12. I have, who has game that can be played  with 20 students.
13. What's your name worth? Students will find the value of their name and other classmates using coin values.
Thanks- Check out the Money Math Menu I have for sale.

Currently!!!!

Linking up with Farley to tell you what's currently going on....

Eric Carle Bargain Books and Stuffed animals

I was shopping in Kohls the other day and ran across a really sweet deal. By the registers, there were HARDBACK Eric Carle books for just 5 dollars each. To make this an ever sweeter deal, they had stuff animals to match each book. I was kind of hesistant about getting the stuff animals because I thought the 2nd graders would think they were for babies. I was so wrong, the oldest student who is also a boy was cuddling the Brown Bear the whole entire independent reading time. He said I can't help Mrs. Hayes, its just so cute! Students are allowed to cuddle with them when they are doing independent reading. So far, no fussing over them and someone is always loving on them. Check out my pictures below!

I have two more that I will post soon! I absolutely love the books and stuffed animals to match them.

Word Study/Spelling Homework Made Easy

I can't believe it has been almost a week since my last post! This week has been so busy. Tuesday was one of the longest days I had this year! The first part of the morning was spent doing DEA THINK LINK testing and I had to read every problem(34 OMG) with a hoarse voice...and my solution to that was to use the mic in my classroom. The kids laughed at me but it was either the mic or many wrong answers! The last part of the day was filled with Valentine's Day activities and lots of goodies. The rest of the week was more testing and Jumprope for Heart on Friday.
This year I decided against the usual Word Study drill of having students write words 3 times each every Monday, Alphabetize on Tuesday, Write sentences on Wed and so on. I felt my students were capable of making their own choices when given good options to choose from. I decided to compile all the spelling activities I researched online and the Words Their Way series to create one document that students could chose from daily. Instead of collecting papers with no names and the pressure of completing activities daily, I made a homework assignment that was simple and easy. Students get to choose from 16 different activites daily and record their work on the back with the boxes provided. The sheet isn't due until Friday, which makes life easier on parents. Each activity shouldn't take more than 15-20 minutes to complete.
Here's a Snippet of it below! Click here to purchase it in my TPT store!
Please provide feedback on TPT if you liked this product!

Speller's Choice Weekly Homework Packet

A Warm Your Heart Mini Reading Packet Freebie!

Valentine's Day is just two days away and I've got a free mini reading packet available in my Teacher's Store just for you! It's 6 pages of fun activities. It has 4 graphic oraganizers, 1 Decorate your own card, and 1 Write your own book recommendation. This packet goes along with A Charlie Brown Valentine and Arthur's Valentine. If you click here it will take you directly to my store, click on download now and it's yours! Please leave feedback if you enjoyed this free mini packet.

Geometric Madness!

This has been a crazy week and I am just a bad blogger! Luckily I had my camera this week for  at least one thing I did. Doctoral classes on Monday and Tuesday every week is killing me! I am so ready to get my Ed.D. and to be finish with school(shooting for May 2013). Ten straight years of college is enough to make anybody want to scream! Instead of screaming, I just channeled all of that energy into my teaching. Now to the madness.....This week we started our Geometric unit. My kids were so excited about not doing regrouping with subtraction anymore and so was I. We still continue to do our spiral review daily on regrouping and other concepts but it was time for something new. Let's get to the madness(enough we get it)! I am known as the "Manipulative Queen" well at least to myself anyways but I didnt realize that I had only three sets of geometric shapes when I went to pull them out for my unit introduction. I was so sure that somebody had sticky fingers and they just accidentally left with them, then I remembered I never pressed pay now on Lakeshore! So guess what we made our own...and then the fun madness begun!

We used paper templates to create our own shapes(oops that's not what they call it on TCAP) Solid figures slash 3 dimensional figures. Take a look at these templates..

Cylinder Template

Cone template

Don't scractch your head just yet trying to imagine how you are suppose to glue these to make any types of "Solid Figures"...but after many sighs, a tear or two, and a unbelievable amount of hard work this is what good effort resulted in...

 Whew....minutes after this activity was completed, I went back and pressed PAY NOW AND SUBMIT ORDER about 3 times(not really) on Lakeshore! We also used items brought from home that had the same shape as the figures we are learning! It was a great experience for them and the students did take pride in having their own set of shapes Solid figures! Well worth the effort..certainly not worth the craziness! :)

My First Linky Party! Check out the things I love!

100th day of School Olympics and How to eat 100!

We celebrated our 100th day of school on February 2! This was also Groundhog Day, so we watched a quick video on watchnow.org and then it was a wrap. The 100th day of school was much more important to them!  My kids were so excited about the 100th day of school Olympics. There were several events going on in the classroom. Each student had five rotations to complete and they were in groups of 5. Each activity was timed and the students either had to complete something before 100 seconds or see how many things they could do in 100 seconds. Students just rotated clockwise through the designated areas in the classroom until everyone completed each activity. Before you take a look at our activities, I have to tell you about the mystery in my classroom all day. I told my kiddos that we would eat 100. Some thought it meant we were going to eat one hundred of something. Others were just puzzled and their guesses were far from what I meant. So if you are wondering what I meant when I said we were going to eat 100, this is what I meant.......

Eat 100! (1 large pretzel stick, 1 chocolate and 1 powder doughnut)

1st Activity: Can you do 100 jumping jacks in 100 seconds? Yes we did this in my classroom! 15 minutes of physical activity...no problem!

2nd Activity: How many words can you read in 100 seconds? Students had to read sight words and mark them as they said them aloud. This was a challenge but very funny!

3rd Activity: How many math problems can you solve in 100 seconds? Students were given a list of 100 addition facts. I had some that actually completed 95!

4th Activity: How many times can you chew a piece of gum in 100 seconds? Students had to write tally marks for each chew! This involved critical thinking.

5th Activity: How many times can you write your name in 100 seconds? Some actually forgot their name after the 15th time!

Here are some other activities!

What will you like when you're 100 years old?

What would buy with 100 dollars?

Complete the 100 chart before your classmates

100th Day Poster

         

Top Ten things you learned the first 100 days of
2nd grade!( She was interrupted on number 8!)

 100th day girls and collection!