On Sunday nights we have a Twitter chat (#tptchat) for tpt sellers.  I love these chats because it gives us a chance to collaborate in order to grow as sellers.  So many ideas are shared and everyone who joins is so great.  After our discussion this week, the fabulous Cheryl from Techie Turtle Teacher offered to host this wonderful linky to share the resources we've made this month...In Case You Missed It!

Make sure you read to the end of this post for your chance to win one of my newest resources!

*******************************************

 

 My kiddos used this to review 3 properties of multiplication.  This interactive flip book can fit into a composition book, making it a great activity for interactive notebooks!  There is a page for the commutative, associative, and distributive properties.  There is also a page for word problems where students solve using a property.

*******************************************

This resource is a tool for Reader's Workshop.  It contains printables for students to record what they are reading as well as responses to their reading.  This has been a life saver in keeping my kids organized during Reader's Workshop.  It's also a great tool to show parents during conferences.

*******************************************

My kids love task cards!  I used these sets as a roam the room activity. This product contains 3 different sets of task cards that can be mixed and matched to meet your students' needs.

Set 1 focuses on order of operations and equations.

Set 2 focuses on knowledge and application of the use of parentheses.

Set 3 focuses on variables.

A recording sheet and answer keys for all 3 sets are included as well.

*******************************************

Now it's time for the giveaway!  Pick the product you would like to win.  Leave a comment telling me which product you'd like and why.  Make sure you also leave your email address.  I will use a random number generator to pick one person to win the product of their choice.  Comments must be received by Tuesday March 10 at noon PST.  Winner will be chosen Tuesday night!  

An InLinkz Link-up

Read more »

Brandi

Have you been shopping yet?  I've already shopped for round 1 and will finish up with round 2 tonight!

Right now, I'm back to link up with Beth for Worship Wednesday.  This linky provides a great mid-week spiritual pick up.

My church gives a quarterly devotional book.  The new one starts in March and I picked it up on Sunday.  While I was flipping through it, the devotion for April 11th stood out to me.

The scripture text is "Owe nothing to anyone--except for your obligation to love one another." Romans 13:8

This is speaking to me right now because I am working hard to pay off my car.  I no longer want to have debt, and thanks to Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace, I have been setting up my budget every month and living on cash.  I'm hoping to have my car paid off this year so I can save up to buy a house.

The devotion ends with this: "True contentment doesn't come from getting all you want, but by discovering the blessings you have been given and learning to enjoy them."  This is something I'm working to do every day.

Have a blessed day!

Read more »

Brandi

I'm linking up with the Teaching Trio again for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Have to:

We start our fractions unit in a few weeks and I want to have it planned out.  I have this product from Totally Sweet Math Centers by Tabitha that I can't wait to use.

I also need to sort through my 3rd grade math board on Pinterest.  I pin ideas but then forget to go back to use them.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who does that?  

Laundry and ironing are boring but so need to be done.  For meal prep, I want to try to get more variety into my snacks.  Again, I'm turning to Pinterest to help me get some more recipes to try.

Hope to:

Our report card grades opened up this week and my goal is to do a few comments a day instead of all 21 in 1 weekend.  They aren't due until March 9 so I'm really hoping to get a head start.  

My daughter is looking forward to spending a few days in San Diego this summer.  We usually go down there for a day to visit one of the attractions.  Last summer we spent 3 days down there and this summer we'll be spending 5!  So far I've bought tickets to a Dodgers-Padres game and the Zoo.  Need to finalize hotel arrangements and Legoland.

Happy to:

My daughter had her first softball game yesterday.  I am happy to spend time each day and practice with her!

Enough about my week.  Click the button below to check out what everyone's up to for the upcoming week.

What plans do you have this week?

Read more »

Brandi

I'm excited to be linking up with Jasmine from Buzzing with Mrs. McClain.  I love all of the fabulous ideas that are shared in this blog hop.

This month I'm sharing about a document sorter that I use to keep all papers that students turn in alphabetized and organized.  It's the C-Line All Purpose Document Sorter.

Like the video showed, this sorter has 31 slots that are labeled in a variety of ways.  

In my class, students are assigned numbers that correspond to their alphabetical order.  For any assignment that my students have to turn in, they walk up to the sorter, find their number, and lift up that flap.  They simply place their paper in the sorter and it's ready for me to pick up!

It's a very simply process, but it makes grading and passing things back out so much easier!  Here's a picture of my math tests in the sorter once all the kids had finished.

To get the tests out, I start on the left hand side and slide them all out.  You do have to teach your kids not to put their paper too far into the sorter because it makes it harder to pull out.  Also, at the beginning you have to remind them that they can't cover the next number with their paper. 

After a few tries, they usually are able to do this.  Then you have a pile of papers in order ready to be graded!

An InLinkz Link-up

Read more »

Brandi

Last week I missed out on linking up with Beth for Worship Wednesday.

Every Wednesday our Pastor along with the Young Adult Praise and Worship team lead midweek service which is called Connect to Refresh.  It's just an hour long with 30 minutes of praise and worship, about 20 minutes of preaching, and 10 minutes of prayer.  It's a great way to get rejuvenated during the week.

One of the songs that the Praise and Worship team often sings is Tye Tribbett's What Can I Do.  

I often listen to this song in the morning before school starts.  It's a great reminder to me that I can't do anything without Him.

Make sure you stop by Beth's blog to check out songs and scripture that have strengthened others.  What stirs your faith?

Read more »

Brandi

I've been under the weather this weekend so I'm going to link up with some great linkies from the Teaching Trio.

I'm hoping to be back on me feet soon.  I have a few posts planned on what I've been doing in my classroom and can't wait to share.  For now, I'm going to take some more medicine and curl back up in my bed!

Read more »

Brandi

I'm linking up again with Gina for Slim Down Saturday!

First, I want to thank everyone for their kind words last week.  I only had a small gain but it was so encouraging to hear everyone's words.  This is a journey and I'm in it for the long haul!

This week I had better results.  I'm not going to lie and say that I did everything right this week because I didn't, but I kept going.  My goal for this week is to enjoy the process.  The scale isn't the only measure of success.  I need to give myself props when I do the right thing and make good choices.  I know that in the end, each little choice will add up and work itself out.

If you're making healthy choices and trying to slim down, you should like up with Gina!  Let's me 2015 the year we all reach our health and fitness goals!

Read more »

Brandi

I'm linking up with Gina again for Slim Down Saturdays.

I was disappointed when I got on the scale this morning, but I realize that this is a journey and there will be bumps along the way.  It took me a while to gain this weight and I'm not going to lose it all in a week.  Like my quote says, I'm disappointed but won't get anywhere if I just give up.  And, in the grand scheme of things .6 isn't too bad.

Despite the gain, I am excited to say that I followed my work out plan all week!  I did PiYo in the morning and my Leslie Sansone walking in the evenings.  I love that both of these fit into my schedule.  I find it hard to carve out an hour at the end of the day to work out, but 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening is doable!

Unfortunately, my eating wasn't on point.  I did good with writing out my weekly plan, however I didn't stick to it once I got home from work.  My plan has me eating a meal around 3:30 pm when I get home and I need to make sure this meal is prepped and ready to go.  I also need to do better with my snacks and come up with more protein filled snacks.  Any ideas?

Read more »

Brandi

I go back to work tomorrow so I thought I'd link up with the Teaching Trio for Sunday Scoop.

Now that break is over, I need to get into planning mode!  I should have done a better job of planning before break, but since I didn't, I'm wrapping up my plans right now.  When I finish this, I will meal prep for the week using the Shred plan.  Hopefully the Cowboys will turn it around in the second half and come back then I can work out after the game.  I just started PiYo and am loving it.  Have you done it?

I'm hoping to plan my outfits for the week.  A few years ago I was so good at this, but have let it slip.  I figure the new year is a great time to get organized again.  I really only have to plan 4 days worth of outfits since Friday is spirit day.  When I do get back into my classroom, I really need to organize my teacher desk.  It's a hot mess right now!

Finally, I'm happy to always cuddle with my daughter. We've had a lot of cuddle time during the break and I'm sad to see that go!

Read more »

Brandi

I'm back to link up with Gina for Slim Down Saturdays.  I love the motivation and accountabilty this linky provides.  If you're looking to lose weight or achieve fitness goals, you should stop by and link up.

I didn't lose anything this week, but I didn't eat completely on plan and I just started working out on Thursday.  I also started #3weeksnocheats on Thursday and so far so good.  

Positives: I started PiYo and am really enjoying it.  I plan to do it in the morning and get my walking in after school.  

Do Better: I need to make sure that I get in all of my water.  I have really been slacking with this over break and I see a difference in how I feel.  

Goal: My goal for the week is to follow the Shred eating plan.  I absolutely love this plan.  It focuses on meal confusion and meal spacing.  I'm eating healthy, real foods that make me feel great!  

Word: My word for this week is plan.  It's been great being home when I can make a meal when I feel like it, but with going back to work on Monday, I need to plan my meals and snacks ahead of time and get them prepped so I stay on plan all week.

Here's to a healthy lifestyle!

Read more »

Brandi

I'm linking up with Art with Jenny K. to share...

When I started blogging, I was teaching 2nd grade (which I thought I would do forever) so I named my blog Success in Second Grade.  After attempting to make my own button and do my own design, I went with a premade design that I loved:

It was bright and I loved the stars.  The problem was there were at least 3 other bloggers with that same design and one of them is a very well known blogger.  At that point I decided to save up to get a custom design.  When I thought of what I wanted to have in my design, I knew that I wanted to incorporate my love of sports and softball in particular since I played from the age of 7 through college.  

I also knew that it wasn't guaranteed that I would teach 2nd grade forever so major changes were going to have to be made to the blog.  I ended up getting a custom avatar from Shawnna from Lovelytocu on Etsy.  She has tons of premade avatars and was so fast in getting me this custom one.  I decided to have the avatar hold a bat to represent softball and books and an apple for the teacher.  Megan from A Bird in Hand Designs did the rest of putting it all together with colors that I love and here's the result:

Make sure you stop by and link up.  I'd love to learn the story behind your logo!

Read more »

Brandi

There are a few more hours left in 2014 and I feel so blessed.  My daughter tried to make it til midnight, but was asleep by 8:30.  Now I'm trying to squeeze in this post while watching some NYE entertainment on TV, which makes me feel very old since I don't know who half of these people are!

Anyway, it's a great time to link up with Farley for the start of another year of Currently!

Listening: Like I said above, I have on Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve and I'm also flipping through some of the other networks' shows and I feel so old because I don't know anyone performing!

Loving: These 2 weeks with my daughter have been fabulous.  We've been spending time making memories whether that's going some place or cuddling at home.

Thinking: This ties into what I'm loving.  My life may not be where I envisioned it has a child, but I'm where I'm supposed to be and happy to be here.  God has been so good to me!

Wanting: I love college football, but I hate this break between the last regular season/conference championship games and the new playoffs.  I can't wait to watch the 2 semi-finals tomorrow.  I'm pulling for Oregon to go all the way!

Needing: I've had 3 weeks off and it's been wonderful, but I really need to plan what I'm teaching on Monday!  I'm being observed on Friday and I have an idea of what I'll be covering but I really want to map out my long term plans for the next few months.

Yes: I will be getting healthy and fit.  I'm following the Shred eating plan and using walking and Piyo for exercise.

Maybe: I need to get back into creating and posting.  I've made things for my class, but haven't posted anything new in a while.  I'd like to post at least 1 new product every month.

I wish: I'd love to buy a house/townhouse/condo, but I don't see that happening soon.

Happy New Year everyone and make sure you head over to Farley's blog to see everyone's posts!

Read more »

Brandi

It's the end of the year which means resolutions and goal setting.  My two major resolutions/goals deal with my health/fitness and finances so I'm linking up with Gina at Teaching with a Touch of Pixie Dust and Jessica at Second Grade Nest to share my goals.

My goal this year in terms of eating is to follow Dr. Ian Smith's Shred diet plan.  I have done Dr. Ian's Extreme Fat Smash and lost weight, but I need to be able to follow a lifestyle plan that will help me make good choices that I can sustain from here on out.  For my exercise, I will be starting Chalene Johnson's PiYo and continuing with Leslie Sansone's walking DVD's.  I plan to link up with Gina weekly to share my progress on this journey.

Now on to Jessica's 2015 Resolutions Linky:

I want to go to the TPT conference this summer.  I read such wonderful posts about it and would love to meet up with some of the people I've connected with on this blogging and creating journey.

I feel like this is the year of me.  I have a lot of things that I will be accomplishing this year in my personal life.  The biggest is going to be losing weight and getting rid of debt.  I have a goal to lose 86 lbs.  I know it may take a while, but every day I plan to take a step in the right direction until I've met this goal.  I also will be paying off my car this year.  I plan to cut back on some frivolous things and put every extra little bit toward this loan so I can be debt free!

READ!!! I bought myself a Kindle for Christmas and have been reading for pleasure over the break. I want to continue doing this because I love reading and I know that it sets a great example for my daughter.

My first round of 3 weeks no cheats.  I will be pushing myself at the start of this year to be dedicated to my fitness and eating plan.  I have been very motivated by some fabulous bloggers and Instagrammers who have lost weight and I want to be a success right along with them.

Like my quote above says, "Dreams don't work unless you do", I'm off to plan and turn these dreams into a reality!

Read more »

Brandi