Happy Father's Day to my wonderful dad and husband! I have two amazing men in my life that are so supportive and are always there for my kids! Here is my hubby and son enjoying their day kayaking and snorkeling.

I added a picture to the Lakeshore Learning photo contest and I need votes on Facebook. If you could go to their Facebook page and like them, then click on this picture and like it that, it would be Outstanding. It would help my cousin and myself out. We are both teachers and if we win we are going to split the money. Thanks sooooo much!

Well, today I bonded with my little dog, not my youngest my littlest


It felt good to hang with Jake!

When I came home though I was determined to work on Common Core Curriculum. I began to make a check off sheet~ I finished Reading Literature and Informational. Then I went to Pinterest to get ideas and take a breather and low and behold someone at Sassy in Second was kind enough to do!

Here is a snapshot:




Now wasn't that kind of her! I haven't downloaded it yet, but when I do I will be sure to tell you my thoughts. Enjoy your evening it is storming here.

I am Linky up with Nicole and some other great bloggers for a D5 Book study. Grab your book and join us!

On pages 4-6,the authors present tWo different pictures of their classrooms. In thinking about and reflecting on your own practice, how would you characterize your literacy block? Does it look more like the first scenario or the second scenario or is it somewhere in between?

My literacy blocks is 90 minutes of uninterrupted instruction. This was my first year of teaching 2nd grade and the first year I read Daily 5, I felt overwhelmed. I did have guided reading groups, phonemics instruction, writing instruction,- the one tool that I did incorporate and use daily was the read to self. The students had book baskets and built stamina.

Do you wAnt to spend more time In meaningful conversations with students About reading and less time trying to get students to follow directions?

Of course, I love having conversations with my students about what book they just read. They are so excited about telling me every little detail and can't wait to read another book. now if I assign a specific book it is a job or a chore and they dislike this, it is so much better if they choose.

Teaching with Love and Laughter has reached 500 followers! They are having a HUGE giveaway which includes products from many talented teachers and companies, so what are you doing head over...

Since I am brand new to blogging I was checking out my friends blog and saw this OLW, so of course I had to give it a try. I have to give her the credit for the paper I borrowed hers, thanks so much, now I have to figure out how to link. I am so excited, yer worried the same time because I do not want to mess this up.

I know I am talking to myself, but I am figuring this blogger stuff out and I am totally amazed! I just posted a picture of my husband and I (next to About ME). It is of us in New Hampshire. That is our other home~ my daughter is heading there tomorrow for a month, ugh! What will I do without her for a month? Cry, skype, cry, skype! She has grown up so much to a beautiful woman, miss independent! 2 more years and she goes off to college! Well, I better start to prepare something or make it look like I have been preparing something before my husband returns from his bike ride!

Well, I spent all morning changing my background and header with text, ahh I feel accomplished. I feel dumb, but accomplished at the same time. I was on the computer last night, looking at blogs. I came across a site that is hosting book study on DAILY 5. It is focusing on grade levels 1, 2, and 3. Perfect right up my alley since I teach grade 2. I read the book last year, end of summer and was gun oh on implementing it, but was overwhelmed with learning the curriculum and creating things to go along with the curriculum. I do not know if I have shared, but I have taught years in 1st, then moved up to 5th grade for 4 years. I asked to move back down with the weeee little ones and got 2nd grade. Very excited to move, but did not know the new curriculum. Now I feel confident! I did implement, read to self and that was the only one! :( I read the Book Whisperer over the school year and implemented and few ideas from the book. So my goal is to get ready for the next school year with Daily 5 and Book Whisperer ideas. So check out this Book Study blog she has notes for the chapter broken up by grade level. Now I must go spend time with my family. Enjoy your summer!

Sorry I have been away!  I am going to try to learn how to blog since I have the summer months.  I am reading all of these wonderful bloggers and getting a whole bunch of ideas.  Any suggestions are wonderful.  I need help with this especially changing the background.  I have photoshop and know how to use it, but I am unsure how to download into blogger.  Thanks.