Choosy Readers Choose Chapters

I have a lot of books, really great books, organized and leveled and ready to read. BUT my second graders were still mostly picking picture books. Don't get me wrong, I know picture books can have strong vocabularies, wonderful messages, help kids explore topics they might not ordinarily pick up, etc. BUT they were changing books ALL THE TIME. Chapter books make kids feel like big readers. Instead of saying "I'm on the page with the picture of" whatever, they can say "I'm on page 6 of chapter four". How cool is that?
To encourage their reading of chapter books, I decided to give them a bulletin board and a chance to show off their chapter books.When they are done reading two chapter books by the same author (just to prove they can read more than one chapter book) (and to become classroom experts on the author), they will complete the sheet with their picture for the board and in my classroom receive a $5 gift card to a place with some good chicken nuggets.
I haven't mentioned yet that I have a classroom angel twice a week. He is a retired member of my church that loves kids and has coached for years. I convinced him last year that I was going to need help with my little friends who were still working on the ABCs in second grade, and he came back again this year for more torture fun.  He is also very generous financially, supplying goldfish in megaboxes for snacks, $$$ for books through Scholastic, and kick-ins for holiday parties. We've already purchased over 20 books per student to take home on their levels and interests. It was time to do something that would really get them reading those books. So... Choosy Readers Choose Chapters. With gift cards as extra incentive.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?xcn9klqiawaji4q

Seuss Week Giveaway

If you haven't already joined TBA's giveaway, go check it out.


http://www.teachingblogaddict.com/2012/02/seuss-week-is-coming.html

I've been reading blogs about being almost at 100 followers...in my dreams!!!I accept pity followers that don't really intend to follow, and I 'll tellyou about my freebies anyway.

I'm excited about Teachers Marketplace. They are now accepting international sellers if anyone else is interested.  I am about to check back in to see how that is going. It will be interesting to play with time differences and seasons and idiomatic expressions. What fun!

World Wide

I really am helping teachers worldwide. I signed up for a teaching store in Australia!  It seems very proper, and their terminology is a bit different. I really will need someone to help with the spellings. It's exciting.

Winter Fantasy and Reality FREEBIE

Sorry, Charlie! This is now for sale in my stores. Stay tuned for more freebies.

I know I have to play with this to embed it correctly, but hopefully you can still download. This will be free until March 1, 2012.

I feel so yucky

I'm sick.I am a teacher and a mother, and I do not get sick.  I get headaches, sometimes a sniffly nose, a sore throat occasionally, but I do not get sick.
My sick days are for my children. My parents live nearby and watch them with a fever and an earache, but I stay home when materials are being expelled forcefully.
My family left for church, and I went back to bed for a five hour nap.  After falling asleep at 8:30 last night after the birthday party.  I've been awake almost for an hour and a half. And I want to go take another nap.
My very hands-on student has had a horrendous cough for about two weeks now, and accidentally coughed into my eye earlier this week. I decided I would be fine. That afternoon my eye started to get sticky like a pink-eye infection  ( I get those from my students occasionally too). But it went away. And then my throat started to hurt a little. And I started to cough a little. Oh and a fever. And now everything is really BIG. I feel bad for my kiddo at school. How has he stayed in class and participated feeling like THIS??? We are off tomorrow for President's Day, which is good because otherwise I might actually take a sick day for me.
Sorry the fantasy and reality for Mice and Beans isn't done.  If my fever breaks, I might get to finish it. I'm going back to bed.

Winter or Spring? Two New Games

The weather is messing with me. My crocuses are up and it is supposed to snow tomorrow. Likewise, I am posting two new products- one with a spring theme and one with a winter theme. The spring game goes with The Tiny Seed for 2nd grade Treasures for drawing conclusions, and the winter game goes with Mice and Beans for fantasy and reality. Tonight is my niece's party (with the beautiful invitations) so I am trying to finish them both up. Check them out in the usual places!

Playlist HELP

Besides all of the beautiful work on Just So Scrappy, I enjoy Katie's playlist. I am trying desperately to force my playlist on this blog. It is not cooperating. If anyone has experience, I would love to learn how to do this .