Just in time for Fall

Candy Corn Short Vowel Activity Center CVC

This activity covers the vowels a,e,i,o, and u. Print the candy corn on card stock and laminate. Cut each piece of candy corn into three pieces. Students can mix and match the pieces to see how many three letter short vowel words they can form. Students can also record their answers on the worksheet under the correct short vowel. Blank candy corn is included to make more words. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Candy-Corn-Short-Vowel-Activity-Center-CVC-913407

Special price for bloggers.

Free Smartboard Activity Nonsense Words

Click here for free activity.

I play this game as a class. The students click on select and read the nonsense word. If they have trouble with it I help them because they need the practice. If they land on an out space they are out of the game. Last person left is the winner. There are also a spaces for candy, hop away, everyone applaud.

Guided Math

I have heard that many teachers do not like to use manipulatives because they take so much time to set up.  I have used an idea I had published in Mailbox Magazine a few years ago.
At the beginning of the year I give each student a GLAD food container. I use the one that is about 3 X 5 inches.  In each tub are 2 number dice and one die with + and - signs on the sides, 20 two sided counters in a labeled film container, 10 snap together cubes, 20 pennies in a labeled film container. Later in the year I replace the counters and pennies with tangrams and geometric shapes. This has saved so much time and the kids have been pretty good about not losing  or playing with any of the items.
I don't have a picture handy because I'm on vacation. I'll try to add one when I get home. You can get empty film containers on ebay.  I have about 100 extra containers at home if anyone needs some.  I can send them to you for a small price + the price of shipping.
Email me at kestnerg@gmail.com

What Does the Shape Say?

This Smartboard activity can be used as a group activity or a workstation. The student clicks on the name of the shape. If he is correct he will hear a cheer. If he is wrong he will hear another sound.An activity sheet is included. It can be used by an individual student to prove his work or as a worksheet for use in a group to keep everyone engaged in the activity.Click here to purchase before the price goes up.

A Year of Word Wall Words for Pocket Charts

These are word wall words students might use with themes throughout the year. These can be used with a pocket chart activity or in a writing center. 
Themes
Apples
September
October
Thanksgiving
November
Winter 
February
March
Spring
This is a bundle of the 9 word walls I have at a bundle saving price. Buying the bundle you save $12.00.  Check it out on TPT.

Addition Foldables

The purpose of the interactive notebook is to enable students to be creative, independent thinkers and writers. Interactive notebooks are used for class notes as well as for other activities where the student will be asked to express his/her own ideas and process the information presented in class. Requirements vary from teacher to teacher and the notebook can be set up according to the directions of the teacherThe purpose of this is file to give teachers a starting point for setting up their own math notebooks with their classes with beginning addition. The file includes 9 templates and ideas to implement them in your class. I have also included pictures of completed pages to give you some ideas for using the templates. I am working on a beginning subtraction notebook and will be uploading it in a few days. 

Free Sample here

Purchase here

Free Smartboard Graphic Organizer

I use this to assess the addition facts that  we have learned to 10.
Students write all the addition facts that equal the number in the middle of the graphic organizer. Numbers 1-10 .  Click here to down load the Smartboard Activity. More Smartboard activities can be found at TPT

Nameplate Solution

I hate when nameplates on desks start to look bad and the tape starts to roll and get dirty, Here is an idea to solve that problem.  Laminate the name tags and use velcro to attach them to the desk. This makes them easy to change as they get old.

To help you out here is a set of 26 nameplates for student desks. They are all different themes using Thistle Girl Design graphics. There is enough variety to be able to change name tags every week. I've done the work and you take the credit for how cute they are.

26-Different-Name-Plates-Desk-Name-Tags

26-student-nameplates

Roll a Pumpkin Center or Whole Group

This is a smartboard activity that can be played by teams or individuals. The class can also play against the teacher. Kids love this. Players take turns rolling the die and put the corresponding number of counters on the pumpkin (1 per circle). When the pumpkin is filled up, you win! To extend the game you can roll to take them off. Play as many times as you can in the time allotted. This is such a great game for number identification and counting! The kids love playing the boys against the girls.  Available here.

Classroom Website

Our classroom website is up and running.  Please stop by and see if there are any materials you can use in your classroom.  Click on the headings at the top of the pages to take a look around.

Mrs. Kestner's Second Grade

Welcome to Our Pad

Tour Our Room

Welcome to our Classroom!

Take a look around.

This the entrance to our room.

Boggle Center

Computer Center

Guided Reading Table

Guide Reading Materials

Library

Leveled Books

      Each second grader has their own ipad. this is our charging station.

                                                                  Smartboard Area

Incentive Sticker Charts

Do you reward your students with stickers? Use this chart to keep track of students good behavior, number of books read, accelerated reader points or other achievements. Use the left side of the chart to write the students name. If you have a different theme you'd like, let me know and I'll make one for you. No more running to the teachers store. Just print these off. More available at TPT.

Desk Nameplates

I like to change desk nameplates at least once a month.  My kids seem to be rough on them.  I cover them with contact paper and it helps some.  They can't wait to see what the new nameplates will look like. Below are 3 of the ones I've made recently. More can be found in a bundle of 26 different themes in my TPT store.

42 Smartboard Lunch and Attendance Counts

This is a a DVD+R that contains 42 Smartboard Activities to record attendance and lunch counts throughout the year. The files are bright, colorful and decorated with cute clip art. The files contain an attendance file and an attendance/lunch count file for each of the following themes: All Aboard. Beach, Bunnies, Ducky, Farm, Halloween, Leprechauns, Mittens, Penguins, Apples, Pirates, Popcorn(Movie), Space, Wheels on the Bus, Wizard of Oz, April Showers, Retro, Fall, Monkey Business (with audio) and Pilgrims.

All schools have different ways of doing their attendance and lunch count. These files can be easily adjusted to fit your needs. You must have Smartboard software to use these files with a smartboard. All clip art is copyrighted and may not be sold.

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Animal Habitats Sorting Activity Primary

This activity contains 8 different categories for animal habitats:
Farm
Forest 
Pond
Swamp
Ocean
Jungle
Desert
Polar
It also contains 8 labeled pictures of animals for each habitat. (64 Animal Pictures) All 8 habitats can be used together or as few as 2 can be used to differentiate instruction.
It also contains 2 pages to list the animals for each habitat.
The pictures are clear and vibrant to catch a child's attention. 
Print on card stock and laminate for longer lasting use.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Animal-Habitat-Sorting-Activity