Beach Bums, PASS Paradise, & a SALE!!!!

Hey, hey friends! Just wanted to stop by for a second to share my newest Beach Bum centers and tell about the fun day that we had in PASS Paradise. 

Tomorrow begins our week {ahhhhh!!!!} of state testing. The kids are ready, and I am calm...surprisingly! Last week, I worked them into the ground with worksheets and test prep. I kept promising them if they would hang with me, I would give them a "fun" review day on Monday {which was today!} And a fun day it was. Here is how it all went down. 

Welcome to PASS Paradise

When I visited the Ron Clark Academy, Kim Bearden shared the idea of a beach. I couldn't resist! :) 

On Sunday, I went into the classroom, took the tables out to our science lab, threw down some blue tarps and drop cloths to create my paradise island. Then, I added some beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, beach balls, and sand pails. Looks like it took forever and literally took about 30 minutes...and so worth every single second of it. The kids were beyond excited this morning. One of my precious boys kept rubbing his eyes saying "Am I dreaming?!" Ha! Yes, third graders love the magic too! 

Then, to get ready for our ELA test tomorrow, we listened to a little beach music and the students completed 8 center rotations from my Beach Bums centers. I do not use centers very often in third...but they are PERFECT for review...AND...end of year! Here are some skills that we practiced...

Sand Dig: Literary Devices

Shell Sort: Prefixes and Suffixes

Sunglasses Split: Cause & Effect

Fill the Bill: Synonyms and Antonyms

Build a Beach: Fact & Opinion

Genre Hop: Identifying Works of Fiction and Nonfiction

{These centers also include a QR code option. The kids scan the passage and get this...the reading passage pops up on the iPad or smartphone! Seriously!!!! Then, once they complete the activity, they scan the QR code under answer to check! I see many, many QR codes in my future!} So excited about this! 

And here are my beach bums in action! 

These centers are perfect for an ELA day/review or for an end-of-the-year activity to help keep your kiddos engaged during the last couple of weeks. I am telling you...you would have thought I planned a party! The kids just kept thanking me and thanking me all. Day. Long!

If you would like to check out Beach Bums, it is in my TPT shop right now! Check it out by clicking {HERE}. 

What a great day! The perfect review! Now...bring it on...PASS! :) 

Oh...and how could I forget?! TPT is throwing the sale of the year! All of my resources will be 20% off + 10% off from TPT! Thank you for all that you do! Teachers ROCK! 

Click on the image below to check out my shop which is already on sale!!!!

Paper Bag Memory Books: Cheap, Fun...Perfect for End of Year

I just recently posted my End of Year Writing Bundle and I have heard the cries people! :) As much as I would love to separate each unit out and sell them individually, life calls and I just can't find the time. :( Sad day, I know! BUT...I did manage to squeak a few minutes out tonight to piece together my end of year Paper Bag Memory Books...which seems to be what you guys are looking for anyways! And a little P.S. Thanks for always being so sweet and complimentary! Y'all really are the best! 

I have to say I love this project too and can't wait to begin them with my kids in a few weeks. I love that they are cheap, easy, and cah-ute! :) Oh...oh...oh...by the way, these are made with the lunch size paper bags. NOT actual grocery bags!! I have received lots of questions about where I found so many bags! I mean, I totally have connections at the local Ingles across the street...but even with that, I don't think they would give me 100+ bags! :) 

Here is a look at the project...{if you missed it the first time}....

And here is peek at the inside...

This is now available in my TPT shop! You can find it by clicking {HERE}. 

5 more days until state testing....send some much needed prayers my way! Have a great week, my friends!  XOXO :)

Shenanigans on Insta.....

I am linking up with a few of my bloggy buds to share about my new little love...Instagram! First of all, I am a picture freak! Seriously, I love pictures. Plus, I am nosey as all get out and love to see what others are up to. ;) Can I get an amen about the nosey part?!? Tell me I am not alone! I think it is a character trait of all teachers...or women for that matter. ;) 

So, here is the fun part. Every Tuesday, teachers from all over will be posting a fun snapshot from their day in the classroom. Love this idea! 

So if you are a teacher join in on the fun! Plus, you can also check out Second Grade Shenanigans on Instagram and follow me to keep up with my classroom happenings by clicking {HERE} or on the picture below...or you can search secondgradeshenanigans on your phone! :)  

 So, get in on the fun and link up with What the Teacher Wants or Apples and ABC's. And...don't forget to follow me @secondgradeshenanigans.

Dig into Learning {A Summer Review}

I have heard a little rumor that many of you are now in the "teens" until school is over! Seriously? #jealous...I just checked my calendar {and counted twice} and we have 30 days left. When I begin to think about the 30 days ahead, I realize just how much I have to do.  Yikes! 

As much as I love end of year festivities and celebrations, they always sneak up on me at a pace that I am not prepared for...ever! If I showed you my calendar right now, you might have a panic attack and/or look at it and laugh because your calendar looks the EXACT. Same. Way! 

SO...there is no time better than the present to get my ducks in a row! Since I have looped with my kids for three years, there are not many tricks that I can pull from my hat. However, I do get the privilege of having a few "repeaters"...one of which is the way that I send the kiddos home completely prepared for summer break! We will be working on this little gems after state testing! 

I always like to send my students home prepared to at least maintain what they’ve worked so hard to learn through the year. This way, there is no room for excuses and maybe I don’t have to dream of the word…dare I say it…regression. Double yikes! I know it’s summertime and they need to have oh so much fun, (and so does their teacher) but 15-20 minutes of review can’t rain on their parade too much! Right? Right!

I have used this summertime review method for several years and have seen excellent results. I love when my kiddos go into the new year filled with confidence and ready to tackle their new skills. 

Here is how it works. I buy each student a sand bucket for their end of the year gift and we spend a day preparing games and materials to stuff it with for the summer months! The student’s participation in the preparation is critical because it gives them ownership and they are super excited to use their games that they’ve worked so hard to create.

Then, I attach our tag and a little parent letter…and there you have it! Off they go! What better way to spend a day than getting your kiddos all prepped and ready for the summer? Seriously...after they have worked so hard, they can hardly wait to get their hands on their games. 

There are many different activities included in this 137 page pack, so pick and choose what you would like for your kiddos to focus on over the break! You can also add your own little goodies to the mix!

If you need to save some much needed time, you can check this pack out at my TPT store.

Now, back to the beginning...if you only have a few days left...enjoy them! If you are like me with 30+ left...get ready for a crazy ride...hang on tight...and enjoy your sweet kiddos for the remainder of the year! 

Candy Themed Awards {Customizable}

It is no secret that I have looped with the same kiddos for three years. Three years = three years of awards...which have to be different every year! Of course! Right?!? I sure do love these sweet kids, but I am ready for a new bunch so that I can at least use some of my old tricks. Ya know? I am running low on ideas y'all! Seriously! 

So, in first grade, we did a little candy bar award theme. The kids adored those awards and loved the chocolate. Then came second grade where I went all classroom superlatives on my bunch. These were really cute and the kids loved sporting their new "title". You can check these out right {HERE}. 

So what does that leave for third grade? Candy themed awards and matching poems. 

I am so excited about these awards, because I am a sucker for cute poems...PLUS...I love candy. However, I am making a promise to lay off of the Sour Patch Kids...for summer's sake! :) Check back tomorrow {or in an hour for that matter} and I will let you know how that is going for me! 

Back to the awards...

These awards are super easy, super fun, and can also count as an end of the year gift! I love killing two birds with one stone! :)  P.S. This file is customizable and will allow you to add your student's name, school name, and grade level before printing! 

You can check this out at TPT whenever you'd like...but they will be on SALE through tomorrow night. Click {HERE} to find them in my shop! 

And while you are there, you can also check out my newest writing pack! It will meet all of your "end of year" writing needs! It will also be on sale through tomorrow night. You can check this out {HERE} or {HERE}! 

We are going on another field trip tomorrow, which means I need extra sleep tonight! Hope y'all have a happy Tuesday! Xoxo