I have lots of fun in store this afternoon with yet another feast with friends and the football Border Battle of OSU vs. U of M, so I am up early to "take care of business" before pleasure! Tate over at Ink N Little Things created the free promotional banner I am using on my Facebook page to help we sellers get the word out on the big CYBER SALE coming up this Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 2nd & 3rd!  I just discovered her clip art store and blog, and am so grateful for her wonderful graphics and digital papers!  They have helped me make my new line of classroom materials more colorful and creative!  My own tPt shopping cart is currently full of her cute little polar bear/penguin and polka dot background packs!!   In celebration of my first store sale and the upcoming holiday, I uploaded a mini-unit based on Patricia Polacco's newest book, Gifts of the Heart. This true story of how she and her brother, Richie, learned an important life lesson is a perfect rem...
'Twas the day after Thanksgiving and all through this house, Only this teacher was stirring and it wasn't because of a mouse! May C. Clement Moore please forgive me for the very forlorn riff on his holiday poem, but I wanted a rhymed introduction to today's post! As you may have guessed from my title, I am NOT participating in Black Friday this morning.  I am enjoying my second cup of Hazlenut Cream coffee and working on all things tPt and blog-related.  I may stay in my pajamas until noon!?  I may not venture out of my condo except to walk the dogs many times today?!  Who knows? My daughter and I did the Black Friday frenzy ONCE a few years ago because a local discount store had toasters for $10 and we needed one for breakfast bagels.  Too many long lines and too much traffic later, we were home by 10 a.m. after a 5 a.m. departure and ready for a mid-morning nap!  We did not encounter too many crabby cashiers or crazy customers, but just decided that we were bette...
Holiday Greetings and Salutations! I have three hours until my daughter and I carry on the fine family tradition of watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live from NYC while eating pumpkin pie and cinnamon rolls for breakfast!  For some of that time, I would like to stop and share the "short list" of who and what I am most thankful for on this day and always. Bex over at her blog is sponsoring a "sharing circle" today, so here goes!  Reading and Writing Redhead  Most of the folks I've noted truly helped me navigate the wild ride of my life over the past four years--divorce will do that--and have continued to be the constant "wind beneath my wings."  I don't know that I will ever be able to repay them for their support, advice, and kindness.  I have to hope that they just "know" how much I appreciate them all. As you celebrate and feast with family and friends today, take a moment to make your list of the people an...
I am participating in the huge CYBER SALE on TEACHER'S PAY TEACHERS this Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 2 & 3, 2013!  Thanks to Jessica at Tales of a First Grade Teacher for hosting the Linky Party, a fun way for sellers to help each other and get acquainted! All of the products in my store will be 20% off, including the new ones I will be uploading this weekend!  I can't wait to share the new bundle of winter literacy activities I've created titled "Warm Up With Writing and Word Work!  Love that alliteration! Be sure to add things to your wish list so that you are ready to shop with the CYBER promo code!  Let's light up the holidays with learning fun!  Click on the festive button below to go directly to my tPt store! TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS--CLICK HERE!    ...
As I pour my second cup of coffee and note that the clock reads 5:23 a.m., I wonder these random things.... Q.   Why am I awake so early on my first day of Thanksgiving break? A.   My hound dogs don't know that I am off and therefore think that walking through the windy and cold falling snow is just what I want to do on this Wednesday morning! **** Q.  Will I have the energy and motivation today to sort through the pile of papers and fold the mountain of laundry that have accumulated over the past few weeks? A.  Only if I do both while watching a marathon of daytime talk shows and/or Hallmark Channel movies! ****** Q.   Will the local market have the two dozen "knot rolls" I need to take to a friend's holiday feast tomorrow, or should I have pre-ordered them?  And what will my "plan B" be if they are all out? A.  I will find out at 7:30 a.m. when they open today! **** Q.  Will I be able to complete some new products over the next four d...
Happy Tuesday! It's a day of "firsts" for me as a "newbie" teacher-blogger!  I am excited to participate in my first product "linky."  This promotional event is being hosted by Stephanie McConnell at Principal Principles, and was posted this morning in the Teacher's Pay Teacher's Sellers Forum!  There are lots of great resources included already, some paid and some free, that will help teachers everywhere make learning fun and engaging through the crazy countdown until Christmas!  Think of it as our own version of hosting a Black Friday sale!   http://thenewprincipalprinciples.blogspot.com/2013/11/christmas-holiday-link-up-best-of.html   I've posted my Gingerbread House for A Mouse Creative Writing unit that is designed to build story sequencing, how-to writing, and character description skills.     Teachers Pay Teachers     I am off to prep for our last day before Thanksgiving break now, and have quite a "buff...
<a href=" http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/11230863/?claim=54g884u4rkc">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a> The purpose of today's post is primarily to connect my blog to Bloglovin' in hopes of generating more followers.  I am copying the website link here as directed and hoping that it works!  Fingers crossed! Have a marvelous Monday!...
Since my upcoming school week is only two days because of Thanksgiving break, my lesson plans are DONE (and it is only 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning!  Woo hoo!  What a great feeling!  With so much extra "free time" on my hands today, I have decided to devote some to establishing more of an online presence and hopefully boost blog comments, tPt sales, and Facebook likes! In three short weeks I have shared resources and ideas via two "Linky" parties where one blogger hosts a thematic post that others can add ideas and resources to.  I have created a Pinterest account and am learning to "pin it to win it" slowly but surely!  I think it is funny that I have education-related boards, pet-related boards, and party food-related boards!  I am also learning to connect with my Facebook audience (a whopping 44 followers) by asking and encouraging their response to a daily question. Kerri, my blog designer and new best friend over at The Cutest Blog On The Block, ...
I woke up this morning with a million things running through my mind, so adding to my "to do" list was my first order of business.  Unfortunately, I have about three subcategories of to-do lists and therefore need to decide which one I am going to start with and then force myself to stay focused! In making my lists and checking them twice, I find some of my tasks to be invigorating and then some to be not so nice.  For instance, in comparing the following choices, using my new laminator to ready materials for my literacy and math stations this week is WAY more fun than cleaning out my spare room.  Rummaging through my stash of small gift items to find a surprise for my Secret Buddy at school is WAY more fun than folding laundry!  Working on a new product bundle for my new tPt store is also WAY more enjoyable than reading through the Math In Focus chapter on three-digit subtraction with re-grouping that is going to stump about half of my class and make me want to cry!  I ...
Today I am "linking up" with some of the fellow bloggers whose daily posts about their personal and professional lives often help me "keep calm and carry on!" Here are my personal "Top 5" for this fine Friday! After a difficult day in my classroom, I often do the following things to refresh and renew: 1.  Commiserate with my colleagues around the copier and try to inject humor as I retell the story of how thirty minutes before bus time I had to do a "clean-up at Table 3" after one of my little guys was struck down by the tummy flu!  Plastic gloves and lemon-scented air freshner are tools of the trade! 2.  Take three deep calming breaths before pulling materials, packing my tote bag with papers to grade, and preparing my classroom for tomorrow....because according to the lyrics from the hit Broadway musical Annie "it's only a day away!" 3.  Head home by way of my favorite coffee shop for a Caramel Marvel!  It is often ...
THOUGHTS FROM A LESS-THAN-TECH SAVVY TEACHER THIS THURSDAY...... Greetings and Salutations! Just as I was feeling very proud of myself this morning for uploading a new cover banner and profile pic to my Facebook page, as well as a Teachers Pay Teachers button to my blog layout, I did something to delete the beautiful background that Kerri from www.thecutestblogontheblock.com created for me!  As Lucy from the Peanuts cartoon always used to exclaim.....AUUUUUUGGGGGHHHH! I have since e-mailed my dear designer with an urgent S.O.S. and asked yet again for assistance as I continue to slog my way through the blogosphere!  Who knew that using social media would be so stressful at times?  It has also been very fun though, and making new connections and sharing resources with teachers across the country over the past weeks has been invigorating and inspiring!  Reading e-mails and posts from my daily Blog Lovin' feed fills my brain with new ideas and reminds me that there are lots o...
Good Evening Friends! What a thrill it was to give final approval to Kerri at The Cutest Blog on the Block to install her blog design for me today!  She captured my vision and color scheme ideas simply and whimsically!  Now to do it all justice with more school-related posts and ponderings. Those will have to wait for another night when I am less tired and more focused though.  My day was a draining one, and now I must just chill with a glass of wine and Beatles Radio on Pandora.... Peace Out, ...
Good Evening Friends! Who knew that when I decided to try my hand at creating educational resources to sell online in the common marketplace, that I would have so much fun finding and downloading FREE fonts and clip art to use?   I have always been a very visual person, with a good eye for color, composition, and presentation, so clicking and dragging to design worksheets, writing pages, graphic organizers, etc. has been fairly easy for me to get the hang of.   It has also become quite addictive and something that I would rather do instead of household chores.  Who wouldn't want to create holiday-themed materials that feature elves, snowflakes, gingerbread men, and candy canes in lieu of folding laundry and mopping the kitchen floor?  Now please excuse me while I indulge my new obsession and go create a stunning cover page for my next Teachers Pay Teachers product (which IS aligned to the Common Core Standards for Reading/ELA)  that features "best friend" clip art...
Greetings Friends! Brutus is snoozing on the futon and Rosie has settled on her blankets now that both hounds have been fed and walked.  I have brewed my second cup of Hazelnut Cream coffee and am getting ready to take up residence in my condo loft where all things school-related await me! In addition to mapping out lesson plans for the next "7 days until holiday break,"  I hope to invest some time in designing more materials for my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Digital clip art and colorful backgrounds will provide a creative outlet for me as this day unfolds! In addition to "working" the day away, I will take time to meet up with a friend for lunch and browse the aisles at the Dollar General!  My students know that it is a favorite shopping destination of mine for classroom goodies, and always eagerly ask "What treasures did you find over the weekend? Be thankful for all things positive and peaceful on this Sunday!  I know that I am! ...
Yesterday, my grade level team met with our principal, school psychologist, math intervention specialist, and reading intervention specialist to analyze data gathered on our second graders through the STAR Reading and Math Assessment.  Students took a twenty-minute test in each subject on computer and then there scores were graphed by color with green meaning at grade level, blue meaning borderline, and yellow/red meaning requiring intense remediation.  My group's results revealed no surprises.  After 9 weeks of working with my students, I already knew which ones were not "on track" and whose progress needed to be monitored closely.  The test results aligned with my natural instincts as an educator, and now improvement plans must be written and additional instructional programs put in place to help the at-risk students grow.  I will spend much of my weekend planning and perusing new resources so that on Monday we can begin the arduous and often overwhelming process.  Our ...
Good Morning Friends! This week has been a whirlwind and I am looking forward to some "down time" with family and friends tomorrow and Sunday.  My students have been quite animated lately and more interested in talking to each other than listening to me.  At one point yesterday when I seemed to be giving directions to myself, I began talking in the "teacher voice" from the Peanuts cartoons!  It the group's attention and made us all laugh.  It may be my new "go to" trick when the natives are restless! My tired body and brain doesn't have much to share in the way of classroom tip or life lessons at the moment, so I will leave you with this lovely quote from favorite author Patricia Polacco's Facebook page.... ...
Today's "milestone" is the establishment of my store on Teachers Pay Teachers!  My first "freebie" is available for download and use to hopefully encourage and interest young learners to expand their vocabulary and write about all things related to winter!  More language arts and math units will be forthcoming as the creative juices continue to flow and I begin to share the materials I have designed and used successfully with my students over the years!  The technology pieces of this new endeavor are sometimes daunting, so bear with me and be patient as I navigate unfamiliar waters with determination and perseverance! You will find my store and free product by visiting http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jennifer-Reynolds-5267 Also, please visit and "like" my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/storiesandsongs2 It is a Late Start day in my district so I must scurry to get to school and prep before attending a professional develop...
Good Morning Friends! As promised, here is my post praising the talented and handsome young man that my son has grown up to be!  As a child, he spent lots of time building intricate Lego structures, battling imaginary Ninjas, laughing at SpongeBob cartoons, and playing sports.  He always loved to draw small robots and write stories. An avid reader, he enjoyed all of the  Redwall, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings  books.  When he was 7-year old he asked to play hockey and I took him to the local rink to teach him the basics of skating.   When he played defense for his high school hockey team, I bundled up to stay warm and cheered loudly from the bleachers at every game.   When he asked to learn how to play guitar, I signed him up for lessons and listened to him practice Eric Clapton's opening riff to Sunshine of Her Love over and over. His sense of humor, creativity, athleticism,  musicality, love of language, and varied interests have served him well over time, and now he w...
Good Morning Friends! While being an educator is my daily vocation or profession, I often tell people that my children are "my greatest work."  Both my son and daughter have grown from impish toddlers to awkward middle school students to challenging teenagers to accomplished young adults over the past 23 years.  The joy and happiness we have shared together has far outweighed the "blood, sweat, and tears" I invested in raising them.  Celebrating their accomplishments and suffering through their disappointments have made me a more grateful and humble person and parent.  They have always been blessings in my life, and I will continue to walk beside them as they embark on new journeys. This weekend, my daughter will bring four musical theatre friends to our hometown to perform a cabaret of Broadway and jazz standards.  Yesterday, she sent me promotional photos to use for the table centerpieces I am making for the event.  Both capture the spunk and sense of humor th...
As a young girl and avid reader, I would immerse myself in Lucy Maud Montgomery's  Anne of Green Gables book series and be magically transported.  Anne Shirley, or "Anne with an e," would always speak of her favorite family members and friends as "kindred spirits" or people who knew and understood her best.  Yesterday, I messaged  a young teacher from Texas whose blog I've been following since this summer and she responded kindly and promptly with offers to help and encourage me as I continue my adventure into the educational blogosphere.  Marcy at www.saddleupforsecondgrade.blogspot.com is now a "kindred spirit," and I am so grateful! A post she shared on her Facebook page last night led me to discover yet another like-minded educator or "kindred spirit" at http://tattooteacher.wordpress.com .  This teacher's humor, style, and insight made me rejoice!  She is a young, wise, and energetic teacher who truly "gets" the y...
So spoke my academic advisor when I was in the throes of earning my M.Ed., the early stages of divorce, teaching a new grade level (3rd grade at the time), and parenting two teenagers.  Her words continue to remind me as my life continues to transition through new phases that GOOD does prevail through despite obstacles in our path, and that HAPPINESS must first be found inside of ourselves before we go looking for it in our personal and professional relationships. It is a quiet and reflective Sunday morning here, and before I sit down with my lesson plan book and coffee cup to sketch out our week in Room 2, let me share this quote.  May it encourage and inspire you! ...
Greetings from this sleepy teacher-blogger! My old hound dogs would not let me rest this morning despite a late night of surfing the web for classroom resources and blogging tutorials!  I am currently very caffeinated, so I hope that today's post makes sense and doesn't ramble on! I have discovered that I lack some of the patience needed to learn all of the technology required to be successful in the "blogosphere."  I currently have installed what seems like one thousand different type fonts and assorted clip art onto my desktop, and must now figure out how to organize it all into files so that I can find and use it easily.  I would really rather just wave my wand and say some magic words to make it all work, but that is the Mary Poppins part of my personality coming into play!  I have taken her "spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down" philosophy to heart and eaten some candy for breakfast this morning to make my tech tasks less daunting!  My secon...
Greetings Friends! Who knew that I would have over 40 "views" on my blog and 20 "likes" on my Facebook page in less than 24 hours?!?! Needless to say, I am feeling quite popular, and proud of myself!  The technical aspects of the online publishing world may cause my aging brain to explode, but I am taking baby steps forward!  Thanks for bearing with me! Today's attempt to insert a photo onto the site will hopefully follow!  It was taken at the beginning of this school year and features my favorite place in Room 2! Lots of learning happens here in our "Group Soup" area.  We hold our Morning Meeting here. We listen to and enjoy Read Aloud books here. We explore our Math In Focus calendar activities here.  We Round Up Rhymes here.  We sing silly songs here.  We even sometimes do the Hokey Pokey here!  ...
Greetings friends! Tonight I am embarking on a blogging "journey" after becoming addicted to Amy Lemons' site, Step Into Second Grade this summer!  I have also recently purchased many of her Teachers Pay Teachers materials, and my students love them!  We are currently finishing up her literature unit based on the Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant, and my students have loved it!  Amy's sense of humor and humility inspire me on even the most trying of school days, and her ideas are creative and aligned to our new standards.  Most importantly, they are "kid-friendly," and  "just right" for my second graders! I hope that as this blog grows and evolves others will benefit from the information and experiences shared.  I hope that the time and effort I've invested into 21 years of teaching will help me make a valuable  contribution to and participate actively in the educational blogging world.    Music is an important part of many of...