Spring Break & Newsletter

First, I will start by posting this week's newsletter.  Sorry it is late - I blame it on Spring Break ;-)

Next, I want to tell you a bit about my Spring Break - I'm sure you are thinking, "Really, Cothran?!?  Like we want to hear about your week off???" but if it makes you feel any better, I didn't go to the beach or on any fancy excursions (remember, I have a teacher's salary!) - in fact, nor did I in high school or college!  It's sad how things still don't change when you have a 'real' job :( BUT, I am grateful for the break and the time spent with family, friends, and of course, catching up on household chores!

Although I missed nothing about my 5:30 alarm, I DID miss my 20, sweet, happy, energetic, caring, loud, thoughtful, smart, messy, beautiful, (and so on!) babies!!  This time off was a true reminder of not only how lucky I am to have the coolest job around, but also of how lucky I am to get this time off with family and friends.  Though I have not (yet) started a family of my own, I can only imagine how awesome it will be to be able to spend such time with them J  Meanwhile, I was fortunate enough to spend time with my precious niece and NEW nephew!!  As you may have heard, I was out the Thursday before SB - this was due to the fact my sister had to be medically induced.  She was scheduled for induction during our Spring Break (1 week before her actual due date), but due to some complications and the fact big boy was simply ready to come out, he was born Thursday morning (April 9th) weighing 8 lbs. 5 oz. and was 21 1/2 in. long (and 2 weeks early!)!  I am happy to say that both mama and baby are home and doing great!  With that being said, I want to show off how I spent the latter part of my SB :-)

How could you not want to eat them up?!?

Pure. Sweetness.

I won't share any pictures of my 'spring cleaning' but I will share this one of my sweet friend and dear colleague Mandi Jones and I at Uptown Art over the break.  I absolutely LOVE doing these paint classes, and highly recommend the idea for a night out.  They are becoming pretty popular so you don't have to drive far for the fun :-)

Hope you all have a marvelous week!!

Hip, Hip, Arrays!

For the past couple of weeks, we have been working on introducing the base of multiplication through repeated addition and arrays.  The students have really enjoyed arrays and truly seem to grasp the concept - especially when food & chalk are involved ;)  We went outside last week when it was so nice and created arrays using sidewalk chalk.  The week before we used Fruit Loops to create arrays.  I forgot to snap some pictures of the Fruit Loop activity, but I did get some of them outside, so here you go!

Click here for this week's newsletter! And remember (not that you could forget!), only 5 more days till Spring Break!!!

Newsletter

Here you are, my friends! CLiCK ME!

Luck Be The Students

Because Tuesday was St. Patty's Day, I tried to incorporate as much "green" into our day as I could.  As you noticed by the work sent home in Friday folders, we had themed work stations, writing, a fact book, etc. which in my option makes learning fun ;)  We also took time to enjoy the beautiful weather that day by going out and searching for 4-leaf clovers.  I told the kiddos that I would bring in a prize for the one(s) that found one... little did I know that SIX kids would find 4-leaf clovers in less than 20 minutes!!  Needless to say, I have some lucky kiddos :)  Here are some pictures of their search...

And last, but not least, here is this week's newsletter!

Enjoy your week!!

Green Thumbs & Newsletter

Just a tidbit about my upbringing... I grew up on a farm and to this day still make a trip home to help my parents with it - cows, chicken houses, an orchard, a greenhouse, and so on.  So, I am embarrassed to say that I have a brown thumb :( I truly want to be able to maintain houseplants and do classroom activities shown on Pinterest involving chia seeds, buuutttt it just hasn't been in the cards for me.  I don't know why - maybe it's a talent that skips generations (like cooking)?!?  Anywho, despite the color of my thumb, I am attempting to teach your kids how to make their thumb's green :)  Our school has 4 flower beds/garden areas for classroom use - Ms. Paige in the office sent out an email at 10:10 Thursday morning saying they were first come first serve, and at 10:11 I replied!!  I thought it would be really neat for the students reap what they sow, so I have purchased some carrot seeds (and I may buy some others) because they should be ready before school is out.  Rest assure, I have other second grade teachers helping with this project so there's hope of success!  Here are a few pictures of the students getting our garden ready!  By the way, they LOVED it - even the worms!!

And I'll end this post with our newsletter!  Don't forget that tomorrow is a teacher work day so no school for the kiddos! 

Have a marvelous week!!

Newsletter :)

Click HERE for this week's newsletter!  Also, you can click on the lunch icon to the right of this page to view the lunch menu for each month :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

Dr. Seuss & Newsletter

If you have stepped foot in my classroom, you know that I am a Dr. Seuss fanatic!!  His birthday week brings just as much excitement to me as Christmas!  Of course I plan a week with nothing but Dr. Seuss activities (tied into our standards, of course ;), and luckily, my wonderful grade level jumps on board, too, by creating rotations amongst each class that consist of different Dr. Seuss books and activities.  The kids love it and so do we!  I plan to post pictures of this awesomeness this weekend :) Also, to go along with our celebration, second grade will have Dr. Seuss "themed days" each day this week as follows:

Monday - "Fox in Socks" wear crazy socks!

Tuesday - "Cat in the Hat" wear your favorite hat!

Wednesday - "Wacky Wednesday" wear something wacky or make your hair wacky!

Thursday - "The Sleep Book" wear your pajamas!

Friday - "Oh the Places You Will Go!" dress as your favorite Dr. Seuss character or dress as what you would like to be when you grow up!

Lastly, click HERE for this week's newsletter!

Enjoy this lovely week!!