Free Super Themed Table Signs/Wanted: Guest Bloggers!

My creation of the day...Super Themed Table/Group Signs for the beginning of the year! 

Snag a copy for free for your classroom, by clicking on the image.

Also, I am on the search for guest bloggers for the week of June 25th-July 1st. I would like to dedicate this week to posts related to best practices and strategies for teaching language learners. If you are a dual language, bilingual, ELL or even classroom teacher that has experience or knowledge that you would like to impart, please leave a comment with your email below, as I would love to have you! I am looking forward to a week of sharing that we can all benefit from to improve our classroom instruction! Thanks!

Superkids Graduation!

Today was one of my favorite days of the year! Our Second Grade Superkids Graduation!

Each year I host this event for my students and their parents to celebrate their learning throughout the year.

We started the event by watching a DVD I created of photos from our year!

All of our parents came too! We had a packed house :)

We all got a copy of the DVD to take home too. One of my classroom moms made these amazing graduation gift tags for us. If you have ever been in my room you will see that I have a collection of sock monkeys. She combined this with our superkids theme and graduation! Could not have been more perfect!

After we finished watching the video, our graduation ceremony began. Before our parents came this afternoon, we rehearsed! I shared with the kids that that is what they do in highschool, college, etc. on the big graduation day! 

Then we each had a chance to walk across the "stage" and graduate!

Instead of diplomas- we got capes, as we are now official graduates of the second grade super classroom, and every superkid needs a cape!

To make the capes, I used fabric, ribbon, and black puff paint. Super simple!

This is the poster we created as our "stage backdrop". 

It says "Congrats Superkids"!

Each of the students shared their favorite part about second grade on the backdrop and then shared it with their parents after the ceremony as well!

Also post ceremony, we of course needed some refreshments! We had more....but I just couldn't seem to find a moment to snap a photo before it was gone! My students' parents brought grad napkins, cups, and cupcakes!

I also presented some of my fabulous parent volunteers with their gifts! For my moms who come in and read with the kids each week, I created this lil pack with a book, B&N gift card and cute super tag!

Snag the tag here. 

I gave some of my other volunteers these cute mento thank you's that I got from Kids Cog Works. Click on the link to grab a copy!

It was such a wonderful day and super way to commemorate our year! Field day tomorrow as long as it doesn't rain.....fingers crossed!

Super Sunday and "Teacher's Pet"

Happy Super Sunday!

The weather is kind of crazy around here- any other midwesterners have all the storms last night? I think we are supposed to get worse ones here this afternoon too....ugh.

The super themed item I have for you on this "super" stormy Sunday (check out that alliteration ;)) is our "Give a Super Compliment" activity. At the beginning of the school year, as part of our character building, we discuss what it means to give a compliment to someone. Then the kids practice writing compliments to one another. We discuss how to add important details, how to make them more meaningful (because otherwise you will get 100 "I like your shoes" etc.). I just have a little labeled bin in which I place the "Give a Compliment" papers and the kids can go pick on up at any time they feel like they would like to share something wonderful about one of their peers. They they put it in our fabulous "Give a Compliment" monkey basket, and I read them and pass them our at our morning meeting each Monday. 

Click on the handout to download the slips we use for this activity in English and Spanish!

I am also linking up with Sandy @ Soaring Through Second Grade for her ....

Who doesn't want to share about their pet? Such a great idea!

Thus, I introduce you to my furry friend (and furry is an understatement!)- Miss Bella Carlson. (It's pronounced the Spanish way, not like the Twilight character ;)!) 

Here is my little fluffball as a puppy!

She is a great helper.

So loving- and photogenic- Don't you think?!

The picture on the right is her most recent- she is growing up so fast- already 2 years old!

And she is ready for the summer time just like her mama!

So we are supposed to share one thing our pet has taught us. I honestly think there is probably more than one- but as most would say I am sure- just unconditional love. I come in from work and she acts like I have been gone for years (tail waggin, lickin, jumpin for joy)! Furthermore, she is just so full of personality. They say pets take after their owners and I see my goofy, flighty, yet high strung personality in her for sure! It's too funny!

Can't wait to see all of your "teacher's pets"!

Super Sunday

First of all, Happy Easter everyone, and God bless!

Second, it's "Super" Sunday! Just have a quick super activity we did during the week to share with you all. It has been quite the busy weekend, and still have lots to do tonight to prepare for the week!

This week we culminated our unit on conserving natural resources by creating "Recycling Superheroes". To kick off this activity, I always read one of my favorite stories with my students that just ties in absolutely perfectly- "Michael Recycle", by Ellie Bethel. It's a story about a super hero (decked out in recycled goods) who goes to a town and encourages them to be more "green". After, I read the story each year, I share with my students that they will be creating "Recycling Superheroes", like Michael, out of recyclable goods, and will then write stories about the adventures of their "green" heroes. I will note that I usually read this story the day before spring break or before a weekend to give my students the opportunity to collect recyclable materials from their houses to bring in. I usually also send a note home that day explaining our activity to parents or stick it in my newsletter too! I would def. give yourself a little time to collect enough recyclable items to create the superheroes- because the more available to the students- the more creative they tend to be!

Here are some of the "Recycling Superheroes" my students created this school year!

One of my groups even created this skateboard for their superhero to get around! haha. I love second grade creativity!

This activity is included in my "It's Good to be Green" supplemental unit along with corresponding writing paper used to write about the adventures of the "Recycling Superheroes! Click on the image below if you'd like to check out our whole unit!

Super Monday?....and 100 Followers!

Alright, so technically my super related post is supposed to happen on Sunday, because clearly the alliteration of "Super Sunday" sounds way cooler....but I failed and was all sorts of busy- so you get it today ;)!

Here she is- my super teacher cape- isn't she a beaut!

So here's the deal- In my dual language classroom, I speak Spanish the majority of my day (80%) to be exact. The other 20% is in English. In our building, to help our students distinguish between what language they should be using at a given time, most people put something on such as a scarf that they designate as their English scarf, and that teacher then only uses English when it is on. I elected to use a cape (obviously), because superkids must have a super teacher. Usually when we are getting ready to switch into English time then to make the transition, I have my students "change their ears" before I put on my cape. To do this we simply put our fingers up to our ears, count 1,2,3 "clic" (in Spanish) and make a turning motion with our fingers. I then put my magic cape on and suddenly I only speak English and they have changed their ears and brains to be ready for the other language as well. We do the same when I take my cape off...but in English this time to switch back to Spanish. At the beginning of the year, I ensure my students that my cape is magical. When I put it on, I can only speak English, and without it I only know Spanish. The only exception to this rule is during our bridging time between languages in which we use both, and we use a special symbol for initiating this time as well.

I have to add this side note, because I think it is super special. When I initially started using a cape, I actually cut one off of one of my friends "Super Woman" halloween costume. However, last year, one of my darling students came to school on Halloween actually, with this sparkly brand spankin' new one that her and her mother had made for me. I about peed my pants with joy. It's the little things! Still wearing it faithfully every day!

On a completely different note- I have reached 100 super followers! I feel like I just had my 50 giveaway, and I cannot believe how fast this crept up on me! Needless to say, I could not be more thrilled that you all think it worthy of your time to stop by and check out my little ole' blog! I am having so much fun sharing my ideas with you guys, and equally as much (if not more) reading all of your ideas in return! THANK YOU MUCHO!

To celebrate this fabulouslessness, Casey from Second Grade Math Maniac and I are planning on teaming up for a 100 follower "dual" giveaway as she is right there as well! We are both finishing up some super new units so make sure you stay tuned as we plan to post them and give some away to say thank you to you all for your support, within the next couple days! 

Also, just a wanted to remind you all to keep linkin up your spring activities, and most importantly check out the great ones that have already been linked up! There are some wonderful ideas, that I will most definitely be utilizing in my classroom :)! Click on the image to go to the post. 

Lastly, a good Monday chuckle! (Hope your week is off to a great start :))

Super Sunday!

If you haven't already figured it out....the theme in my classroom is "We are Superkids!" (I know it was a difficult one to guess. ;)).

Because my classroom is stocked full of "super" themed items. I thought it would be fun to share some of them with all of you. Thus- welcome to the first "Super Sunday". Each Sunday, from here on out, I intend to share something "super" themed in my classroom that I hope you can possibly use or tweak to use in your own!

I am starting off with one of my very favorite "super" activities!

This is our "Superkid of the Week" bulletin board. (Don't mind the fact that everything is bare. This is from the very beginning of the school year!)

At the beginning of the year, I present a poster introducing myself to my students as the "Super Teacher" and I read them my favorite story. That day I share with them that they will each have a week to present to the class and read their favorite book as well so that we can learn more about one another. A schedule is sent home to parents so that they are aware of when their students' scheduled week will be along with a brief explanation of the activity.

Then on the Friday, before the students scheduled week, I send them home with a posterboard as well as the sheet below outlining the project responsibilities. Click on the image to download the activity sheet in English and Spanish.

Border by "Graphics by the Pond" and clipart by Scrappin Doodles.

After presenting their poster and reading their story (they can make the choice if they would like to read it or if they would prefer that I do), the class has an opportunity to ask the student questions. As time has gone on my students have come up with some really creative questions! This past week one of them asked "What is your favorite cognate?" (For those that don't know, a cognate is a word that sounds similar and has a similar meaning in two languages.) Love that they are including content vocab in their questions!

After presenting, the students poster is displayed on our bulletin board for the rest of the week for the students to review. And that's "Superkid of the Week"!

Do you do something similiar to "Superkid of the Week" in your classroom? I would love to hear your ideas as well!

Let the adventure begin...

Welcome everyone! I am so excited to embark on this blogging journey!

I figured that to start off with it may be a good idea to share a little information about myself to kick off my blog! So here goes (a few tidbits about me):

* I have always been one to be passionate about sharing ideas with others as well as well as learning from others ideas. I think as teachers we are busy enough as it is- why reinvent the wheel if there is something great already out there!
*I am a dual language teacher. What does this mean? It means I teach roughly 80% of my day in the Spanish language and 20% in English. I have a classroom comprised of not only English language learners, but Spanish language learners as well. I love teaching in this setting, because I am part of giving my students the gift of two languages!
*The theme in my classroom is "We Are Superkids" (hence my blog name). My goal as a teacher is to teach my kids how to be productive citizens of not only our community, but our world. In my classroom, students learn ways to help one another, build on their strengths and ultimately see themselves as "superkids" soaring toward success.

I thought that in the spirit of this being the "kick off" to my teaching blog, that I share one of my favorite activities I do to "kick off" my school year with you. Of course...it is superkid related.

I love this story. (If anyone has seen it in Spanish, let me know!) It is about this dog who is weak and gets picked on by others until he decides that he is going to become a super hero. In the story, he helps others and his community in a variety of ways. In the end, he even helps one of the bullies that was picking on him! 

After reading, my students and I discuss what are some of the characteristics that Superdog as well as other Superheroes possess. 

Then we create our first bulletin board of the school year. Each kid colors a "Superkid" to resemble themselves. They write about the characteristics that they will strive to possess as "Superkids" of our classroom this school year (...and beyond ;)). 

Looking forward to sharing many more adventures in our "Super Salón (Classroom) with you!