Excellence in Education: 2nd Grade

EXCELLENCE in EDUCATION 

Welcome! I know you're going to have such fun looking over my shoulder today. As I'm out and about traveling the countryside for my presentations at conferences, my favorite thing is to make Author-Illustrator school visits while 'on the road.' 

The world of blogging has connected me to a whole array of excellence in education. Today I want to welcome you to my 'classroom crashing' in Hilary Lewis' Indianapolis 2nd grade setting for her "Rockin' Teaching Materials." You're gonna LUV LUV LUV seeing how organized this brilliant wonder really is! (This was just a blink ago, in the winding-down of the year mode..... not in the school hasn't started yet, look how tidy everything looks phase.) 

There are so many things to adore about Hilary and her approach to teaching. 
Seeing the student art work EVERYwhere is at the top of my list! 

I have had an earlier RoundUP of buckets and the filling of buckets. As you can see -- these are 'behavior' buckets and beads are earned as the week unfolds. The students were so eager to show me the various items that they 'construct' from their bead accumulations. Friendship bracelets were at the top of the list. 

Now let's move around the room and get just a glimpse of how the classroom is set up! Talk about organizing a classroom. There was a place for everything. EVERYTHING was labeled. (This is not an especially large room, by any means.) 

My number two article here on my blog is about classroom organization. I'll be moving several of these images into that HUGE storehouse of organizational inspiration. 

Now on to some of the bulletin boards around the room. Here's one HUGE wall divided into two pictures -- as it relates to "The Daily Five." LOOK at all of these anchor charts! 

Daily Five Anchor Charts in Second Grade Classroom 

EEKK!!!!!!!!

BOGGLE BULLETIN BOARD

Organization of Student Supplies: LABELED! 

Now take a look at Hilary's command central and desk area. She had TWO of these labeled teacher supply sets of drawers pictured below, sitting side-by-side. You get the idea from just one. You'll have to go over to her blog and ask the specifics: where she got the drawer system? Ask her about the labels while you're there. I only get credit for taking the pictures -- while I'm running around the room. Again. This is NOT my classroom. I'm just a visitor! 

My FAVE-FAVE-FAVORITE bulletin board in the room, is the one Hilary directed her students to create in anticipation of my arrival. They prepared this special wonder, in response to my picture book, "Red, White and Blue." Their quilt pieces are a reflection of my own quilted-illustrations. The bulletin board's caption refers to the title of my first picture book, "You're Wonderful." Two for the price of one! BAZINGA! 

This is such an amazing response. Perfect reminder for the Memorial Day weekend at hand. I 'featured' this work in a recent article looking at OODLES of patriotic student artwork created for my arrival. 



My picture book words are based on original songs for children that I've written and recorded. So the song lyrics become the book text! The songs are now available as digital downloads, with support materials that I created for the picture book format. 

I just 'transported' this picture from Hilary's write-up of our time together. 

Let's conclude our 'classroom crashing' with the classroom door: front and back. Here's the side that is facing the interior, toward the classroom. Robots with student photographs. How clever is the caption? "Take Me To The Readers." 

On the exterior of the classroom door is a tree is bloom with spring-time butterflies from coffee filters. My guess is that the tree undergoes seasonal change as the year unfolds! Decorated door and seasonal science all in one! 

Much to my continual amazement: the number 1 article here on my blog is a RoundUP of decorated classroom doors! I'm not sure if this is the number one issue in education or if the pin-image was that brilliant, but here's the direct link to all of those earlier ideas. Yes. By all means, go-pin happy with all of these great ideas! 

Come to think of it, I also have a RoundUP of "Trees in the Classroom."

Digging around on my memory card for Hilary's photos, I found this image, taken on the same trip. 

The colors of spring are already receding. 

Blink your eyes and its time for the autumn leaves turn. 

Happy memories. 

BLOOM! 

BLOOM indeed! This has been a big week here at Rainbow-Central. I have fallen in LUV with the technology to offer 'cyber' time together. 

I have had another THREE SKYPE author-visits! This week I virtually-visited in Oklahoma, the day following the devastating tornados.  Next I 'went' to TX and I concluded the week in Nevada. My kinder-blogging friends have acted as the guinea pigs in this adventure. I'm going to do my best to keep track of where I have shared thru these virtual-visits! 

My blogging friends are sharing with their readers just how much we have had together!! Maggie started off the reporting from Missouri at "Maggie's Kinder Corner." She created an award, JUST FOR MOI! 

Tiffani followed up with her insight at "Time 4 Kindergarten."   She also captured a bunch of images of our cyber-time together. They teach me so much, my techie friends. I'm guessing that this clever collage was constructed in PowerPoint. I'll have to ask for sure. LUV the rainbow background! 

While I was cyber-zooming thru the country to virtual-visit classrooms, my blog was hitting a new million-milestone. I hit my second million pageviews here at Rainbow-Central! This second million was in six months time. MAKES MY HEAD SPIN!!! It took me well over 4 YEARS to hit the first million. I'm LEARNING! I'm LEARNING! 

Next report was just posted tonight at "Kindergarten Lifestyle" by author, +Jeannie Partin. She has gone the EXTRA mile and has created a 'give-away' to support my projects being seen by the wider world. We are teaming up with an opportunity to win a set of all three of my books, signed and personalized.  

The VAST majority of my pageviews are as a result of Pinterest people popping over because of a Pin that you've initiated. Readers, I'm so grateful for your pin-support. Thanks -- from the bottom of my heart. 

**If you're still in search of an end-of-the-year 'graduation' song, I have the perfect suggestion, "You're Wonderful" is in a zipped file at both our Early Education Emporium and TeachersPayTeachers -- complete with 2 Mp3 versions: both sung and instrumental, as well as a chart for the sign language, to support your performance. 

Thanks again for all of your support. Till next time! 

-- Debbie -- 

I'm now at 121,866 followers!     

Click this link to go there directly! 

Now at 331 followers!