The 2nd Grade Chick

School started last Monday and the week has been a whirlwind. I'm so excited to know what I'm doing this year! In the midst of the week I managed to get my new blog design is up with the help of Honey Bunch Blog Design , and my latest TPT product is done!!  The Writing Dictionary is full of high frequency words from 2nd grade Journeys but really can be used in and grade.  There is also room for adding your own words.  I'm running a super sale to celebrate getting it done and my new blog.  So get this here  while it is half price!  On top of that, if you purchase it today or tomorrow, TPT gives you another 28% off!  It will never be this cheap again! On top of that I am excited to share with you more this year.  I am more comfortable in my role as a 2nd grade teacher, and I plan on sharing more.  I am excited to implement a WBT Super Improver Wall that I found  here  and homework club that I found  here .  I also want ...

The girls are away at Grandma and Grandpa's and my brain is shifting into school mode!  I am desperately trying to crank out my brain child, a poetry notebook based off of Houghton Mifflin Journeys.  (It's done you can get it here. )You probably already know there isn't an easy way to figure out the letter order!!  Well I just took the guesswork out for you.  Here it is! (Oh and I included the sight words too.) Lesson 1- Letter Names, SW I Lesson 2-Letter Names, SW like Lesson 3-Letter Names, SW the Lesson 4- Mm, SW and Lesson 5- Ss Lesson 6- Aa, SW see Lesson 7- Tt, SW we Lesson 8- Cc, SW a Lesson 9- Pp, SW to Lesson 10- Review Lesson 11- SW come, me Lesson 12- Nn, SW with, my Lesson 13- Ff, SW you, what Lesson 14- Bb, SW are, now Lesson 15- Review Lesson 16- Ii, SW is, how Lesson 17- Gg, SW find, this Lesson 18- Rr, SW will, be Lessson 19- Dd, SW go, for Lesson 20- Review Lesson 21-Oo, SW make, play Lesson 22- Xx, Jj, SW said, good Lesso...

This is my second year using Houghton Mifflin Journeys.  I do like the series but it takes over a year to really figure out how to use it efficiently.  I am currently working on making supplemental materials so I would love to hear what you want!  AND since I just posted a long response to post on PROteachers I thought I'd post that here too.  How do YOU use Journeys in your classroom? What do you need the most help with?? To help me with planning I am pretty systematic:  For whole group I spend about 15 minutes on phonemic awareness/phonics and 15 minutes on the story.  I wish I could split whole group up so they weren't sitting for 30 but I can't.  I sing a Dr. Jean song or two in the middle of whole group.  I have a focus each day and it is pretty much outline in the TE, however to use technology I focus on one think central element a day (too hard to transition and find different pieces).  Sooo.... Monday--I do the lesson opener an...