Just an update on the homework posts. I've updated the last post - http://www.teachingmaddeness.com/2014/07/im-lovin-homework-thats-wrap-mini-series.html - with my MONSTER Folder Overview as a free download. I also had a ton of requests for the version of the MONSTER folder cover that was shown in my picture so that will be up in our shop this week! With back to school coming soon, I thought I would round up some of my favorite freebies I've offered here on my blog to make sure you haven't missed out on any of them! My students LOVE these Animal Goodbye Signs. There are 35 different signs. I laminated them all and post one by our classroom door each week of the school year. As students leave in the afternoons, they say the first part (ex. "Better Shake") and then the rest of the class responds with the second part (ex. "Rattlesnake"). They EAT.IT.UP! If I forget to change it one week, they are all over it. :) This is a pack of my favorite Attention-Getters! I've even provided tips on how and when I use them. I LOVE an author study! I "map out" (loosely) my read-alouds for the year on my planning calendar so I have an idea of what I want to read when. I include one chapter book per month. The rest of the month's read-aloud time is devoted to a particular author. This gives me the best of BOTH worlds. An opportunity to share those GREAT can't-wait-to-read-the-next-chaper-to-find-out-what's-going-to-happen BOOKS, as well as digging into an author's craft. When we get to our author-of-the-month, I like to provide my students with a little background on the author. They love to know that he/she used to make books with paper and yarn as a child, or that he/she couldn't read until the fifth grade, or that he/she NEVER thought they would grow up to write books! This pack was so popular, that I did ANOTHER Freebie Pack! 2nd Grade Common Core Essential Questions for ELA...(53 pages) 2nd Grade Common Core Essential Questions for Math...(27 pages) Sorry, I don't have EQs for any other grades. I hope you can use these Forever Freebies in your classroom this year. If you like them, spread the word so other teachers can come snatch them up! :)
