The Countdown is On: A FREEBIE and an Announcement!

Hi there! Remember me? 

My name is Halle.  I teach 2nd Grade.

AndIamsobusywhenwillsummerbeheresoIcanfinallycatchabreath?

Seriously. I have been so absent.

It’s mostly because we are house hunting. Still. Still!

We found a house.  It was the perfect house for us. The papers were printed. All we had to do was go to work, then come to sign the papers.  I made sure to bring home my favorite work pen.

Then we got outbid. And we couldn't bid any higher.

I’m not exaggerating when I say it was tragic.  That was almost 3 weeks ago and I still get sick if I really think about it. I know, I know everything happens for a reason, but the little house that almost was seemed like it was built just for us.  Well, it was built before we were born, but that doesn’t count. It was still built with us in mind.

Then a few days ago we thought we found a pretty decent runner-upper.  Until we found out this morning that it’s under contract.

This is hard people! What happened to the buyer’s market?!!!!

We come home from work {which, as you know, is exhausting the last few weeks} and then we either go out looking at houses with our realtor, or I waste hours upon hours on Trulia and Zillow, then Trulia, then Zillow, then Trulia…

I am so ready to find a house, and I hope it happens SOON, and that is the end of that story…

Now, on to other important news.

We have 15 days left.  Yes 15. Our last day is on a Monday. I know, right?!?!?
Luckily, this week should go by pretty quickly.  We’re off today, and we have our field trip tomorrow {I know, poor planning on our part}. 

Last year, I was inspired by The Teacher Wife to do a balloon countdown the last week or so of school.  We had such fun with it, that I am so excited to do it again this year,only bigger and better!

Click the pictures to grab them if you’d like, or check out The Teacher Wife’s here.

Most of these are pretty self-explanatory, but let me elaborate on a few, will you?

For Lemonade Day, we’ll be doing activities from my friend Aimee’s packet.

I am so excited to do the activities from this packet with my kiddos.  Read all about the activities included in this unit here.

For Bubble Day, we’ll be using a few activities from Abby’s packet:


This looks so stinkin’ adorable.  I might be more excited than my second graders will be.

For Silly Seating Day the kids will be able to put their desks wherever they want in the room! I’m sure that will be very interesting and not at all a fire hazard. {I kid, I wouldn’t let that happen!}

For RACK Day, we’ll be committing some “random acts of classroom kindness” which we did a lot of around Christmas.  I plan on doing some baking and letting the kids write notes to various staff members and deliver our goodies. You know smiles and fuzzy feelings all around!

I think you can figure out the rest.  If you’re still in school like I am, I strongly suggest some sort of countdown.  If not for the kids, for your own sanity.  As much as I love my kiddos, these last few weeks can DRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG.

And now to my announcement:

I am going to be hosting a weekly summer linky party!!! {I hope you weren’t expecting something more exciting…because I think this is pretty exciting!}



I really, really…really, really… hope you’ll join up from week to week to share your favorite things!  There’s really no rules, just let us know your favorite things in each category so we can all find new favorite things. Yay!!!

I created a schedule of sorts for those of you who like to plan ahead:

It starts NEXT Thursday! I hope to see you there!

Enjoy your Memorial Day and remember to take time to thank those who defend our country and remember those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom. God Bless America!

~Halle

Fabulous Feedback- I Appreciate You!

Oh gosh…it’s been soooo long since I’ve stopped by to offer up anything productive.  We’re just so darn busy in the Hird household that I can’t keep up.

Long story short, the Mr. was out of town, we had some birthdays, a few softball games {him, not me}…and…we’re house hunting!!! And it’s taken over my life.  I’m checking a gazillion real estate apps a day and trying not to email our realtor every second of every day.  So far we haven’t been too successful so I expect the novelty of house hunting to wear off real soon here…it’s already getting on my nerves! 

Good thing you guys are one of my number one stress relievers!  In all seriousness, sweet comments on the blog and kind, informative feedback in my TpT store really does a gal good.  That’s why quite a few of my bloggy buddies and I are linking up to share some of our favorite feedback.  It’s basically a shout-out to our favorite shoppers, but it’s also a way for the rest of you to get a good look at how our products work in teachers’ classrooms all around the world!

Before we get started, here are a few things you should know:
1} Click the picture to head to TpT to learn more about the product being described.
2} Starting tomorrow, and continuing through Wednesday, TpT is having a sitewide sale.  Many sellers are putting their stores on sale on top of that so you can save up to 28% Tuesday and Wednesday!
3} I think this is the BEST PART.  If I featured your feedback you can pick ANY ITEM from my store for FREE!  Just take a look-see around and email your choice {acrossthehallin2nd@gmail.com}  How fun is that?!?!?!

Ok, here we go…my most loved products…chose by you!



Thank you MollyJack! 

My Reading Comprehension Packs are definitely my biggest labor of love to date.  I write every single passage myself and it’s not easy but I have buyers asking for the next edition almost immediately after I put one out.  Plus, I use these in my classroom ALL THE TIME.  I wouldn’t be able to get through a week without them.  Clicking the picture will take you to the newest edition {uploaded last night}, but there are links to the other editions in the product description.

PS: Grab a free comprehension sheet by downloading the preview!



No, thank you, lindalouhoo!  You always leave such great feedback!  I love this unit because it’s designed to let me teach friendly letter writing and types of communities at the same time!  And my kiddos have had a blast the last two years I’ve used it!



Okay, hands down, Jenna wins best feedback.  She always leaves thoughtful and useful feedback for my products.  I know other sellers feels the same way as well!  I could’ve picked her for almost every product, but I thought I’d spread the wealth!  We’re using these literacy centers in my room right now and my kiddos are just loving them!



Thank you bigt for your kind words!

My store basically started with my Back to School Mega Book Pack and I haven’t looked back.  I’m currently working on an End of The Year Book Pack, updating my Back to School Book Pack, and creating a Bully Book Pack.  All of my book packs have comprehension sheets and writing prompts, and they all include craftivities as well!  Love me some craftivities!


Thank you tlhusted!

My class loved this Holidays Around the World Pack!! It’s filled with mini interactive readers, extension sheets, passports and stamps.  We had SO MUCH FUN with it this year!
Remember, to learn more about any of the products I have pictured here just click their picture.  If you like them as much as other buyers did, add them to your cart and wait till Tuesday’s sale to save some moola on them!

I also added a Mother’s Day craftivity to my store for those of you who are last minute like I am!

Click the pictures to grab from TpT!

Thanks so much for reading friends! I hope those of you that left feedback were able to spot it so you can earn a free item from my store.  Link up below to find more awesome sellers and read some of their best feedback.  What a great way to find some items to put in your cart!



And remember, the TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale starts TOMORROW!

Thanks Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah for the cutest graphic ever!

Happy Shopping!

Halle

Noun Linky

I’m linking up with Mrs. Reed over at Flying Into First Grade so I can get in on her adorable weekly linky!  I haven’t been able to link up the past few weeks because I’ve been sick and haven’t had the energy to put a blog post together.

The bad news is that I’m STILL sick.  {I’m convinced it’s bronchitis}.
The good news is that this linky didn’t take too much of my energy.

This week’s theme is all about the nouns.  That’s right, I’m gonna share my favorite person, place, thing, and animal.

I don’t have pictures to offer you today, but if you’re a new follower and super interested in what my favorite person looks like, you can find a good picture of him here.  And if you’re just dying to know who my Georgie Girl is, click here {same post}.  The other two are pretty easy to imagine :)






Send some good vibes my way that I’m back to my former self soon, and go link up with Mrs. Reed here.

Have a good night :)

Halle

My Hall Pass

This is so exciting, this having a Hall Pass thing!!!  See, when I was in school, I was not a Hall Pass kind of girl.  I mean I would get one if I had to go to the bathroom or something, but I was a goody two shoes.  The 16 year old version of me was scared to death to abuse the power of a hall pass.  So if I get a little long winded during this post, you’ll have to forgive me…it’s finally my chance!!  13 years later!!!

P is for Product

I second what Reagan said…my favorite product is usually my most current because it consumes my thoughts!  That being said, my comprehension passages are my favorite product.  I wrote every single one of the {now, combined, 24} stories in each unit, and all the questions to go with.  There were moments I saw it on my computer screen and had to walk away because I just wasn’t feeling it.  Writer’s block is NO JOKE {you know, now that I’m in the same league as Tomie dePaola or Cynthia Ryland I can say that ;)}.

But in all seriousness I love them because they are exactly what my students need, so they have helped me out immensely.  As Farley would say, I {puffy} heart them.  Grab them here and here.

A is for Area

My favorite area in my classroom is our classroom library.  We don’t get the chance nearly as often as I would like to all curl up together for a read-aloud {I know, I know…I blame the basal}, but when we do I love it.  I love how the sun streams into that part of my room, I love how the shelves are arranged to create a little nook.  We also meet here for Writer’s Workshop and Morning Meeting, so it really is such a special place in our room where we get our creative on, our silly on, and our imagination on.  And I love knowing that it’s not only my favorite, it’s my students’ favorite as well!

S is for Signal

I am “Class!Yes” all the way.  This past summer, I got really into Whole Brain Teaching.  I started the year off strong, but many of the techniques have kind of filtered out.  Of course, I plan on reacquainting myself with WBT again this summer.  I still use {a modified version of the} Whole Brain Teaching rules, and our pack-up at the end of the day always involves a game of Teacher vs. Student, but I use “Class! Yes” everyday all day.

It’s easy.  I say “Class”, and my class drops everything, gives me their full-blown attention, and says, “Yes!”

I know.  It sounds boring.  But it’s totally not! You see, there are so many variations:

“Classy! Classy!”…"Yessy!  Yessy!”

“Class, class, class, class, claaaaaaaaaaaaaaass”…”Yes,  yes, yes, yes, yesssssssssssssssssssss!”

You get the point.  They have to mirror me exactly.  And we have SO MUCH FUN WITH IT!  I keep telling them we should be in the Talent Show with how good we are at “Class! Yes!”

Here’s a video of Chris Biffle of Whole Brain Teaching’s explanation of “Class! Yes!”

S is for Sane

I have talked about my awesome grade level partners before. Jenna occasionally stops by for a blog post when she’s not living her super fabulous life in the city, and Erica is a wonderful teacher and mommy.  I adore them both for completely different reasons.  You can read more about how much I adore them here.

Also, {and I’m not trying to win any Sainthood awards, I swear}, but my students keep me sane {MOST OF THE TIME}!  When I think about what really gets me worked up as a teachers it’s almost never those little kids hanging out in my room.  Don’t get me wrong, I do get frustrated when they still haven’t mastered a skill or when they just.won’t.stop.talking, but believe me…there are a million other things I can think of about teaching that are more stressful!  You feel me?  The little guys and gals are usually the ones that make it all better!

Other things that keep me sane, in no particular order: My Husband {although he falls into the same category as my students!}, Georgie, a good glass of red wine, blogging, blogstalking, yoga, cheeseburgers, happy hour, the pool, summer, the beach, and my friends.

I hope you were able to learn a little more about what makes me tick!  Now I better go link up with this Hall Pass before I get in trouble!

Some things never change!

Halle

What I’m Loving {Linking Up}

Now this is a fun linky.

Tessa, from Tales of Outside the Classroom has such a cute idea for a Linky Party.  I get to talk about all the people and things that make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Without further ado…

WHO I Love:

{Swoon Over It Photography}

Are you sick of my wedding photos yet?  Because I’m not!!!  I love my husband.  I wrote all sorts of braggy stuff about him here, if you’re interested :)


                                               {Swoon Over It Photography}

This cutie.  Georgie makes every day better.


And in BLOG-RELATED news, I love these gals:



Reagan is hands-down the sweetest blogger out there.  {And I love Amy & Cara too…must be a Texas thing}.  She was so, so, so helpful and generous when we hosted our first giveaway, even though we were just this teeny tiny {and we still are, relatively} little blog.  I love all of her stuff, and I try to snag up everything she makes that is even semi grade-level appropriate for my classroom.  Her classroom library labels saved my sanity in August, and we gobbled up her spider unit in October.  Plus, she’s funny and SUPER CREATIVE! 



Maria is the ESL teacher at our school and she is so creative and wonderful.  She is so patient with her students {and clearly loves and cares very much for them}, and every time I have a question about anything really, she always offers sound advice.  Plus, she bakes treats and donates them to the Teacher’s Lunge on a regular basis ;)…she just started a blog and a TpT shop.  Make sure to check them both out!


THINGS I Love:

It’s Girl Scout Cookie Season!!!  I’m all about the Caramel Delights, and lucky me, I have a girl scout in my class.  {PS: You totally have to click the cookie above, and read up on all the fascinating Girl Scout Cookie Statistics…lots of infographics…I love infographics!}



My husband does NOT love that I love these yummy oatmeals.  At $1.50 or so a pop, they’re a lot more expensive than a packet of oatmeal, but they have me eating breakfast on a daily basis, and they’re much more filling than a packet is.  Love the Apple Cinnamon flavor with cranberries and walnuts.

{Source}

I love Intuition razors because I’m lazy when it comes to shaving.  It really is that simple.  I don’t know if I could ever go back to shaving gel.  Ever!



Apparently, I REALLY LOVE making Valentine’s Day products!!  You can grab the top 3 by clicking their pictures.  “Plant a Kiss” and “The Day It Rained Hearts” are almost done!!

{Source}

I’m also LOVING my new camera!!!  It’s a Canon Rebel T3i

{Source}

I LOVE Philly.  I love that I’m a 5 minute drive from some of the most amazingly fun bars, yummiest restaurants, and quirky shops and people.  Philly rocks.

There are a TON more people I love, and a MILLION more things I love, but that’s for another time {next year, maybe?}

Thanks for reading!  Please go link up with Tessa so I can get some new ideas for things and people to love!


Have a good night :)

~Halle

Five for Friday

TGIF!!
It’s that time of the week!  Love this weekly Linky…



1. It’s been sooooo cold here this week!  I’ve been addicted to my heating pad, and it seems to have rubbed off on Georgie.



2. I snapped this picture on my way home today {at a red light of course!!!!!}.  This is probably the warmest it’s been all week.  My poor hubby has had to work outside all week.  He comes home and defrosts until bedtime.  We’ve definitely been in hibernation mode.

3.  It also finally snowed in NJ today!  We have about 3 inches outside and the roads are definitely slick, so we’re staying in and watching movies tonight.



4.   We just began our double digit addition unit in EnVisions.  Here, students are playing the topic opener game.  They loved it, and I loved how it reinforced regrouping.  We’re off to a rocking start!  My student teacher takes over math next week…she’s a natural, so I know she’ll do great!



5.  We’re planning a vacation to the Outer Banks. It’ll be our first time going there…any recommendations on neighborhoods/towns?  We don’t want too remote…although I think it would be amazing to see the wild horses!

Ok, your turn…go link up!



~Halle

Product Swap: I Believe in Fate

I believe in fate for numerous reasons, but a few recent events happened recently, that affirmed my belief!

1} I got a Canon Rebel t3i from parents for Christmas!!! {Cue the angels singing!}
2} I was paired with Denise from Sunny Days in Second Grade for my very first Product Swap, hosted by Jessica Stanford.

{How are they related, you ask?  Well because I got to use my new favorite gift ever to take all sorts of pictures of Denise’s units!  Duh!}

In case you didn’t already know all about Denise, she is a veteran 2nd Grade Teacher in Sunny Florida, and she is a creative genius.  I have been “following” Denise since before I knew you could literally follow a blog by clicking on that follow button over there to the right.  Her blog was one of the first teaching blogs I stumbled across and I was hooked from the beginning.  She’s funny, talented, creative, and she knows her stuff. 

She’s also generous.  She offers up freebies like it’s nobody’s business. {Check out her latest, an H Diagram to go with the book “My Brother Martin”.}  She also has these adorable Math Journal covers that I print off faithfully every month for my 2nd graders.

So, suffice to say, when I was paired with Denise for {my first ever} Product Swap, I had to read over the email a few times before I could believe it.  Being able to shop Denise’s TpT store for any item I wanted was the equivalent of a kid in a candy store…it was so, so, so hard to pick!

But one of her units caught my eye pretty quickly.  Her ELA Common Core Assessment Pack was just what I needed to assess my kiddos on those all important skills.  We do have a basal, but I find it lacking at times, especially with regards to the new standards.  Many times my grade partners and I are scrambling to come up with an assessment before our standards based report cards go out.  Denise has provided at least one activity or printable to go with each standard!  It’s loaded!  The packet is 108 pages!

So, Denise saved my life with this pack.

I love how it’s all organized by standard.  Denise prepared posters that name and explain each standard.  I printed them off, put them in a page protector, and organized them in a 3-Ring Binder.  Now I have a place for all of Denise’s printables, as well as any standards-based sheet I come across in the future, and if I want to display the standard as a poster, I can just pull it out and hang it up.

I’ve already used a few of the Phonics sheets from Denise’s pack {and I’ve only had it for a week!}, and there are a few more printed off and ready to go for next week.





Report cards come out the week after, so this packet came at the perfect time!  Her unit really has already saved me so much time, especially because my gradebook is labeled by standards…I just need to peek at the standard at the top of the sheet!  Easy Peasy!

I also happened to mention to Denise that I had a really hard time picking between her ELA assessments and her January Printables Pack, so she sent them both to me!! {I told you she was generous!!!!}


Can I tell you how much you need this packet?  You need this packet.  I’ve printed off a few of the sheets and used them as Early Finishers, but I’ve also used them for whole group too.

{We haven’t covered pronouns yet, in case you we wondering why the bottom section is empty!}

The whole unit is packed with skills and sheets you’ll use through January!

Now, here’s the best part: Denise is giving away a copy of both of the units I review today, and I’m giving away a copy of my Communities unit that Denise is reviewing.  Enter using the rafflecopter below.  We’re also both having a sale in our TpT stores, today and tomorrow only!

{Denise’s Store} {Our Store}

Make sure you enter our giveaway, and head over to Sunny Days to see Denise’s review of my Communities unit!

Have a great weekend friends!

Halle a Rafflecopter giveaway