Polka, Plaid and Everything Mad

So I spoke too soon... After the dust has settled and the kids woke up they realized they didn't want to be back at school quite yet. All in all it was still a productive day buttttt let's just say they were a tiny bit distracted. And by tiny bit I mean ... I heard story after story about their breaks and here I am thinking "How nice they tell me all of this on Tuesday after our pleasant Monday that left me thinking it was smooth sailing for the week."

Needless to say the madness before the break has started to set in. But we will trek on learning about all sorts of things as we go. I must say, I have an AMAZING team. Every Tuesday when we meet I get so exited about the things they plan for us to do the next week. Next week we've got a whole bunch of great things going on from How-To's to U.S. Landmarks. Love those girls.

Here's a quick Freebie for what we are starting next week... Subtraction With Regrouping. It seems like terrible timing with the holidays and what not but considering we usually learn this in April my kids are doing SO SO SO good. I just can't get over it.

Click on the pic to grab it at my TPT store.

On top of that my wonderful admin has been handing out jeans passes lately so I took advantage of that opportunity and decided to wear jeans and a little mix up of some patterns (hence the Polka and Plaid title).

 

Enjoy your evening! 

Cyber Monday Sale!

Starting tonight at midnight I will be taking part in TeacherPayTeacher's Cyber Monday plus Tuesday sale. Everything in my store will be 20% off (that's the max amount they let you take off) and then they will take an addition amount off when you enter the code CMT12 at checkout for a total of 28%.

Just click on the ad below to take you right to my store.

 I will be working hard today to put up the 12 elves of Christmas for the holidays. It's just something fun to do the 12 school days leading up to your holiday break and I usually hold a tiny raffle at the end with $1 store prizes. The kids LOVE it. More details to come!

Also, I had mentioned that the hubby and I did a fall newlywed shoot with our wedding photographer. This girl is amazing. Almost a year and a half after we got married and she still worked with our crazy schedules to meet up. Love her! Here is a sneak peek of our shoot:

Like I said.. she's amazing. Check her out on Facebook Rachel Russo Photography.

Enjoy your last day of the break!

My First Pack!

I'm so pleased to say I have finally finished my first pack. I definitely underestimated the amount of time it takes to finalize a 50+ page pack.. this includes making the hubby proofread and create the preview file for it all. But thanks to my wonderful husband and days off I've I had, I finally finished it and it is live on my store's page. I am so excited to get back from the break to do more of the activities with my students. As I said previously.. They are ROCKIN' regrouping and you're kids can be too!

Just click either picture below to check out my pack.

I know I've seriously been lacking in the pictures of what I wore category but with all the hustle and bustle of the break and finishing my pack I've got one pic today and then soon I'll post pics from a shoot my hubby and I are doing with a photographer on Friday .. a Fall Newlywed Shoot. I can't wait! 

Last Wednesday it was wear blue day for Diabetes Awareness Day. I chose a monochromatic blue scheme with dark demin (TJ Maxx), a chambray (Forever 21), navy sweater (Old Navy) and camel colored boots (DSW). 

That was back when it was somewhat cold... it's 80 degrees outside right now in Texas and I am not a happy camper about it. I love layers and scarfs and can't wait for it to get cold. 

That's all I've got for now. Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy this time with your friends and family!

What I Wore and Regrouping Update

Today will be a short one because I'm trying to finish my Regrouping Pack (so be on the look out for that) but in the meantime here is quick pic of what I wore today.

Please notice my adorable cat, Buster, trying to make his debut.

• Top - H&M
• Scarf - Target
• Jeans - Old Navy
• Boots - I think Charming Charlie's

I am loving the stripes and floral mix. The stripes are a little too jailbird for me, so I'm thinking next time I'll wear this with my red and white striped shirt.

Also, I am a HUGE accessory fanatic. I always have earrings in. Usually I alternate between stacking bracelets and a statement necklace. *I did not have my jewelry on in this photo* so it doesn't quite do my outfit justice.



Let me switch topics to school real quick:
Can I just say that here I was, not looking forward to starting addition with regrouping, and come to find out only 2 days in and they are ROCKING IT! *We did the Magic Numbers activity yesterday, and then "To Regroup or Not To Regroup" (from my pack as well) today.*That just continues to encourage me to set the bar high and expect my students to get there because they will. Sometimes it's right away, other times it takes more patience. But we should always keep those expectations high to help them achieve greatness.

Off my soapbox... and on to New Girl.

Classroom Tour

My classroom is my home away from home. It is also one of the most important teachers my students will have this year (other than myself). Learning has literally thrown up all over my walls because it's not just a place to decorate, or make look "cute", but a place for them to use as a tool. So sit back and enjoy the pics.

The front of my classroom.

Birthday's and Carpet Area.

Math Wall (and chaos).

Science Wall.

Classroom Rules and Promises Wall.

My Guided Reading Center.

Library.

Hunk and Chunks Wall.

Word Wall.

View of the East Wall.

View of the Entrance.

View From the Entrance.

Currently My Bulletin Board.

My Wreath and Classroom Curtain.

My kids LOVE all the colors. Our walls are cinder block so I tried to cover most of it so it doesn't look quite like any type of asylum. I would say please ignore the mess... but what kind of classroom is always kept tidy? A somewhat messy classroom = learning is taking place.

What Did I Wear Today?...

• White Sweater (Forever 21)
• Red Scarf (veryjane.com deal)
• Leopard Print Jeans - they're very subtle and faint which makes them more neutral and school appropriate. (Target)
• Red Flats (Old Navy)

I go for comfort when picking out what I am going to wear. I am always up and down, bending over and crouching here and there with my little second graders so I choose my clothes wisely. 

That's all I got for tonight. Enjoy! 

Aaaaaandddd please tell me you say that the Aggies are now ranked #8!!!! Top 10! This is ah-mazing. Love it!

Hello Blogging World!!! (Plus a Freebie!)

It's official.. I've started my own teaching blog. Many thanks to Becca at Jumping Jax Designs for designing my blog. She does excellent work!!

Now down to business...

Pretty Little Pencils is a place for me to post the day to day happenings of Mrs. Bathman's 2nd grade classroom. The countless activities, lessons and fun times we have are just too good to keep to myself!
**Can I also just say I have THE sweetest class this year.. I tell everyone "I honestly get about a million hugs a day."**

I will link things up to my Teachers Pay Teachers store for you to easily check out (or buy, cough...cough) and post as many freebies as I can. Who would want to buy something without knowing the quality of it first? I got you.. I got you...

I am also a teacher-version of a "fashionista" you could say. I don't buy anything unless I can see myself wearing it to work. I put a lot of different pieces together that most people wouldn't but somehow it all seems to mesh perfectly. So I am dedicating a whole section of my teaching blog to my outfits because a) I care that much about them and b) to shed some light and maybe inspire you to try something new with your wardrobe. I can't promise a post every day but definitely one a week of each outfit I wore.

Let's start this baby off with a freebie shall we? We are starting Addition with REGROUPING this week.. aka the week before Thanksgiving Break ... so please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. But in all seriousness, I am working on my first pack and am looking to having it posted next week (over 60 pages!!). Here is one activity we will do called Magic Numbers.. this is great way to introduce Regrouping. It helps students see that 53 is the same as 50+3 as well as 40+13. We will practice a new Magic Number a day, as well as make it one of our math stations, leading up to when we start subtraction with regrouping. This way they will definitely have a great foundation for "breaking apart" numbers or ... REGROUPING. Man I love Math :).

Click HERE to be taken to my TPT store to download for FREE.

I am so excited to begin this journey and I hope you will follow along with me every step of the way. Thanks and Gig 'Em (That's right.. I'm a proud Aggie.. Did you see them BTHO 'Bama last night?!).