Getting started!

Friday was a thrilling day at our house!  First (and foremost) my firstborn turned 10 years old!  He was waiting all week for Friday and the day did not disappoint him when he opened his present from Mum and Dad and found his very own tablet!  He was thrilled!

Second, at 9:20 am on Friday morning I received the phone call I had been waiting for all week from Human Resources "officially" offering me the grade 2 position.  I had already heard from the principal that my name had been forwarded as the preferred candidate, but nothing is guaranteed until that phone call.  It was a nail-biter of a week while I waited to hear, but all is now well!

After an evening celebrating with the family, I began planning for the fall!  I know it's early, and I know I'm crazy, but I love, love, LOVE to plan for school!  Having never taught Grade 2 before I began with the curriculum, but lets face it...there's nothing fun about that.  During some Google searches I happened across an amazing FREE resource that I simply cannot believe I have never found before.

The site has been put together from an Ontario teacher and has full science units that meet the curriculum in Western Canada as well, and everything is provided free of charge.  He includes descriptions of each lesson, the handouts, pictures, web links, book suggestions, quizzes, tests, parent letters and more!  Plus he has also scanned in his actual lesson notes so you can see his suggestions and additions as well as a breakdown of how long each lesson took.  It truly is amazing, and again, did I mention FREE??  All he asks is that you click on some of the sponsor links that help provide funding to keep the site running without cost!  The website can be found by visiting Mr. Collinson's Class.

After finding his site I promptly printed everything out and put the units in their own binders.  They are currently hanging out on my desk at home waiting to find their spot in my new classroom.  I can't wait to use them with the kids!

I have always been a fan of creating booklets that contain all the handouts students will need for the current unit in Social Studies and Science.  That way you can complete them in class and send them home to use as review for the test.  Keeps everything neat and tidy, plus it means parents have to buy one less duotang or notebook at the beginning of the year.  So, in addition to the lessons the website provides I designed my own Workbook Title Pages for the kids to decorate and personalize.  They are available as free downloads on my TPT page.