Freckle Juice

That's what the talk is about in my classroom.  We are giving our brains a super workout by using Bloom's to really think about the book.  My students predicted and made text-to-self and text-to-text connections today.  We had some really in-depth discussions relating the book to ther books we have  read.  Tomorrow we will finish Chapter 4 and the students will complete the Remembering and Understanding portions.  I hope that we will completely finished by the end of the week.  This way we can anakyze, evaluate and create a fun new recipe of juice.  I can't wait to post the recipes.  This novel unit is posted on TpT.  Just click the link below and enjoy!!!

Freckle Juice

Classroom Decor

I am really digging my walls this year!  I made a Math Wall.  I got the idea for this wall from The Teacher Wife.  She has the addition and subtraction words as a freebie, so definitely go and pick it up.  The addition and subtraction posters are from Amy Lemons- Step Into Second Grade.  Amy Lemons is a seller on TpT.  Her posters are included in her addition and subtraction packs.

The wall has been helping my students tremendously.  They know very important academic vocabulary for word problems and can easily refer to the posters for guidance on how to regroup.  Totally Awesome!  My math scores have made tremendous growth this year.

Here is my Math Wall:

And.....You can pick up these very cute, hands-on synonym popcorn bucket from my TpT.  Aren't they precious?

One last thing...Just for taking a look at my blog....You get a freebie!  Lucky you!  This is an antonym booklet my class did this week.  It was a quick assessment to see if they understood antonyms.  

Antonym Book

Personal Narrative Freebie

My class worked on personal narratives today.  We did the pre-write today and will do the rough draft with editing tomorrow.  You should see their pre-writes....some amazing personal stories I tell ya....happy, sad, and in between.  I love writing!  Seriously, I do!  I could teach it all day looooong.   


Here is a freebie to jazz up your personal writings a bit. I love the frames created by Jessica Weibel at J W Digi.  Here ya go!!!!  Have fun with it!

Personal Narrative Template

WaCkY WeAtHEr

This has been a CraZy Winter!  Yesterday, I just about froze and this afternoon I was a little too warm.  Let's just say this weather is WACKO!  Anyway, it fits perfectly with the new unit I am teaching on weather with my sweet second graders.  Check out the unit on TpT!  It is a Language Arts Unit with Science Integration.  Perfecto! 

Wacky Weather on TpT

Antenna or Antennae?

That was the question!  I am working on a bug unit for my class for you TpT followers.  I was creating an anchor chart to label parts of an insect.  I got to the head and wondered antennas or antennae?  I figured it was antennae, but to be sure I Googled it.  Indeed it was antennae!  Here is what I learned:  


Think of antenna as a type of receiver for a tv, radio, etc.  
If you are speaking of a bug, the singular form would be antenna, but the plural form is antennae (not antennas).
GET IT?
There you go...my mini lesson for the night. 
I apologize in advance for any dreams about bed bugs tonight.  YUCK!

Get my Insect Investigation Unit!

Graphics Courtesy of ScrappinDoodles.com!

Currently...

I just started following the blog of an awesome 4th grade teacher...AKA Farley!  Here is my version of currently.  Love this idea!  Really makes you think!  P.S. "rak" stands for random act of kindness

Currently Farley!

Wacky Wednesdays

Today, I feel like I didn't get anything accomplished.  Do you have days like that?  My student teacher did a wonderful lesson using Dear Mr. Blueberry.  It was about Fact vs. Fiction.  The kids loved their group activity and integrating Science with Language Arts by creating a fold-able that we found on TeachersPayTeachers.  I <3 TpT!  The students were engaged.  I was so busy observing and taking pictures, I lost track of time and the next thing I knew it was lunch time.  Then, about an hour later we were packing up to go home (Early Dismissal!).  Next, we had a staff meeting and a make and take.  My grade level made some fun working with word activities, BTW.  I left work and got to the lovely dentist's office only to wait about an hour.  I didn't mind...I love Amanda the receptionist.  She is a party in a bag.  I'm not going to go into full detail about my dentist visit, but the new Dentist was a complete HOTTIE, no joke.  He looked like he just stepped off the set of Y&R.  Whew!   I finally got home, after grocery shopping and have worked on some things for an upcoming lesson.  Thus, it has been a very long, but good DAY!  I am blessed!

Puppy Love Bags!  They turned out very cute!  

My students are so creative!!!

Can't believe I am late on this one!

I am never LATE for anything, but Valentine's Day has just crept up on me this year.  I have to admit, I am not a fan of this holiday.  I think love should be cherished everyday of the year!


So, here I am trying to figure out last minute ideas for my students to create their bags.  I ended up creating this heart inspired "Puppy Love" template to use.  The idea came to me because one of my sweet students has 5 or is it 6, dogs.  She always shares cute and funny stories about them.  Thus, Puppy Love was born!  I am a huge dog lover as well.  This will be perfect.  Pics to come tomorrow after we complete our bags.   I RUFF You!

Puppy Love Valentine's Day Bags

The Greatest Show On Earth...I Love it!

Today I went to the circus with my husband and daughter.  Unfortunately for us, she wanted everything.  It was like Christmas Day all over again.  Yikes!  We did have a great time.  It completely made me reflect on my childhood.  My mom would take me to "The Greatest Show on Earth"  every year.  Precious memories!  Things I love about the circus:
1. The smell...popcorn and cotton candy.  Yum!
2. The bright lights and colorful costumes.  Don't forget the loud music too.  The theme song has been on my mind all day.  I may have to download it, if I can.  Here is a link:  Fully Charged-Music Video
There were other familiar songs from the late 90s and early 00s too.
3.  CLOWNS!  I love clowns!  They make me smile.  I don't know what it is...but I have a place in my heart for them.

Here is a freebie to use with your class if you enjoy clowns just as much as myself.  It is a great printable to use to introduce or review adjectives.  Enjoy!

Clowning Around with Adjectives

An Ah-Ha Moment

So, I have been thinking about a name for my blog for quite.a.while.  I didn't want something simple "Second Grade Rocks with Mrs. L" or "Simply Second Grade" or any other common name.  I enjoy reading so many other teacher blogs and their names stand out in lights (not really, but you get where I'm going).  Anyway, my last name is obviously not a common name.  I mean, we are the only Luckenbaugh's in the local phone directory.  Not too hard to find me. So, of course, I want something that represents me and my name.  I'm proud of it!

Therefore, I came up with Lucky in Learning!  My husband's call name at work is "Lucky".  It's the easiest way to remember Luckenbaugh.  I think it's charming, cute, witty, fun, and... who doesn't like a little LUCK in their life?  Sometimes I wish my students could just call me Mrs. Lucky, not only would it be simple, but it would save me from the headache of correcting how it is pronounced All.Of.The.Time.  When I student taught Kindergarten, almost 7 years ago, my students called me Mrs. Cottonball {too cute!}.  Over the years it has been Mrs. Luck-en-bog, Luck-en-bra, Luck-en-borg, Luke-en-ball, and more.  Just imagine!  It's LUCK (luck), EN (n), BAUGH (bah).  Easy Cheesy!  Now, you know too!

What do YOU think of my blog name??? 

I've Only Just Begun...

A BIG welcome to my new teaching blog!  I have been wanting to create a blog for the loooongest, but as a teacher, just couldn't find the time.  Imagine that?  I am excited about this new journey I am on and I hope to be able to update it often.  Maybe twice a week.  For now, we are in the month of February and that means we are super busy with so much (testing, progress monitoring, etc.).  For February being the shortest month, there sure are way tooooo many holidays.  Hey, I'm not complaining.  We're having fun incorporating all the celebrations with many activities!

On to my crazy new blogger post...I have been trying to figure out how to make a super cute background for about an hour.  For now, this will suffice.  It's very cute, but I may need some more COLOR.  If you walked into my classroom you would totally understand.  I also like to shake things up.  So, if you see a different background tomorrow, don't.be.surprised! Ha!