A Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener in a BUSY Second Grade Class

Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! WOW!

     The Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener really does what it says it will do! Troy at Classroom Friendly Supplies was kind enough to offer me a sharpener for my classroom for my honest opinion on the sharpener. It is awesome!

    
     First, let me explain. I teach second grade sweeties (you already know this part). Sometimes they are a little rough on a pencil sharpener (I bet you suspected this, if you didn't already know it!). I've gone through many, many pencil sharpeners in my years teaching. I even refused to allow anyone (other than my appointed "pencil sharpener") to touch my electric pencil sharpener. I have gone so far as to HIDE (seriously, folks) my pencil sharpener (or at least the part that catches the stuff so it wouldn't work) when I had to be out and leave a substitute in charge. That was a result of previous pencil sharpeners being destroyed utterly annihilated by my lovelies when I was not at school!! >:(

     Woe be unto me the times I forgot to hide the parts and came back to a pencil sharpener that chewed and whirred and ground all day, but would no longer sharpen a pencil properly. The latest in a long line of pencil sharpeners was my $75.00 electric sharpener that I HID for the summer, only to come back and find that it chewed and whirred and ground all day, but would no longer sharpen a pencil properly!! Can you say ticked? (Yeah, I know, I said worse, too!) Let's just try to keep it clean here...

    Then suddenly, on the horizon, the Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener is making all these promises...promises of 1-NO NOISE (very little!), 2-a perfect point every time (YEP!), and I quote "It will change the way you sharpen pencils in your classroom." Well, I have to say...I was skeptical. I wanted to see this for myself and I'm not even from Missouri (the Show-Me state). So...the judge is in and the verdict is...this pencil sharpener delivers on its promises!!

GET ONE FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR SCHOOL!

HURRY! DO IT NOW BEFORE SUPPLY IS GONE!!

     Check this little baby out. It's pulled out so you just squeeze the black tabs on top together, insert your pencil, put your hand on top of the green barrel, and sharpen until the pencil stops. SOooo simple and easy, yet marvelous! Students can sharpener their pencils perfectly (2 at a time, please...then hurry back to writing!) without all the noise.

      Seriously, I am going to forward this to my princiPAL and let her know that in my humble opinion, we can save mucho $$$$ by ordering at least one (preferably two for morning sharpenings) per class! At $25.00, the price of the Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener is about half what I usually spent on an electric sharpener. If I'd known about the Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener when I spent $75.00 for the big one, I could've had THREE! Count 'em and weep with me! With the teacher pack, I would have had enough left over to buy a burger, even! The school pack makes the savings even better, hence my suggestion to buy for the entire building.


      I just wonder how durable this cute little car would be. Isn't that the neatest? I might get one of those for my grandbabies (if/when I am ever blessed with one/some)...think Troy would share one of those with me for another blog?
                        
      Of course, now my dilemma is finding a way to 1-convince my princiPAL that this truly is the way to go as far as pencil sharpeners go, and 2-getting that cute little car. Hint, hint, Troy! ;)

      Hurry, order yours today at Classroom Friendly Supplies! You won't be sorry. Now, when are they going to create scissors that won't walk out of your classroom when your back is turned?!

 
Lovin' my Classroom Friendly Sharpener,

†~Melly~†

Congratulations to our Carson-Dellosa Common Core Standards Kit Winner!

Congratulations to Raye W who is the winner of Carson-Dellosa's Common Core Standard Kit! I hope you enjoy it, Raye!

I'm lovin' it. Not only do I have standards posted in the pocket chart where my Essential Questions (EQs) are posted, but I have pulled out standards for my small groups. We are highlighting key words in the "I can" statements as well as reading and reviewing the standard written on the opposite sides of the cards. What an awesome resource. Thanks again, Carson-Dellosa!

†~Melly~†

My First Give-Away: A Carson-Dellosa Common Core Standards Kit

Carson-Dellosa sent me a Second Grade Common Core Standards Kit for review. It came with a Daily Standards Pocket Chart 
and Granny Smith apples! How neat is that? Carson-Dellosa, you ROCK! The Second Grade Common Core Standards kit is so easy to use and fits right in with our requirements of posting standards. Receiving the Daily Standards Pocket Chart and apples were an added perk which I appreciate! Mucho gracias!

Here's a photo of the pocket chart of Standards with Essential Questions. I posted this on my board where I had previously posted typewritten standards which weren't "I can" statements. The "I can" statements really fit in with my second graders.

Here are close-ups of the Standards pocket chart...

 and the Essential Questions I added...

I am excited to share this neat little box of standards. I received it on Wednesday afternoon, so of course I took it to school Thursday morning and bragged to my teamies about my boon! Then, I hauled carried it with me to our faculty meeting on Thursday. I just sat the Standards box on the table with my notebook/calendar to see who would notice first. I can't remember who noticed first! :( Honestly, you'd think I would have paid closer attention...but that's my ADHD kicking in according to Debbie we had committee meetings and other important "stuff" which captured my attention. It seems that L was the first person to speak, "What you got there, Stapler?" At any rate, my goal of advertising this wonderful product at our meeting was successful. Several teachers saw it and were interested. I even shared that I'm blogging about it and they can enter to win a freebie! :D

To win your very own Carson-Dellosa Common Core Standards Kit-a $19.99 value, enter below by following my blog and leaving a post telling me you're following. Don't forget to add your e-mail address so I can send you contact info for ordering your free kit! Thanks!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


†~Melly~†

Carson-Dellosa & Student Teacher

Hello. It seems like forever... it's been an extremely busy time, but I see light at the end of the tunnel! First, Carson-Dellosa e-mailed me about their first Complete Common Core Standards Kit! I will receive two: one to blog about after trying it and one to give away! How exciting-my first giveaway ever! Hopefully I'll receive the kits and have everything ready to blog and do the giveaway around Valentine's Day...stay tuned! I am soo excited!

Next, my newest student teacher (fourth one since last January) is, in her words, not your typical college student. She is an experienced substitute teacher, married and mom of three boys. I am thrilled to have her in my class! Today went fantastically well. I just wish she were going to be in my class more than two days weekly. I'll take what I can get, though.

Stations went much more smoothly with two sets of eyes watching. She even commented on how well my students were behaved!! My students...the ones who were cannot be still even if you sit on them! ;) Oh, what a lovely Monday it has been today!

Don't forget to stayed tuned for more information on the Common Core Standards Kit which even includes "I can" statements written on the students' level!

Blessings & peace,


†~Melly~†

HaPpY nEw YeAr!

Happy New Year!

It has been a busy first half of this year of second grade. I am looking forward to a slower pace. Let's hope I can do it!

I'm joining Jen R. over at the Teacher's Cauldron for a New Year's Linky Party. I like her idea of having one personal resolution and one for blogging.

My personal resolution is to SOAR...be on the look-out for every opportunity I can find to make the world a better place. More about that below...

My blogging resolution is to blog at least weekly and share something awesome! Of course, when there are wonderful things cookin' in the classroom, I'll blog more often...sometimes even daily.

I'm joining Farley's linky party and sharing my Currently.

Okay, so for my One Little Word...SOAR!

My biggest resolution this year is to trust God and honor Him for creating me the way He did. I am extremely hyper with a "bleeding heart"-as some folks say-who tries to fix everything for everyone! I know God created me this way for His Honor and Glory. It took me this long to realize it, so I am going to soar with eagle's wings this year by doing/being exactly who He created me to be...with His leadership and guidance, of course. I have been too worried about too much "stuff" for too long. That ends today!

Join me, please, in "soar"ing to new heights this year. Soar into your classroom. Teach your children to look for the adventure in every situation, everywhere they land, with everyone they meet. "Soar" by giving your best in everything you do...including R & R time, eating healthy, getting fresh air and exercise, and finding the glass half full. Be the optimist and the opportunist. See the positive and grab every opportunity you're offered. Lead the way in transforming every place in your circle of influence! :D

†~Melly~†

I have no words in mymouth to tell what is in my heart.

That is what a man touched by short-term missionary workers told our congregation. He said, "I never understood this king who would leave everything he had and come to me. Then you, who live here in the United States left all your riches and came to me. You brought clothes and left everything you had in your suitcases except the clothes you wore home. You gave us many things: food, medicine, a well, etc., etc. We have in my country a saying. When someone does something sooo wonderful for us, we say I have no words in my mouth." He knelt beside the pulpit as he was speaking and thanked us all for everything we had done...going to Burkina Faso, sending funds and supplies with those words: "I have no words in my mouth to tell what is in my heart." I cried like a baby at his gratitude.

This weekend, I cry like a baby for all those mommies and daddies whose babies are in the arms of Jesus now. I cannot understand their pain, but it breaks my heart as I try to imagine the emptiness in their hearts and lives. My humble prayer is that Our Father would send guardian angels to each and every school worldwide to guard and protect our innocent ones, so that this will never happen again. Specifically, I ask that anyone with intent to harm will lose all strength in his/her/their body/bodies, fall as dead in a faint, and be carried out of the school building by strong men. Amen! 

Go with God, my friends. He is our shield and our refuge, a strong tower in times of trouble.


  †~Melly~†

Happy Thanksgiving, Bloggy Friends!

Happy Thanksgiving! May the Lord bless and keep you and make His Face to shine upon you today and always! I am thankful for all your contributions to the bloggy world. I learn something new every time I read blogs.


†~Melly~†