Smart Cookies & Poppy's Toolbox!

What can you NOT teach without?

What is the ONE or TWO thing/s you could NOT give up?

For me, it's Smart Cookies.

And Poppy's Toolbox.

Smart Cookies are my life.

They are at least 6 years of continuous refinement, that finally came to a place of raising our test scores consistently for 4 years running now.

For my class, and grade level, we had one area where we consistently scored the lowest in  -every single year!

Written Language Conventions

You know, all those everything about grammar pieces & parts & where to put everything so perfectly perfect, so that when mastery is shown through written format, it looks like the 7 year old is in college?!

Now, though never giving up on these lessons, they finally became known to be called what they make the little sweets:

Smart Cookies.

Start 'em whole group.  Wean them to small group.  

Graduate them to independent work.

It waits for them daily on their desks, as part of their good morning work.

One for each day of the week...thus, Daily is the clue word here, that when used daily, with repetition, mastery of the skill is acquired.

It is without a doubt, their Daily Morning Work.

That's how 2nd graders become Smart Cookies in their written conventions!

Here's March.  

We do fairytales in March, so every Smart Cookie skill revolves around these wonderful little stories (and a few fables).  From month to month, Smart Cookies are all about a theme, so although every skill is repetitious, it is also engaging, because through the theme, the kids stay hooked!

 Although Smart Cookies are for the full month, I have specialty packets for one whole week, such as Easter!

 

Poppy's & Buster's Tolbox & Ma's Creations:

2nd grade math moves faster than a race car in our grade, where one skill is introduced, tested, then moved on & forgotten.

We have so much to cover.

The kids have so much to remember.

The kids have so much to master let alone retain all of the above.

So Poppy & Ma have repetitious skills, along with new introductions each month!

And...since boys like building, and girls like creating, and everyone likes dogs, we have:

 

I must say, this really is my dad, mom, & Buster is Poppy's very spoiled dog.  

 Their adventures are FUN!!

 

Poppy can build anything under the sun.  He is a master at his trade.

Ma makes bead bracelets, by blowing glass into small beads, any size, shape, design & color.  

She is a master at her hobby. 

Of course a teacher must have a different color  -one for every holiday!

 

How & When Do I Use These Programs?

Smart Cookies are always in the morning.

Poppy's Toolbox is always after lunch.

Repetition means DAILY.

They are like brushing your teeth.

You do it daily!

Sometimes, instead of a Smart Cookie in the morning, I trade for a Poppy's Toolbox.

Sometimes, I throw some in for homework.

I also have a monthly assessment packet for Smart Cookies.  Here, kids chart their progress monthly, so parents, the kids, & myself see the growth, or areas of need.

All in all, my students really enjoy these.  They laugh, have fun, even ask for their Smart Cookie or Poppy's Toolbox.

And don't even get me started on...Grandma!!

Grandma's Grammar is a whole nutball of fun!

They are like little stories with repetitious skills that kids can master in text.

I would like to give one of these units for free to the first three who comment.

Please leave me your email along with which packet you'd like!

And I am not promising an emailed packet until the weekend because:

I'm getting over the flu

it's assessment time

report card window just opened

soccer try outs just started

we're having grandma's 85th birthday

Dr. Seuss is Friday

and I have 3 kids & am married to a pack rat

so... Little Miss Organized is a little bit 

pulling my hair out!