Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

Our first unit was CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM!
We had a great time reviewing the alphabet and doing activities as we were getting to know each other. Kindergartners are just too cute for words! Here are some photos of them working away.

Measuring Coconuts

Play-doh letters



Build your name activity

Play doh letters with cookie cutters

Pictures of my classroom in August

Morning Meeting Area

Science Wall

Low Maintenance Aquarium

Birthday Board

Word Wall

New Classroom

Hello Everyone,
I finished painting my new classroom tonight, FINALLY! Now painting a classroom is nothing new, I always paint something over the summer in my room but this time I moved to a new school so obviously that means a new classroom AND a new grade!!! Lots of changes this summer but all very exciting. In my last classroom I painted all but one wall PARAKEET which is an awesome green color and I used black and white accents. It was fabulous and I LOVED it. So fast forward to my new room and a light pastel green wall and 3 lot of white walls. ----I usually teach first grade and now I am in Kindergarten, who couldn't LOVE Kindergarten?!? I think it will be absolutely amazing and fun!! --- Back to the painting- I knew I HAD to paint in there, it wasn't bad but it was not really my type of classroom. I had to make it more FUNKY! MISSION almost ACCOMPLISHED!!! Check out the pics below and let me know what you think. THANKS!!!!

BEFORE- notice the light green border

Starting the black


Almost finsished with the black wall :)


I added a tree - not sure I love it. Notice the change in the greens. I love this green, it might not be for everyone but I think it is AWESOME.

Close up of nest and a little bird


I still have a TON of work to do but I am starting to love it!!!!

HELP!!!!

Hi Friends!

I need some help and I know you guys are just the ones to do it! I am teaching Kindergarten and want to use a notebook that goes from home to school to include class calendars, expectations, basically everything you would need to know about the class. Here's where I need your help, I have seen MOOSE notebooks but I want an OWL notebook. The best I could come up with is

Organized

While

Learning

but I am not 100% in love with this but it could work. Can you think of anything? HOOOOOOO will help!?!? :)

Holy Kindergarten, BATMAN!

I have taught first grade the most during my fairly short teaching career and now I am moving to KINDERGARTEN PEOPLE!!! I don’t think I could be any more EXCITED!!!!!!

I get so irritated when I tell people and they make this face like a fly just flew in their mouth! Yes, IT WAS MY CHOICE. Yes, I LOVE LITTLE KIDS! Yes, I am very excited about it. NO! I AM NOT CRAZY. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY DO NOT TAKE NAPS ALL DAY AND COLOR. (Consider yourself lucky if you say that to me or any other teacher and walk away without having to take a break!)
Why is it so hard to believe someone would want to teach Kindergarten? Have you seen these little cuties? Have you seen their eyes sparkle? Do you know they think their teacher is a PRINCESS? {News flash: they are smart kids} So I want to know what advice you have for me and what YOU love about Kindergarten!!!!!
Ready. Set. Go.

Flip Flops from TX- kiddie style!

Maddi had the sweetest ( literally ) flip flop buddy!
Maddi sent her the exact same flip flops, isn't that INSANE?!? I think they must be soul mates...sorry....couldn't help my self!!!!!

What a SWEET package!



It included:

• candy necklace


• flip flop cookie


• activity book


• picture of her new buddy Karlee


• nice little note ( love the color choice )


• Giraffe Flip Flops

THANKS SO MUCH TO OUR NEW FRIENDS IN TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Flip Flops are HERE from TEXAS!

Check out these goodies!!! I am spoiled but you may have already known that. Thank you so much Christie!! I got not one but TWO pairs of flip flops ( I LOVE SPARKLES ) salsa, and a Maverick's flag...; ) I hope you get your things soon!!!!!

oh and another photo all in good fun...

Let's hear it for the boys- photo challenge

Gotta love this boy!!! This is the photo I chose to enter in the I <3 Faces contest. Who couldn't LOVE these eyes....oh boys and their long lashes! Grr.

Random Summer

As you know I am a stay at home mom in the summer (another benefit of being a Teacher) so here are some things we have done or are doing around here:

Furniture Shopping

( School Desk )

I found this little cutie at the Salvation Army for 10 bucks! It was a funky green color and a little rusty but for 10 dollars I had to have it. I brought it home and the hubby offered to spray paint it for me. I am in love with this robin's egg blue color so the desk got a super duper power wash and primed and painted all in the same day. I think it is absolutely darling.
Dresser

I was originally searching for a dresser for our son's room but stumbled across this dresser at an Estate Sale. I was not totally in love with the color but it actually looks pretty good in our bedroom and for 50 dollars...who could say no?!? Not me. The search continued for a good kid's dresser.

The perfect match!

(for a Cabin themed bedroom)

Last but not least...the kiddo's dresser!!!! I found this bad boy at Goodwill for a whopping 30 dollars. Man, am I on a roll or what?!? It is the perfect match for his cabin room and I need to hang some things above it but so far so good. I love it and even more importantly he does too.

Which do you like best?

Summer Time= Flip Flops!

I have made the executive decision to turn my school blog into our family blog during the summer so just a little FYI for all you Teacher's out there.

I saw this awesome Flip Flop Exchange idea http://thetexasdarlings.blogspot.com/2011/06/texas-sized-flip-flop-exchange-take-3.html

and knew I had to participate.

You should check it out. I hope my new flip flop friend loves her package and Maddi's 4 year old buddy also enoys hers.

Missing In Action!!!!

Hi Fellow Bloggie Friends! I have not posted in what seems like forever! SOOOOOO BUSY! We had our school carnival yesterday and our grade was responsible for the face painting booth. I really like to face paint and while I am not very good at it I still pretend like I am. Fake it 'til you make it, right? We had some very talented kids and adults helping. I even talked my sis-in-law into helping the ENTIRE time after she worked all morning. Isn't that sweet?!? Here are some pictures from the carnival.

This is Harry Potter and Me :) Here is Rainbow Brite ( Bright ) ? and me :)

Aquarium Field Trip...Thanks to TARGET!

Thanks to TARGET for fully funding our trip to the Aquarium!
Our class has been studying Ocean life and each student selected an animal to research ( it had to be at the Aquarium) and will do a final report-presentation at the end of March. The kids have done an amazing job and were SO EXCITED about the grant, research, trip, cameras...oh yeah, and family work night!!!

Recording important information about the seahorse

Petting the Sting Rays

More pictures and information to come!

Ocean Animals- Part 2

All about JELLYFISH!!!!!

I learned as much if not more than the kids did this day!

Ms. Van Dyke you are a great Teacher!!!

1. Jellyfish live for 6 months
2. Jellyfish do not have a brain, heart, or backbone

3. Jellyfish are luminescent

4. Jellyfish eat and dispose of waste out if their mouth...eww.

5. Sea Turtles eat Jellyfish and are unharmed by their venomous stings

The kids wrote about " Why I am Glad I am NOT a Jellyfish" and made their own Jellies to accompany their writing. I was waiting for a....I am glad I am not a Jellyfish because my mouth and hiney would be the same thing....but my 2nd graders didn't even go there. Good for them!!!

Ocean Animals - Part 1

We have officially begun our unit on Ocean Life

So DIVE IN!!!!

First Up....Oil Spills and how they affect Ocean Life
We are extremely lucky to have Ms. Van Dyke in our class this year. She is developing the lessons for this unit and doing an amazing job. Her first lesson taught about Oil Spills and how they negatively affect animals in the Ocean. The student's then had to put on their handy dandy safety goggles ( because they were an adorable addition) and come up with a way to clean feathers which had been soaked in oil. They were shocked at how "slimy" they were.

Once they figured out water wasn't going to work they had to brainstorm other ideas. We discussed how much harder it would be to clean an actual animal than just the feathers.

Linky Pet Party

I have joined a linky party from http://ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com/2011/03/post-your-pets-linky-party.html
Soo this is our dog Abby!

She is more like a pig than a dog with the noises she makes and her eating habits but I do love her dearly. She has really been pushing it this last week with her muddy paws and jumping on the bed. Luckily, she jumps on my husband's side...us girl's have to stick together ; )

We got Abby about 4 years ago as a surprise for my hubby. He always wanted an English Bulldog and I was bored soooo we ended up getting Abby and surprising Matt at work! Abby is SO good with our kids!!! At the time the kids were 5 and 3 and she has grown up with our kiddos so she is definitely like a little sister to them. She kind of looks like an ottoman and sleeps A LOT!

Art Lessons!!!! K-2nd Graders

Hi Everyone!! This week has been crazy!!! SOO MUCH TO DO.
So let me add another to the list, teach art after school to 20 K-2nd graders. I really do love it, so fun!!! I am so thankful for Patty over at DEEP SPACE SPARKLE, she is awesome! I got all of these ideas from her and put the links below each picture if you want to check out the instructions and materials needed.

www.deepspacesparkle.com/2011/01/waterfront-houses-art-lesson

www.deepspacesparkle.com/2009/03/bird-drawing-and-painting-lesson-for

www.deepspacesparkle.com/2011/02/arty-hearts

www.deepspacesparkle.com/2009/06/easy-sailboat-project-for-first-grade

I can't wait to get started!!!!

Give Away!

Calling All Teachers!!! Check out this awesome giveaway for 10 free books!!!

http://fabulousinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/02/big-old-giveaway.html

Discovering THEME

This week we are learning about THEME and how do determine the THEME of a story.

I couldn't find any lessons or activities that were exactly what I was looking for so I decided to try and make my own like all the other awesome Teacher's who I blog stalk. You are free to use any of these you would like. Let me now what you think!

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Sheila Rae the Brave by Kevin Henkes

Hooway for Wodney Wat! by Helen Lester

- Symmetry

We have been learning about symmetry and observing and determining where the line of symmetry is in shapes and designs we have in our classroom. For this lesson students use:

* small mirror

* pattern blocks

* construction paper

* document camera

First, students fold their paper in half ( hamburger fold) and crease

Second, students place a pattern block on one side of the fold

Third, students hold their mirror upright where the bottom of the mirror and the crease of the paper are touching

Fourth, students observe what they see in the mirror and describe to the class

* Vocabulary Terms
* Symmetry
* Line of Symmetry
* Half

* Equal

Students use between 2 and 50 pattern blocks and create a design on one side of the paper. After they have finished they have to create the exact design on the other side of the paper to where the crease will become the line of symmetry of their completed design.