October Activities

This is kind of a random post, but I wanted to share some cute activities that we did this month.  Last week we learned all about bats and at our Friday Cafe we made some of our own, YUM!

  

This week we talked more about spiders.  The children did SUCH a good job on their spider books.  I love them!! If you want a copy I am attaching the link.  When you put the book in for copies...copy page 1 and 2 front and back and page 3 and 4 front and back.  It is much easier to prep that way! :)

Print your own Spider Book 

 My students also worked on some Halloween Riddles.  

 Give all the students a 'flip book'

 Then have them glue on their riddles and try to answer them.

 Have the students open it up and draw a picture of the answer!

Get your own Riddles here

Red Ribbon Week and Pumpkin Decorating Contest!

There are so many exciting events coming up at our school..and they are all turning into a competition!! Ahh that makes me nervous!! Next week is Red Ribbon week.  Our school does something different everyday..Walk Away From Drugs (kids wear their favorite shoes and crazy socks), Put A Cap on Drugs (wear a cap to school), Hugs Not Drugs (bring your favorite stuffed animal to school), etc.  Well...we also have a 'decorate your door' contest.  I was walking out of school today, only to see this door..

How can I possibly beat the cuteness of this door? I Love it!! I am taking suggestions :)

We also have our annual storybook pumpkin contest coming up. This morning my class decorated our pumpkin.  They worked so hard together, I was so proud of them! We had a painting station, hand tracing/cutting station, decorating letter station, even some students punching holes...they pretty much did the entire thing!! And look at how our pumpkin turned out...

 Can you guess what book we did?? 

I am excited to see what all the other classes came up with this year! I am sure they are amazing!!

Poetry Notebooks

My kids this year absolutely LOVE poetry and I LOVE that they LOVE it!!! :) We do one poem every week.  I have the poem written out on chart paper and I introduce it to the class on Monday.  On Tuesday/Wednesday (depending on when they go to the poetry center) they will glue the poem into their poetry notebooks.  They have to illustrate the poem and highlight/circle our sight words.  

 Then Thursday and Friday we continue to practice our poems whole group.  I usually have the students bring their notebooks to the carpet.  I hang the chart paper with the poem on it in front of the class.  The children love to come up front and use a pointer or a echo microphone to guide the other students in reading the poem.  They also love to sing the poem, read it in 'girlie' voices, read it like a monster, etc.  We have a blast! 

I would love to hear how you do poetry in your class!!

BIG Giveaway!!

If you have not already done so, make sure to head on over to

She is doing a FANTASTIC giveaway!! There are items from Mrs. Freshwater's blog, Kinderland, Little Warriors, Doodle Bugs, Growing Kinders, Mrs. Jump, Fabulous in First, Kreative in Kinder, First Grade Fever, Kinderglynn herself, AND my new unit are all apart of the BIG giveaway!! 

If you just found my blog from Kinderglynn then WELCOME!! I hope you come back and visit often!! :)

Fire Safety Week

To kick off fire safety week my children walked into the classroom, only to find..... our dollhouse on fire!!!

My fire could have probably been a little better, but I had a morning conference and was a little rushed!  The kids still loved it :)  Using the dollhouse people, all the kids practiced a fire safety plan.  We discussed the best route to get out, having a meeting place with your family, then calling 911.  Luckily when we were finished, a little fire truck wheeled in and put the fire out! Phew!!

Later that morning we made a yummy fire truck snack.

Anything with icing is always a hit in my class! We will continue to do some other cute lessons throughout the week on fire safety, but this sure got them excited!!

p.s. I didn't have time this weekend to get together a little giveaway, but no worries! One is on the way soon!

So Excited!!

I am very excited to announce that I have my first item up for sale on TPT!!  I have been working hard on it...I think I am now an expert on buying clip art, having a license, using pages, etc!! This unit is for November and is full of activities for teaching Pilgrims, Indians, turkeys, and Thanksgiving.  

 There are literacy and math activities included..and lots more!! I would love for you to come by my new store and check it out (and start following me)!!

Teachers Pay Teachers

For a little 'taste' of my new unit, here is a math activity that is included:

November Measuring 

This weekend I will figure out how to do a 'random number generator' so I can do a giveaway of my new unit!! Be on the look out :)

Enjoy!

Graphics from Scrappin Doodles

Thankful

I have been working on my first unit for TPT, which I am planning to post on Thursday (can't wait!!).  The unit is going to be for November--Pilgrims, Indians, Turkeys, and Thanksgiving--and has totally got me thinking about what I am thankful for. 

I am not going to lie, I have complained a couple times this year about the problems in education right now. Then I remember my mission trip to Kenya last summer and I realize I really don't have anything to complain about!  Our mission was to help build an additional classroom, a bathroom, and start digging for a future library at a school in a remote village.  But...the first day we showed up to the school, I spotted the kindergartners and let's just say my mission changed (Look at these faces!!!)

I got to spend my time there helping out and teaching in the Kindergarten classroom..how lucky am I? We think our class size is big..check this out..

The picture doesn't even do justice..over 70 kids in one K class!!  They get a cup of porridge a day..most of their only meals.  When they wash their cups they try to sneak dirty water to drink because they don't have water...a heartbreaking thing to see.

I sometimes think my students don't have enough to play with at free choice. Well, this is their only 'toy' which is a soccer ball made out of plastic bags and string.

 But, everyday these children show up with smiles on their face and ready to learn! They are so respectful, sweet, and appreciative.  Meanwhile this is what they go home to..

 Whenever I look at these pictures and think of this trip, I really realize how lucky we are for everything we do have!  It could always be worse.  I am so thankful!!

Listening Center

My kids have totally fell in love with the listening center this year!! It is so funny how every class is so different.  Last year, some of my students would roll their eyes when they saw that one of their morning centers was listening...this year, my students can't wait! They even want to listen to the same book over and over again! Luckily, last year I bought the books on C.D. in the monthly scholastic orders so I am all stocked up on thematic books.  Today they listened to:

We have been working on finding the title and author in reading groups, so when they were finished listening they filled out this sheet:

Listening Center Sheet 

and they drew a picture of their favorite part.

 Later in the year, when the kids can write more independently, I will have them fill out this center sheet:

Listening Center Sheet 2

I am so glad my students are enjoying this QUIET center :) Hopefully all your kiddos are too!!
Graphics are courtesy of Scrappin Doodles

By the way if you haven't checked out this AMAZING site yet (that I am lucky enough to contribute to)...you are missing out!!  ;)

Enjoy!