Sunday, December 16, 2012
Friday, December 14, 2012
Prayers
My heart is breaking ....all day I thought about my own little kinders. They are babies and I just can't imagine. Just can't imagine...there are no words. As teachers, we all hung around after the kids left trying to process and make sense of it all. There is no sense. All I can offer is prayers for the children, the town, and the families left to grieve and hug my own little ones (and my own big grown-up ones too)
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
December Currently and more Pete
I love the beginning of each month because it is time to hook up Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for December's Currently. It is so fun to see what everybody's doing.
My hubby gets up way early...so it is always an early night at our house. I am beginning to think that he might need help for the snoring. I think it is getting worse.
I love Christmas time, I love decorating, I love doing craftivities in my classroom. I try to do something Christmasy at home every day...one day put candles in my window, one do some baking, one day go look at lights, one day....you get the idea. I make a bucket list of everything I want to do and see how many I can cross off. Some are for me, some are giving to others, some are Santa, some are Christ-centered.
This past weekend My daughter and family came to town. Add to that the kids that are already here and I had 7 of my 10 grandkids here (and the other 3 were just here over Thanksgiving). We went up to our favorite spot to find the perfect Christmas tree. Always sooo much fun!
Now I'm thinking...wait it's Wednesday and I was just waiting for these cute pictures of tree hunting. I better get this posted!!
I was going to call the carpet guy to come before Thanksgiving...but somehow that never happened. It looks like the next time my carpet gets cleaned will be spring cleaning time. Hopefully with my Christmas tree no one notices.
I am planning on doing Miss Kindergarten's Santa (you can get it here) and using that for one of my hallway bulletin boards this month. I was going to do it yesterday, but realized that I didn't have the pieces prepped. So it was on to plan B...actually part A (the writing part). We took long enough doing the writing that we really didn't have time for the craftivity part anyway. So I am off to school early to cut, cut, cut and run some parts off (our copy machine that does construction paper is very sensitive...wish me luck).
But first...I am stopping at Starbucks for coffee. I know nothing about coffee. Maybe I will get hot chocolate instead. My coworkers love coffee and occasionally indulge in fancy coffee, so I think my random act of kindness will involve coffee.
Did you make it with me this far? I had so much fun remaking my Don't Eat Pete game for Christmas I made some more with different graphics. If you want the elf version click on the picture below.
My hubby gets up way early...so it is always an early night at our house. I am beginning to think that he might need help for the snoring. I think it is getting worse.
I love Christmas time, I love decorating, I love doing craftivities in my classroom. I try to do something Christmasy at home every day...one day put candles in my window, one do some baking, one day go look at lights, one day....you get the idea. I make a bucket list of everything I want to do and see how many I can cross off. Some are for me, some are giving to others, some are Santa, some are Christ-centered.
This past weekend My daughter and family came to town. Add to that the kids that are already here and I had 7 of my 10 grandkids here (and the other 3 were just here over Thanksgiving). We went up to our favorite spot to find the perfect Christmas tree. Always sooo much fun!
I was going to call the carpet guy to come before Thanksgiving...but somehow that never happened. It looks like the next time my carpet gets cleaned will be spring cleaning time. Hopefully with my Christmas tree no one notices.
I am planning on doing Miss Kindergarten's Santa (you can get it here) and using that for one of my hallway bulletin boards this month. I was going to do it yesterday, but realized that I didn't have the pieces prepped. So it was on to plan B...actually part A (the writing part). We took long enough doing the writing that we really didn't have time for the craftivity part anyway. So I am off to school early to cut, cut, cut and run some parts off (our copy machine that does construction paper is very sensitive...wish me luck).
But first...I am stopping at Starbucks for coffee. I know nothing about coffee. Maybe I will get hot chocolate instead. My coworkers love coffee and occasionally indulge in fancy coffee, so I think my random act of kindness will involve coffee.
Did you make it with me this far? I had so much fun remaking my Don't Eat Pete game for Christmas I made some more with different graphics. If you want the elf version click on the picture below.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
A Recipe...A Story...and A Freebie
Tis the season...for a party. If you will indulge me I have a GREAT recipe to share. It's easy, it's quick, and everyone will think you are the best cook ever.
You will need:
18 frozen dinner rolls (so a package of 36 will make two....one to take to your pot luck, one to stay in home)
1 (3-ounce) package of butterscotch pudding (not instant)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup melted butter
Arrange frozen dinner rolls in a bundt pan. Sprinkle the rolls with the dry pudding mix, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Drizzle the melted butter over it all. Cover with a dishcloth and let rise overnight or about 12 hours. Bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes. Cool only about 5-10 minutes, then turn upside down onto serving plate.
Prep time is about 10-15 minutes, it rises while you sleep, it bakes while you are getting showered and ready...and you have something warm and yummy to take to school. Can you hear them singing your praises? I can.
Is your staff having a party? Do you need entertainment? I first heard this story my first year teaching (I wish I had a scanner to show you the old typed copy I have kept all these years). I was homesick and it reminded me of my own mom. You MUST read this aloud with a first grade Dick and Jane voice.
You will need:
18 frozen dinner rolls (so a package of 36 will make two....one to take to your pot luck, one to stay in home)
1 (3-ounce) package of butterscotch pudding (not instant)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup melted butter
Arrange frozen dinner rolls in a bundt pan. Sprinkle the rolls with the dry pudding mix, brown sugar, and chopped pecans. Drizzle the melted butter over it all. Cover with a dishcloth and let rise overnight or about 12 hours. Bake at 350 F for about 25 minutes. Cool only about 5-10 minutes, then turn upside down onto serving plate.
Prep time is about 10-15 minutes, it rises while you sleep, it bakes while you are getting showered and ready...and you have something warm and yummy to take to school. Can you hear them singing your praises? I can.
Is your staff having a party? Do you need entertainment? I first heard this story my first year teaching (I wish I had a scanner to show you the old typed copy I have kept all these years). I was homesick and it reminded me of my own mom. You MUST read this aloud with a first grade Dick and Jane voice.
See Mother,
See Mother Laugh, Mother Is Happy.
Mother Is Happy About Christmas.
Mother Has Many Plans.
Mother Has Many Plans For Christmas.
Mother Is Organized.
Mother Smiles All The Time.
Funny, Funny, Mother.
See Mother.
See Mother Smile.
Mother Is Happy.
The Shopping Is All Done. See The Children Watch T.V.
Watch, Children, Watch.
See The Children Change Their Minds.
See Them Ask Santa For Different Things.
Look, Look, Mother Is Not Smiling.
Funny, Funny, Mother.
See Mother.
See Mother Sew.
See Mother Make Dresses.
See Mother Make Robes.
See Mother Make Shirts.
See Mother Put The Zipper In Wrong.
See Mother Sew The Dress On The Wrong Side.
See Mother Put The Material Away Until January.
Look, Look, See Mother Take A Tranquilizer.
Funny, Funny, Mother.
See Mother.
See Mother Buy Raisins And Nuts.
See Mother Buy Candied Pineapple And Powdered
Sugar.
See Mother Buy Flour And Dates And Pecans And
Brown Sugar And Bananas And Spices And Vanilla.
Look, Look, Mother Is Mixing Everything Together.
See The Children Press Out Cookies.
See The Flour On Their Elbows.
See The Cookies Burn.
See The Cake Fall.
See The Children Pull Taffy.
See Mother Pull Her Hair.
See Mother Clean The Kitchen With The Garden Hose.
Funny, Funny, Mother.
See Mother Wrap Presents.
See Mother Look For The End Of The Scotch Tape
Roll.
See Mother Bite Her Fingernails.
See Mother Go.
See Mother Go To The Store 12 Times In One Hour.
Go, Mother, Go.
See Mother Go Faster.
See Mother Run.
See Mother Trim The Tree.
See Mother Have A Party.
See Mother Make Popcorn.
See Mother Wash The Walls.
See Mother Scrub The Rug.
Go, Mother, Go.
See Mother Tear Up The Organized Plans.
See Mother Forget The Gift For Uncle Harold.
See Mother Get The Hives.
Go, Mother, Go.
See The Far-Away Look In Mother’s Eye.
Mother Has Become Disorganized.
Mother Has Become Disoriented.
Funny, Funny, Mother.
It Is Finally Christmas Morning.
See The Happy Family.
See Father Smile.
Father Is Happy.
Smile Father Smile.
Father Loves Fruitcake.
Father Loves Christmas Pudding.
Father Loves All His New Neckties.
Look, Look, See The Happy Children.
See The Children’s Toys.
Santa Was Very Good To The Children.
The Children Will Remember This Christmas.
See Mother.
Mother Is Slumped In A Chair.
Mother Is Crying Uncontrollably.
Funny, Funny, Mother.
Mother Does Not Look Well.
Mother Has Ugly Dark Circles Under Her Blood-Shot
Eyes.
Everyone Helps Mother To Her Bed.
See Mother Sleep.
See Mother Sleep Under Heavy Sedation.
See Mother.
See Mother Smile.
Funny, Funny, Mother.
(Author Unknown)
If you have stayed with me this far, then you deserve a freebie. First, if you click here you can download this story. Next is a game I share with my students just because. It is a game I played with my own kids when they were growing up and now at least once at Christmas with my grandkids.
Click on the picture to download Don't Eat Pete!
Now let's get a party started!! Freebielicious has a party going on...a linky party! Check out all the wonderfully talented bloggers offering their talents for FREE!!! Click here or on the banner to hop on over.
Now let's get a party started!! Freebielicious has a party going on...a linky party! Check out all the wonderfully talented bloggers offering their talents for FREE!!! Click here or on the banner to hop on over.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Counting and Cardinality....Patterns and Paper Chains
I am a huge fan of combining learning with fun...learning with holidays, seasons, or themes. I like Kindergarten for this very reason. It is almost expected that you are playing while you are learning.
My kinders this year seem to need more practice with patterns. Many are struggling to copy any pattern I create other than abab and to keep that pattern going. Also, I want my room to look more festive. Combine the two and you have one of my favorite (and first) activities for December.
Each day this week we are made old-fashioned paper chains with a different pattern each day.
First, I started out with the pattern I knew they were good at....abab. I figured this was a good chance to throw in some higher level thinking. I asked them if I wanted them to use 10 paper strips how many red would they need and how many green? Too easy for some of my kinders and they got it right away. Yay!! Next some counting practice. I gave them random amounts of red as I quickly passed out the paper strips, and told them to count out five. They were to give me back the extra. Surprise!! This turned into an informal assessment of who understood 5. Many of my kinders came and told me they had seven or eight, and I had the chance to talk to them about how many they were supposed to have and what should they do. Some thought they had five and when we counted together they discovered they did not. Some thought they had five because they had more than five...again we talked about that. Once they had five red, they could go and count out five green. Then they went to work. Day one took my kids about 30 minutes to get everything counted out and the chains made.
Day two, I went for another pattern I thought they were pretty good at abcabc... red, yellow, green, red, yellow, green. I confess that I was worried about the time and the discussions (about how many we need to make our chains, and could we have the same number of each color if we used 10 strips) went too fast and I did too much of the talking. It is so important for us to let our kinders talk with each other and discover things on their own. We need to work hard at stepping back and not giving them all the answers.
This time we only had to count three...and I had them count with a partner (I could pass out the strips quicker). The counting went quicker. More students were understanding the expectations, counting to three was easier, and they had a partner to help them count. Even with having to fix patterns gone wrong, we had plenty of time to go back to yesterday's chains. We took all those chains of 10 and connected them into one long chain and counted. Every tenth chain we stopped and added a star. We wrote the number on the star and my kiddos told me how to write that number. Zero was our hero helping us make those numbers. Perfect timing lunch recess bell rang, right when we got to 100. So we stopped there. When I hung that up 100 fit right across the front of my room...perfect length!
Day three and on to a pattern I really hadn't talked about at all....aabb. More and more of my kinders were getting it and counting and creating patterns went quickly! They loved continuing on the patterns to make Rapunzel hair. All of a sudden it seems my kiddos are getting patterns.
Day four and it's time to take my own advice and let them have a chance to work with some of those mathematical practices from the common core. Can they have persistence in solving a problem? Do they know how to approach the solution? Can they communicate with each other about how to solve the problem? Can they use tools to solve the problem? What was the problem? If you were making a chain of red, red, green, red, red green (and yes they labeled it aab for me without me even asking...volunteered that information!) how many red strips and green strips would you need if the pattern repeated three times. When we talked about the pattern I drew it twice on my white board. I made sure they knew they could use anything in the room...paper, pattern blocks, counting chips, connecting cubes, just their fingers. I paired them up and they went to work. And boy did they work! I wish I had pictures or a video camera to record their conversations. And where was my principal during all this? He still needs to do my observation.
When about half had figured it out we stopped and shared our thinking. Now everyone knew how many paper strips to get and it was off to make the chains.
Thursday our classroom elf hung up the chains that were finished and boy were they excited! We have a rule that you can't hang anything from the ceiling or lights...but we do have beams in my room. So, I put the chains from the top of the bulletin boards across the room to the beams. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Have a great week!! I am working on some cute freebies to share....so keep your eyes open.
My kinders this year seem to need more practice with patterns. Many are struggling to copy any pattern I create other than abab and to keep that pattern going. Also, I want my room to look more festive. Combine the two and you have one of my favorite (and first) activities for December.
Paper Chains
Each day this week we are made old-fashioned paper chains with a different pattern each day.
First, I started out with the pattern I knew they were good at....abab. I figured this was a good chance to throw in some higher level thinking. I asked them if I wanted them to use 10 paper strips how many red would they need and how many green? Too easy for some of my kinders and they got it right away. Yay!! Next some counting practice. I gave them random amounts of red as I quickly passed out the paper strips, and told them to count out five. They were to give me back the extra. Surprise!! This turned into an informal assessment of who understood 5. Many of my kinders came and told me they had seven or eight, and I had the chance to talk to them about how many they were supposed to have and what should they do. Some thought they had five and when we counted together they discovered they did not. Some thought they had five because they had more than five...again we talked about that. Once they had five red, they could go and count out five green. Then they went to work. Day one took my kids about 30 minutes to get everything counted out and the chains made.
Day two, I went for another pattern I thought they were pretty good at abcabc... red, yellow, green, red, yellow, green. I confess that I was worried about the time and the discussions (about how many we need to make our chains, and could we have the same number of each color if we used 10 strips) went too fast and I did too much of the talking. It is so important for us to let our kinders talk with each other and discover things on their own. We need to work hard at stepping back and not giving them all the answers.
This time we only had to count three...and I had them count with a partner (I could pass out the strips quicker). The counting went quicker. More students were understanding the expectations, counting to three was easier, and they had a partner to help them count. Even with having to fix patterns gone wrong, we had plenty of time to go back to yesterday's chains. We took all those chains of 10 and connected them into one long chain and counted. Every tenth chain we stopped and added a star. We wrote the number on the star and my kiddos told me how to write that number. Zero was our hero helping us make those numbers. Perfect timing lunch recess bell rang, right when we got to 100. So we stopped there. When I hung that up 100 fit right across the front of my room...perfect length!
Day three and on to a pattern I really hadn't talked about at all....aabb. More and more of my kinders were getting it and counting and creating patterns went quickly! They loved continuing on the patterns to make Rapunzel hair. All of a sudden it seems my kiddos are getting patterns.
Day four and it's time to take my own advice and let them have a chance to work with some of those mathematical practices from the common core. Can they have persistence in solving a problem? Do they know how to approach the solution? Can they communicate with each other about how to solve the problem? Can they use tools to solve the problem? What was the problem? If you were making a chain of red, red, green, red, red green (and yes they labeled it aab for me without me even asking...volunteered that information!) how many red strips and green strips would you need if the pattern repeated three times. When we talked about the pattern I drew it twice on my white board. I made sure they knew they could use anything in the room...paper, pattern blocks, counting chips, connecting cubes, just their fingers. I paired them up and they went to work. And boy did they work! I wish I had pictures or a video camera to record their conversations. And where was my principal during all this? He still needs to do my observation.
When about half had figured it out we stopped and shared our thinking. Now everyone knew how many paper strips to get and it was off to make the chains.
Thursday our classroom elf hung up the chains that were finished and boy were they excited! We have a rule that you can't hang anything from the ceiling or lights...but we do have beams in my room. So, I put the chains from the top of the bulletin boards across the room to the beams. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Have a great week!! I am working on some cute freebies to share....so keep your eyes open.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Liebster Blog Award...I am humbled.
I have been nominated for the Leibster Award....twice. Yup two times, I am totally floored that someone would think I deserve a nomination, let alone two people.
The Liebster Blog award is for up and coming (isn't that nice that someone thinks I am up and coming) blogs with less than 200 followers (I can't wait to get to 100 so I can give away one of my mom's books). It is to show that we are appreciated and to spread the word about new blogs.
The rules:
- You must post 11 random things about yourself.
- Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
- Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
- Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and
link them in your post.
- No tag back (but please leave me a comment on this post with
the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you)!
The rules say I must post 11 random things about me:
1. I didn't think I ever wanted to do Kindergarten again, but I am so glad when the opening came up last year I said yes.2. I am the grandmother of 10...
but how can that be...my own children are all still babies (don't they stay that way forever?)
3. I wanted a cool grandma nickname (because I don't feel old enough to be a grandma), but I never got one.
4. I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and it is a big part of who I am.
5. I am a book addict.
6. My first major in college was dance...I couldn't decide, but I think I made the right choice.
7. I can stick out my tongue and touch my nose.
8. My mom is a writer (I made her edit my first three blog posts...even though I didn't fix everything)
9. I run through the house jumping up and down squealing like a giddy school girl whenever anyone comments on my blog. If it is a compliment...I go a little bit crazy.
10. I love crafting and holidays and crafting about the holidays.
11. My favorite new word...craftivity! Whoever made that up was brillant.
I was nominated by Covered in Glitter and Glue
Questions I'm asking my nominees:
1. How long have you been blogging? I started blogging in July of this year...so barely 4 months.
2. Favorite food? Married a rancher...so I better say beef, but seafood is high on my list.
3. Best thing you've learned since becoming a blogger? Toss up...how to make little books in powerpoint and how to write the html code to link my blog when I sign my name on a comment.
4. How many siblings do you have? I have 2 brothers and a sister.
5. Who was your favorite teacher? Mrs. Heckman in 3rd/4th (looping back in the 60's). She made me feel important.
6. Do you play any sports? Not really....I swim, hike, dance.
7. What music do you play to put you in a good mood? John Denver...I'm old
8. Who was your first roommate? Other than my sister....Nancy Ware, Val Depew, Gayle Schlosser (we still stay in touch)
9. Did you leave your home state to go to college? How far did you go? I went from NJ to Utah.
10. Favorite thing about being a teacher? The kids!! The funny things they say and the light in their eyes when they "get it".
11. Favorite form of take-out food after a busy day? If I don't cook at home I would rather go to a restaurant. We have a good mexican "dive" here my husband and I go to a bunch. If there is a crowd...then Chinese.
I was also nominated by Lisa at Lower Elementary Cottage
1. What is your favorite subject to teach? Lately it has been math...which is funny because I have a million books and I love to read.
2. Favorite holiday tradition? We light a bayberry candle on Christmas eve, then turn out all the lights except for my oil lamps, other candles, and tree lights then we read the story of the first Christmas, sing carols, drink a little egg nog. We hang our stockings and read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
3. Favorite book to read to your class? Stand Back Said the Elephant I'm Going to Sneeze by Patricia Thomas
4. Favorite guilty pleasure reality show? The Apprentice (would watch it twice...but now I am not sure it is on any more)
5. Favorite movie? I am an old musical fan...Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Brigadoon, Singing in the Rain, High Society, Mama Mia (new ones are good too).
6. What is your best childhood memory? Camping with my family...we went all over. Between my traveling as a kid and traveling as the parent I have been to 49 states (I only have Hawaii left).
7. What is your least favorite household chore? the dishes
8. What are you afraid of? Failing...I procrastinate a lot because I am afraid to start.
9. Salty or sweet? Usually sweet.
10. Where is your ideal vacation spot? Anywhere with trees, water, and quiet. I would take the beach, a mountain lake, a tumbling creek...fresh air and I am happy.
11. What sparked your interest in blogging? Reading all the great Kindergarten and First Grade blogs last year after I changed grades.
Questions I'm Asking
1. How long have you been blogging?
2. What inspired you to start blogging?
3. What is the best thing you've learned since you started blogging?
4. What is your best childhood memory?
5. How many states have you visited?
6. What is you favorite book to read to your class?
7. Favorite teacher?
8. What is the best part of being a teacher?
9. Do you have a real tree or fake?
10. Favorite Christmas tradition?
11. Dream vacation?
Blogs I'm nominating:
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thankful
I am thankful I get to work with a wonderful staff and the sweetest 5 year-olds. To be truthful some are already 6...they would want to be sure I told you that.
I wanted them to be sure they knew they were loved...both by me and by their parents. When their parents came to conferences last week I had them write something nice about their child on a turkey feather. We are reading a few each day and adding them to our turkey out in the hall (there was not a bulletin board in the classroom big enough to hold all the feathers). We have been doing this right after lunch and it is quickly becoming the favorite part of their day. I wish I could capture the look in their eyes when they are the ones being talked about.
Students who feel good about themselves are going to learn better...easier...and more completely.
I am thankful I have discovered this bloggy world of great, kind, and generous friends. Friends that make me a better teacher. They have rekindled my excitement and offered me fun new ideas. For that reason I am linking up with Hadar at Miss Kindergarten to share a couple of teaching tips.
First....the best thing I pinned this summer. Scrap Baskets! I found them here, actually I am no longer sure where I found them. I can't seem to find the pin. If you are the one who made the really cute scrap baskets let me know....I want to give you credit!. Mine are not nearly as cute...but they work!! I put the baskets on the tables whenever we are doing a cut and paste project. Kids stay at their seats (no more running back and forth to the garbage can) and cleanup is much quicker (and more complete). Now I don't even have to remember to grab them, they remind me whenever we start our project or learning page.
Second...the best thing I accidentally did. I didn't have the space for a pocket chart and I wanted to use ducks with 5 Little Ducks (you know take them away, count, take another away), so what's a girl to do?? I put a strip of velcro on the front of my bookcase!! Perfect!! I don't know if you can see it, but the black velcro is as wide as my top board (which is kind-of thick) I now have a spot for any of my retelling, counting, little phonic and rhyming activities. I did not expect it to become one of my student's favorite activities during free choice time.
Third...one good idea taken a step further. My kiddos like the retelling with velcro so much that when I saw this idea at Making Learning Fun, I knew I needed to make it my own. Putting velcro on paint sticks makes a great portable retelling "stage". Home Depot gave me all the paint sticks I wanted, so I grabbed some big ones for the classroom and little ones to send home.
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