Currently...December

It's nearly 2014!
 I almost missed the December currently! Go {Here} for the fun!
 
December, we hardly knew ye!
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is almost frowned upon, now that Paw Patrol has been discovered by the little one!
Yes, it is snowing! Big pretty white flakes! Love that!
New Year's at home is great. Surrounded by family. :)
Hmmmm...do I say I want ice cream every month?
Needing...I don't need to take down decorations. I might leave them up for another week...
We take the kids to see lights every year, even just in our own  neighborhood.
I'm so late for the currently, I missed it for this month.(I knew that would happen eventually...)
But I'm linking this post to Simply Kinder's Teaching Blog Round-Up!
Click the picture to check it out!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Questionnaire!

fabulousinfirst.blogspot.com

I love Christmas! I'm linking up with Michelle for this festive linky party! Click {Here} to check it out!

Hot Chocolate or Eggnog?
I am a big fan of hot chocolate! Especially peppermint! (McDonald's=yes, Tim Horton's =no)

Does Santa Wrap Presents or Just Sit them under the Tree?
He wraps them. And leaves the roll behind. 

Colored lights or white?
White inside, colored outside. I love the new LED lights!

When do you decorate?
After Thanksgiving, a little at a time.

 
Real or fake tree?
Fake. Cutting down a real tree just seems wrong, but it smells nice!

What tops your tree?
An angel holding a light.
Favorite Christmas memories or traditions?
Family parties, eating candy canes, finding gifts in our stockings!
Do you remember your favorite gift as a child?
My baby doll or my barbie. 
Do you prefer giving or receiving?
The older I get, the more I like giving vs. receiving.
What is your favorite Christmas song?
Wow...a toughie. "Rocking around the Christmas tree" or "Carol of the Bells".
Candy Canes: Yum or Yuck?
Yum!

 
Favorite Christmas Movie:
Any old claymation one...Rudolph, Santa Claus is coming to town, etc. Or the Santa Clause. Or Elf. :)

Do you shop online or at stores?
Both. And I buy all year long!
Photo cards, letter, or store bought card?
Photo cards or store bought cards, depending on the year. This year, store bought cards. With pictures of the kids of course. :)
       

Five for Friday: Random thoughts

1. Spaghetti Garlic Bread:
Yes, it was as good as it sounds. Click {Here}. 


2. One of my Favorite Pages: The Nester is so cute. And smart. And trendy. And easy(easy ideas to follow I mean). Did I mention smart? Click {Here} to see her cuteness. (She just bought a house and is re-doing it.)


3. Melonheadz Christmas Countdown: I love Melonheadz clipart! Be sure to get a Chrismas countdown for Free! Click {Here}.


4.Snow Days: None here yet, but I hold out hope! And I visit here regularly(just in case): www.snowdaycalculator.com

5. The Portable North Pole:   If you haven't tried this... It's free! and easy! www.portablenorthpole.com It's a personalized video from Santa! Super cute!


Check out Five for Friday {Here}

Five for Friday Thanksgiving Throwback Freebie

Click {Here} to check it out, or link up!


One:  I'm slightly obsessed with Skinny Pop popcorn. I really could eat 2 bags in a row, but I ration myself one bag a day. (We bought a box of 24 at Cosco).

Two:  I had to paint feet in college once during my supervisor's observation. Love this though!  http://www.petersonstories.blogspot.com/2011/11/thankful.html
 
Three: Between the power outages this week and my little one afraid of the dark every night(even surrounded by a nightlight, a gloworm and a musical starfish), I had to find something he could use.  Who knew how hot regular flashlights were after 20 minutes?!   Thank you Ikea!   http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30190857/

Four:  Go here and read her Holiday Disaster post...sooo funny.

http://sunnydaysinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/

(I don't think I have a Thanksgiving disaster story...we are notorious for taking a mini-vacation during the Thanksgiving weekend.)

Five: Go {Here} for my most favorite Thanksgiving freebie! Definitely printing this today for next week!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Five for Friday and Thanksgiving Freebie part 2

Click the picture to check it out, or Link up!

1. I couldn't believe it when I took my sson to preschool and saw a wooden climber inside. We had one of these in my Kindergarten classroom!

 2. These are the cutest snowman cookies! I have seen different versions and finally tracked this recipe down.

Here is the source: 

http://simplystitchedtogether.com/2012/12/25/christmas-cookie-recipe-melted-snowman-cookies/

 3. Need a FREE template for your parent newsletters? Check out this edit-in-word freebie! I found out a lot of teachers in my building are using it! Super easy!

http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/newsletter/templates/

4. We made paper bag teepees. Aren't they the cutest!

5. 

Saturday is the last day to join the giveaway!

(If you are a follower of this blog or my TPT store, that will give you an entry already!)

http://whatihavelearnedtoo.blogspot.com/2013/11/giveaway-to-celebrate-new-blog-design.htm

Thanksgiving Centers

We are doing Thanksgiving centers this week and next! 

Go {Here} for my packet.


I linked up with Blog Hoppin  this week for their Activity day!
Here is the link for more Activities!
http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/2013/11/activities-likelinky-party.html

Five for Friday: Thanksgiving

Check it out!

1. I was thinking about those cute Turkey shaped cookies made with Oreos...and I couldn't remember what they looked like. So I went searching around and I found a cute turkey made on a sugar cookie.
(This is good, because these are simpler, and it's also good because we can't have peanut products at our school. Most of the ones I found are made with a mini Reese's cup.)
But then, I found this super cute cookie:http://yesterdayontuesday.com/2012/11/turkey-cookies/
I love this! It is shown with peanut butter cookies, but I could substitute a sugar cookie.
Also, I like that it is not made with only candy corn.  Mike and Ike's are way yummier.

2. Thanksgiving pie...pumpkin, apple, or other?  I can't decide which one to make.

3. On the healthy side, isn't this the cutest?
Find the photo here: http://catchmyparty.com/photos/800261

4.  We went to the children's museum.
Remember Lite Brite?

5. Parent Teacher Conferences are this week. Need I say more?

My Truth Monday---Becoming a Teacher

I'm linking up with Denise from Sunny Days in Second Grade for her My Truth Monday series. (Even though it's Tuesday).
What led me to be a teacher? This is what I remember:

 Of course that was the '70's. :)

Currently November... YUMMY

My youngest loves Mickey's Clubhouse. We watch a lot of Busytown too. I kind of like the music.
The leaves haven't really fallen here, so it is still very colorful!
Laundry...the never-ending task...
Travelling would be great. We are thinking of going somewhere this month.
Halloween decorations? I feel like I just put them out!
And OH MY!  Go here and copy this recipe!

* http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/brown-familys-favorite-pumpkin-pie/detail.aspx
This is the BEST pumpkin pie! I make it with a graham cracker crust though. It is way better than the traditional crust. It has a walnut/brown sugar topping. It's a family favorite for Thanksgiving!

Link up to the Currently fun {Here}.

Currently...October!

It's Currently time! {Here's} the link for more fun at Farley's page!

Listening: General Hospital has been so good lately! 

Loving: We were trick or treating today... Love October!

Thinking: We need some pumpkins to help decorate the yard/porch.

Wanting: Salsa and Chips, but we don't have any salsa!

Needing: To wash windows. We had some new windows installed and they make the old ones look very dirty in comparison!

Trick or Treat: Coconut is my favorite! 

One last apple freebie...

I forgot to add this to my apple post. I found the cutest free game on TPT by Amy Lattin...here's the link {HERE}.

Basically you hide Johnny Appleseed behind the letter (on the pocket chart) and the kids have to guess where he is. (You could also do this with letter sounds or sight words!) So... I made a poster of a song we sing with the game. (Because music makes everything more fun!) Here's the link to the poster {click here}.

Common Core: Developmentally Appropriate?

A recent article that questions whether the Common Core is Developmentally Appropriate.  If you scroll down, there is a short video that shows the full presentation.{Click Here}.
What do you think?

Apples, Apples, Apples

Here are some pictures from our Apple unit(Scroll down and keep going, since there is so much space between each one!)

Torn paper apples

We read some Johnny Appleseed books. The Steven Kellogg one is my favorite!










A Johnny Appleseed puppet for retelling, and three things they learned about Johnny. 1. He planted seeds, 2. He went West, and 3. He made lots of friends. ( I don't know the source of this sheet, sorry!)

We counted the stickers on the apples and recorded them. This activity is from my{Fall Math and Science Centers}

Stained glass apples!  So pretty!

 

We took a class poll and wrote a report about our apples (The report is also from my { Fall Math and Science Centers}.)

We used a spinner to cover these pictures(from  my { Fall Math and Science Centers}):

It was an applicious time!

Currently....September

I'm linking up with Farley this month at http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/09/currently-september.html.  Yes believe it or not, before September 30th.

I watch tv by listening most of the time. :) We really DVR everything and then watch it while we multi-task.... I think I need to lose a few pounds before the wedding, and the salad goes nicely with my quest to eat more veggies. (But we won't talk about the ranch or the shredded cheese. And I need croutons too.)

Halloween is coming! LOVE it!

Michael's Drawers/Tower Organization...Upgrade?

Did anyone see these?

  Apparently we can have some options, rather than the 10 drawer tower storage cart!

I haven't seen these at our local Michael's yet, but I am going to keep looking! 

https://www.michaels.com/essex-white-cart-by-recollections/10592000.html

Five for Friday

It's been going on for weeks, but I am finally linking up with  Doodle Bugs Teaching's Five For Friday Linky Party.

Here are some random things!
1. I gave all the kids their names, scrambled, and they had to cut them out and glue them on correctly. Then we counted all the letters and sorted them!
 

2. Number boards(aka anchor charts for numbers): I am obsessed with the simplicity of this. Why didn't I think of this? (Yes, I could make my own, but why? $3...woo hoo)   Go here to get  yours: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Number-Boards-for-Numbers-1-10-875847


3. I just love this idea for the crib mattress! A lovely little reading nook! (and we have that book too!)
https://www.popsugar.com/family/Reading-Nooks-Kids-25349795



4. What a super idea! Found this {here}. Definitely going to have to try this with my  groups!

5. TGIF!

Freebie on the 15th Linky Party

I haven't been online too much lately.  Fall is here and there is so much to do! I need to sort out the summer clothes for example(so the kids don't have to have a marathon try-on session every morning with pants that are too short...why do I think that I am not the only one this happens to?) and about 999 other seasonal things(halloween is coming! costumes! decorations! ....).
But I wanted to share a freebie, and I found this yesterday: 
Lucky to Be in First is having a Linky Party with Freebies!
I'm going to link up to a simple freebie of mine that can be used for K or 1st:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Money-Grab-FREE-171176 

Favorite Pins Friday Part Two

                                                  

Love these little signs! So precious!
http://pattonspatch.blogspot.com/2013/07/back-to-school-photo-booth-props.html 

                                                          

I had my MIL make some of these for my son! So easy to roll up and put away!
http://lilmoptop.blogspot.com/2010/10/easy-fabric-roads.html 
                                                           
I love that these are duplo! Nice and big and great to pattern with!(and free cards...)
http://allourdays.com/2012/10/duplo-lego-pattern-tower-busy-bag.html
                                                             
Last but not least, this is a picture of what to do with  your class list:  Shrink the list or retype them on the back of YOUR nametag so that you won't have to worry about finding the list during something like a firedrill or even at recess!
http://kindergartenfever.blogspot.com/

 I added a Feedly button. Hopefully, I did it right!

Or follow with Bloglovin'. :)

For the PreK set: What Should a 4 Year Old Know?

This was just shared by my son's preschool teacher.
It is just lovely.
Take a look: What Should a 4 Year Old Know?

Currently....August

It's the August Currently! 

I missed the July Currently. And I think I get the award for the last link-up for the June currently...oops.

 

My son is obsessed with the Minion mini movie that we got from our local library. If you have kids under five, definitely check it out! "Banana" is the most played around here.

The B2S calendar cards are just soooo cute. I am going to spend some time on TPT later deciding which one to add to my wishlist!

Math Book...Found, not Lost

So there I was, cleaning and sorting, and I found this book.



*this is an affiliate link*


 Really, I forgot that I owned it. It is written to explain the meaning of the plus sign, and it is a little too difficult for Kindergarten, but it is really super simple on the first few pages. I would suggest it if you are doing quite a bit of addition in your class. It uses other "adding" words too...like "plus" and "and". Super smart.

When I went to Amazon to find the picture, I remembered that I also own the subtraction book too("If you Were a Subtraction Sign") and I saw that the author has some "fractured fairy tales" that I will have to check out. One is "Seriously, Cinderella is So Annoying"(As told by the Step-Mother). So funny!

Summer Linky Party: Calendar in the Classroom

My favorite part of the calendar is something I added this year.  I used 7 library pockets, in  a row, with school written on the first five, and home written on the last two(with pictures). Then everyday, we move a stick to the next pocket to show the day. We use sticky notes to label upcoming special days, like assemblies, or a birthday. 

I read that this is easier for the kids to understand, especially at the beginning of the year.

July 1st: Bloglovin' and Linky Party

Well, today is the day... 

I am sure you have heard that Google Friend Connect may be going away with the Google Reader on July 1st.  If you still want to read my blog posts (and I hope you still do), please make sure you click my "Bloglovin" button on the Top Left side.  You will be able to get my blog feed through there.  I hope you link up!

Tonight,  I am linking up with Classroom Confections for the most wishlisted items.  

 

My most wishlisted item is....

My Ocean Unit!

Find it here...

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ocean-Unit-Math-and-Literacy-for-Kindergarten-132015 

EOY Linky Party....The Very Hungry Caterpillar

I'm linking up with the Summer Linky Party!

At the end of the year, we do a show for our parents. We sing "Everything Grows" by Raffi, and always end with "Goodbye Farewell" by Greg and Steve.

A few years ago,I hand painted the characters from the Very Hungry Caterpillar onto posterboards, and each of the students are assigned an item. As the story CD is played, the kids walk across the stage, holding up their poster.

Made by my son's preschool class...so cute!

I don't have any pictures of our show, but I did find a couple of cool VHC links (freebies) on TPT that we used with our insect unit, as a lead to our EOY program.

Check these out:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Story-Retelling-and-Sequencing-Activity-569794

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Eric-Carles-Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-Vocabulary-Cards-575965

Currently...June

Now, it's time for Currently with Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade!  (Last but not least...)

Throwback Thursday!

I just love the concept behind Throwback Thursday!

 

This is a post I wrote in 2012. It has been one of the top five posts that are visited on my blog for a long time. :)

 

It's Farm Week

Finally, the farm pictures! We have been doing farm for about 2weeks, with a field trip to the farm also.
Each day we read facts about each animal, then added what we learned to our bulletin boards.

The pig and the piglets...

The farmers...

and the horse facts

February Currently

Well here we are  and I think I am the last one on the Currently list again. I was really planning on doing it earlier this month...honest!
Oh and don't forget to join my GIVEAWAY! (click HERE) It ends Sunday night!

Link up to the Currently fun HERE. Happy Weekend!

Winter Math Literacy and Science Giveaway

It has been a longgg week for those of us without a Winter Break!

I was kind of thinking about the upcoming units I do in my classroom, but I didn't make anything new to go with them lately...at least, not yet...(we do monsters, Dr Seuss, dinosaurs, etc...)

(Too much Bachelor, not enough time. Or maybe it was Pinterest...)

Anyway, I was feeling like a freebie was in order, since there isn't anything NEW being made around here...

A unit that is really helpful at this time of the year...
How about a giveaway for my "Winter Math Literacy and Science Centers"!

All you have to do is be a follower of my blog or my one of my stores. Leave your name and email, and I will choose a winner on Sunday night!

This unit is a bestseller of mine! It includes 18 Math, Literacy and Science Centers for Kindergarten. There is snowmen, snowflakes, hearts, clovers, etc., clipart on the theme set. The activities include counting, measuring, adding, patterning and more. You can see it HERE...

Good luck! Happy Weekend! :)

Word Wall Cards/ FLASH Giveaway!

I wanted to share a place that I find a lot of my word cards for word walls and word work.
It is ABCteach.com and some that I use are FREE!
I tried to do a search for just the word wall cards, but it also shows word searches, etc, but you can scroll through and see what ones you like.  There are some dolch cards/phrases too: Click Here

My class used the penguin cards this week, but they are under the members section.
Click here to see more of the sets in the members section.
  

January Currently and FLASH Giveaway

January has been a busy month! I was really trying to get my January Currently done before February! Almost missed it!
Make sure you check out my Valentine FLASH Giveaway! It ends Friday Feb 1st! :)

Here is where you can link up to the Currently fun!
http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2012/12/currently-january.html

Have a wonderful week! February is right around the corner!