Help!

I am sending my kiddos home with cute little bubbles for Valentine's Day thanks to Fran over at Kindergarten Crayons (she has a cute freebie on TPT). My problem is my daughter's first grade class. Another mom and I have been splitting treats this year. We've already done treat bags for Halloween and Christmas, so I wanted to do a little something different this time. When I asked the teacher what she would like us to do she asked if we could get the kids some flashcards. No problem! Getting the flashcards was easy enough at Target's dollar spot. Love that dollar spot! Princess for the girls and Spiderman for the boys.

My problem is how to make them cute. You know they need to be cute, right? :) I thought I would tie them with a ribbon and add a card. I have searched for some kind of math valentine card and I can't find anything! Does anyone have any ideas? Is there somewhere I am not looking? Is there a really creative, tech savvy person out there who can throw somthing together? I might be willing to pay a small price. Someone please help me out!


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The Importance of Non-fiction

This is something that happened in my class last month. I loved some of the answers and wanted to share. Here goes.....

I like stories. Stories that are cute, stories that are fun, stories that rhyme or have pretty pictures, stories with happy endings, lots of stories. :) However, I know that non-fiction has it's place and is very important. It's not that I dislike non-fiction, but given the choice I'll usually pick a fiction book.

Soooooo, I was recently reminded just how important it is for children to hear nonfiction read aloud. It taps into a whole new set of listening skills. Evidently my kids need lots of practice!

When we were learning about penguins we read a nonfiction book. It had great information and a lot of fun facts. I realized how important those listening skills are. My class has a habit of blurting out answers without thinking. One page was about different kinds of penguins and their names. The question was "Why do you think the penguins have this name?" One was the rockhopper penguin.

You should hear some of the answers I was getting. "Because it has those feathers on his head" and "becasue it can swim", So, I'm saying "Now listen the name is ROCKHOPPER penguin". Someone answers "because it can slide on it's tummy!" Me again: "The name is ROOOOCKHOOOOPPPPER penguin.... what could that be telling us?" At this point I'm trying not to laugh. Who has a great inferencing activty? I need it ASAP! Someone FINALLY gets the correct answer and then we move on to the chinstrap penguin.

Things are not much better here. Some answers include "because he has a chin" and "because he likes to be scratched on the chin, like I like to be scratched on the back!" I decided it was time to give lots of clues and move on. :)

The thing that really got me was the comprehension questions at the back of the book. I had to get a piece of paper and start writing the answers down! They were so funny. It was all I could do not to laugh out loud! The question was to name 3 types of penguins. They managed to get a couple (with reminders) and then I started giving hints about the chinstrap penguin. Here are some of the answers and I promise I am not making this up: "copper head penguin", "copper strap penguin", "copper hopper" and "robber hop". The answers were coming quick. At this point I'm thinking we really need to be reading lots more nonfiction! Retelling fiction is a lot different than recalling information and names of things.

**Disclaimer- Before you think my little sweet kinders are totally dense, I do want to point out that they did get some questions correct in between the ones I told you about!**

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Hibernating

Well, hello!

Did you think I had dropped off of the planet? It seems like I have been hibernating this winter! Although it seems funny to call it winter when the weather is beautiful here and I wore short sleeves to church this morning. My dad just told me the other day that have changed the name of January to June-ary. Seriously, my azelas are blooming! I am loving the weather, but I am all about a little snow each year and a good snow day! You know, just enough to be pretty and play in a little bit. :) We'll have to see what the rest of the season holds.....

Sorry, where was I? I got distracted talking about the weather.... oh yes! Hibernation. I don't really have any good excuse or stories. I have just been busy with life and time has gotten away from me.

Michelle from Inspired by Kindergarten tagged me and I thought I would hop in and play along. Thanks Michelle! (love your name, by the way!)

Now, I hope I can come up with 12 interesting things! Let's see... here goes.

1. I have lived in the same town almost my entire life. I lived in another town for 3 years, but it was still in the same county.

2. I love to travel. I used to travel a decent amount, but then got married and had kids. Things have really slowed down in the travelling department, but my gilrs are old enough now that I look forward to that picking up some. :)

3. I have been to about 35 states. I hope to hit all 50 one day.

4. I was on Inside Edition just after my first daughter was born. At the time we had so many pregnant teachers at our school that The Atlanta Journal sent someone to do a story on it, and then Inside Edition came and did a story! We had something like 15 teachers pregnagnt and 16 babies that year. It was crazy! My daughter was #4 and I was on camera for like 3 seconds. They are all first graders now.

5. My enitre teaching career has been in kindergarten. I love this age group.

6. I also teach 4 year olds at church on Sunday mornings.

7. I love chocolate. Saw a cute Valentine shirt the other day that said "I love chocolate... and the man who brings it to me." :)

8. I also love coffee, but my husband can't stand the smell of it so I never make or drink it at home.

9. I was a parapro for two years before I went back to school to be a teacher.

10. I am a technology idiot! My husband teases me all of the time and my seven year old can figure out things quicker than I can. Sad, but true!

11. I am a Crayola crayon and Elmer's glue snob. I'm not agaist off brands, but these are just the best in my opinion. I really stock up at the back to school sales. :)

and last, but not least, probably the most interesting (at least to my teacher friends)....

12. Dr. Feldman was my first Children's Lit teacher. This is before she was "Dr. Jean"! She was wonderful! I think she is responsible for my love of Children's Literature. Hmmm.... maybe I should send her my Scholastic bill! LOL


12 questions to go anwer:
1. What is your favorite store? Target
2. Do you have a class pet? No
3. Do you prefer Dollar Tree or Dollar General? Dollar Tree
4. How many pets at home do you have? 1, we got a dog for Christmas.
5. Do you have kids of your own? yes, 2
6. How do you deal with help helicopter parents see your side of life? I don't have very many helicopter parents. If they show up much, I put them to work for me!
7. How do you involve absent parents in school activities? I don't stress about it. The only time I really care is if I am trying to get them in for a conference.
8. What is your favorite sport? Baseball, but I'm really not much of a sports fan.
9. What is your favorite team of #8's sport? Atlanta Braves
10. What is the piece of jewelry you wear most often? wedding ring and mothers ring
11. Do you like curtains or blinds? blinds
12. What can brighten your day when nothing else can? My husband and daughters

Wow! This has gotten long. I think I'm late for this party, so I'm not usre I can link up with 12 others, but I'll see what I can do. Thanks again Michelle. This was fun!

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Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.... these two girls have had a lot of fun!  Thank you for reading my little blog.  I'm looking forward to some fun posts in 2012.  :)

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A Winner!!!

Well... Hello!!!

I'm back, did you miss me?  I am feeling SO much better (thank God!).  Here's a few numbers for you....


5 trips to the doctor, clinic or urgent care
9 prescriptions of one kind or another
8 days of being totally useless AND
1 husband that is an absolute Saint!


I have been so out of the loop, so I've spent this weekend trying to get on top of things a little bit.  I am feeling good about what I've accomplished (even though I'm still not on top of things.... at least I know WHAT'S going on now!). 


Now, I have one more important number for you.  It's the number of our winner for the Gingerbread Giveaway!  Thank you to all who commented.... I really wanted you all to win and I really, really appreciate you taking the time to comment and follow me.  I am sooooo fancy and up on technology so we run a complicated and very efficient system here.....

The winner is...... Kristen from  A Teeny Tiny Teacher! 
 

I love, love, love her blog!  She is hilarious and keeps it real.  Congratulations Kristen!  Maybe you can work a little bit of Gingerbread fun in, even though we know you are married to your curriculum.  LOL

Have a great week everyone!


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Gingerbread Giveaway!

Hello bloggy friends! 

Sorry I have abandoned you.  I have been sick for ten, yes you read that right, TEN days with strep throat now!  I have been to the doctor (or clinic) four times and the lastest is that I have to ENT on Thursday.  The doctor thinks I could have a ucler in my throat from all of this!  I can not eat, drink or swallow.  I would SO much rather be at work!!!! This is all kinds of miserable. 

Ok, enough of my sob story.... I promised you a giveaway and I am here to deliver (even if it is a little late). 
It looks like gingerbread is going to be very popular this year.  There are TONS and TONS of adorable products you can purchase on TPT and I am looking forward to some fun gingerbread learning in our classroom.  So, I am offering a Gingerbread Prize Pack.  It will include..... what else... BOOKS!  If you win you will receive:

These three fun gingerbread books, a stuffed gingerbread man, an adorable gingerbread apron, some gingerbread stickers for your class and who knows what other gingerbread goodies may show up (especially if I get to feeling better!).  All you have to do is leave a comment and become a follower.... That's it!  It will run through midnight this Friday, Dec 2nd.  That way I can get the package out in time for you to enjoy.  I'd say your odds of winning are pretty good! 

Oh!  If you would like to share on your blog, feel free!  :)

**pics from Amazon**

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'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

Well, hello there!  Did you think I had disappeared?  Sorry about that.  We took a little trip out of town and then I got
s-i-c-k....SICK!  Like, I didn't get out of bed for two days and have just turned the t.v. and computer on today.  Looks like I may need to have my tonsils removed this summer.....at my age!  YUCK!  Not exactly what I had planned for my break, but at least I didn't have to use any sick days. 

Just popping in for a quick book and a little announcement tonight.  Our book is 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey and it is a great one! 

The other books I posted have some historical significance, but this one is just a great read and is FUN!  It is about a class going on a field trip to the farm.  They figure out what is going to happen to "Farmer Mack Nugget's" turkeys and hatch a plan to save them.  Of course, it is patterned after 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and that makes it flow really well and just plain fun to read.  If you do not have this book it would be a super one to add to your collection.  

I also have a few fun links for you, here is the story being read aloud on YouTube.  This is the history of the book from Dav Pilkey's website.  It contains this interesting fact...

     'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving has become

     one of the most popular Thanksgiving books of all

     time. But believe it or not, this book was rejected

     23 times by 23 different publishers. Dav was so          
discouraged by all the rejections, he almost quit

     writing children's books altogether. Finally, Orchard

     Books accepted the book, though they didn't expect

     it to sell many copies. As it turned out, the book

that nobody wanted to publish ended up surprising

     everyone. 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
has become the third largest selling picturebook in

     Orchard Books' history.

Here are some lessons plans I found on the web (for next year of course).


Now for the big announcement......drum roll please..... MY  FIRST  GIVEAWAY  IS  COMING!!! Check back this weekend for the details.  It's going to be cool and I'm very excited.  


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and know that I am very thankful for each of you who come and read my ramblings.  :) 

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