Daily Graphing

Each and everyday, my class answers a question of the day. When I work with older children, first and second graders, we write an answer to the questions together. Here are my graphs: http://www.kinderpond.com/graphingideas.html

For example in this graph we might write:

Three children picked sliced. Four picked caramel. Five picked pie. No one picked muffin.

Aquarium

Here is a paper plate aquarium that we made.

Directions:

Give students one paper plate.

Let them stamp sea creatures on the inside of the plate.

Give students another plate. Have them cut out the center. Following the center ridge. Sometimes, depending on my students ability, I make a little hole for them to start.

The have them color the outside bumps. Then cut a piece of blue saran wrap and tape on the inside. I do this myself :)

The we staple around the edges. These I only did the top, bottom, and sides. I usually add Easter Grass to look like sea weed. Then I staple a little more so the grass doesn't fall out.

Kohls Cares July 2008

I went to my local Kohls Department store to get the latest Kohls Cares books and stuffed animals featuring Eric Carle. I bought Brown Bear, Baby Bear, Polar Bear, and Panda Bear books along with all four stuffed animals. They can be ordered: http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/homepage.jsp

The books at Amazon are $16.95. A not as cute polar bear is offered there as well for $17.90

Dollar Spot at Target

Here are the purchases that I made at the Target Dollar Spot. (I didn't know that it had a special name. It goes with Spot the dog though.)

Starting at the top, going clockwise:

Parts of a flower laminated page with answers on one side, and blank on the other side.

Three medium sized pocket charts (blue, red, green)

Flashcards: Insects, Animals, World Landmarks, Space, US animals, Phonics and US Presidents.

Buttons, bookmarks: Color Your world with Books (crayons one) Reading.. what a bright Idea (light bulb) Star: Super Star Student stickers (I bought enough for all of my mother's students) She is the reading specialist in two schools.

The purple pouch: mini stapler and staples and mini tape dispenser. (All purple- my favorite color)

A purple fat pen and three purple round containers for stuff. An accordion folder with flower/fireworks on. There is also a small hot pink accordion folder that I will be altering for a gift.

In the middle: Star stickers (for my STAR words)a to do list that has magnets one, mini high lighters, post it notes (cherries and Stars {For my mother} Flags with cute icons on the bottom and alphabet stickers on which I plan to make a game. It has a capital letter, a lower case letter and a picture for most letters. (Not R,U, V, W, X, Y, Z) There are 300 stickers/ 5 sheets.

I did not buy any of the boxes that everyone was talking about. They lay flat and would stick together. That doesn't work for me.

I would love to help out everyone who does not have a Target close by, but that would be impossible!

Writing Notebooks

Here are two examples of my student's writing notebook. I have been using Daily 5 in my room. I don't give my students any prompts. I tell them to write something 'Near and Dear to their heart' This was a past lesson that we have done already.

Writing Corner

Here is my writing corner. I have the pencil anchor chart for my students. I got the graphics from jmeacham.com. (Awesome teacher) The white papers are now filled with photos of the children actually doing what the papers say.
Charts not in order:
1) Picture of corner (the above photo)
2) Watch Mrs. R (a photo that one of my students took.)
3) Help Mrs. R. children raising hands and sitting correctly.
4) Write the Code Date
5) Illustrate the story photos of two different student journals. (see Notebook post)
6) Talk with Mrs. R.
7) Share photo of two children sharing.

End of the year gifts

I gave all my students these gift bags. The contained a CD of pictures throughout the year, a Season's Best from Pampered Chef, a My Safe Cutter, also from Pampered Chef, and a Play dough making kit. It included a recipes, salt, flour, and Kool-Aid. Thanks for the Play dough idea Michelle Wick.

Camping Week

I teach by themes, I find it a valuable tool to get students excited about learning. This week, we did a camping theme.

Monday- we brain stormed things we would need to bring on a camping trip and what we might do while camping.

One of the things they thought of was to go fishing. So our activity was to go fishing. We used pretzel sticks for our fishing poles, peanut butter for the bait and we fished for fish of course, the Pepperidge Farm variety.

At our campground on Tuesday we made trail mix and went on a hike. We used raisins, peanuts, and mini chocolate chips. If is do a camping unit again, I will use mini M&M's. Our chocolate chips melted!

On Wednesday at our campsite, we played Camper May I and Camper Says. One of my Kindergartners kept saying Camper May I can I take... It was so cute!

Thursday we made S’mores (without the campfire flames.) We took pretzel sticks, put on a mini marshmallow and then we dipped them in chocolate and then into crushed graham crackers, and Tada!!! S’mores on a stick! I used fudge ice cream topping for the chocolate. I was thinking chocolate syrup, but I think it would be too runny. The children really loved the idea. They had a blast.

This ended our Camping Unit. With the last day being a snow day make up, we are going to have our very own snow day. We are going to celebrate the warm weather/ snow day by having snow cones!!

Last Day- for one school

Yesterday was the last day for one school, but in my after school program, we have one day left. Some of my after school program will not be there on Friday, so they brought me some presents. G&L's mom, also a teacher, brought in an awesome gift. A bucket of popping corn, several boxes of candy and a gift certificate for the movies! How great is that?!?!?!?!?! G&L's mom also wrote me a letter of recommendation, for both of them, I am truly grateful.

After while, M's mom came, and she too brought me a gift. It is a scrapbook! When I looked at it, I thought that it was just an album, when I looked closer, it was ready made scrapbook. M's mom also said that she would write me a letter.

I feel truly blessed to have been a part of the children's and their families lives.

I will add photos later.

Garage Sale June 7th

Garage Sale for June 7th for teaching materials.

In the bag, are large dominoes. A flannel board of a town.

Books, all were less than a quarter! Some that I got were 2 for $0.25! It was nearing the end of their sale, so they were half off!

Fossil Tell of Long Ago

If You Give a Moose a Muffin

If You Give a Pig a Pancake

One Hundred Hungry Ants and the Sequel A Remainder of One

Hearing and Seeing

Jennifer Jones Won't Leave me Alone

Let's Celebrate Thanksgiving (A question and answer book)

Less Than Zero

Garage Sales

There are two bags with wood in them. One inch cubes and some rectangles. I use the cubes for centers for Cube Rolls. I am not sure what to use the rectangles for.

Books:

From tadpole to Frog
Funny & Fabulous Fraction Stories (3-6)
Beginning Graphing
Great Games for the Overhead (1-3)
Penguins Thematic Unit

I think they were each $0.25!

In the plastic bag, are felt lacing shapes. I think they were $0.25!! Another great center idea.

Welcome to the Kinderpond

Welcome to the Kinderpond!

The children call me Mrs. R.. I have taught for 10 years. I have worked with children from birth through high school. My husband, Randy, is a teacher at South High School. We have two dogs and four guinea pigs.

If you should have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me by phone, letter, or email. Translations will be available.


Sincerely,
Mrs. R.