Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Frog Life Cycle

We finished off the year in science class by learning about the life cycle of a frog and we made this cute little activity.







My friend, Hilary, over at Mrs. Carvitt's Clippings drew the pictures for me.  I put them into a neat and tidy little file you can download it Here from Google Docs

I saw this cute idea on pinterest, but it had no origination link, so I can't give credit to the lovely teacher who thought of this- so if it's you, please let me know! :)

Today was my last day- I said goodbye to my Kinders.  It was a sad, but oh so joyful day for me.  I have been so proud of them and all they were able to do this year (given the new year for Common Core- they really rose to the challenge!)

I'll be back at school tomorrow for teacher work day, but I just can't believe the school year is over.  I think it was the lack of snow days this past winter that makes it so unbelievable.  I don't think I've ever gotten out on the scheduled last day.  We've always had make up days.

Anyhow- I'd like to hear from you (it's 2 questions!!):

What was your fondest memory of this school year?

AND

When is your last day of school?

Thursday, May 17, 2012

It Looked Like Spilt Milk

Have you ever heard of this book?  It is so cute!  It's perfect for Kinder- it has simple text patterns that are easy for the Kinders to figure out and then be able to read the book independently! 


So, in science we are learning about clouds so I thought I'd do a little cross-curricular and through this book in there.  The text pattern goes:

Sometimes it looked like _________________, but it wasn't a __________________.

*It ends up being "Just a cloud in the sky."

So, my Kinders made these rewritten stories.

Here's the title page:
 The first page is:

Sometimes it looked like spilt milk.  But it wasn't spilt milk.
 Sometimes it looked like _____________.  But it wasn't _____________.  (And they got to decide what their cloud looks like in the next 3 pages.)

 ... big fat hippo...  haha :)
 Last page is:

Sometimes it looked like spilt milk.  But it wasn't spilt milk.  It was just a cloud in the sky.


So there you have it- science and reading together :)

Click HERE to download your copy for free from Google Docs.  I printed mine on blue paper so the kids could use white paint... you could print on white paper and have the kids paint the blue sky and leave the cloud in the middle white.  Whatever you want!! :)

Have a wonderful evening! 3 days left of school...  I think I can, I think I can...  :)

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Winner winner, chicken dinner!

The Groovy Giveaway is now over! :)  Thanks to all who joined in!!  A BIG thank you to Jennifer from Rowdy in First Grade, Bonnie from Living a Wonderful Life, and Dustin from Teacher Tipster for contributing to the giveaway prizes!

And the winner is....


Darlene- congrats.  I've e-mailed you!! :)

Oh- and I was asked to join in Mor's giveaway celebrating 1000 followers.  Wow!!  Way to go Mor!  Anyway, hop on over to A Teacher's Treasure to enter her HUGE giveaway!  (And I do mean- it's BIG BIG BIG!)

OK- it's early in the  morning, so there is nothing teacher-y on this post, but I promise tomorrow will be another story!  It'll include a freebie on the story It Looked Like Spilt Milk.  So, stay tuned!!

And for some extra reading- check out my Summer Bucket List.

Conferences start this afternoon- wish me luck! :)

Monday, May 14, 2012

Summer Bucket List



I'm linking up with 3 amazing bloggers for a cute little Linky!

Here's my summer bucket list:

Adventures with Wade and Henry.
 Here we are at a museum we went to this winter over break.  Henry (above) and Wade (below). 






I'm in a Color Run in July.  It's a 5K race.  At every 'K' they splat you with a different color.  So, you start out with a white race shirt and by the end you are totally psychedelic!   Totally FUN!







Take more pictures.








Be the Ellen show.  A girl can dream, right? 







I just signed Wade up for swimming lessons, so I'll be spending 1 or 2 days each week at the pool.  (No, this isn't my pool... I wish!)






Dust off my Cricut and make some darn cute school things AND scrapbook pages.  I'm behind.  I think the last page I did was Christmas.






Read the Stieg Larson series of books.  I'm |-----| this close (that was my fingers spreading oh so close together) to finishing the Hunger Games, and I'm ready to start a new series!  Anyone want to tell me if it's a good series to start??  Or a different recommendation??


There you have it, my summer bucket list!

Oh, and I'm picking a winner tonight for my Groovy Giveaway, so click, and enter to win big!!!

And while you're clicking, click the cute little graphic at the top to join the Summer Bucket List!!

Meanwhile, it's my birthday, so I'm off to celebrate.  Any bets as to what my husband and boys will be getting me???  I'll be sure to let you know when I blog tomorrow about the winner!!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Celebrate Good TImes!

Wow- ask and you shall receive...

Last night I asked for a few more people to follow so I could get the 200 followers giveaway started- and I woke up this morning to 229?!?!  Thank you!! :)

So, without futher ado- let's get this party started.






Special thanks to those joining me for this groovy giveaway!  Mr. Smith at Teacher Tipster, Bonnie at Living a Wonderful Life, and Jennifer at Rowdy in First Grade.  They've all generously donated to the cause, and I'm so excited to be teaming up with the talented group of people!!  The winner will get Mr. Smith's Season One DVD boxed set, $10 from Bonnie and $10 from Jennifer to TPT, and $25 iTunes card from yours truly.

Use the handy rafflecopter below!  Starts today and ends May 14th (MY BIRTHDAY!!!! I'll be 29!)  I'll announce the winner on May 15th so stay tuned!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Super Simple Symmetry

We are learning about symmetry in math class and we usually just paint on side of a paper and then fold the paper over to duplicate the painted picture to show symmetry.  Well we decided to do something different this year- and I think they turned out really cute!!!

Super Simple (which is what I like!)  Fold a piece of construction paper in half.  Cut, Snip, Trim to your little heart's desire.  Open, and viola- symmetry!  Glue the paper onto a different color piece of paper to make your symmetry pop!  Here are some samples:


Some even turned out cool- like this rocket ship!






There you have it! Super. Simple. Symmetry.
And, don't forget once I reach 200 followers, we'll get this groovy giveaway going.  Do you want more hints?

Since my post was about math, how about this addition problem as your hint for today:

What do you get when you add:

TeacherTipster

              +

Living a Wonderful Life

              +



            +

YOUR NAME


EQUALS= ONE GROOVY GIVEAWAY!  So, pass the word along- and let's get to 200 and get this show on the road!!!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Currently and a heads up!

I haven't done a Currently in a while, so I think it's time to jump back on the wagon!!



I just found out, Farley and I share the same birthday month- and I don't know about you,  but I love having birthday and Mother's Day in the same month- because it means a bigger gift from the hubs!!  (and I'm with you Farley- if it sparkles it ain't bad!!)  Although the past couple of years, Ben has been very practical (at my suggestion....) for things for our house.  We just finished adding on to our house- and I was wanting things like a screen door or a pretty mirror for our living room...  Anyway- if you're interested, you can check out our house transformation here at my personal blog

 Anyway- here's my Currently, thanks Farley for hosting!


Oh- and I'm nearing 200 followers, and you JUST.WAIT.  You will flip out over who's joining me for this giveaway... I'll give you a hint...

 Recognize him???

Stay tuned for another hint in my next post!

Peace out friends!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Word Wall

I'm linking up with Jen at The Teacher's Cauldron for a linky party about Word Walls.



But- first... a squirrel funny...

My Kinder today comes to me and says


Mrs. S. I've got a funny story for you


... OK, let's hear it.


What do you get when you cross an elephant and a rhino?


... Um, a really large animal that I wouldn't want to pick a fight with?


No.  (not amused by my answer)  You get a, oh, ell-if-I-know!!


... *blank stare, blink, blink... Do I laugh? (because it is funny, but that would just encourage it).  Do I say "Oh, we shouldn't tell jokes like that? (because that would squash his day... and really he has NO idea what he's saying sounds like "HELL IF I KNOW").  Instead...  I opt for "That's funny, hun, but please don't tell your friends, let's keep that joke just between me and you, OK?"







AN ELL-IF-I-KNOW??!!??  oh my word, that was probably the best joke I'd heard in a while- but so not school appropriate- it would fit more along the lines of Ellen's- Classic Joke Mondays  (Do you watch Ellen?  I'm still trying to figure out how to get her to ask me on the show- I'd love to be on her 12 Days of Giveaways at Christmas time- maybe she'll have a teacher show and invite me.  *a girl can dream, right?!*)


OK- back to my post- Linky Party-Word Wall- oh yeah:

Here's mine.  I wish I could tell you where I got the cute tags. It was a blog, but when I 'apple+I' the file on my computer (Mac users use those key commands to get info about the file) I get a website through Scribd- and when I go back to it to see the author it says it's been removed... so I'm sorry I can't lead you to where to find those fun little labels- but anywho- here's some pics of my word wall.

 Fun fact:  I got that cash register on the table below it for $2.00 at the Goodwill- and it WORKS!!!  The kids love it :)
 I just cut bulletin board border in 1/3 so the lines weren't so thick.

So there you have it- my Word Wall!  I ask my cadet teacher (from the local high school) to keep my words current- otherwise I find myself getting behind!

Link up!

What's your favorite Ellen segment??

I love her dance dares.  I wish I was pregnant so I can do the pregnant dance dare challenge she has issued for Mother's Day- hilarious!!

TGtomorrowIF

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Book Exchange

So a fellow teacher that I work with suggest the idea of a book swap.  And I loved it!  Have you ever heard of it?

Here's the skinny:

* kids bring in books they don't want anymore
* they receive a ticket for each book they bring in
* all books are compiled into age appropriate tables (We picked Primary, Chapter, and Junior High)
* kids get to use the ticket to get a new-to-them book
* all unwanted books at the end of the swap are donated to the school's rummage sale
* best part?  It doesn't cost a thing!  FREE!!!!  Just a little bit of time on the part of the 4 of us putting it together- but I love those girls anyway- so it's like hanging out :)

A perfect way to get new books into the hands of kids during summer to keep them excited about reading!

Here's what I have for you today- in case you want to do this little activity at your school...

The signs labeling the tables.  All I'm going to do is print them out in color, glue them to a colorful piece of construction paper so that it's boarded and then laminate them for durability!

And the cute clip art?  Why- none other than the amazing Mrs. Carvitti.  She may not have all of the graphic fonts up yet or some of the tags I used, but she's workin' on it- and will get them up soon so you can grab your own copy!  Aren't they just cute?!?!




Anyway- I'm really excited.  Click HERE to grab your book table labels for free from Google Docs!  Let me know if you are able to use them!

We are hosting the book drop off next week and then the book exchange will be the following week.  We'll see how it goes!

Have you ever done a book swap or book exchange like this before?  Do you have any words of wisdom for us??

Oh- and while I've got you here- don't forget to sign up for the Teachers Notebook Sweepstakes.  Click to check out the details!  I'll be having a 30% off sale in my store in honor of the sweepstakes from May 5-11.  Check it out!