tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60912521378705809762024-03-05T10:41:50.070-08:00Miss Murray's Kinder MonkeysGoing bananas for kindergardenMeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091252137870580976.post-37253842742826730212012-07-24T22:35:00.001-07:002012-07-24T22:40:00.826-07:00Summer Ramblings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's been awhile since I last posted, and I have been super busy! I can't believe how quick this summer is flying by. After the school year ended, I taught summer school, and in the middle I managed to get away for a week to go to the: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_2JS-1gTPEpVuLLKK_qHaNHqx9WZHFZ2-x6PUhLU2XCL5dZM3a4g8c03zxHWnaizGpPOf8hjsA8B-Qs6l37l_DzIN8LVWoI5zTArmMsLBmwyPoR1a_sSOnc8dzLYvlQZ1Ybdyofk4SL8/s1600/ITK-logo-header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_2JS-1gTPEpVuLLKK_qHaNHqx9WZHFZ2-x6PUhLU2XCL5dZM3a4g8c03zxHWnaizGpPOf8hjsA8B-Qs6l37l_DzIN8LVWoI5zTArmMsLBmwyPoR1a_sSOnc8dzLYvlQZ1Ybdyofk4SL8/s1600/ITK-logo-header.jpg" /></a>Conference in Las Vegas!!!!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was absolutely AMAZING! I got to meet so many talented, dedicated, passionate teachers, learn new ideas and strategies, and meet some of the wonderful teacher bloggers that I follow. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was even invited to participate in a luncheon led by SDE with 11 other kindergarten teachers from diverse backgrounds. They asked us some questions that are important to kindergarten teachers today, and we had a rich discussion about the qualities of an outstanding teacher, the resources needed to be successful, issues that are pertinent to kindergarten teachers today that weren't relevant in the past, and how well college prepared us for teaching. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was so energized after the discussion, and my eyes were opened to some different points of view and ways of thinking. I wish we could continue to meet on a regular basis because I feel that I would really grow as an educator through these thought-provoking conversations. One of the teachers said something that really stuck with me. We were talking about the qualities of an outstanding teacher and she said "An outstanding teacher has an attitude of gratitude. She realizes how lucky she is to be in this profession, to shape young lives." I hadn't thought about things that way before, and I really like that outlook. If we as teachers wants our society to respect us as professionals and believe that we are DIFFERENCE MAKERS, then we need to be GRATEFUL that we are doing one of the MOST IMPORTANT jobs in the world, and take on the responsibility with great care. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are a few pictures from my trip:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqNyK1pyOOUQTrxyR8Evlx-6fDe2loIGUgaDgYVPMt545Ch4wUBVLT1nYdxpXH_co6ftj43yWEwtUry4TN4mZMhrDnVzdbnU725bVlMvdB77Yq2BKe02U9nhS8HxpkP26edtS6OC94zc9/s1600/IMG_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqNyK1pyOOUQTrxyR8Evlx-6fDe2loIGUgaDgYVPMt545Ch4wUBVLT1nYdxpXH_co6ftj43yWEwtUry4TN4mZMhrDnVzdbnU725bVlMvdB77Yq2BKe02U9nhS8HxpkP26edtS6OC94zc9/s400/IMG_1027.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I met a new teacher friend from California while at the blogger meet-up! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0DlhtTciOx9YCaWkBiHyhZbqyRFQ0JZk1fMGa1CW2OMY-5ccHbWacuXm4FyhYen_Cz4ro-VAMkjJOmPdSdAfSxKSj3kET35OTuHoreiZzOhceSBPXNUyOgXohH6IpZZtileXXA_F61vw/s1600/IMG_1111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0DlhtTciOx9YCaWkBiHyhZbqyRFQ0JZk1fMGa1CW2OMY-5ccHbWacuXm4FyhYen_Cz4ro-VAMkjJOmPdSdAfSxKSj3kET35OTuHoreiZzOhceSBPXNUyOgXohH6IpZZtileXXA_F61vw/s320/IMG_1111.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My beautiful mother at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Aquarium :-)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00OEcXKIXa8jKQBdFU-JaLjVDVbdlyFCZ7qV_HGykQxzzo2aSw2gEwrYV4vBcAg0PGvby_Y4molUwJqiN5QQ-PF1zf-6vD9BooSdKX_BTzsZm57YzvVvGSlsvJvt9Dfzl_jzdQ5mfCvdi/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00OEcXKIXa8jKQBdFU-JaLjVDVbdlyFCZ7qV_HGykQxzzo2aSw2gEwrYV4vBcAg0PGvby_Y4molUwJqiN5QQ-PF1zf-6vD9BooSdKX_BTzsZm57YzvVvGSlsvJvt9Dfzl_jzdQ5mfCvdi/s320/IMG_1173.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We visited The Wynn on our last night and it was decorated so nicely inside.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">While in Vegas, I managed to have some fun with my mom, who came along for the trip! We saw Cirque Du Soleil, which was a phenomenal show! I highly recommend it to anyone. We played some slots (and video poker, which was my favorite) and checked out a bunch of the other hotels. All in all, it was a great trip, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go! I'm already crossing my fingers that I can attend next year because my idol, Ron Clark, will be speaking!! I would LOVE to meet him!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now that summer school is over, and I'm home from my trip, I'm working on my long list of things to accomplish before this next school year begins! I always have such a long list of goals for myself to accomplish, and I have a hard time just picking a few goals to focus on, so I end up dabbling a little bit in each one. We shall see how many of them I can accomplish in the next three weeks! Here is my list:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Create my own classroom website</b>- any tips from those who already have one? Is there a particular website you recommend to create it?</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Read The Nuts & Bolts of Teaching Writing</b> by Lucy Calkins, in order to be most prepared to implement the writing workshop model in my classroom this year. </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Watch the DVD that came with the Lucy Calkins writing program</span></b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Organize and de-clutter my classroom</b>- this is a huge goal, and I have a lot of subgoals in this category</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Read Developing Number Concepts by Kathy Richardson, and create developmentally-appropriate math lessons and centers based on her strategies</span></b></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Organize my pins into more boards on Pinterest and create some of the ideas I have found</span></b></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Create a new behavior management system in my class based on Rick Morris' Clip Chart Behavior Management System</span></b></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn the songs and movements for Heidi Butkus's Sight Word Songs</b>- so excited to try these with my students this year!</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Okay, I could keep going...but I'm going to stop here before I get too crazy! I'll update with some of the changes I'm making in my classroom for this year! </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src=" http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j429/Kellysavenue/MEGAN/done/th_93637135b.png " style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091252137870580976.post-91882266030846438642012-05-15T19:06:00.003-07:002012-05-15T19:06:31.089-07:00U.S. Symbols, Door Decorations, Mother's Day, and Measurement- OH MY!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This post is long overdue, and I have lots to share! :-) Let's see...where shall I begin? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Back in February, I started a Social Studies unit about U.S. Symbols, because one of Ohio's Social Studies Standards is to understand that nations are represented by symbols and practices. I used <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/America-Math-and-Literacy-Fun" target="_blank">Deanna Jump's America Unit</a> and Caitlin's (Kindergarten Smiles) <a href="http://kindergartensmiles.blogspot.com/2012/02/america.html" target="_blank">awesome book covers</a> for our Symbols Books. It took us a long while to complete the entire book, including a table of contents page and the covers. They are finally finished, and on display in my hallway. Here are some pictures. I'm so proud of my kiddos' work and so were they! Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the inside pages. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHfmrOUKD_U-K5k27c8T9TuIczCCT09GJjzvcCOBwKjklkl-HZi5Ixfz6hjkM4DrQvhvn4T0fbsxgVls91E4_CSYb89BYxP_USXutiLAlOybEGeHWXGotyXFAisHVG2tFk4typVnfwmPY/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHfmrOUKD_U-K5k27c8T9TuIczCCT09GJjzvcCOBwKjklkl-HZi5Ixfz6hjkM4DrQvhvn4T0fbsxgVls91E4_CSYb89BYxP_USXutiLAlOybEGeHWXGotyXFAisHVG2tFk4typVnfwmPY/s400/photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8pS1BU_gGaNHRIcly5jyP0aY3mfZrpPxbXraWDlqeFsz8kJGxuvOp5Wpjd3nleSISjdaNnR7X4lvWDtc4XT2SwWi0FCz0oCnryAjlT5mEWwjyY67lumQ6blN7S9v7P32BA5XjdfR2HTF/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8pS1BU_gGaNHRIcly5jyP0aY3mfZrpPxbXraWDlqeFsz8kJGxuvOp5Wpjd3nleSISjdaNnR7X4lvWDtc4XT2SwWi0FCz0oCnryAjlT5mEWwjyY67lumQ6blN7S9v7P32BA5XjdfR2HTF/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Next year these will get done in a more timely manner. :-)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On another topic, for Teacher Appreciation Week, our school always has a theme, and it changes each year. This year's theme was "Around the World." We were asked to decorate our doors to fit this theme...<strike>at first I thought, wait- teacher appreciation week= give the teacher extra work? </strike> But I thought of an idea and ran with it, and it turned out really cute! Each student was given a passport. He or she wrote "Child's Name's Passport to First Grade" on the cover. On the inside they all wrote why they were ready to go to first grade! Here are some pictures.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccj60ZH4YNa1FLz-V3Rzyqz2gOQ7SgcbbZnIazms3IOGrfcixnRvTb81kug-HJWTP3_G_xehjYOhxQn89f-JoxuA_YZwzpBenWbiQak722Luk1JUI7NzW6r4CH415NZEqirB7o41nXlmw/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccj60ZH4YNa1FLz-V3Rzyqz2gOQ7SgcbbZnIazms3IOGrfcixnRvTb81kug-HJWTP3_G_xehjYOhxQn89f-JoxuA_YZwzpBenWbiQak722Luk1JUI7NzW6r4CH415NZEqirB7o41nXlmw/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm_rkKuhkABIyFf_WTxcGzR_LSdqa9lAFWX8uNYMkWS-iPQ1P5x6InY9J4GhJtMDlkLVlZPSCWcz_O_FcwqHHcFUbuVREvsS2JesM15eaRd5sJa4yDcK9KlhMPzz4vy3MzZBtdWZicufu/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTm_rkKuhkABIyFf_WTxcGzR_LSdqa9lAFWX8uNYMkWS-iPQ1P5x6InY9J4GhJtMDlkLVlZPSCWcz_O_FcwqHHcFUbuVREvsS2JesM15eaRd5sJa4yDcK9KlhMPzz4vy3MzZBtdWZicufu/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQk1CMTE5j-AR-j9rYnUD2MpjU6O6lmuqUIChJKXHgPPakOa0njQ0YzO92awpZoBLEGafL-h6aGdlnG59yBeeb1g8pSQYbf_9M8cv6IOBdO8kahsWYEJrOI-gD-qAlxv4dzPl_qO1Sb6r/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQk1CMTE5j-AR-j9rYnUD2MpjU6O6lmuqUIChJKXHgPPakOa0njQ0YzO92awpZoBLEGafL-h6aGdlnG59yBeeb1g8pSQYbf_9M8cv6IOBdO8kahsWYEJrOI-gD-qAlxv4dzPl_qO1Sb6r/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOwBfLiJzp35H4hdxRd-IfHt7gnD0WHmZMo5BRzSTrUjWeiyzoD8LElWudIp_llJQzN073a8IbE4toe6FsMB5bGao4dx-fwobUi_dcXO9XPtvjzhDZ6hieAgCuCLH5FG_SojPHMMhdoEJ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOwBfLiJzp35H4hdxRd-IfHt7gnD0WHmZMo5BRzSTrUjWeiyzoD8LElWudIp_llJQzN073a8IbE4toe6FsMB5bGao4dx-fwobUi_dcXO9XPtvjzhDZ6hieAgCuCLH5FG_SojPHMMhdoEJ/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For Mother's Day, I wanted the children to do something special for their mom's while also working on their important kindergarten skills. I found this adorable <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Happy-Mothers-Day-Gift-Book" target="_blank">Mother's Day Gift Book</a> from Deanna Jump. Can you tell how much I LOVE her ideas?? Here are a few pictures of their adorableness. I hope their moms loved them and had a few laughs as well! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GkezGPcMCTkMfhh_dIWPeMDYCJN-AB05-o1OFz0UpVu3JSFu-ZmYWztat538iSZCsyzBaXnpST6galkosP1xwjrOBlgO3SVmNnL2snboQITqyiLjgQ_r0Uo-Nda8nnlBLlbDVaxA6Y2y/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GkezGPcMCTkMfhh_dIWPeMDYCJN-AB05-o1OFz0UpVu3JSFu-ZmYWztat538iSZCsyzBaXnpST6galkosP1xwjrOBlgO3SVmNnL2snboQITqyiLjgQ_r0Uo-Nda8nnlBLlbDVaxA6Y2y/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The covers with portraits of their moms. I was really happy with how they turned out. The only change I will make for next year is to buy thick ribbon to tie the book together instead of the thin, stretchy string that I used.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzp6adLsVH26mnAelKCW1rdOEY0ru89cfsNISRnWFH1PhfZd0NuwhDvoAm311b7Ppo6SijekKh7kqbxm265wphQvkSmdckLcOerhCJPlD5KxOcMeYmXdHKm5Vrvg6HJflVoDZD-fmIF7N/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihzp6adLsVH26mnAelKCW1rdOEY0ru89cfsNISRnWFH1PhfZd0NuwhDvoAm311b7Ppo6SijekKh7kqbxm265wphQvkSmdckLcOerhCJPlD5KxOcMeYmXdHKm5Vrvg6HJflVoDZD-fmIF7N/s400/photo.jpg" width="335" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_4GyRTGZNq8RKLL4DxkfmbLk18b5Yo3Y5BrLjW7pYz5k6LFfYv6bQIabNYW8-iDWCOdog-57sp8jLKOXf-WSaiXc0Sl6izvcvmneECjWu2KD0fBX5GxTplDa8ir788InaLysxUtF7Huc/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_4GyRTGZNq8RKLL4DxkfmbLk18b5Yo3Y5BrLjW7pYz5k6LFfYv6bQIabNYW8-iDWCOdog-57sp8jLKOXf-WSaiXc0Sl6izvcvmneECjWu2KD0fBX5GxTplDa8ir788InaLysxUtF7Huc/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This one makes me laugh- especially the speech bubbles in her picture! I hope her mom laughed too. ;-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwmlAcjIAXXDTJytYhIzUhMPgQ5HMWuvE03csV-2Huij_0_3Fk9hBDy9ZrEsK7sF1KDTM2hBlsFoEa4bMBNwnhoherMay-uoeW72qZSlpVWtkSzf4TEkoVOTXONixyEUuBMgOUu0qjnXz/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwmlAcjIAXXDTJytYhIzUhMPgQ5HMWuvE03csV-2Huij_0_3Fk9hBDy9ZrEsK7sF1KDTM2hBlsFoEa4bMBNwnhoherMay-uoeW72qZSlpVWtkSzf4TEkoVOTXONixyEUuBMgOUu0qjnXz/s400/photo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love how simple children make things. So cute! :-)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My last topic for tonight is about Measurement. One of the last Kindergarten math standards that we have yet to cover is:</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>K.MD.1 Describe and compare measurable attributes of objects, such as length or weight. Describe several measurable attributes of a single object. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I introduced measuring the length of objects first, and students explored measurement using connecting cubes. I called them Unifix cubes in my worksheet, though I know they are technically connecting cubes because they connect to each other on all 4 sides.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The students worked with a partner to measure some objects in our classroom. I explained the directions and let them have at it. I was excited to see that all the students really *got it.* They remembered to line up the very edge of the object with the first cube, and they worked really well with their partners. Here's a copy of the recording sheet I created to go along with the activity. Underneath are some pictures of my kinders actively engaged in their learning. :-)</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/93723475/Measurement-Unifix-Cubes" style="display: inline !important; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 12px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Measurement Unifix Cubes on Scribd">Measurement Unifix Cubes</a><br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/93723475/Measurement-Unifix-Cubes" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Measurement Unifix Cubes on Scribd"><br /></a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" data-auto-height="true" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_11234" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/93723475/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-ydh0en38xfz7zpua58b" width="100%"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwDx6A9i6h24rGcV2MUmCxcT94sqW45N2sB35Q0IwAFerdWSS4h9kSPsE7BgR6A0_Az3hsqgrAgqcjLVB9aBgsEtO7sJU34YSrqjVncK6C4YJ49nD4P_zwfXIItai5oMwHq-5VBZTd0AE/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUwDx6A9i6h24rGcV2MUmCxcT94sqW45N2sB35Q0IwAFerdWSS4h9kSPsE7BgR6A0_Az3hsqgrAgqcjLVB9aBgsEtO7sJU34YSrqjVncK6C4YJ49nD4P_zwfXIItai5oMwHq-5VBZTd0AE/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShxFvf_fMFozwEgTC8O2rfvRpNsWl1unrxnausSshrBk98LKOM9FEroOd7NMCV2-tYInpQE8GSttoYBSeOKktoJZWs19yobJ2COECXyyzRHNdrl_3vqF9vVDE7nAmFVyHlNgeDKYvc7g6/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShxFvf_fMFozwEgTC8O2rfvRpNsWl1unrxnausSshrBk98LKOM9FEroOd7NMCV2-tYInpQE8GSttoYBSeOKktoJZWs19yobJ2COECXyyzRHNdrl_3vqF9vVDE7nAmFVyHlNgeDKYvc7g6/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
These students were measuring the height of a book. I taught them that they could make a long link of connecting cubes and then break it off at the end of the object, or just count up to the end of the object and stop. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyOfyKWsuTbEHfy8xpGbWsPLJKeqdpiRkolo4aQ0Qprzjt9rJ6QxY31A19ptyDAblYasZa8EbgeKTr5JRA_nrvu1IODgDtf0z5IGtwrm0UCceZkSjTrZIx0uNHkrjwtv-UaMpnUT-9qI9/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyOfyKWsuTbEHfy8xpGbWsPLJKeqdpiRkolo4aQ0Qprzjt9rJ6QxY31A19ptyDAblYasZa8EbgeKTr5JRA_nrvu1IODgDtf0z5IGtwrm0UCceZkSjTrZIx0uNHkrjwtv-UaMpnUT-9qI9/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Whew...I probably broke some blogging rules about putting wayyyy too much in one entry, but I had so much to share and didn't know what to leave out! I promise I will do better about blogging more regularly and keep my posts shorter ;-). </span><br />
<br />
<img align="left" src=" http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j429/Kellysavenue/MEGAN/done/th_93637135b.png " style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091252137870580976.post-33150212327030367782012-04-26T19:53:00.004-07:002012-04-26T19:55:32.853-07:00Long /a/ and SUPER E Smartboard FREEBIE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's been a while since my last post. I definitely wanted to update sooner, but I've been so busy! Being a 2nd year teacher (1st year in kindergarten) makes for a lot of work to make and plan everything for the first time. I wouldn't trade it for the world, though! :-) I love what I do, and seeing the excitement on the children's faces as well as their immense growth throughout the year make all those really late nights totally worth it! Let's just say I've consumed way more Dr. Pepper to get me through the days this year than I care to admit. I have some big plans to get back in shape this summer...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This week we are focusing on long /a/ words, and our friend, SUPER e was formally introduced! My kinders have known about SUPER e, but we didn't spend a significant amount of time talking about it until now. They are LOVING the SUPER e song that I found on youtube. </span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfczWrBuTj-5Zf-3vdg9L5Jy0vDtWHrs3yu97EVOURMbWUMREDha-0Ldv64wCgn4sMDBRi6qhSjt0f4aS_-fV2WLmUZVeaR6T4W0kxlnPFUL1vmLLajOq1MTNHqIUePIo90NgbM3YrW77/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-26+at+10.29.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfczWrBuTj-5Zf-3vdg9L5Jy0vDtWHrs3yu97EVOURMbWUMREDha-0Ldv64wCgn4sMDBRi6qhSjt0f4aS_-fV2WLmUZVeaR6T4W0kxlnPFUL1vmLLajOq1MTNHqIUePIo90NgbM3YrW77/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-04-26+at+10.29.53+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHO1aJyxWIE" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Click here to go to the SUPER e Song! </span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mFN2XoRcHNf0AEiX0uzvSez_5miFYVgMb5TzSko4B24gBKmortp4_fb0EkFatcROV6j85zQpoASYGbVViL7Mqwl8rBcpS5NygXln4xFx-DvP_zFPicZ_9_57uwxGftqbGgIev_eoyUy4/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mFN2XoRcHNf0AEiX0uzvSez_5miFYVgMb5TzSko4B24gBKmortp4_fb0EkFatcROV6j85zQpoASYGbVViL7Mqwl8rBcpS5NygXln4xFx-DvP_zFPicZ_9_57uwxGftqbGgIev_eoyUy4/s400/Slide2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Long-a-and-SUPER-e-Smartboard-Slides" target="_blank">Click here to go to her TpT store to purchase this awesome SUPER e unit!</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am just amazed at how well my kinders are picking up on long vowels. It's crazy to think that some of them came in not being able to identify all of their letters and many of their letter sounds, and they are now reading and distinguishing between short and long vowel words and their spelling patterns! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am interested to know how many of you teach long vowels and super E in kindergarten. What other phonics skills do you address? How much time to do you spend teaching the letters of the alphabet and their sounds? </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The following slides preview the Smartboard activities I created for this week. They are FREE to download at my TpT store! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Long-a-and-SUPER-e-Smartboard-Slides" target="_blank">Click here to download my free Smartboard slides!</a> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If you do download, please provide feedback! I'd love to know how I can improve or how they worked for you. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52Lb2MRCJwLrDoNVKYL8MMmCVRmoJIQfoW6y8YWrXarvzgpBkc6ZDNiojI9vy_NfdHXJ6fqxojXNd-9XAvvvHU12sPZNBgSmYhQ4pLhWj739F4yhHeNVYGzfivnjsmFvYcRpw93FrckRm/s1600/Slide4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52Lb2MRCJwLrDoNVKYL8MMmCVRmoJIQfoW6y8YWrXarvzgpBkc6ZDNiojI9vy_NfdHXJ6fqxojXNd-9XAvvvHU12sPZNBgSmYhQ4pLhWj739F4yhHeNVYGzfivnjsmFvYcRpw93FrckRm/s400/Slide4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdmqjQ2K_6YSm0l29Gg1ITGEy95HuGnYt5vjq7_9W4j0F93GndXdmSVwZxhyphenhyphen2tDJOmF_M_EugvGPJXm2jLRo9dpNeeFb83Wy7HhuZDQvD3SX7NKvAhM7kwYl_kMyXjCDooUPUOEVLN3qb/s1600/Slide5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXdmqjQ2K_6YSm0l29Gg1ITGEy95HuGnYt5vjq7_9W4j0F93GndXdmSVwZxhyphenhyphen2tDJOmF_M_EugvGPJXm2jLRo9dpNeeFb83Wy7HhuZDQvD3SX7NKvAhM7kwYl_kMyXjCDooUPUOEVLN3qb/s400/Slide5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0SP2cTu05-0JRcqXPh2MSJvTa0BExvfvnnAXrAa91IfyTLY3T4hDDT2E9uw8yIp5RwJnxmeqtBDqhddvvWAWsBOpTqutzZNUYkvEa-Ug6auJX2ieWsI4pRsR73FeHeattCixBQi8trOP/s1600/Slide6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0SP2cTu05-0JRcqXPh2MSJvTa0BExvfvnnAXrAa91IfyTLY3T4hDDT2E9uw8yIp5RwJnxmeqtBDqhddvvWAWsBOpTqutzZNUYkvEa-Ug6auJX2ieWsI4pRsR73FeHeattCixBQi8trOP/s400/Slide6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQJp6l4Ke-bUqipYkLrxttZRAYWfEweOrWkGue8KR7np5xyK82lywNQVXGN9bBIdvwvaGV1ycc_XWKgOcwJWY0fgEPuuqZxtxjYO8xVODXK0EdnSMzpYlROIgiuipkoBg8zfdruK5QHxL/s1600/Slide7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijQJp6l4Ke-bUqipYkLrxttZRAYWfEweOrWkGue8KR7np5xyK82lywNQVXGN9bBIdvwvaGV1ycc_XWKgOcwJWY0fgEPuuqZxtxjYO8xVODXK0EdnSMzpYlROIgiuipkoBg8zfdruK5QHxL/s400/Slide7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHqRkPfA3KMtvkGfoXl35-CO-6-nA6uHgt7MCYbdNq1UnWZA8OAudgufIEIhqWvbQMuRTQGJqXWlOgEp6QUz6lu6Ex53VN_AVaKJsvbwORI90AIVgMhsYQIN4P_EX2Fm5bR0BcM5gghE1/s1600/Slide8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZHqRkPfA3KMtvkGfoXl35-CO-6-nA6uHgt7MCYbdNq1UnWZA8OAudgufIEIhqWvbQMuRTQGJqXWlOgEp6QUz6lu6Ex53VN_AVaKJsvbwORI90AIVgMhsYQIN4P_EX2Fm5bR0BcM5gghE1/s400/Slide8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsSRtlSQftpB8TA5_IJNMBMQ7eeo4UGfZUTTQLZeHPX8sHrmZlxjjBeYLwDgjNlVEiEOOnR-WbZJL9uLGNpTQTU0YxgEqrfJResKogLdDBn9g8coJ7G1oa0CLvoD9ftCEFSrZ-EDzzpvV/s1600/Slide9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsSRtlSQftpB8TA5_IJNMBMQ7eeo4UGfZUTTQLZeHPX8sHrmZlxjjBeYLwDgjNlVEiEOOnR-WbZJL9uLGNpTQTU0YxgEqrfJResKogLdDBn9g8coJ7G1oa0CLvoD9ftCEFSrZ-EDzzpvV/s400/Slide9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src=" http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j429/Kellysavenue/MEGAN/done/th_93637135b.png " style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />
<br />Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091252137870580976.post-934658986757787252012-04-11T20:33:00.000-07:002012-04-11T20:41:28.242-07:00Bulletin Board Display and I've been TAGGED!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The following bulletin board display comes from <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Fever-Easter-and-Spring-Themed-Math-Literacy-Art" target="_blank">Christie Lamb's Spring Fever Unit on TpT</a>. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The kids had fun writing what they would put inside the easter eggs and where they would hide them if they were the Easter Bunny. They thought the chicks were so cute! I love seeing my kids' faces light up when they see their work displayed in the hallway. I wish I had more bulletin board space, but I make do. :-)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP2MQTUNh7dXgIiZUa7Vc25-GIRhx0eq4IcETU15wMl0VRZQXsvTi86aWUej_USr8pl4wziix1LSeHykIYALErrhKDflaRvnCjRPWErtDbbhUVucUk4g6xvu8LirY9R6TIVhhzg3c9j9D/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP2MQTUNh7dXgIiZUa7Vc25-GIRhx0eq4IcETU15wMl0VRZQXsvTi86aWUej_USr8pl4wziix1LSeHykIYALErrhKDflaRvnCjRPWErtDbbhUVucUk4g6xvu8LirY9R6TIVhhzg3c9j9D/s1600/Slide1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On a completely different topic, I have to share a funny conversation I had with one of my kindergartners today.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Student</b>: (walks up to my desk with a serious look on her face) Miss Murray...I'm feeling really burned out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Me</b>: (pause to take in what she just said) What do you mean by that?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Student</b>: Well, from being in school so much, for more than 100 days. It's hard to be in school that long.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Me</b>: I know, it's hard to be in school for a long time. But, guess what? The year is almost over, and then you'll be on summer vacation. Plus, school is fun! You get to learn all kinds of new things! (Hoping my little pep talk was enough to satisfy her.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Student</b>: Well, will you please just let the nurse decide if I feel good or bad?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This cracked me up! It was all I could do not to laugh! Kids say the funniest things! I thought to myself...girl you don't know what's ahead of you! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Okay, now I've been TAGGED! This is the first time I've been tagged and I'm so excited!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Here are the Rules:</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* Post these rules.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* Answer the 10 questions that the tagger posted for you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* Create 10 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* Tag 10 people and link them with your post (and let them know they've been tagged!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Questions Marie asked me:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. What is the one item in your classroom that you could not live without?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>I can not imagine living without my Smart Board. I use it every day, many times throughout the day! My students complete a Daily Calendar Book each morning as part of morning meeting, and I model how to fill in their books on the Smart board. I create interactive literacy activities on my Smart Board for literacy centers and whole-group activities. My students watch the Decorah Bald Eagles every day on the Smart Board. My list could go on. I LOVE this amazing piece of technology!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. What is the last "teacher book" you purchased?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>I recently purchased two math books after attending the Ohio Kindergarten Teachers' Conference and getting some wonderful math ideas from the presenter who swears by the practices in these books. I plan to spend some time this summer diving into these books and creating the activities in them. I have already used some of the ideas and they have worked so well with my kinders!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16FqHMBCuSpCDVTRfPtG3iXTNp7LbwmjPrnfG_ShLzB_CcnPBiQGgnWUWVd7fHuuew7uYUY_p0wUDgtiIv4HMzo132sl6ofO_o8JD9W3a-eLQ6lTwzFCXOL1tE-WVDbNvtdVBCRL4N0Yg/s1600/teaching+student+centered+math.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16FqHMBCuSpCDVTRfPtG3iXTNp7LbwmjPrnfG_ShLzB_CcnPBiQGgnWUWVd7fHuuew7uYUY_p0wUDgtiIv4HMzo132sl6ofO_o8JD9W3a-eLQ6lTwzFCXOL1tE-WVDbNvtdVBCRL4N0Yg/s320/teaching+student+centered+math.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Student-Centered-Mathematics-Grades-K-3/dp/0205408435/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334195495&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Click here to view this book on amazon.com.</a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGRUrwqAe7u8pYeqWCPeN-YKARuw4-4Q2qEGshioqoIkgNLhtfSArYUX8wht781WyTClhXP_swaa7bR4anltKn-SrrI1pB5VFty1os_Frl9L-EG8nYq5fIx4xV2Z-Pc47rrmFrj-go0Jf/s1600/developnumber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGRUrwqAe7u8pYeqWCPeN-YKARuw4-4Q2qEGshioqoIkgNLhtfSArYUX8wht781WyTClhXP_swaa7bR4anltKn-SrrI1pB5VFty1os_Frl9L-EG8nYq5fIx4xV2Z-Pc47rrmFrj-go0Jf/s400/developnumber.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Developing-Number-Concepts-Book-Subtraction/dp/0769000592/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334195832&sr=1-2" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Click here to view this book on amazon.com.</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. How long have you been blogging?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've only been blogging for a couple weeks, so I'm a newbie! I'm still experimenting and learning how to upload my documents and make my posts look cute like all the amazing bloggers I follow! All of you inspire me!</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. What is the best teaching advice you have ever received?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>The best teaching advice I have ever received is to keep it fun. Teaching is stressful and tiring and requires a lot of patience, and if you don't keep things fun and exciting, you'll get bored and so will the kids. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. Do you have any big summer plans?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>I'm so excited to be attending the 2012 National Kindergarten Teachers Conference in Las Vegas this summer! My mom is going to come with me and we'll check out all the cool sites while we're there! I'd love to meet up with some fellow bloggers while I'm there- let me know if you're interested!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.sde.com/IteachK2012/Exciting-Location.asp" target="_blank">I teach K!</a></span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">6. What do you give your students at the beginning of the year? Do you give them a goodie bag? What's in it?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>My students come to school with their parents the night before the first day of school to check out their new classroom and meet me! I give them all a treasure hunt paper, and they go around the classroom with their parents and search for the items on the page- their table spot, coat hook, attendance chart, etc. I've never done a goodie bag for the students, but I'd like to do something fun like that for this upcoming school year. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7. Do you have plants in your classroom?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>No, I would probably forget to water them regularly! At the beginning of the year I had the students plant their own bean plants inside a wet paper towel in a plastic baggy so they could see the roots as their beans grew. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8. Do you remember who YOUR favorite teacher was? Why were they so memorable?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Yes, I remember my favorite teacher very well. Her name was Mrs. Ruh and she was my 2nd grade teacher. In fact, right before I graduated college, I went back to my elementary school to visit her and shadow her for a day. I wanted to remember what it was that made her my favorite so I could try to be that way for my students. She was a very nurturing teacher, and I was a sensitive kid, so she eased my nervousness about being at school. She truly cared about each of her students, and I felt that from her. She is just the way I remember her!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">9. What is your go-to lunch that you pack for yourself?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Store-bought chicken salad with Ritz crackers, or a Lean Cuisine frozen meal.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10. What is the hardest part of your job?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>I would say two of the most difficult parts of my job are staying organized (I hate when things are out of order, but I haven't quite created my ideal organized classroom yet), and finding enough time to fit in everything I want/need to teach each day.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Ok, now here are my questions!</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
1. Do you assign homework to your students? How many days each week and what do you assign?<br />
<br />
2. What is your organization system for sending papers between home and school? Do the students have two-pocket folders, a binder, or something else? I'm looking for a better approach next year and would love new ideas.<br />
<br />
3. What is your favorite "teacher" book that you've read?<br />
<br />
4. How do you teach sight words to your students?<br />
<br />
5. Do you teach guided reading groups during literacy centers? <br />
<br />
6. What is one way you incorporate technology into your teaching, besides having students use the computer to play a game? I'm looking for some new unique ideas! If you don't have anything to share for this, it's ok. :-)<br />
<br />
7. What is one blogging tip/secret you have for a new blogger?<br />
<br />
8. Do you utilize parent volunteers in your classroom? If so, in what capacity?<br />
<br />
9. Do you teach half-day or all-day kindergarten? Which do you prefer?<br />
<br />
10. What are your favorite student websites to use with your kids?<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Bloggers I'm tagging!</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Deeanna @ <a href="http://goldengangkindergarten.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Golden Gang Kindergarten</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vickie @ <a href="http://plantspress.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mrs. Plant's Press</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs. Blakely @ <a href="http://kdgroom102.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kindergarten Tales</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vanessa @ <a href="http://www.kinderloves.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kinder Love</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Katie @ <a href="http://kindergartensimplicity.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kindergarten Simplicity</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jennifer @ <a href="http://herdingkats.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Herding Kats in Kindergarten</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Angela @ <a href="http://dailyalphabet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Daily Alphabet</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Caitlin @ <a href="http://kindergartensmiles.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kindergarten Smiles</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Pam @ <a href="http://candokinders.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Can Do Kinders</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mrs. Kazanjian @ <a href="http://mrskazanjianskindergarten.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mrs. Kazanjian's Kindergarten Blog</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm excited to see what these bloggers have to say! It's so much fun to share and connect with other teachers! :-)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091252137870580976.post-64760623772519209262012-04-10T21:51:00.000-07:002012-04-10T21:52:06.096-07:00Letter Yy Smartboard Freebie!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is going to be a quick post, because I need to get to bed, but I wanted to share my latest Smartboard files with you that I've been working on. Below you will see what the slides look like.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Letter-Y-Smartboard-Slides" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Click here to download these Smartboard slides for free!</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6kxm9cXXVa9JCsXLQe3ieV4PCzT5tyBzwESk7gj45UV1_Mv-h3IhrfvgaS-UPnpys25889ip35cU-1HddfVX6cXMlJvItgNYsz4aKfo8wHYvBKykmWlrIJHDNhzmngTzXlMWPSNj6_dz/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6kxm9cXXVa9JCsXLQe3ieV4PCzT5tyBzwESk7gj45UV1_Mv-h3IhrfvgaS-UPnpys25889ip35cU-1HddfVX6cXMlJvItgNYsz4aKfo8wHYvBKykmWlrIJHDNhzmngTzXlMWPSNj6_dz/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2o8YQkMCe329bsysLoC3ZjrnCKHL1n8bY0xuiWZWX4B80pygjCQVAOOtEIt8gI44hcg460XRnsJb57I4D5MwwdWNqdh8RDuzK94WBoUkGQTUTjpWnDVp3_DyFmJ4FIqUo_k2My66t9-2/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2o8YQkMCe329bsysLoC3ZjrnCKHL1n8bY0xuiWZWX4B80pygjCQVAOOtEIt8gI44hcg460XRnsJb57I4D5MwwdWNqdh8RDuzK94WBoUkGQTUTjpWnDVp3_DyFmJ4FIqUo_k2My66t9-2/s400/Slide2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also created a worksheet to go along with the Consonant Cluster Blends slide that looks just like the Smartboard slide, so students can complete it on the carpet with clipboards while one student manipulates the Smartboard. If you'd like a copy of it, leave a comments and let me know! I will upload it as well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPf84JSvSbOm58PRwHJq2xf7OfTUvWRB7bs4YfSzKEhJpGtHinpByLfv7THSo-o23VdT3jaGNa3GPKtVCUUBPve_Oq0hPR47qi8m3ccGhSMweflrTBmIbrtWaJnV71IVJMJ6gCniTpOMi/s1600/Slide3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPf84JSvSbOm58PRwHJq2xf7OfTUvWRB7bs4YfSzKEhJpGtHinpByLfv7THSo-o23VdT3jaGNa3GPKtVCUUBPve_Oq0hPR47qi8m3ccGhSMweflrTBmIbrtWaJnV71IVJMJ6gCniTpOMi/s400/Slide3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have lots more to share, and I promise to update tomorrow! I'm excited because I was tagged by Marie Cote (The Hands On Teacher) from www.cotesclass.blogspot.com to answer some questions and then tag some bloggers to answer my questions! I will respond to my questions tomorrow. :-) </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src=" http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j429/Kellysavenue/MEGAN/done/th_93637135b.png " style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091252137870580976.post-54528638517207453832012-04-01T21:12:00.003-07:002012-04-01T21:14:15.153-07:00Decorah Eagles Journal Freebies<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well...spring break is over for me! It was nice to have a chance to get a bunch of things done and cross off items on my to-do list, but I missed my kiddos! I'm excited to find out how many students observed the Decorah Eagles over spring break and if they got to see any of the eaglets hatch! Scroll down to my first blog post if you need explanation about what the Decorah Eagles are. Now that the eaglets have hatched, we will be observing them closely on the webcam! I created an observation journal cover as well as a journal page that I'm going to use with my students. Here's a screenshot of what they look like. If you like them, copy the link under each picture into your address bar to download them for FREE at my TpT store!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYjfOzcfSrhr5th9RWzK-0J6-pR3MU2CRqbW2VKHCRwMLa-IExxhNL7LQo7rxNhUmxAgz5dqkrTFBBIyzZWbm1NTyulY0iy3PFBqWj0_BnX16ImYyQ0assewZppl32GWpCkO966r8nTF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.29.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYjfOzcfSrhr5th9RWzK-0J6-pR3MU2CRqbW2VKHCRwMLa-IExxhNL7LQo7rxNhUmxAgz5dqkrTFBBIyzZWbm1NTyulY0iy3PFBqWj0_BnX16ImYyQ0assewZppl32GWpCkO966r8nTF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.29.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYjfOzcfSrhr5th9RWzK-0J6-pR3MU2CRqbW2VKHCRwMLa-IExxhNL7LQo7rxNhUmxAgz5dqkrTFBBIyzZWbm1NTyulY0iy3PFBqWj0_BnX16ImYyQ0assewZppl32GWpCkO966r8nTF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.29.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYjfOzcfSrhr5th9RWzK-0J6-pR3MU2CRqbW2VKHCRwMLa-IExxhNL7LQo7rxNhUmxAgz5dqkrTFBBIyzZWbm1NTyulY0iy3PFBqWj0_BnX16ImYyQ0assewZppl32GWpCkO966r8nTF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.29.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDYjfOzcfSrhr5th9RWzK-0J6-pR3MU2CRqbW2VKHCRwMLa-IExxhNL7LQo7rxNhUmxAgz5dqkrTFBBIyzZWbm1NTyulY0iy3PFBqWj0_BnX16ImYyQ0assewZppl32GWpCkO966r8nTF/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.29.12+PM.png" width="308" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Decorah-Eagles-Observation-Journal-Cover </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUruSf78bMjzntb0eMIERyvcu_DzGznjZibLLnr1PM-KgoNzeCIGEIJ4tbMTQOsx71HJFTfdYJyfzTo-5__e-TZHpL8lGWeX5J4xnaxnQe8tgy7eLm-mCPFvGxh666GpgKHNdzoqlvsmxX/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.29.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUruSf78bMjzntb0eMIERyvcu_DzGznjZibLLnr1PM-KgoNzeCIGEIJ4tbMTQOsx71HJFTfdYJyfzTo-5__e-TZHpL8lGWeX5J4xnaxnQe8tgy7eLm-mCPFvGxh666GpgKHNdzoqlvsmxX/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.29.45+PM.png" width="302" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Decorah-Eagles-Observation-Page </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've been busy purchasing some new units on TpT for my literacy and math centers, and of course laminating and cutting to get them ready! I just LOVE all of the amazing activities that are created by some wonderful teachers! All of you inspire me and get my creative juices flowing!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here are the awesome center packs I bought recently. I can't wait to use them in my classroom!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc-X4oY0nZvUwEb9Y2IMXUN_TD8RShLn59S3e4YOqBMELmaBCa9PNoRCevkHzZr1Yem40qFnflcCiM1jotICBRsWP8-X_Q-NbBkmGLNJWZkQvlTEX0aSXPnB5-zI8Q3ERCteoOY-t2pb9/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.37.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLc-X4oY0nZvUwEb9Y2IMXUN_TD8RShLn59S3e4YOqBMELmaBCa9PNoRCevkHzZr1Yem40qFnflcCiM1jotICBRsWP8-X_Q-NbBkmGLNJWZkQvlTEX0aSXPnB5-zI8Q3ERCteoOY-t2pb9/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.37.23+PM.png" width="242" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I just LOVE DeeDee Wills' writing work stations! She creates a new packet for each month, and my students get so excited when a new work station packet is unveiled. Go to www.mrswillskindergarten.com to get this packet!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk6BJ76AoUD_4x79lR0-gWQ6rxxEvPhH7c_aTIAZ0FPzgPHxMYRmgexd6yMYHk2WZsg4JvrAmNXpKetl0aIBYcpvhyJSdWOqhrAqjtQkSI2oi7HgtecaYdL-5EK3Cg-pjR8rDjWe9IM3j/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.39.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCk6BJ76AoUD_4x79lR0-gWQ6rxxEvPhH7c_aTIAZ0FPzgPHxMYRmgexd6yMYHk2WZsg4JvrAmNXpKetl0aIBYcpvhyJSdWOqhrAqjtQkSI2oi7HgtecaYdL-5EK3Cg-pjR8rDjWe9IM3j/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.39.09+PM.png" width="250" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christie Lamb's Spring Fever unit has the cutest graphics, and many engaging math and literacy games! The games are challenging and keep kids interested! She doesn't have a blog, but here's the link to her TpT store. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Christie-Lamb </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltEvBKU2cCznOrSwzK6QkVk2baT6JGy_i7OgeT_gkBPy5iX79XDMw-fzt9NAnJDsSdET5_dRPoMgVLtVJGd7pgiuRx5TQ_BxaXATZgE1oztCfmqEBHtwJV1XPProM1gGWOG9xVJkoTyI_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.39.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltEvBKU2cCznOrSwzK6QkVk2baT6JGy_i7OgeT_gkBPy5iX79XDMw-fzt9NAnJDsSdET5_dRPoMgVLtVJGd7pgiuRx5TQ_BxaXATZgE1oztCfmqEBHtwJV1XPProM1gGWOG9xVJkoTyI_/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-04-01+at+11.39.51+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Another download from DeeDee Wills! www.mrswillskindergarten.com </div>
<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src=" http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j429/Kellysavenue/MEGAN/done/th_93637135b.png " style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091252137870580976.post-58771787184489701012012-03-29T12:55:00.002-07:002012-04-04T18:51:28.079-07:00SMART Board Lesson FREEBIES!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Because I'm starting this blog mid-way through the school year, I wanted to share a preview of something I create each week for my SMART Board, and if I get positive feedback, I'll be more than happy to upload all of the SMART Board lessons I have created for free! :-)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At my school, we still teach one letter each week because many of our kiddos still need to learn their letters and sounds. As the year continues, we spend less time focusing on the letter, and more time with other phonics skills. Next year we talked about introducing one letter each week until winter break, and then moving to 2 letters per week. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Letter-U-Smartboard-Slides-FREEBIE" target="_blank">Click here to download this SMART Notebook document.</a> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYzDkHAb8_Ettt9XlRFvZGaG4bLIIQ12Fg2dyD7JAY7pHhC2LdJeey_L2tsyE71YN4KPr4_n-JvKq7sXUmvZ3dcI9By_rCwHxcrzSmPBwuAMpzjZ5cAt0NV_LG5TiehVvcfmC7ZGA_69p/s1600/letter+u+screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYzDkHAb8_Ettt9XlRFvZGaG4bLIIQ12Fg2dyD7JAY7pHhC2LdJeey_L2tsyE71YN4KPr4_n-JvKq7sXUmvZ3dcI9By_rCwHxcrzSmPBwuAMpzjZ5cAt0NV_LG5TiehVvcfmC7ZGA_69p/s320/letter+u+screenshot.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On this slide, in the top right corner, there is a link to the Starfall page that teaches letter U, as well as a link to a video on Youtube that teaches letter U. If you've never checked out the havefunteaching videos for each letter, you should definitely do so. My kids love them!</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVV8xLkl1uI432Ao6jr9n6tV6ziTV83CVM6us3XNUF6OZa2U8OiTB4-M6h9albDtlI4JVYNg9P_uN0HmyxFKqoPAvs_5dOixt8LmSOMZxz3DDjpU8zemiP1DiSTfzyZv67K5Zjog9MubJO/s1600/letter+u+handwriting+screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVV8xLkl1uI432Ao6jr9n6tV6ziTV83CVM6us3XNUF6OZa2U8OiTB4-M6h9albDtlI4JVYNg9P_uN0HmyxFKqoPAvs_5dOixt8LmSOMZxz3DDjpU8zemiP1DiSTfzyZv67K5Zjog9MubJO/s320/letter+u+handwriting+screenshot.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWK-ZF8rxrxfRaRWKeiosd_iRaOMZB9jBbjgvLgIZCXrd0fZpKmrbHzC-f0jjmPXSXNztLHP-8YsE1u6AZVt9qpp9RYQoquJUtGJSdS6HBpxMfqxZMSUcTVg-oocLAJ6Y9oDyHPU1xNc2/s1600/letter+u+screenshot2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWK-ZF8rxrxfRaRWKeiosd_iRaOMZB9jBbjgvLgIZCXrd0fZpKmrbHzC-f0jjmPXSXNztLHP-8YsE1u6AZVt9qpp9RYQoquJUtGJSdS6HBpxMfqxZMSUcTVg-oocLAJ6Y9oDyHPU1xNc2/s320/letter+u+screenshot2.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRDak0AZNl3mPMLkpDViUx_pyUg9LesexW8IfPTMQwjWvxrp6v5wQnpdjAfOJ4zjaxQ5Y5cz5owXZNX9uqqLmQSfBUzqzL_3QYahEWgRH-Xz1LnqXaCyrkAgkpR-KiWn-8R6cPQZhWXB3/s1600/letter+u+screenshot+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRDak0AZNl3mPMLkpDViUx_pyUg9LesexW8IfPTMQwjWvxrp6v5wQnpdjAfOJ4zjaxQ5Y5cz5owXZNX9uqqLmQSfBUzqzL_3QYahEWgRH-Xz1LnqXaCyrkAgkpR-KiWn-8R6cPQZhWXB3/s320/letter+u+screenshot+4.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDRktPPuYv8xVq9fk51xSjkNjBC-x1t5RDcVokevr0hkCt5eAK93i-UiOKmw4vpfJ63aw64FXrbDaluJxVo7NkzpBIU0NVOjT1OGn6eJ6sySTt5Jmmt9roe8b9jtRTo6A3hzOkpzKEfMr/s1600/letter+u+screenshot3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDRktPPuYv8xVq9fk51xSjkNjBC-x1t5RDcVokevr0hkCt5eAK93i-UiOKmw4vpfJ63aw64FXrbDaluJxVo7NkzpBIU0NVOjT1OGn6eJ6sySTt5Jmmt9roe8b9jtRTo6A3hzOkpzKEfMr/s320/letter+u+screenshot3.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At my school, we use <a href="http://www.phonicsdance.com/" target="_blank">The Phonics Dance</a> to teach children the letter sounds, as well as common phonics "hunks and chunks" that children need to learn, such as ch, sh, th, wh, ph, oo, or, ar, ow, ou, ing, ed, etc. I love this program because each phonics chunk has a chant with hand motions to go along with it, and we recite these every day. I introduce the phonics chunks whenever it seems appropriate, such as when we learn a new sight word that has one of the chunks. The slide above is a great way to reinforce the phonics chunks we've learned. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInzI2jhDSBO_rx6zrJkTtarcCR-8CnzufBzhPA6yY7iRXWmMHGSmHkVA_Ocby_qK3erXbgwCW8lg__OrzZNTWRhB3v6eB9MWPSTIBAveBE1nL2bG2n6MMx0GB5xL_GPgAUkgmJt5HlYXd/s1600/letter+u+screenshot+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInzI2jhDSBO_rx6zrJkTtarcCR-8CnzufBzhPA6yY7iRXWmMHGSmHkVA_Ocby_qK3erXbgwCW8lg__OrzZNTWRhB3v6eB9MWPSTIBAveBE1nL2bG2n6MMx0GB5xL_GPgAUkgmJt5HlYXd/s320/letter+u+screenshot+5.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Each week, I include a relevant poem in my SMART Board slides that we practice each day. The next week, it goes in the poetry center for my students to glue into their poetry notebooks and illustrate. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"> </span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Please leave feedback if you download it and like it. Let me know if you have any suggestions for me! I will gladly upload all of my SMART Board documents if anyone is interested. :-)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<img align="left" src=" http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j429/Kellysavenue/MEGAN/done/th_93637135b.png " style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6091252137870580976.post-37442644303774677792012-03-26T22:43:00.002-07:002012-03-26T22:50:24.994-07:00Decorah Eagles Webcam<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am officially part of the blogging world! I have been <strike>stalking</strike> following about 20 Kindergarten blogs throughout the year, and I've been wanting to start one of my own. Well...spring break has arrived and I finally have time to get one up and running! Thanks to Kelly from Kelly Avenue Designs, I now have a super cute blog that goes perfectly with the monkey theme I have in my classroom! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To get started, I'll share something that I've been doing with my kinders for the past couple weeks. I've been hooked on a live webcam of a bald eagle's nest in Decorah, Iowa. The webcam shows a mom and dad eagle and their 3 eggs that are going to hatch any day now! I decided it would be a great authentic learning opportunity for my students. The exciting part will come once the eaglets have hatched, but my kinders have been SO excited about watching it already. I'll be having my kids create an eagle journal to write their observations in each day, once we get back from spring break. Here's the link to the live webcam if you're interested!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Do any of you already watch this webcam with your students? If so, have you created any activities to accompany it? I'd love to hear your ideas!</span><br />
<br />
<img align="left" src=" http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j429/Kellysavenue/MEGAN/done/th_93637135b.png " style="border: 0;" /><br />
<br />Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13121806659211316634noreply@blogger.com4