Monday, January 6, 2014

WInter Out My Window~DAILY 5 Writing~SNOWMEN!

Our short week last week (2 days Thursday and Friday)  were focused on snow and winter.  We discuss what we would see out our window during the winter time.  This lead us to a creative writing piece: Winter Out My Window.  Students were having a ball with this activity because they had to partially use their imagination but create something that had to do with winter.  Here are some of the samples my students created:







You can find this on my TpT store or by clicking below

Snowflake Writing Activity



It finally feels like winter this afternoon on the coast of Carolina! You could really see the excitement in my students eyes when we were talking about winter and the weather for today and tomorrow.  The first thing out of their mouth was "It's supposed to snow!".  From learning a little about snow last week for two short days our discussion today was a very exciting conversation today.  We usually don't see snow at all in the winter so tomorrow might be a possibility but it probably wont happen; but I could never say that to my students and break their little hearts! This lead us to read The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler.  


We talked about story retell today using story retell rope which is FREE!:

 

 We specifically discussed the characters.  You can do so much with this story.  We discuss the story and how the characters acted in the story.  My students loved it especially when the two sisters and mother came to see her snowman that she built.  In the story it says how their mouths dropped open and their arms dropped to their sides.  All my students were glued to the book and one of them was showing their reaction and it was priceless.... his mouth dropped open and his eyes got so big.  I just love my Kinders! 

While I was linking the book to my blog I found this. I will be showing my students tomorrow :)

Thumbnail

After our lesson we began making our own Biggest, Best snowman.  We are still in the process of making and writing about them (pictures soon to come) but I used some great resources from the BEST teacher I have worked with +Pam DAlessandro I used resources from her TpT store.  They are in the packet below:

Winter Math ~ ELA Printables! 100 Pages - Winter Themed Pr 

We also started our fourth Daily 5 station: Work on Writing. (WOW we were busy today!) I was really excited about this because I worked hard to get work on writing together.  This was my first year doing daily 5 with a Kindergarten class (I have done this for the past three years but with first and second grade).  It is a little different with Kindergarten because their attention span is a lot shorter so I had to get a lot of things ready for them.  Three things I got ready for the students were: 

1. Read It, Trace It, Write It.  I have students start with this in their Daily Journal They can chose which one they would like to complete:
This also came from  +Pam DAlessandro Winter Packet 
 Winter Math ~ ELA Printables! 100 Pages - Winter Themed Pr

2 and 3. Then they use the writing board and paper included to write whatever they would like to write,  My students love to be able to choose what they would like to do.  It keeps them engaged and eager to learn.  


I can write a... poster:
click on the picture to take you to this TpT product from A Cupcake for the Teacher
writing center starter kit! {printables}



That wraps up my day! Literally bundled up in a blanket ready for this cold weather tonight (15 degress!)  Makes me think of the Arctic!:

Arctic/Polar Animals Emergent Story with Research Project  



This is what I would look like:

~~~~~STAY TUNED TO THE ARCTIC/POLAR ANIMAL RESEARCH PROJECT ~~~~~




Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Penguin's

I'm getting excited for the new year! I have been working away on creating penguin and polar animal activities for my kids.  We will be doing a research project on polar animals and I will be using the things I have listed on tpt to get my students actively engaged and excited to learn about polar animals.  Here is a little freebie.  Hope you enjoy! 
FREE Penguin Poem- Doing the Penguin

I'm linking up with teaching with Nancy! There are great freebies!

Have a great week! 

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Penguin Research Project

Getting Ready for the New Year!

I was very excited to do this research based project with my second grade students last year and I am excited to do it again (refined) this year with my Kindergarten students! It is such a fun project.  Click here to get it 1.00 off!! 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Holiday Around the World

I am so excited to post my first few products on TpT!  

Reindeer Instructions including Reindeer Food directions and labels.
The First Product I posted was an interactive Reindeer story.  The students love this easy reader! It also helps reinforce positional words.



Purchase my Reindeer Instructions here.


I am also really excited to use them with my Kindergarten students.  I will be using this as an introduction to each country.  We will  "magic airplane" which will drop us off at each country.  During the countries visit we will use the booklet to learn about the countries holiday traditions, the location of each country using a world map and google earth, the flag that represents each country, and the elements of culture (how people speak, how people dress, what people eat, etc.)

Stay tuned for craft activities created by students while they were visiting their country.

ON SALE FOR A LIMITED TIME!!! 

You can purchase my  Holiday Around the World Packet here. 


Monday, December 2, 2013

First Day of Blogging

Today marks the first day of new beginnings!  In the last month and a half I have had a lot of changes.  To begin, I just moved next to an amazing teacher! She has inspired me and brought back the joy in teaching for me!  I am striving to start my Teachers pay Teachers store because of her :). 

I am also very excited to be teaching 21 wonderful Kindergarten students!  I can't wait to see them grow into magnificent learners.