Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Five Year Old Funnies

I don't know about y'all, but my five year olds say some FUNNY stuff :)  Since my friends all enjoy hearing it each day, I thought I would share it will you all as well.  Here is a collection of their "funnies" from last year and I plan to post a new collection each month because, let's be honest, everyone needs a little child-like humor in their lives :)  So here it is, straight out of the mouths of babes- you just can't make this stuff up !

"All old people have cracks in their faces that MIGHT make their lips fall off."

"I know that it is a boy peacock because he has pretty feathers so he can show off for the ladies."

"I would like a hamburger with no ham please."

"Calling someone a big fat lollipop is different than calling someone a big fat boob."

"The best part about Spring Break was seeing the waitress dance on the table."

"This is my penguin, his name is M.C. Hammer."

"Did you know that when baby black widows are born, they can eat your brains AND they are afraid of lizards?"

"Look Mrs. Cates, I am walking so carefully because I am carrying the Torah (aka a tower of unifix cubes)."

"If I had some water right now, I could show you how I can suck water up through my nostrils."

"I am never EVER eating at Chick-Fil-A again because they are mean to Mr. Tim and he is nice to our family."

"This is my new deodorant! Mom said I have to put it on my armpits every day so I will smell delicious."

"You know, the opposite of heaven is badder than a spanking."

After asking a student to explain their poor choice to me, he replied "I just really think my rememberer doesn't work that well."







Tuesday, August 21, 2012

We have had a wonderful first week in Kindergarten:)  Aside from setting up a community of learners in our classroom using the fabulous teachings of The Morning Meeting and Lucy Calkins' Reading and Writing Workshop; we have also been creating some really cute crafts.  We have really had a blast getting to know one another and sharing new experiences together.  Below are some pictures of a few activities we have worked on so far.

First Day Treat
I made these cute little lady bug cupcakes for my K friends on the first day of school and wrapped them up in a clear cup and bag with a tag stating "I am so glad we are in the same spot."  these were SUPER easy- 1) Dye icing green and spread on as the "leaf" 2) Dye icing pink and put in a plastic baggie with the tip clipped off so you can quickly pipe on ovals for the ladybug body 3)Stick on Junior Mints for the heads and mini chocolate chips for the spots.  They were a huge hit.




 The Kissing Hand
Who doesn't love reading this book to little ones during the first week of school?  I read this book to my students at Meet the Teacher and gave them a little heart sticker to put in the palm of their hands just like Chester.  On the first day of school, we shared our "first day feeling" and recorded them on the big hand.  Afterwards, we made these cute Chester's out of hearts.  (It was the first day, so of course, I cut  all of the hearts out except for the gray one the night before.)  I love having at least one piece of my K friend's artwork up already- it really gives them ownership of their classroom.



Meet the Cates' Crew
We made these to display in the hallway outside of our classroom to introduce ourselves to visitors.  Each child wrote their name and something that they liked starting with the same letter (Example:  Mrs. Cates like cookies). Then, they used scrap paper to make a self-portrait.  They turned out really well and were both cute and purposeful:)






Friday, August 17, 2012

A New Kindergarten Crew

Today was our Kindergarten Open House and I had the pleasure of meeting my 18 new K friends!  Of course they are all adorable- it is going to be a great school year.  We are making so many changes in my classroom this year!  Not only have I completely revamped my classroom decorations (pictures below), but we have also revamped the way that we will be teaching reading this year.  My K team was given the amazing opportunity to go to NYC and attend a course at Columbia University's Teacher's College and hear from fabulous minds like Lucy Calkins and Kathy Collins (I am still in awe).  I truly feel as if my outlook on teaching literacy to K students has been changed forever.  More to come about Reading Workshop in future posts- once we have gotten further into it :)

Sign In
(Thank you Pinterest for the pencil idea)


Community Circle/ Promethean Board


Word Wall/ Computers/ Small Group Table


Art/ Sink/ Cubbies


Pink, Yellow, Green and Blue Tables
(Marked with tissue paper flowers and polka dot labels)



Puppet Theater/ Book Boxes/ Couch/ Writing Center


Math Centers


Morning/ Afternoon Jobs


Table Baskets/ Some of our class library
(Cute polka dot labels that are on everything- available at my TPT store)


"Bee"havior Management


Accomplishment Door
(All individual strategies worked on in workshops will be put in their pockets to be celebrated at every nine weeks.  I really want to emphasis successes- no matter how small)


I also have to share this super cute note that we sent home to all of our sweet K friends to read the night before the first day of Kindergarten.  I found it on the Sunny Days in Second Grade blog and it brought a tear to my eye (and I don't even have kids yet).   Go check it out for a the PDF link :)