Stinky Choices and Growing Kindness

If you are reading this, THANK YOU for sticking around. I cannot believe it has been so long since my last post. I think I just was in a funk. I am going to really try and do a better job about blogging. I guess part of me still worries about whether I have anything worthy to blog about.

I love hearing my class talk about Our School Family. Well, the brothers and sisters in Our School Family have been getting a little fussy with each other. So I wanted to take our job of the Kindness Recorder and do something special with it.

This is one of my favorite jobs. The Kindness Recorder looks for kind acts to add a kind flower to our flower pot.

The Kindness Recorder will tell the person who did or said the kind thing

 I am going to add you a kind flower for ________________.

The person it is being added for answers

Thank you for noticing that.

So, I thought we needed to grow some more kindness and trash our stinky, unkind choices. We were going to get some help from Freddy the Friendly Frog.

I forgot to take a picture of Freddy but here are some realistic frogs you could use. The one I have is from Wal-Mart and a little bigger than these. =)

{source}

{updated}

Here is the letter we got from Freddy. I forgot to take a picture of the package and all of the goodies.  =(

We needed to start by talking about trash and how no one wants to be around it because it stinks. No one likes to play around trash . If you hang around trash, you might start to stink too. Would you rather be around flowers or trash?

We then talked about how our behavior can be stinky even though we have a kind heart...no one might notice it over the smell of our stinky choices.

Next, it was time to sort the cards Freddy the Friendly Frog left us. We sorted our cards by whether it was something that someone with a kind heart would do or something that a person who was making a stinky choice would do.

In the picture it says stinky heart but in the packet it says stinky choice. I forgot to take the picture after I changed it.

We talked about stinky choices that others had made that hurt and wrinkled our hearts. I told the kiddos that it is easy to think of the things that others have done toward us but we needed to look at the things WE have done that were stinky choices. We then wrote about those choices. Some of them were so funny. It was like a confessional. Some of them went on and on about things they had done. 

Here is where threw away our stinky choices.

Isn't this precious??? =)

After everyone threw away their stinky choices, we talked about growing kindness and how it starts from the heart. We talked about how we can show others we care about them by having a kind heart. The kiddos then made a kind flower and wrote on the petals ways they could be kind.

Freddy also brought us some flowers so we could remember to always be kind. =)

I bought my flower toys that Our Kindness Recorder uses several years ago at the Target Dollar Spot. I think I see them there every summer. If not, here is a link where you can buy some. =)

{plush flower toys}

Click on the Growing Kindness picture above to download this lesson. =)

Be sure and head over to TPT this Tuesday and Wednesday for a HUGE Sale.

Thank you Beth for this adorable sale sign. =)

Be sure and check out her store. She is amazing. =)

I would love for you to leave me some kindness. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Cooking Pizza with Chef Ad J. Tive

When we did this lesson last year, my kiddos were crazy about it. I knew Chef Ad J. Tive would have to make a visit again. =)

When we came back from lunch on Friday, we had a letter waiting for us.

We also had 4 bags with mystery ingredients inside.

Chef Ad J. Tive told us to listen for the adjectives in each riddle because they would help us infer the ingredients we would be using.

We recorded the adjectives using interactive writing on a chart. Please keep in mind that I am NOT at all creative when it comes to making crafts. My chef hat is quite sad looking but my kiddos did not care. =)

This is the recording sheet my kiddos recorded the adjectives on.

After we inferred that we would be using strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, and a cookie, it was time for my little chefs to start cooking. They LOVED investigating the kiwi and got a kick out of this hairy fruit. We also got in some discussions about fractions and part-part-whole math.

Here are 2 of our adjective pizza creations.

Now, it was time for a craftivity. After seeing Cara's amazing and cutie patootie Compound Word Cooks, we turned them into Adjective Chefs.

They designed the pizza to look like the adjective pizza they made. They then wrote adjectives about the pizza around the plate. Here is a closer look. =)

Hop over to my TPT store to grab this fun *freebie*. =)

I would LOVE for you to leave me a heart note and let me know what you think. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Five for Friday on a Saturday =)

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs for her 5 for Friday for my very first time.

 I don't usually do linky parties because they scare me. They often have you sharing about yourself and that is so hard for me. So, here goes....

1. Edison is by far the most curious and weird cat I have ever known. He is a MESS! He loves to help me do everything. Cutting out lamination can be hard beacause he always wants to lay on top of it. He loves plastic and licking it. He is obsessed with plastic grocery sacks. He will carry them all around the house. I love this cat. It is amazing how quickly our pets get to be our fur babies.

 

2. I am obsessed with these candles from Bath & Body works. What I really should have done is taken a picture of the cabinet with all of the candles I have. Let's just say that if I ever lose electricity for weeks I am all set with candles.

These candles remind me of the beach, pool, and summer and to me that means RELAXATION. =)

3. We had a blast with a super duper fun adjective lesson yesterday. We have a few things to finish up on Monday before I share about it. This is one of the adjective pizzas we made. =)

4. I would not mind doing so many running a records a week if I could have him cheering me on. I have such a hard time remembering to go back and MSV them.

5. Here I am with my 3 Chickadees at church on Easter Sunday. I love my nieces but do not like how tall they are. I am even wearing my tall shoes in this picture!

I am off to do some housework before heading off to relax by my sister's pool. It was a dreary 50 degrees the other day and it is supposed to get up in the upper 70's today. You gotta love Texas weather! =)

I would love for you to take a few minutes to tell me about how you do running records in your classroom/district.

From My Heart to Yours,

Bunny Treats: An Adjective Adventure with Plants

We love to get packages. We also go crazy for special visitors. On Wednesday morning we found this letter in the classroom.

We learned that a Mystery Friend sent us the letter. The letter told us to find some Easter eggs around the school. Hidden inside each egg was an adjective clue that would help us infer who sent the letter.

After finding all of the eggs, we came back to the classroom to read the clues.

Then, we inferred who sent us the letter. We also identified and colored the adjectives from the clues. We had some wonderful discussions about our inferences. One little one did think a camel sent us the letter. I worried at first that the Easter eggs would make them think that the Easter Bunny sent us the letter but the clue about brown fur kept them from inferring that. =)

After lunch, we came back to the classroom and found the TOP SECRET envelope and a package. Inside the envelope were 12 riddles about treats a bunny would like to eat and some that a bunny would not like to eat.

Here is an example of one of the riddles.

The kiddos LOVED reading these riddles and trying to solve which ones would be the bunny treats. I loved seeing the way they worked together. After we sorted the cards by which ones would be bunny treats, we talked about the things rabbits eat....PLANTS!!!

We just started learning about plants this week so this was a great way to continue our discussion about the parts of the plant. We talked about the parts of a plant and how we eat plants ALL OF THE TIME! They thought this was too cool. =)

We opened the package and found HUGE Easter eggs that were full of plant parts.

We then made our own plant! =)

sunflower seeds

carrots for the roots

celery for the stem

spinach for the leaves

broccoli for the flower

strawberries for the fruit

Click on the pictures to go check it out in my store.

You can also do the activities in this packet AFTER Easter.

It is on sale and so is everything in my store. =)

I am soooooo sorry for not getting around to share the winner of my giveaway.

Barbara Balius...check your email. =)

Thank you to everyone who entered. I loved reading about all of your blessings. Thank you to each one of you for being such a HUGE blessing to me.

I would love to hear what you think about this packet. Leave a comment with your email and I'll pick 2 people to win it later this weekend. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

No, I Didn't....Yes, You Did!!!

I am not sure about you but when I hear

No, I didn't!!!!

and then

Yes, you did!!!!

My right eye starts twitching.

I have the urge to bop a kiddo or 2 on the head.

I want to start hollering calmly say "Please, just be quiet."

But, I know that will only solve the problem temporarily...even though, I might feel better if I do a little head bopping (Which I never do). =)

I would love if every day was like this...

(I DO try and help my kiddos see that you CAN disagree with someone but arguing about it won't solve the problem.)

Part of me would like to try this...

{source}

In the past, we talked about telling the other person I disagree with you but I am not going to argue with you because I care about you. 

I noticed that this was giving some kiddos the excuse to get out of their hurtful behavior....especially when they had done something intentionally.

This year I started thinking about the WHY behind a child not wanting to just apologize(or admit to the problem) ...when a lot of the things happen on accident.

My kiddos get very, very good about not tattling and using their BIG VOICE. They might tell a friend I didn't like it when you stepped on my foot. Most of the time a kiddo will apologize and we move on...no big deal.

But sometimes, I have a kiddo who will argue with me OR anything breathing about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING....grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! I am sure none of you have kiddos like that, right??!!??? =)

I remembered something I learned from Ruby Payne who is the guru of working and teaching children of poverty. One of the big things a child of poverty will always do is try and save face. This can be why they laugh in your face when you correct them or smile when you talk to them about their poor/bad choices.

If they are laughing in our face, they REALLY don't want to look bad in the eyes of their friends.

So, here is what we have been working on....

Child 1: I didn't like it when you kicked me in the back (This is when everyone was moving up toward the pocket chart.)

Child 2: I didn't kick you!!!

***instead of the Yes, you did....we now have NEW words***

Child 1: I am not saying you did it on purpose. I think it happened on accident when you were scooting up.

Child 2: Oh, I am sorry. I didn't realize that happened. I am sorry for accidentally kicking you.

Child 1: I forgive you.

Here is the part I really like: Child 2 takes ownership of their behavior AND they have to then find a way to make the situation better depending on what happened.

So, our new helpful sentence stems are:

I am not saying you did it on purpose. I think it happened when....

You maybe didn't realize you....

I am not mad at you. I'm just trying to help you understand you what might have happened.

This works well with my Hoovers and my kiddos who are a Frosty (prone to HUGE meltdowns)! =)

I always need to remember to try and stay calm when they start to fuss and argue. =)

Now, some BIG news....

Heather's Heart is now on FB =)

Click on my button to go to my FB page. I would love for you to like me there. =)

Please let me know if the link works...it was acting all wonkers.

Be sure and check out my giveaway too. =)

How do you handle fussing and arguing? I would love to know. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Spring Blessings Giveaway

I love Spring. The weather is gorgeous, flowers are blooming, and summer is quickly approaching.

Easter is my favorite holiday of all time because without the cross where would we all be???

I also got both of my sweet fur babies in the Spring.

Edison

and

Houdini (as known as Boing Boing)

My niece Grace and I also have a birthday in the Spring. =)

So to help celebrate my favorite month, I am having a little giveaway.

1 person will win:

a $50 gift card to Target

AND

a $25 gift card to TpT

I will also donate $50 to the animal shelter where I got Edison in your name.

Enter below.

Be sure and double check to be sure you are following me. =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you all for being such a blessing to me. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

A Leprechaun's Birthday ...A Compound Word Investigation

On Friday morning, we opened the breakfast cart and found a letter from Lucky the Leprechaun. In the letter he told us that he is having a birthday soon. Since all leprechauns LOVE rainbows, he sent us on a search to find the rainbows he hid all around the school.

As we found the rainbows, we talked about what kind of words we kept finding on the cards. We knew they were all....

COMPOUND WORDS

After finding all of the rainbows, we opened the TOP SECRET envelope.

Inside were riddle clues.

We got into our investigation groups and each team came and got a riddle to try and solve. The kiddos were able to look at the compound words we discovered on our RAINBOW HUNT to infer which compound word it could be.

When the mission was complete and all of the riddles were solved, we got to open the final envelope. Inside was a poem from Lucky.

Lucky the Leprechaun told us he left a birthday present for us...and it was a compound word treat. We brainstormed what the present could be. He also told us in the poem that the gift would be found in a place that was also a compound word. We thought it could be a classroom, the bathroom (ewwwww) or....

               THE PLAYGROUND

When we went out onto the playground we found this.

Inside were rainbow cupcakes and Leprechaun necklaces.

You cannot see the red layer but it was there.

Lucky the Leprechaun also left us some compound word activities to work on when we come back from Spring Break. He also told us to be looking when we come back because he just might hide a pot of gold for us to find! =)

Here is a closer look at what is in the fun and engaging packet...

I am joining together with the wonderful Miss-Kindergarten to give away my packet

AND

Her adorable compound word craftivity.

Enter below. The giveaway will end on March the 11th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway