Hey friends! I am so excited that Thanksgiving Break is almost here! This will be the 1st time EVER to have the whole week off. Hello pajamas and NetFlix! :)
For those of you that have to go next week, I hope these *freebies* are something you can use.
We have been working on math facts and 10 makers. We have played games galore. A fun, quick game my kiddos love that can be modified by using ANY manipulative is What's Hiding? This is a great way to also work on Part Part Whole.
Using leftover Halloween candy corns turkey beaks, I hide some under the cup. The kiddos have to solve the missing part and tell me the addition and subtraction fact. For example, I tell the kiddos to close their eyes. I put 6 turkey beaks in the cup and flip the cup over. I put 4 next to the cup. The kiddos then open their eyes and I say my whole is 10. The kiddos will count on to 10 and tell me that missing part in the cup is 6. They will then tell me the missing part can also be solved by starting at 10 and taking away the part they know which is 4. So, the addition sentence would be 4+6=10 and the subtraction sentence would be 10-4=6. Finally, we flip the cup over, check our answer, and eat some turkey beaks. :)
Ready to turn your little turkeys into turkeys??? And all learning is better when you can make a hat, right?
Kiddos take turkey feathers and the 10 frame cards. They find the 10 makers and glue the pair on a feather. The students then write the 2 addition sentences for that problem. For example, 6 and 4 make 10 so my addition sentences are 6+4=10 and 4+6=10.
Here are some other ways for kiddos to Show What They Know about Making 10.
I never thought I would have a blog. I still think at least once a week that I shouldn't be doing this! or What in the world have I gotten myself into???!!!??? I am just speechless over here in my little East Texas town wondering why you hop by. I wish I could find the words to let each one of you know how you have blessed me in countless ways.
I love the ideas I have found that make teaching fun and engaging. I love finding *freebies* that save me the time from making an activity that teaches the same concept/skill. I love the stories that remind me to laugh and find humor in the things our little ones do and say
You are the understanding head that nods while you read about my teaching pressures and stress. You are in the trenches with me as we battle things from The Potty Police and boogers to RtI. But most of all, you are the encouraging words that remind me that God calls special people like each one of you to teach. Although I will never meet most of you face to face, you are my sisters in Christ. You are my daily blessings.
I am honored to not only call you my bloggy friends and blessings but I can call each of you a hero as well. Each day you are a hero to the little ones God has placed in your classroom. You are the love and patience they need. At times, you might be the one to show them there are other paths in life to take. And you may not always love the things they do, you love them with all of your heart...or you try to and pray you have that Heart of Patience.
So, take a few minutes and remember that you are a blessing and a hero in the lives and hearts of your little ones and in mine. =)
Here is one of my favorite songs. =)
And as it says in the song, "Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed."
Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.
I am jealous and unfollowing happy for all of you bloggy friends who are already enjoying their week long Thanksgiving Holiday. I have 2 days or 14 hours or 420 minutes or 50,400 seconds. In the words of my favorite Thanksgiving song, I WILL SURVIVE!
This is Gloria Gobbler's Sequel: You Can't Gobble Me
And you just have to love Can't Stuff This...
Here is a fun time filler engaging sight word activity.
Here is a fun song to add to your poetry journals.
This month will have also been working to earn feathers for good behavior...and reviewing shapes.
I am sorry for not blogging about this sooner but I've been running around like
a chicken...or turkey with its head cut off! Lol!
This adventure started with a letter from Mr. Gobbles.
He was on the run from the farmer. He wanted us to look for shapes that he had hidden around the school. As he was running around, his feathers were also falling out! Poor Mr. Gobbles.
After finding TONS of feathers and 6 different shapes,
we headed back to our classroom.
When we returned there, we had a package waiting for us.
Inside the package were shape riddles.
After we solved the riddles, we read another letter from Mr. Gobbles. He told us that he had been by our room but the farmer was still after him. He was so scared that when he was trying to talk that not all of the sounds in the word were coming out. We needed to help him find those missing letters and sounds.
To complete our adventure, we made Indian headbands. On the headbands, we made patterns with the shapes we solved riddles about. The kiddos had been working to earn feathers from Mr. Gobbles for making helpful and kind choices.
If you want to check this fun and engaging adventure out, hop over to my TPT store. :)
For those of you already celebrating and relaxing, think of us as
WE SURVIVE the next 2 days. =)
I hope everyone has a relaxing and fun filled time with family and friends. As I count my blessings, I remember each of you. =)
I would LOVE to give you a gift worth $25,200....or just give it to you in cold, hard cash. Can I hear a CHA CHING! =)
There are movie stars that probably spend that much on a dress. Who knows what some athletes drop that kind of money for...?????
A warm, fuzzy teacher response would be how teaching is so much more rewarding than any gift of that value.
I am sure we all hit the Dollar Tree when we buy little gift for our kiddos' Christmas presents. But did you realize you give your kiddos a gift worth that value EVERYDAY????
Each day we have 25,200 seconds with our kiddos.
I know we all think and know that there is not enough time in the day to do everything that is expected of us. I know it is a daily...heck, a hourly race...to keep up in the curriculum.
I often feel like I am Cinderella beforethe Fairy Godmother comes when I visit other blogs. Everything always seems so magical. I know I do lots of fun and creative lessons with my kiddos but my days are still filled with booger picking, booty scratchin', Lucy Goosey, tootin' and giggling little kiddos.
Kiddos who ask you 10 minutes after lunch Have we been to lunch yet?
Kiddos who tell you they have a question but then tell you a story about their daddy when he drinks too much beer.
Kiddos who start rolling around on the rug when you are reading your favorite story in your best character voices.
Kiddos who go to work on the wonderful craftivity you worked so hard to create and pre-cut the templates for and.....they turn it into an Edward Scissorhands disaster.
I visit these wonderful and inspiring teaching blog written by amazing women who must be like Snow White because when they open their mouths they must enchant their children and have forest animals flocking to hear their magical voice.
I realize though that my kiddos will always love the lessons when we have visitors like Stretchy Snake, Pete the Cat, Chester Raccoon, Lips the Fish, the Letter Snatcher, and very soon Mr. Gobbles the rescued turkey who lives with Santa at the North Pole.
But am I creating and sharing with them the moments that let them know how much I care???
Am I giving them a few minutes to let them be the 6 and 7 year olds that we seem to forget that they are when we try and meet benchmark after benchmark and master standard after standard???
I realize that it will be in those 25,200 seconds that I teach a child about being patient, helpful, kind, and forgiving because how I react to what they do and say will be a lesson on how they can respond to others when they are faced with a similar situation.
I always try and remember the Conscious Discipline thought about being the person I want others to become.
It is in just a few of those 25,200 seconds that the reaction I make can cause a ripple effect that leads to a tsunami or a tiny pebble that barely skims the water. My words can and do make a huge difference.
When there is arguing, fussing, lying, shoving and defiance, what good does it do anyone if I immediately react by snapping at a child or fussing at them because of all the fussing?
It is in those few seconds before we open our mouths that have the greatest impact on whatever the situation is.
One of my favorite parts of Conscious Discipline is that it teaches children the tools they need to become problem solvers but the most valuable part is without a doubt the lesson it teaches me about how to help my children.
I want for the 25,200 seconds I have with my kiddos to be as productive as possible. I want them to be full of fun and engaging lessons. I want them to help my kiddos be the best 1st graders they can be.
I want them to help build a school family of helpful, kind, and patient individuals.
I want them to be little moments where I laugh with my kiddos and act silly.
I want them to be full of hugs and smiles
I want them to be little gifts to each child that let them know I care about them....even when they forget and are booger picking, fussy, Lucy Goosey Firsties.
It is in our gift of 25,200 seconds that a difference can be made Because of YOU.
This song always helps me to remember that what I want in my classroom I have to give....as well as to stop and think of others and the struggles they might be facing.
On to some turkey fun....
I love *freebies*. =)
Here is a fun activity I recently added to my TpT store.
Mr. Turkey is so scared. He is afraid he will soon be someone’s Thanksgiving dinner. As he tries to talk, he gets so nervous that he is never able to finish saying the words. All of the words he says are missing the final sound. Help him find the missing sounds on the feathers he has lost.
This is a fun activity that your kiddos will love. It is perfect for Word Study and as part of your Thanksgiving unit. A fun song and story help engage your children as they listen for the missing final sound in a word.
Tonight is an important night. Many people are putting their faith in the outcome of this election. Every election has a HUGE impact on each one of us. Whether the results of the election make you happy or sad, the world will still go on. There will be celebrations and tears. A bad attitude won't change things. My faith is in God and I must lean on Him and not my own understanding.
Tomorrow you will wake up with a new president or we will welcome the other one into another term. You will go to school and face the same obstacles, challenges, and children. Fussing and complaining about it won't really make a difference...although it does help us feel better at times.
In the past month, you experienced the freedom to vote, make a difference, and let your voice be heard.
Tomorrow you will meet numerous people who need YOU to be their difference....the children in your classroom.
About 2 weeks ago, I had a Wal-Mart Greeter kind of day....except I no longer feel as if I could do that job and see all of those wild children out of control...Have I told you the story about the child that was licking the floor in Wal-Mart???!!!???? Kind of makes you want to throw up doesn't it.
I was feeling frustrated. I realized that I have a choice to be reactive....holler, punish, reward the "good" kiddos, threaten with Sad Notes, blame them for my feelings, or let my negative emotions take control.
OR
I could be proactive and tackle the frustrating issues with a plan and remember Conscious Discipline and that nobody can make me angry or upset without my permission. Instead of thinking How can I get this child to stop ______________________ I need to start thinking How can I help this child more likely choose to _________________?
Thinking about how I could handle these problems in our classroom made me think of the election. A president wants to come in and "fix" things We often have to face new challenges that someone tried to fix but are now beyond our control.
I think teachers are often taught quick fixes to solve problems (I know I learned some in college). These quick fixes often don't carry over outside of the classroom. I want to teach my children ways to be problem solvers but more importantly how to be kind and helpful because they want to...not to get a reward or to have their clip moved. When is the last time you got a reward for doing the right thing?
What happens in Washington today, in January, or 4 years from now is not what will make me a better teacher. I have to be the one to decide what attitude I face each day with and more importantly what attitude I use to help each child God has placed in my classroom. Obama or Romney will not make as much difference in a child's life as YOU will.
I want you to take a few minutes to think about these quotes:
And because I love and treasure each one of you, here are some *freebies*. =)
I would love for you to tell me about a kind of problem you might be having in your classroom.I know I don't hold the golden ticket answer but I have found many things through Conscious Discipline and my own beliefs that have made a difference. I would love to share them with you too. =)
If you can, please take a few minutes and leave me a heart note...I treasure each one.
Remember, you are more than a president....you are the daily difference who leaves your heart prints on a child.
2 more school days....AHHHHHHHHH! Will we make it??!!!!????!!! I LOVE my kiddos but I am ready for a break (and shhhhh, yes, there are a few I am REALLY ready for a break from....bless their sweet little hearts!) These turkeys are sooooo, soooooo adorable and they are great for getting to kiddos to hush work quietly. I have no template for them to trace or any paper sizes you need to pre-cut exactly. The kiddos just watch me make it and then go and do their own thing. I LOVE how each turkey is different just like each of them. Take a look at some of these adorable birds!
and turkeys DO come in all shapes and sizes!
After making the turkey, they write Word Wall words on the feathers and then go and read the words to 2 people. Easy and cute...and that is a craft I am thankful for. :)
Click here to get your copy for the turkey's tummy.
If you have been blog stalking, please consider following me. Please leave me a heart note if you like this...I LOVE reading each note and they encourage me to share more!
Here is a quick little game to practice graphing. You can have the kiddos graph the results of 10 spins or use the blank graph to use however many spins you want your kiddos to use. This is a beginner graph for my kiddos before they start being able to answer more "rigorous" questions independently. If you are a Texas teacher, I just said the "r" word that brings stress to all of us and makes us want to consider being a Wal-Mart greeter! OY!
I hope you can use this in the last few "survival days"! I am off to work on some Word Study games and cuddle with my boys! Any requests for word study?
As I was looking through some 100's charts my kiddos had completed I found myself getting a headache! OMGosh!!! I need a translator to decipher whatever "code" something scratched out on these 2 papers. I think my Blog Helper Edison-my cat aka Frankenstein aka The WONDER-CAT (seriously, he knows how to open the fridge and jump up on doors and perch...could have done a better job! We had a serious "Come to Jesus" talk about not letting the numbers trick our super duper smart brains by making our pencils do the wrong thing. Yep, we even talked about we need to be bucket fillers to the numbers so they won't get upset when they realize they look wrong! I then said I thought it looked like "turkey scratch" and a turkey must have snuck in their house and left a message on the paper that said "DO NOT EAT ME FOR THANKSGIVING!" Of course, I am saying this and my kiddos are saying "NO! That is a 35!" HAHAHA! I love a story with a side of drama and sarcasm! =)
I know it is still common for my Firsties to still be reversing numbers and doing squirrelly things so I am not too worried YET! Here is a quick game for practicing writing numbers and adding too! And the BEST part is you do not need TAG...or to LAMINATE it...or use COLOR INK!!!! WAHOO! I go through that stuff like CRAZY!!!! I change the pictures on this game many, many times for different seasons and units and my kiddos love to race the numbers to the top. I hope your kiddos enjoy it too!
Please leave me a heart note if you think this might ease some of YOUR turkey scratch pain!
Here are two pictures of my cat Edison "perching"!
7 school days until Thanksgiving Break....that is something I'm VERY thankful for! Do I hear a WAHOO from you too? :)
I have a couple of kiddos who are still have trouble distinguishing between letters, words and sentences. Here is a turkey sort you can use with your kiddos who need help with that. This activity also works on vowels, consonants and punctuation. Click on the picture to gobble up a copy of the activity.
If you want more of these sorts, hop on over to my TpT store.
If you are thankful for this activity please leave me a heart note! :) I smile with each one I read and today after church an anonymous sweetheart had filled my inbox with heart notes! Thank you!
I am one tired turkey and we are just starting our Celebrations Unit next week....I am a turkey on the run trying to make it to Thanksgiving Break. From Labor Day until Thanksgiving Break is too long with no break but then I ask myself OMGosh, where has the time gone and what HAVE I been doing??!!??? Do any of you feel that way? The year is almost half over...PANIC!
Here is a fun little game for your math stations. Just copy on tag, laminate and cut apart! We will probably use turkey feathers instead of cubes. Of course, I might have to tell one of my TALL tales about how I came to find those turkey feathers since we are writing Santa on Monday to send us one of his "special turkeys"! I am so excited for Mr. Gobbles' return!
If you are thankful for this game, please leave me a heart note. I appreciate each one of them soooo, soooo much. Each one inspires me to share more! =) So, click on the picture to gobble up this game! =)
We have been talking about the H brothers and they have been helping us decode words with digraphs. When I tell the story about the H brothers, the kiddos get so excited and for the most part they remember those sounds....at least when the kiddos remember to bring their brains to school (hahahaha)! But you can NEVER have too much practice when you are learning to read so here are some cute turkeys to help out! Just copy, laminate, and cut out and you are ready for some Thankful Turkey digraph fun. Click on the picture to get your copy!
First grade is like watching a caterpillar grow and then emerge as a butterfly! And even though there are days they seem to suck ALL of my nectar, I still get to see them spread their wings and fly! So "whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." ~Colossians 3:23
