Two Hoots and A Holler

Hoot #1

February is Dental Health month.  We are having a local dentist office visit us tomorrow!  In preparation of the visit, we have been learning, reading, and writing all about teeth.  The students wrote facts about teeth this week, and they used teeth to make a subtraction problem.  They were really excited to talk and write about the Tooth Fairy!

 

Hoot #2

This week we have had many things that have brought a smile to our faces and made these 2 glitter girls very happy!  Happy teachers make happy classrooms!!  

We want to share some of these with you!  

 

We have been teaching our kids about adding details to their writing and illustrations!  It has taken a lot of time, but I think they are finally doing it!  In our journals, students are writing multiple sentences on the same topic.  I am so proud of how much they have improved on their writing!  

  

 Check out the detail on my shirt!  This was a picture of us on our field trip playing in the "Mississippi River".  My shirt said "Wild About Teaching" so that is the detail she decided to add!  This is such a hard skill for kinders to apply to their writing, so seeing these types of things in their journals puts a BIG smile on our face!

 This tablet was on clearance at Wal-Mart for $25!!!!  I was in a hurry, so I did not buy a single one!  I plan on going back this weekend to see if they are still there.  Check your local Wal-Mart for this deal!  You do not want to miss out!!! Deals like this put a smile on our face!

 Glitter Spray Paint????  YES!!  PLEASE!!! I saw this at our Local Lowe's Home Improvement store!  I knew I had to find a way to use this when I saw it!  If you have any idea on what to use glitter spray paint, then let me know!  I gotta have it!! 

 One of my students wore this shirt this week....that pretty much sums up my feelings on glitter spray paint, glitter, glitter paper, glitter ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!! 

Things with bling are our favorite things!   

This Week's Holler...
This week's holler goes out to Hadar at Miss Kindergarten! We love her "Little Sight Word Book."  This would be great for those students that are having a hard time tackling those sight words. We also loved reading about her Read/Write and reveal! You should hop over there and see what it is all about!

 

Two Hoots and a Holler

Hoot #1

This week was all about the Memphis Children's Museum. The students love doing age appropriate play. Students were able to explore adult careers in an atmosphere that allows them to use their imaginations.

We love when parents join us!

Hoot #2

Speaking of careers...This week we had a special guest come to school, Jamie's husband!! Brad was asked to speak to the upper grades at our school about his career. He is a Lieutenant at the DeSoto County Sheriff's Dept. He was able to give insight about his daily routines and the qualifications that it takes to be a deputy. The students were very interested, well mannered, and asked some tough questions!

 This Week's Holler

Today's holler goes out to Jonelle at A Place Called Kindergarten. She just added her 80th blog to her list of blog posts. I can already tell you what I will be doing this weekend...CHECKING OUT ALL OF THESE BLOG POSTS! Hop on over there and see who has made the cut!

Two Hoots and A Holler

Hoot #1

I love to see little minds at work. 
These students love to create and dominate!

One of my favorite things to do as a teacher is to just observe. I love watching my students have conversations with each other. I love how they work together to solve problems. I love just having material laying around and allowing them to be creative without any barriers. Last Friday was one of those days. It was almost magical as I listened to the "hum" of my busy classroom. There was no yelling or fighting. There was no crying or whining. I literally watched my little community of Jitterbugs express their imagination, share ideas with others, take turns, reason, problem solve, LOVE, and LAUGH. As they did all of this, I sat back and smiled. I had created an environment where EVERY student felt safe to be who they are. They were demonstrating every social skills that makes a teacher proud. This, my friends, is what this world needs more of...
Love, Kindness, Respect, Forgiveness, Caring and Sharing

May we all always be humble enough to learn from our students.

Hoot #2

To celebrate the month of February we are learning about Valentine's Day and Black History Month.  Check out the pictures of our crafts we have done over the past week!

Our focus in reading has been on nonfiction texts.  In order to honor black history month and our reading focus, we read the book Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. by Creative Teaching Press.  After discussing the significance of Dr. King and the importance of equality, the students created a dove (cut out of a paper plate), and wrote how they can help change the world to make it a better place.

And my absolute favorite one that is just so simple and truthful...

We made a "Tear Art Heart". The students filled their heart with torn paper, then they wrote things they love on small pieces of paper.  The pieces with the words on it represented pieces of their heart.  They then completed a writing activity to go along with it called "Things I Love to Pieces".  Of course I took pictures of when they first began, but didn't get a picture of the finished project!  Sorry guys!  I will take a picture and add it later.  

 CHECK BACK IN A FEW DAYS TO SEE FINISHED PROJECT!

UPDATE!!  HERE IS A PICTURE OF FINISHED VALENTINE'S DAY ACTIVITY....

 

This Week's Holler...

Our shout out this week goes to Fran Kramer at Kindergarten Crayons. We have been working on addition and subtraction in the classroom. We just loved her mini addition center using carrots and eggs! Jamie already has the carrots and the eggs! Looks like we will be setting a new center up soon! Thank you, Fran, for sharing! 
Go check her out!
 

Two Hoots and A Holler

Hoot #1
This week we had a math and literacy night for our parents! It was a great success! Parents were able to come to our table to learn techniques that we use in math and reading to better help their children at home.

Here is a picture of Mrs. Jodi and Mrs. Brittany showing students how to use a ten frame and number bond for addition and subtraction. 

 Mrs. Nikki and Mrs. Brittany are showing parents what an "end of year" leveled reader looks like. They shared techniques with parents that will help student become more fluent with their reading and writing.

 I was in charge of our "Glow and Grow" tree. As parents finished at the tables, they were given a bag that contained all of the items on the table (leveled readers, reading wand, two different colored beans, ten frame, and number bond). I met them at the end of the table with a clipboard and paper.  We asked each parent to write something that they were proud of and one thing about how they have seen their child grow this year.  

This was a great experience. We were able to have conversations with parents with a relaxed atmosphere.  We had many laughs, and parents left with tons of teacher tools to use at home with their children.

Hoot #2

Last week, we celebrated the 100th day of school. One of our goals was to collect 100 cans of food for our local Sacred Heart Mission. I am excited to report that we collected more than 100 cans!! Monday was such a beautiful day that we walked with our students to the mission and delivered them ourselves!!

This Week's Holler...
This week we are hollering at Kindergarten Rocks!  They are two teachers in Wisconsin with some awesome ideas and a really cute blog!! Their most recent post is about getting your students and PARENTS excited to read!  They have a parent note to send home, and some great ideas on how to keep students excited to read and getting parents more involved in their child's reading progress!  Go check these girls out!