Five for Friday- September 6th!

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday! 

First three days of school... Always the longest shortest week.  My class is sweet and excited- a perfect combination.  Here is a sample of what I have in store this year. This conversation happened at 9:03 on the first day of school.  "When I say your name I want to call you Christmas Kisloski."  (Which, by the way, does sound a lot like 'Mrs. Kisloski' I did realize.)  So I said, "Oh- well, just don't call me Santa Claus!" To which she replied, "Could I call you Mrs. Claus?"  

The day ended when we were sharing some of our first day favorites, and another little girl said, "I was SO excited for this, I woked up at 20!"  (I think I woked up at 20, too, and never went back to sleep!)  So sweet!

Today another little girl came into the room and said, "It is SO good to be back here!"  So- we are off to a good start, I think. 

Here are my FAVORITE FIVE for the week!

I was so honored that the WONDERFUL Debbie Clement asked me to post at her Pre-K + K Sharing Blog. Please stop by if you can and leave me a comment!  :)

I will be posting on the 6th of the month. My first post is sort of a random sampling of my favorites. It worked out well, because my brain has been going in a million directions this week trying to remember to say this and not forget to do that- very random.  You know how it is!  I will start next month with some different topics. 

Debbie has a new Pattern Song that is so much fun! I can't wait to use it with my new class!

Here is her post about Patterning. You can get the song here, too.  We cannot figure out why Patterning is not in the Common Core Standards.  It is so important. Remember when it was such a great base skill for Algebra?  What happened to that?  How about those A and B Level books which are ... patterns! Anyway, I love my patterns.  I do. I do. I do. 

Speaking of Common Core leads me to ...

I am not exactly sure what CCSS it is where a student finally realizes that he will NOT be flushed by the automatic toilet flushers,

but, let me just say that as of today- day 3- we are all on board as a success with that one.  It was touch and go for those first two days, but with lots of coaxing, encouraging, and persuading- it's a done deal.  There was only one little guy who was pretty sure he was going down, but this got a spot on my five because it seemed to consume quite a bit of my beginning school routine!

I started introducing some Whole Brain Teaching yesterday.  They LOVE "Class, Yes."  Love it.  I posted about WBT here.  Here is my Prezi I made about the WBT Class Rules and explanations of each from Chris Biffle. The videos on the bottom are some of my favorite samples of teachers using WBT in their classrooms. 

 My rules are similar- but not exactly like these.  The ones I use in my class are

1.  Follow directions quickly.

2.  Raise your hand for permission to speak.

3. Make smart choices.

4.  Hands in your lap. Eyes on your teacher.

5.  Be safe, be kind, be honest

Then- I just have a big smile face on the end of the poster with no writing. I tell the kids that is 'Secret Six'- Make your dear teacher happy!  They love that it is 'secret.'

(This picture is a little disturbing- yeah- ...but I am leaving it just because- it's a 4.)

Next week we start our color weeks! We review a color each day for two weeks.  We do activities with each color, learn the words, and take class pictures for our Color Books.



I got out my Ten Black Dots book and wondered if when  Donald Crews wrote the book, he had any idea we would be so into tens frames?

 I made a bundle of  Kindergarten Math Common Core Prezi Bundle which includes  the best links and videos I found for each of the 22 CCSS for K Math.  (Actually 25 because there are 3- sub standards.) OK- that doesn't sound right calling them "sub standards." But-

One activity I did for 10 Black Dots was hot-gluing  magnets to the back of  ten black pompoms so we can use them on the magnetic white board to show ten.  I will probably work mostly with five of the dots since it is so early in the year.

I will also use the dots on the whiteboard to show how I can turn the dots into different things by adding details to them- like four for the wheels of a truck, two for eyes of a ghost, one for a spider in a web, six dots on a ladybug...  This is the activity I have the children do after we read the story. I have all sizes of black dots cut out of construction paper so the children can chose how many and what size they want to use- and then create whatever they want.  

Donald Crews is one of my featured authors on my Author Prezi at my TPT store.  I love his books. They are so good for teaching so many literacy concepts. 

He is also featured in my Writing Prompts and QR Codes for Authors packet!  I love this packet. There are over 100 books by 8 featured authors.  I use it the prompts and QR codes all. the. time!

 My Author Prezi is part of this packet, too!

The last thing I am going to do with my 10 Black Dots is to use mini oreos on a tens frame  as my 10 black dots.  Again, I may just use five- since we are really going to be working with five at this point in the year. 

The last thing I have to share is my "I can" interactive writing chart that we did.  This was about all we accomplished writing so far... We have some work to do on letter formation, but I always love the idea of this.

 I also make these very non-technical- homemade things for my kids to practice their ID numbers.  Each of our students need to punch in their own ID number when they buy lunch or log into the computers.  SO- it is important that they know their numbers ASAP.  I make these because they look just like the little pad that they use in the cafeteria when they buy their lunch.  After morning work, they practice saying and punching in their numbers  on this fabulous cardstock replica.   Just so you know- my class was the ONLY one who had children know their numbers at lunch today- so... it worked.  :)    Already!  They are five digit numbers- not easy to remember!

Have a wonderful weekend!  I am going to sleep so well....  How about you?!



Back to School!

Oh. My. Gosh.  This just made my day today.  Except I think "Second week of school" is generous, because for me it is that first Friday night. 

Today we have our meetings and some time to talk to everyone work in our rooms- so I am glad I have most of my work done and ready to go. We still don't have bus numbers for our kids- which could be a tiny problem tomorrow, because it isn't like you ask a classroom of 5 year olds, "What bus do you ride?" 

Yesterday in my "Currently" I mentioned that my goal was to start my day with my devotion and then get on that treadmill after school at home.  I have been pretty good at the treadmill devotion part.  My favorite one lately has been Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

 

It seems like it's written for ME each day- and is just one, really well-written quick page. For example, today's was really timely as I start back to school and need to NOT focus on trivial things but sort out what is important:

 

Let the dew of My Presence refresh your mind and heart. So many, many things vie for your attention in this complex world of instant communication.  The world has changed enormously since I first gave the command to 'be still and know that I am God.'  However, this timeless truth is essential for the well-being of your soul.  As the dew refreshes grass and flowers during the stillness of the night, so My Presence revitalizes you as you sit with me.  A refreshed, revitalized mind is able to sort out what is important and what is not.  In its natural condition, your mind easily gets stuck on trivial matters.  Like the spinning wheels of a car trapped in mud, the cogs of your brain spin impotently when you focus on trivial things.  As soon as you start communicating with Me about the matter, your thoughts gain traction and you can move on to more important things.  Communicate with me continually, and I will put My thoughts into your mind. 

I need to be reminded of this- because this little saying is ME when I go back into my room after it has been cleaned and "put back together" in summer:

Have a WONDERFUL school year!  I am off to some meetings!

(He is supposed to be blowing you kisses- but he looks kind of embarrassed instead.  :) 

 

 

 

 

 

Currently September!

I am linking up with Farley for September Currently! I remember in August feeling like this one was going to be f.a.r away.  Nope. 

Before I start my currently, I just wanted to share one little quickie!  Yesterday as we went through McDonald's for my $1 large iced tea- I asked for a Braille menu that I could use for my Five Senses unit.  They gave me a breakfast and a lunch/dinner menu.  Actually, I had Jeff do my Mcdirty work and ask for them.  McDonald's has been SO gracious giving me things to use for my classroom. 

(The lunch/dinner one is double.)

I teach the five senses in spring, but I know some teachers like to introduce them in the fall- so I thought I would pass it on!  I use "Mr. Broom" to introduce all the senses- and we talk about Braille during our Sight and Touch lessons.  Here is my Five Senses Prezi and booklet that I use to go along with my unit.  This is one of my "touch" pages.

  

They gave me 20 mini French fry containers from the Happy Meals so I could make this sight word lesson. I thought I would tell everyone that I was McLovin' them!  :) 

OK- time for Currently...

Listening:   Emily is catching up on the Long Island Medium shows that she missed- I am thinking there must be a marathon because it has been going on for a while...and we are doing LOADS of laundry before she heads back! 

Loving: I am so thankful for today!  It was nice to have this Monday to finish up some things.  Yesterday we all got together at the Olive Garden with my sister's family and my parents to celebrate my dad's 80th birthday early.  It was wonderful to all be together! Then we went back to my parents' house for German chocolate cake, carrot cake, and ice cream with homemade caramel sauce.  YUM...   I am still full.

Thinking:  I have a to-do list to get busy on-but instead, here I am...  Currently... not doing my list.  Oh well!

Wanting-  I had so much fun doing things with Emily when she was home. We stayed busy. We will be traveling to LOTS of swim meets this fall. Ellie will be staying here some when her husband travels- so that will be lots of fun!  :)  Matt is commuting this year to a University not too far from our house- so I am VERY LUCKY to have my family so close.  I don't "want" for anything!

Needing:  I kind of LOVE having a clean house before we go on a vacation or before school starts.  Again- Currently- I am not cleaning.  oops.   Oh yeah, we have no food in the house either. That is on the schedule for tonight!  Groceries! 

For myself:  I need to start my day with my devotions- because it makes such a difference keeping me better focused!  I also need to make time at night to get on that treadmill.  I am always so glad when I do.  And finally, I am going to have my "looking forward" moments- little things that make the days happy and something fun on the weekend! 

Have a wonderful September!  :)

Discovering Great Artists

Every year I love to teach my class about different artists with this book:

The book introduces each artist and provides an activity for children to imitate that artist's work.
It is s.i.m.p.l.e.   and SO much fun.  I started WAY back with my own children.  At that time, we studied an artist and listened to different classical music as we did our project.

 In second grade, I modeled the lesson and then had the art lesson as an independent center. The children loved it and did such great work!  One of my favorite memories in second grade after studying the artists was when we went to a theater for a play at a University near our school.  The ceiling was of course very high. One of  my little boys said, "WOW- Michaelangelo would LOVE this place!"  Then, another little boy described a friend from the playground (Let's forget the part where he was trying to get his 'friend' in trouble...), and he said, "His shirt looks like Stella."  WHO says that?! ha!  The little friend's shirt was striped with different designs in each stripe, by the way.  In spite of the tattling, I was so proud. 

In Kindergarten, I introduce each artist, show different samples of his work, share our little poem about the artist, and demonstrate the lesson.  I have the children rotate through the art center during free choice time a couple days of the week. It usually takes two days, which is good, because if someone is absent they can make it up the next day. They really do NOT like to miss the artist.  :)


In my book, I found this paper that I made when I was using it for my own kids!  I sketched out  my lessons and what I would need for each one .  I thought I would just put it on here- and show you- simple stuff and easy to prepare ahead of time. :) (No- I am not THAT old... typewriters had been invented... I just love writing things out- still.  Plus, I wanted to remember Botticelli painted in a circle, and Picasso was all over the place. :)

 

 

Here is my art center box, all ready to go for 8 artists! (I didn't do Magritte or Giotto for my Kinders last year.) I have all my supplies together for all the artists- ready to go- and it only takes up one bin of space. Each week, I will just change my artist and information, put up samples of his work, and pull out what I need for the center. 

 

 This is my box for my VanGogh project.  I read those two books, put up and talk about the different art work- and have the "real" sunflowers and some pictures of real sunflowers up for the children to paint. 



I save all of the kids' artwork in a little portfolio, so I send it all home together after the 8 weeks.  This way, we go back and review the artists to help remember them- and when they take home their work to show everyone, it is all in one place.

I made these informational sheets with our little memory reminder for each artist that I put in their portfolio before their artwork:

(The children look at themselves in mirrors and practice drawing their different expressions for Rembrandt.  I also have out my Ed Emberly drawing faces books.)

 (The children make lines with rulers on their paper and then fill each space in with different textures and designs for Stella.)

 (I do two activities for Michaelangelo.  I tape paper to the bottom of the table and the children paint on their backs under the table. They LOVE this!  I also let them paint in wet plaster of paris- fresco- like he did.)

 (The children make pictures with ... dots!  I have them draw outlines of something- like a tree- and fill it in with dots-paint on cotton swabs.)

 (I print out a picture of each child and let him/her cut it up and glue it onto another paper for an original Picasso-like masterpiece!)

 (I cut large construction paper into circles for the children to make their Botticelli piece.)

 (I cut lots of pieces of shiny paper- and aluminum foil- for the children to create artwork like Angelico.  Rainbow Fish is a good book that could be used to go along with him. )

 This year, Susanna, at Whimsy Workshop bundled together her NO PREP Art History for Little Ones. 
She makes it so easy to teach art to children- everything you need to say and use for projects is RIGHT THERE!  It is fabulous. The artist above can fit right into the timeline so easily. 

Children LOVE to learn something "grown-up."  When I tell them that they are learning something they can teach their parents, they puff right up.  When I hear them compare something they see to an artist we have studied, I puff up, too- because it expands their world and their thinking in such a creative way.   Have fun!