First Week Likes

1. I like what I've done with my classroom. I've worked in it for 8 years previously and it didn't change all too much. Now that I've moved to be there more full time I made some changes.

Before: Lots of stuff on the shelves felt cluttered to me

 

After: I put panels of fabric on the shelves with velcro. I can lift and pin up the fabric to access each shelf. I like it! It just seems a little more organized.

 

Also added fabric panels that are hung with curtain rods under the bottom window shelves. Woo! Less clutter visible and the kids have less interest in going over there.

 

2. I like the activity I chose to do with my primary kids this week. We did the usual rules and such then read the book Pete the Cat - I Love My White Shoes. My students then designed their own shoes that "stepped" in anything they wanted... stripes, polka dots, hey even pizza if they chose to. I'm starting to hang them outside my classroom next to my own Pete!

 



 
3. I like my sign that I use the first few weeks. Its terribly effective!

4.. I like my class incentive plan I'm going to put into place with my 1st and 2nd graders.

 

I found this on Pinterest! Great idea! Each class has a paper crayon box that will be adhered to the classroom wall with the teacher's name on it. Each week they work quietly in the art room I will add a crayon to their box. Each time they reach 8 crayons I will give their class 3 box tops! (Our school collects them and it has turned into a large competition).  At the end of the year the class who collected the most crayons over time will win a prize from me.
First week has been hard though. Kindergarteners are still learning the routines and are lost about 90% of the time. Any time you step out of my door you are more than likely to find a lost child. Thank goodness for our 1st and 2nd graders to help remind us all that there is an end in sight. :)

Something Fishy Going on Around Here

The past two weeks my primary kids have been working on Ocean themed projects. There's a PTO program coming up and the halls are taking on a very nautical theme.

Last week kindergartners created Jellyfish sculptures. These were a huge hit! I know some people regard paper plates as a poor means of sculpture, but when I have zero dollars to spend on supplies and over 100 kids sometimes the paper plate is my best option. I try to do the most with what I have to work with. Besides, isn't this the prettiest little paper plate you have ever seen?

Students were asked to draw patterns with crayons onto the plate.

Next students glued long strings of tissue paper (purples, pinks, and whites) onto the straight edge of the plate. Students could even draw patterns onto the tissue paper tentacles. K students LOVE these! Especially the sound they make when we swam them back to the classroom.

This project took 1 forty minute class.

1 half paper plate, tissue paper in various colors cut into strips, crayons, and school glue.

One point I want to mention in regards to this project is the fact ALL my kindergarteners wanted to "Buzz" their jellyfish. I've discovered SpongeBob has lead our students astray into thinking jellyfish do in fact buzz. <insert a huge sigh here>

Then this week we have made Watercolor Resist seascapes!

We first drew the sand and seaweed together. But the rest was up to them. I had several posters of fish, whales, dophins, etc displayed on the board for reference. Students were allowed to draw any real sea creature or people who could also visit the ocean. Sunken ships and treasure were also options.

Look at the mer-couple! Even the crabs are holding hands. This is so cute!  When this child asked me "Can I draw a mermaid?" I asked her if that was a 'real' sea animal. She responded with "I believe in them." So I agreed to it. So glad I did!

Very alert crab!

(Love the Bermuda pink sand!)

Love when the page is filled!

Also the book fair is here this week, yay! These fantastic books made their way into my arms. I'm so excited about them.

Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin

You are My Work of Art by Sue DiCicco

Baby Bear Saw Blue by Ashley Wolff

Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson

Spring break is next week... finally.

Can't Resist New Books

Our school book fair is being held this week and I can't seem to help myself when the scent of fresh books are in the air. The first book I found was Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin and illustrated by Lois Ehlert. This is a great counting book for little ones (I'm thinking I'll read it to my Preks - 1sts) and at the end illustrates various types of butterflies and interesting facts about them. Excellent story book to start off a butterfly project in the spring.

Next I found Ocean Soup: Tide Pool Poems by Stephen R. Swinburne and Mary Peterson. These poems are clever and cute. I love the simple illustrations and the fun facts around the poems on the pages. Great reference for when we create Ocean/Seascape resists.

Next I found a book that really I didn't have a need for in my classroom, but I love this series. It holds a special place in my heart since I recall the original "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" from my childhood. The latest in this series is If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff.

Lastly, I got a silly book Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman. I love the illustrations and the story is very funny. I imagine my 1st through 3rd or 4th graders would love it. Not sure when I'll use it, perhaps if we create symmetrical alien collages or drawings.

Happy reading!

Getting Psyched for New Books

This week I have all my classes up and running on their first projects. 5th graders have been introduced to Keith Haring, 4th graders are reviewed on warm and cool colors for seascapes, and my little ones have a variety of their own little projects so life is busy busy again.

However, we have a three day weekend! Yay! I would think I could take a break to rest up and fight these allergies that have been ailing me for the past two weeks, but I just can't seem to stop researching ideas....

This morning I've found inspiration in children's story books. I cannot wait for them to arrive so I can share them with my students. (Also I'm a sucker for the scent of a 'fresh' book -- the newly printed ink and texture of smooth pages is almost as good as a new box of crayons)
I'm ordering from Scholastic and Amazon (depending on the best price) the following:

Lines that Wiggle by Candace Whitman

(The cover is my absolute favorite. Can hardly wait to get my hands on this one!)

Hundertwasser for Kids by Barbara Stieff

(Architecture and landscape inspiration)

Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton

(Great inspiration for a K-2 winter project)

Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming

(Designs and patterns for insect drawings)

If You Were a Penguin by Florence Minor

(Another winter project idea!)

White Rabbit's Color Book by Alan Baker

(An alternative for Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh)

Most of these books I plan to read to K - 2nds. However, the Hundertwasser is probably a better fit for 4th or 5th graders.

Another book that I recently came upon is Not A Box by Antoinette Portis. This is a book I would just recommend for PreK or K students. There aren't many words to this book, but the illustrations are what make it a delight to me personally.