Book-Writing Checklist~~Freebie!

Deedee and Meredith inspired me to let my kindergartners "take-off" with authoring and illustrating books!  Last week, we completed a simple "I like...." writing format.  I want to send these home with an evaluation, to give the parents a picture of what I expect.

TA-DA!  I hope this will be helpful to you, too!

Uh-Oh....what happened to Scribd?????!!!!!
Book Writing Checklist

(Trouble With) Loving Expo Land

AMENDED 1/30....I made it through to the presentations!  You were all fantastic!  Thanks for sharing your ideas with us!  The goodies finally came through and I am so excited to use these with my kinders.  A huge THANKS to everyone who contributed to the goody bags!

Good afternoon, everyone!  I am valiantly trying to attend the Kindergarten Expo, but continue to have problems loading the presentations.  It keeps spinning and spinning and spinning...


Not to mention the goodie bag items!  (Which, btw, THANK YOU!!)  The zip files are just loading....and loading....and then coming up as "undownloadable".


I have high-speed modem capability.  I'm using a new computer.  I have also gone to my hubby's computer--no luck.  At the moment, on my screen, Fran is stuck in mid-sentence at 3/4 way through her second segment.  Whhhaaaaahhh!!!!


Just commiserate with me, if you are experiencing any such difficulty!  I need to whine!


UPDATE:  Bless you, Hadar, for filling me/us in on the details.  :-)
I think it is awesome that kindergarten friends are clogging the internet!  And, I will happily curl back up in my jammies closer to midnight; maybe things will have calmed down a bit by then.

Learning Through Art

At my school, every teacher has a special class duty.  Mine is to teach art to the kindergartners and first-graders, combined.  Not counting the budgetary limitations, this isn't a problem for me, thanks to Pinterest and the year in college when art was my major!


I begin every art class with a book.  Children's literature is an absolute passion of mine!  While teaching PreK, I pioneered an extended day class that we called "Bookclub".  Writing the curriculum for Bookclub was a dream come true!  The program is  thriving at that preschool and I am thrilled.


Last week, we painted southern lights after reading Osbert In Love.

Water Color~Southern Lights

During our Winter Wonderland theme, we made the snowmen with perspective.  These snowmen were a Pinterest find and I love them!

Let it snow!

This week, as we begin our study of outer space, I incorporated our Christian directive to the project.  The children wrote "God made the Earth." at the bottom of their artwork.  They used a torn paper effect to cover the globe--which, quite honestly, caused a few of them to panic!  I actually hid a few pairs of scissors today!

Because I teach the same students on a two-year rotation, I need to plan approximately 75 different art projects.  I've said it before, I'll say it again, 
"Thank God for Pinterest!".  
The following blogs have also enriched my teaching:

FairyDust Teaching
Deep Space Sparkle

Art Projects For Kids

I Heart Crafty Things

Laugh Paint Create
Mrs. Picasso's Art Room
Rainbows Within Reach
There's A Dragon In My Art Room
We Heart Art
Thanks to all of you, for sharing your creativity with the world!

Reading and Writing~~Freebies!

Hello, friends!  When I get the pictures uploaded, 

I will share more about my 
"Kingdom of Kindergarten" theme.  

(AND the amazing lunch with blogging pals!!)  

For now, I'm sharing a reading response page 

that accompanied a guided reading lesson.  

Tomorrow, we start a two-week "outer space" theme.  

The moon and stars are kind of my favorite things

...besides my family :-).

Our memory verse is Psalm 147:4

"He counts the stars and calls them all by name."

This scripture fills me with awe and wonder.

Come back tomorrow for more photos 

from our study of the 16th century!

A Princess Is

Astronaut RWCG

Word isn't cooperating with me and my wish to add vertical lines in the text box!  Sorry for the inconvenience!

Packing Up The Penguins

Our version of Deanna Jump's penguin-via Erica Bohrer-

went home today.  

I will miss their goggly eyes!  

The bottom penguin was produced 
by my lone male student....

it is quite a departure from 
his female classmates' embellished penguins.

My kinders were disappointed that penguins do not fly.

BUT---I found this very cool video!

I learn something new every day.

Update:  UMHM.  I also learn that some things are just a hoax.

Even though it isn't true, you might find that you wish it were so!

Zero the Hero

Looking ahead to the 100th Day...

Zero The Hero!

A $5. doll, red washcloth, golden castoff trousers from the Rapunzel phase, and threaded needle enabled me to create a handsome hero!

On the 100th day of school, we will also meet Zerona.  The children asked if she is Zero's friend, girlfriend, wife, or sister.  I told them that he hadn't shared this information with me yet.  I have 52 Barbies (DollyGirl's collection) from which to choose a worthy Zerona!

He's too handsome to hide in a drawer or cabinet.  I wonder if he could hang from my rear view mirror.....

Currently in the snowy suburbs....

Link up HERE!

Can You Hear The Applause?!

We're back in the swing of things, aren't we?  As I've hopped around my blog list, I've seen fantastic projects, amazing center ideas, freebies galore, and generous hearts.


So, on this very random day in January, I hope you hear my applause.  Being part of the cyber teaching world has been a complete blessing to me!

(I have penguins on the brain!)

Breaking the Ice~thanks, Fran!

Fran from Kindergarten Crayons, aka "Teaching Genius",
has designed a fabulous ice breaker.
She asked for participation and I am delighted to obey! :-)

Red:  Favorite Movie
"Pride and Prejudice"
Orange:  Favorite Food
Ice Cream
Yellow:  Favorite Children's Book
"The Little House"
Green:  Favorite Teacher Supply
my lesson plan book
Blue:  Favorite Grade
Kindergarten~~
I LOVED my kindergarten teacher;
she is the reason I became a teacher!
Brown:  Favorite Piece of Technology(I know, it's purple.)
My iPad2
(Yes, it is mine, not the kindergartners!)

Your turn...break the ice!

Resolutions~I'm Joining The Party

I could not let the first day of the new year pass without a post!

What better way than to link up with A Teacher's Treasure?

New Year Resolutions:

Personal:

1.  I want to achieve more balance between being a mommy and a teacher.  My four children are growing at the speed of light!  Three of them are now teenagers and I am constantly stunned at how little they seem to "need" me.

2.  The time has come to dive into a focused Bible study...it's been awhile.  I will probably do this on my own, with a Beth Moore study.  She has never let me down! 

3.  I need to be more intentional about keeping in touch with my mom.  She is so very precious to me, I don't want to take her presence here for granted. 

Professional:

1.  My goals in this category seem to revolve around the computer!

I'd like to become accomplished in the creation of documents.  I'd also like to program my grades online! 

2.  I need to save my pennies to attend a conference this summer! 

Do any of you have this figured out already?  Are you presenting?!

3.  I want to be more efficient with my time.    

What are your resolutions?!?

❤ Link Up ❤