Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen

Some of my kiddos are still struggling with good listening skills.  One of my favorite books is Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen.  If you haven't met Howard yet, check him out.  He has several other really great stories to teach our young learners.

 

After reading the story - we made our own rabbit ears to wear and remember to be good listeners.  The kids LOVE wearing hats they made:)

It's COLOR week!

So this week several of our Kindergarten classes are celebrating colors with a week long unit!!  Yesterday was Red day which was perfect as we were also celebrating Johnny Appleseed's birthday!  We learned to spell red by singing Heidisongs color words from her Sing & Spell DVD.

We also read the story Mary Wore Her Red Dress and came up with our sentences.  Unfortunately we ran out of time to do our art project - an apple mobile:(  Oh well - we made up for it today with Orange day!

We began by reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  We used some fun activities found in Julie Lee's Brown Bear Unit; Kreative in Kinder's Colors unit; and Made for 1st Grades's Color Day Fun.

I was so lucky that my colleague had a copy of Cat's Colors - what a fun story that I will definatley need to add to my collection.  Then students used paper plates colored orange for the cat head, added triangle ears, and colored black details for their own orange cat.  On the back they added their own sentence telling the reader about something orange (I think everyone chose the cat:) ).

For some fun science we asked what might happen if we mixed red and yellow together.  Each child was given a snack size zip lock bag.  I then gave each a dollop of shaving cream, and added yellow and red food coloring.  The kids LOVED mixing it to find ORANGE!!  This was a great lesson to begin talking about the scientific process and easy peasy as we were once again running out of time - ahhh!

Sorry I don't have pictures but I left my camera at school:(  I'll try to add some later.  Tomorrow is Yellow day and I haven't yet figured out a good story other than maybe Curious George. I have been given a few titles but I don't have those books and couldn't find them at our library either:(

Science week on TBA!!

If you have any science related fun to share or are looking for some great ideas, check out TBA's science week!

New Science Blog!!

Just tripped over to Little Miss Hypothesis and it is now a FAV!!!  Science it so much fun and the kids LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!  If you haven't had a chance to go to Steve Spangler's Science in the Rockies - it is an all time must!!  Especially if you are somewhat nervous about teaching science to little ones.  Thank you Little Miss Hypothesis - cute blog design too!!

Handwriting without Tears

When I first started teaching Kindergarten I came across a fabulous handwriting program called Handwriting Without Tears.

I have used this program with my first graders as well and now that I am back in Kinder I was excited to see what upgrades the company has to offer.  They now have it for your SMARTboard!!  Yay!!  I just tried it for the first time today and the kids loved it.  Check it out!

Oh and I need help finding a blog...
I was scanning through blogs last week and came across a teacher blog where they had read No David to the class and then created positive statements (Yes David).  I want to have the kids do the art work and combine it with the ideas shared by The First Grade Parade.  I spent hours searching my links in hopes of coming across it again but I give up:)

Another child grieves...

Yesterday I learned the new adoptive parent one of my firsties from last year was killed in Afganistan. My heart hurts for her and her family.  This is the third family in our school since we started just over two weeks ago.  Hasn't been someone I knew or met personally since 8 years ago when our teacher colleagues husband was killed.

Please keep the soldiers and their families in your hearts and prayers....

Camp Wannalearnalot - Classroom Pics

I have now met all my new kinders and I'm excited to begin our year! This week we are finishing home visits. Then next week we will have a staggered start so that we can assess each child. This is the first time our school has done this and we hope it will be super successful allowing us to do it again in the future. The most exciting news is that our Admin approved the purchase of licenses for ESGI. I learned about this program on The Polka Dot Patch and am so glad she shared. We are looking forward to using this program during our staggered start days so that we can immediately have information about our kids abilities. We don't have a math a computer based math assessment so let me know if anyone has a great one they use.

My class has finally begun to come together so I am posting pictures. Last year was the first year I used the Camping theme and I LOVED it. I loved walking into my room every day. This year I bought some more things and I have added some ideas found by blog stalking. I want to thank Clutterfree classroom for her ideas and First Grade Owls for her cutesie Color OWLS. I love DJ inkers clipart as you can see:) There is another site I purchased camping clipart from but I can't remember just now as I bought it last year.

This will be my job chart.

This is my SMARTboard with my rules above.  I use WBT and have other graphics to go with the rules as we are learning them. 

This is my science area.
Soon I will also add Camper
of the Week to the bboard.

This is as you come in the
front door. You see our new
Circle Time chart and above our
Daily Destinations with
room for our Anchor Charts.

Housekeeping 

Block Play

Art Area

Outside our classroom. This didn't come out so well in the picture.  I still need to add something....hmmm...maybe a giant rock?

This will be my Math/Literacycenters. The table needs moved over. removed the legs. The stand will also sit on the floor.

I changed my CAFE into
a FISH chart (Fluency, Improving Accuracy, Strengthening Comprehension, and Hooking New Vocabulary).  I will also have Math Meadow on this board in the opposite corner.  I plan to use this to build math concepts we are learning.  My birthday bug jars are underneath.

This is the view as you walk in the door. My dear mom made the curtains.  The "pond" carpet is our meeting area.

It's Official!! and it's HOT - HOT - HOT!!

Today was the first day back and it's official that I'm in Kindergarten!! Yay!!!  My para is super sweet and I know we're going to have MEGA FUN this year!  Now that I have a focus...I have SO MUCH to do!!

Of course now that school is starting, the heat has HIT!  Here's a pic of my baby - his cheeks are so rosy!!  He's looking serious because I stopped him to take this photo.

Shhh...Everyone is sleeping and I am crafting!!

The house is super quiet and I just finished making the last of our Welcome gifts for our new staff members. This year I'm on the Social Sunshine committee so we made little gifts of encouragment to all the teachers new and returning, and then a little something extra welcoming our newbies. (We have quite a few this year.) I don't have a picture of our welcome back gift but here is what I just finished.

Our School Mascot is the Dragon and our school colors are green, blue, and yellow. I layered sand 
and then added a tealight. 

Tomorrow is our first official reporting day and then we'll begin a new journey. What is the verdict? Still undecided as of today but looking strongly like I will be full Kinder. I have actually been into my room for several days and spent hours upon hours organizing, unpacking, and reorganizing. Some very helpful friends have stopped by to check my progress and encourage me - thanks Nara if you are blog stalking tonight☺✌ I'm feeling pretty good and hoping tomorrow I can work on my bulletin boards.  Last year I had the campground theme and liked it so much that I'm going to do it again.  This summer while shopping I picked up some fabrics to use for a couple of special boards.  I'll post pics when I'm done.

Night all - many of you are just beginning your days but I'm turning in for the night.  Thanks for blazing the trail for those of us who begin school a little later☺

Action, Action, We want Action!

Or at least a some firm decisions!  It is looking like I will remain in my present classroom but now it may be that I teach a K-1 multiage or straight Kinder.  Evidently the numbers are high in first and low in Kinder.  Though I would love to do a multiage and have been through the training, I am hestitant to be the "thrown together class."  If parents haven't signed up for it, it can be an uphill struggle if they aren't supportive.  If it doesn't happen this year, it will most likely happen next year. But that will give us time to educate the community and ourselves on how to begin a multiage class. Prayers please....

So this past weekend I spent WAY to much time in my classroom unpacking all the amazing new materials.  Several times I stopped and looked around and had to remind myself of what I had accomplished as looks were definately deceiving:) I'm still a long way off but just to give you an idea of what I started with, these are some photos after I had already begun to move some things around.

Once I have finally figured things out - I'll be sure to post pictures.  It already looks better than this but still SO MUCH work to do in so little time.  

What a blessing a mess can be:)

Yesterday I was able to get the key to my room!!  Yeah!! When I walked in I was first struck by the huge mess and secondly how blessed I was by the amount of materials and furniture provided!!  This is a new Kindergarten class being added and therefor they purchased everything one would need for teaching Kindergarten.  This has never happened to me before - usually when going to a new classroom, I find leftovers and I add my own things which of course over the years has accumulated to much.  So much in fact that when faced with my new classroom, I realize I will need to pair down and take many of my own things back home.  Some things I will give away while others I will hold onto as the future is still so unpredictable.  I still haven't been told that I will for sure teach Kindergarten.  The numbers aren't looking good for the need of 7 classes so either myself or the new teacher may be moved.  I'm hopeful I get to stay and enjoy the feeling of Christmas morning X many years:)

And the Winner is....????

So I'm back from my vacation to the states and have just under two weeks before reporting to work!! (the nail biting begins)  Sadly I still have no definative answer yet as to what I will be teaching this next school year.  (even more nail biting) For the last three years I have been in first grade.  With Kinder numbers on the rise and the new introduction of smaller class sizes, I was to assigned to Kindergarten this year.  Unfortunately new data shows they may not have as many as they thought and I may be back in first.  At this point I wouldn't care so much but I would like to know so I can begin planning!  (nails are officially gone:( )

The government sends me back every two years and this summer I got to go shopping at teacher stores!  (Of course seeing family topped that but shopping was a close second!!)  My poor mother, bless her heart,  had to wait and help entertain the baby as I took my time afraid to miss something:)  I spent a pretty penny thinking I was going to Kindergarten.  Yes many can be adapted to use in first grade but I just wish I had known then that plans would change so I could have been more selective in my shopping.  It was great fun though!!  I'm so excited to get to use many of the things I bought though I am still waiting for their arrival in the mail.  It's like Christmas early!!

Hopefully they will make a decision this week and as I had to tear down my first grade room and all my things were moved to a new room - I am hoping the Lord (and Admin) see fit to leave me there.  We have more days of training and meetings our first week back that take away from the time I will have to set up my room.  It won't matter if I am in Kinder as the kids begin later but I am in first - I'll be in a panic!  Prayers please for a speedy positive decision!

Litter Bugs Revealed!!

Today the judges come by to evaluate the entries and I am so pleased at the results of our hard work! The kids had super amounts of fun creating their litterbugs and you can tell.

We read the poem We are Plooters by: Jack Prelutsky and then wrote Earth Pledge's as well. (I found this link at 123 and ABC originally from Babalisme - These photos were taken before adding our pledges.)

Unfortunately it looks like the lighting is off to show just how spectacular this looks in real time:) We made the title using recycled newspaper. Then we made bugs with squashed cans, plastic bottles, and egg cartons. I spray painted the cans white in order to recieve the color the kids chose using permanent markers. I also spray painted the plastic bottles and the kids used colored tape and markers to decorate. Of course they all needed pipe cleaner antennae and some added legs. Wings were made from either saved ends from laminate or recycled shopping bags. Top it off with some googly eyes and wala! We made flowers from cardboard/toilet paper tubes and a plastic floor cleaner bottle, plastic flowerpot, and a milk carton. I used hot glue to attach the parts (teacher only) and to adhere to the board. Now we wait to see who the winners are. I'll post some other bulletin boards that were done at our school as well. (I took these photos before adding our pledges - I'll repost a new photo later:) )

Don't be a Litter bug...

This week we are wrapping up our unit on Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Our school is having a bulletin board contest with the theme of Environmental Awareness. So I of course waited until the last week to come up with an idea (and I arranged the contest...hehe).

Here it is....the kids will bring in a recyclable object and then make it into a bug. They can add wings from recycled laminate film. Then we'll have trashcans on the bulletin board and attach the bugs above their appropriate can (plastic bugs above the plastic bing, squashed soda can bugs above metal, etc.) Above it all will be the title - Don't be a Litter Bug! - using recycled newspaper. Then I thought for those who have time, they can make some recycled flowers to add to the bottom of the board. I'll post pictures of our finished product.

Hit the ground running...

So today was the first day back from our break. They cleaned our windows over the holiday so we had to move everything away from the windows. First thing this morning I had to put everything back. Amazingly it looks more organized than it had:) I also had to draw our color words back on a window and shape words on another window. We had started a spicy words window but now I'm not sure it was as effective and maybe I need to redo a lesson and a new idea.

We are getting geared up for our big visit. This is our accreditation year so we are madly checking and rechecking that we are doing everything we are supposed to and have the data to prove it. A suggestion was given that we walk through other rooms and see what we may be missing and that we can add to our own rooms. Immediately I saw that though I have my reading strategies posted, I didn't have my math strategies posted. Hmmm....

The problem is...WHERE WILL I PUT IT??? A teacher friend laughingly commented that she thought I may have a small corner where my flag is that we can hang something. Then in a more serious tone, she suggested I use the ceiling!! Well today I finished putting up all my key words for addition and key words for subtraction (blown up giant - I'll try to upload a photo). I got these from another fabulous teacher out there but I don't remember who just now. If I remember - I'll be sure to give her a shout.

Anyhoo....I wanted to keep with my camp theme so I made a campfire of our strategies (see the Number Talk book by Math Solutions)

(I love this book! Click the book to go to Amazon. )

and I thought the kids could give examples on tree templates that would go around the campsite. Originally I thought to put this on the ceiling as well but now I'm concerned at how often I may be required to climb the ladder to add those trees:) Back to my original problem of where to put it....

Lastly I have a question before I crash for the night...Do any of you have some creative ideas on how to show evidence of Think Alouds? Someone suggested sticky notes with the title of books that were used and the strategy that you focused on but that seems a lot of work and the possibility of losing sticky notes.

Spring Break Rennovations are underway!

Oh I had hoped to already have some things created to post but I have been using my Spring Break to get rennovations done instead:) This morning at 7:30 am the chimney guys arrived and I now have a new chimney just waiting for our Kochelofen to be installed in a couple of weeks!! YAY!! Now we are waiting for the builders to arrive and knock out the ajoining wall to open up space for the Kochelofen (like an enclosed fireplace). Maybe after today I'll have some time to let my creative juices flow....

Check out Queen of the Jungle's blog! She's teamed up with First Grader at Last to have a spacey giveaway to celebrate 100+ followers! I love all things spacey so I do hope I win this one!

My All Time Top 7 FAVS!

Katie over at Persnickety Pickles is having a Non-Teacher related Linky party! This will be my first and a fun one to do:) So here goes....

1. My wonderfully supportive husband! Without him I wouldn't be able to be such a great teacher and mom!

2, 3, & 4. My boys - My heart explodes with love for them. I love how they keep me busy and each and every day they help

me see the joy in life!

5. CHOCOLATE!!! Need I say more?? Unless I say CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM!!!

6. Apple: iMac, iPod, iPhone, and hopefully in the future iPad!!! They make my life so much easier!!

7. Walks in the forest! Nothing like clearing the brain and getting centered like a nice long hike in the woods with the family and sometimes friends:) (The bottom photo was taken while stopping at a hut in the woods)

Pirate Giveaway

Ms. Morgart from Curls and a Smile is having a Piraty Giveaway! Hurry and check it out before it ends!

Teacher Work Day!!

Isn't it amazing how we can spend 8 hours in our classrooms alone and still not get everything done on our agendas :) This year we are working towards accredidation and they are really pushing for evidence of data. I spent most of my day getting report cards written and everything filed and ready for our visit. By the time that was done I was out of time. I stayed awhile longer to at least be ready for Monday. Lindsey at The Teacher Wife has some AMAZING units that I was able to get printed and laminated. I also hung the ones we have already used so that they are up for student reference. I'm hoping to get some photos posted as it looks super cute!! I just read she is having a sale so I popped over to see what's up. She only had two units I don't already own but I was sure to snap them up. We might be using the noun unit for review or I'll put it away for next year. My boys loved the SUP-ER hero graphics and they are 2nd and 4th grade:)

Finding balance...

Well I just got started on this but haven't found the time to write an entry or add what we're doing:( So I've been wondering how teachers find the balance between family and their jobs? I have three adorable boys and this week baseball season started in full swing with a game for one tonight and another on Saturday. I had hoped to do a little work on some Earth Day projects for school. Fortunately tomorrow is a Teacher Work Day and after completing report cards I can maybe spend some time planning. Does anyone else have these issues? Seriously after 13 years of teaching, I'm still asking myself how do I get it all in?
(I'll have to show some super cute photos of my little baseball players:)

Check out Erica Bohrer's First Grade: Spring Themed Fun Contest

Erica Bohrer's First Grade: Spring Themed Fun Contest: "Anna Brantley of  Crazy for First and I have teamed up for a 'Spring Themed Fun' contest.  You could win Anna's adorable Hippity Hoppity Math and Literacy Centers and my Jelly Bean Math Centers, plus my Spring File Folder and Writing Prompts.

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My first blog entry...

Well I'm hoping to take a stab at the world of teacher blogs so here goes nothing...

Over the past couple of months I have fell in LOVE with teaching all over again as I have been inspired by fabulous teachers all over the world! Though I don't have access to many of the luxuries stateside (Dollar Tree), I do have access to the internet:) I'll try to post some photos of my classroom and hope to link up with some of the amazing teachers out there! Still working on the blog image but Thistlegirl images sure are snazzy:)

Contact

My Class Website: www.martinsmartians.com
Me: jsrjmartin@aol.com
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About

I am currently a first grade teacher working overseas. I began my teaching adventure 13 years ago. Since then I have taught Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and Special Education. Growing up I remember lining up my stuffed animals and pretending they were my students. My classroom looks nothing like it did in my pretent school but I enjoy just as much as I did then. I beleive that learning has to be fun for the kids and am always looking for great ideas to keep that spark alive.

I am also a mom to three wonderful little boys! We had a little surprise with our youngest who is just about to have his first birthday!! Though we are starting all over again, there is such joy that comes with it.

Blogging is such a wonderful way for teachers to share their expertise and creativity! I am hoping that I will have the opportunity to share a little of what I have gained from my years working with children.
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