Word Wall Words

 As the year comes to a close and I should be working on report cards, I can't help but start to plan for next year.  I started thinking about my word wall and how it really doesn't stand out. Right now it is a white board and the words are printed on white card stock.  White on white a little boring- right.  I wanted something that stood out, but wouldn't be too distracting.  As much as I'd love cute polka dot borders or colored backgrounds for my words- I decided against the business of it all and just changed the vowels to blue and added a black border to the words.

This is what I have now

These will be my words for next year

click the pictures to get yours for free

Numerical Order

I am knee deep into assessment and have realized that there are a few concepts some of my kids just don't have.  I also know that they need some independent work that they can be successful at while I'm assessing.  I created this to use in our math center tomorrow.  I will focus on numbers 21-30 as that is what they will be assessed on.  However, I included numbers 1-30.  You can get your free copy by clicking the pictures below.  If you end up using it, please let me know how it went.

Protect your Tech

Technology has changed the way I teach.  However this means that I must bring my laptop to school.  When I first purchased my laptop I had a very difficult time finding a bag that was stylish and offered protection against the elements and protection against banging it into something or worse yet, dropping it.  Sure it was easy to find cases for 14" or 15" laptops, but I have the big one!  This is a 17" baby.  I ended up ordering a custom made carrying case because all I could find were briefcases or rolling cases that would hold mine.  

Now skip forward a few years, my laptop is still going strong and sees more travel than ever.  If I'm not carting it off to work, my son is hijacking it for school.  Now my laptop needs more protection than ever and my son really didn't want to be seen with his mom's girly laptop case.

I was thrilled when given the opportunity to review this case from Samsill. Their 17" Altego™ Clear Laptop Sleeve is fabulous. The front side is made up of clear independent air pockets for maximum protection from shock, impact and vibration.  The back side is comprised of thick neoprene with cushion cell lining.  Another advantage to this case is that it is airport security friendly.  According to Samsill, there is no need to remove your case from the sleeve while going through airport security.  I highly recommend this product.  As a mom of a teenage boy who isn't always as gentle as I'd like him to be, I know my laptop is safe when it is with him.  As a bonus feature it fits perfectly into my bag that I use for work.

Featured and Followed

My morning has started off fabulously!!!  I sat down to read emails and to my surprise I am featured this week on Teacher's Notebook.  I also hit over 400 followers.  The blogging world has changed my life.  I am truly thankful to all of the bloggers and followers that have helped me to be a better blogger and teacher.  To show my appreciation, My Teacher's Notebook Store is all on-sale and I'm also having a giveaway over there too.

Also, if you haven't heard/read I have another blog for teachers and I'd love  it if you'd stop by.

Time 4 Organization

Butterflies are Fluttering

Today when I let my kids in they immediately ran to see if we had butterflies.  I hadn't even looked.  I really didn't think we would have them so soon.  We did, we had two.  I took the enclosure off of the clothesline and placed it under the Elmo.  While the students went about their morning center work they watched the third butterfly emerge.  We are still waiting for the other two.  I was able to capture some photos and video throughout the day.

The entire process of watching tiny larva grow and change has been the talk of the classroom since our Insect Lore package arrived.  My students are complexity engaged. They are constantly looking at our butterfly books, talking about them and sharing them with everyone who enters the room.  Our reading specialist gets a personal tour of our butterfly garden every day when she arrives to get her reading group. Even my students who normally do not talk or participate are doing so.  The conversations they are having amongst themselves are funny, interesting, and educational.   Bringing science to life has been been so rewarding for my students and for me as an educator.  Next year, I will plan a little better and add ladybugs to our curriculum as well.  The process only took a few weeks.  They arrived April 17th and today, May 2nd we have butterflies.
Thank you Incest Lore for giving me the opportunity to review your wonderful butterfly garden.

Patiently Waiting for Butterflies

Last Friday our last caterpillar made its way to the top.  We are now patiently impatiently waiting for the butterflies to emerge.  We hope it won't happen during the weekend.  I was able to hang the netted enclosure that came with the caterpillars on a clothesline in my classroom.  They are up high and out of the way. Everyone can still observe them with their eyes and not their hands.  I placed a paper plate in the bottom to keep the enclosure clean.

Caterpillars Part 2

Last week I shared our caterpillars from Insect Lore.  They sent me their Butterfly Garden with Live Caterpillars to review.  I must say these little creatures are amazing.  Just watch the video to see for yourself.  My students were quiet for the most part, just ignore me trying to get a student's attention:) These little caterpillars were very busty this morning.  The kids were convinced that they'd all make their chrysalis today right as we watched.  At one point while we were observing them via our Elmo, two of them were crawling about each other, the kids thought they were kissing.  I've had caterpillars before from other companies and they definitely were not this big or lively.  These are quality caterpillars.

Friday Fun!!!

 I love Fridays!  Tomorrow I will be rocking my new Kindergarten Rocks! T-shirt and my new red Converse.  What Kindergarten teacher doesn't need this shirt.    Hop over to Teachershirts.com and grab one for yourself.  Here are my reasons for loving this shirt.

• I love that they have ladies cut.  They also have unisex,  long sleeves and hoodies  too.
• They are pre-shrunk 
• They are long enough in the torso.  I am 5'9, so having a shirt long in the torso is important to me.
• The ladies cut is a little fuller and has a rounded neck versus the normal crew cut t-shirt.
• They are super comfy and really cute!!!

  Use coupon code  TIME4K20

to take 20% off any order over $40.

It will be active from 4/15/12 through 4/30/12.

And now for my Friday Fun Shoes......

HAVE A FABULOUS DAY!

Insect Lore Caterpillars

It's that time of year when classrooms across the United States are observing the life cycle of the butterfly. Thanks to Insect Lore, my class has been mezmerized by these tiny little creatures crawling about their clear cup.  They arrived last Friday during lunch time, so only my late kids got to see how tiny they were. By Monday, they had doubled in size.  We started out our morning watching them crawl around.  I angled the Elmo projecor so I could display them for all to see.  My class sat on the carpet for about 10 minutes just watching and commenting on them.  They were certain that the little guys would make their chrysalis right there.   I can't wait to see how big they will be tomorrow.  Hopefully I will be able to capture some video of them moving about.  The little guy at the top was super animated this morning.

Birthday Bash!

I love birthdays! especially when it is mine.  I will be celebrating all week.  A girl's got to take advantage of the small things while she can.  Saturday is the real day and I'll be 29  45.  Ugh did I just type that...