Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Currently October


It's time for Currently!  Thank you, Farley (Oh' Boy 4th Grade), for hosting each month!  If teacher bloggers were eligible for Emmy's Farley would certainly be nominated, win and rock out the speech.

What is currently happening in my life is very different 
than what has happened to me in October for the past 16 years.


Listening - We have two goldendoodles.  Kalli likes me better. Daisy likes my husband better.  I don't know why.  They should both like me better because I am the one who takes them on walks, lets them on the bed, buys them treats and throws the tennis ball for them in the backyard. It's a mystery.  

Loving - I started a new job as an Instructional Coach this year.  In my new role, I work as a member of the Instructional Support Team in our district.  We each have different roles and our leader (boss) is fabulous! I know I'm going to learn a lot from her.  It was really hard for me to leave my elementary building to take this position, but as I get to know my team it is clear that I made the right decision. 

Thinking -  When I packed up my classroom, I brought 32 of those giant rubbermaid bins home.  In addition to that I brought home 12 big pieces of furniture that belonged to me (book shelves, tables, chairs).  I need to keep lots of it, in case I return to the classroom anytime soon.  But, let's face it...the chances of me ending up in the same grade level if I return are slim.  Time to start digging through the bins, sorting into save/sell piles and posting some of the things that I really don't need.

Wanting - Two weeks ago, I sprained my ankle.  I fell down the basement stairs backwards while trying to carry groceries in from our garage.  The door to our garage is right at the top of the basement stairs and when I stepped to the side to open the door...I accidentally stepped backwards off the top step.  The result - I skinned my knee, sprained my ankle, bruised my elbow and sprouted a giant bump on my head.  For real.  The doctor called it a bad sprain and said it would take about 6 weeks to heal.  She was about 104 and seemed to be barely hearing what I said, so I was hoping she was wrong.  It's the beginning of week 3 and I am probably going to get struck by lightening for judging/doubting her soon.  It still hurts.  It's still swollen at the end of each day.  I spend a lot of energy each day trying to pretend like I am not hobbling. No wonder she laughed when I asked if I would be able to continue my running routine by the next weekend.  

Wanting - I actually already bought the rolling thing.  Once upon a time, I worked as a speech-language pathologist who traveled to 8 different buildings in a week.  After experiencing my cart of speech and language tricks dumping over the in the snow for 2 years, I decided I would NEVER own a rolling cart again.  My new job will require me to travel from building to building to work with teachers.  I broke down on Friday and bought a rolling bag (like the giant briefcase really).  The extra bonus is that it kind of works as a crutch too. :)

I have an appointment to get my nails done today and I'm sure I'll need to grab the ice pack for my dumb ankle by the end of the day.

TREAT!
Earlier this week, I posted a set of October Daily Messages for Kindergarten. If you'd like to try the daily messages, they are on sale from 10/5 (today) to 10/8 in my Tpt store!



In addition to the October Daily Messages for Kindergarten, the following fall themed products are also on sale from today 10/5 to 10/8 in my Tpt store







Be sure to visit Farley to find out what is currently going on with teacher bloggers around the world. 


Off to get ready for my son's soccer game.  It's 41 degrees in Michigan this morning, so I'll be breakin' out my lava seat for sure.  Happy Sunday!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Halloween Line Poems

My students wrote line poems about Halloween this week. I'm super proud of how their writing turned out. First, we talked about the fact that their line poem should begin and end with the word "Halloween". Then they added 10 words in between that reminded them of Halloween. 

We published their writing by turning their poem into a fancy bookmark. When the bookmarks were complete, we did a poetry reading for our publishing celebration. All of the children sat in a circle. I brought jack-o-lantern light up candle to put in the middle of the circle. All those little poets sitting in a circle reading their poems by the light of a festive candle was just about the cutest darn thing! 


 The paper we used is from my fall themed stationary pack.


Today, they will take home their published piece (on the bookmark), the draft in their own writing and the memory of their first poetry reading! 

Happy Friday!

 

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Favorite Easy Chapter Books for Halloween

I had big plans to write this post earlier tonight.   It turned out to be perfect weather for our annual visit to the pumpkin patch.  Big pumpkins for carving- check! Little pumpkins (just because they are adorable) - check! We made a stop at our favorite local pub on the way home (all teachers take their children to eat dinner at pubs on a random school night, right?).  Then we rushed home to watch the Tigers sweep the Yankees in the playoffs.  Go Tigers!!!!!

On to the post...

Halloween is a big deal at my school (my principal loves it).  I'm talking costumes, a parade, parties in our classrooms, a school wide story teller assembly and teachers who are so overwhelmed and tired at the end of the day that we can barely walk to our cars.  I am trying to pump myself up for the whole thing.  It's not working very well.  I'm all about kids having fun.  I also believe in the power of simplification to prevent kids and adults from getting so overwhelmed.  Books always make me feel better.  There are so many great books to read at this time of the year! 

 I read lots of leveled books to my students to introduce them to different series that they might like as they move through the reading levels throughout the year. Here are a few of my favorite easy chapter books to read to my class for Halloween.



At this time last year, I also did a post about my favorite picture books to use for reader's workshop lessons at this time of the year.  You can read that old post here.

Happy almost Friday!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Boo Who?

I've been boo'd (but this time it wasn't for talking too much)! 
Cynthia from 2nd Grade Pad is having a Boo Linky Party.

Kathy from First Grade A La Carte boo'd me (which made me smile).

 And, I'm linking up to Boo a few of my favorite bloggers as well.

1.  My friend, Kristin, from A Teeny Tiny Teacher.  
Yep, I can call her my friend because I met her before most of you.
Kristin might be the funniest person I've ever met 
(if we just lived close enough to meet in person).
Right now "Miss Fancy Pants" is eating cake.  Go visit and read about it.
 
A Teeny Tiny Teacher

2.  My friend, Holly, from Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade.
I met Holly (and her mysterious friend Barb) this summer 
at the Michigan Blogger Meet Up.
Holly and I have a lot in common and she cracks me up.
She's the blogging buddy that I can email if I need to vent something that is not postable.
(Hmmm...maybe that's not a word.  Or maybe I just created a new word.)

3.  My friend, Kate, from EduKate and Inspire.
I met Kate at the Michigan Blogger Meet Up as well.
She's actually from Ohio, which makes me like her even more.  (GO BUCKS!)
Plus she has a doodle (which is something we have in common).
We also took the Twitter plung together.



If you have not visited my friends above, you really should.  You're missing out!  If you already follow these amazing blogs, just stop by to leave them a fun comment.  

Visit Cynthia at the 2nd Grade Pad to join the fun!  Boo!

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Fall Math Work Stations

Last week, I finished making a set of fall math work stations that I've been working on for a while. I just added them to my Tpt store. I hoping to add them to my TN shop tomorrow.  You can click on the image below if you'd like to check them out.

The work stations in this pack include: 
Place Value Match (10 - 20) 
Batty/Cat's Meow (addition +1 game boards) 
Moon Madness/Magic Math Hat (subtraction -1 game boards) 
Silly Spider (clothespin addition) 
Silly Spider (clothespin subtraction) 
Spooky Time (telling time to the hour and half hour)


This is the first set of math work stations that I've added to my store/shop. So, how about a deal? My students like them, but I'd like some feedback from you/your students as well. I'm looking for 3 followers who would like to try the fall math work stations. Your part of the deal is simple - try my fall math work stations for free and blog about them if you like them. I'll send a free copy to the first three bloggers to respond. You try them in your classroom and blog about them if you like them (and send me a link to your post). Anyone interested?