ed & ing {verb work}

I loosely taught the ing ending at the beginning of the year because it's an easy one to remember.  See ing, say ing! like you're ringing a bell.  Most of them get it just like that...but only in reading recognition, not so much when it comes to writing it themselves.

I figured this was just as good a week as any to teach it during writing, and ed right along with it!  The Teacher Wife made this awesome word ending unit that I bought last year and really used it to teach and practice all week.  {I love how her ed people are old and her ing people are students.  So relevant to past and present!!}

We started by putting ed and ing on the SmartBoard and filling in a 3 column chart with the verb in the middle.  {walked, walk, walking}  To help the kids remember that ing is happening now, I had them get up and act out whatever verb they came up with.

Then they created their own old ed and now ing characters like the ones from the packet.

After that I gave them each an outline with flower pieces.  I wrote either ed or ing in the center of their flower and set them loose to add the ending to whichever verbs they chose!  {Easy differentiation: ed was harder because the students had to know which verbs didn't make sense that way...like rided/rode and which already ended in e so they didn't add it again...like dance.}

They cut grass from the scrap bucket, I added a glitter stem and a sun with their name and voila!  Our verbs are displayed proudly for all to see in a happy spring fashion.  :)

If you'd like to make it yourself, get the packet above from The Teacher Wife or click below for my free flower download!

I'm officially on Spring Break and ready to just relax.  Starting with a trip to see The Hunger Games tonight {finally!}.  Happy Weekend friends!

chick {clue} writing.

You can't go the week before spring break without creating some sort of Easter egg can you?!  I certainly can't!

We dyed eggs this year using Kool-Aid {so much nicer to smell than vinegar!} thanks to Jen Renee.

And we made these cute little chickies with construction paper.  They're similar to the ones we made last year but I added a writing piece.  We've been talking about descriptive language and how it can be like a clue to explain what you're thinking of without really saying it directly so I figured we'd play a little guessing game with people walking by!

Instead of hanging writing and artwork together, I mixed them all up and hug it willy-nilly like.  So if you're looking for a particular child's chick, you'll just have to read their clues to find it!  ;)

 Tip: use a loofah to paint feather-esque prints.

Here's your copy!

P.S. I left with 18 babies today {ah!} but have a feeling there will only be 17 when I go in tomorrow.  Is it bad to pray for a quick release or healing for a chicken?!

{lovie snuggles}

Happy Tuesday Cool Chicks!  {yuk yuk yuk...}

observing chicks {journal download}

We have chick babies!!!!  :)  I was so fearful of them hatching over the weekend because I wasn't there to make sure everything was ok.  I literally had nightmares of coming back and finding that they'd suffocated in the incubator.  I know...so morbid...but they are just fine!

I went in to 5 and by the end of the day we had 13...with 3 or 4 more trying to poke out!! I wish you could've seen the kids.  They were so pumped!  Ok...so was I.  :)

To wrap up our unit, the chick journal is ready to go!  I had a little hiccup with getting the eggs when I originally planned so we didn't have time to do all 17 pages but the good news about the unit is that you can totally pick and choose which pages you want to use!

You can get it at my Teacher's Pay Teachers store

{and remember to redeem your credits for purchases now!}

Here's a free sample page for you, my loyal lovelies!  Even if you aren't hatching chickies, put some candy or a manipulative in a plastic egg and let your kids use this page to figure out what's inside!

P.S. If you go check it out at my TPT store, there's a bonus preview page from the packet.  ;)

good old southern mothering.

Another homework journal funny as you're wrapping up lesson plans tonight:

I hope all of your kids have their sense about them this week!  Have a great one!  :)

Friday Fashion Find.

I'm love love loving this one.  And while I've yet to try it, I do have Spring Break coming up soon.  So in the words of Barney Stinson...wait for it...

glitter shoes.

Whether you're going for pumps or flats, this style is in!  And so super fun.  You can wear jeans and a t-shirt and be ready to go out {to dinner, to a party, to the park, whatever} just by throwing on some sparkle and shine.

This first tutorial gave me a heart attack because she glittered up her Loubs.  {Lord help me if I ever feel like I have enough money to justify spending so much on some Louboutins, I will certainly not be making any adjustments!!}

If you're not so ready to rock the stilts, you can do just the same with your worn out ballet flats.

Speaking of Loubs, if you're envious of that statement sole...glitter it up instead!  {Just use red glitz!}

Or if your shoes look like mine {tattered and torn...worn in...loved} cover up the peeling material by ripping it off and covering what's left!

Wedge wearers, I didn't forget about you.  Follow any of the steps to add some sparkly height!

The best part is, you already have the secret ingredient in your home-at-school supply stash...

{modge podge!}

Actually, maybe I can't wait for Spring Break!  Happy creating.  Send a picture if you try it out.  From your classroom of course!  ;)

how many days 'til spring break?!

How has your week been ladies?  Because mine has been like this...

Just replace the word "cabin" with "spring" and we've got it.  Don't hear me wrong, I am luh-ving 70 and 80 degree recesses but the warm weather paired with spring break beginning soon is a recipe for madness.

I saw this cute cute idea on Pinterest and think I may use it next week as we gear up for a break.  The picture links you to Teacher Treasures but I couldn't find it hiding in there.  {If you find the pattern, help a sister out!}

I figured it wouldn't be too difficult to make and my kids will love writing with a colored pencil.  And if you don't have any of these construction paper crayons that practically glow on black paper, make a note to go speak with your art teacher ASAP!

Instead of a poem about spring they could write about what they want to do this spring/summer, where they wish they were going on spring break, how the warm weather makes them feel {ooh!  I know!  energized!!!} or they could list things they observe outside in the warm weather...since they're writing on sunglasses after all.

Ok, and just because I love you {and this idea} this is how I plan to dye Easter eggs next week.  I won't even complain about the stains on my fingers because it WON'T smell like vinegar in my room!!

a funny to start your week.

I have to share one of the homework journal entries I read on Friday.  I just saw the picture on my phone and laughed all over again.  {Backstory: I always always always tell my students when I'm going to be absent, leave early, wear a new shirt, etc because it makes transitions for my schedule-following students much easier.  No surprises taking place this year!  Well, except that I took a personal day on Wednesday and didn't tell anyone.  So...make that just 2 always-es.}

Anyway, I came back on Thursday, told my kids the truth {that I had been on a secret mission} and all was well.  Then I saw this in one little girl's homework journal on Friday:

"Miss Young is not here today.  Miss O'Neil is here.  I don't know why she is not here.
She might be sick and she might be getting us a present."

Bah ha!  I love it.  {Did you notice that I only have princesses in my class??}  And of course she was right.  I had sour gummy words ready for everyone who behaved for the sub.  It still makes me laugh to see a child's true perspective and thought process.  Gotta love kinders!!

Have a great week friends.

And maybe someone will bring you a present!  ;)

Friday Fashion Finds.

I've thought multiple times about how I'm neglecting the glamour aspect of my title.  I mean, not in real life - don't get crazy - but with all of you.  So I've decided to start a new weekly post sesh...Friday Fashion Finds!  I realize it's Saturday and am already breaking my own rules but if you want my input you won't really care if it's Flag Day!  {am I right?}

This week's find: bold jeans.

I bought some cobalt blue legging jeans from Gap and am loving them.  They're super comfortable and I love that the colors are bright and bold but without going neon.

Reader Beware: When Gap says skinny they mean s-k-i-n-n-y.  I'm usually between 2 sizes when I buy pants {aren't we all} so I naturally grabbed for my "realistic" size instead of my "when I'm working out like a maniac" size...and STILL had to go one. I could've probably gone with my regular size but I prefer my skinny jeans to still resemble pants instead of being so tight they look like paint.

Bonus: Order today {3.17} and use code GAPGREEN for 20% off!

Don't be afraid of the color.  It's so so fun.  Plus, your friends at InStyle are always there to help you.  :)  Next on my list....yellow!  What color are you brave enough to try??

baby theme.

NO.  There is not a bump in this belly.  This is not a hint.  {I'm talking to you Mrs. McNutts!!}  But I did fly to Chicago last weekend to throw a shower for my little sister.  First baby in the family on both sides...he'll be such a spoiled little booger!!

Why do you care?  {I know...stay with me}  Because of the theme: Children's Books!!!  Beginning with the decorations:

There was a Cat & the Hat table, Very Hungry Caterpillar table, If you give a Mouse a Cookie table, etc.  But you could totally base it on whatever characters you can find.  Which is what I did.  Stack books from your classroom, add a character for height and some of mama's favorite snackies and you're done!

In lieu of cards, we asked everyone to bring a book for the nursery.  Teacher mama ensures that he'll be a reader!  {note my father's choice on top of the pile!!}

We laid out buttons, iron ons, fabric, sharpies and random doodads for onesie decorating.  This was a big huge hit with my sister as well as the guests!  They had a blast.

And please note my baby sister's choice of outfit, complete with fuzzy leopard pumps.  I'm such a proud big sister.  ;)

There is always some teacher somewhere in some school that's pregnant so hopefully you can use these ideas!  Click the games below for a free download...compilations of various games found on Pinterest!  Print on colored paper and you're good to go!

{P.S. Do you like my new little signature?!  :)  I just have to figure out how to embed it!}

leprechaun {P.O.V.} writing

I used this adorable Leprechauns are/can/like writing my class last year.  A year later and I still can't figure out who posted it?!  Unless I'm senile enough to have made it myself and not remember?!  {yes.  completely possible.}  But I don't think that's the case.

We put them inside little leprechaun men for display but I wanted to beef it up this year.  So after completing the Tree Map as a class, my kids are going to use those words to write from a leprechaun's point of view tomorrow!  No, POV might not be in the kindergarten Common Core...but it's never a bad idea to push the envelope, right?!  ;)

Click on the picture to go to my TPT store and download it {free}.  There are 3 letter forms to choose from.  I hope you can use at least one of them!

 Happy O'Writing!

{did I really just say that?!}

spring showers.

Whether your spring is coming in like lion or a lamb probably depends on what part of the country you're in.  But either way, it's coming!  I was reminded of this while I was in Chicago for my little sister's baby shower over the weekend.  It was a BEAUTIFUL weekend for Chicago...but still a good 20 degrees cooler than I've been used to down here in the south!

Spring always means rainy weather and this is a quick activity you can do for writing or as part of a weather study.  I actually pulled them out early this year during a unit on patterns.  Pardon the gloomy dark pictures, it was one of those dark, rainy days!  {and I was shooting into the window...}

"When it rains, I like to..."

You can also add little feet and legs sticking out of the bottom like the kids are walking around in the rain, I just can't ever get my proportions right and opt to add raindrops instead.  ;)

Enjoy your warm weather and sunshine...whenever it arrives!  :)

{currently} March.

First of all, I would like to thank Mrs. Coe for sharing my Cat in the Hat for 2012 post on TBA!  I've been trying to become a TBA author for a while now {hint hint} and so maybe this can be my in to becoming the next TBA Kindergarten author {hint!}  I mean...there are 19 right now.  And who isn't bothered by that number?!  I would be more than happy to make a rounded out 20, TBA!!  ;)

Now, love me some Farley.  After participating in her {currently} for a couple of months, I actually looked forward to it this month and was bummed Leap Year made me wait an extra day!!

Link up with {Oh boy 4th Grade} if you want to play.  It's fun!

P.S. Who got my Y-word for how my friends would describe me?!

P.P.S. I actually have zero tattoos! ;)