brown day.

Thursday was not only groundhog's day, it was {brown} day!  Hmm...somebody may have orchestrated that on purpose.

We made these cute Cara Carroll inspired burrows and added a writing piece.  {How adorable is all of her stuff?!}  But then, because I couldn't help thinking the burrows looked like bladders {bad cutting skills?!} I added fringe to the top.  It looks like grass, right?  RIGHT???

We also created cute little groundhog ears {sentence strip with 2 construction paper ears!} and practiced popping up out of the ground.  If you missed it, you can watch the actual proclamation online:

We had pretzel sticks for a brown snack and shared our hints for the brown items we brought from home.

Then we made these ah-dor-a-ble football players from A Cupcake for the Teacher to write about the Superbowl.  After all, what color is a football anyway?

Totally worth the $1 purchase.  There are 4 different writing prompts and, while the pieces take some time to cut out, they were completely worth it.  I took some major slack from my staff trying to figure out how to represent the teams {hello...they're both blue!} but finally figured it out thanks to Superbowl.com.  And my coworker heckling.

Cute cute sideline fans no matter which team you choose to root for!

i {heart} valentines.

I. love. Valentine's. Day.  I was never the girl who boycotted the holiday {and no, not because I was never single on the 14th!} but I was the girl who passed out valentines in junior high when no one else did.  In 7th grade I was actually injured from spraining my ankle during cheerleading practice and decorated my crutches for school with tinsel and hearts.  My mom had this totally rad pair of red hightop reeboks that I wouldn't let her get rid of because I wore them EVERY year as part of my Valentine outfit.  Matching scrunchie and all!  Oh yes, I was the epitome of fashion.

Even now I love it.  I wear my heart on my sleeve in daily life so it isn't too shocking for my friends to hear that I love them or to get a big random hug, but it seems like the whole word is sensitive and caring for that one day...and it's so nice.

Ok, ok...and it's another holiday that let's me do fun crafty things at school.  ;)

We make these cute heart people every year and they're soooo easy to do.  I cut the large hearts but use the diecut machine to make the hands and feet.  If using diecuts isn't an option you could hand cut the small hearts or teach the kids to cut them out themselves!  They'd be even more unique that way!  The legs and arms are my favorite part because when the kids accordian fold them, they kind of wobble around.  If only I could do my wobble-leg impression for you...but I guess that'll stay with my teammates!

These are the glyph directions that we use.  I kept them generic in case your heart people don't look exactly like mine.  All you need is construction paper in red, purple, and 2 shades of pink, red and pink glitter {or glitter glue} and x's and o's for noses.  Mine were foam shapes from Valentine's Day pack but if you don't have those, the noses could also be glitter or hand-drawn!

I've used multiple valentine boxes in the past but am sticking with kleenex boxes again this year.  I've been collecting them all school year but since it's cold season I'm sure you can find plenty empty boxes to be donated throughout your school and in the homes of your students!

I have a big scrap bucket that all of our construction paper goes into and I drag that out into the middle of the carpet for the kids to use.  I show them how to cut hearts but let them do the rest.  Depending on what I have in my art cabinet, I'll lay out doilies, foam shapes and stickers.  The Target dollar bin is a great place to look right now if you're need of crafty things.  The teacher who first came up with this idea wraps the entire box in butcher paper then cuts out the hole but I don't bother to take time on that step!

I'm having trouble locating my pictures from last year {eek!} but I borrowed this picture from Mom Daze.  This is basically what they look like, depending on what your kids decide to use as decorations.

For math, keep those heart boxes {even if you throw out the coconut candies!} and save them for a fun math game.  I wrote numbers in each section for my students to practice counting and matching numbers to amounts, but you could also write an addition or number sentence in the bottom for differentiation.

 I teach the game using foam stickers or colored pom poms.

Then I bring out the candy hearts for people who follow directions and do a good job, although it's ultimately for the kids who need a little reminder to focus.  ;)  Each kid has their own bag so they can play multiple times without worrying about germ cross-contamination.  They use the same bag on Valentine's Day to graph the candy hearts!

Happy heart month!  :)

orange day.

We had our first color day last week and started with {orange!}

For each color day I send home a paper bag with a clue.  The kids find something from home, put it in the bag and write a few hints.  Here was mine.

It was orange vampire teeth from the Halloween treasure box.  It's just a Word document with 3 simple text boxes, but click the link and you can download and edit it.  Just promise to let me know how you inevitably make it better.  :)

Some kid examples:

This one I had to share because of the replacement paper.  We must've heard 14 times that day that she had to use a post it note because her brother puked on her clue sheet.  "ALL over it.  He puked.  All over it."

What's orange day without an orange snack?!

Then we read The Carrot Seed and retold the beginning, middle and end of the story.  On a carrot of course!

 Look at those tissue paper tops...isn't it cute?!

I'm working these color days mostly in to my literacy lesson so it's just a few ideas each day.  The kids also dressed all in orange and made orange crowns for morning work.  Yay orange!

fun {and easy} way to use technology.

I found {cookie} this morning and have to admit I've spent the last half hour playing games!  This is a fantastic website that I'm going to start using on Monday!  They all have audio directions in case you want your kids to work independently and when one game ends, another one pops up to play again...so it doesn't require your attention every 5 minutes.  ;)  Most of them also have timers at the bottom so you can encourage a little competition in a group center.

Here are a few that I found, er, played this morning and love for kindergarten.

{literacy}
Alphabet Writing: green arrows and red Xs force the children form letters correctly in order to move on.

The Blank: practice using sight words to complete sentences.  Good grammar practice!

What Letter Missing: practice ABC order.  The chipmunks cry at a wrong answer or clap for the right choice.

Simple Sentences: click the bubbles to write a complete sentence.  Punctuation included!

Sight Words: Sight word memory.  Choose preschool - 3rd grade ability level.

{math}
Color Addition: each color choice has a number, which represents the sum of the equation.

Color Subtraction: same game, reverse skill!

Learn Shape: students match shapes to their shadows.  Then a short video pops up telling the shape name,  how many sides it has and showing real life objects of the same shape.

Graph and Tally: a video walks students through counting and recording amounts of animals then shows them how to make a tally chart.  A skill practice game comes next.  The same process is also there for teaching and practicing venn diagrams, picture graphs, pictographs and bar graphs.

{science}
The Five Senses: a video explains all five senses then students categorize items by which sense they would use to explore it.

Grow Plant: after a video explanation of how to care for a plant, students match the vocabulary to correct picture for a review of each part's purpose.

Body Parts: students label major body parts then move into smaller parts of the face, arms and legs.  They match body parts to their function and end by finding the parts on an animal.

Yes, the voice is a touch robotic, but the graphics, movement and skill practice are amazing.  There are also worksheets to print for additional practice {or data keeping} that go along with the skill of each game.  Happy Playing!  :)

Tag...you're it!

I was tagged by Chrissy over at Everyday with the Jays and think this is one of the most fun posts to go around.  There are rules of course {don't get crazy!} but after posting 12 things about yourself, the tagger then also gets to make up her own questions to the new tagees!  So fun!

So....{part 1} 12 things about me, that I haven't already shared:

*I am a little OCD.  Volumes need to be on evens.  I only write with really inky black pens.  When eating something smooth like peanut butter or Nutella, I scrape from the top and can't stop eating until I've left a smooth surface.  I had to write one more sentence to balance it out.  {pah!}

*I've started the process of growing my hair back out.  My stacked bob is so fun and so much easier, but way long hair is just part of who I am.

*I've seriously begun entertaining my next project.  {hint hint}

*I cried when I realized I was too old to be Miss America.  Unfortunately, this is not false.

*I have an office full of half-done projects.

*I love love love kids but can't make up my mind about when I want to have my own.  Yesterday?  In 3 years?  Tomorrow?  Is anyone ever really ready?!

*I love Zac Efron.  Yes...from High School Musical.

*I am a daddy's girl.  Straight up.

*I wish I was better at consistently reading my Bible.

*I have a really super great husband.

*Miss Mary in our cafeteria calls me Tyra Mail.  {Every day: "Hey Tyra Mail!"}

*I love love love love my school and the people I work with.

{part 2} to Chrissy's questions:

Most favorite day every and why: Thanksgiving.  It means family and togetherness.  Also playing games and watching home videos for us!

Do you go to church anywhere?  Yes!  I helped start Mosaic and have been attending and serving ever since.  Our pastor was born in Kuwait and raised Muslim.  This is not your average church.  :)

Dresses or pants: Dresses are cuter and comfier but I wear dress pants to work a lot because it's easier to get down on the floor.

What state do you want visit the most?  California!  Hollywood baby.  I've never been out west!

What country do you want to visit?  Greece.  Take me to those blue and white villas on the crystal sea.  With kalmata olives.  I would go tomorrow!

Coffee?  What do you like?  I can't wake up without it.  I drink it with just half and half in the mornings but do like a cappuccino at Starbucks for a treat.  {1/2 syrup, though...living with Peter has changed my tastebuds and now a full flavor is too sweet!}

Least favorite house chore: Laundry.  So thankful you can't see my closet floor...

Favorite movie of all time: So hard!  The Holiday.  Willy Wonka.  Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.  Elf.  Depending on my moods, one of those will do it!

Do you sew?  No.  Or cook.  And I barely clean.  My poor husband.  I would've never made it in the 50s!!

What's your favorite hobby? Right now...blogging and pinterest!  And making things I take from them.

Do you like to travel by car, train, plane or ship?  Well, a ship would imply a cruise which would be awesome...but I have to say plane because that means I'm going somewhere pretty fun.

Goal for blogging?  To share my ideas, make me a better teacher and provide kids everywhere with a better education experience!

{part 3} tag...you're it:

First Grade Blue Skies - Jennifer is always the first to comment and leave me feedback!
Teaching with Sight - Sharon is legally blind and the way she teaches is incredible.
Coloring Books & Funny Looks - Kristina is a new blogger with long posts {like yours truly!} that are chock full of ideas.
Kinderland - Katie is another new K blogger.  Show her some love!
Kindergarten Lesson Plans - Kayla's blog is full of all things kindergarten.  And if you don't see what you're looking for, she'll help you find it!
Be a Nut with Mrs. McNutt - If the title doesn't grab you, Steph's cute personality will.
Apples and Papers - Jessica is a new teacher and already tackling a blog...with cute stuff at that!
Wood's Kindergarten Class - Mrs. Wood may not have freebies ready to print out but her pictures and amazing photographic detail tells you everything you need to know to recreate her activities.
Oopsey Daisy - Alison's blog is all kinds of cuteness but she has a separate section for what she calls Mommy School, ie free themed packets.  She's great!
Dilly Dabbles - A K-2 blog with a giveaway coming soon!!!  :)
Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten - Julie has so so so many pictures for so so so many ideas.
Busy Teacher's Cafe - strategies, printables, themes, resources...FREE.

{part 4} ok ladies, your questions are as follows:

1. How do you relax after a stressful day/week?
2. What's your guilty pleasure TV show?
3. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
4. What is your favorite place to buy school supplies?
5. What is your favorite board/pin on Pinterest?  (or your favorite recent idea if you aren't on)
6. What is a super easy meal you like to make for dinner?
7. What frustrates you about blogging?
8. If you found the perfect unit on a blog, the topic/skill would be ______?
9. What is your favorite thing to teach?
10. What is one of the funniest kid moments you've had at school?
11. The most played song on your iPod is _______?
12. Who inspired you to become a teacher?

Looking forward to reading their answers!  And I hope the rest of you will head on over to find 12 new blogging friends!  :)