Five for Friday

It is OFFICIALLY Summer Vacation!!!!!!  Now that deserves an "Amen" in itself!  

1. This is the moment I have been waiting for ALL YEAR!  My End of the Year gift to my kiddos... I created a DVD.  And yes, I used your typical song that everyone else probably used on theirs, "You've Got A Friend In Me" from Toy Story.  But I don't care because it's such an awesome song!  The best slideshow to use for these is the scrapbook option that comes on Mac computers.  I love it because it shows several pictures at once, so I can put a TON of pictures in it, without it being too long.  My DVD was only 7 minutes, but every kid was in it at least 15 or so times, probably more than that!  I'm good about taking pictures all year long, so I got everything in there (first day, writers workshop, daily 5, book buddies, field trips, recess, pics with me, us working on projects, us being silly, etc...)  Here was my cover:

2. Here is the End of The Year gift I gave my team.  One of my teammates found this at The First Grade Parade so I decided to take it upon myself to try it out because I am a natural artist wish I were an artist!  (Don't tell my kids I'm not because I lie to them and tell them I am...it's the only time it's ok to lie!)  It was very cheap!  The pots were $1.29 each and the paints were $0.69 each.  

3. My End of the Year Gift to my room mom was similar to the one I gave my team.  Kecia found Cara Carroll's pots, so we decided we would paint our Room Moms each a pot. Maria is extremely artistic, so she helped make she fancy designs around the letters. (After doing this I decided to make them each one, the ones I showed above.)  Here are a few of our pots.  

4. This little gem was found after my kiddos left school for the summer.. apparently a survery went around finding out which name they liked better, "Kaite" or "Svetina".  Notice the "ai" in my name... I like to think it's because she remembered that long can be spelled "ai".  I feel a little responsible! :)

5)This made me laugh....

  Happy Summer! :)

Five for Friday

Happy Friday!! I am so excited to link up for the second time with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!  


1. Chia Chia!!! Ok so this activity is obviously in the beginning stages, but I have to admit that I am so excited about it!!  I will post about this activity again next week when they actually grow.. but we made chia pets in science this week! I'm going to allow my kiddos to give their "pet" haircuts, but talk about a lesson learned in disguise! We are growing grass, limas, and a flower.    

2. This is the same project we did last year during our goods and services unit!  We found this at Mrs. Saylor's Log and it was super fun!

3. My class is obsessed with post it notes! But have you ever heard of post it TAPE?!  I was introduced to it by our writing specialist (yes, the one I have mentioned in several previous posts) and it works really well !  We use it during writer's workshop.  Everyone knows the thin brown writing paper with handwriting lines.  We also know how easily it rips!  Almost every time a kiddo erases something, it tears!  My biggest pet peeve is when they are almost done creating a book, and it rips.  Because now there are tears.  Tears because we have been working on this book ALL WEEK.  Well, have no fear, post it tape to the rescue!! They can cover the tear or the word they wanted to change, and write ON THE TAPE! 

Now we don't have to start over on our rough drafts!

  4. This was a Short week!! We were only in class Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  (Tuesday we had a field trip and today we are OFF!) Not to mention that yesterday was the 28th, and do you know what that means?!  PAY DAY!! Happy Good Friday to MWA! Off to the mall because........

5. I HAVE BACKSTAGE PASSES TO BILLY CURRINGTON!! I mean I can't meet him in a yucky old outfit? Ew! (Please watch this video so you can hear the way I am saying "Ew")

Happy Weekend Y'al!!

Five for Friday!!

Well not only is today Friday, but I get to Link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!! It was a short week.. but here are a few highlights..

1) In all of my years of teaching, (okay so only 2) I can finally say, "I LOVE WRITER'S WORKSHOP!!"  You have no idea how far my class has come with this!  It might possibly be our favorite part of the day...seriously.  I am always finding extra ways to beef stuff up in my classroom.. and this one works!  You may already know about Brave Spellers.  Here is my Brave Spellers Board. 

It is the best incentive to get your kiddos to try and include those big words in their stories, without constantly asking you to spell things for them. Plus, they can't just tell me they tried a big word, I have to find it!  It has really helped encourage independence.. mmmmm...my favorite word! 

2. I am fortunate enough to have a FABULOUS writing specialist in my district.  (The fact that her niece is in my class is just an extra bonus!!) She came to my class and taught a writing lesson one day. During her lesson, she introduced detail stickers. They have done WONDERS in our writing! Everytime I see details in their stories, we put a detail sticker. Sometimes they tell me they need one and that works perfect too!  They LOVE it! 

3. Before Spring Break we did a huge author study on Kevin Henkes. Cliche? Random time of the year? I know... But the purpose was strictly for writer's workshop. We focused on noticing details in his writing and the way he puts details in his pictures. Not to mention that all of his characters show up in other stories and most of them are mice. Well...I decided to do an illustrator study when we got back. David Catrow worked really well for this! We loved the details in his pictures, especially facial expressions and emotions. If you are ever looking for writer's workshop lessons, there is NOTHING wrong with grabbing a random book off your shelf and discussing the author's techniques throughout it.

4. This is one of my favorite read alouds.. Everyone has heard of the A-Z Mystery series, but this one is AWESOME! My kids were falling off the edge of their seats with this book.  You could literally hear a pencil drop in my classroom.  I won't give anything away, but it's a must read!   =

5. This was a gift to me from my team last year.. my star power! I'm ordering them for several teachers at my school right now. If you don't have yours yet, you should really consider getting one!

Happy Weekend!