My Classroom Pictures

Hi everyone!!

I just wanted to share some pictures of how my classroom looks so far.  

I'm off to buy some wondering items at TPT since they are having a sale today and tomorrow.  Everything on my store is on sale up to 20% off.  Thank you Sarah at Educlips & Educasongs for sharing this cute button.

Have a fabulous day!!:)

Word Wall Pocket Chart in Action

I just had to share a few pictures of us during writing!  Every since I introduced our word wall pocket chart, the students have been using it non stop when it is time for us to write in our writing journals.  It brings me such joy to see that they are using the words in our word wall pocket chart.  

Here it is in action!  These pictures were taken in January when we were learning about penguins and before we went on our track break.

I've had a few that came up to me to ask for some words that were not on our pocket chart.  I explained that only our sight words would be on the pocket chart and if they were not there we would have to try our best and sound it out. (If you look at my student on the side, she's using our Penguin bubble map to help her write about penguins.)

Our Class Pet Fluffy!!

My friend introduced me to Webkinz in 2007...she kept talking on and on about how fun it was to play games online and that her students really enjoyed going on the website.  It took me awhile to check it out...but when I did...I became a Webkinz fanatic!!  You should have seen my collection and all of the webkinz plush animals we used in our library center.  She wasn't kidding, they loved reading to the webkinz and also going to the website to play games.

When I found out about Webkinz Jr., I wanted to see if it would be something I could use in kinder.   The first year, I introduced Max Jr. the Monkey...they couldn't stop talking about him.

Every year I would adopt another Webkinz Jr. for the class so that they could play with our webkinz online. 

In the past I've had a class pet hamster, but after my last one died from old age...I just couldn't take losing another little friend.  I'm such an animal lover and get so attached.  

So, this year instead of having a real classroom pet, I decided to use a Webkinz Jr. Puppy and introduced him as our class pet in the beginning of the school year. They had so many different names for him, but the name Fluffy had the most votes.  So, we named him Fluffy!

I told my students that every week I would select a student to be our O.W.L. of the Week (Student of the Week) and the S.O.F.W. would get to take Fluffy home over the weekend.    

They were really looking forward to seeing how he looked like on the computer and we played a few games with Fluffy online!  Inside Fluffy's bag he has a folder with his favorite bed time stories, journal, pencil box, and a parent letter.

Here is a picture of the inside of the journal.  Inside, it contains Fluffy's rules for using his journal and the students write their name in his visiting log.  

Every week we make a circle map about the Student of the Week, and the students help with thinking of nice words they can say about their classmate.  

After we make the circle map they write about their friend on a sheet of paper to make him/her a class book.

I found this wonderful 'Star of the Week Class Book' at TGIF (Thank God It's First Grade!) blog.  It's adorable and it has worked so well for our class.  You can get a free copy by checking out her website!  I hope you enjoyed viewing how we use Fluffy in our class!:)

Happy Valentine's Day! Five for Friday & Freebie

Happy Valentine's Day!!  Today was my first day back at work...we had a Staff Development Day and I get to see my kiddos again on Tuesday.  How, fun to link up on a holiday! It's time for Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

We went to watch the Lego Movie...I must admit that I wasn't really looking forward to watching it but it wasn't that bad.  My husband couldn't wait to watch it, he thought it was awesome and kept singing the 'Everything is Awesome' song all day...can you find me in the picture.;)

It was our first time going to the Grand Canyon and getting to ride a train to get there!  It was truly breath taking to view it and when I saw that there were locks on the fence, I knew that I wanted to do that if we ever came back.  We had such a blast!  On our drive back to Vegas, I spotted a street sign with my name...I made my hubby pull over so that I could take a picture with it, lol.

Yesterday my friend texted me while I was watching the Dr. Oz show in the morning, asking if I could stop by her school to drop off her camera.  She had forgotten it and they were having a Valentine's Day celebration...so I quickly got ready, went by her house to pick up her camera, and I took some quick pictures of her AM class.  For a minute, I thought I wasn't going to make it in time but thankfully I did.  Before I left her classroom, I took a quick snap shot of her 100th day family project. 

I've been watching my favorite episodes of 'Friends' during my track break and Joey just cracks me up all the time.  He is just too funny...I just love watching these, they put me in such a great mood!

Today during our Staff Development Day, kindergarten was lucky to have Heidi Butkus be a presenter for our kinder conference!  I am such a fan of her work and I practically have all of her DVD's and CD's!!  She's so creative and my kids love to dance the sight words, alphabet and numbers. 

Their favorite one is 'Zero the Hero!'  Check out her website to see all of her wonderful products!   I just couldn't wait to attend the conference in the afternoon.  It was filled with lots of dancing...what a great way to end our day!  

And here is a freebie just for reading my Five for Friday!  This is a simple game that I use for my students to review numeral teen numbers 11-16.  To play the game they need the game sheet, a bingo stamper, and a big clear pocket die with the numbers 11-16.  They roll the die and stamp the matching number.  Click on the image to download the file.  

Wishing everyone a fabulous Valentine's Day!:)

Donors Choose & Mystery Box Giveaway!

I just came back today from my lil vacation to the Grand Canyon!  It was so nice to get away from home, but I couldn't wait to come back to see my doggies!!  I missed them very much!  

It was so much fun and plus I was able to use my new camera!!  I also received an email while I was away on my trip to the Grand Canyon about our donor choose project being posted for a drying rack that we desperately need for our classroom.  Now through Feb. 16th, Donors Choose will match any donations when a donor enters the match code 'Inspire.'  I'm crossing my fingers that we hopefully can receive one of these...it will help us keep with storing our art work in a safe place!  

I'm just asking for one, so I really...really hope that we can get one.  Have you seen this giveaway?!  This is a great giveaway that I just happened to see on my bloglovin' today!  I have missed being on my computer too, lol!!

I just entered and I think you need to check it out as well!  This giveaway has a ton of wonderful goodies!!!  

Stop by all of these wonderful ladies blogs to enter!