Friday, January 27, 2012

He's back!

When I started back blogging again I decided that I would blog at least once a week to make up for being missing for months, but now he's back!
Yes, Mr. Frog is now located upstairs and downstairs to assist my little Sol in his next stage of development (which for boys can be quite tedious).  He's turning two in April, and I'm determined that by June (when #3 arrives), he'll have the potty thing down to a T.  However, he is 150% boy.  He does not sit down to do anything except for eat and take a bath so I've had to be very creative.  The good thing is that he has a big brother who has been there done that and wants to be helpful.  

We've been super busy at school, and I just finished almost 3 weeks of student assessments. . .so glad they're done. . .it's really hard for six and seven year olds to be quiet for long amounts of time so we have to test little by little by little.  I am grateful that we got a sub for a half day during our TPRI (Texas Primary Reading Inventory-for those of y'all who aren't Texans).  I also had to update each child's current reading level, fluency rate, comprehension, and retelling skills.  We had a few math benchmarks in there too. . .I'm glad the 100th day is this week so we can party!  I'm planning on dressing up like I'm 100 years old which should be really interesting since I'm also nearly five months pregnant.  I have wanted to post several pictures of my baby bump that are really cute, but they're stuck on Mr. Perry's iPhone.  I'm already particular about pictures when I'm not pregnant, but even more so now.  It only takes one person to say, "You look like you're about to pop!"  Even after you've heard "You look so amazing," what's still in your mind?  The other phrase.  I'll get some pics up here soon-it's almost time for my maternity shoot and to get some updated family pics too.

So here are a few of my favorite things that we've done over the last few weeks. . . 

This is the time of year when I start talking to my kiddos a lot about "getting ready for second grade."  I had the same talks with my kinders only it was "getting ready for first grade."  Over the last few weeks, we've been really focusing in on problem solving and making good choices.  As an extension activity we made a little book about making good choices all around the school.  They cracked me up!  








We also did a huge research project on animals in winter.  I LOVE research because most people think that primary learners can't really do it. I believe in "kid friendly" research, and I definitely believe that can do it if they're given the right tools.  The kids were divided into five groups:  brown bear, polar bear, hedgehog, porcupine, and snowy owl.  This project was a spin-off of our Jan Brett author study.  We worked on dictionary skills, using tree maps to record facts, using bubble maps to record adjectives, and drawing detailed realistic pictures.  We also made a few art projects to accompany the "research packet."  For the next four weeks we'll be researching various topics such as snow, penguins, famous African Americans, presidents, and dental health.  

Two of my favorite research books (if we were room 9-it would be even better)!












The students will get back into their groups to write a short report with facts about their animal, and they'll add a few details to add to the pictures/labels, but I think it will be a really cute mural once it's complete!  For this project we used Scholastic dictionaries, the National Geographic for Kids website, class discussion, and Discovery Education.

My class loved making "prepositional" snow-people!  We reviewed time-order/transition words as I read aloud the instructions for how to make a "snow person."  After I read each statement, the students had to identify the time-order word, and repeat the instructions to me.  They worked in their table groups to build their very own "snow person."













We finished up a math unit about "number patterns and observations."  This is our "odd/even" neighborhood.  Yes, the houses are missing doors (sometimes copy machines have issues-I know no on else has this problem-right?)!  There was a long line at the copier so I was in a bit of a hurry!

We made the even ones simple and made the odd ones look kind of strange!  This really cute idea is from Lindsey (The Teacher Wife).  She has all of the templates on her blog.

One more thing. . .I feel like I would have normally done this in September, but since I didn't-here's a peek into where I spend my school days!









I love this part of my room, and my students do too because I update it periodically with pictures and notes from Christian.  It gives them a peek at what my life is like outside of school!


A few of my favorite desk items. . . 

Love this note from one of my sweet, sweet girls!


The "book nook" is where students get books for their book boxes and take-home readers.  



The "think tank" has two purposes.  

1.  Thinking about vocabulary words and things we've learned.

2.  Thinking about your behavior and your choices.


 That's it for this post-have a great weekend!

19 comments:

  1. Everything is so beautiful! (especially the family pictures) I love the "Think Tank" what a great idea!
    ~Andi

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  2. Potty training my son has been one of the hardest things I've ever had to do...he has been a tough nut to crack! Anyway, it looks like you guys have been super busy...I love the animal art!! Hope your potty training is a success! =)
    Jennifer
    First Grade Blue SKies

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  3. Love the little reports so far (and especially the animal crafts to go with them!) Adorable.

    Can't imagine having 2 kids and doing all this school stuff that we crazy bloggers do!

    www.mrswheelerfirst.blogspot.com

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  4. I absolutely LOVE your Read Every Day, Lead a Better Life poster featuring David! I've never seen it before. Can you please pass on where you got that from?

    Thanks

    Kylie

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    Replies
    1. Kylie,
      It's actually a bonus product from Scholastic. I think it was 100 points, and they have several different posters with really cute book characters! This poster was really great for the beginning of the year when we read a lot of "David" books. Let me know if you are able to get a copy of it. If you can't I'll order another one and send it to you. . .from Mrs. Perry's Class!

      Delete
    2. Thanks for replying Brooke! We don't have points through Scholastic here in Australia which is too bad because I love the poster! I order every time we get the catalogues so I'm sure I'd rack up lots of points!

      By the way, your classroom looks awesome! I love the green and blue throughout.

      Kylie
      Down Under Teacher

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  5. Love love love this!!!!!!!!!!

    Your classroom is FAB!

    Those animals are too cute for words!!!!

    YAY!!!
    -Rachelle
    whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com

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  6. The reports are precious. I, too, love to do research with primary students. I can't wait to do research with my kindergartners this year.

    Colleen Patton
    Mrs. Patton’s Patch

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  7. Mr. Frog is a cute little potty! And I love what looks like clear plastic shelves with books on them. They remind me of the rain gutters as shelves that I have always been desperate to try! And I am in love with the spikes on the hedgehog and porcupine!

    Ashley
    Live2Learn

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  8. I love the idea of having a family board in your classroom. Very Nice!

    Sue
    theverybusykindergarten :)

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  9. Looks like your classroom is filled with activity and learning. The TLC like art projects turned out great. Research with little ones needs lots of guidance but can be done. :)

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  10. Everything in your classroom is just too. cute!!! I am crazy jealous of your loft area--that is AMAZING!! We are just about to begin the potty training at our house, and I am NOT looking forward to it. We have tried it a few times and we just end up sitting around watching her on her potty for 20 minutes, to find that after all that waiting, nothing has happened! Ha!

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  11. I love your classroom and everything you do with your students! You are one of my absolute favorite bloggers!

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  12. I love the "I will" statements for behavior! Making and using those in my classroom starting tomorrow! Love your research fun too!
    Ericka
    www.firstgradeandfancyfree.blogspot.com

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  13. Is there anyway you could share your templates for your animal reports with me? I do them too- usually a bit later in the year- and it would be awesome to have something to jump in with! Sadiemotta@aol.com

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  14. A friend of mine had a loft in her classroom. I love yours! Also, I tagged you in a post. Hope you'll come over and check it out.
     Chrissy

    First Grade Found Me

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  15. You are so creative!!!

    Tag!!! You are it! Come to my blog and play!

    Michelle
    Apples and ABC's

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  16. Wow I was reading all that you were going through... You are super women! What do you use for writing lessons? My school does not have something school wide for writing and is looking for ideas. Check out my blog for this post at http://petersonsprimarypeeps.blogspot.com/

    Thank you for your help
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete

 
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