Rosa Parks

I have been trying to fit in Black History all month. Today I managed to read these 2 books about Rosa Parks. The second book we read was an account of the story through a young boys eyes. I hadn't read it before - I checked it out of our local library. I really liked it. We also colored this portraits of Rosa Parks.

Last week we read Tusk Tusk by David Mckee (he wrote Elmer). This is a story about black and white elephants that hated each other. Eventually, most of the elephants die fighting and for a long time there are no elephants. One day the grandchildren of the fighting elephants come out from deep in the jungle and they are gray. This sparked really great conversation and thinking from my sprouts. We mixed black and white paint to make gray and painted E for our ABC book.



Stylish Blogger Award

I am a little late to this party! Blogging had to take a back seat this week.. and some how it ended in the trunk! So, thanks for these bloggers for awarding me with the stylish blogger award!
http://literacyandlaughter.blogspot.com/
http://firstgradebest.blogspot.com/
http://icanyoucantoucanclass.blogspot.com/

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

Seven Things about Me

1. I am an only child and the only granddaughter in my family. So, I was just a touch spoiled.
2. I have recently become addicted to using coupons. I am not sure if the time and printer ink it takes to save are worth it.
3. I teach all day kindergarten without an assistant. I am learning that some of you teach 1/2 day (how do you fit it all in?!) and have extra hands (lucky!)
4. I make my students promise me that they will never start smoking.
5. I am my school's union rep. - I need a button that says don't shoot the messenger
6. I am a terrible speller and I just updated my blogspot posting tool- and I can't figure out how to spell check.
7. I usually spend all day Sunday after church in my classroom because my in-laws spend the day with my daughter. I am here now typing this.

I am going to award this to these bloggers: I tried to choose bloggers that I hadn't seen awarded yet-

http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/crafts.html#b

http://finallyinfirst.blogspot.com/

http://itsnotallflowersandsausages.blogspot.com/

http://littlestlearners.blogspot.com/

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/



USA Centers

USA Spin and Tally

Making new words from the word President

All About America Book

Jefferson and Lincoln

In kindergarten Core Knowledge we study the Mt. Rushmore Presidents. This is what we did for Jefferson. I read this book and we made posters with the facts we learned. I love that this student remembered to give Jefferson red hair! (the student is a red head too)

These are some of the books we read about Abraham Lincoln in addition to Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers.

Lincoln Memorial puzzle

Penny Toss worksheet

Teddy Roosevelt

During our study of North America we learned about Teddy Roosevelt. We learned that he was a conservationist, hunter, and very popular. We also ready a story about how the Teddy Bear was named after Roosevelt.

Students brought in their teddy bears.

During math centers students estimated, counted, graphed, patterned, and added teddy bear counters.

They made these adorable bear puppets.

We learned about the White House. This book has good information. We also took a virtual tour online.

A few other books we read about the USA and Presidents.

S is for Space

It is busy here and I haven't had much time to blog. Hopefully I will carve out some time this weekend. I just wanted to share photos of the last Discovery Shuttle launch. These were taken at the playground! School was already out but I wanted to take some photos to share with my kids tomorrow. It was cloudy but you could still see the shuttle.

Abraham Lincoln

We read Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers and made these adorable Lincoln faces. Go here for the printable. This is being displayed in our outside bulletin board. Parents, come by and check it out!

Education

It has been a very stressful week. My Mother is ill and waiting for answers from doctors that don't seem to know what to do. Thankfully, one terminal prognosis has been ruled out. I had to leave work in the middle of the day while my kindys were at lunch. I had not prepared them for a sub since I had no idea I'd be leaving. They were sweet and very concerned when I returned Thursday. Rumors had been circulating among the group and several students asked me if I'd been assassinated!! We are learning about Abraham Lincoln- It was good to have a laugh!
Thursday night I went to our Union meeting... I don't understand why education is not a priority. I just don't get it. I don't want to be political here.. but it looks bad for my state. My district is having town hall budget meetings asking the public for ideas on what to cut in education. What else can we possibly cut? As a parent with a child entering the public school soon I am worried. As a teacher I am worried. As a citizen of our country I am worried. I AM a super hero and my students ARE being educated- but as services get watered down and teachers are stretched- our students will suffer, especially those that need extra services.
To top off my week my daughter woke up vomiting so I ran to work at 5am to prepare for a sub. I have emergency sub plans but I wanted to continue what we had been working on (not use generic plans) since next week is a short week. Mr. Lewis picked up an intestinal parasite on his trip to Haiti so I was a little ( I mean A LOT) worried that she might have caught it. She is FINE- one co-pay and a fun stool sample later.. all is well. As my husband put it... she caught someone elses' bug!
So I don't have a lot to blog about tonight. Just my ramblings. Like I said we are studying Abraham Lincoln (I am sure you are too!) and I read this quote in one of the books we read this week-

“Upon the subject of education … I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in.” ~~ Abraham Lincoln

I thought it was a fitting way to tie up my thoughts!

George Washington

We have been learning about George Washington. We read a great book called, George Washington's Teeth. This is a true account of his dental issues- he did not have wooden teeth. We also debunked the legend of the Cherry Tree. To finish off Washington we made these adorable three cornered hats like Washington wore.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Thank goodness there are 3 and half months between Halloween and Valentine's Day! I am exhausted! We will continue these centers through the week.

Making new words from v-a-l-e-n-t-i-n-e. The students wrote their words on a response sheet.

Reading Valentine stories and keeping a library log-
Sequencing numbers 0-20 in the pocket chart.


Making patterns from candy hearts ( I told the kids the candy was from last year and it would make them very sick if they are it... I rewarded their willpower with different candy later!) they copied the heart pattern by coloring in the hearts.

This is my very favorite valentine! Last week I began to hear promises of Valentine cards and gifts- well, I love a good giant Hershey Kiss! BUT our class was in desperate need of glue sticks. I was out- the class was sharing the remaining 5 or 6.. so I told all of my kindys that I really love cards and gifts- but what I REALLY love are glue sticks...... I got 36 shiny new glue sticks today! I am trying something new (and I probably should have thought of this 12 years ago) I wrote each child's number on the top and stick.. that way when we find a top we will know who it belongs to.. hopefully this will cut back on dried out and lost glue!

I ordered 50 free small magnets from Vista Print and wrote our high frequency words on them- now the kids can make sentences and practice reading at this center.

I love this sentence!
(Wii)

This is a jumble of word BINGO and Beginning sounds match-up

Estimation

This is my all time favorite Valentine Book- It is not too late to read it! Mr. Hatch is a sad boring man who changes his life when he finds out that someone loves him... it has a twist and then a happy ending. My kids loved reading this today. You can also watch it online on storylineonline.com

We made tissue paper hearts. The kids were fascinated by the watered down glue! :)

They look very pretty.

I folded and stapled big art paper to make envelopes for their card exchange. They did a great job decorating.

Roll-a-word with 2 dice. They have to roll the letter and the blend and decide if it is a real or make believe word and the record the word on the response sheet. It is not really Valentine related but it is included in centers this week.

We have more Valentine activities to finish this week.

Waiting for Mail!

We are anxiously waiting for our Flat Stanleys to return to us! I hope they all make it back by February 22nd! -- banner was FREE from Vista Print!

L is for Liberty!

We are studying North America. We spent two days talking about the Statue of Liberty. We read these books and made these adorable crowns! I got the instructions here. I only used one plate per crown though, because I was running low! I can't decide if we should paint them before I cut the plates- the painting was really messy!- That's all part of kindergarten though.

Meet the Teacher

Is hosting a get you know you party! Linked up are a ton of great teacher blogs with amazing ideas!

I am Luanne Lewis-I graduated from Florida Southern College in 1999 with a degree in SLD K-12, VE K-12, and Elem Ed 1-6 (I took the test later and I am now certified in K-6)

After college I moved back to the town I graduated high school from and began teaching.

I have been teaching for 12 years. I taught self-contained special ed k-5 Varying Execptionalities for 5 years. I felt like I needed a change- so I grabbed the opportunity to teach Kindergarten at the same awesome school.

After 6 years of living on my own I met my wonderful husband Andy teaching summer school! We got married July 23, 2005.

On January 24th, 2007 we welcomed this angel Amelia!

My husband is an 8th grade US History Teacher.


One of our favorite things to do as a family is to go to Sea World--- because teachers get in for FREE! My poor baby is DYING to go to Disney World.. We are hoping to save and surprise her soon!




Now for the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you were not a teacher?
A: I would LOVE to be a stay at home mommy with a BUNCH of kids.. but so far God has blessed us with just one and a bank account that doesn't support one wage earner! After having Amelia I'd love to become a lactation consultant some day.

Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Sewing, making hair bows, blogging, reading

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: When I didn't come home from the first day of kindergarten knowing how to read- I was ready to quit and become a babysitter-I always knew I wanted to be a mommy and to be a teacher.
Q: What are your guilty pleasures?
A: Reality TV and Sonic Cherry Lime Aids

Q: What is your biggest fear?!
A: That I will die when my daughter is young or something with happen to her.

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?
A: So far the only vacations we have taken are to NY to see our extended families. We love to do it- but driving for 3 days isn't a getaway! I'd love to spend the weekend in Orlando at the Magic Kingdom.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
Q: What do you value most in others?
A: Compassion
Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?
A: My ability to work well with others.

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?
A: I'd like to have lunch with my grandmother- she is living but I only get to see her once a year.

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:
My husband and I are both originally from near by towns in upstate NY. We went to rival summer camps and my mom and I rented a house that his Uncle lived in and owned. We went to all of the same malls, movies, fairs, carnivals, but met in Florida as adults!