ETA Hand2Mind

You Can Count on Rekenreks

Monday, November 25, 2013

Tired anyone?

Phew, I feel exhausted.  Since we added the super fun day of 50th Day to our November curriculum line-up, it took some of our Thanksgiving writing time away.  All this past week, I was trying to catch up.  I was able to finish, but wow was it a marathon.  Our grade level had a Thanksgiving Feast on Friday with tons and tons of food, singing/poetry reading/expository reading to parents from students, and some cute decor.

I did not have a lot of time, but took some pics that I, of course, left at school.  We are on break now- all week.  So, I won't be back to school until Dec 2nd.  We go to school for 3 other days that most schools have off, so that we may have an awesome Thanksgiving break and actually go and visit with family for an extended period of time.  It's pretty fabulous.  I love it.
Well, when I return, we will be in full swing of winter holiday activities/writing/crafts/fun.  Each child will have an opportunity to present to the class their special traditions.

I don't know about you all, but I am NOT going to even try Black Friday sales.  It just seems scary.  I love me a good sale, but not so much that I have to defend myself for it!!!  So, I am going to do Cyber Monday sales instead.  Seems more civilized.  I am joining TpT and many other teacher-authors in the big sale.


Fill up your online cart now!  I am!!!  
Happy Monday.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Let's Tawk Tuwkey!

Recently, my students had a homework/craft project to complete.  They had the job of disguising the Thanksgiving turkey, so that they didn't get eaten for dinner.  They had a great time creating very unique turkeys.





 

I think they turned out great.  Each one was so funny.


Monday, November 11, 2013

Honorable Day

Wow!  What a beautiful celebration of our veterans!  My oldest daughter is in the choir and was able to sing in the celebration to honor our schools veterans.  My daughter is the only one with a face not covered.  :)

Our program was beautiful.  It had a very special name included.



We had the Governor of our state at our school!  How neat!  She invited 2 kids up on stage with her.

Each veteran present was honored with a star on our flag in the blue section of the flag.  Each veteran unable to be present was on the red and white stripes.  


The veterans present, get called up on stage to add their star to the flag.  They also get a special envelope with letters from our students, thanking them, and a flag pin.  

Our school looked so lovely.  It had been decorated the day before (Sunday) by many volunteers and some staff members.  




To all those who have served our country or are currently serving, thank you.


Saturday, November 9, 2013

50th Day of school/Veterans/Pilgrims

Time for 5 for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching- on a Saturday.

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We had our 50th day of school!  For the first time in our first grade, we had 50's Day.  It was soooo much fun.  Below are the 1st grade teachers I work with.  I am the one on the right.

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My youngest got to be a part of the fun day.  She is in 1st grade with me- although not my class.
My coworker and I sewed a ton of skirts for the special day.  Below are my 20 skirts made from felt or fleece.  I made my skirt out of fleece too.  I was still freezing though!  
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My students did all sorts of fun stuff- like make words with the words in root beer floats, write the steps to make a float, eat a float, 50's games, dances, etc.  We used a variety of fun activities from the 50th Day of School Unit from Jessica Travis and Cruisin' Through the 50 First Days of School by Cara Carroll.  Click on the teacher-authors names to check out the packets...they are very cute.
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Veterans Day is Monday.  We have a wonderful presentation at our school on that day (pics to come soon)...that's right, we go to school that day.  That's OK though, the ceremony is so beautiful, it's worth missing the day off.  We get a week for Thanksgiving so, it all works out anyway.  
I have a free Veterans Unit that you may want to check out.  Click on the picture below.  It has over 5,000 downloads!!!! I can't believe that!  Fun stuff!
One of my 1st grade teacher-friends, is the one who helps organize the Veterans Day ceremony.  Every year, we have special speakers.  This year it will be the Governor of NM!!!  The school is a buzz about this special speaker.  
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I have begun my Pilgrim booklet in class with my kiddos.  I made the booklet last year.  If you wish to download it for free, click the picture below.
Have a great weekend!




Saturday, November 2, 2013

Currently November

Happy November!!!
I love the Currently's that Oh'Boy 4th Grade does each month.  Click below to join in on the fun.

Oh' boy fourth grade



Listening- Does anybody have kids that argue all the time?  My kids get along pretty well, but lately they have been arguing a lot.  It's nice to hear them enjoying each others company again.  

Loving-  I'm a bit CRAZY about Christmas.  I listen to Christmas music from Halloween until past New Year's Eve.  It's my favorite holiday by far.

Wanting- Does anyone out there ever feel like you just want to do it all?  I want to have all the time in the world for my daughters, I want to have a super cool classroom that is constantly hands-on and fun, and I want to have a clean house full of homemade foods....all the time.  BUT, it ain't happenin'.  It bums me out that I can't.  I do the best I can but I always wish I could do more.  Maybe one day I'll face facts that I am not Wonder Woman.  Sigh.

Pin- 



I love mashed potatoes!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Anything Else?!?!

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Here are the ladies I work with this year in 1st at our parade.  It's a candid picture while we are walking.  I am the short one on the right.  You may notice a squirrel on some of our shoulders.  We had a crazy visitor in our building this year...I named him Chomper.  It was a crazy squirrel that we had to scare out of our rooms.  It was nutty...ha!  Anyway, we decided a squirrel was a funny replacement for a pirates parrot.


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My girls at our character parade.  My oldest is Susan the Brave from the Narnia series.  She loves archery.  My youngest- I kept asking "What does the fox say?  Pow, pow, pow!"

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Our kids had their pumpkins on display with their storybooks.  They turned out really cute.

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We had our NM Fiesta...wow was it a busy day.  I have a pic of my daughter doing the Hat Dance and our class pinata.

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My kids finished their fall expository writing a bit ago.  They had them on the board for parents to check out during our fiesta.  Each child wrote about 4 pages worth of information.