Are you going?

**I need to know....are you going to the FL Kinder Conference???  IF so, leave me a comment!!***

I am so excited.  Not because it's Halloween, but because I am going to the Kindergarten Conference here in Florida.  Where THE Deanna Jump is speaking! Stop. The. World.  I am so excited! I'm also SUPER excited to finally get to be a part of a Blogger Meet Up!!! 

Here's the problem.  I remember reading on a blog about going to this conference and if anyone was interested in meeting up.  Problem=I can't remember WHO it was! Rats! 

So...are you going?  If so, wanna meet up?! :)

**********************

This is the first year in 4 years that I have not gone trick-or-treating with my sweet nieces.  They're getting so big and I just LOVE seeing them all decked out in their costumes.  They're so creative!

Here's something we've been up to:

We have been learning about spiders the past few days.  As a fun way to wrap up our unit of study we made handprint spiders, with hole reinforcers for eyes, and added facts about spiders!  The kiddos first wrote their sentence, then typed their sentence, cut it out, and glued it onto their papers!

I just love how cute they turned out. 

For the past couple weeks I've been working hard on my latest packet.  I'm almost done but I wanted to give you a sneak peek! 

Happy Halloween!

A Spook-tacular Sale!!

Did you read my last post about how much I love Fall?!  If not, click HERE.

Since I love Fall so stinkin much, I'm joining in on the fun and throwing 

Spook-tacular Sale!!!!

{Thank you Abby for the adorable graphic}

Click the picture to head to my store!  While you're there become a follower.  I've got lots of good things coming your way and you don't want to miss out! :)

:)  Happy Weekend!

Halloween Fun

I have been so neglectful of my sweet blog.  I just can't get over how busy Fall has been this year!  I do love Fall though! :)

It's football season, holiday season, time for bonfires, sweaters, scarves, boots, cool weather, changing leaves, and LOTS of friends and family! What's more to love?!

 

Okay.  Onto the post.  My ultimate "goal" here is to show some fun Halloween things that we've been doing and such.  Speaking of "goals" anyone else out there getting hounded with posting learning "goals" rather than "objectives" nonsense?  I know teachers in Florida have GOT to be dealing with this new iObservation/Marzano stuff.   It's all just kind've frustrating!

 

Okay. Seriously.  Onto Halloween fun:

 

It's this wreath TO DIE FOR?  My amazingly talented and crafty mother made it.  I fell and love with it immediately and she so generously GAVE it to me! I. LOVE. IT.  As you can see I took it to my classroom and now it's hanging outside on our classroom door.  The kiddos love it and giggle every time they see that witches adorableness! 

 

 **************************

 

We've been studying nocturnal animals and have spent the past two days learning about bats.  Before reading some of our nonfiction stories we began by discussing our schema.  I ***love*** using this "big kid" word with my little kiddos.  It's amazing how much they soak up!

Below is a picture of my "Schema File" that I created to use throughout the year in my classroom.  When it's closed it looks like a giant file folder.  

 {really annoyed with the HORRIFIC picture quality}

 

I first discussed what schema means and how it's like a giant file folder in your brain and that there are 1,000 of file folders on different topics.  Then we discussed how when someone states a topic name, like "bats," your brain opens its filing cabinet draw and pulls out the "bats" file folder.  The kiddos totally get it and have been using the word "schema" throughout the day! It's so neat!

Here's what the inside of our "Schema File Folder" looks like.  I like to use different colored sticky notes but you could just laminate and use an EXPO marker.  I also am updating this file folder to say "What I THINK I KNOW."  I decided that what we know might not be true and that it is a miconception. I think the wording might help the kiddos better grasp the meaning of misconception. 

 

**********************

 

Lastly, I created a bulletin board on bats after seeing the amazing Cara Carroll from The First Grade Parade.  I mean, I kinda just stole EXACTLY how she did it! It's just so DANG cute!!!!!

 

 

 Is anyone else super excited about Fall?!

 

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever plus FREEBIE

*****UPDATE: I just re-uploaded my unit. I completely forgot to add the labels!! Oops! If you already purchased it, please go back and redownload!****

I am so excited to finally be able to share with you my newest unit now available at my TPT store!

I also just started this mini-unit/book study with my kindlers and they are LOVING it!!! It goes with one of my all time favorite "Halloween-themed" books, The Biggest Pumpkin Ever by Steven Kroll.

Here's a peek:

Click HERE to check it out!

One of the items in this unit is a Pumpkin Exploration.  I will be doing this with my little ones on Friday! Then, we will carve our pumpkin and start our decomposition science experiment.  They are BEYOND excited about getting to help carve out our pumpkin {i'm not going to lie...I'm a little excited too}!!

Pumpkin Exploration

Here's a little art project we completed today.  Super simple but the kids love getting to paint!  We simply painted our pumpkins {I drew the outline for them}, then cut them out, glued them on, and added our sentence!  They did such a good job and the pumpkins really 'pop' on the black paper!

{did I REALLY expect the picture to work...I mean COME ON!!!!}

I just love this time of year, don't you?!

What's your favorite story to read?

Lately and SHOUT OUTS!

Is anyone else feeling super BUSY?! Fall is just a crazy busy time for me!

Between meetings, getting back in the swing of things, conferences, and all the fun holiday stuff to do I just don't feel like there is enough time in the day!

 I'm trying to keep working on new units and freebies.  I'm currently working on a "The Greatest Pumpkin Ever" mini-unit and a Anti-bullying unit.  Stay tuned!

For now, here's what we've been up to {with some SHOUT OUTS to some amazing teachers}.

Bear week was last week.  SO MUCH FUN! This is a picture of one of our "craftivities" we completed after learning about polar bears.  This wonderful idea {among SO many} came from Rachelle's {you know her...one of the amazing author's of What the Teacher Wants} Bear Unit. Click the picture below to check out the goodies.

Friday was Teddy Bear Day and one of our activities was to write about the teddy bear {or other animal} we brought in! 

 {of course it won't turn the right way...rrrrr}

I must attribute the amazing writing skills of my kiddos to our mini-lessons that are taught daily.  I struggled with teaching kiddos how to write BUT THEN, no other than, Deanna Jump and Deedee Wills created one AMAZING resource!!!!

Click the picture above to check out the newest writing series you need to begin implementing IMMEDIATELY! This is just the first packet in their writing series.  Can't wait to get the next one!

 {Don't you love how this sweet friend glued on his sentence?!}

We spent Monday learning about Christopher Columbus.  BrainPop Jr. has a fantastic video teaching the little ones all about this historic figure.  We completed the above craftivity after learning and reading all about him!

Fire Safety is this week {of course you already knew that though..duh}!  Above is a chart we created to help us learn about cause and effect.  {I know, I know...how am I not a paid artist??!?!?} :)  

Another GREAT addition to our writing station {and Daily 5} came from Deedee Wills!  Her writing station packet is PHENOMINAL! seriously.  The above picture shows our "writing wall."  When you run out of wall space you have to improvise.  It's still a work in progress but that's what I've come up with so far!  Still needs labeling and such.

Here's a peek at what my kiddos are working on this weekend...labeling!

 

 {another awesome view of our writing...I don't like it when the computer won't let me rotate an image...ggrrrr again!}

You MUST check out her packet by clicking the image below!  It's worth EVERY.SINGLE.CENT. 

PHEW! We have been busy!

How's Fall going for you?

Currently...October Edition

I love this time of the month! Farley is AH-MAZ-ING for creating this fabulous "currently" series! I just love getting to peek inside your lives! ;)

Make sure you head over to Farley's Blog to join in on the fun!

Happy Hump Day!