The Three Little Pigs

This week we focused on Fairy Tales.

I ended the week with The Three Little Pigs.

It was a LONG week and I wanted to have a little fun.

First we read the story and charted the characters and settings.

Then we went into small groups (pigs, big bad wolf, and each house)

 and spent about 45 minutes working together to create each masterpiece.

Lastly we reread the book gluing each piece on as we read about it.

The kids were fantastic and are very proud of themselves.

Parent's Christmas Gift

This post is a little late, but it better late than never.

For our parent gifts, we made timeline ornaments.

It was super easy and the kids and parents loved it.

I started by going to a few stores and searched for clear glass bulbs that had safe edges. 

 (I was thinking I was going to get in trouble for opening packages and sticking my fingers inside, but I made it without any problems.)

I had the kids fill out a paper that had 3 questions.

1. This is how I wrote my name in 2011:

2. My 3 favorite things are:

3. When I grow up, I want to be:

I would have posted the paper, but it really wasn't very exciting.  I will be making a better version next year.

I took the paper and minimized it to 1/4 its size.  It really looked cool!

(I'll check to see if I have a completed one behind my desk and post it)

The kids cut out the papers and rolled it like a scroll and put it inside the bulb.

Then I had taken ribbon and curled it.  They put 4 pieces inside.

I had miniature class pictures (not in the example) that they put in.

I also found foam candy canes and they put some of those inside too.

The picture is not doing it justice, they were really cool looking.

The kids wrote their name and date with permanent markers.

We decorated bags and put a note inside about it being a timeline ornament (again, I am making a better version for next year).

I got quite a few thank yous and a lot of compliments.  

It was a last minute idea that went well.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone!

I've had a hard 2011 and you can tell by my lack of blogging.

I have a hard class and I never get a moments rest, which means I am exhausted by the end of the day!

I am starting 2012 with a couple of goals.

1. Get and stay organized (not very original, I know)

2. Start up blogging again and learn all the techie things that boggle me

3. Keep a positive attitude about my class and TRY to keep one step ahead of them.

I have a camera full of things I want to share, but, of course, my camera is at school. 

When I get it, I will start sharing!

Help My School, Pretty Pretty Please

This has been a crazy school year and I apologize for not posting yet this year.  We just had Pumpkin Day and I will do a post after I get some pictures of what we did.

Our school is competing for a technology grant and we could use your help.
We would love your support!  There are two ways you can help:
If you have issues registering, try entering your phone number with no dashes.

#1 Vote online: Go to our nomination page : http://www.powerabrightfuture.com/gallery/detail/?nid=1300 and cast your vote!

#2 Text to vote*
To vote for Alum Creek text: Clorox 5052 to: 44144

Clorox Power A Bright Future Program - Provide Smart Boards to enhance learning school-wide for stud

www.powerabrightfuture.com

Clorox is giving schools a chance to win school grants. Vote for your favorite entries between 10/24 and 12/9 athttp://powerabrightfuture.com/!

And So It Begins

My room has been 'cleaned' and floors have been waxed.  

So now it is time to begin the set up.

Here is what my room looks like now from the doorway.

It is a hot mess and I've decided to move some furniture around so I am in a type of limbo of how it is going to look.   

The biggest change is my reading table and moving it by the door.

Good thing- see all of the room, great board behind for posters...

Bad thing- it will easily be a dumping ground for papers, books...

The Math Pit

I LOVE my math pit.  

I put my calendar down there and it is where I do my whole group lessons for math.  

I also put all the math games there too.

I can't wait to decorate it.

As of right now I have all of my big pieces of furniture set (not tables- they are my pile holders now).

I did clean out my desk.  Since I moved it, I am losing some storage space, so I really really need to get organized. 

Next week, I would like to get the math pit started, my desk area arranged and more laminating done.

I am also getting excited to start hanging my owl stuff, but I need to do the basics started first. 

Owls

Next year we are gong to have a 'hoot' of a time in the yellow hallway.

I decided to do a theme this year and I went with owls.

I've been searching like a crazy person for all the cute owl things that would complete my vision.

Here is a picture of my first investment into this theme.

I've also ordered note pads (Having a Hoot of a Time with Ms. Budgell), pencils, and owl note paper.

I've also found paper bag owl puppets for our first craft.

I am going to keep digging and 'whoooo' knows what I will find.

New Class Pet

I am in a really excited about getting another class pet.

I love my turtleTucker, but I want a furry pet too.

When Petland came to visit us at Camp Skeeter, they told us of a teacher grant they offer.

That was all I needed and now I want another pet.

So I am down to a bunny or a guinea pig.

Which would you pick?