#2 pencils

Got this idea from a friend who posted a picture! I think they are perfect #2 testing pencils! Haha! Sending as a gift to the upper grades.

Penguin Books

Placed a few of my favorite penguin books on display in the reading center this week. 
You know we all Love Tacky the Penguin!
We will be making penguin puppets, painting polka dot penguins, building pattern block penguins,  researching penguins on a penguin symbaloo and even drawing a penguin of our very own!

Happy New Year

For December Sparkles the Elf came to our room, so we opened  the "SPARKLES" cookies and cocoa shop in our kitchen center! It was so super cute, we painted the window,  got starbucks cups and everything. ..but i can't find a picture at the moment😕

Soooo here are a couple pics of the happy new year popsicle party. Of course my own cute boys pop in the pics to jazz it up a bit for you,  lol!  I got the cutest little popsicles for free buy saving up the scholastic book order points. They are number matching. Then the party hats were only $1.40 at Dollar General!  Throw in the cash register with play money and the kids are so excited!

13 going on 1

This year I began  my 13th year of teaching...my 1st in Kingergarten

I spent the last 12 years in 1st grade (1 year in 2nd) and Wowee Zowee!
A semester in kindergarten has been a whole new experience!

First I will say my top 3 shockers
1. I had no idea that moving 1 grade level younger would be so much different (afterall, 2nd grade was not that different of a transition from 1st)
Being in school all day for a year makes a big difference! Never occurred to me as a first grade teacher.
2. I had no idea that kindergarteners were full of fumny & cuteness.  I mean even just their tinier adorable voices and some still round baby bellies! I'm serious. I.cant.even. 😍
3. So much learning really is their "first" (*sigh).
tiny little fairytales.... growing a little bigger in each magical moment.

I am very thankful for Cara Carroll's and DeeDee Wills' tpt stores and their blogs and to many many others who share daily on blogs,  instagram, twitter  and Facebook!  This teacher is forever grateful.  My first year in kinder would be so much harder without so many other amazing teachers out there to learn from!

What Scanner? Do you have one you like?

Do you know of an easy good scanner to use? I was thinking about how messy my classroom seems and how I want to clean it up! I had an idea. I get so overwhelmed with all the papers I get and the filing. I am a terrible filer. I hate it and I also can't decide where to put it half of the time. I do much better when I can just have it digital save it. Then I can type in the name of the document anytime and find it. I think It will like it much better if I could just scan everything in and hardly have any filing cabinets or clutter. I am ready to digitize my classroom. Anyone else doing this? what do you use?

Penguins

So tomorrow I go back to school after a long winter break! We are going to spend just a bit of time on New Year's resolutions and then dive right into one of my favorite units...Penguins!! Today at Reasors, when I was grocery shopping, I saw the cutest giant stuffed penguin ever! It was bigger than my firsties. SAD though!! The cute thing was $200!! I really really want it! :( Oh well. So I have some cute art projects that I will post later.We are collecting a bunch of milk cartons to make an igloo too! I have some great books to read and some cute little penguin clips form youtube that I will be showing. Here are the links I will be using.... SCAMPER BABY PENGUIN BEING TICKLED! PET PENGUIN IN JAPAN BABY PENGUINS FIRST STEPS PENGUIN NOISE DISNEY PENGUIN CARTOON DISNEY PECULIAR PENGUINS CARTOON PEEPING PENGUINS PENGUIN ON ICEBERG TACKY THE PENGUIN BOOK

Tea party! Not school related

I hosted tea party baby shower for my sister in law over the weekend. I just had to show how adorable the cupcakes turned out! It was my favorite part. Thank you to the Memory Lane Tea Room and Tiny Cupcakes and Truffles!

Frankie pops

Made these cute little guys for my class. Can't wait to give them out tomorrow. The faces got a Lil smudged cause I used black gel icing for the face. It just didn't dry up...it stays kind of sticky. Oh well, they will be spooky! Lol

Pinterest project

This is my long over do pinterest project! I'm soooooooo excited that I'm almost done with it. I'm going to hang it by my desk in my classroom! I think I'm going to write favorite quotes on it throughout the year. I'll post the finished product soon

SALE!! Only $1.60!!

I just put my calendars for next year on sale! Get yours now and spread the word! I am so excited about finally opening a store! Tons of people have downloaded my freebies!
I created 2 different Calendars for next school year. One is themed monkeys and the other is themed Frogs.

They include...
Months august 2012- June 2013, a blank calendar, a 2012 calendar and a 2013 calendar

Click HERE to check it out!!

If you like the calendars, but this is not the theme you want Just comment in your request! On requests today and tomorrow will be eligible for the 20% off sale!
( I can also take off the parent letter part so the calendar can me used for anything else)

Thanks for supporting me and my new adventure!

WOW! Common Core Pacing Guides

I just found this awesome website! Below is Chris's profile...She sounds great and she posted wonderful pacing guides on her sight to share! check them out HERE
I have been a teacher for 24 years, the last 15 being here in Corvallis. I have taught all grade levels 1st thru 5th and all blend combinations possible. This year I will teach 4th grade at Adams half time and serve half time as a TOSA. (Teacher on Special Assignment) My roles as a TOSA will be to assist teachers and administrators with Pinnacle (Grade Book/Report Form), Standards-based education and assessment, and the sharing of common formative assessments.
If you have documents or assessment or new ideas that you would like to share with me and others, please email me. chris.caster@corvallis.k12.or.us

Classroom Information Freebie

I just posted a freebie on my TPT store
It is a parent letter that I send home with important classroom information. I also post it on our school website. I would love to see what ideas all of you have out there for beginning of the year letters!

You can also clik HERE to download a guided reading information letter.

Be sure to follow my TPT store for future deals!

Monkey calendars!

Here is a preview of my newest product in my TPT store!
Directions: Print a calendar set for each student and place in a student binder. Students transport binder to and from school each day. Daily write or stamp a comment about the student’s day. (ex. Terrific, great day, awesome, too noisy, rowdy, careless) Request that parents discuss and initial by comments daily.
*other versions coming soon

Winning Class Expectations

Roll on over to Tumbleweed Times for a preview of a cute powerpoint for next year!

Communication Calendars!!!

I just opened my new TPT store and made something to share! it took me a long time to figure it out but I think I did it! Please let me know if you see any mistakes!!!!

Here is a quick preview



Here is a link to my store where you can get your complete copy! There are blank templates to fill in on your own or there are already filled out calendars for the 2012-2013 school year!



Thank you and I would really love some feedback...am I on the right track???

My Lesson Plan Template

This is the copy of my lesson plan template from last year. I am hoping to tweak it a little to align better or project common core standards better. I would love to hear feedback and even more I would love to see lesson plan templates from schools who have already implemented common core!!!
Lesson Plan Template

Sunset

I love this beautiful sunset with silhouette cowboy. I modeled one but this one turned out to top all especially mine! Created by a 7 year old & breathtaking! I love learning about the good old west!

Teepee

Took my kids on a nature walk today & look what we found! A real teepee! We got to go in and it was awesome! Thank you indian ed for letting the firsties take a peek!

Track and field

My teacher friend came up with a great idea to  make matching field day shirts this year! We all have cute animal themed rooms...mine is frogs! I have to admit, her monkeys are way cute! But I think my kuds had a body painting these frogs& they turned out pretty great!

Prairie Days!

We had the best time living in the 1800's! We made butter, squaredanced, went to a one room school house, had a picnic, made quilt squares & had a sewing lesson & more! This was so fun to study our state history.