Five for Friday 5/31/13

Hello Everyone!  

I am linking with Doodlebugs.

Here are my 5 random pics of the week.

1.

Today was our big day in class.  We were performing our readers theaters for our parents.  The kiddos have been working so hard that I knew everything would go smoothly but I couldn't help but stress out.
I know most of you fabulous teachers are really good with dealing with parents but not me.  Get me in front of students and I could talk for days but in front of parents or adults I get so nervous and then I start laughing like a little school girl.  UGH!!! So needles to say last nite I tossed and turned with nightmares of me doing something dumb in front of our audience.  So I left home super early to make sure that I had everything ready.  Then my hubby sent me this to calm my nerves:

Now my hubby is Hawaiian so every Friday I do a little happy dance and I wish him an Aloha Friday.  So this was the perfect things to calm my nerves this morning.  

2.

Well as soon as the kiddos got in we practiced one more time to make sure that we knew exactly what we were doing.

These are my kids doing The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  Thats the little Billy Goat on top of the table.  Oh how I wish I would have taken pictures during the show but I forgot all about my camera.  That troll behind the table was the best.  He even deepened his voice to sound like a troll.  We also did the Little Red Hen and the Three Little Pigs.

3.

Today my BFF teacher next door thought it would be a good idea for us to eat pizza for lunch.  So we got it delivered and of course I had to bust out my heart plates.  Ha!  This is the campfire she is using during Camp Learned A Lot we had to eat by candlelight.  Hahahahaha!  I love teaching with her because their is never a dull moment.  

4.

So today this is what I found when I cam back from getting something from the kitchen.  He had taken all the wipees out.  When I asked him "What did you do?  Did you take these out? "  This is the look he gave me.  Like saying, "What are you talking about I don't see anything?'

5.

 I finished my Chevron Themed Editable Schedule Cards
Just click on the pics to go check them out.

 

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who took the time to check out my superhero clip-art and leave me such positive feedback.  I am working on my next unit.  

You guys are the best!

XOXO

Cindy

I want to camp S'more!

Hello Everyone!

Im on a roll this week.  It has been filled with such fun activities that I cannot help but share with you all.  

Today was Nature Day!

We took a walk outside and used our senses to check off some items from our lists.  The kids loved walking outside and actually listening to different sounds. 

Their favorite activity though from the day was making S'MORES. 

I didn't tell them we were making them which was even better.  We were writing in our camp journal and we were brainstorming some of the stuff we have done at camp.  Then one student said, "Mrs. R this camp is awesome but I wish we could eat S'mores.  We always have them when I go camping."

So then I had the kids talk about the steps to make smores and the ingredients.   

So I busted out my ingredients and they were so excited that we werent just going to talk about it!  Then I had them brainstorm ideas on how to get them warm.  One kid wanted to go collect wood outside.  Then one kid said, "Hello we can't build a fire in our classroom!  Are you crazy!" Ha! I love that kid. So after tossing around some ideas we wrapped our smores in aluminum foil and set them outside to warm in the sun.  Las Vegas was about 95 degrees today so they were definitely cooked.  

Here are the kiddos after we collected them from outside.

They loved the S'mores!  The chocolate was very gooey so maybe not so long outside would have been best.  We then filled in our Smore book from my camp unit.  

Tomorrow we are performing our readers theatres for our parents.  The students are very excited.  They have worked so hard.  They are making their own setting and let me tell you they are coming out adorable.  One of our plays is The Three Little Pigs so check out 2 of the houses.  

This is the wood house.  Can you see the two little pigs in the windows?  

Here is the straw house.  Love that they added curtains.  

I will post more pics from out plays tomorrow.  

Now I am off for insanity.  

UGH!!!!  

Cindy

You've got a friend in me...

Hello Everyone!

Oh my, I am blogging two days in a row.  Oh yeah!  

Well I wanted to share our day.  

Today was Friendship Day in Camp Learned A Lot.  So I had the kids bring in a cup of cereal and we made friendship stew.  We talked about how we are all different just like our cereal but when we come together we make an awesome combination.  The kiddos were a little hesitant at first mixing up the different cereals.

After the mixing it this is what it looked like.  They still were a little hesitant.  So I explained that sometimes we don't know what we might like if we don't try it.  So they decided they were going to be brave and try it and let me tell you, they loved it! They wouldn't stop eating it.

These are my kiddos during read to someone enjoying their friendship stew.  

This is my student during read to someone.

I had to stop them from taking the cereal in the tent but they didn't mind.  Look how cozy the look.

After enjoying our stew we wrote a how to piece on how to make it.  

Today we sent home out camp postcards.  Check out a few.

 

This kiddo drew the class doing our relay races outside.  He said it was his favorite part of camp so far.

This kiddos favorite part was going in the tent.  

If you want to check out my camp unit just click on the pic.

On a personal note, we recently put cement in our backyard and now we are getting it ready for summer.  We took our pool out of storage.  Yes, I don't have a fancy pool but it works perfect for our family since I can put it away in winter and enjoy our space.  My backyard isn't huge but if you live in Las Vegas it is a pretty good size.  This is one side of the backyard and on the other side we are planning to put in grass.  We have not enjoyed our backyard as much as we have in the past week and we have lived in this house for 2 years.  The problem before was that there was only dirt back here and let me tell you as much as my son loved to play in the dirt I did not like it being tracked in the house.  

Ok I am off to do my insanity!  Gotta keep motivated.   

5 more days of school not that Im counting!

XOXO

Cindy

Everywhere we go....and an OOPS!

Hello Everyone!  

Well it is official camp has started in my classroom.  I went in yesterday (yes on a holiday! WHAATTTT!) to finish my report cards and get things set up for camp.  

I made our little sign to welcome all our little campers to school.

Here it is on my floor since I didn't have time to take a picture today as it was hanging on my door! UGH!

The students loved it!  Even the kids walking by our door would read the sign and peek in because they wanted to be at camp.  

Here is the tent I set up in my room.  

First of all let me tell you those things are hard to get set up.  

I personally have never set one up before so it must have been hilarious if anyone was watching this little short person trying to reach and pull those stick thingamajigs.  

Oh yeah by the way Im short like 5'2" on a good day.  Ha!  

I finally pulled it off and it looks pretty good.  As the students walked in today they thought it was the coolest thing in the world.  I have since added stuffed animals in there so that they can read with.  In my class we do Daily 5 so the kids that are allowed in the tent are the ones during Read to Self.  Let me tell you I have never had so many kids want to be at that center before.  

The whole day was filled with camp activities.  We learned camp songs.  I introduce one camp song a day for the kiddos and we sing it all day, whenever we have a free moment.  So today we sang

"Everywhere we go! People Want to Know! Who We are! So We Tell Them! We are Camp Learned A-Lot! The Mighty Mighty First Graders! 

Well you get the point I sing and then the kiddos repeat.  At the end it say "We shout a little louder!"  this is their favorite part because they actually get to be loud inside.  That is cray cray!

We also made postcards to our families and we sent them off.  They thought it was so awesome to be able to send mail to their parents.  

Tomorrow is friendship day so they are to bring a cup of cereal to our classroom to make friendship stew.  I will post pics tomorrow.  

If you want to check out my Camp Learned-A-Lot unit just click on the pic.

Well during my prep I was trying to fill in my SuperHero Awards and I noticed that some of them said "in recognition of her... or of his..."  Well this wasn't working for me because I need to be able to give the award to whoever I want.  So I fixed them and made them gender neutral.  So if you bought them please go re-download them.  Hope it didn't cause any problems for anyone since it is the end of the year for most people.  They are still editable so make sure you go check them out by clicking on my computer screen!

Now I am off to go do my insanity video.  If you have been following my posts you know that I recently got this workout program.  I am now on week 2.  I am kind of in love with it.  I can't wait for summer though because waking up at 4:30 or waiting until boys go to bed to workout is getting old.  So can't wait for summer to be able to do it on my own time.  

XOXO

Cindy

Five for Friday and a Freebie!

Hello Everyone!

I am linking up with for Five for Friday.

I only have 7 days left!!!!!  I still have a readers theater to perform, awards to hand out, and camp to direct.  Ahhhh!

Well here we go for my five:

1:

It was field day yesterday!  I don't know about all of you but I love field day.  I love how much support my kiddos show each other and being out in the fresh air is always nice.  

As much as I love it let me tell you I was tired afterwards!

2.

As for my class Im trying to keep my kiddos in their routine.  I know things are starting to wrap up but my kiddos love their centers and Daily 5.  These are my kiddos busy in the writing center they didn't even notice me taking the pic they were so focused.  In the other pic my kiddos are at word work.  They are playing power tower.  I don't if you have this in your classroom but I got the idea somewhere online so I made my own set.  Each card has sight words on them and the kids have to read them out loud before they could use the cup to build.  My students love this center.

3. 

This is my end of the year bulletin board.  It is one of my favorites because it is so easy and it is so special.  All you do is print pictures and quotes and put them on the board.  The students love looking at this board and so do the families.  My babies look so young in some of the beginning of the year pictures.  Always makes me so sad and happy to see how much they have grown.  You can grab the quotes by clicking on the pic to head on over to my TPT for your freebie.  

4.

                                          

This is my latest addition to my superhero themed classroom.  I had a follower request these and well I have been busy.  They are editable so you can add what works for your classroom.  Just click on the picture to go check them out.  

5.

I have created my own superhero clipart.  Click on the pic to go check it out.  

This week had been a little tough.  My heart goes out to all of those victims in Alabama.  I have already donated to help out.  If you haven't please do so.  I know they are having something on Teachers Notebook or you could always contact your Red Cross.  

XOXO
Cindy

Budding Blogger

Hello!

Today I am linking up with iheartrecess for her budding blogger linky.  

Thank you Jess for this awesome linky party. 

1. Why did you start blogging?

I have been blog stalking for a long long time.  I love getting different ideas to implement in my class.  So I finally decided to take the plunge and start my own blog.  This way I can share things happening in my class and some of the items that I have created.  I have made some great friends through the blogging world and I love how supportive and positive everyone out there is.  

2.  What is your favorite subject to teach and why?

I love to teach science.  I know its not a core subject but I loooooove how a childs face lights up when they put their hypothesis to the test.  I love to hear them cheer for experiments.  I love how they learn about the world around them and how it works.  I incorporate science a lot with reading and math as to knock out two birds with one stone and sadly to justify it. 

3.  Describe your teaching style.

I love to teach in a very hands on style of learning.  Teaching first grade students love to manipulate things to form a concrete understanding of things.  

4.  Give three interesting facts about you.

1.  I served in the U.S. Navy before becoming a teacher.

2.  I love to run and have ran a few half marathons.  

3.  I love to draw and have made a few clipart sets that I plan to share soon.  

5.  Do you have a TPT store?

I do have a tpt store.  Click on my button to head on over and check it out.  Maybe you can become a follower to see some the new items and freebies I post. 

Would love for you to follow my blog as well.  Leave a comment so I can check out new blogs.  I love to meet and link up with people all over blog world.

XOXO

Cindy

Insanely Excited!!!

Hello!!!

This is the first week I did not participate in Five for Friday.  I really wanted to but let me be honest  I am finishing end of the year assessments and let me tell you nothing exciting went on this week in class.  

I finally got all of my DRA's D.O.N.E, done!!!!!!  

Oh yeah!  

AIMS Web Assessments are done!!!!

nice!

Now I have the daunting task of getting lit portfolios put together and report cards written.  AHHHHH!

Well at least my class can go back to normal and to the fun stuff.  

My kiddos started practicing their readers theatre.  They will be performing The Three Little Pigs, The Little Red Hen, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff.  This was a great way to finish off our Fairy Tales Unit.  They are super excited to practice and to start building their sets.  I will posting about this next week with lots of pics.  

On a personal not I have super exciting news.  Today when I got home this was waiting for me

I am so excited because I have heard super good things about this program.  Does anybody out there do it?  I am starting on Monday according to their calendar.  I will keep you posted on my progress.  Maybe if you guys also do it we can keep each other accountable for sticking to the program.

I am off to bed friends today was a busy day and I have a birthday party tomorrow.
What happened to my nice relaxing weekend.  

XOXO
Cindy

Lets Get Acquainted Linky Party

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyones weekend was amazing.  

Being that this weekend was mothers day, mine was extra especial.  My hubby made breakfast in bed and did all sorts of special things for me.  My babies gave me homemade cards and some flowers.  Aren't those gift precious!

Well today I am linking up with Latoya from Flying into First Grade for the Lets Get Acquainted Linky.  I love reading these about other bloggers so I decided to join the party.  

Here we go...

1.  What made you decide to be a teacher?

When I graduated from high school back in 99 (wait did I just date myself).  I knew that I needed a break from school.  So I joined the Navy at the ripe age of 17.  Yes, I know I am craaazzy!  I actually had my 18th birthday in bootcamp.  Well I enjoyed my time in the Navy.  I served for 4 years and got to travel the world.  It was a blast.  By them time my tour was almost over I knew that it wasn't a long term career for me.  I wanted to do something else.  So I got out and enrolled in the local community college.  I got a job at the day care center there.  I had always been really good with kids but working at the day care center made me realize that I would love to work with children.  I really enjoyed working with that age but I knew that I wanted a little bit older kids.  That is when I decided to go for my Elementary Ed degree.  It was the best decision I have ever made.  

2. What was the most rewarding experience as a teacher?

There isn't one experience that is the most rewarding for me.  I just love the growth that these kids make from the beginning to the end.  Getting them when they are still sounding out words and writing basic sentences to leaving them reading chapter books and writing full on paragraphs.  Its amazing! 

3.  If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

If I wasn't a teacher I think I would be a police officer.  In the military I was a Gunners Mate so my expertise was weapons and security so law enforcement would be right up my alley.  

Make sure you link up!

XOXO

Cindy

Winner Winner!

Happy Saturday!

First of all I wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to enter my giveaway.  I especially wanted to thank Kelly over at First Grade Fairytales for helping me out with the giveaway.  

I love how supportive and giving the blog world is.  

Well lets not waste time, we need to get to the important stuff.  The winners!!!!

Congratulations to

Rachel and Crystal

a Rafflecopter giveaway

They have won 2 items of their choice from my TPT store, a gift certificate to TPT to buy an item of their choice, and 1 item from Kelly's TPT store of their choice.

Thank you again for entering.  Keep an eye out for the next giveaway!

XOXO
Cindy

Five for Friday 5/10/13

I am linking up with Doddle Bugs for Five For Friday!

Let me tell you this week has been so busy... but a good kind of busy. 

Mothers Day events and Teacher Appreciation all in one week is craaaazy!

Speaking of Teacher Appreciation don't forget to enter my giveaway.  It is over tomorrow and there are so many good prizes.  Hurry and enter right now and then come back and read the rest of my post because I have a lot of pics!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ok now that you have entered the giveaway here are my five pics for the week.  

1.  

This week was Moms and Muffins at my sons preschool.  It was so much fun to get there early and get to have just a special date just me and him.  

I dont know why this picture is blurry but it is such a shame.  I don't know about you guys but it is so hard to get a good picture with my kids.  Either they are not looking, or not smiling, or making a silly face.  So this makes me kind of sad that its blurry.

2.  

We were busy in our classroom trying to finish up our mothers day gifts.  If you have been following my blog you know that we had grass growing and we were going to make grass heads.  Well I am happy to report that our grass survived!!!!!!  

Here is a pic of our finished project. 

 I had the kids make a silly face and then in the back we put a little saying, 

"I hope every time you see my silly face it will brighten you day!  Happy Mothers day"

The mommy loved them!

We also had these purse craft.  The students answered questions about their moms.  Let me tell you some of them were hilarious.  Just remember mommys kids are always watching and they love to share in the classroom! hahahahaha!  I chose a nice kid to take pictures of since some of my parents have found my blog!

3.

This week was teacher appreciation and our PTA goes above and beyond.  

We love them!

This was our menu for the week

There was a rock theme for the week.  So every where you looked the school was decorated with jukeboxes, guitars, and all kind of sparkly cutesy stuff.  

So other than the activities for the week we also would get cute treats in our mailboxes.  

I think the best day of the week is the healthy cart day.  

They come to your room with all kind of goodies that you can choose from.  LIke baked chips, fruit, water, juice and all kind of other goodies.  I just loooove that it is delivered to your door!

Today we had Chipotle catered for lunch.  If you have not ate there it is another must!

It was delish!  Here is what our lounge looked like today

It was so festive.  I wish they would leave it like this all year.  

4.

Today was also super fun because we had a field trip that was stress free!  (yes I know those words have never been uttered by a teacher before. Ha!) This field trip actually came to our school and had sessions in each of our classrooms.  I don't know if you have ever heard of Bricks for Kids but its a Lego place where kids go and take workshops.  They learn about Balance and Motion, they use axle's and gears and have to build things.  

My kiddos built a Ferris Wheel today.  They were so focused and determine.  They loved it!

5.

There are only 4 weeks left in school.  Whaaatt!

As our assessments are almost over we are starting to plan our end of the year activities.  I can't even believe its that time of the year already.  It seems like this year flew!

Well my favorite end of the year activity to do is our CAMP-LEARNED-ALOT.

I took it out today and planed out my days since I will be doing it the week of Memorial Day so instead of doing 5 days I will be squeezing things into 4.  

Here is the unit I am so excited about

(I will be adding more to it this weekend so if you already purchased it make sure you go back 

and redownload)

We write in our journal everyday summarizing the events of the day.  My students love this time because so much is going on at camp they have a lot to write about.  

This cover is a freebie along with another activity if you download the preview.  

So just click on the pic to head on over to my TPT store and enjoy!

This is one of the parent letters offered.  There is also a blank one so you can fill out what you need for your classroom or one that just asks for money donations.  

We recite this everyday in our classroom just like we were in camp.  The kids love it!

There is more songs offered in the unit but this is my kids favorite song.  They literally beg to sing this song.  

I hope you enjoyed your week!  Like I have been saying all week.  You all truly deserve to be recognized everyday.  

XOXO

Cindy