Great Gator Day

Equal, Lesser and Greater Gator!

I had too much fun with my Cricut last night!  The result is a great work station.  My students loved working with their Greater Gators and playing cards to generate greater than an less than sentences.  If someone got an equal... I did the "Equal Dance" with the gator named Equal!  I got a little suspicious when  many of my workers drew cards that were equal.  I took it as a compliment to my dancing skills...hee hee hee!  They'll never forget that equal means the same.

8>9!

The day started out a little rough because I forgot the anchor poem chart that I had written at
home. . . GRRR(eater!)  Luckily my room connects with the 7th and 8th grade room and they were more than happy to read with my first graders while I drove the one mile to my house and back with my great(er) poem.   The best thing of all was that when I returned they were disappointed and wanted to keep reading.  Task master that I am, we had to move on to greater things!

RECKreational Lanes!  Open for business!!

I found some great things on clearance and at the dollar store to make some new work stations.  The bowling station is quite popular.  Children recorded subtraction problems after they rolled the bowling ball down the  alley at the pins.


With Big Sums children recorded with big pencils the sum to three addends.  They love using these giant pencils that I found on clearance at Target!

I love hearing kids saying to each other, "This is the best day ever!" After the rather bumpy start to my morning I didn't expect it to turn around, but first graders are AMAZING people.  They are loving, forgiving and honest.  I am so blessed to be able to spend time with them.  Today ended up being a wonderful day.  Thanks for stopping by and sharing my joy!!

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Mars...A Planet and a Daughter!

 The first day back after spring break was a little rough, but I made it through.  I've had fun listening to stories and telling stories of my own!  My favorite memory of the week will be the time I spent with my family at the Public Museum of Grand Rapids.  My daughter whose name happens to be Mars (Her nickname  for Margaret since she was three!) came home from her studies of chemistry and biology to be with her family for Easter.  There was a traveling exhibit at the museum all about going to the planet Mars.  We had a Mars faces Mars adventure.  It was a very well thought out exhibit with plenty for us all to do.  Mars is more sure than ever she wants to travel to Mars.  Her dream job would be to work for NASA!

Reporting for duty!

Her siblings aren't sure they want to face Mars.

A perfect surgical procedure completed!

Mars experiences the gravity on Mars.

Back on planet Earth...Scrambled eggs and Scrabbled eggs are big hits this week in first grade. Of course, I left my camera at home.  I had wrote sentences containing spelling words and cut them into individual words before putting them into a plastic egg.  Six eggs in all told a story when the sentences were properly put together.  I was so pleased that most of the students were able to work independently and I was able to work with individual readers on fluency.

 It's such a thrill to get to this point in the school year and be able to see how much my students have grown in wisdom and in wanting to learn and grow.  This anchor chart I redid over spring break is one I refer to often and  helps our class refocus on objectives.

Out with the old!

In with the new!
My students are adding some "illustrations" this week!

It's off to bed for me.  I had no intention of blogging tonight, but I thought I had a chance at winning something if I mentioned this other persons  blog.  GUESS WHAT! I'm a day late. I went to the blog to get the URL and found out after I had done all this work.  Who is surprised?  I notice no one has their hand up.  If you know me, you know I have ADD...Attention to Date Disorder...GRRRR!  I did not win...I do not even collect $200 dollars!

Jenny

Scrabbled Eggs

Please someone tell me that there was a mistake on the calendar and we have one more week of spring break...Please!  I've had such a delightful week with my own children. New spring migrants are arriving daily in my yard...Someone needs to be here to greet them, give them water and encourage them to stay and nest right here.  

Dr. Mr. Hermit Thrush, Thanks for arriving during my spring
break.  I'll try to get home early from school each day to check
your water and food situation.
Love, A friend!

I had planned on going into my classroom each day to work on different projects.  I made it twice!  I did bring stuff home to do, but it's still in my bag.  My son was moaning about all the things he wanted to do over spring break, but didn't.  I told him I felt the same way.  He replied, "Ya, but you love going to school."  He wins...again. I do love going to play work each day.  I don't know why I try to argue with a seventeen year old!

How many words can you make?
How many points can you score?

I did come up with a new "game" for my firsties to "play" tomorrow.  Scrabbled Eggs is a making words activity that can be used as a word work station.  My own children played it and gave it their seal of approval. I used an old Scrabble game that I found at a yard sale for the pieces. The directions for making and playing should be found by following the link below the pictures. 

Scrabbled Eggs

I'm excited to see my students tomorrow.  Our room will be filled with stories, sweet hugs, laughter and learning. We are all excited to  find out who Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is helping next.   Yes!  I do love school!

This Joyful Eastertide!

Music has always had an incredible presence in my life.  My father, whom I adored, was church organist and choir director.  He loved music and our house always reverberated with sounds from Bach to James Taylor.  The love of music was passed on to all six of his children and we all think of him any time we hear the song "Leader of the Band" by Dan Fogelberg.  Easter was a big time for a church musician and he loved the hymns of Easter.  All morning I have been humming a favorite hymn of his and I can almost hear his voice singing...

This Joyful Eastertide

This joyful Eastertide,

Away with sin and sorrow!

My love, the Crucified, 

Has sprung to life this morrow:

Had Christ, who once was slain,

Not burst his three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain:

But now has Christ arisen, 

arisen, arisen:

But now has Christ arisen!

My dad died almost eighteen years ago, but sometimes it seems as if I saw him yesterday because of the love and memories he and my mother gave to us.  Because of Easter, I know I'll see him again.

My students made Easter eggs before spring break which, sadly, is coming to an end.  I asked them to write a psalm of praise for Easter.  Many of them turned them into letters, but their messages to Him are what I was hoping for.  I can't say I have a favorite because each child worked so hard and really put their hearts into the project.  I'll share a couple with you!

I love that she tells Jesus about how her dogs died.

Amen!

I didn't ask her to include me...but I was touched she did!

I wish you a joyful Eastertide!  May all your Easter bunnies be dark chocolate!!

Jenny

The Magic Kingdom and Curb Appeal

The Fairy Forest at Hoffmaster State Park
The Magic Kingdom

  Spring Break has got to be one of the sweetest times of the      year.  A kind friend commented to me that teachers should have two weeks off for spring break.  One week for resting up and one week to get ready for our last burst of teaching.  I have to say I like the idea.  Don't you?

  I started my break with the stomach flu and stayed in bed for about thirty-six hours and slept!  I haven't had a sick day in many years, but it seems I always get sick in time for a weekend or holiday.  Being in bed for the whole weekend almost felt like luxury and now I'm back to new.  Luckily, I don't feel well enough to cook, clean, or do any laundry!  That's what Sunday evening is for!

Building a fairy boat at the Haunted Pond

  Every year we have managed to squeeze in a trip to The Magic Kingdom!  Well, it's my magic kingdom because it's filled with birds.  No lines.  No heat.  No crying.  I think I've convinced my children they don't want to go to the "other" Magic Kingdom!

  Our school is very excited about the opening of a new Magic Learning Kingdom (pre-school classroom).  We have been busting at the seams and we need more room.  Because of this we converted two old locker rooms, rarely never used into a gorgeous classroom. (I admit, I used it a couple of times when our power was knocked out to shower and blow-dry my hair!)  Now I am no longer the room at the end of the hall.  Each day four sets of 15+ three and four year old  children and their parents now pass by my room.  Time for some curb appeal!
   I had been using a password with the children to enter my Magic Kingdom the room each morning.  It wasn't very attractively displayed.  I wish I had taken a before picture!  I did add a "secret" knock as well.  The password is changed daily and is usually a vocabulary or spelling word.  The secret knock is a rhythm in 4/4 time, so I sneak a little music theory in as well.

The "pink" message changes from time to time!  I love silver Sharpies, but they are shy when it come to being photographed.

Lifting the flap is part of the fun!

knock, rest, knock, knock, knock, rest, knock, knock!
The door slowly opens....

The flap is opened...

The password is whispered...You may enter The Magic Kingdom the classroom!

Make your own magic in whatever kingdom you are in!  Four more days of magical spring break!! 

Jenny

Sixteen Hours!

This chick is really excited about Spring Break!
I love KPM Doodles!

Sixteen. More. Hours!  I think I can...I think I can...I think I can!  Sixteen more hours until Spring Break.  I could use a break.  I was feeling a little grouchy today and apologized to one of my students about being not so cheerful.  He said he hadn't noticed; bless his heart!  I was trying to cover my lack of patience, and it must have worked.  Writing their own Psalms, three children included me as something they praised God for.  When I explained to the class that I was looking forward to having a bit of a vacation. One little girl looked shocked and said, "But Mrs. Reck won't you miss us?"  I assured her I would, but that I was looking forward to sleeping in, staying up late playing board games with my children and reading 11/22/63 by Stephen King,  not to mention all the birding and shopping I'll be able to squeeze in.  Yes!  I am looking forward to Spring Break.  I admit I'll miss my Firsties and probably spend more than a few hours blog hopping and checking on Pintrest for new and exciting ways to catch their attention and make learning fun over the break!

Eggs loaded and ready to be hidden!

Family, do you remember how much I loved hunting for Easter Eggs?  I still do!!

A up and coming young reader!

Today we did have fun.  I got this great idea from  First Upon a Time.  Before class I made tiny sentence strips.  Each strip had two sentences on it.  One of the sentences stated something they had and the next asked who had something else. ( "I have tent.  Who has went?")  The sentences were placed inside plastic eggs so that the sentence showed.  Inside the egg I had also placed a foil wrapped chocolate egg.  I hid the eggs around the room, making sure that there was one egg for each student.  When they had found an egg, they waited on the Carpet Corner until  everyone was there.  I numbered only one strip with the number one so that we knew where to start.  It took a bit of practice, but when the class was able to read the entire group of sentences under one minute, we followed the directions of the last egg that read,  "I have an egg.  You have an egg.  Now open it and find the surprise."  They asked to do it again, so, after re-stuffing the egg with the candy and sentence strip, I hid them while they waited on the carpet with their eyes "closed"!  I noticed several closed eyes following me around the room!  It is a great game to build attention span, sight vocabulary and even fluency!  It could be played with numbers, too!  "I have 345.  Who has 278?"

I have Spring Break.  Who has already had their Spring Break?  (Sorry!)

Thanks for stopping by. Owl love reading your comments!

I'm so Geeked ...I Got an AWARD!

I am so touched and honored to receive this award!  Thank you Mrs. Alexis' Butterflies for this special award. I've certainly enjoyed this new adventure called blogging.  I appreciate the time it takes and the commitment involved in writing about...well everything and anything!  I'm excited to be able to pass the award on to some of my favorite peeps...I can say that around Easter time, right?  So here I go.  Drum roll please.  .  .

I would like to pass this award onto:

My Pink Scribbles 

First in Maine

Good Morning Mrs. Rubie

Heather's Heart

A First Grade Teacher's Passions and Obsessions

A Little Kinder Told me so...

Brimful Curiosities

First Grade Frosting

First Grade in the Yellow Hallway

Into the Wild Blue Yonder (Not a teaching blog!  But quite an adventurer!)

JEMinEYE (Not a teaching blog!  Great photos and stories!)

KPM Doodles  (Great Graphics!)

Lukac's Music Class

One Woman's Thoughts   (Great Christian Devotions)

The Briden Bunch

The rules for this award are to:

1. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other lovely bloggers.
3. Follow the person who sent it to you