Gearing Up for Halloween

We just finished with Red Ribbon week at our school.  Each day had a theme, which while fun, was also a little crazy as I was trying to get assessments done for the end of the marking period.  Monday was red ribbon day, Tuesday was Team Spirit-wear a jersey or workout clothes (comfie day), Wednesday was House team spirit day(red for my class as we are the Terrapins and Thursday was Pajama Day ( did I say comfie?!!). Friday was Crazy Hair Day: We are crazy for Drug Awareness.  Tried to tell the kiddos that the hair was the only thing crazy that day but didn't quite work.  Very high levels of energy.  Here is my take on the day:

I added real candy corn to bobbie pins with glue dots.  I wore my candy corn earrings and lanyard along with an orange sweater and halloween socks. 
     Now to get ready for tomorrow: Halloween.  My principal has always advocated "Fall" themed activities so we hold a Harvest Activity Day.  It's not really a party as much as a rotation of fun- yet academically connected- activities.  We have it in the afternoon until dismissal and it has been a hit for years.  Adding new activities this year thanks to Pinterest.  Some of our activities will include: -painting indian corn patterns with q-tips ( pointillism idea from Kindergarten Crayons site)
- toilet paper roll pumpkins (Family Fun site idea)
-scarecrow hands(popcorn in a glove)
-decorate a cookie to look like a scarecrow ( Family Fun site again)
- patterning necklace with pony beads
-graphing ghost marshmallows
- Monster Munch mix( snack items renamed to be scary and kids count in sets of 10)
- Paper bag scarecrows (Pinterest)
- Apple Dice game- I use a pattern of an apple and blow it up to full paper size.  Then I draw lines to look like a puzzle.  Inside the sections I write the numbers 2-12.  Students roll 2 dice and color in one section that matches that number.  I created this a long time ago with a wonderful co-worker: Cathy Harper.  We used to make dice puzzles, as we call them, for every unit.
The lists are made, the supplies are almost prepped_ finishing that tomorrow, and a few volunteers are scheduled to help.  Hopefully the kids will be calm- that would so be a wonderful Treat for tomorrow.  Let's hope I don't get tricked there.
Have a great, fun, exciting, and hopefully calm Halloween.  I will post pictures of these activities as soon as possible.
Here's a treat for the kids: ( Pinterest)

Spooky S'mores

Wallets full of words or sounds...but no money:(

My kiddos need something at home to help them learn the sight words or word wall words as I call them.  So I took an idea I got from a wonderful workshop put on by The Bag Ladies from FL and used it to create a home connection tool to extend the learning.  All you need is a large lunch bag- large works better to hold 3x5 index cards.  You will also need some clear packing tape.

1. Fold the bag into thirds so you can see the fold line.

2. Cut along the side of the bag down to the fold line.  Then cut across the fold line using only 1 thickness of the bag.  Cut up the other side so that you leave a flap.

3. Round the edges of the top of the flap.

4. Tape along both sides with the packing tape to create your pocket.

     I added a label using DJ Inker clip art ( AWESOME CLIP ART!!) and a letter when it goes home.  This wallet is set up for alphabet letter and sound recognition.  One side of the card has a letter and the other has a smaller version of our alphabet/ phonics chart (we use Fundations).  The wallet stays at home.  For the following weeks, the cards go home in a ziploc asking parents to put cards in the wallet and return the ziploc to school. 

     When they are ready, kiddos get the word wallet with a different label.  I used 3x5 cards in the past but found half sized ones from Staples with our supply money and ordered them.  This year we are writing the words on the cards so that the kids have a model of good handwriting to trace over and the cards are more legible than in the past for parents.

    How to use the cards at home:  I tell parents to flash them, look for a word in the book they are reading, leave them around the room and do a word hunt, or even lay them out and swat a specific word with a clean fly swatter. 

     The cards definitely help.  I am now trying to come up with numeral/ sets cards for my low kiddos in math.  I always made the word wallets and just started with the sound wallets this year.  Definitely need to think more mathematically. 

Happy practicing.

Mrs.B



Happy Fall Y'All

I am back.  Things have been hectic here but I will strive to post at least 3 days a week.  Just a quickie to get back into the swing of things.  I found a wonderful door decoration on Pinterest and decided to copy it.

I absolutely love pumpkins and scarecrows.  Next to it will be the fence with the pumpkin glyphs on them.  Shari Sloane is the site for the pumpkin glyph directions.  Click on the left side to find glyphs and then you will find the pumpkin glyph directions when you scroll down.  You can use a pattern (you will need a tall thin pumpkin and a short fat one) or get lucky like me and have access to a large die cut for both.

This is our board with our October family involvement project.  I read the book The Pumpkin Blanket to the students and they had to create a "quilt square" for a class quilt.  They are only told to use whatever materials they want to.  It is amazing how different they always are and from year to year.  I think this is my 15th year or so of doing this project and I still love it.

One of our fun fall activities is to see how many pumpkins tall we are.  The students then use small die cut pumpkins or stickers on a recording sheet then draw themselves next to the pumpkins to show how tall they are.  Great lesson in proportional drawing.  Will figure out how to link files soon so you can have the recording sheet to go with this idea.  We use all sorts of die cuts or premade cut outs to see how tall the kids are. 

Booksie, our class mascot, had a great time at a local pumpkin farm with the class.  We are now using the pumpkin for a long term science observation that links to the book Pumpkin Jack.  After it has been carved, students complete a monthly observation of the current condition of the pumpkin.  It will go outside in a planter when the smell gets bad.  I did remember to leave a few seeds this year so hopefully there will be some sprouts in the spring to continue the cycle.
Happy Fall Y'all.  Mrs. B