tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59400061810122870552024-03-20T13:28:48.213-06:00Light a CandleLighting a fire for literacy...
one little learner at a time.Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-76532449506022109002016-02-01T01:24:00.001-07:002016-02-01T07:31:04.467-07:00Random Acts of Kindness 2016First, let me just acknowledge that I have been silent for a LONG time. A lot has happened. I teach third grade now, specifically math, science and art. Completely out of my OLD comfort zone, but it is amazing how comfort zones grow. Ha! I have a larger family, and I am busier than ever before.<br />
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But, I wanted to take a moment to share this little character education printable, because if there is one thing that hasn't changed in my teaching practice it is the understanding that the HEART comes first. You can't challenge a child's intellect without first tending to his or her emotional needs. A little kindness goes a long way.<br />
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This year, I have been inspired by <a href="http://kindnessgirl.com/the-magic-wand-project-for-kids/" target="_blank">this</a><a href="http://kindnessgirl.com/the-magic-wand-project-for-kids/" target="_blank"> awesome post</a> I pinned several years back. If you don't have time to read it, I will summarize for you. The blog's author listened to her children speaking one day, and heard her son explaining to his sister that there IS magic in the world- it is in all the kind things people do. Talk about "out of the mouths of babes"! So beautiful! Inspired, this mom asked her children to make magic "kindness wands" and they left them in public places with a challenge for others to do 3 random acts of kindness.<br />
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I love this idea! However, I don't think we have time in the schedule this year to make wands. But, I want my students to focus on kindness in February, and wanted to give them some ideas for random acts of kindness kids can do to make a difference! I made this little calendar for them.<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Random-Acts-of-Kindness-Challenge-2362962?aref=rvv2jqe9" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Random-Acts-of-Kindness-Challenge-2362962?aref=rvv2jqe9" border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pQlgafP2UDvXO3QDnk6ZnRo5f_ski_0CifPCQHayJtW55tRo0Gt9nzJNgWLCwY3iEV3Iuu09nQ1J7tqmji7S__Tp8RaSOXP7IaI3rPeExYVkB8HmOoJFzSC0XsWq3sM_8ilDw1DnkK8/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-02-01+at+1.23.36+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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My students will be challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as they can before Valentine's Day. I will provide in-class time for students to discuss the kind acts they are performing, and how it makes them feel. On Valentine's Day, we will discuss kindness and I will be providing a sweet, heart-shaped treat in return for all the sweet things they have done for others! (Kindness has this habit of finding its way back to you...)<br />
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You can go to my TPT store and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Random-Acts-of-Kindness-Challenge-2362962?aref=gywtqpai" target="_blank">download a copy</a> of this printable for free. <br />
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I'm so excited to see my students' excitement over what they can do for others! Kids love to make others happy. This kind of magic truly changes the world!Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-65712656264166437432012-01-01T12:10:00.001-07:002012-01-01T12:50:33.385-07:00Christmas Books 10-15The last week and a half before Christmas was a BLUR! I barely had time to kiss my children hello before I was kissing them goodnight! (And, if I am honest, sometimes the goodnight kiss WAS the hello kiss!) But, I have been blissfully resting for the past 7 days after Christmas, taking a break from everything worthwhile, including blogging. And now I feel utterly useless, so it's time to come back. I thought I'd begin by sharing the rest of the Christmas books, in case anyone else hopes to do something with them next year. Then, come back later for some goal setting for the new year!<br />
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<b>BOOK 10- <u>The Polar Express</u></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61cbzSI-yhL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61cbzSI-yhL.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I am sure you have TONS of activities you already do with this story! My class used it as part of our retelling unit, to discuss beginning, middle, and end. After reading the story, we completed a train-themed story map, using pictures and sentences. Students showed beginning, middle, and end on their trains, as well as all the story parts we have discussed so far. (I had students draw pictures the first day, and the next day we wrote sentences using the words "First, Next, Then, and Last.")<br />
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I did not make the train on this worksheet. It was given to me by a teacher friend on PT years ago:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B--P9neRuYfSNDIzYTM4NzUtNDFiMS00OTBhLWJmYjUtNWQ5ZTk3MDcyODg0">Story Train Worksheet</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B--P9neRuYfSNDIzYTM4NzUtNDFiMS00OTBhLWJmYjUtNWQ5ZTk3MDcyODg0" style="height: 500px; width: 600px;"></iframe><br />
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This is my first attempt at embedding a google doc. If anyone has a better way (I know there is one!) and you want to share, feel free to leave a comment below!<br />
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<b>BOOK 11 - <u>Christmas Makes Me Think</u></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.leeandlow.com/images/books/S/9781584300243/main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.leeandlow.com/images/books/S/9781584300243/main.jpg" /></a></div><u><br />
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In this story, a young boy shares all of the fun things he thinks about at Christmas. But then, he starts to think about how it must be for those who DON'T have the fun times he has... the trees, animals, and homeless people. He thinks of ways he can care and share. My students were entranced by this book. I could tell it really got them thinking! <br />
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I used the book as a tie-in to a writing lesson. Here's how it went:<br />
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* Read story to students<br />
* Brainstorm "what Christmas makes me think of" (We wrote our ideas on chart paper. I wrote student names next to their ideas.) Students were asked to make a "mind picture" before giving their idea.<br />
* We practiced writing sentences on mini- white boards, so that we could practice using a capital and period, and where to look for words we don't know. <br />
* I showed students their Christmas gift books for their parents (little books sharing the class's thoughts on Christmas - very cute!) and told them we were going to make the center page. We used a plain sheet of student writing paper for first grade, that went horizontal, to add it to our book. (Picture on top, lines on the bottom). <br />
* Students wrote a page using the sentence starter "Christmas makes me think of_________" and illustrated it. <br />
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I was so happy many of my students wrote about things other than presents and Santa Claus! This was a GREAT book to get them focused on caring and sharing during the holiday season.<br />
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<b>BOOK 12- <u>Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree</u></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mymamasgoodnight.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/mr_willowbys_christmas_tree_3.jpg?w=228&h=300" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://mymamasgoodnight.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/mr_willowbys_christmas_tree_3.jpg?w=228&h=300" /></a></div><b><u><br />
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This is a delightful little book, that kept all of my student's interest to the very last page. Mr. Willowby buys a Christmas tree that is too large for his mansion. He cuts the top off to throw away. Another family takes the top to make their tree, but it is just a bit too large for their home. So, they cut the top off and throw it away. An animal family discovers the top and uses it for their tree, but it is just a tad too big, so they cut the top off and.... you get the picture. This happens over and over throughout the story. The kids loved it!<br />
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When we finished, we practiced our verbs with some fun Christmas action cards from one of my favorite blogs.. <a href="http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/">Oopsey Daisy</a>. Here is the link to Alison's Google Doc: <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B1aN6aNndLRyNzhhM2FlNjMtMTEzMS00MmY3LTg3ODQtZTI3NzJmM2FmOGMx&hl=en&authkey=CK3Gz9QB">Oopsey Daisy's Christmas Action Cards</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Book 13- <u>Santa's Snow Cat</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/images/2007/12/07/9780066238272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/images/2007/12/07/9780066238272.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">This story largely appealed to my girls and cat lovers. (Every year I have at least one child who ADORES cats - not sure why! But, I do try to cater to my cat lovers and provide some cat stories now and then!) Snow Cat is Santa's favorite cat, who gets lost during Santa's travels one night. She looks everywhere for the real Santa, and finds a lot of fakes. Eventually, Santa finds her. I thought it was a nice one for kids who are doubting, to help them know that not all the Santas they see are real and they don't have to believe that shopping mall santa is real if they don't think he is. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We were going to make these cool snow flakes from Family Fun, but we ran out of time that day! The story alone was enough fun for the kids. Here is a picture I got from qtips.com. They also have directions for the activity <a href="http://www.qtips.com/pdfs/Sparkling_Q-tips_Snowflake.pdf">here</a>. My own children and I will be making these for our "snow day" at home tomorrow!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://hoosierhomemade.com/wp-content/uploads/Qtips-snowflake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://hoosierhomemade.com/wp-content/uploads/Qtips-snowflake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>BOOK 14- <u>Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br />
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</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">We read the classic Rudolph story with this fun shape-book. Afterward, we sang "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and played "reindeer games" for math. We did a fun I Have... Who Has game with place value! Then, I let the students play their math center games, many of which are reindeer and Christmas themed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>BOOK 15- If You Take a Mouse to the Movies</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WNeca9Q0uPk/TQBPugVwp4I/AAAAAAAAOuM/0JmKTBSWhMc/mouse_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WNeca9Q0uPk/TQBPugVwp4I/AAAAAAAAOuM/0JmKTBSWhMc/mouse_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I had a lot of fun activities planned with this story, but there just wasn't time in the schedule! Maybe next year!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I hope you all had happy holidays!</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-38975593703556376892011-12-11T06:00:00.005-07:002011-12-11T06:00:00.751-07:00Book 9: The Little Fir Tree (& a little math!)<div style="text-align: center;">If you are looking for another touching Christmas story to share with your kids, look no further than <u>The Little Fir Tree</u>, by Margaret Wise Brown. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.indiebound.com/892/281/9780060281892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.indiebound.com/892/281/9780060281892.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This story brought tears to my eyes as I was reading it to my class! A little fir tree is all alone in a meadow. One winter day, a man comes and digs him up, roots and all, and re-plants him in a box to be the Christmas tree for a little boy who cannot get out of his bed. Each year, after Christmas, the man returns the fir tree to the forest. I won't spoil the ending for you, but this book is a keeper!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">When we were done reading, we made pine cone tree ornaments as gifts for the parents this year. (I like to make several gifts, and let children choose which to give to their parents. It helps those with blended families and the like.) I am not the creator of this project. I discovered it through Pinterest. The original can be found<a href="http://mama-jenn.blogspot.com/2009/12/pinecone-christmas-tree-ornaments.html"> here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Pine Cone Christmas Trees:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvePu59S_s5tqDxM2ROtqrrdD0wVABvUWaaxc0EZACPhyphenhyphenqHeC69RD_B8K4FuLjSp3gyzomUBhjSScbV1qNGmRvJDokug3x0UJM2V91E_eL_nY0K67CEBeOysxV9gxMRX7IApbsvVaREM/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvePu59S_s5tqDxM2ROtqrrdD0wVABvUWaaxc0EZACPhyphenhyphenqHeC69RD_B8K4FuLjSp3gyzomUBhjSScbV1qNGmRvJDokug3x0UJM2V91E_eL_nY0K67CEBeOysxV9gxMRX7IApbsvVaREM/s320/IMG_4680.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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The easy steps:<br />
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(1) I mixed some tempera to be a lighter green by adding white.<br />
(2) Students have fun painting the entire pine cone green.<br />
(3) When paint is mostly dry (but maybe not all the way) have students use bottle glue to decorate the edges of each section of pine cone (Not sure what those sections are called!).<br />
(4) Students choose a glitter color, and glitter away!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCxamYEIDI5-KNlO6ZwXdupy7OxcRPTyw2WrUs9jgsKSw_jB97sjD7Xy7fa_Ngq2xdgRXVQ-nH6lfe9Rniu8-3VtOycOS80SGmQUQG1W8NSNW0UGFlbhsZFJINT-fx9KioXL9fSJ7AbQ/s1600/IMG_4668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaCxamYEIDI5-KNlO6ZwXdupy7OxcRPTyw2WrUs9jgsKSw_jB97sjD7Xy7fa_Ngq2xdgRXVQ-nH6lfe9Rniu8-3VtOycOS80SGmQUQG1W8NSNW0UGFlbhsZFJINT-fx9KioXL9fSJ7AbQ/s320/IMG_4668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrJgp2aX9uKQvIblyIrIy_ZmpTVpWisZ6DBg956i0HyY_fjwFhsyBMIj38Wx1s4CF3K0qBJRsyaR8r7q5gtNGSr6luGDO4Aec_o61uIa2zd7JVk0ys8r7zwORiDT3ProJJRjQ-8x03o4/s1600/IMG_4672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrJgp2aX9uKQvIblyIrIy_ZmpTVpWisZ6DBg956i0HyY_fjwFhsyBMIj38Wx1s4CF3K0qBJRsyaR8r7q5gtNGSr6luGDO4Aec_o61uIa2zd7JVk0ys8r7zwORiDT3ProJJRjQ-8x03o4/s320/IMG_4672.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">(5) Students painted a wooden star with yellow tempera<br />
The next two steps are best done by the teacher, using a hot glue gun:<br />
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(6) Glue on some gold ribbon<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiMpYF9X63r7TlNPwSdWGAJmj6Sxpynu-EuhiTvo08Ctk-mANqSTCXEuLzfQ2XglolaBri_YupeX8YfN01WOKX7py1_x3cObRID8-WeEYEqnd0jkdBLEwptj4-kuiLisFhjjt_oW5lys/s1600/IMG_4685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiMpYF9X63r7TlNPwSdWGAJmj6Sxpynu-EuhiTvo08Ctk-mANqSTCXEuLzfQ2XglolaBri_YupeX8YfN01WOKX7py1_x3cObRID8-WeEYEqnd0jkdBLEwptj4-kuiLisFhjjt_oW5lys/s320/IMG_4685.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Glue the star on top of the ribbon.<br />
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These turned out so cute, I had my own two kiddos come back to school with me at night so we could make a couple for our own tree! It's great when you can get double-duty out of a project!<br />
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We also learned how to do +/- 10 math problems on Friday! If you haven't been to <a href="http://www.teachertipster.com/">Teacher Tipster</a> yet, you should. He has an awesome idea about brain chains. I added these into my classroom this year, and I really do think they made a difference! I'll include the video here, to make it easy to find:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a2aiFM3UoII" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I bought a bunch of shoe laces, parents donated the beads, and we have been using the brain chain as part of our calendar routine all year. I added in brain chains for the students on Friday. We practiced building numbers, and then I took his brain chain worksheet (which is no longer on his site, I guess?) and added it into my own to create the one below:<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/75333690/10-With-Brain-Chains" style="display: block; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View 10 With Brain Chains on Scribd">10 With Brain Chains</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.707514450867052" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="625" id="doc_67760" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/75333690/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-u8rvqn3e3f8gmneyqju" width="400"></iframe><br />
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He is right. The brain chains are a very effective tool! My students were able to demonstrate their knowledge of Place Value easily, and it provided a valuable "bridge" between recognizing place values and manipulating those place values. Having something visible and tactile was a great help to some of my little strugglers, and I felt like most of the children understood the concept of adding or taking away 10s with very little one-on-one support. Hooray for "Brain Chains"!</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-66476449465691687912011-12-10T09:35:00.000-07:002011-12-10T09:35:41.248-07:00Book 8: The Night Tree<div style="text-align: center;">Have you ever read this darling book by Eve Bunting? My class just LOVED it, and so did I! I thought it was a great addition to our theme of caring for others at Christmas time. (And, by the way, I think the GRINCH was a great way to start this theme, if I do say so myself! We've been able to talk about how he changed to care for others at Christmas. If the Grinch can do it, we can show care for others, too. Even the animals!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ocfbBRC77nyfWktULK6YSJNbARIa5zyrrZqOucyevWW2RRLlOyWfXpsG7M1T9tWwSwV3go9x_aT8WlQCM92skUy9VzyAhWQfaIDocQppvjjKkPWWK-_tqwr1qg9QP50Rh-GK2l_dMjw/s1600/The+Night+Tree+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ocfbBRC77nyfWktULK6YSJNbARIa5zyrrZqOucyevWW2RRLlOyWfXpsG7M1T9tWwSwV3go9x_aT8WlQCM92skUy9VzyAhWQfaIDocQppvjjKkPWWK-_tqwr1qg9QP50Rh-GK2l_dMjw/s320/The+Night+Tree+image.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In this book, a family finds the same Christmas tree in the forest every year, and decorates it with food for animals: popcorn wreaths, apples, oranges, and some ornaments made out of millet, honey, and nuts. The family celebrates outside, then go home, where the little boy imagines all of the animals that might be eating from the tree. It was a charming story, and I'm so glad I read it! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We followed up the story with my favorite kind of craft - the ones that take 15 minutes or less! I got this idea from another blog somewhere, but I can't find it now to give the owner of the idea credit. Anyhow, I wanted to make an ornament that students could put outside to feed animals. We have all made the fun pine cones with peanut butter and birdseed, but now with all of the nut allergies in school, that is not a good idea.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So, we made cheerio ornaments (which my husband assured me are perfectly safe for birds and squirrels to eat), out of cheerios strung on pipe cleaner. It can't get much easier than that! Since they were for animals, we didn't even add any ribbon. The kids shaped the ornaments in whatever shape they liked, added cheerios, twisted, and voila! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf1LYbkaXbWGEbmkBxGHNRTj6Pna7Sr2S0DSoxl5AIY8CLnhAKEfEpF4tRX0OfV8yXJPj93kT521JexVVhPdbjIyxlkZoTW2n0VLZzRqGHtWPQ5Og8_r7y3SjBaM7CGjj9O9AR0raT0Y/s1600/IMG_4647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf1LYbkaXbWGEbmkBxGHNRTj6Pna7Sr2S0DSoxl5AIY8CLnhAKEfEpF4tRX0OfV8yXJPj93kT521JexVVhPdbjIyxlkZoTW2n0VLZzRqGHtWPQ5Og8_r7y3SjBaM7CGjj9O9AR0raT0Y/s320/IMG_4647.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdY0EgDAg4I1fl4iiv9U_MG6wclrN3hz7zm5OLk9k7JPlCWNqMrpJFfkX9MmBRq02k8fE6_BUtWRqlqgXNdh7J753C6enJ4PBpkgRMKiMeyMCsalbwmsDhAZQYMVYt7NuZD_yKEYmSb30/s1600/IMG_4665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdY0EgDAg4I1fl4iiv9U_MG6wclrN3hz7zm5OLk9k7JPlCWNqMrpJFfkX9MmBRq02k8fE6_BUtWRqlqgXNdh7J753C6enJ4PBpkgRMKiMeyMCsalbwmsDhAZQYMVYt7NuZD_yKEYmSb30/s320/IMG_4665.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtKiOx6Kxo5-dFB0aenR0um63Xu3v11OQN0NynikhLBXIOeqdcNWgvNRsm-XP4aG6-oq9RMj2Qk4Xb11qqMr8aamWUTHJtFCiJ1U1tYT1BdfGtKerSCC6xDtTbcI_y68d48YTd1coRRY/s1600/IMG_4666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtKiOx6Kxo5-dFB0aenR0um63Xu3v11OQN0NynikhLBXIOeqdcNWgvNRsm-XP4aG6-oq9RMj2Qk4Xb11qqMr8aamWUTHJtFCiJ1U1tYT1BdfGtKerSCC6xDtTbcI_y68d48YTd1coRRY/s320/IMG_4666.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I told the kids to find a tree somewhere to hang the ornaments. Some kids came in on Friday all excited..."Some animals have already eaten some of my cheerios!" So sweet.</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-31105398673276834502011-12-07T15:41:00.000-07:002011-12-07T15:41:59.203-07:00Book 7: Great Joy<div style="text-align: center;">Today, my students got to read the story <u>Great Joy</u> by Kate DiCamillo. I just love all of her books, as I think she has such a way of getting to the heart of characters, and pointing out what is truly important in life. (Some of my very favorites - <u>The Incredible Journey of Edward Tulane</u>, <u>Because of Winn Dixie</u> and <u>The Tale of Despereaux</u>.) This short picture book was no different. A girl named Frances has a hard time feeling the joy of Christmas until she is sure that the man on the corner is happy, too. I thought it was a great book to talk about the joy of doing for others, and being kind to strangers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to be absent in the afternoon, so my wonderful co-worker and friend, Mrs. Saunders, read this story to my class. I can't wait to hear how the discussion went!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I plan on adding this story starter to my writing center tomorrow. I usually laminate and hang them with a magnet from the metal writing center shelf. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/75055111/In-the-Story-GREAT-JOY" style="display: block; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View In the Story GREAT JOY on Scribd">In the Story GREAT JOY</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="578" id="doc_12289" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/75055111/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-25n0p4zi27j7f7edt9o9" width="400"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I want to do a service project with my class, and I think this would be a great intro. to that. During our class meeting on Friday, we are going to brainstorm random acts of kindness we can perform as a class, and choose one. It will have to be small this year - something we can do for staff members or students. <br />
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<u>Some ideas I already have</u>: <br />
<ul><li>surprise a class with a quarter for everyone on popcorn day</li>
<li> an anonymous letter to someone who works hard for us, letting them know how much we appreciate him/her</li>
<li> Sharpen a set of pencils for another teacher's classroom, and leave them ready to go for the next day (Wow, would I love getting that one!) </li>
</ul><br />
** I would like to plan ahead better, and do something bigger with next year's class. My son's class makes fleece tie blankets every year as a gift to a shelter. I love this idea because it is easy for kids, and useful to someone else. Parents do have to donate the fleece, though. I bought two yards at Walmart and it cost about $10.00. It might be do-able with donations or doing a project to earn money. <br />
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That's it for today's ideas! Do you have some more ideas, or better ideas for random acts of kindness in a school setting? Things kids can do?? I would love to hear your ideas!<br />
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-Kendra </div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-79588209031072244612011-12-06T20:05:00.001-07:002011-12-06T20:05:39.388-07:00Book 6: The Christmas Wreath<div style="text-align: center;">So, speaking of the Grinch, as a teacher in December, don't you ever get just a little tired of the noise, Noise, NOISE?! Please tell me I'm not the only one! Today, my morning left me feeling slightly "grinchy." But, with a little love (and some whole-brain teaching), by afternoon my little darlings had returned, and we were able to have some fun with our next Christmas book - <u>The Christmas Wreath</u>, by James Hoffman.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/c5/b7/13de923f8da0f896faa68010.L._AA300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/c5/b7/13de923f8da0f896faa68010.L._AA300_.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a sweet story that describes some exhausted elves (let's just say I could relate to the feeling) who are too tired to decorate a tree, or even to make a beautiful wreath. They make a simple wreath for the door to Santa's workshop. But, the wreath becomes beautiful when a Polar Bear finds it, gets it stuck on its head, and drags it through the water, forming beautiful icicles. The wreath makes it back to Santa's door, and becomes a "Christmas Miracle" for the elves. Another 27 thumbs up story!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm sure you know what we did next! We made some simple Christmas wreaths as gifts for our parents! I make this project every year. It is simple, but pretty, and the kids get a chance to practice their patterning. Here are some of my students' wreaths:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunTuvTgQW6upgCknS2IlTSkdNFWNGuResDgRaRp0CRtGi7BagiUN3LZnN_U2R-lUWArNlfKj7-fltTKHKn3_GFTKfVRRcIgJdB17OhLV91_b1AEm8hyphenhyphenLfZ77iPlvqZHYb46DoG9qxTwc/s1600/IMG_4635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunTuvTgQW6upgCknS2IlTSkdNFWNGuResDgRaRp0CRtGi7BagiUN3LZnN_U2R-lUWArNlfKj7-fltTKHKn3_GFTKfVRRcIgJdB17OhLV91_b1AEm8hyphenhyphenLfZ77iPlvqZHYb46DoG9qxTwc/s320/IMG_4635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioftaovPFvhQGw9lzx9i_L9ZZy9AYUTO2M-8caf34UgdsjKOlEGQ9REaFd3rp4YlEP6v9gci7IlSw4KnF59vfD22OYnUOXXAdquBHSWlBpPn1__hsUXHERKNJKiHAYE-W_p66q65pQWGM/s1600/IMG_4636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioftaovPFvhQGw9lzx9i_L9ZZy9AYUTO2M-8caf34UgdsjKOlEGQ9REaFd3rp4YlEP6v9gci7IlSw4KnF59vfD22OYnUOXXAdquBHSWlBpPn1__hsUXHERKNJKiHAYE-W_p66q65pQWGM/s320/IMG_4636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Many of them even tied their own bows this year! It is very simple to make. Here is one without the ribbon added yet. The kids tucked the ends of the pipe cleaner under the beads:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5sea1JAoswgf6u9nce8VeJzEZFBPWa_LiaHNC2NSTcft68srQiRkOXIMQh19Hlaxs6WbtVmuVexj50HpKbJ-geloH_t2nFQCYyDNtBPgJmvK-vVYFqMLqxkz_mXbfF4BAOdPDwhY-O8/s1600/IMG_4637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5sea1JAoswgf6u9nce8VeJzEZFBPWa_LiaHNC2NSTcft68srQiRkOXIMQh19Hlaxs6WbtVmuVexj50HpKbJ-geloH_t2nFQCYyDNtBPgJmvK-vVYFqMLqxkz_mXbfF4BAOdPDwhY-O8/s320/IMG_4637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of them figured out they could make heart-shaped wreaths:</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAq1-A3-zBOjwLQrD7tPNapgzwYaP91Cy7UIHjrBYQKwdrcMFiIjOLrmr4pfo1eYmdJfIhzBEH7WonMx-PX-dCxnUk-0wnO64_UPm9rgYAhnSY6zjTbzUSoP1h9BjMO5dctjL77Ucpf4/s1600/IMG_4638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikAq1-A3-zBOjwLQrD7tPNapgzwYaP91Cy7UIHjrBYQKwdrcMFiIjOLrmr4pfo1eYmdJfIhzBEH7WonMx-PX-dCxnUk-0wnO64_UPm9rgYAhnSY6zjTbzUSoP1h9BjMO5dctjL77Ucpf4/s320/IMG_4638.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoyIGcP0PxjZaJ2ifWB1OSm9qehYChJUuxQg6BsEY5utxnCGd_RU_w3liW8RlR9H7l4vlqN0kOVoqCrtOCUpu_00HYHiPoJRhmpafNQ9VGkiZV9WkVnZuQ-PFuYD4S8Wrc_4pMF1chMk/s1600/IMG_4639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoyIGcP0PxjZaJ2ifWB1OSm9qehYChJUuxQg6BsEY5utxnCGd_RU_w3liW8RlR9H7l4vlqN0kOVoqCrtOCUpu_00HYHiPoJRhmpafNQ9VGkiZV9WkVnZuQ-PFuYD4S8Wrc_4pMF1chMk/s320/IMG_4639.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I actually thought the heart-shaped wreaths were a great idea! Most wanted keep them circular, but the joy of pipe cleaner is that they can change their minds whenever they like! We put a piece of masking tape on these with our names, so we can sort them all when it is time to send home our Christmas gifts. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have fun keeping it simple! </div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-58462045893909456702011-12-05T20:42:00.002-07:002011-12-06T20:34:34.581-07:00Day 5: The GrinchToday we unwrapped, and began a week's worth of activities with, Dr. Seuss' famous Christmas story - <u>How the Grinch Stole Christmas</u>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=vFZYPwAACAAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&l=220" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://books.google.com/books?id=vFZYPwAACAAJ&printsec=frontcover&img=1&zoom=1&l=220" /></a></div><br />
We read the first parts of the story, and reviewed our story elements: characters, setting, problem. Next, we read the middle and discussed the details of the story. We completed the following worksheet as a class. I guided the discussion with the overhead. We're old-school like that. ;-)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/74853653/Grinch-Retelling-for-RT-Unit" style="display: block; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Grinch Retelling for RT Unit on Scribd">Grinch Retelling for RT Unit</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="578" id="doc_59979" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/74853653/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-1o9uritu2w1w4uaopxt8" width="400"></iframe></div><br />
We didn't get a chance to finish the story, but we will do that tomorrow. We will review what we have learned so far about the parts of a story, read the ending, and discuss how the problem was resolved. We will continue the fun with the grinch all this week! Some of our fun activities:<br />
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<ul><li>Grinch glue (green glue) for our spelling word practice.</li>
<li>"Make a Grinch smile" writing project. We will write a class book of ways to make a Grinch smile, with illustrations. I wanted to do an art project to go with it, but I think I'm doing enough art already this week!</li>
<li>Grinch word work centers from Babbling Abby.</li>
<li>I introduced a fun math game today for our math centers time. We learned about the number line today, and counting up from the biggest number. I wanted to create something that would allow students to practice counting up, and involve some "grinchy" fun, as well! The instructions are included with the game below:</li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/74853698/Counting-Up-Math" style="display: block; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Counting Up Math on Scribd">Counting Up Math - recording sheet</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="578" id="doc_94862" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/74853698/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-156ushkv2y932nqpzsyu" width="400"></iframe></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/74853754/To-Play" style="display: block; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View To Play on Scribd">Game Cards with directions</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="578" id="doc_31252" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/74853754/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-rdo7js4znax4ygzz7il" width="400"></iframe></div><br />
In keeping with our "Dr. Suess" theme for the week, our class gets to go to our local high school's production of <i>Seussical, Jr.</i> on Thursday! It's close enough to walk, and with budget cuts, it will be our first 1st grade field trip in 3 years! When I told the kids we were going on a field trip they were So excited! I think I might be just as excited as they are. :-)<br />
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*Update* - My students did such a cute job with their retellings, I had to post a few pictures. (please pardon the low quality - I'm having trouble figuring out the flash when taking pictures of something white!):<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LB_fKNofk9dIZjTn_t3WNzV4Aiv_Fx21hIW8wNVvFX0Bu-EPVF_oztnjchGffW5DEnRhJyJC80m7DjEMFGBbtynwEZXFJ3EmKvixb46Hb5JoSxXKVLCp18J6xV1jHAN1xrvDkrwEnTM/s1600/IMG_4644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3LB_fKNofk9dIZjTn_t3WNzV4Aiv_Fx21hIW8wNVvFX0Bu-EPVF_oztnjchGffW5DEnRhJyJC80m7DjEMFGBbtynwEZXFJ3EmKvixb46Hb5JoSxXKVLCp18J6xV1jHAN1xrvDkrwEnTM/s320/IMG_4644.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> "he got to serve the roast beast."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxuPeb6WUiC5Ito8qfqp62WQhBxdWoG2xxJpo5fIOTaV5ugugL0GFKMhw0P8sopHgRj0ZddIZN-vGsXGp5XmZXgw7Zv-d3AI7bHHQzvAetoSXc08EbvBetK9sSF3hJAjLPM9qs3Rm0WQ/s1600/IMG_4645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxuPeb6WUiC5Ito8qfqp62WQhBxdWoG2xxJpo5fIOTaV5ugugL0GFKMhw0P8sopHgRj0ZddIZN-vGsXGp5XmZXgw7Zv-d3AI7bHHQzvAetoSXc08EbvBetK9sSF3hJAjLPM9qs3Rm0WQ/s320/IMG_4645.JPG" width="271" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> "His heart grew 3 sizes bigger and he liked Christmas."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AgTJsdKVjCcP4LrBDqb9bOik28Djvy27xULMu0Ok_g0zCcPc9_B4hzm3nO-wb6ry057b2Tl3gJ70BX4JI6eY2dt-oNzO0oPtGIHOVjxwY80fZpyxBwPwXT7tgpsJ_sU_x03-ypWR_t4/s1600/IMG_4646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AgTJsdKVjCcP4LrBDqb9bOik28Djvy27xULMu0Ok_g0zCcPc9_B4hzm3nO-wb6ry057b2Tl3gJ70BX4JI6eY2dt-oNzO0oPtGIHOVjxwY80fZpyxBwPwXT7tgpsJ_sU_x03-ypWR_t4/s320/IMG_4646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> "The Grinch wanted to ruin Christmas."</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-57167391687096469192011-12-04T13:48:00.000-07:002011-12-04T13:48:55.947-07:00Christmas Book 4- Christmas Mice!On Friday, we unwrapped the adorable book, Mousekin's Christmas Eve, by Edna Miller.<br />
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This is an older book that I checked out from our school library. The sweet little mouse in the story "loses" his home, and has to go searching for a new one. He goes out into the cold, snowy night where he is uncomfortable and scared of predators. He is surprised by the colored lights coming from a Christmas tree. He sneaks into the warm house, climbs all over the Christmas tree, and finds a new cozy place to sleep inside the nativity scene. I loved this book, because it was appropriate to read in the public school classroom, but also had a very strong message about finding peace and comfort at Christmas time. I was kind of surprised, but my kiddos LOVED it! 27 thumbs up for this one!<br />
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After reading, we made our own "mousekins" out of paper. I saw a picture of this project on Flickr and pinned it to my pinterest. Here are our version of the project, and the directions I came up with:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpKUOA5lB37-SInf8P1YwPy6MLq9dHNTlQjEXV6ZBPeW_60kQ93vhq2lZBNd5t3RIZ3caGnGtyeVhpR7w8FOtC9mdgSModj4rIQ3sou00ZBerB7KZUtqwNXk-2sj0CC_Z1ikaa3gFY7w/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpKUOA5lB37-SInf8P1YwPy6MLq9dHNTlQjEXV6ZBPeW_60kQ93vhq2lZBNd5t3RIZ3caGnGtyeVhpR7w8FOtC9mdgSModj4rIQ3sou00ZBerB7KZUtqwNXk-2sj0CC_Z1ikaa3gFY7w/s320/IMG_0263.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> You need: construction paper backgrounds (I chose blue and green to represent more "wintery" scenes, plain white sheets of paper per child, one 1/2 sheet of white construction paper per child, two 2 1/4" white squares per child, two 1 1/4" white squares per child, scraps to make whiskers from, mini candy canes, pom-pom noses ( I used pink, red sparkly, and silver), google eyes, snowflake punch-outs (I bought the punch at Hobby Lobby - 40% off right now!), and silver glitter.<br />
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1- Teach your students how to draw a "tear-drop" shape for the mouse's body. I had mine fold a plain white paper in half "hamburger style", start in a corner, and draw the teardrop. We practiced four times. I tried to emphasize making it wider at the bottom. <br />
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2- After practicing, we drew our "final" teardrop shape on a half sheet of white construction paper, and cut out. (Cute that some of the mice look a little like rats because of their long shapes, but that's what makes this project so special! It is 100% student work.)<br />
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3- Glue the tear drop shape onto construction paper backgrounds. I let my kids choose where to put it. The paper could be vertical/horizontal. I wanted it to be theirs, so I didn't make any rules. Make sure students don't glue down the "bottom" of the rat, so they can slide a candy cane there.<br />
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4- The hard part was the candy cane - We unwrapped it and used bottle glue to glue it down. Students did a LOT of counting. We learned that we had to have patience. If we moved it too much, it made our papers red and icky. If we pulled on it to check if it was dry, it pulled out. We had to just leave it and let time make it stick.<br />
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5- Next, we made the ears. We rounded out the squares of white and pink, glued them on halfway, and folded the ears up. We left room for eyes and a nose. (Some kids can't see this, and need help to keep from gluing the ears onto the nose.)<br />
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6- Next, students glued on the google eyes and pom-pom noses. (This was another lesson in patience. If you pull up your pom-pom to check if it is sticking, it will not stick, and you lose all of your glue.)<br />
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7- We used scraps of white paper to cut whiskers. I really liked the thin whiskers in the picture above. Most were a little thicker. Again, everyone's were different.<br />
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8- Next, students glued on the snowflake cut-outs made with my punch from Hobby Lobby. I told them to make a "frame", but I also gave them license to do it their own way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6dIzOXqDLUMkJYZcyWtpq27lc2NIr3HC4n0QjZzkuGrxW0EH0ikwtiJJ8ZgOw223FYmFMcq4kBJDEThkTJ4i_7M82pQY0R_pt-ij1zQUNe1ztWS3_2ERUTOZdI3vTPVwdGS1oq6Kn0k/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6dIzOXqDLUMkJYZcyWtpq27lc2NIr3HC4n0QjZzkuGrxW0EH0ikwtiJJ8ZgOw223FYmFMcq4kBJDEThkTJ4i_7M82pQY0R_pt-ij1zQUNe1ztWS3_2ERUTOZdI3vTPVwdGS1oq6Kn0k/s320/IMG_0269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>9- We added glitter. Students had a great time. I gave an example of adding some to make eyelashes, and sparkle on the whiskers, and some in the snowflakes, and told them to use caution because too much and it might not be pretty anymore. Some did a little more than that, but overall they turned out adorable!<br />
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It was a great way to spend a Friday morning, and I felt like the students had a chance to exercise their creativity, as well as patience!Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-89682171782504301742011-12-03T12:38:00.002-07:002011-12-04T13:57:34.852-07:00Christmas Stories & ActivitiesHello Blog Friends! I confess that I have been more of a blog-stalker than an actual blogger this school year. I have been given 27 little kiddos this year, 10 of whom REALLY struggle, and 8 who are the highest in our grade level. So, I have been having to slow down, and keep it simple. Planning has been very time-consuming, trying to reach everyone's needs!<br />
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But, it is Christmas time, and I have to bring on the magic! Christmas time is a great time to push kids a little further with such high interest activities that they don't even notice! So, I decided to read 14 Christmas stories (one each day), and attach an activity to each. I wrapped up each book, and we open one each day. I thought I would share some of what I do with all of you, in case you find any inspirations. (I copied Amazon links, but I don't have them attached to any affiliate link.)<br />
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DAY 1- Gingerbread Man<br />
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We read the Gingerbread Man story, and filled out a graphic organizer on the wall. I drew a large gingerbread house (not picture-worthy, as I am not the best artist!), and separated it into 3 sections. We identified the setting and characters of the story and learned that the BEGINNING of a story defines the setting and characters.<br />
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We also read, this fun little book, and added it to our graphic organizer:<br />
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DAY 2- <u>Gingerbread Baby</u>, by Jan Brett<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61VPX1Y5YWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61VPX1Y5YWL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>We read the beginning of this story, as well, and added to our Gingerbread house organizer. We discussed who the characters and setting were. <br />
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Then, we began the awesome <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B7FqX2Eqrkf1YTc3NDMyYjUtNTU5Zi00ODEwLWI4YzEtMzM4NDI4NGVhMWE4&hl=en&pli=1">Gingerbread Science</a> experiment from <a href="http://babblingabby.blogspot.com/">Babbling Abby</a>. We filled out the first part, added the gingerbread man to water, and waited.<br />
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While we were waiting, we read a Gingerbread man <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gingerbread-Book-Literacy-Links-Books/dp/073272287X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322939024&sr=1-1">big book</a>. On the page where the fox eats the gingerbread man, I covered up his picture with white paper, and a note fell out from the gingerbread man! We had to chase him around the school! I will include the link here with my gingerbread man poems. I have them from back when I taught kinder, and I am not sure where the words came from. I have a feeling, I'm not the original creator, though. You can edit them for your own use!<br />
<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/74628101/Gingerbread-Man" style="display: block; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Gingerbread Man on Scribd">Gingerbread Man</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="578" id="doc_54912" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/74628101/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-1ff3ryc8wxcvhcrcds4s" width="400"></iframe><br />
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When we came back to class, my coworker had left gingerbread cookies for everyone with a note from the gingerbread man in our reading area. In addition, she uncovered his picture in the book. It was the cutest thing! One little boy was just ecstatic, saying "He's real! He's real! Do you know what this means? The gingerbread man is real!" It made it SO worth the time it took to bake all of the cookies and plan the activity.<br />
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We all took just one bite of the gingerbread man, and graphed the part we ate first (apparently we all liked to eat right legs and heads).<br />
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Next, we examined our gingerbread man science and completed the worksheet.<br />
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It was a wonderful afternoon!<br />
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DAY 3-<br />
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We completed the <u>Gingerbread Baby</u> story. First, we reviewed the beginning, by filling out the beginning of a story map together. Next, we completed the story, and discussed what the big problem was in the story. We talked about how we often learn the problem in the beginning of a story as well. Here is the organizer we used. We drew pictures where there are no lines to write. (It might not look right online, but if you select "download" it will look the way it is supposed to.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/74629123/Gingerbread-Man-for-Retelling-Unit" style="display: block; font: 14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; margin: 12px auto 6px; text-decoration: underline;" title="View Gingerbread Man for Retelling Unit on Scribd">Gingerbread Man for Retelling Unit</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="0.772727272727273" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="578" id="doc_91629" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/74629123/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-15fgeqpwfhk3p51j7t6i" width="400"></iframe><br />
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We completed the day by reading <u>Ginberbread Friends</u> together. The kids just love these stories, and cheer afterward!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61GHCEOhf9L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61GHCEOhf9L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-74990684921106965882011-09-10T15:22:00.000-06:002011-09-10T15:22:58.065-06:00My Room and Some Stuff to Share<div style="text-align: center;">I have been wanting to post pictures of my room for a couple of weeks. But, I just had too much work for my class to get on here and post anything. Now that I am *kind of* where I need to be, I thought I'd take a few minutes and share some of this summer's work with some classroom photos. (Sorry, I know they're not the best quality. I used my iPhone.) Let me know what you think in the comments, if you would! :-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My door:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi390zuBwRnPnmsI1Z4bdYpAcqD_vVH-hxA1mATKFbGNgEGMqHnNTYSSaIPgEv7KFa3TfiWYZzySytGj0SWqQL0Gct9pBBuhxVYbb7XMrYZ2WZaUUKvwhot-bfeySR9kaSkVFMewNcTbrE/s1600/IMG_0147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi390zuBwRnPnmsI1Z4bdYpAcqD_vVH-hxA1mATKFbGNgEGMqHnNTYSSaIPgEv7KFa3TfiWYZzySytGj0SWqQL0Gct9pBBuhxVYbb7XMrYZ2WZaUUKvwhot-bfeySR9kaSkVFMewNcTbrE/s320/IMG_0147.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't take many whole-room shots this year. Not sure why. Here is the closest thing I have:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYINjltju6pyz_q0Bh8AXpDAoF_1rO5c7_GPreTGeAYX6rCdqFw1A5mauUE7zVMs9eVorsJ5z_gYEfLpjHwp0XXTikZ4y6WBBgGdnkkWanK8Qx69M1-KagjrWtGkmJh6TGMyuBZu1ZvhY/s1600/IMG_0146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYINjltju6pyz_q0Bh8AXpDAoF_1rO5c7_GPreTGeAYX6rCdqFw1A5mauUE7zVMs9eVorsJ5z_gYEfLpjHwp0XXTikZ4y6WBBgGdnkkWanK8Qx69M1-KagjrWtGkmJh6TGMyuBZu1ZvhY/s320/IMG_0146.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My "Celebrity of the Week" board. I have started decorating it with my items in this picture, but it is only halfway complete:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1SSm_uFBIdpP9xY38PLnKh_jV2cZVGMvgdLck2fQSYjqukEX6UvncMbUaVkNfJdUi736B5mAw13ZUTUl2B6agajY27BnvhrYjnsU8-wRJwoHj9veXDgG5ZVZj_e6cORFDWzLau1sBTM/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1SSm_uFBIdpP9xY38PLnKh_jV2cZVGMvgdLck2fQSYjqukEX6UvncMbUaVkNfJdUi736B5mAw13ZUTUl2B6agajY27BnvhrYjnsU8-wRJwoHj9veXDgG5ZVZj_e6cORFDWzLau1sBTM/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My Math Corner:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYD5uLQt_eB813crfDkh3EkuJN8oIO5OxPbfnEGseFurwmuEHDmhEDr1wiFNEAlxDNhOUZ-UYofk8UQT28V-V3ZsgpJz0abdCxKXw077ahygHh55zq8MMjdhEJamiAzQayEgXTe8CEpI/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYD5uLQt_eB813crfDkh3EkuJN8oIO5OxPbfnEGseFurwmuEHDmhEDr1wiFNEAlxDNhOUZ-UYofk8UQT28V-V3ZsgpJz0abdCxKXw077ahygHh55zq8MMjdhEJamiAzQayEgXTe8CEpI/s320/IMG_0136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My number posters (at the top) are available for purchase in my <a href="http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/MrsGeary">Teachers' Notebook store</a> for only 99 cents. I think they are awesome for helping students with place value (if I do say so myself!). <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">The Calendar Board:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRy-E_mr4LtgexrXJbHun8K01bjZCQh5tlFI_py8D9E3_JRjNMyupBoInYOWhF9PzefJ_Z2mt4hlxh80r0TcpbmeZ6bWNi2O82rYwT4hBDiZtcZd6sSRclrW-N8Da7ExPxZI-1YsZuYg/s1600/IMG_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQRy-E_mr4LtgexrXJbHun8K01bjZCQh5tlFI_py8D9E3_JRjNMyupBoInYOWhF9PzefJ_Z2mt4hlxh80r0TcpbmeZ6bWNi2O82rYwT4hBDiZtcZd6sSRclrW-N8Da7ExPxZI-1YsZuYg/s320/IMG_0137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
If you like my weather cards, you can <a href="http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/MrsGeary">download</a> them for FREE from my <a href="http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/MrsGeary">Teacher's Notebook shop</a>. Just print them out, mount on cardstock, laminate, and cut out. I hole punched mine at the top and put them on a ring. It just hangs on a normal push-pin. The students love choosing the correct weather card. Then they read a sentence (you can kind of see it in the picture). It says "Today's weather is:" and the students insert "sunny" (which is all we have had here since school started.). I hope you enjoy these with your kiddos, too! <br />
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I made the colorful pockets out of card stock and just stapled them together and onto the board. I painted wooden stars and glued them to tongue depressors for "today, tomorrow, and yesterday" and used scrap-booking stickers for the words on both the stars and the pockets. Maybe I'll get a better picture today so you can see it better!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">My lunch count/attendance:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNgn4ri_9EEvmLV2BC0JKchYAOaWsSN7QNWkl3Nq_b2pQ0HBC3JH1-2dFFM1lc7-EC_LEKN0FA41Jv49gQnZrfWiZv8nc0Q19y9qu6zcEpBfD-EOJI1JCBUiSfeiuUq3AlWyOVF_MChY/s1600/IMG_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNgn4ri_9EEvmLV2BC0JKchYAOaWsSN7QNWkl3Nq_b2pQ0HBC3JH1-2dFFM1lc7-EC_LEKN0FA41Jv49gQnZrfWiZv8nc0Q19y9qu6zcEpBfD-EOJI1JCBUiSfeiuUq3AlWyOVF_MChY/s320/IMG_0138.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHwKqhQ1gnbftvQndNGJM3oJmQVF-h_KRDryMfSzItQ7n-ZZD_s8Fb1PqjmVJEHjvo_VUC2FkH6OH8zKRjitDMLmyvw6X2xi8MFz_sn5OUVr8Q5DzkfwCxidt38aekC9AM7Ui8Wy9oj4/s1600/IMG_0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhHwKqhQ1gnbftvQndNGJM3oJmQVF-h_KRDryMfSzItQ7n-ZZD_s8Fb1PqjmVJEHjvo_VUC2FkH6OH8zKRjitDMLmyvw6X2xi8MFz_sn5OUVr8Q5DzkfwCxidt38aekC9AM7Ui8Wy9oj4/s320/IMG_0139.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I use electrical tape, shrinky dink magnets, and the side of my file cabinet! So easy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">New idea for this year's library corner:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBe8rdyFgDpz1cUUGTNuNuFMNO8CsSdqQ43I_KOXuKK0CnJ_hG_2FoBR2ps4KwRlXcW86zAV2H2lGdxe5jbWxKIeRjFL8aMywblbX0VDVpYKyfFJX4ewd-NYkQg4ccZH8g57aH5rBcFg/s1600/IMG_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBe8rdyFgDpz1cUUGTNuNuFMNO8CsSdqQ43I_KOXuKK0CnJ_hG_2FoBR2ps4KwRlXcW86zAV2H2lGdxe5jbWxKIeRjFL8aMywblbX0VDVpYKyfFJX4ewd-NYkQg4ccZH8g57aH5rBcFg/s320/IMG_0143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My new peg board writing center. I personally love it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpYAWWpzmsGXcFhtE-uZeDNvtzFsUaq7WHP0dFgz_A-5Px1lEFup0dZQuaXrscI8gIU7yObxzo5fLii_no-V6AeprADsJuTReco3Juv4t9CywUvrzmDsM282VDuRg4HZRefISXKApiqg/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpYAWWpzmsGXcFhtE-uZeDNvtzFsUaq7WHP0dFgz_A-5Px1lEFup0dZQuaXrscI8gIU7yObxzo5fLii_no-V6AeprADsJuTReco3Juv4t9CywUvrzmDsM282VDuRg4HZRefISXKApiqg/s320/IMG_0144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-15100452909680899902011-09-10T14:18:00.001-06:002011-09-10T14:19:32.511-06:00Sweet - Top 10 Rating!I also found this weekend that...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6N99MPEUg16w2Iih7W25L6OUsNfTFiCW283ojWkJ3F0Mr21NY51uIJyxUw7_jh_pN-RBGTuU2tR_HM4GpWI9kASXctZRFIh2l_3kFnNXlNvuDI0uIyLlylC7PP9zVF389AAZvunFv7LQ/s1600/button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6N99MPEUg16w2Iih7W25L6OUsNfTFiCW283ojWkJ3F0Mr21NY51uIJyxUw7_jh_pN-RBGTuU2tR_HM4GpWI9kASXctZRFIh2l_3kFnNXlNvuDI0uIyLlylC7PP9zVF389AAZvunFv7LQ/s1600/button.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Thanks SO much to Leslie from <a href="http://jackofalltrades-leslie.blogspot.com/">Jack of All Trades</a> who included my blog in her top 10! I have enjoyed reading Leslie's blog since it started. She's awesome, and I am honored that she has found my blog inspiring. :-) <br />
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I just handed out Versatile Blogger Awards today and don't want to overload my blog, but look for my Top 10 coming soon! (Some are so amazing I almost don't want anyone else to know about them. Ha!)Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-14763901968267303262011-09-10T13:22:00.003-06:002011-09-10T13:28:34.760-06:00So excited... my First Award!<h3 class="post-title entry-title" style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; font-size: 28px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.25em; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20px; line-height: 32px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">I have been absent from Blogland for the past two weeks, and VERY present in my classroom. School has started and is in full swing now. Imagine my surprise when I finally checked my blog yesterday, and saw that Mrs. Wyand over at </span><a href="http://teachk-2.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0c343d;">Keeping it True in K-1-2</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> left me a comment, and has awarded me with my very first blog award! I ran around telling everyone who would listen (maybe I'm not modest enough...), and now I get to post about it! It's the Versatile Blogger Award. </span></span></h3><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4585489740564172567" style="font-size: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.6em;">Here are the rules:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px;"> The Rules after accepting the Versatile Blogger Award are:</span><br />
<ul style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Schoolbell; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post.</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Share 7 things about yourself</span></span></span></span></li>
<li style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Pass this award along to 15 recently discovered blogs. </span></span></span></span></li>
</ul><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Thanks Mrs. Wyand!!</span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">7 things about me:</span></span></div><div><ol style="color: #333333;"><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I don't watch T.V. except for the occasional PBS cartoon with my boys.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I do, however, watch certain shows on Netflix, and I get so addicted I watch the entire series in only a few weeks. My loves: Grey's Anatomy, Glee, and Merlin (the current one).</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I am also addicted to chocolate - only the real stuff. I dream of DARK chocolate cakes and brownies. </span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I know how to make old-fashioned ice cream sodas, milkshakes, etc. as I used to work in an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. </span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I am a listmaker - I have a list for everything!</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I love writing my family's menu each week, and trying out new recipes I find on blogs.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I enjoy children's books and young adult novels more than books written for grown-ups. </span></span></li>
</ol><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">15 blogs I've recently found: </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">1. </span><a href="http://shenanigansinsecond.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">Shenanigans in 2nd Grade</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> (Very creative teacher!) </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">2. <a href="http://ateacherstouch.blogspot.com/" style="color: #5588aa; text-decoration: none;">A Teacher's Touch</a> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">3. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2011/08/our-littlest-coconut.html">Counting Coconuts</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> (Montessori-inspired activities for preschoolers! I heart this website so much!)</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">4. <a href="http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/">Gluesticks</a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">5. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://missolibrary.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span">M</span>iss O's Library Land</a> </span>(Great idea for a blog, and great place to find new books for kids)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">6. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://alysiabattista.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span">M</span>iss B Busy Bee </a> </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">7. <a href="http://pencilsglueandtyingshoes.blogspot.com/">Pencils, Glue, and Tying Shoes</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"> (Wow! I haven't checked this one in a month or so and she has tons of cute stuff up -- some of my same ideas, too. Great minds think alike! Ha!)</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">8. </span><a href="http://playgroundduty.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span">P</span>layground Duty</span></a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">9. </span><a href="http://quenchyourfirst.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Quench your First</span></a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">10. </span><a href="http://smilescrayonsandendlessstories.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span">S</span>miles, Crayons, and Endless Stories</span></a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">11. </span><a href="http://stickersandstars.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span">S</span>tickers and Stars</span></a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">12. </span><a href="http://teachitwithclass.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Teach it with Class</span></a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">13.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://firstgradetothecore.blogspot.com/2011/07/growing-brain.html">First Grade to the Core</a> (I linked up to a GREAT idea! Buying my brain today! ;-) )</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">14. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://teachplaysmile.blogspot.com/">Teach Play Smile</a></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">15. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><a href="http://tickledpinkmandy.blogspot.com/">Tickled Pink</a> (New one for me -- I need to explore it more!)</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Coming Soon'; line-height: 1.6em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">Thanks so much for reading my blog! :)</span></span></div></div></div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-17745091809987037392011-08-16T11:48:00.001-06:002011-08-16T13:00:45.240-06:00My Little Projects<div style="text-align: center;">I have just 12 days until students arrive in my classroom! 12 days! Waaahhh! I want to pretend like it's not happening, and go have fun with my little boys! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">But, alas... I have been diligently focusing on my classroom for last few days. I am either at school, or at home thinking and planning about school. I've also stayed up WAY too late working on little projects. I thought you might like to see a few of the little things I have done:</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHdoxx2Ukcm3YPzM3t0ES0fJNG74Ljgh118Z6WTcinE_89zx6cA54b2sQ6mE7ELepMVyEHoU9W4tlu9X0n7PPjaWOhXKqAt6LDLBvVEdv5g13NE4u_rEt3C6PCF7nRMx7lq81YEN-Zps/s1600/IMG_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHdoxx2Ukcm3YPzM3t0ES0fJNG74Ljgh118Z6WTcinE_89zx6cA54b2sQ6mE7ELepMVyEHoU9W4tlu9X0n7PPjaWOhXKqAt6LDLBvVEdv5g13NE4u_rEt3C6PCF7nRMx7lq81YEN-Zps/s320/IMG_0002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year's bathroom passes. I'll spray with lysol every day, but I think it's going to keep them out of the toilet, and maybe just a little more germ-free! Made with sparkle visors from Wal-Mart, and sparkle letter stickers from Dollar Tree.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoZAWruXvePhaTz-tr3S7oa3E0ZuHKGcM2tDK34qeRGSlizP5XZ_cKTDw618Cibq-9quJaTS80_3kARUQa5LoxK_l7LWV-EybrexflV0Iaauhz3x6TiHyF8r9jqrqmbLen_3XSBPfK04/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoZAWruXvePhaTz-tr3S7oa3E0ZuHKGcM2tDK34qeRGSlizP5XZ_cKTDw618Cibq-9quJaTS80_3kARUQa5LoxK_l7LWV-EybrexflV0Iaauhz3x6TiHyF8r9jqrqmbLen_3XSBPfK04/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTIwtSFqyZDFZmmcxZoGHsBr3tVAxnyV51uNnm_Llep4aIJJsA14q0ybyc9YhHKVre5A4xZxRHSKHGxwZcjU519xLLeq4muLWA3EQLJtFM7YKZRd-CmWqcammva3j6efXo2QHyDwia80/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQTIwtSFqyZDFZmmcxZoGHsBr3tVAxnyV51uNnm_Llep4aIJJsA14q0ybyc9YhHKVre5A4xZxRHSKHGxwZcjU519xLLeq4muLWA3EQLJtFM7YKZRd-CmWqcammva3j6efXo2QHyDwia80/s320/IMG_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Ask Me" visors are for my student helpers during lessons where students need help. I use during writers' workshop, and/or I will have my first finishers put them on to help other students during any type of lesson. They would be great during centers, too, when you are working with small groups. Students would know if there is something that can't wait, or they need help with their electronic equipment, they can go to the "Ask Me" student. I'm sure you have more ideas of how to use!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMX7-K2nxUfOUyvVu1l-XXVgvbyCQFADszAft9mPXXG7UsRrG5IdrkGyIdjR-ISFbFfZ_w-fcz9wXqZvXAofpY4S3JGX6mSP53Aj-D5owgTKGGVeECGwdxVJCYbtayPCEFCFUmxmXF_o/s1600/IMG_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMX7-K2nxUfOUyvVu1l-XXVgvbyCQFADszAft9mPXXG7UsRrG5IdrkGyIdjR-ISFbFfZ_w-fcz9wXqZvXAofpY4S3JGX6mSP53Aj-D5owgTKGGVeECGwdxVJCYbtayPCEFCFUmxmXF_o/s320/IMG_0006.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My new Star of the week bag! Made with a black snap bag from the Target Dollar Spot, iron-on letters, and sparkle fabric paint. I also painted "Mrs. Geary's Class" on back in case it gets left on a bus!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5tl2EFkY8BcxubEYjjY0PQboPpTBgyYYQZ1QMNibgP8lePDV5eGVFpXEXyzcU7KXgluoRCRVoXJPEV2aEAtDF5ecJpXjfBaGPrySXjWbCLp_N7Szl2SB50ubE22mieDOG8hKsUu9rco/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5tl2EFkY8BcxubEYjjY0PQboPpTBgyYYQZ1QMNibgP8lePDV5eGVFpXEXyzcU7KXgluoRCRVoXJPEV2aEAtDF5ecJpXjfBaGPrySXjWbCLp_N7Szl2SB50ubE22mieDOG8hKsUu9rco/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhSWAJ77VQXMiTga68DSODE3mj9qf2UlYuBwhgghg5cMN8vv2ykqysQSlU3NFfX8FJoDW-3Z8V2uY7fXis9BgguAbJmgMHq5kXHYmz7M12XkPmrZenlNUISaxE35eJN1WHMdgK_1TZCc/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhSWAJ77VQXMiTga68DSODE3mj9qf2UlYuBwhgghg5cMN8vv2ykqysQSlU3NFfX8FJoDW-3Z8V2uY7fXis9BgguAbJmgMHq5kXHYmz7M12XkPmrZenlNUISaxE35eJN1WHMdgK_1TZCc/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These awesome notebooks were an idea from Leslie, at Jack of All Trades! See her tutorial <a href="http://jackofalltrades-leslie.blogspot.com/2011/07/todays-craft-project-notebooks.html">here</a>. I made some for my co-workers and I, and next I will make some for my boys' teachers. I think it's a great little back to school gift! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73dy3noB4QMvFZcVUS9v6iJ_UOTemQcsjL1aqzd5dQwg_nechU2682zMksDZGIYSE_JutDkenc9LTnq03BUswrOz-oyCjkQpJoU2wcvbiV3_SSwVnQaYROWaFQCNNBrc7EyPcNw4yNTc/s1600/IMG_0127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73dy3noB4QMvFZcVUS9v6iJ_UOTemQcsjL1aqzd5dQwg_nechU2682zMksDZGIYSE_JutDkenc9LTnq03BUswrOz-oyCjkQpJoU2wcvbiV3_SSwVnQaYROWaFQCNNBrc7EyPcNw4yNTc/s320/IMG_0127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The "Rock Star" Desk. Hot-glued a wooden guitar from Hobby Lobby, and used sticker letters. I'm sure they'll need replaced several times. This desk will be used for the student with "Rockin'" behavior each day. I'm doing a Hollywood theme in my room, and I thought it would be fun to choose a rock star at the end of every day. Since I use tables, the desk is a novelty for students, and they love to be the one who gets to sit in it for the next day! I announce at the end of every day, and we cheer for the student selected.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Qb674WXLfOtzYfYc1SOcm8LcqoslvEOAYRAIWiZROP_BDeYofN7g0jCYm7y0pWuTixUkUdsS-_L-1gHTz6ggvDj5GUfBwWyZ6BAVYX8r6K8YYcbwETcG11a93gtn5P44EJOykAVHzxs/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Qb674WXLfOtzYfYc1SOcm8LcqoslvEOAYRAIWiZROP_BDeYofN7g0jCYm7y0pWuTixUkUdsS-_L-1gHTz6ggvDj5GUfBwWyZ6BAVYX8r6K8YYcbwETcG11a93gtn5P44EJOykAVHzxs/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this little owl cover I made for my shelf! It hides all of my personal items. This shelf is part of the student writing center on top, but since I don't have a teacher desk this year, I needed to store some of my things below. You can't see in the picture, but I sewed button holes on both sides, and the curtain is resting on some hooked magnets (metal shelf), so I can open it at any time. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkuT5xRE6uV6-Dwu9WrdeXRbknXYjStWBCNx_VhCXLV0B1G1KvFWEUkqGxKENAVNrH1OLULqfM02AUeCqRoIM7J4oRxa_f4aDI5HI4mZg90L8IX4tAv6Rj68d4DwI_jDUILVw63taOZM/s1600/IMG_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkuT5xRE6uV6-Dwu9WrdeXRbknXYjStWBCNx_VhCXLV0B1G1KvFWEUkqGxKENAVNrH1OLULqfM02AUeCqRoIM7J4oRxa_f4aDI5HI4mZg90L8IX4tAv6Rj68d4DwI_jDUILVw63taOZM/s320/IMG_0129.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jJzXLc13SgCpYmvmnoU-_Xn-eyNwl0Cr5Ftc4iFaHSEYhgUWV-CHk7zesnZspHPvkE4_GgMF03nfPUtnAZqR86xPZt2KZiatTZy1W3cA8MrUY-E55pbqJltnBPAmKjjQ4X5SqwUHtsc/s1600/IMG_0130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jJzXLc13SgCpYmvmnoU-_Xn-eyNwl0Cr5Ftc4iFaHSEYhgUWV-CHk7zesnZspHPvkE4_GgMF03nfPUtnAZqR86xPZt2KZiatTZy1W3cA8MrUY-E55pbqJltnBPAmKjjQ4X5SqwUHtsc/s320/IMG_0130.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two more sewing projects - skirts for a table and projector cart. I sewed ribbon around the top to make it cuter. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I have to get busy with my walls. I have a goal to be organized by Wednesday. I'm not sure if I'll make it, but I'm sure going to try!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-91390976945381463722011-08-08T00:41:00.000-06:002011-08-08T00:41:48.470-06:00Phonogram Wall Giveaway Winners!<div style="text-align: center;">Due to the low response to entry in my giveaway, I am giving away a free phonogram set to everyone who entered. In return, PLEASE give me any feedback you may have! It's the first item I have ever listed for sale, and I want to make sure it's everything you hoped! Thanks in advance! :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The winners are: Laurel from "Teach Them Love"; Delighted, Prudence,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tina from "Quench Your First", and Christine!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Laured, Delighted, and Christine - I have sent you an Email. Let me know if you don't get it! Prudence and Tina, I will need your Email addresses as well as whether you would like the polka dot or black and white set. You can send me an Email at kendralr@yahoo.com. I'll do my best to send out before Thursday, if I can figure out how to do it from my phone. But you will have it by Thursday, for sure! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks, ladies, for reading my little blog, and entering the giveaway! You're awesome!</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-11139458069268918822011-08-07T04:30:00.003-06:002011-08-07T04:30:00.178-06:00Last Day to Enter Phonogram Giveaway!Today is the LAST day to enter my giveaway. So far, everyone who has joined is winning! I am giving away 4 phonogram board set printables in your choice of black or polka-dot border. See<a href="http://candlelightteaching.blogspot.com/2011/08/invaluable-resource-and-little-giveaway.html"> this post</a> below to enter, and for more details! <br />
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I will select a winner at 11:00 p.m. (MST) tonight!Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-74567470130597651932011-08-06T11:52:00.000-06:002011-08-06T11:52:42.505-06:00Curriculum Mapping & Giveaway reminderNext week, I will be meeting with my team to plan out our year. I have started to map it out in my mind, but I can't wait to finally have it all written down. A few years ago, we decided to do this together for the first time. Below is the curriculum map I made, and you can download it on Scribd to use for yourself! We print it out on legal or larger paper, then fill in the boxes in pencil. Each person's may be a tiny bit different, and the writing seems good for helping the brain remember! Enjoy!<br />
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Also, as a reminder... my <a href="http://candlelightteaching.blogspot.com/2011/08/invaluable-resource-and-little-giveaway.html">phonogram board giveaway</a> ends tomorrow night! Click on the link to find out how to enter! <br />
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<a title="View Joplin Yearly Map on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/61755364/Joplin-Yearly-Map" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Joplin Yearly Map</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/61755364/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-pat2ot5z7xf4qesmtjz" data-auto-height="true" data-aspect-ratio="1.64516129032258" scrolling="no" id="doc_42271" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = "http://www.scribd.com/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();</script>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-6255424711797079902011-08-06T00:49:00.000-06:002011-08-06T00:49:15.617-06:00We MATTER.<div style="text-align: center;">I had SO much fun today! We went to the Discovery Center of Idaho (kind of like a children's museum about science), for Space Days. We did science for four hours, ate freeze-dried ice cream (not recommended), AND my kids got to meet astronaut Jose Hernandez and the first teacher in space, Barbara Morgan! They were on cloud nine. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Mr. Hernandez gave an awesome speech that brought tears to my eyes. He started out as the youngest child in a family of migrant workers, going to 5 different schools in a year. He had a difficult time learning English - or anything for that matter. In second grade, he told his teacher he was going back to Mexico for 3 months, and his teacher (Mrs. Young) paid a home visit to his family. She told them...."Children are like trees. If you transplant them too much, they grow weak. If you want a tree to grow strong, it needs to stay in one place so that it can plant deep roots, be nourished, and grow. Children are the same way." His parents took it to heart, and they stopped "migrating." He saw a TV program when he was 10 that made him decide he would be an astronaut. He worked hard, and he never gave up. He became an engineer. He applied to NASA 12 times, was turned down 11 times, and finally accepted after 12 years of trying. He flew on a mission in the Discovery in 2009. Before the launch, there was a dinner at NASA and guess who he brought - Mrs. Young, his 2nd grade teacher! Awww.... if that doesn't swell your heart, I don't know what would! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It just goes to show -- sometimes what we do for a child can seem little and maybe we even feel like it didn't matter, but we might find out later that it really did!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SRZEsQ86OK84JH_xG2WjuHC-ZMrxYRe4zeoLVacB21bqjfBHs_IK5AQwpWSuIwmwlrbxmk_BHFa6cVmjpTc_jiEyplJeW6Nz1LH9wPjSnZ0Wdw3muIR5SbLP9woLkmGcyobk8gsJusY/s1600/IMG_0126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9SRZEsQ86OK84JH_xG2WjuHC-ZMrxYRe4zeoLVacB21bqjfBHs_IK5AQwpWSuIwmwlrbxmk_BHFa6cVmjpTc_jiEyplJeW6Nz1LH9wPjSnZ0Wdw3muIR5SbLP9woLkmGcyobk8gsJusY/s320/IMG_0126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(My two darlings with astronaut Jose Hernandez)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-542378254136145002011-08-03T14:16:00.000-06:002011-08-03T14:16:29.898-06:00Currently.... linky party<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2011/08/currently-i-am.html">Oh Boy 4th grade</a> is hosting a Think, Write, Share Linky Party!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here is what you do...</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Write down what you are currently </span></div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>listening</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>loving</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>thinking</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>wanting</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>needing</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>& </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>stalking</b> (include 3 Blogs one has to be non teacher)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">so here is mine...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">CURRENTLY, I am.... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><ul><li><span style="font-size: medium;"> <b>Listening </b>to my two boys talk about Jabba the Hut pooping. I know, this is disgusting! They're done now after a stern look from Mom. ;-)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Loving</b> Pinterest and all of the great ideas! (I just need to stop looking and start DOING!)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Thinking</b> about the ten million things I need to do today, and how my air conditioner must be broken because it should NOT be 76 in here already. :(</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Wanting </b>beautiful dresses from <a href="http://www.shabbyapple.com/">Shabby Apple</a> and an external hard drive. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Needing </b>to get off my butt and take my kids out on errands. (My son says, "Mom, we have so many things to do today, it is supposed to be a road trip!")</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Stalking <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_449291675"> </a></b><a href="http://pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com/">Pearls, Handcuffs, and Happy Hour</a>, <a href="http://theinspiredapple.blogspot.com/">The Inspired Apple</a>, and <a href="http://lessonplansos.blogspot.com/">Lesson Plan S.O.S.</a></span></li>
</ul>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-7960157254186751002011-08-03T12:34:00.001-06:002011-08-03T13:19:18.743-06:00My Pinterest Finds - a new addictionI have *finally* been admitted into the "cool kids club" of Pinterest. :-) I am officially addicted. I've spent hours just pinning away! Here are some of my favorite finds so far:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/93829658/"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/93829658_iQ49L3lR_b.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>This would be great for a lesson about Mondrian!! Granted, the lines would be white instead of black, but it's the same general principal. My firsties would love it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/93242524/"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/93242524_RXrZ0fWE_b.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>This I didn't actually find on Pinterest, but I pinned it on there. It's an idea from a preschool blog I follow. (teachpreschool.com) I love this idea, and plan to go shopping for my own placemats soon!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/93248925/"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/93248925_GwJuF6C0_b.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />
A pegboard writing center! LOVE it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/93895234/"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/93895234_y2xU58qD_b.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />
I really, REALLY want to eat this! I just don't want the associated weight gain.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/93311650/"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/93311650_dFdjei1R_b.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br />
I have to make these for my kiddos this year!<br />
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There are TOO many things to love on Pinterest. Now I have to get off the computer and actually do something myself. If you haven't entered my <a href="http://candlelightteaching.blogspot.com/2011/08/invaluable-resource-and-little-giveaway.html">Giveaway</a> yet, check it out!Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-65923711044936025032011-08-02T15:20:00.000-06:002011-08-02T15:20:28.436-06:00Pinterest - a cry for HELP!I have been reading about Pinterest all summer, and seeing other people's awesome posts. I have requested an invite probably 4 times, but have never received an invite. How does this website know that I am not one of the "cool kids?" My disguise isn't working, I guess. :) <br />
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So, for all of you who use pinterest, can anyone help me out? I'd love to be able to keep track of all those awesome ideas I've seen for the classroom... not to mention the RECIPES! It looks so fun. So, calling into the great wide world. Can anyone hear me? Buehler? Buehler? Buehler???Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-82881432659931795222011-08-01T23:48:00.001-06:002011-08-02T00:06:10.769-06:00The best giveaway EVER....Remember those adorable red chairs I posted about for the classroom decor linky party? (See post <a href="http://candlelightteaching.blogspot.com/2011/07/classroom-decor-linky-party.html">here</a>) Well, I could not believe it when I saw that Katie, at <a href="http://katiesliteraturelounge.blogspot.com/2011/08/nordic-rocker-guidecraft-educator.html#comment-form">Katie's (Little Ones) Learning Lounge</a> is hosting a giveaway of one of the little red rockers from Guidecraft! This is TOO much! I am crossing fingers and toes and braiding my hair, people! (My four year old is crossing his eyes - newfound skill. Haha.) Sign me up! Click on the Learning lounge name above to enter her giveaway. <br />
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And, if you feel like it, check out <a href="http://candlelightteaching.blogspot.com/2011/08/invaluable-resource-and-little-giveaway.html">mine</a> from yesterday, too. I am giving away 4 phonogram wall sets, and no one has entered as of yet, so your chances are pretty dang good! :)Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-43350372527183853522011-08-01T14:28:00.006-06:002011-08-01T15:17:04.603-06:00An invaluable resource - and a little giveawayI visited my classroom last week, and it is a Disaster... with an extra capital D. Our school got new carpet this summer, and everything had to come out of the rooms, and off the walls. Now I have practically a blank slate to start over again!<br />
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I have been thinking about my phonogram wall for a long time. I don't know if any of you display the phonograms (word chunks) in your room, but I find it way helpful for my students! However, I haven't been happy with the way I was doing it. I just had them up in any old order, and students had to search hard to find what they needed. I felt like there was a better way to organize the materials on the wall, so that they could also be organized in the child's brain (visual learners know what I am talking about!).<br />
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So, I have spent hours and HOURS this weekend creating my new phonogram wall. And, if I do say so myself, it is a.dor.a.ble! Because of the time I spent creating it, I have decided to list it on Teacher's Notebook. Here is a preview pic: (okay, 2 - I decided to create one copy in polka dots and one without)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MrsGeary/black-bordered-phonogram-chunking-wall-display-with-teaching-resources"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3nPtusWEHd6YdGrnw0U3puwekE4BGB7QOlJ4SHZ-rvv08qsH8IgQQg77KrzzuPzfb6XKjs3DLc2aCIcnHnp76XvGT39s0EF2cILVQ-8awkcVcwIR6TM32ujMCbIpu5Hq05AFweAeEfg/s320/collage2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MrsGeary/polka-dot-phonogram-chunking-wall-and-resources"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyNkZOQboEiUWoB35QEBWjKFVXvjUVDzKoIQDdQqrkeqjNXb4YDztjLj_AK0Xk8vlmR5wCQHNX9vVAuiHSem8U69i5wzVmtlnLi9XqpZcaIEdmIHGE9UbWUPZhLI02E1Ni9hafTuPb24/s320/collage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have never seen anything like this for purchase anywhere before, even at the teacher store! I would easily pay $20 for it at the teachers' store, so I think I have it listed for a bargain.<br />
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If you have never used a phonogram wall before, you will LOVE this! Mine starts out blank at the beginning of the year - just the header will be up. (I made a couple of cute hollywood-themed ones for me, but I have plain ones, too). As you teach each phonogram sound, you add the sound headers, and the circles with the actual letters beneath. Students learn to organize phonograms by sound, and can find them quickly and easily.<br />
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I am not a "fluff" teacher. There is nothing on my wall that is not created with (or part of a lesson with) the students, and is not interactive and usable for them on a daily basis. If something is on my wall, I want it to have purpose. My phonogram wall is used continuously by my students - during both reading and writing. The first 6-8 weeks of my phonics instruction are completely based around its use. I have also included a minilesson in my teachers' notebook resource to help you teach your students how to use the resource for writing. I find it to be an excellent "bridge" for students as they transition from invented spelling to traditional. I finally found out how to more effectively make that happen with the use of this resource, and I am so excited to share it with others!<br />
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I plan on making a book of activities to go along with this wall throughout the year. We practice handwriting right along with the phonogram wall, and we also use it to help prepare us for standardized testing. It will take me weeks to get all of that done, so bear with me, but the ideas are already rolling, and I can't wait to share!!!<br />
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SO, I did mention a giveaway. I do feel bad that I can't just give this away for free, because I feel like what is best for students should always be shared among teachers. I hope that you understand, and I am offering it at what I believe to be a bargain price for what you get:<br />
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<ul><li>How to use document with instructions for displaying/assembling the materials</li>
<li>your choice of 12 different title headers, including 2 Hollywood/Rockstar/Star themed headers and a variety of colors and sizes. I am willing to customize header colors for those who have purchased the set if you send me an Email. </li>
<li>24 smaller "sound" headers for organizing phonograms.</li>
<li>52 phonogram circles for display and flash cards</li>
<li>student personal phonogram chart</li>
<li>student fillable personal phonogram chart</li>
<li>writing miniless for teaching students to use the phonogram wall as a writing tool.</li>
</ul>BUT, since I still like to give stuff away free, <b>4</b> people will receive the phonogram kit FREE.<br />
To enter:<br />
1) <b>Follow </b>my blog and comment on this post.<br />
2) <b>P</b><b>ost about my giveaway/blog on your website or blog</b> with a <b>LINK</b> to my site and comment about it on this post. (If you don't have a blog, you can post about it on Facebook or Twitter.)<br />
I will select the winners on Sunday, 8/7! <br />
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For those who want to buy, click here <a href="http://teachersnotebook.com/shop/MrsGeary"><br />
<img border="0" src="http://teachersnotebook.com/images/teachers_notebook_products.png" /><br />
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Happy sounding out words!!!Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-31557702401924370172011-07-26T02:11:00.000-06:002011-07-26T02:11:34.824-06:00A shining exampleI "found" a website today, that I think everyone should know about! <a href="http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/">The Cornerstone</a> is a collection of activities and ideas shared by Angela Watson. The only way I can describe her is INSPIRED! One can easily spend an hour lost on her site, and leave feeling renewed and excited about teaching (and the joy of life in general). I. Love. It. You will, too. Check her out!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KoJrcxP0JFn_TM0Ti9YJknaqoDCFH9d0peztkwegjfGGVqazE4fUd7E9TxALA0WO5EsqXTlRJkm1TedJEnEhKMi5U-rjwb5-RWYWbYWGQkC9MYZJ6CQQPf8wD-c9oCoeFNpoMzBDrno/s1600/Cornerstone-front1-219x300.jpg" /></a></div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-78485632907866385102011-07-20T23:50:00.001-06:002011-07-21T00:39:25.182-06:00Classroom decor Linky Party<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://firstgradeblueskies.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-are-you-in-love-with-linky-party.html">First Grade Blue Skies</a> is hosting a Linky party that is all about classroom decor. I love Linky Parties! This one was actually kind of hard for me, though, because I am taking a *huge* pay cut this year, and I have told myself over and over how happy I am with what I already have! Truly, though, I am super happy with my classroom colors/decor. This will be my third year with the same stuff, and I'm not tired of it yet! You've probably seen from my classroom pictures that I have a blue, green, black and white theme, with polka dots. I love it! It's very me. :) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Still, I guess it never hurts to dream!</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Created-Resources-Black-Calendar/dp/B00207OHX2?ie=UTF8&tag=lighta0f-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Teacher Created Resources Black Polka Dots Calendar Chart, Black (7605)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00207OHX2&tag=lighta0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lighta0f-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00207OHX2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://site.american-classroom-supply.com/yswimages/tcr7605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lighta0f-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00207OHX2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A new calendar set would be nice... with cute polka dots, of course!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Created-Resources-Months-Headliners/dp/B001JTJOMG?ie=UTF8&tag=lighta0f-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Teacher Created Resources Polka Dot Months Headliners, Multi Color (4481)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001JTJOMG&tag=lighta0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lighta0f-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001JTJOMG" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">matching monthly headers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Created-Resources-September-Calendar/dp/B003F14I7M?ie=UTF8&tag=lighta0f-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Teacher Created Resources September Polka Dots Calendar Days/Story Starters, Lime Border (5083)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003F14I7M&tag=lighta0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lighta0f-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003F14I7M" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">monthly calendar tiles for each month of the year... with story prompts on the back of each!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Created-Resources-Black-Polka/dp/B00207FLHS?ie=UTF8&tag=lighta0f-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Teacher Created Resources Black Polka Dots Chart, Black (7677)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00207FLHS&tag=lighta0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lighta0f-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00207FLHS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Notepad "paper" poster... to laminate and write down our circle rules together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ifurn.com/pics/8/guidecraft-usa/red-kids-table-and-chairs.G6400.2.800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.ifurn.com/pics/8/guidecraft-usa/red-kids-table-and-chairs.G6400.2.800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I may as well dream big if I am dreaming.... I have always wanted these little chairs for my library! And they're at such a great price right now. Bummer. Oh, well. The kids love my library as it is!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/87/15/94/00/0087159400135_60X60.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/87/15/94/00/0087159400135_60X60.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I want to create a new rug area this year. This rug would be SO cute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Counter-Height-Director%2527s-Chair/dp/B000E9C0NC?ie=UTF8&tag=lighta0f-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Natural Counter Height Director's Chair" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000E9C0NC&tag=lighta0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lighta0f-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000E9C0NC" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year I'm going to be using a Hollywood theme. Wouldn't this be the cutest Author's Chair? This I really do wish for!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beistle-15-Red-Carpet-Runner/dp/B000R4KQ0S?ie=UTF8&tag=lighta0f-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="15' Red Carpet Runner" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000R4KQ0S&tag=lighta0f-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lighta0f-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000R4KQ0S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And of course, a red carpet for my little superstars!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's all. Really. Well, that and about a bazillion other things for the kids and I to actually USE, but that is for another party, I suppose. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lighta0f-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00207OHX2" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5940006181012287055.post-83144391525545830702011-07-20T23:38:00.000-06:002011-07-20T23:38:39.697-06:00Did that really just happen??? and a free gameLast night was one of my strangest yet. I spent several hours in the emergency room and had to be put under to have surgery. You would think something terrible happened to me, but no, not really. I ate fish for dinner, and got a bone stuck in my throat. After two hours of trying everything on the internet, that little guy was stuck in there even better than before. I couldn't talk very loud because the vibrations caused the fish bone to poke further into my throat.<br />
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So, I decided to head over the hospital. I had been swimming that day, and cooking fish. My hair was in a frizzy pony-tail. But, did I think to change my clothes, put on some makeup, or wash up? Oh, no, I was solely focused on the fish bone stuck in my esophagus. So, it would only stand to reason that my Dr. would be the father of my students (he has the cutest little twin boys!) from last year. I was lucky enough to have a lovely yellow stain all down my shirt from a nectarine I ate while trying to push down the fish bone. How embarrassing! <br />
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When going out in public, it is best for a teacher to always be prepared. Even in the ER, you just never know who you are going to see!<br />
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In honor of my lovely surgery, I have made these cute fish sight word cards for my son. He is currently practicing Kindergarten sight words, so they would be a great beginning of the year activity for your kiddos. They can be cut out, laminated, and attach a magnet to the back to use for a fishing game. Or, just cut into cards and laminate for flash cards, war, you name it. My little guy has been terribly worried about me (I got to drag both kids to the hospital with me, and they saw me as I went under and woke up). I thought this might help us to laugh a little, and commemorate the experience. I also wrote him a little emergent reader about a mom who gets fish stuck in her throat. Haha! This, I won't share. I'm sure no one wants a bunch of calls from parents whose children are afraid to eat fish!<br />
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Have a lovely day! Mine will definitely be fish-free! :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/60515944/K-fish-HF-words" style="-x-system-font: none; display: block; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 12px auto 6px auto; text-decoration: underline;" title="View K fish HF words on Scribd">K fish HF words</a><iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="" data-auto-height="true" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_8502" scrolling="no" src="http://www.scribd.com/embeds/60515944/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list&access_key=key-2ntdtzjl6croa01l7m0l" width="100%"></iframe>Kendrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09454860443983850691noreply@blogger.com1