Five For Friday

Joining the fun with 

 uno

 My kids graduated from high school.  I was good until my girl made her valedictorian speech, then the tears steadily flowed.  I am truly a blessed mama :)

dos

 Enjoying my summer binge watching Scandal and a refreshing drink ;)

OMG I was so late to watch this show, I started watching it with my girl, it'll be nice to watch a show with her when she's away at college....sniff, sniff,... away :(

tres

Finally able to do some relaxing activities with my cutie pie like puzzles.  My girl's pretty bright, but puzzles have always been challenging.  6 years old isn't too young to understand straight edges, corner pieces, like colors, is it?  

cuatro

I got so crazy busy the last week of school that I didn't get to share what some sweet mamas did for our class.  On the last day of school, they opened up Restaurante Salón 25 (Restaurant Room 25), complete with your choice of pancakes, eggs, juice, and kid activities while they waited for their food.  It was so popular that when I returned from recess, we had students from other classrooms enjoying some pancakes.  Gracias mamis :)

cinco

Stay tuned for my new blog design!

Oh, I can't wait to see what the talented Megan comes up with!  She has done some fantabulous blog redesigns!  And that's saying something because I don't tend to use words like fantabulous or fabulicious or anythingalous :)

Well, that's it amigos.

Hope you have a relaxing week ahead.

June Currently

YAHOO it's summer!!!!

Last week I was so crazy busy, I'll catch up later, but for now I'm linking up with the fabulous Farley at 

I need to beef up on my Maxwell lyrics, I'm so excited I get to see him in concert at the end of the month.

I was so buy last week, that I probably should have utilized my bullet journal better, but I barely had time to breathe.  Pack everything, last day of school, graduation, and graduation party, hence my needing comment :)

Other than that, I plan to take it easy this summer.  If nothing else, I plan to enjoy each day :)

Hope the same for everyone else out in Bloggyland.

Five For Friday

13 days left, cannot believe it's moving so fast.  I know this time of year is crazy for all of us, but I thought I'd join the Five For Friday Linky fun :)

Uno

practiced our non-standard measurement with partners

dos:

We had our awesome Dual Immersion Spring Event today.  I always get so busy directing my own kiddos that I never have time to take pics of my own class.  But our 5th grade danza de los viejitos is always a hit!

tres:

had to post all our upcoming end of the year events on our calendar, next week we will be busy with our performance tasks, math benchmark testing, Cancer Awareness Week, Luau, and Study Island movie.  Ok, ok, breathe, breathe...

 cuatro:

I need to seriously start planning my kids' graduation party.  Graduation in 13 days, party in 15.  Ok, really, just breathe...

cinco:

Yup, that's me.  I was in urgent care all weekend.  I missed four days of school.  Crazy how we teachers have to time our water intake with our break times, but I've learned a hard lesson, and it will definitely be more water for me.  I am just so thankful that I had a superb sub! And an awesome class, gracias amigos!

Well, that's it for me.  I have some work to do this weekend, but I will absolutely enjoy my Mother's Day Weekend :)

Feliz Día de las Madres 

Classroom Digs

Hola amigos!

This is my first week of school and I... am... beat! (it' barely Tuesday you say?  I know!)
But I do love starting a new year :) 

New kiddos, new boards, and a new classroom set up.

This year, our school adapted the Super Hero theme.

Yay for me because I started this theme last year :)

I'll post student goals and Super Student of the Week here.

But I do love my DJ Inkers decor so I used some in my library area.

My library area is behind the shelves.  

I just pulled some of my math boxes, I had to store them during the summer, and they're actually pretty well organized in a cabinet.

My new library set up!  I still need to find some comfy padding for my bench area.

I'm loving my writing wall!  After I put writing samples, you'll still be able to see a border.

Ahhh... scrapbook paper.... how I love thee!

Each class has adopted a University.
Each grade level is responsible for teaching university vocabulary and every Wednesday we can wear our university t-shirts.  Can I just say how cool it is too see classes wearing their university T's :)
We are 'SC!

Our class rules:  they're the same rules I've used, similar to Whole Brain Teaching, but with a Super Hero coolness :)

Our pocket chart area and science/history wall.

And lastly, our math wall.  I do most of it on the Smart Board, but last year my kiddos weren't able to do calendar when I had a sub, so I thought I'd put a basic one for such "sick" days ;)

I looove to peek in other classrooms, so if you're anything like me, head on over to

Adios amigos :)

Five For Friday

Hola Amigos!

Have I mentioned how much I'm lovin' my summer?  Love it!!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching, to let you know some of the reasons why :)

uno:

1.  My lil' cutie pie is becoming quite the artist,

I love her drawings...

dos:

2.  So my cutie pie will start Kinder this fall and has already become quite the writer.

How can I say no after she left me this note?

tres

3.  Pluto was so sweet, he let her pet him before taking a picture.

cuatro:

  

4.  Finally tried the Mint Julep... maybe it's better with a lil' sumpin' sumpin'

but the Monte Cristo...YUM!

cinco:

5.  OMG have you tried Marie Callender's Cake Pie?

Cake on top of PIE people!!!

Have a Super Weekend!

Adios Amigos!

Five For Friday

Yay for Friday!! 

Linking up my five random things with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

uno:

1.  My lil' cutie pie is becoming quite the artist!  Love her eerie version of this Disney princess :)

Can you guess who it is?

dos:

2. My daughter treated me to Coldstone's today, I didn't want to disappoint her, so of course I indulged:)

Coffee Lovers in a waffle cone, how can you not be jealous ;)

tres:

3.  I am loving my Erin Condren planner!  Love that I have a 2 page monthly TABBED layout! Love that I can use my Papermate colorful markers, that do not bleed!

cuatro:

4. I bet you'll never guess what this delicious dessert is!  My hubby had this instead of cake for his birthday, can you see my cutie pie sneaking a piece :)

cinco:

5.  Reason #555 why I love my hubby so much, he came by my class today and dropped off this awesomely, wonderful movie/musical that I love, LOVE!!!  

And now I gotta go watch this with my girls :)

Have a super weekend.

12 On The 12th

Okay, so I know I already posted today, but I thought it would be fun to join the Linky with

Joining the Linky

Thanks

for organizing us :)

Kinder Classroom Update

I apologize for not posting, like many of you, 

I have been so busy getting ready for the new school year.

And as if blogging wasn't fun enough, I've found another love,

yes, I too am a Pinterest Addict.

My kiddos first day is Monday, Yay!

I still have so much to do, but I'm ready to start the new year :)

Inside of my front door.

Front of the classroom.  I decided to place larger alphabet letters above our SmartBoard for easier reference and access when writing.

This year we're beginning a great program called No Excuse University.

Each classroom chose a university,

I chose my alma mater, FIGHT ON!

Math Wall

I still have some work to do this weekend to finish it up.

Where did the time go?

Word Wall

I place student names and high frequency words here.

Teaching Wall

This is where almost everything will go.

I love the large Welcome letters above!  I was so excited that I found them in Spanish :)

Library & Season Wall

Last year I didn't utilize this space enough, 

so I thought I would use the top half as my Season Wall.  

DJ Inkers Weather Bears and my seasonal tree should do the trick.

Hmmm, I think I might need to add a border to separate the two....

I placed my animals on my back window by my Guided Reading Area.

Oops, I guess I forgot to take a picture of the whole area.

Wishing you the best of luck with your new batch of sweet kiddos!

P.S.  I decided to also join

I do love seeing all these awesome classrooms, such creativity!

Trash Can Dice Game

Joining the Linky at Little Miss Kindergarten.

This is a game I used when I taught 2nd grade.

I used the overhead projector, but a Smartboard would be even better.

Divide your class into 2 teams.

Choose a Team Leader (I usually chose someone shy).

To keep the momentum going, the teacher rolls a large dice.

The first team decides if they would like to use that number

in the hundreds, tens, ones place or in the trash can.

I ask them to huddle together, make the decision together, once everyone agrees,

the Team Leader raises their hand to voice the decision.

Repeat the process with the second team.

The team with the largest number wins!

This is a fun way to reinforce place value.

Students quickly realize larger digits in the hundreds place is best,

and smaller digits go into the.......Trashcan!

Click the picture below to download :)

Book Whisperer Ch. 2

I'm joining the The Book Whisperer read along hosted by Thinking of Teaching

I liked the term "developing reader" instead of labeling students as struggling.

"They may lag behind their peers on the reading-development continuum, but they are still on the same path." (p.25)  Her answer to helping the developing reader?  More reading.

"I have seen a heavy dose of independent reading, paired with explicit instruction in reading strategies, transform nonreaders into readers." (p.25)

Being a Kindergarten teacher, I am a teacher of emergent readers.

I hope to implement a book buddies program (see here) that will help my students read more at home.

The "dormant reader" would best describe my son and oldest daughter.

My son is is so smart and I so was surprised to hear that he didn't like to read.

When I bought The Book Whisperer he was even curious to see if it could make him love reading.

My daughter has never voiced an opinion about reading, but she doesn't read.

I think this is probably where I would see myself also. 

 I'm not the avid reader that Donalyn Miller is, but I do love to read a good book.

 My son did just finish reading a book that was recommended to him though.

Hmm, maybe I could just take them both to the bookstore and really encourage to look at books that may really interest them.

The "underground reader" is most definitely my younger daughter.

She loves to read.  She devours books.

Summertime, free time, anytime is always a good time to read.

She's a sophomore in high school and has to read The Odyssey this summer,

but just told me today that she read a book a day last week and is now focusing a little more on her required reading. (And yup, she's enjoying that one too :)

"What I thought my students needed each week when I wrote my lesson plans was not as important as how I responded to their needs they expressed them to me." (p.21)

 I am encouraged by this book, to really take a good look at my guided reading program

and to listen to the needs of my students and children.

Classroom Shopping Linky

How sad is it that I can TOTALLY RELATE to this man....

I love back to school shopping!

I've only been off 1 week, but the teacher inside me just can't pass up a good deal.

We teachers always have our eyes open to the possibilities, don't we?

I made the mistake of not buying these last year, and regretted it ever since.

These will make really cute book bags for students to take home.

I read a great post on Mrs. Lemon's blog, Step Into Second Grade,

about Book Buddies.

She has some great ideas and resources for students to take home books.

I especially loved her informational sheet about, 

"Why can't I skip my 20 minutes of reading tonight?"

I'm hoping to get everything translated and ready to start with my new Kinders in the fall.

Wait, I go back August 16th, so I guess in the late summer, yikes!

Head on over to Kristen's Linky at  Lady Bug Teacher Files for more super ideas.

Book Whisperer Ch. 1

How do I feel after reading the intro and first chapter of The Book Whisperer?

In a word, validated.

When I taught 2nd, 1st, and now Kindergarten, 

all I wanted to show my students was to leave my classroom with a love of reading.

I believe all students can read. 

Some students just take a little longer.

The last month of school, one of my struggling students finally became proficient with their HFW.

When I was assessing his decodable words, he began by saying whatever came to mind, not decoding.

I isolated the first part of the word, he read it.

I uncovered the second syllable, he read it.

I praised him and acknowledged that he was reading.

I swear I saw the light inside him shine!

As teachers, we live for these moments don't we?

He read the rest of the words.

He read sentences.

He started reading books.

He saw himself as a reader, and he now knew he was a reader.

I was so excited, I told everyone, my coworkers, my principal, my husband!

I'm anxious to read more about Donalyn Miller's strategies, and I'm encouraged by her words so far.
I try to foster a love of reading by reading to my kids.
After reading a book, Big Book, or poem I let kids revisit them.
Can I just say it's the best feeling to see kids huddled around books,
seeing them with pointers, reading chants,
hearing the inflection in their voice.

Ahhhh, music to my ears........