Popcorn Word Game

We played this game as part of circle time today and the students really liked it. They wanted me to put the link on here so that they could play at home.

http://www.fun4thebrain.com/English/popcornWords.html

What Kindergarten Teachers Wish Parents Knew | Scholastic.com

What Kindergarten Teachers Wish Parents Knew | Scholastic.com

Side Note

About a week ago (I think), I let you all know about my trip to Africa this summer. I am going through an organization called International Volunteer HQ. I have volunteered with them before and taught English in Thailand for a month the summer of 2010. I have entered a photo competition with the organization using a photo I took in Thailand. (I'm also a photographer on the side lol). If I win for the month of January, I will win $100 to put towards my trip to Africa.  If you get a free second one evening, please visit http://www.volunteerhq.org/volunteer-photo-competition/65457 and vote on my photo before February 1st. Thank you!

{I know It's a Little Soon} Ways to Celebrate Book Publishing

I've been on http://www.studentreasures.com looking at ideas for our book and found this and got super excited. I want this to be a really good experience  for them! I'll work on getting the book finished, if you'll help me out by talking about it a lot at home. When they're reading books at night talk about genre (non fiction, fiction, poetry), why the author wrote what they wrote, and how nice the pictures look in the book. Give them a lot of examples. I will be doing the same thing at school. Let them know that we are all standing behind them and support their journey. I had a couple nervous students because they're worried about their writing. I've explained that we will be editing and everything is going to be great! I want them to have something that they're proud of and don't want them to give up on themselves before they even get there. After our think tank yesterday those students seemed a lot more excited, I just want to keep that up. After the book is finished, we will all talk about celebrations! 

Ways to Celebrate

Party Ideas

Your hard work, and your students’ hard work have paid off!

The published books will be a treasured keepsake for years to come. Make sure you celebrate this momentous occasion with a party!

Author’s Tea:
Read aloud from your book(s) while serving tea and cookies, a classic celebration for a special event.

Grandparents Day Celebration:
The perfect way to bring amazing accolades to your students. Every student wants to show off their accomplishments…what better way than in front some of the most important people in their lives.

Book Signing Party:
Feel the pride and excitement in your classroom when students get to sign each other’s book. They are now real Published Authors!

Ice Cream Social:
Perfect way to end the school year on those hot days. Ice Cream and reading, it’s a wonderful way to end the school year!

Write Night:
Roll out the red carpet, here come your published authors. Students can dress up like real stars as they show off their books.

Poetry Reading:
Publish Poetry books? Make sure your students have a chance to shine by having them read in front of the school, or other classrooms.

Animal Party:
Did you write about animals? Have students come dressed as their chosen animal that they wrote about. This would be great to incorporate with the Halloween celebration.

Career Party:
Did you write about what your students want to be when they grow up? Have them come dressed in that chosen profession. Watch the excitement as they read, and dress the part!

Penguin Measurement Photos

Wrapping Up the First Half of the Year

I just wanted to make a quick post about how proud I am of your children. They have grown so much since the first 9 weeks. I'm sure you'll all be happy with their report cards. They are getting so smart. I talked to them all today, and, with the exception of a couple, they all seem really excited about getting a book published. I think we will probably start the pre-write process on Thursday.
Report cards will go home Wesnesday. Let me know if you have any questions after you see them.
:)

New Goal

While working on lesson planning this morning, I came up with this idea to have the class write a book and have it published as an end of the year sort of thing. I want them to see themselves as authors and illustrators. I happened to stumble on this page that would allow me to get the work published for free and our school will be entered to win a $1,000 grant. The only thing is, that we would have to have the work published by Feb. 28th to be entered. That doesn't give us much time to write and illustrate a book. I'm going to talk with the class on Monday about it and see what they think. I don't want to stress them out, but I really think they would love to see their work published. What do you all think?

Live Penguin Cam

We have been watching a live penguin cam based in California all week. The web address for the penguin cam is http://www.calacademy.org/webcams/penguins/  I thought the estudents may want to watch it some this weekend since they seemed to love it so much. There is a 30 yr old penguin there named Pierre that Ms. Johns read us at the beginning of the year for read aloud. His story is pretty amazing. We will continue to talk about penguins for a couple days next week and I will upload more pictures. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Blubber Experiment and Ice Cream Day

Seeing what it would feel like to have a layer of blubber.

Sophia and Johnny shaking their bag of       

                                    ice cream.                                                                                            

finished product!

Enjoy!

Ice cream!

As part of my penguin and measurement lessons, we are going to make ice cream tomorrow for math/ science. If any of you have any empty coffee cans (metal), could you send them our way? If not, no big deal. We can use freezer bags. I just heard it works better in a coffee can.

Also, I have been accepted to volunteer in an orphanage in Africa this summer along with my sister. We are hosting a pasta dinner fundraiser on January 20th at Spruce Street United Methodist Church. Dinner is from 6-8pm (you can stop in anytime). Adults eat for $8 and children 12 and under eat for $5. If you would like to come, please just email me and let me know how many you'll have with you. lwebster@access.k12.wv.us

New Popcorn Words

• we  
• three  
• four  
• five  
• six  
• black  
• white  
• green  
• off

Welcome Back!

I am so excited to see all the kids tomorrow! I seriously cannot wait to get back in the classroom with them. 
Coming up: 

• report cards will be sent out this month. All of the students are improving and I think you'll be happy with what you have to see.
• January 9th is a two hour early dismissal.
• Penguin unit
• Solar system unit
• I would like to do another student-led PBL with presentations to kick off the second half of the school year. We may wait and see when the move will be. I'll keep you posted!
• New read aloud sign up!
• Please sign up for Read Aloud - here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
•  1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on VolunteerSpot: http://vols.pt/4GBLmo
•  2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot) 
•  3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!

Note: VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Please, please only sign up for one date at a time to give other parents a chance to sign up too!