Dreams Really Do Come True

We enjoyed learning about embracing our differences and acceptance.  Brain Pop

has a great video about the life of Martin Luther King Jr.  I used a short snippet that has part of his "I Have a Dream Speech".  My students then wrote their dream on a rainbow that we added to our big rainbow bulletin board.  

Giving and Caring For Others

December was a very busy month.  I teamed up with our librarian to teach our kids about giving and caring for others.  Our librarian read the book "The Mitten Tree" with every class and I showed them all the Berenstain Bears Video, "Think of Those in Need",  that I found on youtube.  I shared with them how important it is to help care for those around us and ways we can give.  We sent notes home asking for donations of mittens and gloves.  You would not believe how many pairs were donated.  We created our own "Mitten Tree" at the front of our school.  We put up our school Christmas Tree and instead of using Christmas decorations, we decorated the tree with the mittens and gloves.  Sorry I don't have a picture of just the tree.

I shared the mittens and gloves we collected with students at our school that needed them as well as with some other local organizations that collect winter clothing.
I also let the students make bookmarks and Christmas cards that we shared with our local nursing home, retirement homes and Hospice organization.

Building Friendships

This summer I discovered the book Margo's Magnificent Choice and have completely fallen in love with Margo's story.  I couldn't wait to use it as a lesson on friendship with my kindergarten kiddos.  One of the biggest problems in our kindergarten world is our feelings getting hurt because someone else calls us a name.  Well, in this story Margo learns how "Tacky" words hurt other people and kind words bring happiness and friendship.  After reading the story, I presented each class with their very own "tacky" box.  I also had each student sign a class promise page to "put tacky words in their place".  I have to say this lesson has been one of my favorite.  The kids all seemed to "get it" and they couldn't wait to get back to their room and share their tacky box with their teacher.  The week before I started the lesson I put up a bulletin board and then added their signed promise sheets after they finished their lesson.  Check out all the pictures!

Time for Change

After spending 23 years in the classroom, I have now moved out and into the world of guidance and counseling.  I am starting my second year as our school  guidance counselor.  Last year was so hectic with all the changes, I never found the time to update my blog.  My goal this year is to share some of the fun things we do throughout the year.

Buggy for Insects

We used a variety of arts and crafts scraps to create our own insect.

Ten Frame Floor Center

Thanks Mrs. Parker for this wonderful idea.  I made a ten frame recording sheet for the kids to complete when they are at this center

Fairy Tale Fun

I love getting great ideas from pinterest.  This is our Jack and the Beanstalk project.  My kids wrote about what Jack found at the top of the beanstalk to add to our art project.  The writings and the art turned out great.