Show and Share Thursday: It’s Gettin’ There…

Posted onAugust 7, 2008 
Filed under classroom, kindergarten, photos, tips and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment

With the help of Dear Daughter, the classroom is *almost* finished. We had to do some rearranging of furniture today since I have fewer than twenty students presently (yay!), so I now have a larger table ready for math manipulatives (you can see the students’ desks in the background):

The listening center is set up at the front of the room for now, though the desk will probably house our laptop computers once they’re delivered:

My students’ desks have their nameplates ready for them, along with yellow “Welcome” cards for their first visit tomorrow.  My colleagues made some very cute cards of their own, and made buttons that say “I’m in Kindergarten” for the students to wear the first week of school- I incorporated the extra buttons they made for me into my own cards (I’ll try to remember to photograph the inside of one tomorrow):

By the way, the nameplates are NOT stuck to the desks yet.  I can’t always be certain what name a student will choose to be called, and spelling errors sometimes occur, so parents will have the chance to help me correct the labels and tags tomorrow.  I don’t usually adhere the nameplates to desks until I know my seating arrangement will work- some students will work well together, while others create an unsafe, unfriendly, or just plain rowdy scene when seated next to each other.  Cooperation and appropriate social interactions are key!

In case you were wondering, I do NOT ask parents to write their child’s name on every box of crayons, glue bottle, pencil, or Kleenex box.  Too much time is lost when students start the “Teacher, she took MY pink crayon,” or “Mrs. Sommerville, he touched MY green scissors” routine.  No, no, and NO.  Putting items without labels into group tubs (I purposely empty crayon boxes into a larger tub before distributing colors amongst tables) and modeling how students should share and help is another important experience children should have.  I will routinely ask students questions such as “May I please borrow a red crayon?  I would like to help J. color this apple red.  Thank you for sharing!  I will give the crayon back when I am done.”  It doesn’t take long for the students to adopt the polite tone and vocabulary in our classroom.

Our writing center (full of cards, envelopes, paper, pencils, crayons, and stencils):

One view of our reading center (do you like my apple quilt?), with a display about colors:

Calendar, months, days of the week, and weather at “circle”:

Pretend/Dramatic Play Center (have you noticed the little peeks of tan curtains in each photo?  I sewed those last weekend, and hung them on tension rods to cut down on the visual noise):

My reading table and teacher station (that’s a Happy Birthday display on the wall) that should be clean and presentable tomorrow:

When I’m new to a school, I post a bulletin board display in the hallway about Me, Myself, and I. I post photos of me, my family, and blurbs that my students might find of interest (”I have a cat named Anni.  Anni likes to watch dinosaur shows on television.” or “I like glitter, jewelry, motorcycles, and trucks…”) and always post drawings previous students have given me of…ME!  (I’ll photograph some tomorrow, today’s turned out blurry for some reason).  Since my favorite story is Where the Wild Things Are, I include a poster of a wild rumpus too!

While the display isn’t “all Vegas” or schoolish, its simplicity draws students and their families in to read, share, and look at photos, helping them to get to know me a bit better, quietly, peacefully transitioning them into their time spent with me.

My “welcome” display with students’ names on stars, and quotes about early childhood and developmentally appropriate practice for parents to read and think about:

Should family members come by to visit at a time we’re elsewhere, they can find us after checking our “locater” display:

“Mrs. Sommerville’s Super Stars are at:” and then tags with hook-and-loop dots on the back read “Music,” “Recess,” “the library,” “an assembly,” and “P.E.”  I still need to add a few more as we’ll also visit the dome theater, computer lab, and 21st Century Classroom (Science).

*****

I’m off to bake cookies!

A Full Teacher Work Day Tomorrow

Posted onAugust 6, 2008 
Filed under Music, Uncategorized, colleagues, education, kindergarten | Leave a Comment

…and you know what *that* means! No meetings, no professional development, no inservice topics to discuss. My to-do list? A full page in my notebook. But it’s a small notebook. And I’ll have Dear Daughter to help. We…will…plow.

Tonight I’ll be making the Rolo/Pretzel/Pecan nummies, and tomorrow my house will be smelling delicious as I bake cookies, cookies, and more cookies for my colleagues’ Friday treat. When you’re new to the staff and can’t possibly learn the names of everyone in the school, I highly recommend taking in wonderful treats. It’s staff support, I tell you!

Don’t tell my grade level colleagues, but I’ll be making something for each of them this weekend! We are going to have a GREAT year!

*****

I need to make sure I have my “beginning of the year” kindergarten playlist loaded onto my iPod this weekend.  Songs to remember?  Shake My Sillies Out, The Wheels on the Bus, Five Little Monkeys, Purple People Eater, YMCA… and some Summer Solstice selections by Windham Hill for our “Brain Break” time.  Can’t forget Apples and Bananas (you *know* it’s a cool song if Keith Urban will sing it!):

*****

Tomorrow is Show and Share Thursday (hey, I didn’t forget this time!) so check back in for some updated photos of the classroom- school starts Monday, so we’re in the home stretch!

When All Else Fails, Bring in the Singing Chickens

Posted onAugust 5, 2008 
Filed under humor | Leave a Comment

Migraine: Day Two.

Classroom: not as much progress made as I had hoped, but hey, inservice and professional development meetings slow everyone down, right?

Weather: hot. TOO hot, in fact. This Alaskan Girl is thinking she will never acclimate.

Motivation: none at the moment. Not good when laundry, dinner, chores, family time, and classroom prep all need attention tonight.

Remedy/Prescription: Singing Chickens.

Migraine Monday

Posted onAugust 4, 2008 
Filed under appalled, appreciation, giveaway, photos, school | Leave a Comment

I’m not certain *why* I feel like someone is driving a nail through my left eye socket… it was a good day, meeting the rest of the staff at my new school, getting a “feel” for the rhythm of my colleagues, and witnessing the dynamics of what will be our staff meeting routine for the remainder of the year. The other teachers “new” to the school and I are going to supply treats and nummies in the lounge on Friday morning as our “Hello and Thanks for Having Us” gift, and Mother Nature and Advil willing, I’ll get some ideas for my hallway bulletin board displays generated and prepped this evening.

My husband’s big screen t.v. and stereo surround sound system arrived today (the Father’s Day gift I won thanks to Shop.com and GoodyBlog’s AWESOME giveaway earlier this summer) which made for a terrific afternoon (I’ll post photos of Happy Daddy later this week), and some terrific bloggers emailed or left comments for me too. I can’t wait to visit their blogs and update my blogroll this weekend!

Still, *pound* *pound* *pound*.

It might have started with these:

I was the photographer, but tell me, dear readers, where do you think I snapped photos of the pond, waterfall, banisters, lightposts, clocks, lush foliage, and vast expanses of windows and pillars?

Anyone?

Need…More…Coffee

Posted onAugust 3, 2008 
Filed under Music, education, family, reflection, teaching philosophy, video and tagged , | Leave a Comment

I’m ever-so-resistantly moving back to my school schedule.  In bed by nine(ish), up at five(ish), out the door by seven(ish), needing another cup of coffee by three(ish).  Problem is, if I drink coffee at three, I’ll be exhausted but unable to get to sleep at nine.

My toddler has been *so* helpful keeping me on my school schedule over the past two weekends as well.  He’s awake and rarin’ to go at five.   Not five(ish), FIVE.  Bouncing.  Running.  Yelling.  Happy, smiling, exuberant.  No coffee needed.  Not a chance of sleeping in for me.  I feel no guilt sending in the attack toddler to wake up Daddy and Sister at seven.  NONE.

*****

My husband took me to Lydia’s last night for our anniversary dinner.  Num, num, and MORE NUM!  He enjoyed the bottomless pasta (the servers had a much prettier sounding name for it) and I indulged with a perfectly cooked salmon steak on a bed of Yukon Gold potatoes and (get ready to catch my mother as she faints) green beans!  We had a piece of “Happy Anniversary” Tiramisu for dessert, and then attempted to burn off some calories walking through Barnes and Noble.

Finding the newest editions of Somerset’s Artful Blogging, Somerset Home, and Somerset Life in stock at B-and-N also helped burn off some of our delicious dinner: jumping up and down with glee is exercise, right?

*****

Yes, I’m heading back to my classroom today.  I managed to avoid it yesterday, though I did take the kids on a bit of a drive to find another teacher store out of town, and visited Goodwill to find a reading chair.  Two vests and three purses for the pretend center later, I found a sturdy yet comfortable chair.  I’ll be so happy when my class finally has that “all pulled together” look, ready for students with bright, shining eyes.

*****

Speaking of bright, shining eyes, get comfy, and watch this video of Benjamin Zander, speaking about classical music and life, and think about checking the connection you have with your students when you meet them for the first week of school:

Our Very Happy Fifth

Posted onAugust 2, 2008 
Filed under family and tagged , | Leave a Comment

Our special day, August 2, 2003:

We were married by Chaplain Davies…

With our children:

…and thanks to friends and family, had an incredible day!

(Photos by Karen W-C.)

The Apple Basket Tree

Posted onAugust 2, 2008 
Filed under Uncategorized, classroom, kindergarten, links and tagged , | Leave a Comment

Oh my goodness, teachers *do* love creative and pretty storage!

I found this apple basket tree several years ago as I was treasure hunting through several antique and collectibles stores. The last store I visited on that day was going out of business, selling everything, including shelving, fixtures, etc.

I couldn’t find a price on the tree or the baskets, and asked the shop owner if the tree was for sale.  She told me that she was indeed selling the tree, but “wouldn’t sell it to just anyone.”  I explained that I would give the tree a good home in my kindergarten classroom, as I was in need of vertical storage that was kid and puppet friendly.

Five minutes later, she was helping me load the treasure into the back of my truck.

I have searched all over it for a label or maker’s mark, but to no avail.  Hopefully some of you know some craftsty-with-wood friends or relatives that could create a pattern from the pictures I’m sharing and make it for you, though I’ll keep looking online and link to the bottom of this post if I find anything similar for sale.

*****

*****

~ Here’s one that is a table top size….

~ …and here’s one very similar to mine, called a “bushel floor tree!”

*****

You’re welcome!

“F” is for “Filament,” “C” is for “Ceiling”

Posted onAugust 1, 2008 
Filed under Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Look at this ceiling:

I think it needs a little something…but how to hang decor without creating unnecessary visual noise?

Filament.  Fishing wire.  “Monofilament.”

The clear stuff.

I cut twenty five pieces, all the same length, long enough to be doubled over, knotted at the end (double knot it, this stuff can be slippery):

I gathered twenty five large paperclips and twenty five small…

Hooked the large paperclip onto the tied end:

…and hooked the smaller clip at the opposite (or big-clip-at-the-top, little-clip-at-the-bottom):

Had Dear Daughter place them on the desks above which they would hang (be careful, monofilament tangles and knots very easily so don’t gather up several strands at once!):

I tucked the end with the large paperclip between the dropped ceiling tile frame and the tile itself:

…which left the other end free to hang:

I’ve seen classrooms where teachers have used yarn to make these hanging loops, but the thickness and color of the yarn was pretty distracting, taking away from the artwork or curriculum materials displayed.  Can you see the hooks I’ve hung?

They’re there, trust me!

I found some patterned star and crayon shapes, punched holes in the top, and ran one of the pokey ends of the small paperclip through the holes:

There they are!

*****

Things to keep in mind if you decide to hang decor from the ceiling:

~ Some districts/schools don’t allow items to dangle down from the ceiling due to the fire safety hazard.

~ Districts that *do* allow ceiling decor STILL have to follow fire safety rules/regulations, which will dictate the height or length of the loop.  Typically the tallest person in the room (which is probably YOU) should be able to walk under the loop, paperclip, AND item dangling on the display safely.  Nothing should touch your hair, your head, and certainly should not be low enough to get caught on clothing, or be within reach of students.

~ I use the ceiling decor loops to display patterns (star, crayon, star, crayon, star, crayon) throughout the year, or any student artwork that is two-sided or three dimensional.  When the leaves turn color and start to fall, we’ll make “Fresh Fall Leaf Mobiles,” and in October, we’ll have jack-o-lanterns, bats, and spiders hanging.  Hand print turkeys, cornucopias, and tissue paper maize art look wonderful in November, and winter holiday artwork gussies up the room in December.

~ Make sure that the weight of the artwork being hung won’t pull the clip from the ceiling, hitting students or falling onto their desks.  This is an art display idea for lightweight items only!

~ I only use the loops over the childrens’ desk area, NOT throughout the room.  When kindergarten students sit at their desks, the ceiling can seem very tall, and very far away.  Lowering some artwork helps to “cozy up” the space.  Students always enjoy “figuring out the pattern” or seeing their own artwork admired by their classmates or room visitors too!

~ Don’t change out the artwork when students are in the classroom, because chances are you’ll have to use a ladder (or *cough cough* a chair/footstool) to safely reach the hooks yourself.

*****

Several of you have commented on or emailed me about the Apple Basket Tree I have housing our puppets in the classroom.  Check back tomorrow for photos!

…and Now for Some Fine Tuning and Tweaking…

Posted onJuly 31, 2008 
Filed under classroom, kindergarten, photos, recipes and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment

In photos my blue bulletin boards really do dominate, don’t they? Take a closer look though and you might be able to see signs of fine tuning in this corner, that corner, and some tweaking of the furniture arrangement (and oh look! The chairs have found their appropriate places too!):

To the rear, our reading “circle,” literacy/story time/calendar area (I know, I still need a chair):

Students’ desks and areas for computers, legos, and all of our math manipulatives (on shelves):

Dramatic Play to the left, puppets in the apple baskets, and painting/clay to the right (yes, I put up Kadinsky, Picasso, and Van Gogh prints):

The view from the rear classroom doors, next to the bathroom area:

I’m still sorting materials and supplies on the art cart:

Hmm, it looks like our kitchen (dramatic play) is in need of repair:

Here’s a closer look at our storytime corner. In addition to our books and listening center, I place three tubs of math manipulatives, and three tubs of literacy/language games in this area so my students can have some additional practice with problem solving, patterning, and phonics whenever we get a free moment. I also use this area to introduce and explain worksheets or model small paper activities that tie into stories we’ve just read before sending students to work at their tables. Having their attention away from the noise of the hallway is a *good thing!*

And finally, a view from the storytime corner looking toward the front of the room. I have our wooden blocks and other large building manipulatives housed in the bookcase that is almost center photograph- the floor area is open enough that students can spread out, building cities, kingdoms, neighborhoods, and on carpet which will hopefully cushion/soften the noise created by the solid wooden blocks!

*****

I’m going to try to finish up my classroom arrangements and decor this week. I’ll make center tags, hang some more decor from the ceiling over the students’ desks (it’s a wonderful place for patterns and art display), get the table baskets filled with crayons, pencils, glue and scissors, and start putting together journals. I’ll get the curriculum kits reassembled, take a look at the kindergarten standards for Oz, and figure out a template for my lesson plans. Next week all teachers will meet for professional development at our school and throughout other district locations- I’ll keep you posted!

*****

~ Head over to The Chancellor’s New Clothes for this week’s Carnival of Education (you might find someone familiar linked there!)…

~ No, I haven’t forgotten that you enjoy trying out new recipes as much as I do! Once I see some pretty blueberries in the grocery store, I’m going to try Smitten Kitchen’s Blueberry Crumb Bars and Blueberry Pancakes… I must have BLUE on the brain this week!

~ Ever cooked Eggs in a Basket? I’ve wanted to ever since Moonstruck came out (Olympia Dukakis makes it for breakfast in one scene). Thanks to The Pioneer Woman Cooks for sharing the method!

Making Progress in the Classroom

Posted onJuly 30, 2008 
Filed under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

…but first, another furniture tip!

If your classroom is carpeted, you may find that the custodial staff has to shampoo before you can start arranging furniture. There are metal brads on the “feet” of many kindergarten tables, chairs, easels, book racks, cubby shelves, etc. It’s best to let the carpet completely dry, which could take a full day so that the metal brads don’t leave rust marks on the floor (a big no-no, and a surefire way to get on your custodian’s not-so-chipper-side!) but if you’re pressed for time (or just *really* need to see if a planned room layout will work), cover the brads completely with masking tape:

It will take some time to cover the brads, but it will be soooooo worth it in the end!

*****

Dear Daughter came by and helped me make some progress in the room.  We spent a lot of our time climbing ladders to hang bulletin board paper and set up kindergarten/school themed vignettes:

(What will eventually be our “circle time” area for stories, games, calendar, sing-a-longs…)

An area being set up for painting and clay (we’re learning about colors so I have multi-colored flags hanging from the ceiling…)

Vignette numero uno (displays that are up and out of the way stay for the entire year)…

Part of a vignette that spells out “kindergarten,” along with some friendly bears and stars…

…and of course, something patriotic!

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