Indian Guided Art Idea

Can you believe Thanksgiving is next week? I can't!!! I have been so busy with working on my master's degree that I have neglected my blog. This is an activity that my kiddos did this week and they turned out great! The idea comes from the 'Making Learning Fun' website. If you are not familiar with this site, you are missing out! Tons and Tons of ideas and printables for FREE!!! Teachers love FREE! I do this lesson whole group by drawing each part of the picture in stages and the students follow along with me. Later during developmental centers I have them paint their picture. Once it is dry, I outline the picture with a black Sharpie. This really makes it 'pop'. Cut out the picture and glue onto construction paper (this paper is 11"x18").  Below is the instruction page I followed. Click below to get one for yourself.

Indian Art

Here are a few of the finished products.



This Post May Be a Bit Corny

Long time no blog...yikes! Is everyone as busy as I am??? Between my two boys, working on my masters,  and training 21 little kinders to follow directions, my head is spinning! I have missed posting on here. SO glad to return to the wonderful world of blogging!  Any who... I thought I would share with you a lesson that I do every year at this time. We are in the middle of our Scarecrow unit and we have been learning a lot about types of scarecrows.
So yesterday I gave each table group a fresh corn still in the husk. They were asked to pass around the corn and pull a piece of the husk off one by one. I love watching them as the corn is exposed with all the strings of silk. One student asked, "Mrs. Wagner, is that hair?"  LOL...don't you just love them!?  Once they have the husk off the students are given a recording sheet to draw what the corn looks like. Then I give each child a small serving of corn (canned corn) to taste. There is also a section on the paper to record if they like the taste or not.  Next I give each student 6 pieces of candy corn. Man, do kinders get excited about candy corn! They illustrate what the candy corn looks like on the sheet and then they taste and record if they like it or not.

One table group's corn

Some of my kiddos enjoying the activity

The lesson is concluded with a comparison of the two types of corn with a Venn diagram. As a class we discuss how the 2 are similar (food, both have yellow, etc...) and how they are different (healthy/candy, grows on farm/made in a factory, etc...

Here is the recording sheet if you wish to use this lesson in your class:         Corn Recording Sheet

Let me know if you use the activity and how it goes!!!

Well, hope all of you are enjoying your kiddos! Fall has finally arrived in NC and I am so loving the cooler temps!!!
Cristy

How Do You Differentiate Instruction in Your Classroom???

Well, I have survived the first two days of school. Cute little kiddos have been welcomed into their new home away from home. I was worried about getting everything ready by Open House but as always it came together.

Now for the true reason for this post. I am currently working towards my master's degree and have an action research project.  The topic is Differentiating Literacy Instruction in Kindergarten. I know that all you wonderful teachers out there have ideas and strategies that 'wow'. Could you please share with me what works in your classroom? I will be forever grateful!!!!

Have a great school year and thanks for making a difference in the lives of children!!!

Pirate Back to School Board

Well, friends, I don't know about all of you but this time of year makes me feel a bit cockoo for Coco Puffs!!! Thursday was my first day back to work and the kiddos start next Thursday. Our Open House is Tuesday and GOOD GOLLY!!! trying to get ready for that event is a bit hectic! I worked in my classroom Thursday and Friday from 7:30am until 6:00pm and went back this morning for 3 hours! I might as well take my toothbrush and PJ's and just camp out! Y'all know how it is, we could stay FOREVER in our classrooms and find something to do.

Today I was able to get my hallway bulletin board up and ready. I wasn't sure what I was going to do but with the help of Dollar Tree and my thinking cap I came up with the board below. I know that this is the first impression that many parents have of our school and I want to make it a good one. So friends, what do you think??? Does it need something else? I am open for suggestions.

Also, I wanted to see if any of you that have kids are feeling as guilty as I am right now. I feel bad for my boys and my hubby. I hope they won't need too much therapy when they are older because their mama was always at school! 

 The brown paper looks like a treasure map and says Mrs. Wagner & Mrs. Gibson's K Treasures and then lists all the students' first names.

PS-These pics were taken with my phone and only half of the hallway lights were lit. Sorry for the bad quality.



Guess What I Am Doing Tomorrow Morning???

Oh my goodness, y'all!! I am so excited about an opportunity that I have tomorrow morning! Two friends of mine cohost a nationally syndicated radio show, The Ace & TJ Show, and have ask me to sit in as the girl cohost tomorrow!!! I am so flippin' excited I can't stand it! Anyone who knows me will tell you I have this crazy obsession with celebrity gossip and anything pop culture. I have a ridiculous amount of knowledge on useless info like movie titles, TV show, and actors.  Even though I am excited I am also scared to death! I mean I can entertain a class full of kinders but this makes me nervous.  Please pray for me! If you want to listen to the show, it is on every weekday morning 6am-10am. If they aren't in your area, you can listen online and they also have an app. Their website is http://www.acetj.com/. Wish me luck!!!



Exciting News!!!

Teacher friends, I just heard some exciting news and I had to share it with you!!! Please check out either The First Grade Parade HERE or The Inspired Apple HERE. Cara and Abby have put their noggins together for a fantastic idea! Check it out!!!

                             

Back to School Spin a Graph

Well friends, the countdown is on...I have to be back to school (for real) next Thursday.  I am already beginning to feel the anticipation and excitement that comes with this time of year. Am I the only one who has these feelings? Any who....I was playing around and created a Back to School Spin a Graph activity. The idea is to attach a paperclip to the center of the circle with a brass brad. Have students spin the paperclip and color the corresponding block on the graph. Students will continue to repeat this step 9 more times. You can find this activity Here.