In 1492 He Sailed...

the ocean Blue!  

Today in 1A we learned all about Christopher Columbus! We used the AMAZING unit from Teaching in High Heels:





The kids absolutely loved it! We had so much fun - we also did this little art activity

How did you enjoy Columbus day?

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Hi blogger world! I know I have been MIA lately - We have started the school year and it has been a blast. I have 25 kiddos that I absolutely adore. Of course, we have some days where I think I possibly can't go on much longer but somehow their sweet smiles, hugs and their hunger for learning always recharges me!

This post is mostly pictures so I hope you enjoy!

My beginning of the year theme was "Shoot for the Moon!" Here was my hallway display:

I went on a Pinterest frenzy - (who else hasn't) and made a few things in the room such as:

Needless to say - I LOVED how the room looked at the beginning of the year - the kids are helping with keeping it looking awesome all year long!

Now that we are in the month of October - We did our first big hallway display ( I always love to decorate the door/wall by my classroom with fun things - I have one wall that has work always displayed on it - which gets changed every 2 weeks!) So here is our hallway/door display:

So Our door was turned to Frankenstein - I did both sides so no matter if it is opened or shut - Frank is showing! :) Other teachers enjoyed it we now have a scarecrow, ghost and mummy down the hallway! 

Above our door way and all around it - we did our pumpkin glyph! The first one of the year! The kids really enjoyed it so we have our pumpkin patch too!

We had so much fun designing for Halloween - the kids really had fun and so did I! I can't believe it is already October though... time is flying by!

One more thing I made from Pinterest last week - I can't wait to use it in the room!

What is your favorite thing you made from Pinterest? 

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Common Core Giveaway!

What an amazing give away!! 

If you are like me - I am a little nervous about fitting everything in with the new Common Core - but with this giveaway all fears are gone - all these goodies will surely make it easier! 

Common Core Giveaway

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Common Core FlipChart!

Okay ya'll.. I am starting to get creative - I hope! :) I am super proud of myself - today alone I have made my birthday balloon pixie sticks and superstar spellers via pinterest (which is anyone else's pinterest being EXTREMELY slow?) I wanted to put pictures here but I can't at this time.. Pinterest won't download.





Then during my browsing I came across Ms. Olivia Carson from Liv to Teach and saw her Common Core Flipchart for second grade... hers has a bit more detail - like color themed benchmarks and a line to say where to fold...  but I also made mine in like 35 minutes - and it is the first time I have ever done something like this - so I am tooting my own horn! TOOT TOOT! 

So here is my question... do I jazz it up tomorrow and put it on Teachers Pay Teachers? Would anyone buy this?!?! Any thoughts?!?!

Happy Reading! Amy C!

My summer goal: POST MORE!

I have been awful ya'll! I know - too much has gone on, pinterest has gotten in my way, and I have been so lazy busy that I haven't posted... well that STOPS today!

First post: CURRENTLY! I have never done this before and hope I have done it correctly. Over at Farley's (ps - she is great!) she is doing a linky party with what we are doing currently.. so here ya go!
Currently 2


So link up and do one!
Happy Reading! Amy C!

I needed this...

Hey ya'll. Well - I can't even begin to discuss what has been going on in my life right - a great loss has happened in our family and can't even fathom it right now. As I was trying to take my mind off things - i found these and actually got to smile for the first time in two days -

All I have to say - is AWWWW-MMMMMMMYYYYYY-GAHHHHHH! He is b-e-a-utiful! :)
Happy Reading! Amy C!

Penguins on Parade!

Hey ya'll!! So at the beginning of our Penguins on Parade unit, I call our local bowling alley and they donate us their used bowling pins! (We only have 56 1st graders divided by the two of us { yes - 28 per class!} so they are usually always willing to help) The kids get two full weekends to turn their bowling pins into any type of penguin or even disguise their penguin so their predators can't get them!

Here are some final results!

Angry bird!

Fashion Designer

UK Football Player! (GO BIG BLUE!)

Yoda

Christ the King Student (our school)

Tim Tebow

It is such a fun project - tomorrow (because I am at home) I will upload the letter we send to parents if ya'll want to try!

On board this week:
1. Blubber experiment - we will make a blubber glove to try and see what how blubber keeps us warm!
2. Shared Reading - Tacky and we create our own Tacky's to hold our self to text connections!

What are ya'll up to!?!?



Happy Reading! Amy C!

PENGUINS!

Hi ya'll!! Few things on my mind tonight!!

1. Get ready for a super giveaway over at Ms. Preppy!! It is themed for Valentine's day and I am just letting you know it is going to be AHHHHMAZING! :) 

2. We have started our unit on Penguins - lots of pictures to come. But here is a sample:

Yes my friends.. that is a Bat Man Penguin! 

Tune in tomorrow to see what we did! 

3. I am really wanting a fun blog makeover, but gals (and maybe a boy or two) I don't want to spend major $$$$ doing it - ya know? Let me be honest - as we all know the cash flow isn't that grand as a teacher and we are saving for some home improvements .. but I feel the blog is so blahhhhh not as bright and cheery as I am. Can anyone help or point me in the right direction?


Happy Teaching!
 Amy C!

What I LOVE Wednesday.

Thought I would try out What I love Wednesday within my classroom.

1.

Don't ya'll love it when the light bulb finally clicks in your little munchkins' minds!?!? Today was the day - so many light bulbs going off. We have been discussing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr - to see and hear the reactions, feelings and true concern about how people were treated and how MLK stood up for what he believed in was so refreshing. I wish people now-a-days could have a first grade mind set in certain ways - it would make certain things a lot easier!

2. When technology works - it rocks and lately we have been really using the SMART Board - I LOVE IT! Kids LOVE it - makes lessons a lot more FUN and INVOLVED!

3. Teacher Lounge - I love having time with my colleagues... they make me smile, make me laugh and remind me not to take certain things so seriously!!


What do you love about your classroom today?

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Guess Who's Back!

BACK AGAIN! 

Hi ya'll! I am back - I know you must of missed me!  I can't even begin to explain where I have been. Well, actually I can... so here it goes! 

1. My computer broke. Talk about heartache! My hard drive completely went awol - tried to get all the information of the hard drive (because who backs up their computer... not me?) It didn't work - finally got my computer back 1 month later with no information  and now it is fixed! 

2. My sister is now the new Secretary of State of KY!!!! So the past 11 months have been dedicated to all her hard work. Over break we had all of her inaugurations (2) and a few parties for her. 

3. Wait- we did have Christmas right? That's right I forgot- we had a wonderful Christmas... No pictures to prove it because I didn't have a camera or anything to document. 

So there ya'll have it - that is what I have been up to. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! 

This month in first grade we are working on a TON of stuff.... 

1. The mitten

2. compound words

3. Snowmen/Winter

4. Moon Phases

5. Penguins!!!!

6. How to writing piece

So much is happening - I am gathering all my stuff and hopefully will be able to post some units for ya'll! 

That is one of my New Years Resolution! 

What are ya'll working on in your classrooms?

Happy Reading! 

Amy C.