Let's do this!

Excuses, excuses, excuses... I don't have any for not being present in the blog world... well... I have one. A BIG one...

He isn't so big just yet.. His name is Oliver and he is the new love of my life. He is going to be 5 months on Sunday (Don't ask me where the time has gone.. I have NO CLUE)! This little man was born near the end of February and I didn't have to go back to school!

Now I am getting ready for the school year to begin  (cue emotional melt down) and for the first time in 9 years- I am not as excited as I usually am. I am happy for the new year to start and a new routine to begin.. but I am dreading leaving Ollie (even though I know he will LOVE "school" and will be a-okay).

So, as I have become a mommy and stalked  errr...i mean looked at Erica Bohrer from Erica's Ed-Ventures, Ashley Schroerder from Schroederschenanigansin2nd or Hope King from Second Grade Shenanigans and soooo many more teachers' Instagrams from their time in Vegas - I realize I want to be like them. ( Secretly, I want to be their best friend too!)

...I am getting off track...

But seriously, I want to be a teacher that is so ecstatic about my job and my kids and the learning that is to happen that everyone knows it! I am taking my vow publicly, and stating it on my blog! So, to the few readers that I have - please hold me accountable. I want to post about all the fun things we are doing in first grade. I want to post about a product that I make and put on TPT (I have no clue even where to begin to do that.)  I want to post about my first year of teaching with a baby and most importantly, I want to have FUN! 

So...if anyone has any advice on how to get through my first day of work without my little one, how to update my blog so it is cute, any fun back to school ideas - let's link up and have PAAARTY!

Happy Reading! Amy C!

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.

Turkey Names

Here is a little math activity - use it if you wish. Thanks to DJ Inkers for the graphics! :) I just love that place.

If you use Everyday Math you are aware of "Name Boxes." Here is a Turkey name box! :)


Turkey Names

Happy Reading! Amy C!

Help!

Hi Bloggy friends - I need your help. I am in a creative mood and want to create some things for the classroom - but I need some brain helpers - I can't figure out what I want to make - I am thinking maybe some fun themed turkey things with money, addition and what not -

Throw me some ideas and I'll make it... then give it away!


Amy


Happy Reading! Amy C!

THANKFUL for GIVEAWAYS!

Hi blog peeps! Sorry I haven't posted in awhile.. but I think after this post you will TOTALLY forgive me! :)

Over at First Grade A la Carte, Kathy is having an AMAZING giveaway... her WHOLE Teacher Pay Teacher store.... LITERALLY! :)

Go take a look and enter!

P.S. ~ You're welcome! :)



Happy Reading! Amy C!

BATS!

I have had such a great week at school! We have been doing so much work - but the kids are loving it! We have been learning all about bats. We have also completed bats vs. birds!
I have taken several ideas from The First Grade Parade.

Here was our timeline:

Monday - We started our KWL Chart. We completed our K/W. We also read Stellaluna to work on summarizing and story mapping.

Tuesday - Children were divided into groups by DRA Level. Each group had a BAT nonfiction book - (because we are also studying nonfiction vs. fiction) all week long - we have been reading a book club books and gathering facts in our book club journals. Each time we gather a fact the kids can add it to the "L" part of our chart.

We also did our story map for StellaLuna. After we story mapped, children had to tell the three main events in the story and were placed on a bat!

Wednesday - We shared facts and read in partners. I read a nonfiction book about bats and we added a few more facts.

Thursday - We went to one of the fourth grade classrooms and they were paired with a fourth grader and had to read their book club book and share facts. With a fourth grader they researched one more fact.

We also read a story about birds and gathered facts.

Friday - Tomorrow we will be completing a Venn Diagram of birds and bats. Also, in their book clubs and with three very helpful mommies - we will be doing a bat project! They will either make a bat mobile, bat poster, or a bat diorama and use the facts they gathered in their journal.

Also in our writing center they had to write three facts about bats. In the art center we created a bat. The bat is holding the facts. These will be put in the hallway!




Stay tuned for pictures of all our work tomorrow!




Happy Reading! Amy C!

Field Trip!

Wow! What an amazing day. The first grade had their field trip today all over the Lexington Community. I was so proud with our AHHHHMAAAZING behavior, great questions and their little minds going a million miles a minute with learning.

I am so proud to be a teacher! I am so proud of my kiddos!

With any field trip - the teacher is exhausted! I don't know how many times I counted heads, but let me tell ya - I have counting to 28 down to a fine science! :)

Tomorrow - I will try to post pictures!


Happy Reading! Amy C!

I promise to be better...

Hi everyone! I know I haven't been blogging much lately... but I promise I will get better. I am going to be honest - I want to try to update everyday about what we are doing in 1A at Christ the King in Lexington! I think it will be a great thing if my parents want to read too - we shall see how it works!

I am really excited because the past three weeks of school we have really been working hard on our Community Unit and Map directions. We have learned how to use a compass and our directions of North, South, East, and West.

We have also learned how to write a friendly letter this week! Wow... what a task! My little munchkins have really put so much effort forth and worked so hard in our classroom.

Tomorrow is our culminating activity.... our FIELD TRIP! The kids are so excited - since we have talked about important places in our community - the other 1st grade teacher and I plan one of the best field trips around Lexington, KY! Tomorrow we get to go visit:

1. Henry Clay Estate - Ashland - We get to tour the grounds and the inside - one of my most favorite
places in Lexington, KY!! The kids L-O-V-E it!

2. Fire Station
This is not our fire station - but we get to meet real firemen and see where they live while at the
Fire Station. They show us their trucks, all their tools and how high the ladder can go... one year Mrs. Coates even climbed the ladder! :) 

3. We get to eat McDonald's for Lunch. 

4. We eat our McDonald's at one of the best parks in Lexington... Shilito - this is not
Shilito Park - but it has a huge playground and is AMAZING!

5. We also get to visit one of our Post Offices. Here we see how the mail is sorted, where special packages go and how to mail a letter... in fact - we might even get to mail something special! 

This is a super busy day but so much fun for the kids! What do you do with your class to study communities?!


Happy Reading! Amy C!

Noun Sort

Here is a noun sort I made! Feel free to take it - if you want the editable version - let me know so you can change the words!

All graphics came from Scrappin Doodles!
Enjoy!

Noun Sort


Happy Reading! Amy C!

Coupon!

I know I haven't posted lately... so to make up for it - I used the discount code September2011 at Scrappin Doodles! and it saved 15% - GO SHOP!

Happy Reading! Amy C!

tired.....

I haven't blogged in about 20 days... that makes me super sad.. but I have been super busy - school started on the 17th! Since about the 8th of August I have been in my room or in in-services for school. I finally met all 28 of my kiddos on the 17th and love them! They are so super cute but I always forget when they come into first grade how young they are and what they are capable of doing! It takes me a moment to remember to go S.L.O.W!!!

I have one little boy from Sweden. He speaks NO (very little - try lunch count in the morning...it's fun!)  English; but has a smile on his face and is adjusting well with the other kiddos - he loves high fives!  I have a little girl who has been in Hong Kong for the past three years. She speaks and understands English but it's a little rusty in a few places... and finally - I haven't had air conditioning since we started school. Therefore, it's been super-duper hot in the words of my first graders.

We have already completed one round of MAP Assessments and tomorrow starts my DRA Testing. This weekend I promise pictures, hopefully some freebies and some good laughs! :)


Hope everyone's school year is off to a great start!


Happy Reading! Amy C!