The Day The Lights Went Out

Of course on a Friday the electricity would go out.  But our Ks were troupers.  They made it just fine with out computers.  There were all of their favorites to do, playdough, blocks, puzzles, drawing on a piece of paper.  Imagination got to take control.  But they were confused when they could not watch the movie they had earned.  The White Board has to have electricity.  But the best part was to take the kiddos to the bathroom with a flashlight.  How cool.  Just like camping.

What A Week!

I just finished the first full week of K.  I kept all 24 little learners in full school mode with the help of my wonderful assistant, Patti.  She is absolutely wonderful.  Not one kinder got lost going home on the bus and we even had some sad to have to go home for the weekend.
We spent  the week learning routines, getting to know each other, and finding our ways around the school.
We started talking about the colors by bringing a favorite toy of a specified color each day.  We made a foldover crayon that opens to reveal a picture and sentence that was that color.
The sentence frame goes like this:  A ___________ is _______________.  So it was a red crayon the inside would say A(n) apple is red. or  A cherry is red.
We spent a lot of time learning our names with name activities that I found floating on the blogs.  I used several ideas from Mrs. Jump's Class and Kindergarten Crayons.
It was a fun week for me.  Now it is time to gear up for next week.

A New Year Begins

Today started the new year.  Our school system screens all beginning Ks one on one for the first three days of the school year.  We use the info gathered to determine needs and talents of the little learners.  Today was interesting meeting the new ones.  There was a wide variety of ability.  It should be very interesting and challenging. Does anyone else have to administer an entrance screening?  What do you give and what is expected from the results?

Google Earth

Have you seen Fran Kramer's comments about the I TEACH K conference?  I was so impressed about the session she attended about using Google Earth.
I immediately downloaded the tool and pinned a path from our school through the United States.  It clearly showed our school, town, state, and continent.  My kinders are going to be so excited to see their own home.  I think this will be a great way for them to learn their address.  We can pin our homes on a town map.  Oh! There are so many ideas that are coming into play.  We can also see where places are that are talked about in literature.  Talk about bringing in the real world.  This works for me.

Summer Goes So Quickly

School starts in 2 weeks! Yikes!  Can you believe it?  Has anyone else been thinking of the first day of fun(tears)?  Have you been to the local dollar stores and picking up items for the new year? I was at the beach and picked up shells for counting, sorting, and writing activities, maybe even a new science acivity. Funny how we never really stop thinking about the classroom or looking for a new idea.  I am looking for beach themed ideas this year.  I just don't want to give up the off time feeling.

It is official

I am a teaching blog addict.  I get so distracted by other blogs that I forget to work on mine.
Is there any hope? LOL

Joining In the Fun!

I am taking the plunge and entering into the blogging world.  There are so many wonderful blogs going on that I got the itch to start one myself.  I guess it is never too late to learn.  I am still in the beginning stages and will learn as I go.  Here's to making loads of new friends!