12 Days of Kinder (8-31-12)

--This was written after 12 days of Kindergarten:

      It is hard to believe that we have been in school for 12 days. WOW! And to think that today is the first day of September (Happy Birthday Melissa Swens) I feel like it should be Fall time already!! Where are the leaves?! I have been so busy with school, but I wanted to take a moment and make a post, since it has been awhile. I enjoy my new classroom and I truly adore my Kindergarteners. It is so incredible how much one year of teaching under my belt can do for my overall confidence and ability to use my voice for what I believe in and have evidence of it working.
     I appreciate the people I work with, I am so happy to come to work everyday... I actually wouldn't even consider it work. The first few days back to school were kind of emotional lol. I saw a lot of my now 1st grade Kinders...I loved the cries of, "Miss Samuels" and running hugs! Seeing them throughout the day was one of the highlights of being back to school; they have grown so much. Now that it has been 12 days of school, I am getting to know my new group of kiddos better. They are now more than just a name to a face; they are a name to a personality...and boy do they all have great unique personalities. I have 21 kiddos this year in my classroom. I have 13 girls and 8 boys. This is very different from my 5 girls I had last year. I have such compassion for these little ones, and love that as we are mastering our daily routines and jumping into the curriculum, they are enjoying it and are excited to learn as well. The best thing is when they say,"Good morning Miss Samuels!!" as I walk into the gym to pick-them up before school starts.
       2nd year of teaching is soooo different in soooo many ways than 1st year teaching. Here is to a great start to the school year, and hopefully to the year.

Homecoming week! (9/17-9/21)

This week is Homecoming for Shenandoah. Spirit is so fun, especially in Elementary. The following are some pictures of the week!

-Tuesday: Mis-match day :)

Whole Class (-2)

Ladies & skirts

Shoe sharing

SouthWest

Simplicity and Beautiful. 

all I need to do is cross a 'highway' and I am in the midst of country beauty. Today my friend Heather and I ventured out into the countryside to take pictures of the view we see everyday. I truly think SouthWest Iowa is gorgeous...I am so happy with what I see everyday. The colors are so great this time of the year! Gravel roads, corn fields, beans, sun, barns, cows, old houses...etc. a new appreciation was with us today. :)

Here are some pictures of the day...

                               

Love, Love, Love

Classroom Clutter

    I was FINALLY able to go into my classroom and really get some work done!! 

      *(I switched rooms with a fellow K- teacher at
the end of the year, much work was needed)

     Fortunate enough, I had awesome & amazing help during the last 3-contract days of the school year...so all the work of organizing and placing things in the cupboards was thankfully done. But that left everything else in making the classroom come together....moving around furniture and setting everything out; and making it kid accessible and 'my own'.

     My classroom that I came to on Monday.....

 So happy that the cupboards are organized...to.a.T

Ready, Set, CLASSROOM!

5 hours later....below is a full preview of part of the room.

Classroom picture display... :)

Leaving the classroom to return on Thursday (today)

From 12:30-5:30 (today) I was able to get A LOT done in a relaxing manner.

     Below are a few snapshots...

File Folder rack is a dishwasher rack purchased at $1 store :)

Thank you mommy & Kohl's for the Eric Carle donations!!

Letter Line...complimentary idea from my dear friend Heather.

Work on Writing...still a work in progress

I am really happy with how this is coming together

(Peg board is for 'some' Word Work supplies)

****A goal of mine this year is to utilize all classroom space

Right when you walk into the classroom...

Writing Samples will be displayed here

Entrance to the classroom...

The shelf was made with my 1st Kindergarten class :)

(They signed the bottom shelf, covered by the bucket)

Contents:

*Picture frame: used for wipe of message

*Red bucket: last minute notes

*Red basket: notes & such to go home

*Red bucket: student take home folders

New thing this year...Math Wall

(mock set-up)

*The clothespin was yet another Pinterest project completed:

-Push pins

-Clothespins

-Hot glue gun

What a lovely day in the classroom utilizing everyday office supplies to use in my classroom!!

Tinted Mason Jars

    So one of my goals is to do some sort of craft/scratch project a day. The other day I finally made use of an item on my pinterest board. I made "Tinted Mason Jars". They turned out pretty neat, I can do my best in attempting a quick walk through of the process...

 Supplies 

-Mason Jars

-Modge Podge

-Food coloring

-Cups for mixing colors

-Water

-Measuring utensils

-Wax paper

-Cookie sheet

-Paper bag

(the other supplies in the picture can be ignored)

Let's Begin!!

Step 1.    Mix 1 Tbsp. of water with drops of food coloring in a cup 

Step 2.    Drop in about 1 Tbsp. of M.P into the cup & stir
     *(consistency should be on the thick side)

Step 3.    Pour contents of cup in the Mason Jar 

             Step 4.    Twist Mason Jar around on the side to cover all areas
          
    Step 5.    Pour out excess liquid back into the mixing cu

Step 6.     Set Mason Jar upside down on paper bag 

              *(set upside down for 25-30 minutes)

Step 6.    Place Mason Jars upside down on the cookie sheet covered with wax paper

                         *(put in oven for 10 min...flip Jars right-side up for 30 min.)

Step 7.    Take Mason jars out of the oven, all should be clear
*(If spots remain just let dry overnight)

   Enjoy this decoration!!

I did not come up with this idea. I'm not sure if this person did either, but this is where I got mine from... "Say Yes to Hoboken"

Comment below and let me know how yours turns out! Or if you added anything different.