Dr. Seuss...Read Across America...Reading Week

The Kindergarten classes at my school will be Celebrating Dr. Seuss' Birthday and (in my opinion) more importantly...READING next week!!! Each day we will "celebrate" with a different Dr. Seuss book, a corresponding dress-up day (I LOVE dress-up days) and activities for each book.  I thought I'd take a moment of my Sunday evening and share our dress-up days.

 

Monday - Fox in Sox - Wear Silly Socks

 

Tuesday - Green Eggs and Ham - Wear GREEN

 

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday - Dress WaCkY

 

Thursday - I Don't Want to Get Out of Bed - Wear P.J.'s

 

Friday - The Eye Book - Wear Decorated Glasses

 

 

 

I love reading what you all have planned for your celebrations!!! 

 

 



Not School Related BUT May Spark Your Inner Domestic Goddess

I am so excited SICK!!! 

I absolutely couldn't wait Friday night to get to my local Wal-Mart (NO, I wasn't going to gawk at the customers in p.j.'s, but I'm sure I would've ran in to a few), but alas I didn't get there.  The man worked late and the boys were not having a trip to Wally World.  I don't blame them.  Anywho,  what was I so excited about buying you ask?  (BTW-Thanks for asking.  I'm so glad you're interested in my story! :)  I wanted to get there to buy the ingredients for my "semi homemade" laundry soap! 

 

Yes!!!  I've been pinning!  I got this recipe (and picture shown above, didn't think to take my own) from
 Being Creative to Save My Sanity.

 

Well, I finally made it to W.M. late Saturday afternoon (after two basketball games 9:00 and 2:00) and found myself making semi-homemade laudry detergent and EXCITEDLY doing loads of laundry on a Saturday night.  Really?!?!  Is this what my life has come to???  

 

I spent $19.49 on the ingredients AND it's supposed to last like 9 months!  So, we shall see!!!  I also added a container of Scentsy Washer Whiffs in French Lavender (also LOVE the Quiver scent) for a little added aroma!

 

Here is a photo of MY finished product.

 

 

Not nearly as fancy or pretty as the pic shown on B.C.T.S.M.S.'s blog.  She purchased a glass container and cut "Laundry" out of vinyl on her Cricut.  You can check it out at her blog.  I had the glass container in my cart at W.M., but had second thoughts about it.  I could just envision the lid getting dropped (it had a glass lid) or the container catching an elbow and shattering on the ground.  Instead, I went with a 2.6 gallon Sterillite plastic trash can...classy right?  (So...add $10 to my total, but it will get used again!)  I'm using the scoop from one of the OxyClean containers to measure my detergent (one to two scoops depending on how dirty the laundry is...the man's work wear will DEFINITELY get two scoops). 

 

I must say that so far (I'm only a few loads in) I'm VERY happy!  My basement and laundry room smell delightful (makes me wish even more that I had main floor laundry).  I'll give it a few more days and let you know what I really think.  I'm hoping to save my family a little $$.  Besides I like being able to say "I made my own laundry soap," AND it was kinda fun...shhhh, don't tell the man! :)

 

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

BTW-Who's playing???

:)



Currently...My 1st one!!!

I never participated in the "Currently" linky.  I'm not sure why, but I had some much needed quiet time this a.m. and thought to myself, "Why not?"  So, here goes...

Now that it's complete, I'm wondering why I've never participated before hmmm...

I guess that could've been my "thinking".

 

Anywho...

listening:  Puppy love (a.k.a. Possum) woke me up a little earlier than usual and wouldn't go back to sleep. So I found myself awake, and she found herself outside, which gave me some quiet time to myself before the boys got up.  I guess I should also mention that the "man of the house" is currently working 7-12's, which makes everyone's life H. E. DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS!!!!  (If you've never experienced it, make sure you say an exra thank you in your prayers tonite.)  So he was up and outta the house by 5:00am on a Saturday!

 

loving, wanting, needing:  Outta order, I know, but they need to be lumped together...stick with me here.  I'm loving that Phil didn't see his shadow this a.m. and loving that we're going to have an early Spring.  (I've kinda already got the "fever".  You know the one...Spring Fever!  Seventy degree temps in January will do that to a girl class of 17 kindergarteners!!!)  On the other hand, my whole family is going to Colorado on a ski trip in a couple of weeks.   I'm REALLY wanting and needing a snow day on February 19th, so I don't get docked pay for that day!  I'd appreciate any extra hopes, wishes, prayers, crossed fingers and toes for those in blog land!

 

thinking:  As I was filling out the form, I found myself enjoying my cup of coffee...savoring every last drop.  I don't usually "think" about how much I enjoy my coffee.  I'm usually drinking it in the car or trying to get it all sucked down before my lil' love muffins walk through the door (b/c we all know that if the coffee gets sat down, it'll be cold before we can get back to it).  I also found myself wondering (which is very similar to thinking) why I have never participated in this linky before.  I've enjoyed it so far.

 

And finally...

pet peeves: I'm sure this is a pretty common peeve, pajamas in public!  Come on people...REALLY?!?!?!  There is nothing I hate more than going into Hoosier-Mart Wal-Mart (or other shopping establishment) and seeing people in their p.j.'s AND they've obviously been in them a while...we're talking all night and most of the day!  Or those that wear p.j.'s to a restaurant (fast food or casual sit down)...ewwww! OH WAIT, THERE'S MORE...parents that drop their kids off at school AND they're in the p.j.'s.

#1 They made their kid get dressed.

#2 The kid knows their parent is going home to get back into bed or to Wal-Mart.

#3 I had to get up and get dressed to go to my JOB to teach their child so he/she can grow up to be a productive memeber in society.

#4 I just think it sets a bad example!

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy the occassional Pajama Day at school (2x a year-ish) and it never fails on those days I have to run to the store or stop and get gas!  It makes me shudder to think that there are people that think that is what I wore to bed last night and didn't have the decency to get dressed that day!

 

I hope you all have a FABulous weekend...remember Spring is just around the corner and cross those fingers and toes for my FEBRUARY 19TH SNOW DAY!!!!

100's Chart Puzzle

This will be my last 100th Day Post ...maybe.  As I stated in my first 100th Day post, my teaching buddies and I will be splitting up our kids and letting them visit each of our classrooms.  My activity is a 100's chart puzzle.  Up until  now, I've used an old 100's chart that I drew cut-lines on for the students.  I decided that I'd "spruce" it up a bit and add the lines using PowerPoint.

I know it's nothing fancy or extravagant, but If you'd like a 100's Puzzle to use with your love muffins, click on the picture above!

100th Day Part Deux

There have been some great 100th Day posts lately. .I'm LOVING them and getting lots of ideas.  I'm also feeling a little jealous that you all have already reached this milestone in your school year.  We still have 4 school days until #100 is here!  I wanted to share the note that we send home for our 100th Day Family Project.

 
Here is a picture of my 100th Day hat.  100 PIPE CLEANER chenille stem curly Q's!!!  My love muffins always tell me it looks like my hair...only colorful! :)  Gotta HATE love my natural curls.

A few teachers will be getting together next week to create a shirt similar to this.  Thanks going out to the Yard Sale Princess via pinterest!

If you haven't celebrated yet, I hope I've given you some ideas.  If you have or the day is just too close, maybe some ideas for next year!

100th Day of School

Our 100th Day of School is QUICKLY approaching...8 school days away to be exact!  My class has been so excited about counting up (or are we counting down...I'm confused) to the 100th Day this year!!  Anywho, I have many fun 100 activities planned for this special day and I wanted to take time to share a few of them with you all!
 

**If any of the ideas below are your's, please let me know so that I can give proper credit!**

 

1. 100th Day Banner

This was my banner from last year that I hung at the entry to my classroom.  It was painted by a FABULOUS parent volunteer!  I saved it, and am hoping it's in good enough condition to use again it  this year.  I guess I'd better get it out and see what kind of shape it's in! 

I

2. 100th Day Family Project

Each month we send home a project for students to complete with their families.  This month, our project wis to create something to wear for the 100th Day.  Students in the past have made t-shirts, hats, and ties that have 100 of something attached to them.  Students have also made bracelets and necklaces out of 100 beads, rubberbands, safety pins, and cereal.  

 

 

This one was super cute...100 glowing stars!  YES, we did turn out the lights and shut the shades!  We just had to see him glow!  And who can resist a noodle necklace!  Don't you LOVE the glasses? 

 

3. 100th Day Snack Mix 

I ask for parents to donate items for our 100th Day Snack Mix.  We use these cool counting mats (made by that AWESOME parent volunteer - Mrs. Katie) to make sure that our mix includes exactly 100 tasty treats!  We also use the mats for other counting activites.

Check out this spread!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

 

This little muffin is showing off her 100th Day mix and her "Peace" shirt made with 100 buttons.

 

4. 100th Day Stations

My two teaching buddies and I (yes, we only have 3 sections on Kindergarten) divide our classes into 3 groups and they get to complete a different activity w/each teacher.  Each station lasts approx. 15 min.  The kids LOVE getting to be in "class" with different friends and getting to visit the other classrooms!

 

Working on a 100's chart puzzle during stations.

 

5. Balloon POP!

This is definitely the kids' favorite 100th Day activity!  Each class has 100 balloons to pop (the hard part is finding people to help blow them up).  We put them all in the hallway and let the kids have at them!  So chaotic, I mean SO MUCH FUN!!!!

 

Too NOISY!

 

I hope this post gives you an idea or two that can be incorporated into your upcoming 100th Day!  I'd LOVE to hear what you all have planned, too!!!



The Gift of 17

Two posts in one week?!?!  OMGoodness! Who is this blogger anyway???

 

 

So my Kindergarten teaching buddies and I have been on the "hunt" for an idea to replace the traditional gift exchange for our Holiday Party, AND I think we've found it!  "The Gift of 18" (or 19, 20, 21...).  I'm super excited about it and willing to give it a try.  I'm not sure where this idea originated, but I got it from my little guys Kindergarten teacher from last year! 

Thank you Mrs. Blankenship!

 

"The Gift of 17"

Here’s how it works:

Each family that chooses to participate can bring in 18 (one for each child in our class plus one in case we a new child moves in) similar items wrapped in ONE package.  Some ideas include; pencils, gloves, pens, magnets, play dough, bubble stuff, stickers, rubber stamps, books, fun pads, candy canes, cookie cutters, etc...

**OR**

Families may choose to give one gift to the whole class such as a board game, book, playground ball, jump rope, sidewalk chalk, scented markers, craft items, etc. that everyone in the class can enjoy for the rest of the year.

Packages should be labeled “To my class” from "Child’s name.”

Children will open his or her own gift and present it to the class.

 

 No one is required to participate.

No one will be left out.

There is no spending limit either high or low.

It is my hope that all of the children will leave for the holidays feeling good about giving and feeling fairly treated.

 

I have a letter typed up to send home to my students' parents explaining  "The Gift of 17".  It is on my computer at school. :(  I will try and post a PDF version of it next week.

 

Merry Christmas!!!