Late Mother's Day Post & the Giant Pacific Octopus

So I've been a terrible blogger lately. Again, just busy with end of the year stuff and assessments galore. Ugh. 

15 days....15 days... :)


I know Mother's Day was a few days ago and of course I was late sending home their mom's gifts because other things took precedent over the gift. But I wanted to share with you what we made. They turned out so cute!

We decided to use scrapbook paper for their hand prints. Once laminated, my awesome TA hot glued those colorful wiggly eyes on. I found the colorful eyes at Hobby Lobby. 

They turned out too cute. Here's a pinterest link that will take you to the "idea" that we found.

We used this pin as an idea and just changed it up with the scrapbook paper and eyes.


I did change up the words though for my little girl who lost her mom about a month ago. 

The end of hers said "It comes with lots of love, especially to say, wishing you lots of love on this very special day." (Or something along those lines.....).  That way she can give it to grandma or dad instead.



We've started learning and studying about the ocean (my favorite unit!). But of course with all of the assessments being done, I haven't really done as much as I have wanted to but it is what it is.

I don't have a lot of pictures right now but I promise I'll take some tomorrow.

We've learned about various kinds of fish and have started talking about octopuses (anyone else struggle not to laugh when saying this word? ugh..)

So far we have used this book to introduce and study this animal.




This book is great because it comes with a DVD that you can use while you are reading it to show that particular octopus in it's environment!! Great book!


We also checked out the Monterey Bay Aquarium links and videos to watch their Giant Pacific Octopus!

 
       Picture from Monterey Bay Aquarium.

 
Here is a link to watch the video of their Giant Pacific Octopus.  


Hope you enjoy!!

Oh...grab up the freebie while you are here! :)

                                     Graphics by DigiScrapKits and mycutegraphics



Tomorrow!! Guest Blogger!! Come back and check it out!!

 
 



 

Let's Get Aquainted!

It's been awhile...sorry. I just can't seem to get focused on everything I have to do. And now it's assessment time (math and DIBELS all at the same time...ugh) and other "things" seem to be getting in the way of those darn assessments. Then once I get home, I'm crashing--like fall asleep sitting straight up with the computer in your lap crashing....ridiculous I say.

I know that all of you guys are feeling the crunch too.....18 more days... I think I can I think I can...

How many more days do you have???


I haven't participated in a linky in a while...so here goes...

 

Latoya over at Flying Into First Grade is continuing her Let's Get Aquainted Linky.  

Linky Questions

1.  What made you decide to become a teacher?

2. What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher?

3. If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

 

 

1. I think I've always wanted to be a teacher in some form or another. I know that growing up I always had other "dream" jobs but teaching is something I think I just knew that I was going to do. The only other job that I've ever had was working at a day care for 6 years, so I've only ever worked with kiddos. 

 

My mom has always said that all I ever would say growing up was that I was going to be a teacher (now I don't recall all of that...but if mama said it! :) 

2. My most rewarding experience?? This one is hard. I think it happens every year when I see where my kiddos began in August and then see where they finish up at the end of the year. Sometimes I feel as if I haven't taught anything or reached a particular child as I should've, but then I give them a book or complete an assessment with them, and BOOM, it's there. That light bulb has switched on and it's amazing.

My two friends and I at work today, were hollering with joy while eating lunch, b/c of one of their students' read a level F book today. This has been a huge undertaking with this particular child and we were so excited.

Now that's rewarding.

3. Ha...this question is so funny. Honestly, I've always wanted to be a fashion designer (random I know) or work at a zoo (still would love to do this I do believe). 

Two totally random occupations that I would've chosen yet I fell into a classroom 10 years ago. But I love it....most days....everyday! ;)

 

 

Be checking back in the next day or so....I'll have a guest blogger who has some awesome ideas to discuss with you!! 

 

 

 

Teacher Appreciation Sales and Giveaways!

Hey all you fellow educators out there!!!! Happy Teacher Appreciation week. Thank you for ALL that you do. 

We were talking about this in grad school tonight and our professor was saying that he just really appreciates all that we do!! And that he understand that many times, over and over, that we do not get the appreciation we deserve. 

Sometimes just a Thank You from those at the top, inside education and those making the policies, is all we need. Many times, that's not what we get.

But I know that I appreciate each and every one of you out there who love what you do and it shows!!

I'm linking up with Irene over at Learning with Mrs. Leeby for the TPT sale that is happening May 7th-8th (begins tomorrow!!) for their HUGE sale that they are running.

Many people at TPT are offering up to 20% off of their store and TPT will throw in another 10%. Use the code TAD13 upon checkout to receive that extra 10% off!!

Click on the pic to take you to the linky party where many many bloggers have linked up to their sales!!

My sale (see my store here) began today but it'll run until the 8th (Wednesday) at TPT.





 

Also, my TN shop is having a 50% off sale until May 10th!!! Teacher's Notebook is offering an extra 10% off of your total purchase this week as well!! 




And don't forget to enter Ms. Cranfill's 100 Follower Giveaway!! She's offering up some amazing prizes from some great bloggers!!

Zoo Web Cams & Teacher Appreciation Sale!

One of my bloggy friends (Amanda) had posted some amazing activities that she had done with her class on the zoo. So I was telling her about the web cams that we watch in our classroom and finding out she wasn't familiar with them got me to thinking!! I wonder who else might not be aware so I thought I'd share some of them with you!!!

Last year when I was researching some fun things to do with my kiddos with the Zoo I ran across these awesome zoos who have web cams so that you can observe their animals:

San Diego Zoo 
So this zoo has the following web cams (click on the link to take you to the cam):

Elephant Web Cam 

Panda Web Cam (their baby cub was born July 2012--so it's been so much fun watching the videos and seeing him grow!)

Polar Web Cam (polar bears!!) 

Ape Cam  

Condor Cam

And their new cam---the Koala Cam!!!! We ran across this on Friday when checking out the Apes.....this is San Diego's new exhibit opening at the end of the month.


Houston Zoo
This zoo has Giraffe cams and Rhino Cams!! They also have an elephant cam and chimp cam. 
They offer two different views from their cameras!

This are the two main zoos that we watch. We also observe the Monterey Bay Aquarium and they have web cams as well. We watch their penguins and check out their live ocean cam!


If you have a Mimio in your classroom....I have posted up a Mimio activity called Who's At The Zoo?

                          An example of one of the pages!


Click on the link to take you to it!!
It's free and has tons of info.

I think you may could pull it up on the Smartboard???? But I have no idea!    
  


This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and TN is having a HUGE sale!! I am participating as well and everything in my store is 50% starting today!! Plus TN is offering up another 10% off at your checkout!!




Make sure you hop over and stock up on lots of goodies because many sellers are offering up their items!!   
 

Currently & Five for Friday (er...Saturday!)

So I wanted to have this post up last night (Friday) but of course didn't.....

I can't believe it's already May. What happened to April??? I'm all for school ending this year (who doesn't love the end of the year!?) but wow...it's flown by. 

So of course it's time for Farley's Currently.

The Goonies is on TV so my hubs is watching it. I loved this movie when I was younger. 
If I'm not mistaken I do believe that there are 24 days left......again, it's hard to believe!!
So the reason I need to go to bed and have everything run smoothly tomorrow is because my friend and I are having our first table at a local Spring Bazaar. 

I will have a ton of my scarves for sale so I'm excited but nervous about this!! :) 

Which leads to why I need more time in the day.......I'm neglecting other things....gotta start rethinking some time management I do believe. 

Oh I love to read, but I have NOT had time for it because of grad school, school, etc, etc.....so I'm so ready to graduate this summer and just sit and read all day if I want. Even better---read at the beach! :)



Now Five for Friday....Doodle Bugs Teaching is having her weekly linky party. Here's some favorites from this week!!

1. Alligator Pie!!!

                                            Poem from Deanna Jump's Zoo Unit


2. Word Family Practice

3. CVC Roll, Say, Keep

                                    by Jessica Fredrickson



4. All of our scarves.....whew...

  

5. Ya know....I'm just so thankful that I can do a job I love, be creative in that venue, be creative outside of school, and have a supportive husband in all the things that I do. Thankful that I have great friends (both real world and bloggy world :), and a wonderful family.

And of course...the beagle... thankful for him too.

That's my 5.  Now off to blog hop....


Oh by the way....My bloggy friend Lindy Cranfill from Ms. Cranfill's class is having her 100 follower giveaway!!

 

Make sure you head over to her blog and enter! She's offering up some great prizes from some great bloggers. I'm grateful to be able to be a part of this as well! Check it out by clicking on the picture!



  

CVC Word Practice

I feel like I've been so neglectful to my blog and my followers! I'm having the end of the year, it's crazy, busy, oh my---assessments galore, tired, what else do I have to do? blues....LOL

Anyone else feeling the same?

Our big end of the year assessments for K begin next week, but in the meantime, there are tons of other things that I need to do and haven't, or rather, I'm trying but I can't get it all done...how many hours in a day do they think teachers really have?? 

Enough of that.

So because I feel neglectful, here's a little freebie for you!

We've been pounding the CVC word practice and my kiddos are becoming such great readers. They love to show how much they know and can do.

So here's little ditty I made up so that your students can practice reading. It's a CVC Read & Find---cupcake edition!

Hide the cooks. Read the word---if you can, check to see if the cook is behind the word. If not, keep trying!!

Click on the picture to take you to the download. Feel free to leave some comment love! :)

Oh, and both my TN shop and my TPT store are having sales until tomorrow!!! 

Winner Winner!

Quick post. Congrats to Sarah---she won the infinity polka dot scarf and my Going Buggy for Math Unit.

I decided to also have rafflecopter pick another winner for the Going Buggy unit---so congrats to Anne who won the unit as well.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Ladies---check your email. Sarah--I'll need your address so definitely email me back!!


Thanks to all those who entered.....maybe I'll host another scarf giveaway soon!


I'm tired.....K registration was today...so have a good night!


And the Going Buggy for Math unit is 40% today only over at my TN shop!!!

Check it out!