Sunday Smash-Up & Currently

It's definitely been a while since I've blogged. The good 'ole wrist doesn't seem to want to hold up to computer work and I've been trying to "save" it since school will start back soon. And then it's on! :)

I'm a little late with the Currently but I try to never miss it----thanks Farley for always doing this!

 

Listening---Well Tin Cup is over now so it's commercials, but my hubs loves watching movies so I'm usually listening to whatever he has on.

Loving--That we had an awesome trip to Kentucky for our mission trip. It's great to be back home though (see below for some pictures!)

Thinking--Ok, terrible teacher here...I've barely prepped for this upcoming year...and I have to start back in two weeks (the kiddos come the 25th). Ugh...sometimes my creative juices just completely stop and I just don't know what to do!

Wanting--A few more weeks of summer (not just two!) I have a lot to do and little time to do it.....I'll enjoy it while I can though!

Needing--To finish laundry....being gone a week with no washer and dryer....ugh....catch up time!

1st day with kids--Will be exhausting...but we stagger our kids the first 4 days in Kindergarten (meaning we will only have 5-7 each day the first 4 days and then that 5th day they ALL show up)  August 18th for me----the 25th for the kiddos!

As I mentioned before, we went to Kentucky on a mission trip. This is our 4th summer going and we LOVE every minute of it. If you follow me on InstaGram, then you've seen some pictures of what we've been up to. If you don't....then follow me @mrsthigpenskindergarten :)

We usually have around 45-55 people that go and there are many jobs that are completed during the week. One big job we had this week was to hand out 1050 FILLED book bags to schools/students in need. We started off with only 3 schools but God opened up the doors for us to bless 5 schools as well as partner with local missionaries to allow students/parents to try on and get brand-new shoes at one-particular school.

Our first day there---this was taken after church. 

 These are just some of the book bags we packed before heading to KY.

 My friend Robin and I packing one of the trailers for the first school---yes

I'm that short (LOL only 5'2) and she's that tall! :) This was a joke all week.

The third school---it was the biggest day yet. I'm in the pink hat and blue shirt. We are

picking out various shoes to fit the students and parents that need them.

My most favorite place in all of KY. It was our last night there and this was the sun

setting behind the mountain.

We had a blast as always....and it's always a reminder of how blessed I am. 

Don't forget that Teachers Pay Teachers is having their back to school sale starting TOMORROW!!! My whole store will be 20% off plus the extra that TPT throws in!!

 
                       

I'm also LOVING this new exclusive for August---how appropriate for ALL teachers. Let me know if you would like to Host a Party in August or September to earn free stuff. (I'll also give a free 1/2 sheet of wraps to someone who books a party with me in August!)  http://nickithigpen.jamberrynails.net/host/

                                

Giveaway News!

I'm teaming up with My Carolina Classroom for her giveaway! She has TWO giveaways going and it started today!! Make sure you head over there to enter!

You can win an Amazon gift card and products from her store in the first giveaway and in the 2nd you can win over $100 in products from some awesome bloggers!!

GO ENTER! :)

 

 

Happy 4th of July Sale!!

 

 Everything is 20% this weekend at my TPT store!

Happy 4th of July everyone!! Enjoy your day with your family and be safe!!! 

Currently July

Ugh...it's July 1st already? Where has my summer gone? This month will be crazy busy and I PROMISE to be a better blogger this month...offer up some freebies and more goodies. 

Farley is rockin' again......

 

Everyone is knocked out around here but me.....so all I hear is snoring!!

I'm definitely enjoying my summer this year (first summer in two that I haven't had grad school)---so it's been nice to do what I want when I want....which hasn't been a lot of anything!!

I have definitely been thinking about creating new products!!! I have a couple of things I want to update for the coming year. Any suggestions about what you might want to see?

I would love to be able to meet all of my bloggy peeps in Vegas---but it's a no go....maybe one day!

Productivity---??? Teacher off for the summer??? Hmm....we shall see.

I'm in eastern NC and that little 'ole storm out there that is named Arthur is trying to show up on Thursday and Friday. So not sure how the 4th will turn out weather wise.......
 

Ocean Recap

It's the end of the year----we have two days left.....and what a busy time it's been. I haven't had time to blog or anything! :/

We've been working on the ocean so here's a little picture recap of some fun projects we've made.

We painted seahorses.

 

We wrote about seahorses....I love this picture of the daddy seahorse with his babies!!

We made crabs.

And we made sharks. This pattern was from a recent Mailbox magazine.

 

I was also busy making End of the Year superlatives. We had our end of the year K celebration last Friday and the parents LOVED these!!!

If you are a fan on FB of Mrs. Thigpen's Kindergarten, you could've grabbed them for free the other night! I was offering up a flash freebie through Teacher's Notebook.

Make sure you follow me on FB for flash freebies and extra resources!

Ocean-y Beginnings & a freebie

We've started our ocean unit this week and already having a blast! We passed around seashells and was able to touch real sand from the beach. Many of my students haven't been exposed to this before so they were in awe of what I had available for them to see and feel.

 

We also labeled an ocean scene to help us during our writing time!

 

The next morning when they arrived at school, our ocean friends had shown up! I love having large animals around the room so students can see what they look like and we can add facts to them to create anchor charts. 

I also wanted my students to see what real-life ocean animals look like, before we even start talking about specific sea creatures. So I pulled up the Monterey Bay Aquarium Open Sea Cam.



Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream


We also watched the live feeding of the fish in the Kelp Forest Cam!!
You are able to actually hear the diver talk and explain what he is doing! I think I was more excited than the kiddos!!! 

Here's a picture I took of what it looked like!!

They do other feedings too for the sea otters, the open sea cam, and much much more. If you aren't familiar with this aquarium, you should become familiar with it!! It's soo awesome. One of my favorites to use each year.


After all of this fun, we listened to Rainbow Fish and then we made our own Rainbow Fish!

This is one of my favorite themes to teach so I can't wait to show you more!!



Here's a Memorial Day freebie I made last year......click to grab it!

 

Sunday Snippets

If you follow me on Facebook, you saw I posted the other day about what a horrible blogger and facebooker (totally a made up word I think) that I've been. If you don't follow me, you should....because sometimes I post free stuff there and forget to do it here! :)

It's been crazy already this month with DIBELS testing, math assessments (10 assessments per kid....yeh so that's like 210 tests I have to do...they are quick...but it's a LOT). I'm sorta kinda already know it burnt out. 

And because of that burn out...I've become a consultant with Jamberry. It breaks up the same ole same ole thing and helps me be NOT so burnt out with school. Not sure what Jamberry is? Check it out by clicking on the picture of my newest Jamicure!!!

 

That's been keeping me busy and of course my kinders!!

Check out some zoo fun we had last week!

 

 

 

Source

 We made these awesome Animal Coverings tree maps. 

Source here.

We also had fun making Flip Flap books for their mom's for Mother's Day. 

I'll get this posted this week as a freebie for you to have for next year...and I'll throw in one for Dad and Grandpa too. Keep checking back!!!

We made these adorable hand print poems.

Source here.

But for sticking by this post until the end...here's the freebie I posted on Facebook the other night. It is a FOREVER freebie but I would LOVE some feedback and hear what you think!!