Celebrity Story Saturday- Pirates Love Underpants

AAARRRRRR me mateys! 

Join me and me crew as we sail the high seas in search of the perfect pair... of underpants!

I've been saving this video for just the perfect time. You would have thought the perfect time would have been on Talk Like a Pirate Day, but you'd be wrong. 

Next week third grade starts their study of adjectives, descriptive words, to enhance their writing.

 Well, I don't know about you, but when I think of adjectives, I automatically think of underpants! 

 

Loyal followers of the blog will remember our previous underpants lesson.

Imagine my happiness when I found the newest edition to the Underpants Family- Pirates Love Underpants!! Not only that, but I found a new Celebrity Reader who was bursting to read it!

Welcome to the Celebrity Story Family... Mrs. Kapp!!

You can watch the video {HERE} or watch it below!

Thank you, Mrs. Kapp! 

You make a fabulous pirate!

Celebrity Story Saturday- Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook

Welcome to the newest member of the Celebrity Readers- Ms. Newson!

You might remember our new Assistant Principal from {THIS} previous post. When I asked if she would be interested in being our newest reader, she jumped at the chance! (I think she misses the classroom a little, so this made her day.)  :)

Today, Ms. Newson will be reading Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook.

You can watch the video {HERE} or watch it below!

Thank you, Ms. Newson! 

Anytime you start missing the classroom, feel free to pop in!

Celebrity Story Saturday- How Do You Hug a Porcupine?

This year I decided to bring back one of my favorite segments: Celebrity Story Saturday! It seemed fitting since we have so many new faces in the building this year.

The thing I love best about this segment is seeing what book the teachers pick to read. I ask teachers to choose either their favorite book or a book that they love sharing with their students.

To start the year, I bring you Ms. Friedman! Ms. Friedman is a first grade teacher here at the Hills. This is her first year in the classroom and she moved here from Indiana. She chose to read the book How Do You Hug a Porcupine?

Click the link to watch the video {HERE} or watch it below!

Thank you, Ms. Friedman! Way to start the year off right!

New teachers- get ready! Your time is coming!

Celebrity Story Saturday- Lost in Spice

I'm late getting to post today, but here is another Celebrity Story Saturday to add to our amazing collection!

This past Tuesday we at the Hills were blessed to have a guest reader visit our class. Ms. Catherine is a friend of one of our ESOL teachers and she was excited about coming to read to General Delk's Army. Of course, we had to get her to read for the blog!

Since we have been doing author studies, we chose a book that went along with our topic.

Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Spice!!

Part 1

 Part 2

 

Thank you, Ms. Catherine for coming to visit our class! You're welcome back anytime!

 

Celebrity Story Saturday- Charlotte's Web

I'm walking out the door Friday afternoon, looking forward to a nice, quiet weekend, when what do I see? Strange things hanging from the ceiling...

 Some Pig

Terrific

 Radiant

 Metacognition Moment

A little poetic license used on this one...

Second grade is studying Charlotte's Web!

Starting today, going through the end of this year (you know, this month) the second grade teachers are going to be reading Charlotte's Webb to YOU a chapter at a time.

Today starts with Chapter 1, read by Mrs. Wann, Team Leader.

Want an activity to go with the chapter?
Check out this vocabulary matching game!

Celebrity Story Saturday- Reader's Theater

Mrs. Overton rides again! I've been saving this for a special occasion- when I ran out of new faces at school. :)

We at the Hills are blessed to have such an engaging and talented Assistant Principal. Mrs. Overton visited 4th grade classes to encourage their love of reading and their talent for entertaining others. What better way than to assist then in performing a Reader's Theater?

Mrs. O brought the book The Frog Prince and had select students, and Mrs. Nunes, play the parts. Thank you, Mrs. Nunes for allowing me to film this awesome event!

Click {HERE} to watch or watch it below!

Cleberity Story Saturday- Chicks and Salsa

Today's Celebrity is someone you'll see as soon as you walk into the office. She sits behind Ms. Harper and helps teachers with their attendance questions and needs. You know she's vital to the office flowing smoothly because when she's gone, you can feel the void.

The one... the only... the recently married... Mrs. Freeman! (Ms. Vaughn for those of you who didn't know she tied the knot!)

The story today is Chicks and Salsa, a feisty tale of a farm with culinary talents!

Click {HERE} to hear the story or watch it below!

Link to Amazon

Celebrity Story Saturday- My School's a Zoo!

I did it, Ladies and Gentlemen! I managed to track down the elusive Ms. Perkins to be our reader this week!

Ms. Perkins is a brand new 4th and 1st grade teacher here at the Hills. Yes, you read that correctly. Ms. Perkins began  as a 4th grade teacher this year, but was changed to a 1st grade teacher during the Great Shuffle we experienced after the 20th day. While the 3rd grade team misses having her on our hall, everyone can see how well she is doing in her new 1st grade home.

Today Ms. Perkins is reading the very funny book My School's a Zoo, which seems appropriate the closer we get to Thanksgiving break.

Click {HERE} to hear the story, or watch it below!

If you'd like to find more books illustrated by David Catrow, check out some of these favorites of mine!

Smelly Locker

We The Kids

I Like Myself

Take Me Out of the Bathtub

Celebrity Story Saturday- Down by the Cool of the Pool

As a special surprise for today, I have a Celebrity Story Junior!

My original plan was to have our new 1st grade teacher, Ms. Perkins, read for the blog. Well, readers, I have good news and bad news.

Bad news- I couldn't find her yesterday afternoon.

Good news- I did find her wonderful son! Perkins Junior!

He chose the book Down by the Cool of the Pool because he said he has read it before and loved it. Well, we love that he was willing to read it to us!

Click {HERE} to hear the story or watch it below!

 

 

Great job!

Thank you for being a great sport, Perkins!

Did you like the story? Click {HERE} for the Amazon link!

Celebrity Story Saturday- Shoe- La- La!

I try to film these on Friday afternoons so I can post them on Saturday morning. Well, yesterday was a 1/2 day for students to allow for parent/teacher conferences. I didn't think about teachers leaving at the 1/2 day as well! (Probably because I still stayed until 4:00)

Imagine my happiness when I found today's reader still working in her classroom at 2:07. What dedication! What heart! What a good thing for me since I didn't have anything else to post today!

So, thank you, Mrs. McCarver for being such a dedicated new teacher! We are glad to have you as a part of the Clifton Hills 4th grade team!

Click {HERE} to hear the story, or watch it below!

Celebrity Story Saturday- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves

I apologize for not posting last weekend! My excuse is that I was on fall break at my parent's house in Murfreesboro. I hope no one was too disappointed!

Today's Celebrity is a TRUE Celebrity. She is well loved by teachers and her expertise is coveted by schools all over the country. Clifton Hills has been blessed to have her here with us this year. You can see posts about what's she's done for our school by clicking on the links below.

21 Fix- Them-To-Fit-You Centers

Strengthening Literacy in All Content Areas

Do You Hear What I'm Saying?

Today's Celebrity is the ONE.... the ONLY.... Dr. Faber!!
 The story she chose is perfect for fall.

Click {HERE} to hear the story, or watch it below

Thank you, Dr. Faber! Can't wait to have you back at the Hills!

Celebrity Story Saturday- Caps for Sale

Our next Celebrity from our pool of newbie teachers is.... Mrs. Nunes!

Mrs. Nunes is a new 4th grade teacher and she is rocking it out in my old portable. In the tradition of new teachers, she is dedicated to her class, as seen by the way she stays late most days to get things ready for the following days and weeks. Her class is lucky to have her!

When I asked her to read for the blog she jumped on the story Caps for Sale. This story is one of her favorites and I'm happy to say she does an awesome job sharing it.

Click {HERE} to hear it or watch it below

Celebrity Story Saturday- Quick as a Cricket

We studied figurative language this week as we looked at poetry. Today's Celebrity chose a book that goes right along with what we have been studying! The story Quick as a Cricket is full of nothing but Similes!

How wonderful of Ms. Meadows to choose this book! I'm not surprised that Ms. Meadows made this choice. As our newest 5th grade teacher, she knows what's going on. She would never choose a book that was anything less than perfect.

STUDENT CHALLENGE!!

Students- as you listen to the story, keep a count of how many similes you hear. Bring in the total for a surprise! Extra points if you create a picture to go with one of them!

Click {HERE} to hear the story or watch it below.

 

or here

Celebrity Story Saturday- Brown Bear, Brown Bear

What do you see?

I see Mrs. Johnson looking at me!

Another new member of our kindergarten team, Mrs. Johnson is a exciting edition to the Hills faculty! Why, she practically leaped with joy when asked to read for the blog!

When I accosted her... politely asked her in the hallway to get her favorite picture book and come with me, she asked no questions and found a perfect book to read. The story Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See is a classic and I'm surprised it hasn't been done yet.

I think kindergarten is going to be using this book next week when  studying colors, maybe they'll watch the story on the blog and see that their teacher is famous!

Click {HERE} to hear the story, or watch it below!

 Or here!

Or watch the author, Bill Martin, read the story!

Looking for Brown Bear activities? Check out these sites!

DLTK site- coloring sheets and activities

Eric Carls's site- teachers share ideas on how they use this book

Scholastic site- lesson plan

1+1+1=1 site- printable tot book, good for home or literacy center

Work of Heart site- Book unit

The Virtual Vine- activities and ideas

Making Learning Fun- themed activities and printables

Celebrity Story Saturday- Falling for Rapunzel

Here is our newest Celebrity..... Mrs. Cantrell! Mrs. Cantrell is our new kindergarten assistant and one amazing member of our faculty. She. Does. Everything. I promise you, I've never seen the woman sit down!
With 150 kindergarten students (24-25 in each class) she doesn't have time to rest! And even as exhausted as I know she is, she is always willing to stay late just to make sure the kiddos get home safe and sound.

It's because of her amazing dedication to our students and school that I chose her as this week's Celebrity!

Click {HERE} to hear the story or watch it below!

p.s. You might recognize her last name- her hubby was our music teacher a few years ago! Working at the Hills must run in the Cantrell family!

Celebrity Story Saturday- 5 Little Monkeys

My kids at home love this story! Of course, they love any story that involves singing and misbehaving. :)

Today's Celebrity is a brand new teacher- Ms. Chase! Ms. Chase is a new kindergarten teacher, and you'd never know she was a newbie. She fits into the Hills very well! She didn't even blink when I grabbed her... asked her politely to read for the blog. :)
Her personality is fun and vibrant and she is going to teach circles around her 5 year olds!

Click {HERE} or hear the story or watch it below!

or here...

and a cute video from youtube

Celebrity Story Saturday- David Goes to School

What a perfect way to start the school year!
This story is brought to you by Mrs. Speights, a second year kindergarten teacher here at the Hills. She is a great team player, and she's brilliant! I know she's brilliant because she is also incorporating a Daily Brain in her classroom! Let's hear it for Metacognition Moments!

I actually filmed her reading this story before the last school year ended, but I lost the video. Mrs. Speights is a good sport to read again for all of you out there!

Click {HERE} to hear the story or watch it below!

Or here!

Celebrity Story Saturday- Leo the Late Bloomer

I was an awkward kid growing up.
Who am I kidding- I'm still awkward, but it's part of my charm!

Today's story is about an animal that just takes a little longer than others to "bloom", or get past his awkward phase. I love this story! Leo is my hero!

Today's reader is a brand new teacher to the building- Ms. Roach! Ms. Roach is the newest member of the 3rd grade team, and the author of the Roach's Rockstars blog! That right- she's already blogging! You might also remember her from {THIS} post when we checked out Normal Park school.
Ms. Roach is a hard working, friendly, talented member of the CHES team and we are lucky to have her!

Check out Ms. Roach reading Leo the Late Bloomer!

Click {HERE} to hear the story or watch it below!

Or here!

Celebrity Story Saturday- The Kissing Hand

Summer is almost gone and it's time to start thinking about going back to school.

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Say it ain't so!
When we get back I will no longer be a first grade teacher, I'll be teaching 3rd grade! And my oldest is starting Kindergarten! Lots of changes to come this school year, and I know I'll need something to get me through the first few days.

The story today is read by one of my best friends at Clifton Hills. Mrs. Webb is a teacher's aid, but she is so much more important to the school than the title might suggest. She is a General in the cafeteria during lunch time, a substitute teacher when needed, a traveling technology teacher when the schedule allows, and a good listener whenever a teacher or student needs an ear.

Mrs. Webb asked to read The Kissing Hand, and I saved it until the end of summer to  help us get our brains back in gear.

Click {HERE} to hear the story or watch it below!

Celebrity Story Saturday- Mouse, Strawberry, and Bear

Sorry this post is a little late! My kids and I had a prior engagement this morning and I wasn't able to get to my computer.

Today's celebrity is another of my fabulous relatives! Last week was my sneaky as a snake little sister, today is my Bossy as a Queen Bee big sister! :)

Little sister, me, Big sister

Her name is Jennifer, and she is a stay-at-home-mom to my Super niece and nephew!

 Super nephew, Jennifer, Super niece, Jennifer's hubby- Jason

Before becoming a mom, she also worked for the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville. (which is where little sister works, only in the publishing house)

Jennifer chose to read the book The Little Mouse, The Big Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear.

(Ummm.... it might have had a page missing and I didn't notice when I gave it to her to read. Sorry!)

Click {HERE} to hear the story, or watch it below!