Storybook Character day

Another Halloween has come and gone and this teacher/mom is exhausted.

Whoever thought it would be a good idea for Halloween to be on a Monday should be locked in a room with 20 sugared-up eight and nine year olds.

This year, students who exhibited good behavior for the month of October were given a pass to be able to dress up as their favorite storybook character.

I had 15 students able to participate, but only 2 brave souls did it. I'm so proud of these ladies!

Of course my team had to get in on the action! Here we are as characters from Harry Potter!

Professor Snape (Yes, that's me!), Professor Trelawney, Harry, Hermione, and Angelina Johnson.

My hubby asked me why I chose Snape. I told him, "I have the hair for it, and I can be mean all day and just be in character!"

Can't wait to see what we come up with next year!

Compliment Party: Pillow Fight

Part of my classroom management plan is having my students earn class parties. We earn these parties by earning compliments from other teachers, administrators, and visitors to our room/ building.

If you see us in the hallway and we're all in a good looking line- give us a compliment!

If you visit our room and we impress you with our brilliance- give us a compliment!

Over the years, my students have earned pizza parties, ice cream parties, nachos, popcorn and movies, pajama days, and even a nap party. That's right- NAP. My students got to bring a small pillow and/ or small blanket and we had hot chocolate and read a bedtime story during the last 20 minutes of the day.

This year my students came up with another first- a pillow fight. Of course we had to come up with rules.
1. No head shots. Body shots only.
2. No ganging up on one person. (Unless the person asks for it. I had a few volunteers for "chase me!")
3. Watch out for holes in the ground. The last thing we needed were sprained ankles.

So, at 2:15 on Friday we headed out to the field next to the playground, my students found their starting positions, and off they went! They had a blast!

I even got video! ( I had a 4th grade helper)

I can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Black History Board Competition!

This month at the Hills, the 3rd grade team is in charge of the school's three main bulletin boards. We decided to have fun with this and make it into a competition for the school!

Each board covers an important figure in American History. There are QR codes for teachers, students, or visitors to the building to scan and have a mini-lesson on that specific person.  Each board also has an activity to be completed by classes. Three boards, three class winners!

** Links to download the QR codes and activities for each person are at the bottom of this post!**

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

QR Codes for Dr. King

Activity for Dr. King

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Harriet Tubman

QR Codes for Harriet Tubman

Activity for Harriet Tubman

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George Washington Carver

QR Codes for George Washington Carver

Activity for George Washington Carver

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Make sure to check back in a few weeks to watch the Harriet Tubman poem videos! I can't wait to see what each class prepares!

 

You can also follow students' progress on Twitter:

@generaldelk

#CHEScompetition

Links to download:

QR Codes

Activities

Book Tasting Menu

I originally saw the idea for a Book Tasting on Pinterest. The link took me to a Flickr site, but with no further explanation of how the teacher used this in her classroom.

I thought it looked like a fabulous idea! It engages students and gets them to read, what could be better?

So, I decided to make my own Book Tasting Menu. Once students have filled out their menu, they will choose their favorite of the 3 books and write a quick review. Once students reviews are written, they will be posted in the library. We are going to use this during our summer reading program, Reads and Seeds.

If you'd like a copy for your classroom or library, you can download a copy HERE!
If you download it, I'd love a comment on how you're going to use it! Or let me know how it goes with your students!

Family Art Night with Creative Discovery Museum

2 weeks ago the Hills was lucky enough to have Creative Discovery Museum come and host a Family Art Night! 

Creative Discovery Museum

They brought the materials, and we provided the workers (teachers), tables, and families!

I manned the Collage table. Students were encouraged to add pieces to a picture of our school mascot, then they could make their own collage egg to take home. 

Of all the pictures I took, I didn't get one of the group collage! We are going to have it hung in the office. I'll get a picture and update the post!

Thanks for everyone coming out for Family Art Night!

2nd Annual Shower for Success!

You might remember last year's Shower for Success from {THIS} post. It's a way for the school to let first year teachers know we appreciate everything they're doing in their classrooms and in the school.

This year we have new teachers at almost every grade level. I was in the office with late car riders when the teachers walked into the library, so I didn't get pictures of their expressions. However, I can guarantee it was a surprise!

Here's some music to enjoy with this post. It's a "Shower" for success!!

Let's meet our new teachers!

Kindergarten: 

Ms. Chase

 Kindergarten:

Mrs. Johnson

Kindergarten:

Mrs. Cantrell 

(our wonderful assistant!)

First grade:

Ms. Perkins-

check out her son reading for the bog!

 Third grade:

Ms. Roach

(check out her blog- Roach's Rockstars)

 

Fourth grade:

Mrs. Nunes

 Fourth grade:

Mrs. McCarver

 Fifth grade:

 Ms. Meadows

 When I say we only hire the best at the Hills, I mean it! 

Welcome to the Hills, Ladies!

Go for it! Summer Reading Challenge!

I know I'm going to participate at my house!

3rd Annual Summer Reading Challenge

Coloring Pasta- made easy!

This is an activity that I'm doing with my kids at home, and thought I'd share with my students as well! My oldest son just graduated Pre-K and my twins are 3 years old. In other words, they all need something to keep their interest!

Science- making solutions/ color creations
Skill- patterns/ sorting/ hand-eye coordination
Pinterest link- {HERE} 

What you need:

 Pasta (1 cup per bag)

rubbing alcohol (2 tbs per bag)

food coloring (3-4 drops per bag)

sandwich bags (1 bag per color)

measuring cup/ spoon

cookie sheet to dry pasta

Step 1- Mix 2tbs rubbing alcohol and food coloring in a baggie. 

My daughter chose pink. (red food coloring)

Step 2- Add 1 cup of pasta into the baggie and shake the baggie to coat all the pasta. 

My son noticed that he got green pasta when he really wanted blue. Well, yellow pasta and blue food coloring make green! Next time, we'll add more blue coloring and see if that helps. 

Step 3- Spread the pasta on a cookie sheet to dry.  

It needs at least an hour to dry, but the blog I used said she let it dry overnight. I let it dry during lunch and nap time. 

After they all dried, I put it all into baggies. You can use this pasta in art projects, making jewelry (like in our Kwanza celebration), sorting activities, making patterns, practicing math facts... anything! Just don't eat it!!

I miss you all and I hope you're enjoying your summer! Keep checking the blog, you never know what you're going to find!

Day 162- Field Day!

Compliments of Chattanooga Christian School, Field Day is full of fun and excitement!

This is their end-of-the-year service project. Ours is not the only field day they host, they host field day for other schools in Chattanooga as well.
In the morning, K-2 have their field day, then 3-5 in the afternoon. My class started at the parachutes.

1. Parachutes

2. Red light-green light

3. 50 yard dash

 Already some students are tired. Being a kid is so hard sometimes.

4. Simon Says

Simon Says, find someone wearing a green shirt!

5. Clothes Race

6. 3-legged race

7. Water balloon toss

8. Musical chairs

9. Power Ade/ water break

 After their drink they got to play on the playground.

10. Basketball

11. 4- Square

12. Hula hoop/ Jump rope

13. Sponge relay

14. Tag/ Duck-duck-goose

15. Tug-o-war

16. Hot potato

The only one I didn't get a picture or video of. I was playing! We sang songs that we learned throughout the year and whoever had the 'potato' at the end of the song was out!

Thank you, Chattanooga Christian!

p.s. Remember the letters we sent to Farmer Brown yesterday? Mrs. Overton's magic mailbox worked! Today we found a letter from Farmer Brown on our door. Mrs. Overton said it was in her mailbox this morning and she put it on our door. Check it out!

Oh, it's on Farmer Brown! It's on!

Be awaiting our letters next week!