Smorgasbord of Smiles

My kinders have really been taking off in their journal writing. I love seeing all the topics they choose and seeing what they make of the topics I give them. 

The invented spelling just gives me warm fuzzies. I love it. :) 

{Rapunzel has hair. It is yellow.}

{The unicorns fly. It has wings.}

Our bulletin board in the hallway about how to make a paper snowflake. (Inspired by KinderGals!) 

My kinders really got into making snowflakes. I was pretty impressed at how well they did. 

We even did a decent job of cleaning up our schnibbles.  :) 

This is our Quiet Critter Colony. It's where the Quiet Critters live. 

{Inspiration from Keen on Kindergarten!}

Quiet Critters only come out when students are working quietly and on task. 

We LOVE getting to have a Quiet Critter join us at our table when we work. 

I've been bringing the critters out at journal time, and some students will whisper read to them when they're done with their journals. 

We had to leave our room once before we finished our journals, and several students went back to their table to turn their critters so they were facing us... so very considerate. :) 

One of my sweeties told me that he sang a lullaby to his critter so he would fall asleep when he put him back in the colony. 

This is a sculpture of "a melting snowman," created for me by one of my kinders. I really like it. 

Happy 100th Day!

Whewie. What a week! Here's a glimpse at our 100th Day Celebrations... in no particular order. 

Preparations for our 100th Day Snack

10 different snacks - one piece on each number on a hundreds chart

100th Day Trail Mix!
(We were SO totally pumped about this. :)

100th Day and Groundhog's Day {or warthogs, as my kids kept saying...} on the same day!  

Hanging in our doorway when we walked in.

100 Gumballs
(Actually 118... pretty close)

100 cake decorations
(Actually 94... not bad for working with a group)

100 pizza toppings
(Actually 101... pretty impressive!)

Zero the Hero stopped by, but lost 100 of his numbers in our room....
We're still searching for four of them!
One of my sweeties asked me later in the day if I hid them or knew where they were. -
I very honestly answered - I have no idea!


We'll see if they turn up. For all I know these last ones could be stuck to someone's shoe. 

Here's my 100th day hat. We were really excited about these.
I must admit I was pretty pumped, too. :)
There are 10 stickers or stamps on each of the 10 strips - that makes 100!
The band at the bottom says "I am 100 days smarter!"

Thank you, Debbie Diller!

Oh my word. I think I'm in love... with centers work stations! 

I just recently got this book

And it's revolutionizing my work stations. 

This is what I've been looking for! 

I've only had time to skim and read small portions, but I'm getting it going in my room. After Christmas break I had already implemented a work chart as she seems to promote. It's working out pretty well. 

My room is too small to have lots of different spaces, but I just made a cubby organization, which I think will still work nicely with her philosophies. 

This week I'm going to model a little more how to work with a partner on handwriting, and this Thursday the handwriting work station will be introduced! Hooray! :) 

I'm also hoping to get a Science Work station in there too - I love it! Another way to integrate science and social studies!

The best part? 

These stations don't have to be completely changed every week! Less preparation on my part, less confusion for the kids, and more learning and practice to boot! 

Sounds great to me, right? 

Today in a Nutshell

Beautiful snow is falling outside and what does one of my kinders decide to draw a picture of?
{A blue sky, white crayon snow, and three big yellow circles in the middle of the paper}

"My dogs love to play in the snow." 

An urgent question (read: comment - we haven't all figured out the difference yet...) during calendar time: "You know that 2010 is when the dinosaurs were alive!"

Today after reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day my kinders started singing: "So you had a bad day..." 

What tender reminders they bring everyday.