Ghost Writing

So like I promised, here is an update for our ghosts.  The kids did such a good job!  We wrote out the steps in order to make the ghost.

Then we followed the steps.

We let the ghosts dry overnight and I took them off the base.  And this is what we got.

Today we added the eyes and hung them up to make the room look spooky!  Next week, we are making bats and they will be hung with the ghosts.  They will look so cool. 

You can see the bat activity for next week here.  I am going to cut out the sentences and have the students put them in order, glue them to the first page, and then write the sentences in correct order.  I will also take more pictures of the ghost writing when my kids finish their final copies.

Writing Ghosts

I guess I forgot to save the paper that goes along with this activity.  I will have to get it for you later.  Anyway, this is my project.  I was trying it out before I had the kids do it.  I will take pictures next week when we do it as a class.  The kids are going to make a ghost and then write about the steps.  We are working on transition words, so this is perfect for us.  The kids saw my sample and have been asking all week if they will get to make one.  They can't wait.  Wish me luck.

If you want to make this, it is very easy.  There are different ways to make it, but I tried to make it as easy as possible because my students are going to be making it.  I used a two-liter bottle for the body and hot glued a foam ball on top to shape the head.  Then I laid cheese cloth over the figure.  You can add arms if you want with wire, but I didn't think that was a good idea with my students.  Then I took starch and a sponge paint brush and painted the starch onto the cheese cloth.  I let that dry overnight and then carefully pulled the cheese cloth off the base.  Then I added googly eyes and clipped a paper clip through the top.  I will be hanging these from the ceiling, but I wanted to get a picture for you before I did that.  If you try it, let me know how it turns out!

Halloween Math Game

Here is what we have been playing during math time in my room.  The kids practice their math facts and then open the pumpkin to check their answer.

I like it because I can work with other students while they are working on their facts.  They like it because they can check the answers without asking me.

Another thing I have been doing to help spiral certain skills is the number of the day.  You can check that out here.

Fall Break

We are on Fall Break this week, but I have a few pictures of their sentence writing from last week.  We discussed what Fall was and things we like about Fall.  We outlined the sentences.  Then we did a rough draft.  Here are pictures of our final copies.  I am so happy with how they came out.  They look like leaves are falling from the wall in our room.

Oh how impressed I was with my kids!  I guess my other pictures will not load.  Sorry.  I will have to try again another time.

Classroom Pictures

I know I have been promising pictures for a while, but better late than never right?  They are not in any special order.  I have taken a lot of time with my room and have changed it several times and probably will several more times.

Each classroom has a phone.  This is where I keep mine becuase it is where the phone jack is.  Also in this area is a bucket labled "Work Folders."  This is where I have my students keep any unfinished work.  This keeps it in one place and it is always there when they have time to finish.  Next to that area, I have my little table and chair for the listening center.  Instead of spending a lot of money on books on CD, I simply recorded myself reading them and put it on CD.  I have since changed out the stuff on the little table.  Makes a great center activity area.

Many people have heard of the "Clip It" system and I made mine to fit my classroom theme.  Can you guess what my theme is!?  I also made a form that I use to record at the end of the day what color each student earned.  I have some behavior issues and this allows me to show parents that some days are better than others.

This is just the inside of my classroom door.  Again, frog!  I also work on using manners, so I have my "Good Manners" poster up as a reminder.



When I first started, I didn't know what or how to write my expectations.  I narrowed it down to three and I am very happy with it.  They are general, but they work with my kids.

I LOVE this wall and the kids do too!  Each kid has a frog with their name on it.  Each frog has a ring of index cards.  On the index cards are sight words, CVC words, and CVCe words (depending on what skill that child is on).  They are responsible for the words on the ring.  I  have them come in and get their rings to study for about five minutes and then I quiz them.    When they get the word correct, they get a plus in the upper right corner of the card.  When they get five plus', they get to take the word off the ring.  The students get so excited when the words come off the ring.  It comes with built in motivation.  I was thinking of doing this with math facts too! 

Above the "Hoppin' Words," I have sentence starters and the alphabet for help on different activities we do.  I also have rings of a program called "Drops in the Bucket."  I copied the pages on to cardstock and laminated them.  Then I cut apart each section to allow students to focus on one skill at a time.  I give them dry erase markers to write their answers.



 

This is my space.  I have been debating about turning my desk, but I have not gotten that far yet.  The other thing I love, but you cannot see is that when students come up to my desk, there is a stop sign on the floor so that students know and respect my space.  And of course the frog carpet!

This is "Mr. Frog."  He loves to sit in the classroom library.  He is a great listener.  The kids talk to him when they are upset.  They also enjoy reading stories to him.

This is my math area.  I recently changed it and so far I am happy with it.  In the corner we have two student computers.

This is a close up of one of the shelves on the bookshelf in the math area.  These are activities that I made.  I bought containers from the dollar store and went at it.  I love it because I put all the materials for the activity int he container and I can just pull it out when students are doing centers and games.



This is my classroom library area.  Again, this is something I recently changed as well.  I used to have another bookshelf in this area, but I wanted to open up the space a little more.

 Close up of the library.  I have books sorted by AR levels.

This is where my students keep their classroom money.  They earn money by completing homework and making good choices. They can also earn money by getting a perfect spelling test.  Students can lose money for poor choices or not completing their homework. At the end of the week, they can choose to either save their money or buy something from the price list.  Notice the frogs!

Here is where I moved the bookself that used to be in the classroom library.  Also another view of my clip system.

I also took pictures of our Fall sentences we worked on this week, but I will save that for another post.  Happy Fall!



Handwriting Notebook

This is a blank version of my handwriting notebook so that you can dot the letters and words that you want. For my younger kids, I do the letters and for my older kids, I do words and sentences. It is meant to adapt to how you want to use it. You can use it for print or cursive.   I forgot to take a picture of the finished product, but you can customize it however you want to.

Halloween Number Match

I love Halloween!  It is my favorite holiday and the kids are figuring that out.  Everything we are doing this month is related to Fall and Halloween.  For my Kinders, I made a fun number match that can be found here. 

 

This week for writing, we are dicussing what Fall is (which is harder than I thought because I am in Arizona and the seasons don't change like they do in other places).  You should see some of the sentences my kids came up with today.  I am so proud of them.  We are going to print our sentences onto leaves to hang up in the room.

 

Next week we are on Fall Break, but the following week, we are making ghosts from Cheese Cloth.  Then we are going to write the steps of how to make the ghosts.  I will do my best to remember to take pictures.  I am so excited.

 

Happy October 1st!