WELCOME to KinderFUN!!

Day 2 is complete. Today we did our first directed drawing to go along with our David Shannon books this week.  We also put our alphabet pretzels to great use. We have been singing our Hickety Pickety Bumble Bee song while getting to know each other. Today we were able to find the letters in our name with alphabet pretzels.

A week of Great Finds and Creations!

This week was a great week of crafts, finds, and gifts.  I really wanted to share them with you.  I still can not believe that THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS ON MONDAY!!!! Let the fun begin!!

Picture #1 Pattern Tape: Don't throw away supply containers or small cardboard boxes because you can easily recycle them into your stylish supply container.  I enjoyed creating a dry erase marker holder, eraser topper holder, and stylish clothespins.

 Picture #2 is a small craft I created for our Meet the Teacher this past week.  Bananas are .50 a lb right now and you can not bet that!  Tags were made by a very good friend of mine and ribbon was easily found at Hobby Lobby.  Parents and students really enjoyed the bananas, and I enjoyed seeing their smiles when they went over to pick their very own banana.

 Picture #3 is a very thoughtful Chicka Chicka Boom Boom gift basket that my aunt and cousin brought to me.  I loved it, and it was very thoughtful and it fit perfectly with our school theme.  The palm tree is made out of wood and then painted over in appropriate colors.  The fruit and snacks are a  perfect gift for a teacher's first week of school.

 Picture #4 is a picture I took while shopping for my boys today.  Not only do I have to make sure I am ready as a teacher for the new school year but as a mother as well.  We just had The American Cookie Company open up at our local mall in Harlingen, TX.  Of coarse this is the cookie cake that caught my eye instantly!! I can not wait to order my first cookie cake for my son's birthday in September.  This cookie cake would not be appropriate for my classroom right now since it is not nutritious and healthy but I am sure I will find an opportunity soon. :D

 Picture #5 is a picture of ABC: Pretzels that I found at our local HEB Grocery store today.  I can think of a million and one ways to use these in our lesson planning.  They can be incorporated in our math and ELA lesson plans.  Just off the top of my head... I can use them for: letter identification, letters in your name activity, word work, spelling words of the week, counting, graphing, sorting, etc.

I just wanted to share these pictures with you because they make me excited about the beginning of our new school year and maybe you would like to feel just as excited as I am.
I hope everyone has a great year!!

Wild About ZEBRA PENS

This week was not only special because it was my first full week back at school or that it was my last week to fully prepare for all my new kindergartners but I was also able to test out several ZEBRA PENS and mechanical pencils!

This product review goes perfect with our school theme this year! "Wild about Learning!"
I was so very surprised when I saw that the  box of products included an adorable plush zebra!  I also received a portfolio case for the pens and pencils.

 I absolutely loved every single pen and pencil that was included in the portfolio.  Ball point pens have always been my favorite kind of pen to write with.  Every once and a while I will use a fine point pen but that is only if I have a limited amount of space to write in.  Zebra Z-Mulsion EX Ballpoint pens were so much fun to use!  Some of the pens have a design and others are just plain black or blue design. Zebra Z-Mulsion EX Ballpoint pens were smooth, and pleasant to use.  I enjoyed the pen very much.  
 Retractable pens like the Zebra  Z-GripMAX Ballpoint Retractable Pen  are always a please to use as well.  I really liked that the pen did not skip or smear while I was writing with it.   I will be sad if this pen disappears off my desk.  I really like this pen.
 

I naturally wrote with every single one of the pens and mechanical pencils that I received!  The highlighter was even fun to use! LOL!!
I loved every single grip.  I can not say how much I had fun with this product review from shoplet.com.  I enjoy products like this because I can use them with my students at school as well.  I am so glad that I have now been introduced to Zebra Pens by Shoplet.com.  The pens are stylish, professional, fun, and efficient, and not to mention at a great price.
I can not wait to enjoy my pens, pencils, and highlighter for my school year.
My students can use these pens at their writing table, word work center, and drawing.  In kindergarten we do not normally use pens or mechanical pencils so I would use these as an incentive or special occasion when my kinder students need to write.
I hope everyone has a wonderful school year!

#Office Supplies  #Shoplet.com

Please do not forget to enter this giveaway!!!

Hi, Hello, Are you ready to go???

Today was our last teacher work day before Monday. 
We are eagerly anticipating our LITTLE LONGHORNS!!

Meet The Teacher

WE ARRREEEE BAAAAACKKKKK!!

Friday was Teacher's 1st day back.  We have a full week ahead of us with lots of meetings, lesson planning, and classroom preparations.








I also wanted to let you know about some exciting news!!
Mark your calendars for Thursday. We are having Meet the Teacher for Pre-K and Kindergarten.  Flyers have been mailed out to you. :D

Charts Here, Charts There, CHARTS EVERYWHERE!!

Here are a few anchor charts that I have made free hand for my classroom.  I got some of the ideas from pinterest! I really am in love with pinterest;. It is like a place where all of the great minds think alike and actually share....

Charts will be laminated and have the option for me to write on them with a dry erase marker. :D

GUEST POST- TX Style

Top 5 Educational Trips for Kids in Texas

Texas is a great state to raise a family for many reasons. One of those reasons is because it is home to hundreds of kid-friendly destinations. From Dallas to San Antonio to Houston and everywhere in between, the fun and learning never stops in the Lone Star State.

Below is my “top five” list for the best educational trips for kids in Texas. Even though school is about to begin, you can still visit these awesome places on the weekends.

Space Center Houston

For some kids, space is a dream, and that dream can be realized at Space Center Houston. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA, touch a real moon rock, practice landing a simulated space shuttle and learn about the history and future of space exploration. Some visitors are even lucky enough to see a real astronaut training for a mission, and at the center’s Kids Space Place, children can see what it would be like to man a space flight and go into space. Discounted tickets can be purchased online at SpaceCenter.org.

Texas State Capitol

Teach your children about state government at the capitol building in Austin. Take a self-guided or guided tour of the building and learn about the significance of its architecture and history. If you visit during the legislative session, you may even get the opportunity to sit in on a house or senate public meeting! After seeing the capitol building, stop by the Capitol Visitors Center to view exhibits about the history of Texas government and its beloved capitol. Admission is free for everyone, and guided tours are generally 45 minutes long. For more information, visit the Capitol Visitors Center website.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the most popular museums in the United States. Home to the Burke Baker Planetarium, the Wortham GIANT Screen Theatre, the Cockrell Butterfly Center and a variety of permanent exhibit areas, the museum is the perfect education trip for all ages. Permanent exhibits focus on topics related to astronomy, space science, Native American culture, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, Texas wildlife and so much more. Ticket prices vary depending on age and exhibits visited. More information can be found on the museum’s website at HMNS.org.

Fort Worth Zoo

The Fort Worth Zoo has been named one of the top zoos in the United States by several media outlets, including Family Life magazine and USA Today. Although this zoo is home to less species than the Houston or San Antonio zoos, it outshines the larger zoos with its commitment to conservation, education and entertainment. The zoo’s Museum of Living Art (MOLA) is a premier Herpetarium that brings visitors up close to exotic and endangered species in an environment that is described as a living, breathing work of art. For information about admission, visit FortWorthZoo.org.

The Children’s Museum of Houston

The Children’s Museum of Houston was named number two on the “10 Best Children’s Museums” list on Parents.com, making it the best children’s museum experience in Texas. With 90,000 square feet of mind-blowing, educational fun, kids are given the opportunity to learn in a hands-on, active atmosphere that they are sure to remember. The museum can be enjoyed by children of all ages, even adults find the exhibits interesting and enlightening. Admission is $9.00 per person and $8.00 for seniors 65 years and older. Children under the age of one may enter for free, and all activities, exhibits, workshops and performances are included with admission. The museum hosts a free Family Night every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit their website at CMHouston.org.

Hope you have a blast!

Pepper Givens is a freelance writer whose foremost passion is writing for her blog about education. While her primary writing focus is trends in higher ed, Pepper also enjoys writing about personal finance, parenting, sustainable living, small business strategies, and more. She can be reached for questions or comments at pepper.givens@gmail.com.

August Awesomeness!!

HELLLOOOOO EVERYONE!! 
5...6....7...8...Are you ready???????? 
Teacher's first day is on the 17th!!! YIKES, only 7 more days left of FREEDOM! LOL!
Student's first day is on the 27th!!!
Here is what I have done so far!!

Action Research Plan

Hi everyone! Just a little bit of homework right now.
Below you will find my Action Research Plan and Summary.

Parental Involvement Everyday: What are the most available effective ways to increase communicate with parents and community on a daily basis using technology?

• As the years go by in education and social media along with technology is a huge part of our society’s daily activities it is important for teachers and schools to grow with our students and parents.  We have open houses, meet the teacher, face to face parent/teacher conferences, phone conferences, and notes home to communicate.  What would it be like to communicate with parents through twitter, blogs, facebook pages, email, and webpages?  This can only increase the amount of communication and the amount of parents we are communicating with on a daily basis.  Teaching a kindergarten class for the last 3 years I have realized how hard it is for working parents to be involved on a daily basis and if they could they would peak in or speak to their child’s teacher every day.  As a teacher why not give parents an insight to your daily activities, homework, and announcements.  Establish an open communication with parents.  Using technology as a tool to bringing down the four walls of your classroom can be a wonderful experience.

Happy August everyone!!

August FIRST!

Ready or NOT here we go! It is AUGUST 1st!! 26 more days to prepare for our students! YIKES!!

I worked really hard in my classroom today.  This picture is the corner where my class library will be located.