More Sneak Peeks

Sight Word Wall :)

 Ready for the first day! Nametags, journals, abc strips...

 Treasure found in a most unexpected place!

 Labeled cubbies!

Author's chair for sharing time complete with safari microphone! :)  I found the stand in storage- this way their little hands are free for sharing their stories, books, & illustrations. :) So excited to see this come to life!

 Another angle.

A Few Classroom Update Sneek Peeks

Here is my behavior chart! I got this idea from KinderGals. Love it! :) I can't remember where I found the idea to use pizza pans but I think it will work great! I am going to take pictures of the kids on the first day, print, laminate, & use magnetic tape to attach. I eliminated a few of the levels that KinderGals had because the other kindergarten teacher & I are doing this similarly & trying to keep it to 5 levels.

I found this idea on Pinterest- I backed two filing cabinets up to each other. Yeah for extra storage! My pictures are on it right now but I plan to let the kids use it for a magnetic center. :) The tape will be covered up. :)

I finally covered up all my holiday goodies that were irking me from atop my red cabinets! Yeah for binder clips! The handiest thing ever! These posters are from my awesome 6th graders in summer school right now. They are incredibly creative & so smart!

Above & below are pictures of my "jungle". I wanted to have a special spot for the kids to relax & read (I also have a big orange bathtub in my room). This will also be a reward coupon--they will be able to go "relax in the jungle". I still need to add more vines to make it more jungle looking. I found these awesome "tree trunks" in the high schools' throw away pile. I immediately asked for them! I think they look like the bottom of trees, don't you? One man's trash is another's treasure! Right?!

Here is my crazy monkey. This was actually a gift for my daughter but he shakes & it scares her. So here he is hanging on his own little vine "swing". :) You can also see the stuffies & books displayed on top of our cubbies. All the books are either zoo/animal related or Eric Carle. Keep an eye out for my special Eric Carle display coming soon!

Here is the big thing I have been working on putting together all summer. Our Calendar Wall!!! Many dollars later, I think it is just about ready! We will discuss weather including season, temperature, windy/sunny, etc..., count sticks/bundles, place value, money, find the number on the spinner, make the number in dominoes (magnetic tape!), month, day of the week, yesterday was <, tomorrow will be >>>, make the number on the clock, and count on the hundreds board. I can't wait to start doing this & watch the kids correct me when I do it out of order or something! They have an amazing knack for learning the order we do things. :) The red & white little chart has extra supplies in it- the cards that describe the weather & the holiday/special events cards, etc...

I got my class list about a week & a half ago so I have been able to start making some personalized things. I'm so excited!!!

Center Piece for Above My Smartboard

3 D letters made from black poster board- harder than I thought it would be. Glued jewels from the set I bought for the kids to use in attribute sorting. I think they connection between something they actually get to touch & something on display that they can't touch in the room will be exciting for them. Unfortunately, I used A LOT of jewels....soooo I forsee a Hobby Lobby trip! Oh dear...however will I survive it? LOL Happy decorating fellow teachers!

Chapter 10 Tone, In Pictures and In Words

Chapter 10 focuses on tone- "the overall blend & intensity of color, light, & shade in a picture, all of which evoke an emotional response." The tone is a tool a writer or illustrator can use to further express their view/perspective/opinion/position. Pg 195- "children will learn to think about their own attitudes or views toward their topics, and then how to communicate their views effectively." METACOGNITION ANYONE?
I have especially tried to emphasize when we are doing creative writing to consider the things that would make them want to read a story. If we just tell the same boring story every time, would we want to read the same thing over & over? Or perhaps, what is something we could put in a story that would make us WANT to read it over & over?
One way I have attempted to aid my littles in crafting tone with color is by allowing them to use colored construction paper for the books they create. If we are writing a story about rain, I suggest they use gray paper...ocean= blue, etc...

I am currently teaching 6th grade summer school & one of the standards we are working on involves hyperbole so "accentuating or exaggerating features to impact tone" fits in nicely here.