Saturday, September 10, 2011

Week One...Done...and a Whole Bunch of Fun!

Whew!  How do we always forget how exhausting that first few days back can be?  I have an awesome group of 21 kiddos who all came to me from kindergarten already READING!  They are all at a 3 (C) or higher already!!!  Our all day every day kindergarten program is a blessing!  This year should be amazing!

Hang on tight because there is a whole bunch of first-week-of-school randomness in this post. If you make it to the end...there is a freebie for you! : )
I purchased Abby's (from the Inspired Apple) Fun with Firsties unit and it was worth every penny to get the year started!  We made Jitter Juice, surveyed our friends, made darling backpacks and school house books.  I would highly recommend purchasing it and tucking it away for next year!  She also has a unit for second graders as well.  A few things from the unit are in pictures below. 

 


School House books...my awesome retired-teacher-mom cut all of these out and assembled them for me before school started!


Our adorable backpacks!  My awesome retired-teacher-mom also assembled these for me!  Doesn't the scrapbook paper make them extra adorable?  : )


Not only did we have fun with Abby's unit, we decorated our Reading Notebooks. And yes, my awesome retired-teacher-mom made these for the class as well!


Go to my post HERE to learn how to make your own Reading Notebooks!


We also decorated our canvas pencil pouches with Crayola Fabric Markers.  The kids will keep their pencil and a box of crayons in this pouch.  I have had great luck with these for the past 3 years.  You can purchase them from Discount School Supply for $8.99 for a pack of 12.


Since I have tables, the kids keep their pencil pouches and work folder in a tub at each table.
Scissors and glue sticks are kept in these numbered drawers.  Each table has a drawer that can be removed and brought right over to the table when they need scissors or glue sticks.  I have used this system for over 6 years and it works perfectly!

These are our name tags.  I found the name badge holders at the Dollar Tree last winter!!!  Score!


We read the Enormous Turnip to begin a discussion about cooperation.






Next, we colored people to make a hallway display to illustrate the concept of cooperation. 

All 64 first graders are included in this Enormous display!
If you would like a copy of the person template, you can download it from my TPT store for FREE! If you download it, I would love for you to leave your thanks in the form of feedback in my TPT store. Enjoy!



Oh...and one more thing!!!  My own two kiddos started preschool this week.  My amazing mom (yep...the one who helps with all things school) made these adorable chocolate covered mini-oreo apples for my kids' teachers!  We forgot to take a picture of them in the cute bowls we displayed them in along with their apple-licious cards.  : (







6 comments:

Lindsay said...

Wow, looks like I need a retired teacher mom to help me with all this cool stuff!

Courtney said...

I agree that you always forget how tired you are after that first week. I think every teacher needs a fabulous mom like yours!

Mrs. Betty Nichols said...

Wanna send your mom my way ... could use her help and amazing ideas in my first grade class! :-)

Tamara L. Chilver said...

Your class looks like so much fun! I want to be in first grade again! ☺

Teaching Blog Addict
♥Teaching with TLC

Mrs. M said...

Where did you find the font that looks like magazine cut-outs? I've been looking everywhere!

drdebi2b said...

Just wanted to let you know... I received a Versitile Blogger Award and wanted to pass it on to you. Thanks for being an inspiration. Head over to my blog!
Hugs,
Debi
Just 4 Teachers: Sharing Across Borders