My Week in Anchor Charts!

Hi, I'm Lindsay and I'm obsessed with anchor charts!

Yes...it's really an obsession. I have a WHOLE classroom wall dedicated to anchor charts.
 

 

 I'm not sure if its because I like to draw, or make them look cutesy, or pretend I'm cool like Cara...but it's true. I love anchor charts!

 

Here are a few I made this past week to use for instruction.

What's a Scientist?

{Inspired by Cara @The First Grade Parade}

 Character & Setting

{Inspired by Abby @The Inspired Apple}

 

Rhyming Words
{Inspired by Me}
 

If you want to see more of my anchor chart obsession, head on over to the "Label Love" tab on the sidebar to see previous posts!

Returning from My Blog Hiatus!

It's a F.A.C.T. The first 2 weeks of school have got to be the most exhausting all year long!

My blog hiatus is pure proof y'all. I feel like I have been neglecting "my baby" but this teacher is plum tired at the end of every day. I'm promising NOW to be better next week! I do have lots I want to share.

 

Here's just a tidbit of what has been going on in my life the past week.

 

 

You can tell just from the picture how "germy" the first 2 weeks have been for me. I had a head cold this week and am recovering from a near total loss of voice. PTL!

 

I'm pretty sure I have not been the *best* writing teacher the past 2 years. I've been learning and taking notes on how to improve. We started writer's workshop this week and let me tell you....my class this year are writing rockstars!!! They have made me so excited to teach writing this year and I can't wait to share our success with you in  post next week. Be on the lookout!

 

 

I think rhyming is so fun and I absolutely LOVE to teach it! We worked on recognizing rhyming words this week and created our own rhymes after reading and listening to Down by the Bay (what seemed like thousands of time!).

 

 

FOOTBALL! This one word sums up my excitement for this time of year.

 

I saved my favorite picture for last.

 

Love me some lattes and when I scored 2 boxes of these little pretties last night, I just about died! PSL's without leaving the house, yes please!

 

I'm making a promise to you know that I will be back next week more than once so stayed tuned for an anchor chart post, writing post, and Daily 5 update!

Writing, Rhyming, and Senses

Raise your hand if you love testing kiddos!?  Crickets anybody.....?  Oh-my-word, I am SO beyond tired of testing my kids. DRA, Universal Screening, report card testing.  Will it ever end?  I am ready to get into a *normal* routine with my kids and spend ALL of my precious time (that I never seem to have enough of) actually teaching what they need to know.  Can I get an amen?  Other than testing, we have been working hard on generating rhyming words, getting into our writer's workshop groove, and learning about our senses.  Here are a few cutsey activities we have been working on this week.

Up first is rhyming.  Well ya see, there is this book...that my firsties have fell in L.O.V.E with. It's called Rhyming Dust Bunnies. They BEG me to read it...and I have...3 times now.  They roll with laughter every time.  And this last time, they were even able to pretty much read it with me. If you teach rhyming words in any way, shape, or form you must use this book!!

 

If you click on the picture of the book, it will take you to an uber-cute rhyming activity to do with your kiddos. Thanks to Katie at Queen of the First Grade Jungle for sharing!

I had my class create a 'piggy rhyme'. I gave them a template for the infamous "This little piggy...." rhyme but left the ending of each sentence blank in which they had to fill it in with two sets of rhyming words.  Here is an example of how they turned out.

And I HAD to share this one with you...it reads "This little piggy played cars. This little piggy went to the bars."  I had me a good laugh!

 

Click on the picture below to download your Piggy Rhyme FREEBIE!

 

 

During writer's workshop this week we took on the wonderful Cara Carroll's idea from The First Grade Parade and made heart maps.  We are going to put these in our writing folders and refer to them whenever we can't think of an idea to write about. Here is my example. 

You can find Cara's original post here.

Click on the picture below to download a FREEBIE of the heart map.

 

 

 

On top of all that, we have also been learning about our 5 senses.  I have been using the free 5 senses from Mrs. Wills over at her blog Mrs. Wills Kindergarten.

 

 

Here are the kiddos getting to put their senses to work.

Using their sense of sight to view things through a magnifying glass and record what they see.

Using their sense of touch to go on a scavenger hunt around the room to find different textures (rough, smooth, fuzzy, etc.)  I think they were more excited to use clipboards than anything!

 

 

 

On a much happier note, tomorrow is Friday and next week we begin our Apple unit! This time of year is my absolute FAVorite. I don't know what it is about apples, spiders, bats, and pumpkins....but these units just make me happy!  Or maybe it's knowing I teach these during Fall (my favorite season) and that is the same time that Starbucks has their specialty drinks!?  Until next time...