Five for Friday

Ah, I love Fridays :)

I've linked up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the weekly Five for Friday post.  Here's what I've got this week:



1. I had a lovely trip with some girlfriends/KU alums down to Dallas for the Sweet Sixteen.  While we didn't exactly get the outcome we hoped for as far as basketball goes, we still had a ton of fun!




In other basketball news, the Wichita State Shockers are moving on to the Final Four!  Even though my heart is full of Jayhawk pride, I can't help but feel so excited for this team. 

My parents attended WSU and in light of this amazing time in Shocker basketball history, I dug this little beauty up:

Seriously, babies in the 80s looked hilarious.  I was no exception.  Also, I'm pretty sure my dad still has that shirt.





2. Sunday was a wonderful day to celebrate Easter.  It's one of my favorite holidays for many reasons, but I was only able to snap a picture of the "sweetest" aspect.  Apparently everyone knows my great love of the Reese's Eggs and I was even given a giant mega-egg!  (which, I'll admit, kind of intimidates me.  That's a lot of pressure to eat that hefty treat!).  As I was taking a picture of my sweets, the Easter Cat apparently decided it was the perfect time to photobomb.  

And wow, was my furry friend everywhere!  Both of these handsome fellas curled up for some quality TV time Sunday evening.  I'm not sure how My Man will feel about this picture being out for the world to see, but I think it's adorbs :)

3. I found this darling wooden sign on accident and had to snag it immediately.  I LOVED the book The Help and I think this simple quote is so powerful.  It's on my mantle for a little daily inspiration.

4. Ok, I know everyone has seen this commercial, but I die laughing every time I see it (which seems to have been a lot this week).  I swear that I have had this exact conversation before with students in my class!  AT&T does not know who I am or endorse me for sharing this.  I just think it's hilarious. 


5.  One of my students' favorite centers is called Post Office, in which they are given prompts to write letters to others.  I found this on my desk earlier this week:

Dear Ms. Fowler,
You have ben the best teachr.  you make my hart worme.

It's the little things like this that make my heart warm, too :)

Link up here to share your Five for Friday!

Have a wonderful weekend!

-Liz

hOW'd You Like A Freebie? Find OUt here!

See what I did there?  Yes, I'm emphasizing -ow and -ou words in this post and no, I'm not a teenage girl on AIM :)

This week and next, I'll be teaching my students about words with the -ow and -ou sounds.  I'm sure many of you teach in districts that are transitioning into Common Core and if you're like me, you're also getting a new report card to go with it.  I have been working to create literacy activities that can help me assess in small groups through activities and see exactly how students are learning while still collecting the necessary data for our standards-based report card.  Here is a sample of what my kiddos and I have been having fun with this week!  Click here to snag it and download a preview on TPT.

Posters for both -ou and -ow words

I tell ya, having posters displayed as we learn new letter/sound combinations is so helpful for my kiddos that need visual reminders.  I use these posters to introduce the sounds and hang them near my word wall for the students to reference.  I think seeing the -ou and -ow in big, bold letters on the poster also helps them remember the sound as they are reading other texts.

Word Sort and Recording Sheet

MOO!

I am obsessed with this game!  You might recognize it as "Bang!" or "Pop!" but I used the word MOO! to fit the theme.  My students absolutely LOVE this game and it is incredibly easy to differentiate.  I can have some of my babies that need extra attention work on only a few cards at a time, or I can have my students that need more of a challenge play the game and use the word in a sentence.  Meanwhile, what none of the students know is I'm gathering some wonderful data for their report cards!  Muah-ha-ha!

Write the Room and Recording Sheet

Memory Game Cards

A classic, but a keeper!  My kiddos love playing Memory with our sound skill of the week.  I use this game as an option for my early finishers and they choose this over the iPad most days! 

 And nOW I have two freebies for you that go along with my Cows Out on the Town unit!  Click here to download, or visit my TPT store for the entire unit.

Hope you guys enjoyed previewing my newest creation!

 peace OUt nOW,

Liz

April Currently

I'm linking up with Oh Boy, Fourth Grade for a Currently Linky!  The perfect blog entry for this exhausted teacher on a Monday :)  Join the fun and link up below!

Listening:  I'll admit I don't know a ton about baseball.  I love going to games, but it's more for the atmosphere and social aspect.  My man, however, LOVES baseball.  I feel like after all my obsessions over college basketball this past month, watching baseball with him is the least I can do!

Loving:  Sadly, my Jayhawks played their last game on Friday, but that doesn't mean I can't root for the hometown team!  It is definitely an exciting time around here!

Thinking:  Today was a loooong day.  It's comforting to think that spring is here and we are all the way to APRIL!  I love my first grade babies, but summer just sounds so sweet right now!

Wanting:  Perhaps my long day has something to do with my giant craving for chocolate?  Hmmm...

Watch out, chocolate bunny :)

Needing:  I love reading but I've hit a lull.  If you have any awesome book suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Advice:  Dr. Seuss seems to always know just what to say.  Sometimes on rough days I try to remember that I can ultimately determine how my day will go.

Join the linky here! Don't forget to read up on what the two bloggers before you posted :)

-Liz

Spring Things

I'm hesitant to say this.

I don't want to jinx anything.

But... it's finally starting to feel like spring again around here!  The snow has melted!  The sun is out!  I didn't even need a jacket outside!

Naturally, it was the perfect time to do some spring activities in first grade.

First up was our math lesson about symmetry.  We found things around the classroom that had a line of symmetry.  We thought of things on the playground that could have symmetry.  We discussed why certain objects may look alike, but are not symmetrical.  But seriously, what better way to teach students about symmetry during the spring that to make butterflies?!  

I traced the pattern on construction paper for them (to avoid the "accidentally traced on the edges instead of the fold and now I have two pieces" scenario).  The students cut out the butterflies and then in small groups I called them to use my Paint Dots to decorate only one half of the butterfly (because if we want it to be the exact same on the other side we can't decorate both or they'd look kinda different, Ms. Fowler!).  I've done this before with regular paint and brushes, but this was a little more controlled.  My only suggestion is to MOVE QUICKLY and be ready to squeeze a little extra paint out so that it will transfer to the other side when you fold the butterfly in half.  

I let the students fold over their butterfly and press down all over so the paint would transfer, but for a few I had to "touch up" because the paint was too light.  Usually I don't like to intervene with student art, but I did want them to understand that if an object is symmetrical, it needs to be the exact same on both sides.  I think these turned out pretty cute :)

Another activity we did was simple and fun and is actually two games in one!  On plastic Easter Eggs, I  wrote addition problems in permanent marker, with the addends on one half of the egg and the sum on the other half.  For the first activity, I split the eggs up and gave each student one half.  They had to find the student who had the missing part of their math problem and match up their egg halves to make the equation true.  Because I purposely had more than one egg with the same answer, the students could not rely solely on matching the egg colors.  Once they found a correct match, the students held their egg in the air and waited until everyone was matched and we could mix it up again.  

The second activity was in the form of Quiz-Quiz-Trade.  I gave each student a full egg and had them turn the halves so the answer was not visible when they read the addition problem.  We play Quiz-Quiz-Trade all the time using cards, so the students LOVED using eggs to jazz things up a bit!  

The students mixed (and they know to do this silently) and partnered up with the closest student near them.  Student A showed the addition problem to Student B.  Student B answered it correctly (way to go! says Student A) and then Student B shows Student A the addition problem on her egg.  Student A answers correctly (you're awesome! says Student B) and they trade eggs, only to partner up with another student.  I have found this is a good activity for 5 to 10 minutes or self-control tends to be forgotten :)

Do you have any creative spring math or reading activities?  I'd love to hear about them!

Heading out to enjoy the fresh air,

Liz

Oh Yeah, I've Got Spring Fever

Ah, the first day back to school after Spring Break.  It was soooo good to see all my little guys again and hear all about their adventures over break.  We shared laughs, had an awesome math discussion about polygons, worked on suffixes and played some of my March Madness activities in small groups. That being said, I'm now quite tired :)

While today was a good day overall, I should mention we had indoor recess.

All day. 

Because it was snowy outside.

Say whaaaat?  It's March 25!  I want to feel the sunshine on my face and see flowers blooming! (and have the kids run off some energy outside...)  Lucky for me, Amanda over at Mrs. Pauley's Kindergarten has started the cuuuuutest Spring Fever Giveaway and I was fortunate enough to participate along with some amazing bloggers! Have a look below at these creative lessons and activities that YOU could win! I contributed the Springtime Math Activities (full of bright and fun math to chase away those winter blahs), and the other products from fellow teacher bloggers are so darling and creative. The giveaway starts today and runs through midnight on Saturday, March 31st.

Check out these amazing prizes you could win:

{Click on the products to check them out on TpT or the names to check out the blogs.}

Insect Math & Literacy Unit {Brand new product - not posted to TpT yet!} by Mrs. Pauley's Kindergarten
Spring Fever Worksheet Bundle by Live, Laugh, I LOVE Kindgergarten
Fairy Tale Unit by Kickin' It In Kindergarten</ a>
Primer Sight Word Readers by Lovely Literacy & More
Ocean Animals Unit by Keepin' It Kool In Kinderland
Common Core Math Vocabulary Posters by Kinder Krazy
Springtime Math Activities by Love, Live, and Teach
Dino-Families & Syllable Sense by Mrs. Thigpen's Kindergarten
Butterflies Flutter 'N Write the Room by Fun in Pre-K - 1

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have fun and good luck!

Trying to find a better font,

Liz

The Noun Game - Linky Party!

I'm joining Flying Into First Grade's Noun Game for her weekly linky party.  Here we go!

Person:
My Man is such a serious blessing to me.  He is absolutely my best friend, my greatest encourager, and can always make me laugh.  He listens to me and supports me through everything - not to mention he comes from a teacher family, so he "gets it" when I have my school conversations!  Ah, I just love him!

Place:  
Lawrence, Kansas, home of the Kansas Jayhawks.  If you have read anything on my blog, you've probably noticed I'm a huge Jayhawk fan (especially basketball!).  I earned both of my degrees from KU.  I spent countless hours camping out for great basketball seats.  I met my best friends through classes, my sorority, and campus ministry groups at KU.  I proudly walked down the hill at graduation and knew I was a Jayhawk for life. I try to visit Lawrence whenever I can, and I still get goosebumps when I drive down the big hill to campus.  So many wonderful memories!

photo by Jen Logan

Thing:  Coffee.  I love coffee and all things that go with coffee!  Whether that means a fresh new day, an afternoon break to catch up with an old friend, or just the warming smell in general, coffee always makes me happy. :) 

Animal:  My Little Man is Henry and he stole my heart from the first time I met him.  I went to the Humane Society "just to look" and this little guy wooed me with his sweet and curious personality (not to mention it looks like he is wearing a tuxedo.)  He brightens my day with a greeting as soon as I get home and is always ready to cuddle.  

What are your favorite nouns?  Link up here and share!

Ending Sunday Funday with this post,

Liz

Five for Friday

Happy Friday, everyone!

Wow, I've had an ah-mazing Spring Break and could probably turn this into 100 for Friday...but let's face it, that just doesn't sound as catchy :)  While not much of my break was filled with teacher related things, I'll still share some highlights!

1.  My boys won the Big XII Championship!  Tonight they play their first NCAA Tournament game and I'm so excited!  ROCK CHALK!

2.  I adopted a new baby! Isn't it beautiful? (Don't mind me in the background - that was a day after traveling and shopping-til-we-were-dropping.)

3.  Another fun purchase:  I snagged these guys on a great sale!  Normally each Stila lipgloss is $8 at Ulta, but these were 3 for $15!  My lips will be ready for spring.

4.  Lots of Family Time:  My mom and I had a Girls' Day Out and somehow managed to make time to stop into a delicious bakery.  These little guys were delicious!!  (Ok, by now are you seeing how much I love March Madness?  Goodness!)

My brother also came for a visit, so the whole family was reunited.  We had lots of dinners out and lots of laughs.  Family is so wonderful :)

5.  YOU!  Last week was the first week I've ever linked up to Five for Friday and one of my first linky parties in general.  I was seriously so touched at the kind comments I received and just how sweet and thoughtful you all are!  It's sometimes scary to try a new thing (in my case, this blog) but so many of you reached out to offer your wisdom and support!  It's the little things that keep us teachers positive and strong, and the kind words definitely kept me in high spirits!

What are your Fives for this week?  Link up here!  Don't forget to comment and/or follow the last two bloggers before you! :)

Overusing exclamation marks as always,

-Liz!

(haha, had to do it!)