Witches, Aubie Door, and Geometry

Wow! What a day! I can't believe it is only Monday. Apparently it must be the weather because my little munchkins were quite talkative. Last week, we began a fun little unit based on the story, Room on the Broom (created by http://lifeinfirstgrade1.blogspot.com/).We made theses super cute witches after we read the story. Before the story we made predictions of whether or not the witch was good or bad. Most of them predicted bad and found out she was a nice witch by letting all the animals ride her broom. It has a great theme and taught my students many lessons! We also labeled a witch and tomorrow will take the comprehension quiz.

This is Red Ribbon Week and you can tell by all the hyper activity against drugs! At my school, we have a door competition and they are all so cute! I transferred schools and so this is my first year of this competition. Of course, when it is a competition, I get very competitive and had my mom help me. She came up with an Aubie theme and helped me with my door. She created a light up scoreboard with a hand drawn Aubie. I had the kids write on the footballs about what they wanted to be when they grew up and how it was important to stay drug free.

We've started our Unit in Geometry and I'm so excited! Right now we're exploring 2-D shapes and learning the details of each shape, how they're formed, and how to combine them to make other shapes. Plus we're learning lots morning. My munchkins had a blast today with learning a new math station, Pattern Block Fill-Ins. It is nice to take a break from addition. They have been doing really well in that category and will continue practicing in a math station. They do look so sweet, but don't let them fool you, kidding! I wouldn't trade my class for the world! We click quite well...well lately it has been a lot of tattling...

Have a great week! War Eagle!

Gator Meat, Nova, Snapshots, Boo!, & The Fisherman

I've always thought from time to time that I lived a rather dull life, but ever since I have started this blog, I've realized my life isn't so dull and I'm very blessed to experience and spend time with amazing people. I have the most amazing parents who would do anything for me and are always there to listen to my first grade stories or just to hear me vent about people causing drama in my life. Yes, I said other people because I will avoid drama at all costs! Right now, I'm watching my AU Tigers play LSU and I'm so proud of how hard they are fighting on the field.

Last week, Auburn beat Florida and my dad got Blake and I some AUmazing seats on the 40 yard line! Thanks dad and AU swim coach! Blake and I were able to tailgate a while too! He usually doesn't get off work until right before the game starts and I'm tailgating by myself. We tailgated with the Amos Family. I have known this family for about eight years now and they are so special to me. Ms. Janet is one of my very best friends and I love spending time with her and the rest of the crew! I feel like a part of their family in so many ways and miss the days where we would make forts and perform a circus in the foyer.

 Mrs. Janet and I tailgating. 

 Blake and I before the game. 

 Check out our AUsome seats!

The AU Raptor Center came to school on Wednesday and they brought a screech owl, a vulture, a hawk, and NOVA!!! I was so excited! Of course more than the kiddos because they really didn't know much about the eagle and her importance in our AU football games.

All my teacher friends know about Daily 5 and it is my first year implementing it. It has been a struggle with my kids and the other day I told them that I would be taking "snapshots" as evidence to their parents in whether or not they were on task. I did this most of the week and the majority of the time they were on task with their station work. (Maybe this idea will work in keeping them focus! Ha!) I love Daily 5 but we are not very far in our stamina. Just the other day we went from 6 minutes to 10 minutes without any interruptions! WOW! That is BIG! We celebrated and celebrated and I praised and praised!! We'll see on Monday if we can continue on...

My roommate and I had GNO on Tuesday before I had to go back to school from Fall Break. We ate dinner at Amsterdam and then went to Sips n Strokes. We did a cute Halloween painting that is now hanging in our hallway. I sure am going to miss AR when she leaves me in December. Our paintings are called, "Boo!"

Before (lol-joke)

After

I help my dad out with supper on Wednesday nights. We have a very dear friend that has been a huge part of our church family for years and he turned 82 that night. I always yell, "Hey, good looking!" when he comes in the door and my dad loves him! He is the sweetest elderly gentleman you will ever meet and my sweet dad did something special for him. He bought him a cake that is meant for a fisherman because this old man use to fish all the time! He was full of shock when dad brought out the cake. Even though someone tried to ruin my dad's surprise, the elderly gentleman loved every minute of it! He has a lot of cake to eat this week!

My poor tigers are fighting but it doesn't look too hot! Have a great weekend! God loves you!

Ellie Gray

I knew the day would come when my very, very best friend since eighth grade would enter the world of becoming a mother. It came a lot sooner than I thought but I COULD NOT be more THRILLED for her as she enters into this new journey! I know her mother is beyond excited about this new and lasting phase that will be challenging but far more blessings. I want to devote this blog post to my best friend Lindsey, also know as Lou, who I know that even though we may not talk to each other every week or every month, I can always count on her when I do need her. I'll never forget our trips, many chats about anything and everything, and countless boutique shopping. You, your mom, and your grandmother mean the world to me! Our trips together will forever hold a place in my heart and soul. You gals mean more to me than you'll ever know. Words cannot express the love and passion you give to so many people.

I was Lou's maid of honor for her wedding and LOVED every minute of it. I was also very fortunate to help host her beautiful baby shower with her aunts and sister-in-law. I helped Lou out by taking pictures during the shower. I look forward to the day Ellie Gray comes in November. I'm hoping the 15th and then we can celebrate our birthdays together! I know Lou and Jon will be wonderful parents! Thanks Lou for being such an amazing friend. Love you girl! These are just a few pics from the shower.

 Mrs. Linda, Lindsey, Momma Joe

 The Hosts

One of the best baby showers! Oh and WAR EAGLE!!! I'm so proud of my tigers for beating Florida this evening. I love 'em win or lose. 

Pumpkin Patch Fanatic

Today first grade had their first field trip to the Farmer in the Dell Pumpkin Patch. Hands down! BEST. FIELD TRIP. EVER. I think I had more fun than my kiddos did. They were so organized and had so many fun activities. We picked our own pumpkin, story time under the tree, games, hayrides, and playing on huge hay bells. We then ate lunch under the trees next to beautiful sunflower pastures. We learned so much about the growth of a pumpkin and bees. Now I know what to talk about before we go next year! I did get picture happy and my kiddos are so stinkin' cute, even if they WORE me out this week. Enjoy! 

 Picking out Pumpkins

 Sweet kiddos!

 "I'm Farmer of the Haystacks!"

 My little chicken catcher loved the chickens!

 Whoever thought hay bales would be so much fun? 

 Class picture! :) Please don't judge the hair...getting it fixed on Monday. 

 I love 'em most days. ;) 

 Wiped out! 

So sweet! He was snoring he was so tired! :) 

I can't wait to share what fun things we've done the past couple of weeks. :) We have done so much! For now, War Eagle! :) Let's have some gator tomorrow night! Tailgating...here I come! 

Successful Student Day!

Happy Saturday! I'm so glad to have two days to semi relax and just be a little lazy. I've still got a lot of work to do to get ready for next week in first grade though. We didn't get to all our "apple" activities that correlate with our standards in school. I sure do wish I was in Souther Carolina cheering on my tigers! :)

Anyways, we had our end of the month "Successful Student" movie party with a kindergarten class. I actually got to be the movie theater classroom and host the kids who earned the privilege to go. Last time, I had those sweet kiddos that just couldn't get it together. ;) As an extra incentive, my mom made an AWESOME SAFARI cake for my sweet (but very talkative) kiddos. It was so amazing and very delicious. The kids ate every bit of their piece plus popcorn. I'm sure they're parents are loving me tonight-ha!

 When we're invigorated (vocab. word last week) all the time!

Our sweet side! :) 

We've had a very busy week learning many new things such as words with -all, contractions, telling and question sentences, adding, problem solving, oodles of calendar connections, and lots more! I was able to fit in a few apple activities. We have had the best time celebrating fall! We did a really neat activity where they got to taste three different kinds of apples and then graphed them in different ways. I got this idea from Ashley at The First Grade Brain. The kids loved it! As you can see, red apples were a hit! We also celebrated Johnny Appleseed's (social studies) birthday with a Johnny Glyph. Boy! Did they do a great job! They had to listen for this activity and I was impressed! They did a great job, but of course, I didn't take pictures. I'm trying to be better at taking pictures but my class this year is quite demanding and so leaves me running around the room constantly. We will wrap up our "Fall Apple Unit" next week. I'm so excited about our "Spiders and Such Unit" I've been working on...I hope it turns out! I've gotten so many great ideas from teaching blogs. We'll start that in two weeks! Below are just a few apple things we did...we did a lot with the graph!

 Test Tasting Apples

 Choosing Our Favorite Apple

Our Graph---I didn't think red apples would be such a hit! I had to figure out where to put them all. 

As for the personal life, not much here! Ha! I've been fighting a sinus infection but can't complain! God has given me strength both Thursday and today to meet the learning needs of my students! But I am so excited about next weekend! I am finally using my massage Blake gave me for my birthday and getting a pedicure at Spa Auburn! I know this will come in handy because I need some "me" time. I don't know about other teachers, but it seems every year, I get those sweet kiddos who need hugs every 30 minutes of the day. ;) I wouldn't trade it for the world...I just make them use hand sanitizer first. You've got to admit...I've got the cutest first grade class ever!

War Eagle!