Tree of Thanks

Oh man I am on a roll with this blogging thing this week!  I hope to have an awesome post for you tomorrow too or the next day!

Sadly in Thailand Halloween is not celebrated, so little happened at school.  Some teachers did a few small things but nothing crazy.  We are having our official party next week called Harvest Party where kids dress up as things they are thankful for.... I will let you know how it goes next week.  This is the first year they are doing this so it will be interesting.

Anyway, since we are now in November (my favorite time of year!) we are beginning to focus on things we are thankful for.  I had an idea of making a tree that will grow as the month progresses.  So we started it today!  The kids seem excited about it so hopefully it will help us stay thinking positively.

I wanted the kids to have to think about thankfulness all month so each week they have to add at least 1 leaf to our tree.  They may add more than one but have to add one a week.  Each leaf needs to contain something they are thankful for.  I also wanted them to make their own leaves rather than having the sample ready for them so that they took a little more ownership.  Here is our tree from week 1.  Hopefully I can update you as the month progresses.  And of course I took some photos of the lovely things they are thankful for!

View of our tree.  We made sure to put it on the outside of our door so everyone could share in our thanksgiving!

Love the reason why she is thankful.

Awwwww! Aren't they cute :)

Of course we have to be thankful for food!

And finally a little something to make you smile.  We got a new puppy.  His name is Chico.  He does not really have a blue eyes.  He is a shih-tzu/poodle mix and just got cleaned at the groomers.  

Hope you all enjoyed your Halloween.  Can you believe it is November already!?!

Read Aloud - The Dot

One of my all time favorite books to read aloud and inspire children with is The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.  Here is a link to Amazon to get further details or buy a copy of your own.  It is a truly wonderful book and reminds students that they can do anything they put their mind to!

I had been wanting to read this book since school started but had not found the perfect time.  Usually we have a guest speaker come in every Wednesday, but last week our speaker did not show. I knew it was the PerfecT time to do so.  Our class is finally used to each other and knows each others strengths and weaknesses.  It was time for my inspiration!!

So, we read the book and for the most part the kids loved it.  Some of them thought it was silly because it was so short.  Others loved it and wanted an art show of their own!

I decided to have them do a craft to go with and it was blown away.  I pre-made circle shapes for each student. But I told them they could fill the circle however they wanted.  Some chose to fill it with color, and others made little shapes and do-dads.  It was beautiful. Here are some samples.

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I went ahead and laminated them (because everything dies so quickly with the humidity!) and have them placed around the room. They have added the perfect touch of pizzazz and color to our room.  The kids love pointing theirs our and showing visitors what we did!  LOVE IT!

Have you ever read this book? Do you do anything fun with it?

Classroom Photos

Today was long. But it ended on such a good note.  The new teachers all went out to dinner to relax and not talk about school!! It was wonderful and very much needed for a girl like me.

I know that I should have posted these pictures earlier but I never got around to it!  Also, I am not incredibly happy with my room design and layout still but for now it is what I have to work with.  So without further ado.....


Welcome to 4 B!

Super Summer Writing Activity from Coffee, Kids, and Compulsive Lists

freshly painted wall that will become our math stations

cubbies for back packs

classroom jobs above the white board

crazy desk area....

I did just get my Elmo today at the very end of the day.... BUT I can't wait to use it.  It does require me to rearrange my desk space so hopefully that area will be much more neat in a little while!

I am linking up with Swimming into Second

Monday Made It...Finally

I have wanted to link up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics to do a Monday Made It for a long time but since I am moving haven't thought I could participate.  Then, I realized that I could do something digital that was practical for my classroom and traveling and what not.  

So here it goes. I have had this pinned on Pinterest for a super long time.  It is from Laura Candler's management strategies. 

I wanted to do something similar but want to be able to flip it so that only what we are doing is visible.  This is was what I made.  (I wanted them to be side by side but you get the idea!) I will bind them with 2 rings or something like that.  I know this isn't anything crazy but still something I hope to use in my classroom!

 

I also made this for my bulletin board near the entrance of the room (every school has one of those right!?!)  Anyway, I made these puzzle pieces with a di-cut machine in lots of fun colors.  I laminated them and cut them out again!! 

I couldnt take a picture of all of them but the idea is that they will all be up together in the shape of a puzzle.  I will write each student's name on a piece.  The final piece, the one that is not yet in place (top left corner) will have my name on it and put the whole puzzle together.  

I then made this sign to go with it. I will print it out and laminate it once I get settled!  

The idea for this bulletin board is for the students to know that they have a place in this classroom.  Each of them together make the class whole.  I hope to have an engaging discussion with them about what this means and how we will work together.  

I am very excited about all of these things, especially linking up with Tara!  

Summer Shopping Linky Party

I am hopefully linking up with Ladybug Teacher Files and her Summer Shopping Linky Party. As you hopefully know I am moving to Thailand to teach.  I am super duper excited!!! I can not wait to get there and jump in to this adventure.  SOOOOO I do not know a THING about my classroom.  Yes, that is my loud voice but not my excited voice though! Anyway, since I do not know anything about my classroom I have been trying to create and find things that are basics to any classroom.  I have been thinking about things that I could not function without!!! Is that a little dramatic?? Such things like:


I had to have a bell. Since I dont have the loudest voice, I rely on this to get students attention!

I also had to get these stickers. What shopping trip does not include stickers!

Also, I have been told of a few things that I can not get in Thailand such as calendars and bulletin board borders.  Since I am a new teacher and have nothing of my own yet. I figured I would stock up on the bulletin board things. Remember however that I was not given a shipping allowance so all of these things will have to fit in my suitcase.  So for me this is a lot of things.  I love all of these things.  Can you notice my theme???

I am trying to stay in a blue and green color scheme with bright accents... basically lots of color! and.... POLKA DOTS!!!! Yes, this is my loud and Happy face!! Can you see a difference? No? Oh.  I guess I will have to work on that.  But I am so so so happy with these purchase.  I bought all of my items from MPM School Supplies.  For now this will be all of my purchases.  However, once I get to Thailand and see my classroom I am certain I will have much more to share with you.  24 days until arrival in Chiang Mai.