It's beginning to look like October!

Happy October!!  In Michigan, this week brought us from early September to mid-November!  The drop in temperature and bitter cold wind of the past few days has been a drastic change from mid-70's and sunshine!  It definitely feels like Fall has arrived....and just in time to turn the calendar to October!  It's beginning to look and feel like October in the classroom too!!

I make these spiders with my students every year.  I've gotten smart over the years and now always make sure to have a parent or two come in to help out.  These cute little guys require lots and lots of cutting, which is a challenge for some new-to-Kindergarten hands.  It's helpful to have another adult there to help.  My crew this year did a great job!  They turned out as darling as ever and they just make me happy! 

On Friday, we did a fun apple taste test.  Students tasted a slice of red, yellow, and green apple and then added their favorite to our apple poster....

 Later in the day, we analyzed our data and organized it into this graph so that I could tie in some of the concepts we've been practicing in math - graphing, comparing, more/less, greater/fewer.  Learning is especially fun when it's so delicious!!

 Each Friday, we do a directed drawing activity as a class.  Last week, we drew a pumpkin.  This week, my students got to paint their pumpkin drawings!  They turned out so beautiful!  I can't wait to pull out the watercolors again.  My students LOVED this calm, creative activity!

Caramel apples as a birthday treat from one of my sweet former students???  Yes, fall is here!!

Happy weekend!!

Five for Friday {October 4}

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

I had a great week with my students.  I feel like we have finally fallen into a great routine, and we're all really figuring each other out.  It's good!  I have a fun crew this year, and I'm really enjoying my days with them!

Anyway...recap of my week!

1. The end of September meant that we switched out our calendar notebooks.  On the last day of each month, we get to analyze our weather graph for that month.  We were blessed with such a gorgeous, sunny September!!

This page is from Kim Adsit and Shari Sloane's Calendar Notebook...love this product!!

2.  I feel like my kids have just EXPLODED in their writing over the past week!  It is so much fun to watch and reminds me over and over again how much I LOVE my job!

 This awesome gold paper is full of writing topic ideas.  My students keep it in their writing folders for inspiration when they start a new story.  I wish I could give you it's source, but I actually got it from my son's first grade teacher. :)

 

I was speechless today when I walked past the little guy who started the year with this...

 ...and saw him working on this!  Details and beginning sound labels.  YAY!!!

 And this sweetie had never attempted words for his story until today.  I watched his little mouth stretch out the words as he wrote each sound.  Love to see these kiddos gaining confidence and trying new things!!

3. We celebrated our first birthday of the year in class on Thursday.  My youngest student finally turned five!  

I am using my bestie's birthday idea, and letting my students choose a book on their birthday.  

PS...my bestie is an awesome Kindergarten teacher, which is seriously just SO much fun!  Now, if only she didn't live half a country away from me! :( 

  The birthday boy chose a great non-fiction book, and I added a special message inside. 

 Thanks for this fun idea, Abbs!!

4. I have a precious girl who brings me pictures and notes almost every single day.  This one instantly brought a huge smile to my face.

"I love you Mrs. Sloothaak.  I know you love me."

Melt my heart.

This adorable love note was the first to get put into my "Notes to Mrs. Sloothaak" binder (because I just finally got it cleared out from last year's love notes...although I clearly haven't updated the cover yet...)

 I can't remember where I got this idea, but it didn't originate with me.  I love it, though.  It's the perfect solution for having a place to put all those precious notes and drawings from students.  And, actually, it is one of the most loved books in our reading corner.  It gets looked at constantly.

5. Eeeeeee!!!  I LOVE these sweet, adorable spiders that we make in October.  The first time I did them with my class, it was closer to the end of the month, and I quickly realized that I had to make them RIGHT AWAY in October so that I could have them displayed all month.  They are the cutest!!!  

  I got them from Doodlebugs HERE.  Seriously, click over there now, print them out, and put them in your plans for next week.  They make me so happy!

Happy, happy weekend!!