Bats & Spiders & Labels, OH MY!

Well, we've been nothing but busy this past week!  A lot to do before we head out for our fall break, which starts on the 26th promptly at 3:00 pm : )

I started reading assessments so I don't have as many photos to share.  But I was able to capture some very engaged learners.

This is the Counting Spiders activity from my Hands-on Halloween Fun on TpT.

This is the What Comes Next activity.  I gave them the choice of using one or both dice for this activity.  This gave me a good idea of how comfortable the kids felt counting beyond 10, and if they were using manipulatives to help count.

When they finished the activity, they got creative and sorted, patterned, and made haunted houses with the erasers. This team of three worked very well together!

Patterning

The Batty At Family

These bats are now hanging throughout the classroom.  I love when the kids walk under them and begin to rhyme words with bat!

Kids just love writing the room!  Especially when I throw in a highlighter for them to highlight all of the vowels in the words they found.

Writing Center

I used Deedee Wills' Writing Workstations for October for this labeling activity.  OH.MY.GOODNESS. did they have fun!!!

At Word Family Roll

 Sight Word Spiders

 More Labeling - they did such an incredible job!

 (look closely at the guy that's buried under the tombstone-love seeing a child's perspective) 

Here's an update on Mr. Pumpkin - which we've now nicknamed "Smellykin"!  It's such a great learning tool and the kids come in every morning and check on him.  They love that the seeds have popped and are hanging on to the little leaves that have sprouted.  And, they have been making bets to see which sprout will grow a pumpkin first.  Fantastic authentic learning going on, so I'm keeping him in our room as long as I can! 

(I just open windows and spray fabreze to help ease the painful smell)

Here's Mr. Smellykin on Monday

Here he is on Friday

 We have a lot to get in before fall break starts!  Here's to a great week!!!

Halloween Fun & Pumpkin Update

Hey Friends!

I'm two weeks away from fall break and have to get through assessments before we head out.  So I created this quick Hands-on Activities for Halloween Fun to put in centers.

Click on the picture to take you to my TpT store. 

Pumpkin in a Pumpkin Update

My Kiddos were super excited when they arrived today to find that our pumpkins are really sprouting now!  There is a lot of mold and it looks as though there have been some little fingers poking the side of the momma pumpkin causing it to get mushy on one side.  I don't want to just toss it out, so I'm going to bring in a large planter and put it halfway into some soil and see what becomes of it.

I'll keep you posted. 

Hope you are all off to a fantastic week!

Falling in Love with My Littles

According to social media (and verified by the fluctuation in moods both in my classroom and my household) it has been a very strange and long week.  Anyone else feel that way?  The days brought  laughter, tears, cranky pants, sleepiness, and every other mood under the fall sky.

Nevertheless, a lot of great learning and fun is happening in room 5!  It’s amazing the transformation that takes place in these little bodies and minds in just a short 37 days of school.  All 22 of my Littles are full of energy, personality, and ‘lil bit of spit and vinegar.  They make me laugh out loud everyday and I just adore their sweet innocence!

~Photo Montage~

{Not even gonna lie.  No energy to organize the pics}

Enjoy...

Aren't they just the sweetest?!?!

And, just because...I had to throw these this in.  My momma {aka Mima} makes a mean green chili.  She bought 6 bushels of peppers to get us through this year and made this with fresh roasted Mira Sol chili. 

MMMMMMMMMM.  MMMMM.  QUE BUENO!!!

Wheel Day!

Our principal {aka the Biggest Kid in the School} declared Tuesdays in October as Wheel Day.  The kids are allowed to bring bikes, scooters, and roller blades to school.  I.LOVE.IT!

Some craftivities and fine motor works of art.

Five Little Pumpkins

 Pumpkin Parts Brace Map

 Our Growing a Pumpkin in a Pumpkin science experiment is working!  Just look at the little sprout they discovered on Friday!  {anyone know how to keep the mold from growing on the sides?}