Fingers crossed for 6 more weeks of winter...

Hey ya'll. We've been busy discussing groundhogs and hibernation. What fun we've had! Here is a glimpse of some excitement going on in my room. After reading a few non fiction texts and learning about Groundhog day, students made predictions based on Phil seeing his shadow. My kinders made these cute little groundhogs out of brown ellison di cut hearts and placed them under the sun or cloud. The headings for this graph can be found in my FREE mini unit {here}.

One a side note, my unit has been updated because I found a mistake! Make sure to download the unit again if you plan on making this anchor chart! Or just grab that one page {here}. Sorry about that folks. 

Students reported the graph's findings on this printable {here}. Due to the fact that most of my students thought Phil would see his shadow and we'd have 6 more weeks of winter, there weren't enough spaces on our graph. Oops! I think most of  my kinders followed the lead of others when making their prediction (ha, ha)...but they got the point and loved, loved, loved doing this! :)

Students have also been learning all about the gr- blend. We brainstormed gr- words on a BIG circle map (I forgot to snag a pic, eek!) and students had to write 6 words from the chart and highlight the gr sound. Afterwards, we made a sweet little headband. This, too, is included with the graph printable in my friends' FREE mini unit. I just love the resources that are out there! 

I wonder what Phil will say on Thursday? Fingers crossed that he sees his shadow and we're in for 6 more weeks of winter. Sadly, we've not had much of one so I'm anxious for a few snow days! It's been in the 60s here (which is nice...don't get me wrong) but it's January and I live in mountains. It just doesn't feel right. My teacher friend has a sign hanging on her door that says, "Please snow...I'm a teacher!" Can I get an Amen?! ha ha 

Nursing home escapees and a freebie!

Boy is this Granny exhausted! We've had a blast celebrating the 100th day of school and I just had to share what my kinders enjoyed. First off...Ohmiword - can I show you this photo!? Adorable! I had a whole slew of elderly that left the nursing home today to share in 100th day festivities (wink, wink)! Loving the baby powder touch (for added gray) and the curlers - such detail. 

We started off the morning right...by making 100th day crowns (purchased in Target's $1 section), putting together cereal necklaces with 100 Fruit Loops, AND making 100 tally marks. At this point, Granny was pooped...but we were just getting started. Onward with more excitement.

Next, I divided students up into 2 groups and they glued 100 toppings onto a large pizza and 100 gumballs onto a large gumball machine. I found this idea on Julie Lee's blog and pinned it just for today. My students LOVED this activity and enjoyed seeing what 100 looked like. Here is a photo of us in action. A big thanks to my student teacher for manning the gumball group!

Here are our finished products! So fun :)

This afternoon, we made a 100th day Trail Mix. Hello extra pounds...I ate and ate and ate. Good quality control I guess....I had to sample and make sure all food was safe! ;-) Students used the same place mat from their Fruit Loop necklace and sorted 10 foods with 10 items each. Download your own 100th day placemat and "bag tags" {here}.

We also made ourselves at 100 years old. This idea was inspired by DeAnna Jump the great! Crack me up!

I'm off to remove the wig and orthopedics! I've got some more stuff to share, but I'll save it for tomorrow. Time to retire.......to bed that is. Night folks! 

My Fabulous Finds

Hey friends....I'm hanging out over at My Fabulous Finds today! Stop by for a visit and check out my "sweet" find from the Dollar Tree! While you're there, snag a few freebies and you'll have an instant math workstation for February.  Whoop, whoop - that is what I'm talking about!

Groundhog Goodies!

Visit my TpT store {here}

Grab First Grade Blue Skies Mini Unit {here}

A peek at my week and a thank you, Lord!

Have mercy...this week has been insane to say the least. Coming back to school from a 4 day weekend (not complaining there), getting a student teacher, playing catch up, ballgames with my cheerleaders, and an unannounced observation has just about sent me over! ha If you are not familiar with Tennessee's horrible grand new evaluation process, read about it {here}. Nonetheless, we've had fun learning about MLK, Jr and wrapping up my arctic animal unit. If you were unable to download my FREE mini unit, visit my {TpT store}. I just love the way my kiddos' TLC art turned out. A few look more like Barack Obama and Don King than they do, MLK....but that's ok! ha ha They did great.

I just have to share this story with ya'll...So, RIGHT in the middle of my unannounced observation yesterday....a kinder raises her hand. My students were sharing facts on MLK, Jr. that they had learned from reading a non fiction book. All were SPOT ON and doing great...so I call on student (No big deal - right?), Me: "Yes (child's name)." She said...."Miss Eberhart, (pause) my Dad thinks you're hot!" OMG - what?! This is a bad dream. I quickly glance up at my asst. principal and his hands are over his face and his body is shaking/roaring with laughter. I could have died! Actually, I may have blacked out for a minute...I don't remember much after that. ha Yup, out of the mouth of babes. Stay tuned for how it turns out....Sheeze!

So in the midst of all that hilarious-ness...we were doing this activity:

Seeing that (above) totally makes me wish I had a smart board. Next Donors Choose project? ha While doing the anchor chart...my kinders were filling out a corresponding response sheet. All of these activities can be found in my free mini unit.

And we wrapped up with a little poetry. I just love their sweet illustrations. 

On a different note, I'm gearing up for the 100th day of school. Yippee - one of my most.favorite.days.of.the.school.year! Miss Eberhart's 100 year old Granny is coming back for a visit. WINK! I'm seriously worried that my students will be upset when I show up and not a real 100 year old Granny. Any ideas how to handle that disappointment?

Check back in a few days for some 100th day freebies. Happy hump day blog world. It's almost Friday! Thank you, Lord!

Game day!

Hey friends! It's game day....and by that, I don't mean football......I mean, Miss America. I'll be glued to the TV tonight rooting on Miss Tennessee, Erin Hatley! Some of you may know, I was involved in the Miss America Organization and competed for the title of Miss Tennessee back in 2008. I competed in a local preliminary and won the title of Miss Historic Jonesborough and was anxious to head to state. For those of you that are not familiar with Jonesborough, it's the oldest town in the state and is full of history and beauty! Granted, I'm partial....but it's a MUST visit and houses the site for the NATIONAL Story Telling Festival. Be sure to add it to your bucket list and call me when you're in town. ;-) You won't regret it! 

Although, I'm a has been....my heart is still there and I stay actively involved by judging and emceeing various events. By competing in pageants, I was awarded scholarship money that went towards my undergrad degree and had a number of opportunities I wouldn't have otherwise been awarded. I logged over 500 hours promoting my platform on literacy awareness and received recognition from our Governor and President for my works. Unfortunately, I feel that so many have a bad taste in their mouth for pageantry due to the new show, "Toddlers & Tiaras." But, it paints such a false picture! Anyways, I just wanted to share with you all a little something that helped make me who I am today and encourage you to watch the big show tonight! 

I'll leave you with this video of Erin. Wishing her and all the contestants MUCH luck tonight. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to walk and suck in your stomach at the same time during swimsuit? (I would have posted a pic, but didn't feel it was kindergarten blog appropriate ha!) Oh to have that body again...it's a wonder I lived to tell the tale! #GoTeamTennessee

Penguins and a Poem

What an awesome week we've had learning about penguins and arctic animals! I purchased DeAnna Jump's unit off TpT and my kinders have had a blast with it. Here are a few pics from our fun filled week...

We did an experiment to test how penguins stay warm in the water. After learning that penguins have oil on their feathers to repel water and a thick layer of fat (called blubber) to keep warm, we tested the theory. Students covered one hand in petroleum jelly and stuck another in a "blubber glove." Check out this student's writing and her attention to detail. I just love the red fingernails! hee hee

We read numerous non-fiction books and responded to several writing prompts. The pages were bound in an "All About Penguin" book!

The penguin glyphs turned out great. The patterns I used (for most of the parts) were a little different than the ones DeAnna had in her unit. We tallied our results and students charted the answers on a tally table. 

And of course, we had to read a few fictional texts! Unfortunately, my iPhoto went crazy and deleted my favorite picture of all after I had already cleared it from my camera. And to top it off, it deleted it mid way through my editing so the image is half way cropped and looks weird. So...there is no retrieval from the trash bin on that one unless someone knows a trick to undo an editing job after accidentally saving? Poop. Friday the 13th luck? Maybe I'll take a photo of it next week and just post it with no words at all. I just feel like you all have to see it. It's my precious little penguin chart that I copied from everyone else.....but still.  It's cute and I named him Henry. So...yea. On a happier note, Jack Frost stopped by today and brought snow so I enjoyed a snow day (and will have a 4 day wknd because of MLK day). Don't hate me! :) I'm leaving you with a little penguin poem because I love ya'll.

Click on the image to download. Have a happy weekend!

Currently January

I've linked up with Farley over at Oh Boy 4th Grade again. Fingers crossed I win her awesome giveaway! I just love her "Currently" posts. Hop on over and join the fun!

MLK, Jr. Mini Unit freebie!

Check out MelonHeadz Illustrating {here}

Download your MLK, Jr. Mini Unit {here}

A Tender TN Christmas & a Freebie!

Grab your "Snow Day Homework" sheet: here