Extreme Makeover....PUMPKIN EDITION!!!!!

Oh boy...today was a CRAZY...CRAZY...CAH-RAZY day as we transformed our pumpkins into famous book characters. This means that my fingers will now be stuck together for the next...oh...say...week, I have a manicure of green, blue, pink, etc. etc. etc., and I feel like I have been giving blood all day due to straight pin pricks! Not to mention a blister here and there from hot glue! I call that...TRUE LOVE! {For my kids of course!}  

 No, really ALL of the credit goes to my amazing room moms, one room grandma and the most fabulous woman I know...my mom!

God bless this woman! She truly has a servants heart and LOVES these kids! 

My kids could hardly wait to get into the classroom today and I am pretty sure that they worked harder than ever before! If they would keep up the speedy pace, I may just decorate pumpkins everyday! Ok, ok...I am not THAT crazy! We had a blast and the kiddos can't wait to present their book reports next week!

So...Here is the moment we have been waiting for...

Introducing our 2011 Pumpkin Parade! 

She's my fave!

 We are still adding a few minor touch ups here and there tomorrow! My sweet kids just couldn't get enough of these pumpkins and will be talking about them for weeks! If you would like more information about the pumpkin book reports, you can check out my unit on TPT!

Is it bed time yet??? This is ONE tired teacher! Whewww!

You Are Now Entering...THE Dead Word Zone

If you can't tell already...I am totally in love with this time of year! I tend to go ALL OUT {a.k.a. get a little crazy}! I always dedicate the entire month of October to descriptive writing in the classroom.  What better time to use descriptive language than in spooky stories, describing how to carve a pumpkin and feeling all of those ooey...gooey...guts on the inside, making SLIMY Oobleck...ok, ok you get the picture. This year, I am beginning our descriptive writing unit with a dead word funeral. We are saying goodbye to those boring dead words once and for all and we are welcoming the use of synonyms that make our writing POWERFUL!

Well...this is the week....our dead word funeral. On Tuesday, the students will be wearing all black and will each be assigned a dead word to wear around their neck. To really get the kids excited about the thought of such powerful words...I have given the classroom yet another makeover. Brace Yourself for...

The Dead Word Zone

 Each day, we will attack a new dead word. We will lay that word to rest, and think of other words that have the same meaning but are not so...well...overused straight up BORING! :)  As we think of synonyms for each word, we will add our new words to the Dead Word Zone in bright yellow paper. These new words will bring our writing to life {hence the bright yellow paper} instead of making it dull and boring like the gray words!

 For example: We will begin with the word like. As we think of synonyms for this word, we will write them down on yellow paper and post them all around the word like. As the students write, they can refer to the wall and replace dead words with POWERFUL words!

 I will be placing resources for this activity in my Trick or Treat...Writing is Sweet Unit. I am hoping to have this up and ready for you by Tuesday at the latest!!!

Don't forget to check out the two additional units that also incorporate all things Halloween at my TPT Store!

How do you help your kids understand the importance of using powerful vocabulary in their writing? I can't wait to hear your ideas!!!!

Happy Sunday Friends!!!

Trick or Treat Book Reports

Are you ready to celebrate fall...pumpkin style??? I have finally compiled all of my resources for the oh so popular pumpkin book reports. Basically...

You Take This...

{Hey...who said trick or treat bags are just for candy???}

Fill it up with some good story element treats...

Complete an extreme makeover...pumpkin edition....

And you have yourself the not so typical book report. {Just in case you haven't figure it out...I am so not into being typical} :)

Here are a few more examples

I have created a Trick or Treat Book Report resource just for you packed with 77 pages of information, resources and examples. This unit includes two levels. One for all of you kindergarten and first grade peeps and one for us "oldies but goldies" rockin' it out in second - sixth. Here is a look at what this sweet little treat includes.

I promise...once you do this little project...it will be a holiday tradition forever! I announced to my class on Friday that it is time for pumpkin books reports {remember...I have my same class again this year} they hit the roof! They all jumped out of their chairs and began SCAH-REAM-ING! I honestly had to go and apologize to those next door! If you would like to incorporate this into your fall activities, stop by my lil' TPT store and pick up a copy!

Now...back to some football! Even though it is not my favorite...I must support the tigers {for my husband's sake} :) !!!

Spooktacular Math Centers

Get ready…get set…for the easiest math centers you have ever laid your eyes on! Plus...the Halloween theme just adds that little fun factor! I am excited about these centers for three reasons:

1. There is little preparation invovled!

2. The students can complete the activities as many times as they want/need because each time they will be creating and manipulating new numbers!

3. These centers can last the entire month of October!

{What on earth will I do with all of my free time?!?}

As a teacher, I try very hard to create meaningful centers that require my students to apply new skills all while participating in fun and engaging activities. Independent centers are a great way to see a student’s application of skills.  Centers are GREAT! The preparation, however sends me right into fright! I love the thought of engaging math centers, but I do not love the thought of all of the preparation {even though they are so stinkin' adorable when you finish!!!} I had to find a way to have the best of both worlds. {the cuteness and the academics} Here is what I came up with...Spooktacular Halloween Math Centers! This unit includes 8 math centers that will have your students practicing basic skills such as addition, subtraction, place value and much more! The best part…the only preparation needed - cut out your students’ number cards {which could technically be cut by the students - depending on how type A you are} ;). I like to create the cards ahead of time, laminate them, and keep them from year to year! Seriously...that is all there is to it! The students use their cards for every center in this unit. In addition to all of that craziness, they can complete each activity as many times at the want/need because each time they will be creating new numbers! How much better can life get at the moment??? Ha! Sorry...I just love when I save myself time! Just in case all of my blabbering confused you...here is the prep. work one more time for all of you visual people! {Don't worry...I am one of you too!}

Here is a little glimpse of the eight centers included:

And the playing cards (large for teacher, small for students)

Annndd...a quick peek at a few of the response sheets.

Directions for each activity are located on the response sheets. During each activity, the students will be using their number cards to create and manipulate numbers. This means that the level of difficulty all depends on the student. They can create one, two, three or four digit numbers. Students can work in partners or independently to complete their centers. You can have 1-2 centers per week or introduce them all and allow students to choose which center they complete each day.These centers can easily last an entire month and are a great little change for the “spooky” month of October! I have added this little unit to my TPT store! You can stop by and pick it up as you wish!

Happy Fall Y'all! I am just lovin' this time of year!