We're Off and Hatchin'

So this arrived over spring break...

I can't lie...I'm no farmer!  Luckily though, I have moved home & I know people...as in people who are related to me, as in an EXPERT birdman, who loves me so much he'd never tell me (or 26 5-6 yr. olds) "No!!"

So what's a girl to do?  Call her UNCLE!!  I am so indebted to my Uncle Perry - he's such a great man!  He walked me through all things bird after school on Friday, April 15th.  I felt confident walking out of his house at 11pm, "Yup.  I can do this thing!"

AND I DID!

I have that incubator at 100 degrees, humidity between 65-70% & we're on Day 2!

The kiddos were STOKED!

Here's some proof:

Along with the 12 chicken eggs I received from my Donors Choose grant, I also got 5 more from my uncle (he has bird friends!).  So I am pretty sure we'll have a successful hatching in Room #204 in about 20 days.

And, I think I'm MORE excited than the 5-6 yr. olds!  I don't sleep at night, worrying about if my "bird babies are too warm, or too cold...if they're moist or dry."  I come in at 8:20am & the first thing I do is check the temp. & humidity %.  Is that cray-cray?

PROBS - but oh well!

My afore mentioned Uncle Perry aka "The Birdman" is scheduled to be a guest speaker too, in May!  He's taking time off work to come in, teach my kiddos about homing/racing pigeons, and do some fun activities with them.  I will post again about his presentation, but I am LOOKING FORWARD TO IT IMMENSELY!

Hope you are having as wonderful a spring as we are,

Miss Kristan King

Perfect Timing!

So my 2nd Donors Choose grant was fully funded on Sunday, 2/9.  I'm excited about the timing of this & here's why:

1. I enrolled in a district-wide book study (on 2 texts Igniting a Passion for Reading & The Book Whisperer) in an attempt to amp-up literacy instruction in my room.  Honestly, it's been awhile since a study was offered & I found appealing!  I have been so pleased with these books & our study in general.  Part of our "final project" is to present on a strategy (which I chose from the book).  I chose The Golden Bookshelf.  Basically, I recommend a book to my kiddos & place it in at a location where it will be noticed - the kids LOVE coming in on Monday & seeing what book they have to look forward to for the upcoming week.
2. I modeled goal setting with my students.  I told them I would put up a picture book on The Golden Shelf each week, and we'd be sure to read it.  Man, do they NAG me to read the books!  So far I've featured: Over & Under in the Snow, Move Over Rover!, Sneezy the Snowman, Poles Apart, Snow Globe Family, & The Biggest, Best Snowman.  Since we set goals in Jan. I modeled/shared my goal with the kiddos - it was a great opportunity for them to see how adults set goals & aim for success too.  They are very helpful at reminding me when I've NOT met my goal :0).
3. Now, I have this going on in my room:

NOT THAT I'M COMPLAINING!  By simply modifying my morning work routine - the students have gained independent reading skills.  They come in on Tues., Wed., & Fri. (Mon. we have Lexia computer time first thing & Th. we do DCIR) & begin practicing writing numbers to 20 & their first/last name in standard form.  Once that is complete (attendance, lunch count, money collected, etc.), almost all of the kiddos are reading/re-reading various books from our past themes - books "fought" for are on The Golden Bookshelf, I KNOW IT'S WORKING!

As you may recall, my 2nd Donors Choose grant was funded - perfect timing, now that I have a class of independent readers.  My grant was for non-fiction texts on insects, ocean animals, & African Americans.  I requested a few Scholastic Storybook Treasures too - ever heard of them?  Well, if you live in CO & have a winter/spring full of indoor recesses, you may appreciate a DVD (or 20) of famous stories that the kiddos can enjoy for 20-30 min.  (Of course I recommend Adventures to Fitness & GoNoodle too, but sometimes our monitors aren't so tech-savvy!)

So excited for my little Kinders to continue to get their read on.  What are you doing to motivate reading in your classroom?  These strategies have been really successful for me this year,

Miss Kristan King

First Grant FULLY FUNDED

So over Christmas Break my Donors Choose Grant got fully funded.  My supplies arrived last week & while in the midst of prepping tubs/toys for tubs...

I got a brilliant beyond BRILLIANT idea - I'll prep the tubs, but the students can do the sorting, making it a first sound, letter id., movement, & sorting activity all in one!

So that's what we're doing in these photos - I labeled the 26 tubs & gave one to each student (I have 25 Kinders) & then modeled my expectations aloud, using the 26th tub.  The students got a random sampling of the toys/tub items & then had to wander - to either find their items (listed inside on a sticker) or find the correct tub AKA "home" for all the toys/items on their table:

Here are a few more, from our small groups - playing the Alphabet Mystery Box game:

After BOTH activities, I pulled the kiddos into small groups to write thank you notes.  So, using the photos above & our writing time to make some thank you notes, I've met the requirements for my 1st fully funded grant.

I swear, it's been such a great organization to work with!  It's been quite simple to connect to donors & even teach the children about how to thank those who are so generous to provide items that will help them meet CCSS!

Thank you, THANK you, THANK YOU to Donors Choose & all those who contributed to our grant - to get it funded & provide some fun sound/letter id. activities to my Kinders (this year & for years to come)!

Miss Kristan King

P.S. So simple I've started Project #2 & have it 1/2 way funded!  I think parents/donors like giving & seeing their money go towards activities/projects that students LOVE & benefit from.