The Kissing Hand

The first day of school is emotional for nervous kindergarteners entering a new classroom and for teachers too! 

I like to read The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn on the very first day.  My co teacher, Mrs. Konarek came up with a wonderful idea last year for making sugar cookies with a Hershey Kiss to symbolize the kiss Momma Raccoon gives Chester Raccoon in the story. Chester is scared to go to school, but Momma Raccoon kisses his hand and tells Chester to be brave.  The kiss will last all day at school.  Chester enjoyed his day and comes home very happy to see his Momma.  

The kids last year LOVED the baked cookies. So like most teachers do, I borrowed her idea and made raccoon hands with a Hershey's Kiss for my students this year.  My only regret is for next year I need a dairy and wheat free recipe, because I forgot to take into account allergies.  However, I did have gelatin cups on hand, but the students with allergies explained they would rather enjoy the snack their parents sent to school.   Everybody was happy and it was successful. Oh and the students were very polite.. they all said "Thank you Ms. Adams".

Kissing Hand Cookies

Later, each student made a blue handprint and glued a special poem onto construction paper. I drew a red heart inside the handprint to symbolize the kiss. We sent our poems home as a gift for parents a couple of days later.  I hope the parents enjoyed the special keepsake! (The picture below is similar to the keepsake we completed.)

 

First Couple Days of School

The first day of school and today went fantastic!  I'm excited to have such a talented group of Kindergarteners.  Each family has done a wonderful job of instilling great values into my students. 

 I'm working putting the binders together and organized. Hopefully by Monday... they will be done!

The following are the highlights from the 1st and 2nd days! :)


1. Each child has a number for cubbies and line up order.
2. We played in the kitchen, library, computer, Playdoh, blocks centers.
3. We had snack two times.
4. We've talked about everybody having a classroom job. I've already explained jobs, so some kids have a job while others are eagerly waiting to have a classroom job. So far, we have a Pencil Chief, Sanitary Inspector, Attendance Helper, Teacher Assistant, and a Chair Monitor. (Each child will have a job hopefully before FRIDAY!)
5. We've read the following books The Kissing Hand, Chrysanthemum, The Giving Tree, and First Day Jitters.
6. I introduced Pencil Pal. We wrote our name for our Time Capsule... :)  (They all did wonderfully!)
7. We went to PE and today we watched a Magic School Bus Movie today because it was rainy.
8. We talked about our Behavior Tree and color changes. (See handouts from Open House or check website.)
9. We talked about the Rules and we are trying to follow each rule. :)
10.We talked about bathroom procedures. The importance of keeping the bathroom tidy and remembering to wash our hands.
11. We made new friends.
12. We've sang songs.  Our favorites are the Macarena Math, The Monkeys and the Alligator and the Banana Song. :)
13. We all enjoyed a trip to the treasure box!

 It's going to be FUN year!  Pictures to come!

Soooo it's the night before school starts.....


I'm as jittery, excited and nervous as my new Kindergarteners.  For my last day of summer, I woke up super early, made cookies for tomorrow for our snack after we read the Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, attended the Hot Sauce Festival in Austin and went for an evening swim at my apartment... I'm still not tired enough to sleep.  So I'm posting some pictures from my set up from Meet the Teacher Night and the cookies I made for my adorable Kindergarteners.  Enjoy!

Meet the Teacher Set Up:



Station #1
Supply Choo Choo Train
Parents and Students separate supplies

Station #2
Scrapbook Page
Each student's family creates a scrapbook page for our Classroom book.

Station #3

Great Reading Material :)

Lots of Reading Material for Parents.  Notice the sign below.

 Station #4

The Giving Tree

My classroom wish list displayed on a tree. Parents pick an item to donate. Idea from Pinterest.

 

Welcome to Kindergarten

I placed my info on the board for parents with questions.

I placed my e-mail address on post its, so they could quickly have my e-mail address.

I forgot to take a photo of my student gift table, BUT

in the lower right hand corner you can view my gift sacks,

complete with ribbon and a red apple tag. :)

 

Job Chart

"Basketful of Helpers"

Vista Academy requires each student to have a classroom job.

The apples say the classroom jobs such as line leader, caboose etc.

The clothespins are numbered (I give each student a number.)

I plan to move the clothespins as I switch jobs between my students.

My own original display idea.

 

 





Kissing Hand Cookies

I'm so proud of these!!! I cut each one without a cookie cutter. :)

Idea from my coworker, haven't a clue where she got it from.. probably Pinterest.

 

Wish me luck on my first day... and wish my students a wonderful year! 

 

Parent Packet

So the applicious kindergarten classroom is coming together. I've went up to school several times, since the last post. My room is such a mess though!!! So noooooo pictures yet.  I have completed most the handouts for the parent packet for Meet the Teacher next Thursday.... I'm going to head up to school again this morning and hopefully be back home in time to swim!!

*Again pictures to come very soon!!!

First Full Day of Classroom Prep

August 1, 2013

Today was my first full day of putting up classroom décor and organizing materials! I was on campus from mid morning to late afternoon. Calendar, Alphabet, and Word Wall are on the wall! I was thrilled to see a few of my coworkers today.  I received a new to me "wheel-y cart". My new 9-cube shelf (a great Goodwill buy) is in the class! Not sure what I'm going to place inside the cubes, but I'm happy to have it on campus. Lots completed but still lots to do! 

*Pictures to come soon! :p