Aha Moments

This morning for skills block I introduced the "Sneaky e" to my little ones. We practiced reading CVC words (not) and then added and e to them (note) to make a new word. They used their sneaky e police car pointers to catch the sneaky e at the end of words with a partner.

While I was walking around and working with different partners, one of my students (with a lot of excitement) said that he had something very important to tell the class. We stopped what we were doing and put our eyes on our little friend to hear his announcement. He said, "Hey, I just realized something. Did you know that my name has a sneaky e on the end? The sneaky e makes the a say it's name."

Wow!! I almost started crying! I love when my little ones have an Aha moment and feel the need to share it with the rest of the class. It's moments like this that make me realize even more that I truly love what I do!

Sometimes I am just so amazed at all of the information a little 5 year old can retain so quickly. Have you had any Aha moments lately in your class? Please leave a comment and share! Thank you!

Click on the picture above to check out my Sneaky E is on the Loose! unit

Using our sneaky e pointers to make a new word

Sorting CVC and CVCe words

Read the room words hidden 

Write the room sheet

Hidden Treasures

I went to Lowes this weekend to buy bean seeds and soil. That's all!! I left with a brand new trimmer for our yard. Oh joy! But that's not all...I stumbled upon the paint section. I found paint chips with a square cut out. These are perfect for students to practice one to one correspondence or to search for sight words while reading big books. And it's free...yay!

Have you found any great hidden treasures recently? 

Happy Saturday

                                                                       Walk for William

My weekend is off to a great start! I started this morning by waking up at 7:00 am (Yes, even on a Saturday I wake up early). I walked the March of Dimes Walk with such an amazing group of people. It was so great to see all of the support and love during this walk!


P.S. I realized today how out of shape I am. How do you stay in shape during the school year? I just can't find the time!! Help!!

Thank you,
Sarah Hawas

Eric Carle Author Study

We started our Eric Carle author study and my kids love it! Every day we go in our "book clubs" to discuss our books. We have three book clubs with 6 students in each of them. They each have a different book to discuss. Book clubs are such a great way for students to use accountable talk. I love to hear what they discuss about their book. After they talk with their book club partners they come in front of the class and share one new thing they learned about Eric Carle books.

If you watch the clip, you can hear one partner telling his friend what a fin is. How cute!!

What ideas do you have for an Eric Carle author study? 

Functional Writing in Kindergarten

Functional writing in kindergarten is my absolute favorite...although it may be a little pricey at times. I have to remember next year to send a letter to parents ahead of time asking for a few items. Last week, we learned how to blow a bubble using gum, make lemonade, and catch a star. My favorite thing to do is to show my students the materials first and ask them what they think we are going to be doing. I asked my class how to blow a bubble using gum and the first thing they said was to put it in my mouth. I put the gum still in the wrapper in my mouth. It is really great for them to see misconceptions to help them really think about all of the steps. This week we are going to learn how to make alligator pie, fly a kite, blow a bubble using bubbles, and plant seeds. Below you will find a few ideas I've used in our classroom. Enjoy!

This is such a great story to read for functional writing. It is about a little boy who really wants to catch a star. We discussed how we would catch a star. 

Our bulletin board...How to Catch a Star

I love how they use their imagination! 

First I would get 100 balloons. Next I would float to the sky. Last I would catch the star.

How cute is this?
First I would get a parent and we would get wings. Next I would fly up to the sky. Last I would catch a star. 

Click on the picture above to check out my how to fly a kite packet
I will update pictures this week of our class flying kites. :)

First you take the wrapper off. Next you put it in your mouth and chew it. Last you blow the bubble. 

Click on the picture above to check out my Bubble gum unit-it includes the how to blow a bubble writing sheet

What kind of fun things are you doing in your classroom for functional writing? 

Spring Fever

Oh me, oh my! I definitely have Spring Fever!! On teacher planning day, I spent the whole day making new Spring centers and cleaning my room. It was definitely overwhelming but so worth it!! This time of year a lot of teachers are losing some of their energy they had from the beginning year. I keep my energy going by constantly adding new centers and coming up with new fun ways to keep my little ones engaged. I just love seeing their faces when they hear me say that I made a new center.

Hey... if Ryan Gosling thinks so it must be true. Ha! Don't forget how awesome you are!! You are changing lives every day!

How are you keeping your energy levels high at this time of the year?  

5 Senses

I love teaching the five senses in kindergarten!! My students love to explore their senses. Below are a few ideas we use in our classroom. Hope this helps!

To introduce the five senses
*Ask students to point to the body part they hear with, see with, taste with, touch with, and smell.
*Introduce the five senses song by Dr Jean Feldman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWPJoI5lMOY 
*Five senses with Jiminy Cricket https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFHX_5eBJ1U 
*Use popcorn to engage students about using their five senses. How does it sound? Does it taste salty or sweet? It is smooth or rough? How does it smell? What does it look like?
*Make a sight word potato head together. Let students draw arrows to show which body part they use for each sense.

Sight
*To introduce sight, let students lead a blind folded friend around the classroom. Let students reverse roles. Discuss how easy or difficult it was to find your way around the room while being blind folded. Was it hard to lead a friend around the class who couldn't see? Have students write in their science journals about their experience. This will help students to realize how important our sight is to us.
*Have a sight hunt outside. Let students draw/write different items they see outside of the classroom. My little ones love when I teach a lesson outside!

"Take a picture of something you see"













We love observing outside of the classroom!

Hearing
*Make a tape/CD with different sounds. Let students guess what the different sounds are. It is best if students can not see what they are listening to.
*Let students make a shoe box guitar together to discuss vibrations.
*Give students containers (not see through) filled with different objects. You can use rice, marbles, water, and sand. Let students shake them and guess what is in each container.

Taste
*Have a taste party together. Let students vote on their favorite taste.

Smell
*In baby food jars or film canisters put different items that have a strong smell (coffee, pickle juice, vanilla, etc). Let students pass the containers around the table.

Touch
*Make an interactive touch book together.
*Put different objects in brown bags (cotton balls, pencils, sandpaper, ) Let students reach in and guess what object is in each bag.

What fun ideas do you have to teach the five senses?