My Lil' Superheroes!

I found these really cute foamie bursts (I don't really know what to call them) from Target last year.  I've held on to them for about a year until I could think of something to do with them.  I wanted to do something with superheroes because I tend to have way more boys than girls in my groups.

This year it's a pretty even split, but I still think girls can love superheroes too!

I decided to take their pics with a mask and cape and display them with the caption, "We Speak 2 or more Languages....What's your Super Power?"  I really want my kiddos to know that knowing 2 languages is really so impressive and they should be so proud of themselves.  I also want to stress the importance of maintaining their native language!!

They were so proud to see their pics on the wall, and they loved wearing the masks and capes.

Lil FREEBIE for ya!

Last year my school district purchased a subscription to Book Flix.  I LOVE this site!  If you are not familiar with the site, it has about 70 popular titles that your students can watch/listen to as You Tube type videos.  There is also a non-fiction title that accompanies the first title.  That story can be read aloud or read silently.  I can't say enough about the site.  It is really great for ELL students and building backgrounds.  Here is a link to the website and a free trial.  Before we bought the subscription, I was able to access the site through my local public library website.  See if one in your area has it available.  You will not be disappointed ;)



Thanks for stopping!

Kristi

Wow! It's been about a minute since I last posted.  What can I say life has definitely gotten in the way.  In June I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  I suppose you could call it a "mild case" as I only needed a couple of lumpectomies and will start radiation next week.  I was determined to make sure this didn't ruin my summer, and I succeeded!  I had so much fun with my friends and my family, it was awesome.  I also really, truly took a break from work.  I didn't take any classes, I didn't go to any workshops, I didn't make anything for my tpt store, I barely even looked at pinterest, I only did my contracted summer work....like I said, it was awesome!!

I'm thinking this was a pretty great philosophy as I feel so ready to tackle this school year.  We just finished our first week back (3 days with kiddos) and I feel so on top of things.  I'm more organized and ready to roll!! 

I'm posting this project I made last year for September 11.  I work with really young kiddos, K and 2 ELL students.  I really don't talk about it with my K students, but I can't ignore it with my 2nd graders.  This was too big of a life changing event.  That being said, I am very careful about HOW I discuss this with 2nd graders.  The story Fireboat by Maira Kallman does such an awesome job of giving a sense of chaos of that day, but doesn't focus on the horror.  It is also an inspiring, true story.  My students love it!!



Some other great selections are: New York's Bravest by Mary Pope Osbourne, Fourteen Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy, and The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein.  There are TONS of other books about this topic, but these are some of my favorites.  New York's Bravest and The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, aren't even about 9/11, but they briefly mention it at the end of the stories.  They make great springboards for a discussion.  There are activities for these 4 books in this activity plan.    New York is my favorite place in the world to visit, so I am always reading books about it to my kiddos. Let me know if you have any other books you enjoy!

Have a great school year!!!

Wow, I have seriously been delinquent about posting on this blog!  The weather here has been, in a word: horrible!!!!  If anyone reading this blog can find me a teaching job somewhere warm, please let me know ;)  Right now it is blowing snow and cold and miserable.  Okay, no more whining about the weather, I truly can't stand whiners!!

I digress.  One thing I love about this time of year is Valentine's Day.  I didn't love Valentine's day as a single gal.   However,please don't be under the impression that I married some Casanova who spoils me rotten on V-day!  I married the "run to Target on my way home from work" guy, who helps himself to a handful from the bag of Twizzlers he bought me.  True Romance!!

I love Valentine's day because when I pull out my decorations, I know that spring isn't tooo far away, kinda like the end of the winter tunnel.  I also love checking out pinterest for some really cute Valentine's to send my kids to school with.  I figure I only have a couple more years of sending Valentines, so go big or go home!

I'm attaching links to a couple of my fave Valentine Activites from my TPT store.  If you haven't read the story Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch please do so immediately!  It is so cute, and it gets me a little choked up as well.  There are activities to go with The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting, another super cute V-day book.

Enjoy!  Stay Warm!!

Kristi