Sunday, April 29, 2012

Happy Birthday and Mother's Day is on it's Way

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYDNEY! 
Today is her 8th Birthday!
This is my daughter on her class Field trip to the Manatee Center in Fort Pierce, FL. She loves all things and is inspired by everything around her.  I wish I had her imagination!   As a mom, I couldn't be any prouder.  She is a talented, smart and spunky kid.  8 years has flown by and as many of you know it feels like just yesterday that the Dr. put her in my arms.  


 For the last several years I have made a point to make a book with my students for Mother's Day. The Cover Page is not Shown--but I call it "Because You love Me". (You can find it at the link if you click on the Title). We wrote an Acrostic Poem and Cinquain Poem about their moms.  The students each wrote an "I am thankful for you" letter. They conducted an interview with their mom as a homework assignment on the "All About Mom" page. They got to draw themselves with their mom and last we did a hand-print below a poem for a keepsake. Luckily, my school has a laminating machine and someone who laminates everything for us.  So the pages are sealed and protected. The last phase of the project is to  punch holes in the side and get ribbon to tie and bind it for a beautiful keepsake to give their mom's on Mother's Day.  It has changed and morphed over that time, but here are what some of the pages look like today.  



My mom and me--Students Illustrate. I always love to see how they view themselves and their mom in their drawings.


MOTHER Acrostic Poem--We brainstormed Words and the students chose which words would describe their mom.
  This is my favorite-- I used red paint to make a heart in the middle and painted the rest of their hand blue.  The poem was given to me by a friend long ago, so sadly I don't know who the author is.
Unfortunately, I was unable to upload all the pages but hopefully you get the idea..
I am going to be getting ready for my daughter's Birthday party today and This week I will be binding these books.  I hope you all have a great week too, and of course a Happy Mother's Day!

Enjoy,
Jessica j

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

It's been a while...

Cover
Yes, It's been a while since my last post.  The Flu invaded my house!  At first it just got my kids, but eventually it got me too.  That put me down for the count for just two days, thanks to Tami-flu.  However, I missed our trip to see the movie The Lorax.  I was so excited about it too, I even purchased a Unit on TPT : The Lorax Earth Day Unit with Math and Literacy centers. It was great!  Until the flu hit me :(.  Despite everything I was really impressed with the quality of work my class produced and how excited they were about the book.  

If you are not familiar with this story, here is a brief summary:  The Once-ler comes to the Land of the Lorax.  He sees the beautiful Truffula trees and decides they are the best material he has ever seen.  The Once-ler chops down a tree to use the Truffula Tuft to make a "thneed" (don't you just love Seuss Words?)  The Lorax pops out of the stump and says "I speak for the trees, don't cut them down!" The Once-ler says, No! and proceeds to build a factory and invite his whole family to come and produce "thneeds"  In the end they use up all the trees and there is nothing left.  All of the animals have to leave because of the pollution caused by the factory.  There is redemption at the end though.  The Once-ler has kept 1 seed.  He gives it to a boy, who we all hope will plant it.  If You are a Seuss Fan, then you and your students will enjoy this book and the other activities I found in this great Unit.
Here is 1 example of a Re-Tell done by one of my students. 


First
Next
 On another note, I sold my first Product on TpT: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tales-of-a-first-grade-teacher I was so excited! It is an End-of-the-Year Memory book and Letter Writing lesson ( A letter to Myself). Hopefully the first of many. Thanks for reading.  
Jessica j
Then

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