Christmas Party Day!

Oh wow!! We went off to Christmas break with a whole lotta fun!! Today was our last day at school and we were super duper busy!

Here is a cute little ornament/window hanger we made. I printed a Christmas light bulb template on transparency paper ( you know the clear paper). Then, I wrote the kids' names and the year on them.  The kids used colorful permanent markers to color the light bulb! We finished them off with the glittery chenille sticks as hangers. They look just like stained glass when you hang them in the window!

We also made pine cone Christmas trees. I intended to spray paint these green but we had a winter storm come through with ridiculous winds so that idea had to go by the wayside. The kids glued a variety of beads, buttons, and sequins as the ornaments.
The kids seriously worked on these for the better part of an hour without losing interest -- such a HIT!!

 And, during our class Christmas party we made our traditional edible Christmas trees. I love doing this activity. It's just as much fun as making gingerbread houses, but WAY WAY WAY easier.

Each child needs a waffle ice cream cone (make sure the top edge is flat. There are some cones that sit cockeyed......those won't work.

MATERIALS:
waffle cones
green icing (vanilla icing + green food coloring)
a variety of candies (gummy bears, m&m's, skittles, mini Hershey kisses, marshmallows)
Peel - able twizzlers (this is the garland - I used red and green)
powdered sugar (duh, you gotta have snow, right?)
paper plates
paper bowls
plastic spoons

 Whew!! I'm so glad we are done! It was great fun, but I am totally looking forward to a nice, long break!

So Where Do We Go......

from here?

Yesterday I participated in the moment of silence for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. And I think we all needed that moment of silence to re-gather our thoughts and try to wrap our minds around such horrific events. My heart aches for all the survivors and the families of the victims.

But today I feel more like talking....
If you've had enough of the school shooting discussion, I completely understand. We all grieve and deal with tragedy in different ways. Today you will probably see my ramblings here and they may not even make sense. I can't even claim ownership of what I say here because I am still so confused. This is more therapy for me than anything.

How could this happen? How could this happen in the greatest country in the world? What kind of person could not only kill others....but kill babies? And....the most frightening question: What exactly would I do if put in the same situation as the faculty at Sandy Hook?

The thoughts and questions are overwhelming! I have spent the better part of the weekend with a heavy heart. Today, as I returned to school with my little ones, my heavy heart lifted. I mean life does go on. We have a job to do. We have little ones to teach and we are such a big part of their little lives.

The more details I read about, the more I feel confused. The reality of what those children endured is almost too much for me to contemplate. And the hopelessness their teachers must have felt is unthinkable (even while acting as heroes down to the last minute).......

When did things change in our country? When did it become SUCH an unsafe place?
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And the question that no one seems to agree on: How can we keep our kids safe?

Some say gun control laws need to be strengthened, some say no.
Some say teachers should have guns in the classroom, some say no. (BTW, I cannot fathom having a gun in my kindergarten classroom. I couldn't. I wouldn't.)
Some say locks, metal detectors, Raptor systems, and police officers at school is the answer.

Do we want to admit that these kinds of events are "normal" and "bound to happen" therefore we need to prepare for them? Or, do we stand by passively and blindly hoping and praying it never happens again?

I try to think of things through parent eyes (since I am a mom). What would I want my children's school to be like. In an ideal world, their schools would be open and welcome to parents. I wouldn't have to show id, I could float by my child's classroom and eat lunch with him/her. However, if I have complete access to my child's school, how many other people have the same kind of access?

I don't claim to have answers. I am more confused now than I was before Friday.

It's all so confusing and heartbreaking....GOD, shouldn't our children just be OFF-LIMITS?!?!??!!?

HEARTBROKEN 12-14-12

More Decomposing Work!

I have a confession to make, but please promise to be nice....

Ok......so I totally need my hand slapped.....I've been such a bad blogger lately. Gosh - is anyone else really pressed to the nines this time of year? Uugghhh - everything since Thanksgiving is such a blur...

I've been lazy...ok that's not exactly fair. I mean - I do have my 6 kids that keep me busy -- not counting the 20 at school. And have you ever tried Christmas shopping for 6 kids? Well, just think Santa's workshop - that pretty much describes my house right now!

Then, the day I went back to work from Thanksgiving I came down sick within 3 hours --- 3 HOURS!! What did I have? Strep throat AND bronchitis... GEEZ! Leave it to me....when I get sick -- I GET SICK!! 3 rounds of antibiotics later I believe I am actually getting better.....

Ok - way more than you probably wanted to know about me.....but......

So, here is the point to this blog post. I was going through photos and found a few I took back at the end of Halloween. Then they got stashed and I just found them. But since they are really good activities for composing/decomposing numbers - I thought I'd share!

My teammate Sara shared a couple activities she does for this difficult concept:

 These 2 pictures show the "Composing Cups" - - haha -- that's my name.... Isn't it funny how, as kinder teachers, we insist on having a cute name for everything?! Anyways, she and her class made these using styrofoam cups, pipe cleaners, and beads. The kids will love making and using this cool math tool.

ACTIVITY #1:
1. Each child needs a styrofoam cup.
2. Poke 2 hole in the bottom of the cup.
3. Run a pipe cleaner through the bottom (which will actually be the top) and place 10 beads on the pipe cleaner. (She used clear beads because that's what she had -- but a bright color would work best).
4. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together inside the cup.

Isn't Sara a great model? Oh, she is totally going to kill me! :0)

After they are made - these cups become a learning tool for the kiddos. I would place 10 beads on the pipe cleaner and demonstrate the number sentences that make 10.....for example -- 1 bead and 9 beads make 10 beads or 2 beads and 8 beads make 10 beads. You could have kids practice making all the combinations!


On to ACTIVITY #2:

This was another super easy, yet effective way for kiddos to look at decomposing numbers. Simply place 10 (or whatever number you're are focusing on inside a plastic baggie and seal.) Then "divide" the baggie with a strip of duct tape in the middle of the baggie on both sides.

Kids can grab a baggie and squeeze it back and forth - then spread them out and name the number sentence it represents. Use seasonal erasers from Oriental Trading for more fun! I smell Math Tub!! Can't you see cute little Christmas tree or snowflake erasers for this activity?

These are both wonderful activities your kids will love AND they provide quality learning opportunities just like the post I did with 5 Little Speckled Frogs....Did you see that one? If not click HERE!

What fun activities do you do for composing/decomposing numbers?