Happy Spring!
I would like to start out this post talking about an emotional experience I had today. It would be easy to blame my emotion on the pregnancy--- but truly I cannot, because anyone that knows me know that I tend to be a tad bit too emotional sometimes! So, anyway, here it goes..... For the next two weeks we have fourth grade reading buddies. My students will be read to, and will get the chance to read to their buddies in return. So today it began. Marching down the hallway came these big fourth graders. These just weren't any fourth graders. These big ole' fourth graders just happened to be my first kindergarten class. So, these precious children sat down with my little kinders now and read beautifully, fluently, with so much expression that I have to admit, I was just so darn proud! I looked at how big they are, how smart, how amazing.... remembering them just at the same point that your children are at now.... their reading just budding, innocent, excited, oh-so-little....... and wowzers, the concept of time really hit me. I can't believe it is April. This year is almost over..... and I feel like I still have so much I want to instill in my little sweethearts. I can just imagine the pride I'll feel when, someday, they come down to read to my new kindergartners.
Okay, emotional time over..... now onto some plants! :)
We learned soooo much about plants this past week! We had a ton of great literacy and math activities that corresponded with our unit as well. I want to thank Mrs. Lee for some awesome ideas for a unit on plants. I try to build on units every year, and I always love expanding them, making new things, and getting new ideas. We started this unit out in a fun way. We read Peter Rabbit to get to the kids acquainted with the story and meet Mr. McGregor. Then, I surprised the kids because Mr. McGregor wrote us a letter!!!
We learned about the parts of a flower by doing a cute craft....
We practiced identifying money with this math center. There were a bunch of vegetables and fruits and on the back of each was a coin. They had to look at the coin, find the fruit or vegetable on the paper, and write the amount of money the plant cost. Please, please, please continue to practice money at home. I don't have any special advice or tricks.... it just takes practice and the children becoming familiar with them. Even though we are moving on to measurement and numbers through 30, I am still planning on frequently revisiting coin identification, their value, and simple addition with them. Learning about money is hard for these little guys so please help all you can at home as well. :)
I couldn't talk about Peter Rabbit and not make him! However, when we were done making him the kiddos had to do a writing about what they would do if they were Peter Rabbit. They did a great job on this and I am really starting to see their writing improve!
We planted a garden in the hallway. We painted fruits and vegetables. We learned about what type of plant they were, how they grew, and what part of it we ate.
Of course, we had to plant some real things too! :) We planted "something" for later this year. Then, we learned that plants need sun, water, and air to grow so we put a seed in the window with a wet paper towel to see if it would sprout. We check on them every day. So far two have sprouted! :)
Our seeds! 
Don't forget to be practicing sight words. Here, as, that, should, of, his, up, with, said, are some new ones I've introduced. Enjoy this beautiful weather!
Until next time,
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