Today was an interesting day–interesting is a good word for it!  My assistant was out today after me being out yesterday (BTW, I’ve decided that she can’t be out anymore! 🙂 )  All the kids did a great job being flexible about the few changes we had to make to accommodate just me being there!  Tomorrow, we are back to normal–what ever that is!

Yesterday while I was off helping to facilitate conversations with colleagues about Science, my kids were busy bees!  They started a new Predictable Chart titled, Fall is…”  We also started reading the Big Book, Picking Apples and Pumpkins with Clifford”.  They also added to the compost bin, played Number Dice Toss, had computer, lunch, recess, discovery, and got an excellent report! 🙂

Today, we continued with our Predictable Chart, looked again at Clifford (we worked on story comprehension through questioning), read a new poem in our pocket chart (5 little pumpkins), tasted pumpkin seeds (from our pumpkin we cut open on Monday) and graphed about whether or not we liked the taste of them (16 yes and 8 no), and we also played Roll a Spooky Pumpkin:

rollapumpkin

(Roll a scarecrow will be up next: rollascarecrow )

You will need to add your own pictures (if you wish) and dots for the dice.

They turn out so cute and it only takes about 15 minutes to do this.  I usually do it the first day where the children work on it individually, and the second day, they work with a partner to see who can complete their pumpkin first.

At my Science workshop yesterday, we worked to develop a “Science Stretch Day”.  There are 4 Kindergarten teachers in my building and so we will each have an activity that each of the classes rotate through–we’re doing this on Halloween!  The three days prior we are out for Kindergarten conferences, so there is no point in trying to have a “normal” day!  We will have cut open pumpkins so the children can experience the pulp inside, leaf sorting and graphing, gourd/apple/mini-pumpkin sink and float, and the one I’m in charge of: Mentos and Coke!!  I’m hoping for a nicer day so that we can learn the very elementary science behind the idea!  I have a rocket that attaches to the top of the Coke 2 liter and will shoot off when the Mentos have their reaction with the Coke.  I’ll be sure to get pictures when we do that! 🙂

I’m ready for my week to get back to normal!  And I’ve got to finish assessing my kids so that I can get report cards going! ARRGHH!

I’ll try to post some pictures tomorrow, but this weekend is out, my sister-in-law is getting married, and my hubby is a groomsman and my son is the ring bearer and more importantly it’s my nephew’s 1st birthday!  🙂  I can’t wait, I’ve been working hard on making custom Hershey bar wrappers (they say his name on the front and have all his statistical information on the back) for the full size bars and the miniature bars, so my sister can give them out at his party. He is such a blessing for my sister–she has had two other children pass away, so he is a miracle indeed and I can’t wait to celebrate him! 🙂

Kristen 🙂