tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49741443583824274902024-03-23T05:13:42.569-05:00The First Grade Sweet LifeAlexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-74166488780974972912014-11-07T11:05:00.001-06:002014-11-07T11:07:41.274-06:00Jeremiah 17:7- Trusting AND Hoping in the LORD<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed is in the man who trusts in the LORD, And who hope is the LORD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-Jeremiah 17:7</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This morning I was reflecting on Jeremiah 17:7. In particular, I was wondering why God took the time to say that the person who "trusted" AND "hoped" in the LORD would be blessed? God is a perfect speaker after all, but to write that the person who hopes and trusts in the LORD will be blessed seemed redundant to me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what's the deal? Was God being redundant? Just giving a two-edged whammy for the same idea?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">No.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is, in fact, a subtle distinction between trusting and hoping in the LORD, and thankfully GOD whispered that distinction to my not-so-astute heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what'd He say?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's what I got:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"To “trust” is to depend on something. To “hope” in something is to have the steadfast, quiet </span><span style="text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">assurance and confidence</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that it will deliver on your behalf. You can trust in a bridge, but never have the hope of crossing it. Likewise, you can trust in a mighty man’s sword, but never have the hope of him yielding it in your behalf. But to be able to trust and hope in Someone is to be able to say, “My confidence is both in the LORD’s capability, AND in His willingness to USE that capability to defend me when it is necessary.” That is the difference between hope and trust, and the two sides of the sword of deliverance of Your MIGHTY King."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank You, Jesus for being One in whom I can BOTH trust and hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alexandra</span></div>
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<i style="line-height: 1;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"I will rejoice in the Lord, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will be joyful in God my Savior."</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Habakkuk</i></span><i style="line-height: 1;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 3:18</span></i></span></div>
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Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com88tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-48933126309021671002014-08-04T23:32:00.000-05:002014-08-04T23:32:06.218-05:00A Down Day & Habbakuk<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-left: 11pt; margin-top: 11pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am having a down day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, days like these are once in a blue moon, but what they lack in frequency I suspect they make up for in intensity, because despite the abundance of blessings in this girl’s poured-out, good-to-the-last-drop life, I can’t see anything but lack on these days.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lack of love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lack of laughter.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lack of meaning.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lack of purpose.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lack of applesauce in the applesauce container, because it somehow ended up in the cottage cheese container…..</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lack.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And the thing is, no amount of cat posters or inspirational mumbo-jumbo can change my heart on these days. Sure, tried truisms can shift my mental status, but they can’t squelch my sorrow. My mind may buy into the “It’s not so bad” mentality, but my heart will have none of it. So, instead of wooing my woes away with a cute cat meme, I will acknowledge my bottomed-out-blues and add my name to Habbakuk’s, because in all my lack, He is still my Lord, and if I can be glad in nothing else, I will be joyful in God my Savior.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Though the fig tree does not bud</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and there are no grapes on the vines,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">though the olive crop fails</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and the fields produce no food,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">though there are no sheep in the pen</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and no cattle in the stalls,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yet I will rejoice in the Lord,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I will be joyful in God my Savior.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sovereign Lord is my strength;</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> he enables me to tread on the heights.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- Habbakuk 3:17-19</span></span></div>
Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-77844205525582343162014-07-11T13:19:00.004-05:002014-11-07T11:37:16.745-06:00Change<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always rejoiced in routine. Even as a kid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My favorite sweatshirt growing up was always the one I had on: a grungy 25<span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;">-cent</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; font-size: x-small; line-height: 20.2222232818604px;"> </span>garage-sale find. Come Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I wore it. In fact, the only time I didn't wear it was laundry day, and even then the only way my well-hygiened mother got it was to rip it out of my hands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And food? I loved nothing more than Fruity Pebbles. Did you know Fruity Pebbles can constitute a whole dietary plan? I did! Breakfast, lunch, dinner? Guess what? They're always delicious!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yes, I love routine. Comfort, joy, certainty- all things I find in routine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what is my arch enemy?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, that would be change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So you see, there's this prayer I love, that's kind of all about things never changing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Proverbs 30:7-9.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"One thing I ask of You, LORD,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do not refuse me before I die...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give me neither poverty nor riches,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But give me only my daily bread.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Otherwise I may have too much and disown You</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And say, 'Who is the LORD?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or I may become poor and steal</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so dishonor the name of my God."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Basically, the heart of this prayer is: "Don't ever change my circumstances, God. Give me hum-drum, same-old, day-to-day living that never changes, because that's all I want to handle. Not the temptations of poverty or riches, just give me the satisfaction of temptation-free living without change, whether it's a Rolls Royce or Romen Noodles. Either way, as long as it never changes, we'll be good."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But reviewing this favorite prayer of mine this morning I realized, I have been literally praying myself out of a blessing. And that blessing is quite surprising to a person like me, because that blessing is change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, how GOD grows us.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here's the deal for those of you who feel off Train-Obvious like myself. The man who prays to have unchanged circumstances (cough, cough, i.e. me) never grows spiritually. Why? Because he never figures out how to honor God as <i>both</i> a rich person and a poor person. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that's really important for a follower of Jesus. To learn how to praise God- not just from the cushy insides of a Mercedes <i>or</i> from the broken, glass-filled bottom of an abandoned warehouse but from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>both</i> places.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So......here's the million dollar question: How will this change my life????</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, as of this morning I have resigned myself to no longer pray, "LORD, give me neither poverty nor riches." Instead, I plan to pray, "LORD, give me <u>both</u><b> </b>poverty and riches, so that in whatever state I am in, constant or changing, I will learn to honor Your Name.. Then, having had all, and having had nothing, I will always know how to count You, Jesus, as my only portion and prize no matter what my circumstances."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And though this prayer I plan to pray scares me, I will pray it without fear, fully confident in the One who enables me. This is the One through whom "I can do all things" and bear all changes: "Christ who gives me strength" (Phil 4:13).</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you, Jesus, for giving me the courage to embrace change. Help me not to shirk away from it, but to lean into it with the full assurance of Your guiding hand. Use change, I pray, in your lavishly merciful hand to make me grow in unexpected ways. I trust that as You do this gently, I will learn to experience greater dependence on You, and in this I will find joy because You are joy itself. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love You. </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Alex</span></i>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-50742220280622573982014-06-03T00:47:00.002-05:002014-06-03T00:53:06.745-05:00<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_538d5cd6bd57b8869303869">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tonight the dog ate my dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, the dog ate the dinner that I sat down to eat at 11:37 p.m. after a long, hard day. That same dinner that took over an hour to prepare, and yet only minutes to destroy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see, in the moment that grace-upon-a-couch was extended to my fine furry friend, grace fell in the form of a tantalizing pile of mozzarella cheese atop a pizza with an all-too absent master. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crime? Frustrating. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The offense? Forgivable. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For you see in t<span class="text_exposed_show">he moment that I caught my red-handed pup with marinara sauce in his beard, grace washed over me anew as I realized (still while in the midst of screaming), that I too have had my face heads-down in many pizzas that also were not my own. How humbling it is to have the moral fortitude of one's dog...</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, thank you Jesus, I say, for grace which sweetly pardons us both. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet while Chester and I are both forgiven, one difference shall remain....: only one of us will ever be eating on the couch again.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one's for you, Chester. For you, for me, and for anyone else who needs some grace. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Psalm 32</span></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessed is the one</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">whose transgressions are forgiven,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">whose sins are covered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blessed is the one</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">whose sin the Lord does not count against them</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3utKb7JTqbl01_N3iXrko5ITxUVqLGuuCxLvYy7ApE1QVse5ogfryWukWXJYZVRREBkFeaEFp3jWjmXo9Gn3fs0xPj5wHW40-F7d8SRuVf2mhStkD9YAk2Kk3OP4tsOb0erErgxtwfw/s1600/Chester+1st+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3utKb7JTqbl01_N3iXrko5ITxUVqLGuuCxLvYy7ApE1QVse5ogfryWukWXJYZVRREBkFeaEFp3jWjmXo9Gn3fs0xPj5wHW40-F7d8SRuVf2mhStkD9YAk2Kk3OP4tsOb0erErgxtwfw/s1600/Chester+1st+Birthday.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The culprit. So sweet. Soooooo naughty.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-81142634570521588072014-03-28T13:53:00.002-05:002014-03-28T16:52:41.014-05:00Chester, and the least expected of ways...<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everybody has heard of "that" dog. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, you know the one I'm talking about: the dog who chews on everything, breaks well-known (and well-taught rules), and generally drives its owner bezerk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, that dog???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That's my dog.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvjIKAHvEHnAyPCxxv-O3ciaG6Cg-CiulxQCpDsD5MM748D7i7n4VREX6OIMn_kar1B6mY23MMRfii0E2cWvSRXn_5gGN8aVeHGh-PDpv8a_HD9UgTGI0D0A7OQojNgAWzy8ZzMvgEr8/s3200/image.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chester</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong: Chester is not a bad dog. Sure, he chews with the tenacity of a Rottweiler and runs like Lassie on steroids in the sweet moments he escapes his leash, but he also has moments of greatness. Just last week my heart beamed proud as Chester stayed in a long-down with the most tempting of treats literally at the tip of his little black nose, and <i>never once</i> did he even lick it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brilliant? Yes. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Chester and I have worked long and hard to come to this point of most-of-the-time obedience. Yes, it's been a long road, but in the words of our vet "Chester has grown up into a nice young man," despite his wild-child beginnings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But even "nice young men" have their days, don't they?????</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enter flashback: </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, Chester and I were cuddling on the couch circa our normal routine. Wrapped in a blanket, eating lunch, Chester nuzzled into my side.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Picture? Dog owner bliss.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, there I was, immensely enjoying this cozy companion of mine, until I look over at him, and what should my cozy companion be doing???</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peeing. Al</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">l over the couch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now this is the point when some people, some better-than-me-saints, would've reacted with holy harmony and patience, but not me. Nope. At the top of my lungs I screamed, "JESUS, HE'S PEEING ALL OVER THE COUCH!" And don't you know in my unholiest of moments, all of Heaven had to be dying of laugher? Because, you see, only 48 hours before, God had encouraged me to take all of my Chester-woes to Him, and I prayed with all tenacity that He would help me do just that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, it may have been at the top of my lungs, and it may have even involved the word "pee" more than once, but God did answer my prayer for help, even if it was in the least expected of ways...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Father, thank you for loving me on even my craziest days with the craziest of dogs. I thank you for Chester, my good gift from You, and ask that You would help me love him in a way that honors You.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>
<i>I love you, Jesus.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~Alex</span></i>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-35253798433317650402011-04-18T17:03:00.002-05:002011-04-19T07:46:49.978-05:00End of the Year Testing Printables<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yowsers.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So y'all... Can I just take a moment to tell you how BUSY my life has been for the past two weeks??? AYE-YI-YI!!!! Seriously, there has been nary a moment to fix my mascara much less log into Blogger as of late. But, I am very pleased to announce the end of the madness because... let's face it- life without internet-laden free time is</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">HOR.EN.DOUS.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And that is why I am back. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Backety-back-back-back and oh-so-excited!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, wanna know what I've been up to while I've been gone?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have been testing the willies out of nineteen of my favorite First Grade friends. DIBELs, sight words, math, you name it, they've done it. And if they haven't done it, they probably should have. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Of course having all of this testing to do, I was naturally faced with the age-old teaching dilemma of what to do with the nineteen students I wasn't testing while still managing to maintain a silent classroom for the one student I was testing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Answer?</div><div style="text-align: center;">I used Cut and Paste friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These little buddies occupy AND assess. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">TOTAL. BONUS.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I use them to assess my Firsties knowledge of various components of language (syllables, parts of speech, etc.) while I get my testing done. Keeps the kids occupied, gives evidence of learning, and gives me a product to send home for parents to enjoy and admire (refridgerator work, anyone?) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These buddies aren't much, but having TOTALLY saved my life in the past two weeks, I just knew I had to share them. (And don't mind my tacky Easter-themed syllable sort. What can I say? Giant chocolate-dispensing rabbits just gets me in the mood to decorate syllable sorts.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Want your own cut and paste friends?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Click any picture preview to download.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><rect filled="f" id="_x0000_s1026" strokeweight="6pt" style="height: 754.5pt; left: 0px; margin-left: -21pt; margin-top: -21pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 585pt; z-index: 251668480;"></rect></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><rect filled="f" id="_x0000_s1026" strokeweight="6pt" style="height: 754.5pt; left: 0px; margin-left: -21pt; margin-top: -21pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; text-align: left; width: 585pt; z-index: 251668480;"></rect><span style="font-family: 'Candy Randy'; font-size: 45pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW; mso-no-proof: yes;">Compound Word Sleuth</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNDA3NTY1YTgtYzA3Mi00ZjcyLThkOGYtZGY4MDNhMGE2Yjkz&hl=en&authkey=CIy9m_cL"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG35kFeog66Xy2OfiDAm1eb9GNbO_XgXHGVloj7f4fCp9IhyI2Al5wh5FQHEZIqQgSWhrZ4trnwx23KMCUixDlk5z-OqAX_hyeNbajomnlXcNo15EApfye4hLltzbZYlFIGkCqTVQ-XqU/s320/Compound+Word+Sleuth+1.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNDA3NTY1YTgtYzA3Mi00ZjcyLThkOGYtZGY4MDNhMGE2Yjkz&hl=en&authkey=CIy9m_cL"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEk7cdoVtUau5escM6OHUrGeRlE-YqWAurklWN9SP95u59qe-bqxrISc1bt4YdUolcRl0kn82d9sPUqBCK-WfZ28hBqqJ8V9PABgBqW1WTMttYLpsYynkHLsw0-rw2xxZSQ0fwV11cMY/s320/Compound+Word+Sleuth+2.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Smiley Monster'; font-size: 50pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Contraction mania!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMjY1ZTM2ZWYtODI2OC00MjAxLWI4NTAtNTVkZmFjNzljYTBi&hl=en&authkey=CPiq8JgJ"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisme1bpzdkC1pMaw75keT_NQ5XQV_K5cMXoMkBsjH4cU7-mTBh8LONJgj-Jh2GdMCgpzofLATJgBMuq0EYBvkQTk5G_9AygwR-uAbykygvCEXC0iafyHJbnaJnNHXhaxAjA9DRuQI2X88/s320/Contraction+Mania+1.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMjY1ZTM2ZWYtODI2OC00MjAxLWI4NTAtNTVkZmFjNzljYTBi&hl=en&authkey=CPiq8JgJ"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9SCxMr-QPjDFi2A_Tz6Sk2Ou6WtBNkBTUcAKVHPtvvpYX5sFRgYRZWli4LUkjTr1IySd427WttOQM7OkHh4_HN11Xo7G7UYSkWaBaOKqPhVVs4Sfjd63hzRTHVSqkErUv0PhHe_NLag/s320/Contraction+Mania+2.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 50pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Easter Syllable Sort</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNzlkY2E5MTktZGFhOS00NDhhLWEyN2UtNzhkNzJhYjEwNDdj&hl=en&authkey=CMrV7vAN"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z7gRHEwLG7HFj8VFTkJDcAPJqU8swJjfTX5dFLjthx_k8_Np1aGlqHYQDNq1J95wo4g4Lt1lQtS5CNSAYXGCMM_V02cmOt8ehtkTpqf5O6UM0dZMXGj6fRP7DHR7pAKxSxKtN1VWm_Q/s320/Easter+Syllable+1.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNzlkY2E5MTktZGFhOS00NDhhLWEyN2UtNzhkNzJhYjEwNDdj&hl=en&authkey=CMrV7vAN"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy8WSeOSXDrZGwuZkOaboypuwFdGaaYNdH0UlEq8-LtU5kLGeZiJBjg-duYpCdPkeHTuAVtmlmJW46xta4d2P5c_QYH2-QwQusvzloVVxfzmUw1ET5nDLXQmhCC6-LrlCuJaaFaXT2zw/s320/Easter+Syllable+2.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Wish I Were Taller'; font-size: 50pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Homophone </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Wish I Were Taller'; font-size: 50pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Match-Up</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMzRlYTM0NTItNGY5ZS00M2Y4LWExMWYtNTY3OTMwZGVlNTVk&hl=en&authkey=COfO_csF"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4lM5G13G-mEtDQthQe8rYg0-OTTmSbwbkTlzrKqOMUvcazm-I5GwpCcEchPEWRfP9KBpPSYqoG6XlQGLiFC398EXynULFxBOAkLq-YnPip58A0lMzc1PxNotXl4BtQO5KIDLMZOGoEyY/s320/Homophone+1.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMzRlYTM0NTItNGY5ZS00M2Y4LWExMWYtNTY3OTMwZGVlNTVk&hl=en&authkey=COfO_csF"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sKm8vU4pBt4VluJuydnyaiRHAJdDLMbJRs2Up6SZ4J1Ir0DSd98DZxzP-5MhaxiCS2TyA33ThoULJOjV94z_9RITfQ1eYdJyl7nKmKTJt6VtR3fe5MhSsah-yxJMeNqCG0vWcPMFGWI/s320/Homophone+2.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DJ Doodlers'; font-size: 50pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Synonym </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DJ Doodlers'; font-size: 50pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Match-Up</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOWZhZTdiODItMTY4Ny00ZTM5LWI2NjktNzgwNGZhYTZjNGE5&hl=en&authkey=CJKypAw"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzelJwQ009Of6OuT_fYFWxKifoFRCrQV1wCbUEPgBu32RjsOT2bsgxHwFat1xJrWX5OQA9VlWJlRT-zV_wkLcmLikWhAmJaEJjFY96JGaBOyZosoKD1fCUoH97av_qqhXSgwWXj7yDqA/s320/Synonym+Match+Up+1.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOWZhZTdiODItMTY4Ny00ZTM5LWI2NjktNzgwNGZhYTZjNGE5&hl=en&authkey=CJKypAw"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYlRP3VdGVLkV8lpjzedyoMOfT4eQpDmJ6BkcLFxweCcExDqWf2X0cyrtsTUgmBp4cGNHOIcVyH9cNtB_eKKOYll-wtPemosKtQToOtO7RvjBjtK69O6kTeB9N_rxKGWVIsZmlr9vt0A/s320/Synonym+Match+Up+2.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'PAss the CheX'; font-size: 35pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Verb and </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'PAss the CheX'; font-size: 35pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Noun Town</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMDg0OTk5NTYtMzNmZS00MDZmLWI3OWUtY2ZjZTYyYzYxNTMx&hl=en&authkey=CN2MkpQF"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqlzVj3CKvYWT4d6kdUF-yJHkSahMCiPlBGA3JYlBL_gV5OK6oTMu-rREZplLdQmb_BKV2javGpRYNmlq2HzDjLyMkNIyu5SHjxK_17Zx4NQ6cKwroF9JaAyTOC5yx6TD7-oK1TFaU_w/s320/Verb+and+Noun+Town+1.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMDg0OTk5NTYtMzNmZS00MDZmLWI3OWUtY2ZjZTYyYzYxNTMx&hl=en&authkey=CN2MkpQF"><img border="0" height="320px" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-5QjiqQxP2I3j2ZIgYedMNYcmFe-GWUImLt728YNpFnAsaEyrCFy_3b8knhBz01MDD3uYUzEF3pDtSpXwqEMsjoxnOWu2DQKqn84FPRixizfYVYTnA7-V_BYoJyrwWkIFvStNdd5ffE/s320/Verb+and+Noun+Town+2.png" width="247px" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Wishing you a marvelous Monday!Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com84tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-4204607721574942132011-04-04T16:25:00.007-05:002011-04-04T16:30:40.428-05:00Easter Workshop!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Alright, y'all. Want to hear something that is sooooooooooooooooo not funny?!?!?!?!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here it is. And, you can't laugh:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is a mouse LIVING in my classroom. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">TOTAL EEK, right?!?!?!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, you'll never guess when charming said-mouse chose to make his first grand appearance. SMACK-DAB in the middle of a parent-teacher conference. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I. could've. died. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Life lesson learned? It's hard to appear professional when standing on a table in the middle of a parent teacher conference yelling, "Mouse, mouse" to everyone you see. Let's face it: these are just not the kinds of situations that professionalism conferences cover, people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With that being said, there have been two mouse sightings since the aforementioned incident on Friday. Do you think it would be wrong to call a Code Red the next time I see my fuzzy little friend? Because I'm pretty sure he is an unwelcome intruder and I for one want to see him removed from the building. IN HANDCUFFS.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But, seriously, that would be extremely unprofessional, which is why I am just going to call an exterminator. That, or a cardiologist. Because let me tell you, I will never stop having a heart attack at the sight of my newest little class pet until he is safely and soundly relocated... in Saudi Arabia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Whew... Did I mention that it's Monday???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, with all of the nature moving into my classroom last week I just had to take a trip to the Dollar Tree to cheer myself up. Normally shop therapy isn't my thing but rodents must bring it out in me....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's what I found:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Exhibit A: Darling Easter containers. These little buddies were PERFECT for sentence scrambles. I filled each little container I had with the words for a sentence. Then, my kiddos unscrambled the words to form a sentence which they wrote on their recording sheet (see download below). Super simple, cost $2, the kids love it, and the containers are precious. SOLD! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3vGNPXc3kAiZ-T0NvyGKcMEnh5z0tUAdN-YM8kkU-xYxuzxP26omipGKIM_9G4QB7tzTJkzx4Y6I0wez1NcplTJC77DETsZzHO9-tvihH1R1-Venhis59iF2sRoyFv16IvZoo3fPDoI/s1600/Chick+and+Carrot+Containers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3vGNPXc3kAiZ-T0NvyGKcMEnh5z0tUAdN-YM8kkU-xYxuzxP26omipGKIM_9G4QB7tzTJkzx4Y6I0wez1NcplTJC77DETsZzHO9-tvihH1R1-Venhis59iF2sRoyFv16IvZoo3fPDoI/s320/Chick+and+Carrot+Containers.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 35pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">April Sentence Scramble</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 35pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Recording Sheet</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 20pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(Click any picture preview below to download the entire file!)</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOTYyYjYyMzMtMDNlNS00ZTU3LWI4NjgtMTM3NTJkMGNmNGUx&hl=en&authkey=CJ2c4Y4P"><img border="0" height="247" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xg3_YE8TuOnJCfsreDGjlYbM0_UNOhr2HC2ZNrw81e0Q1Hc6cG1DRv9jsItMDvPQriu8q4kBwqgHbNfZJ-uVz7BUlSF8hy5rMgpLrzwXDpyootiOWsYaqVM67tR3ylSVag8Dp4ZQ5w8/s320/April+Sentence+Scramble+Recording+Sheet+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOTYyYjYyMzMtMDNlNS00ZTU3LWI4NjgtMTM3NTJkMGNmNGUx&hl=en&authkey=CJ2c4Y4P"><img border="0" height="247" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqhdxCAXyauipBrV7PQXF1IsAVZ8rNM4cM-4Dsa9gjXRkVzfR2xOz-Sgn6XrgBn_hyphenhyphenHbrENUA0UNM5keTt37VFesdz4AhZmqkbIQ1ELXmyozenjcxnR80OVtuJgzI85fly-Tj1_Hpek4/s320/April+Sentence+Scramble+Recording+Sheet+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Exhibit B: Read Around the Room Easter Egg Pointers! AHHHHHH! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">LOVE them!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRpLtZc-kObaQHMfqRV75eT6BCOS6G2CxN9OA2Px2MfTQ7zwAflaQSgBac0cJjHBD7DAAb9EenZKKzlUMOoMOd7Mmm1HUgboCqJuwAZ3T68569aCEHO0LTwBzj-iDzhscN1w39Qlwbww/s1600/Easter+Egg+Read+the+Room+Pointers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRpLtZc-kObaQHMfqRV75eT6BCOS6G2CxN9OA2Px2MfTQ7zwAflaQSgBac0cJjHBD7DAAb9EenZKKzlUMOoMOd7Mmm1HUgboCqJuwAZ3T68569aCEHO0LTwBzj-iDzhscN1w39Qlwbww/s320/Easter+Egg+Read+the+Room+Pointers.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Any mouse extermination advice? Y'all gave me the *greatest* ideas for an end-of-the-year bash so I know you must be mad mouse exterminating geniuses, too.<br />
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Wishing you a mouse-free classroom full of learning and fun!!!!!<br />
</div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-79464700298754959672011-04-02T13:49:00.001-05:002011-04-02T13:52:29.367-05:00Word Work Fun<div style="text-align: center;">Alright, y'all, so want to see one of my fav, fav, favorite children's books of all time?!?!?!?!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDUz30PYkC5-6lLv5nCDEE5KhIjhcRSltJOkXnofLQAsyc6pVcJ673VXIfRkg3AEOmnxMT92vLUCi3_SxQwRuXzWUkrt1vw48UiXXrg_nNWo8Aa53uo1R2Eeb_Kk_XVTz7mTB6cvLAO8/s1600/I+Ain%2527t+Gonna+Paint+No+More+COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizDUz30PYkC5-6lLv5nCDEE5KhIjhcRSltJOkXnofLQAsyc6pVcJ673VXIfRkg3AEOmnxMT92vLUCi3_SxQwRuXzWUkrt1vw48UiXXrg_nNWo8Aa53uo1R2Eeb_Kk_XVTz7mTB6cvLAO8/s320/I+Ain%2527t+Gonna+Paint+No+More+COVER.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;">I Ain't Gonna Paint No More</span>, by Karen Beaumont. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT!!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Seriously, it's hard to say who gets more excited about reading this book: the Firsties or me... HA!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With that being said, it's a classroom favorite so I just had to incorporate it into our workshop. Here's how:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First, I had my kiddos read the book in pairs. Then they come picked up this little rhyming activity to complete with their partner. The low down? This activity is just a variation of concentration that uses rhyming words from the book. To play, kiddos flip over two cards at a time, read the words on the cards, and decide if they rhyme. If they do, the kiddo keeps the pair of cards. If the words on the cards don't rhyme,the cards get turned back over and it's the next kiddo's turn. After all of the cards have been picked up, the friend with the most cards wins. They ADORE this activity. Want a copy of your own? Click on any picture preview to download the file.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets ';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 1px;"> </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets ';"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets ';"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets '; font-size: 30pt; letter-spacing: 2pt;">I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets '; font-size: 23pt; letter-spacing: 2pt;">A Rhyming Activity<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 31px; letter-spacing: 2px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets '; font-size: 18pt; letter-spacing: 2pt;">(Click on any picture preview to download the entire file!)<o:p></o:p></span></div></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMWE4MjUxZjQtYzM3Yy00NDc3LWJhOWMtZjc0MThjOTU3OGQ4&hl=en&authkey=CMyh2ZQE"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ao2HIyl7fsmCZPU0Nvc6GNbCxDKtjyLvkBqziA46c87GH-94hKrPsC9qgooT634iYrlN6LFGkyDFTca-mhPIcy2NOA_ISj0KKwUTMn9pvmBSdATNb9L1IHrWfDwIHiEOZ0FddB-WD8k/s320/Picture+2.png" width="249" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMWE4MjUxZjQtYzM3Yy00NDc3LWJhOWMtZjc0MThjOTU3OGQ4&hl=en&authkey=CMyh2ZQE"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aRKjmRFAjnJtvANqG2t7WhapBEZBisVWyxYhP_pyxiArpT3UiO46K5wK9dND9AbqiFWvX5zdI_07FnFjdBq3UhTsjwCBu_CJ3M_UJyQfmbEBu-nixNs0CFtYOtDLMWz5uM-nGDMjCF4/s320/Picture+3.png" width="250" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMWE4MjUxZjQtYzM3Yy00NDc3LWJhOWMtZjc0MThjOTU3OGQ4&hl=en&authkey=CMyh2ZQE"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-ORrP86gwDyrWrCBC4WFVitDMKbBlu8g8zkVzzpyJ_nLeEGJV1MlasEPMwE2tpMjIV3wMo-P-OFR-erMaD7MFFNU0wWLFoQcCDue7TGwcW4A7HtZpBG8EC3fheCriNVzKvJG5bBvznU/s320/Picture+4.png" width="252" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
And what workshop activity wouldn't be complete without a Show What You Know? Hence this little buddy. I use him to make sure all of my Firsties REALLY know how to read the concentration words and identify the rhymes.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets '; font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 1px;"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets '; font-size: 30pt; letter-spacing: 2pt;">I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 33px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets '; font-size: 23pt; letter-spacing: 2pt;">A Show What You Know Activity<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'AlphaFridgeMagnets '; font-size: 18pt; letter-spacing: 2pt;">(Click on the picture preview to download the file!)</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOWY1YTQ3NjYtZDU5YS00MGU3LTgzNWQtNjQ3ZmJkZDhiN2Fm&hl=en&authkey=COe30-sF"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiRTL0yFClZy4-flkMqMHG7n0wQM7NhHHC7m3cqw_k9WbNIV2ygBH77ssLgq3uGAfYLvnFiSyJhRivEebKF_EECCFOgcfCcGdWP9Cr4g0NF0vu7nIAy07KTSS_v1ktvFSByaR8ukSlLk/s320/Picture+1.png" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Have a spectacular weekend, Y'all, and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL spring weather!!!!</div></div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-72262404401355079122011-03-26T11:35:00.004-05:002011-03-26T11:52:20.857-05:00Vowel SortHey there y'all, and happy weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
So, can I share some happy news?<br />
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I JUST woke up and it's 10:30 A.M. And if that isn't wowie wow wow, I don't know what is. AMAZING. Why is it amazing, you ask? Because working for the man has completely destroyed my ability to sleep in on the weekends. SO SAD. Seriously, my crazy brain gets me up at the ripe old time of 5:30 AM every single Saturday. It is devastating. It is as though my brain just cannot understand the concept of weekends. But, not today!!!!!! Good job, brain!!!!!! I'll be sending some positive, reinforcing thoughts your way :)<br />
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In other news, our district just announced our last day of school for this year: May 24th. Um.... excuse me? May 24th??? Seriously?!?!?!?!?! I practically cried. That is waaaaaaaay to early, and I am definitely not ready to bid my babies goodbye. <<<complete sadness>>> <br />
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Moral of the story? I need to start working on our First Grade farewell tado. So, I'm wondering: how do y'all celebrate the end of the school year with your kiddos? I want this party to be SPECTACULAR because not only does it celebrate the kiddos' last year of First Grade (or so I hope... ha!), it's also celebrating their last year at our school (since our building is closing). So, any ideas? I'm drawing a blank and I would LOVE your help.<br />
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Alright, well with over two weeks out of the classroom my teacher wheels are finally turning again. Took forever but ya'know what finally inspired me? The free digs at <a href="http://www.letteringdelights.com/">Lettering Delights</a>. I'm sure I was the last person in the world to hear about the free cuteness, but can I gush anyway? ADORABLE!!!!!!!! You MUST go!!!!!! And if my gushing isn't enough to convince you to go, check out this phonemic awareness/sound discrimination Long Vowel Sort that I made especially for YOU. The precious clip art is all FREE from Lettering Delights. So, moral of the story? Go get you some free clip art cuteness.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the downloads!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Squirrelly';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 80px; letter-spacing: 5px;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Squirrelly';"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "DJ Squirrelly"; font-size: 59.0pt;">By Gum!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "DJ Squirrelly"; font-size: 25.0pt;">A Long Vowel Sort <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "DJ Squirrelly"; font-size: 18.0pt;">(Click any picture preview to download the entire file)<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Squirrelly';"><div></div></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOWY0MDQyMWQtZDhkYi00MzVlLWIwODktZDdhOWI0OWM4YWNh&hl=en&authkey=CPi077kE"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70BRioljALZVDVLXFm6WazRTodMg3_kgQlohiQOEqmriMiN_Vg2DksiZiGEUVSpAOlawYpfYBY8Gf1jgsg76pJmTNfYBdKG3yN-jeCexYbvD9lmOLV4WUNq1iymY2Of75Jxqeay_coG4/s400/Picture+1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOWY0MDQyMWQtZDhkYi00MzVlLWIwODktZDdhOWI0OWM4YWNh&hl=en&authkey=CPi077kE"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EIW6o1Ec_i0miP9avAD2W04-Q9nHsjQ2kdDs6swLPGo2RQWljaBfpc5mzMZfxxSbs4WI8zUcn-KnQpee-9SDHE2kr46Ci66HkeXVrpr5rwu39HVO_jik-AI3sOy-GOGMiBZJoYY39s4/s400/Picture+2.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOWY0MDQyMWQtZDhkYi00MzVlLWIwODktZDdhOWI0OWM4YWNh&hl=en&authkey=CPi077kE"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ymZSZ6yONoRwKHVWCky2oRrAmD4Aag7hnFyPgGNK__CWrTGZ4l3X8okZOWu0U0JZen1aiUgT8wjB-NAOigeqI9nHjuWZjlfiiu7yAEYk24kTSrmqXkT99MjzfbUewbUrSEzGB99Q_8s/s400/Picture+3.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOWY0MDQyMWQtZDhkYi00MzVlLWIwODktZDdhOWI0OWM4YWNh&hl=en&authkey=CPi077kE"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2GSliysY8k_5BRmtNxwbDzoR1WRnTE0cT160cLUR1prkRVqqQTurUb-HqEi6lPzvTMuBQsWtUG2D9s39MgPZyb55w-1hU_OwxZAqVU1cEWtcXy65d03wxSi7z1sT5aqSEjcjD4k1cN4/s400/Picture+4.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: DJSquirrelly;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 107px; letter-spacing: 6px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: normal;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Squirrelly'; font-size: 67px;">By Gum!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<!--StartFragment--> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "DJ Squirrelly"; font-size: 25.0pt;">A Show What You Know Cut & Paste Activity<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "DJ Squirrelly"; font-size: 18.0pt;">(Click any picture preview to download the entire file)<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Squirrelly';"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Squirrelly';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 33px; letter-spacing: 5px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOGIxMzNmNmQtMzFjZS00NjY1LTllMzktZDZiYTgxOGY3MTlh&hl=en&authkey=CIfNw7cG"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrpSMHleBpicu_Ix22VzpXs8URhT6bKlonWCV8guGxUdBdvBEW7lY_XpDT2elIS79UJBpYuiVKxcTDVmEl0muaZ0dGBTV2MW8oK272O_mNUUO1bzJ7PxlOB9se6FXzU6T_fOvIhtnsBw/s400/Picture+5.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOGIxMzNmNmQtMzFjZS00NjY1LTllMzktZDZiYTgxOGY3MTlh&hl=en&authkey=CIfNw7cG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedFr6s4Gziqf4Fx4V4Cf2jBs5kb0tK2pvy0wyvLrI9T0sIE-uTgNG49NZ-L_PecrBKHkKkUuvl5rYcd5v6fe2t8raW80Tk6YJh3UDqMRiYPqL1mL3jkVYua3-LhHn_544DWf-2CuQmYk/s400/Picture+6.png" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div></span></div></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span></b></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Squirrelly';"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Squirrelly';"></span>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-57248557103591338992011-03-23T19:28:00.003-05:002011-03-23T19:36:05.337-05:00Giveaway Results & NSF Giveaway Info!<div style="text-align: center;">Alright, y'all. It's the moment we've been waiting for all week (ha! or me at the least)! <br />
<drum roll, please></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNw8lGihMIHGlREq2pS-ylBsills8eyZV3qgkSNaOd5ZID0MjK63mMHmHEmk0d0hDfJq9alN_dPejTxGug3WxTAkWSpxD3TEU6dN2IPBPya5wx3n01sjYLfOLY1NDzvXOZOKRqDXp7fk/s1600/Giveaway+PDF.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNw8lGihMIHGlREq2pS-ylBsills8eyZV3qgkSNaOd5ZID0MjK63mMHmHEmk0d0hDfJq9alN_dPejTxGug3WxTAkWSpxD3TEU6dN2IPBPya5wx3n01sjYLfOLY1NDzvXOZOKRqDXp7fk/s640/Giveaway+PDF.png" width="640" /></a></div>And if you didn't win, don't feel too sad because this little giveaway has gotten me ADDICTED to all things giveaway. Seriously, I have a feeling that I will be doing TONS of these guys in the future ;)<br />
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Speaking of giveaways, have y'all heard about the NSF's Scrub Club giveaway? It is FABULOUS. Snap a photo of your kiddos with shiny clean hands and you can enter the Scrub Club Clean Hands Giveaway to win one of five $100.00 gift cards. One picture for a chance to win $100 bucks?!?!?!? I am all over that!!!!! And, did I mention that the Scrub Club website is ADORABLE. So perfect for teaching all about germs. Want to enter??????? Click <a href="http://www.scrubclub.org/info/classroom.aspx">here</a>.<br />
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Alrighty, so I'm always a little bit on the fence about sharing personal info for the whole world to read (unless of course it's my love for Star Trek. Classy, right????), but for once I'm going to make a special exception and share something close to my own little heart. Enter MAYO CLINIC, ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA. Y'all, I have been up here in the Northland for the past week on "vacation" to be treated for a bleeding disorder and, let me tell you, the doctors here are INCREDIBLE. While I originally planned on keeping this little "vacation hot spot" a secret (because sharing medical info on the WWW seems a little creepy), I just knew that I was called to share what an awesome place Mayo is with you fabulous people after experiencing the amazing medical care they provide. So, if you or anyone you love ever needs medical attention (which I pray never happens), head up on north. You may get snowed on, but I promise you that the medical treatment and tax free clothes at the Mall of America will make the trip well worth your while. Moral of the story? Minnesota rocks.<br />
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So, wanna know what I'm doing tomorrow? Driving back to reality, that's what. After two weeks of Spring Break and my little "vacation," I am soooooooo excited to return to my classroom, sleep in my own bed, stop smelling like a suitcase, and post some new freebies for y'all to use in the classroom!!!!!!! Vacation= Over. We'll just see if I ever get back to cookin'. A week and a half of eating out can really spoil a girl. But don't worry, Mr. Handsome. I will feed you even if I don't resume cooking. It just might require the help of my new best friend, Carry Out.<br />
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Hope you are having a FANTASTIC Wednesday, Y'all!Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-70971361491493398192011-03-16T10:24:00.002-05:002011-03-16T10:28:06.397-05:00Giveaway!!!!Alright, Y'all. So I think it's high time I had my first giveaway. Sooooo overdue!!!! And let me tell you....<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I. Am. Excited!!!!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Seriously, if my husband has to hear about this giveaway one more time, I think he will go CRAZY.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>So, what am I giving away? A $20 gift certificate to the most DARLING clipart website in the world: www.scrappindoodles.com. Y'all, I get all of my clipart there and I LOVE IT! <br />
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Want to win??? Here's how:<br />
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1. Become a follower of my blog and leave a post telling me you did so. If you're already a follower, leave me a post letting me know you already follow.<br />
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2. Want a bonus entry? Link to this post or stick my button somewhere on your blog. Leave me a link to your post or my button and you'll have 2 entries.<br />
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3. Finally, check back in a week. I'll announce the winner of the giveaway on Wednesday, March 23rd.<br />
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Wishing you a FABULOUS day!!!!!!!!Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com119tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-73508464068789148232011-03-12T07:38:00.000-06:002011-03-12T07:38:45.073-06:00Reading Riddle GameAlright Y'all, so I gotta tell you, my stomach is in some SERIOUS knots. ELL endorsement test in T minus 3 hours.<br />
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YIKES!!!!!!!! <br />
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I sooooooo cannot wait to have it over with. A chocolate milkshake will definitely be in order to celebrate. And then.... it's Spring Break time!!!!!!!!!!!! Heading with Mr. Handsome to the family farm, and then we're off to good ol' Minnesota. (Going someplace even colder than Kansas for Spring Break?????? AHHHH!!!!! So unjust......)<br />
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But, we are going to have a FABULOUS time. After all, who doesn't love Minnesota? Problem is, we have to figure out what all there is to do up there. Suggestions?!? I'd love to hear them!!!! We're going to be in Rochester, but a weekend trip to Minneapolis will probably be in order. I would LOVE to hear about your favorite places to shop at the Mall of America. The tax free clothes are calling me.... <smile><br />
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But, I digress. Want a Reading Riddle Game. Here it is. And, y'all I had SOOOO much fun making this!!!!!!! Just grab some game pieces (My kiddos use little toy cars), a dice, print the gameboard, print the playing cards, and you're in business!! Kids just roll the dice, move their little car, and have a friend draw a playing card to read them a riddle. The riddle is a question and the answer has a short or long vowel sound in it. If they get the answer to the riddle correct, they can keep their car where it is. If not their car has to go back to where it came from. <so sad><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Super simple, the kids love it, and it gets all my kiddos involved in some higher order thinking. </div><div style="text-align: center;">LOVE IT. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope it helps you and your Firsties!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><!--StartFragment--> </div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Smiley Monster"; font-size: 29.0pt;">honk, honk: a riddle game<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Smiley Monster"; font-size: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Smiley Monster"; font-size: 14.0pt;">(Click on any picture preview to download the file)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPYjBjZjRmMjctMDYwNy00YzE4LWI5YjAtNjhhZDJlN2JlNmNk&hl=en&authkey=CNqGhAo"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpvl1eEEgfKp-0h_0eth1Efb6F_lAMTwI0LOIJ9mKQ7UKbP59VDXrO0RwG7Tqck4MhGWd0o1IxtEJ9b03A0n0taVvpeOdAv5XBQoFVjERBeA7EcvKnBOKgGHqrrk4U-ZExei15T8fjjA/s320/Picture+7.png" width="246" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPYjBjZjRmMjctMDYwNy00YzE4LWI5YjAtNjhhZDJlN2JlNmNk&hl=en&authkey=CNqGhAo"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30YmxOj38DGJn_SlR32rEfhramANeClGU-Biqod0pJKrFCu9YwRi7DcLVSW6EPWxAkexTw0MVWn3_TSLcp9xEOckuy-qvOVkPPwon2CK6-tqJ3gJT-DmSdCHrtSNEWeBNJuCHFMQ0XOI/s320/Picture+9.png" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPYjBjZjRmMjctMDYwNy00YzE4LWI5YjAtNjhhZDJlN2JlNmNk&hl=en&authkey=CNqGhAo"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDwB8cKeoqsFpUnqcb2H1vBDHo67Ri0GH7rU40VB-sYsOpozFOp-63FjwcjvudIdTpBd4EUtbXswPkTSHzOturp8fTJhbzg4edGGZjBrknT9TczT9TdE8WMJij77X-lv3HQoLdgjGiW4/s320/Picture+10.png" width="251" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPYjBjZjRmMjctMDYwNy00YzE4LWI5YjAtNjhhZDJlN2JlNmNk&hl=en&authkey=CNqGhAo"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4zeteLYhTdr683Fqrlf_8C0vL5mg2Yj-GxWlnT4xdo-4MPSMcegQFQ_hqt0HtEQ3ZwaGkkctcn6ofDmcycvc7leqP5nYwOKmOpKfgGaUIAG8BFyiryjZUCc7LkyC-rcYbym_jxseajM/s320/Picture+8.png" width="247" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Smiley Monster'; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Smiley Monster';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 39px;"> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: SmileyMonster; font-size: 28.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">honk, honk: the game board</span><span style="font-family: "Smiley Monster"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Smiley Monster'; font-size: 18pt;"><span> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Smiley Monster'; font-size: 14pt;">(Click on any picture preview to download the file)</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOTI4ODFhNzMtZGFmNy00MjYwLWE5NjktZGUyMWRjOGU3MGVl&hl=en&authkey=CL-LopIH"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXca_Gs6YaB1Ut5-fXx7bbgAIde4nQdEtQXNvyynYsStwVRNHo3KTx-FseNu1bvnKCV9m7dVINMClOVRJTxkiooL3EZbA-EqXvLvoT8v9MC6t9LZeDPBZaroLPYrRM3EEteDlZXZx6vo/s320/Picture+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOTI4ODFhNzMtZGFmNy00MjYwLWE5NjktZGUyMWRjOGU3MGVl&hl=en&authkey=CL-LopIH"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVKEDz25sE_8ls2GZOwzuxsDAMTBoqDaj5BRNJthvYECZG_iFOw0hSKAqzoU756VSjPTAV2bsV9dQ7St_8xbmNKWfrSG4-DYpw4lIfVGMVUr7gHqM9BCQnsDHN0NH9YOUi2zQMgdUcnc/s320/Picture+2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Have a SUPER weekend, Y'all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You deserve it!!!!!!!!!</div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-68123256174981985312011-03-11T12:08:00.000-06:002011-03-11T12:08:25.239-06:00Nutrition<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mercy! It has been a CRAZY week!!!!!! (A good week, but crazy!!!!...) Can I hear a serious ‘Hallelujah!” for Spring Break?!?!? I don’t know about y’all, but I cannot wait to get in some jammie time</span><span serif??,?serif??="">…</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">. maybe watch a little Star Trek, read my Bible</span><span serif??,?serif??="">…</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">. It’s going to be FAB-U-LOUS!</span></span></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, I know I posted a nutrition book earlier this year, but I wanted to post a few nutrition “extras” because I have nutrition on the brain. (We're a Title school and healthy habits are not always discussed in the kiddo’s homes so I teach nutrition ALL YEAR. Can you say OBESSESED?!?!) </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">With that said, here are a couple of things I use in my classroom. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 3pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I ALWAYS have the kids practice sorting foods into the food groups. Before giving my students a Food Group Food Sort to complete independently, we sort food on the Food Pyramid taped to my floor.</span></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWJr1QSaZB2PCZbpUQXdo4o9EBDeGCDRsBTVf74HVOFf4Gs29SsXzxUk3KiwK0JP9Vh5bP2UBjQXlGk-qatWdfF4joiZPCfIX90f6cPVYTPYjYfkhvtzPpStgx7577s7hco-jg02JsqY/s1600/KC+Star+Field+Trip+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWJr1QSaZB2PCZbpUQXdo4o9EBDeGCDRsBTVf74HVOFf4Gs29SsXzxUk3KiwK0JP9Vh5bP2UBjQXlGk-qatWdfF4joiZPCfIX90f6cPVYTPYjYfkhvtzPpStgx7577s7hco-jg02JsqY/s320/KC+Star+Field+Trip+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Taped Food Pyramid. This is the first year I've used the new pyramid. At first I was a skeptic, but now I secretly love it. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJGaCcV-dG9H5aM0httVO3b8PrCCWTlDKVkOBcHUtoqEpWNwkwGPSxvJ2ZjdPEePENAU7_TwHxS8_XDX_y7V8wbTp0WY4MFZa4o0aeUFj8SrqiEeg3kuY1wBOIlnoaD-rplMkpsDkfJs/s1600/KC+Star+Field+Trip+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJGaCcV-dG9H5aM0httVO3b8PrCCWTlDKVkOBcHUtoqEpWNwkwGPSxvJ2ZjdPEePENAU7_TwHxS8_XDX_y7V8wbTp0WY4MFZa4o0aeUFj8SrqiEeg3kuY1wBOIlnoaD-rplMkpsDkfJs/s320/KC+Star+Field+Trip+003.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food pyramid labels.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The kids LOVE this. As for what we sort... I just bring in some old empty (but cleaned!) boxes and cans from home. I secretly call it my "Sort the Trash" activity. HA!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipezujalgrfXdZnoYmsm1gteeSrxGqIgTAdpD11jQKlmniNySP3Gl1mdfIiZFqblyF2V-HGZmAhEp-6RjAWUTRUeNWmhLE-i_g0gyIHXH_caFBUQdyC0t8CMynYPlE4gbVotpyaKzjDE4/s1600/KC+Star+Field+Trip+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipezujalgrfXdZnoYmsm1gteeSrxGqIgTAdpD11jQKlmniNySP3Gl1mdfIiZFqblyF2V-HGZmAhEp-6RjAWUTRUeNWmhLE-i_g0gyIHXH_caFBUQdyC0t8CMynYPlE4gbVotpyaKzjDE4/s200/KC+Star+Field+Trip+001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The foods I use. (I.E. My trash)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each child gets to pick one item to put on the food pyramid. Before placing it in its food group, they have to explain why that food belongs to that food group.</span></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After we sort the foods as a group, the kids complete this Food Group Food Sort independently. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Smiley Monster'; font-size: 30pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Food group food sort</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPODVlNzhkNTEtYjNiMS00ZWNjLWFjZjItNjk0NWU5NTcwNTk5&hl=en&authkey=CKjwoucD"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwhVKPxTW1ahaHRijBEH7Lt6nBIgoR__g6wcsz7iBBBd_iS6V-5uFhh5tM-oBQpuTFileXWH5d_9vry4-6esvwA5DeJO_uRIetdF70ClEVqXhgDIad2mA87VLSe298XF7EsnaS7RhhPk/s1600/Food+Group+Sort+Pic+1.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPODVlNzhkNTEtYjNiMS00ZWNjLWFjZjItNjk0NWU5NTcwNTk5&hl=en&authkey=CKjwoucD"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKCdZXJlGRbO9_o7ZNmp1IN-yRmsLrSIlWgrvFSMnJpcgbKNlrzkTbqF6bhn37Y1Y6fYrhWH60d5KrIiuYVkPz02gTFRe1I4fM-G9UYkMMPDVUbrzHnnT2UgklUwt8b0fsrXGrHGTchw/s1600/Food+Group+Sort+Pic+2.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> <br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then, once we finish our “Nutrition Unit”, we revisit nutrition every time we do Calendar by discussing the students’ lunch options for the day. We discuss each food available for purchase and what food group that food would be a part of. The kids think it’s GREAT. We use magnetic pictures of the food options to create a “Healthy Tray” with many different food groups and healthy items that the kids can use as a model when they load up their tray at lunch.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Wishing You a Happy and Healthy Spring Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mrs. Thiessen</span></div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-34340103996134239422011-03-08T16:53:00.005-06:002011-03-08T21:07:41.658-06:00Quick Spring Projects!Hey there, Y'all!<br />
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So, let me tell you, it has been MAJOR crunch time in my classroom this week to get my room decorated for Spring!!! Aside from wanting to get rid of all of the snowmen and penguins for my own personal sanity, I HAD to get some Spring up on the walls because I have to be gone the week after Spring Break. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">MAJOR YUCK.</div><br />
But, get this. That's not even the worst part!!!! The worst part is, as soon as I come back, we have conferences. And, let's face it, having conferences surrounded by snowmen IN APRIL is just a little bit ridiculous.<br />
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Enter all projects fast, thrifty, and Springy. Here's what we've been up to this week:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Flower Fact Families</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUfODHz3qF_WNUQGMAXCRmgqvGfcbNtpdNVya1WD36xanu2ls3i6JjWPfxhZ7mJ6v04Ot61klGiS7adDDEqQ9xC3wwfac0QACWfGM8IeDc109F23sCJ2c7cw9FvdpBdfnlPuX599K_as/s320/Fact+Family+Flowers+3.jpg" width="320" /> <img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcqFfYsQ6Q5cBSVhvvHafhWfoyr3p7gxKYAP-f7ZXaDoceNdIoZkZUxWfN1PJzfHE6eg0ZhC-qUKXCmSFlrkJA5YA165TG_bBdtAAXOmbQclNDoacoX356vuFgV_Ga6D1zzAfKbVl_YY/s320/Fact+Family+Flower+1.JPG" width="240" /> <img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ1DsxE-H3DfntDbX2lbyntxw0mIX6hy87saRGEbE0GCO0_4NvKP-Is-nuoAmBohadtsLjOGn7KAQNJae2mPWbVfH0ZwGJ96kyiCC-s2U2_9z7aDgQWMbbhnbVsQQ8bKC7B5rRvlJVjo/s320/Fact+Family+Flower+Close-Up.jpg" width="320" /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">So, for this little project the kids cut-out pre-made templates that I had photocopied on construction paper. Then, they slapped together a flower. DARLING. Educational touch???? The kiddos wrote fact families on their flowers. 20 minutes, the kids LOVED it, and they got in some fact family review. So worth the time! <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Bumblebee, Bumblebee </strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>A Poem By Me</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1650126381"></a> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNWY4NzczNzEtYTlhNC00MGEyLWE4ZDMtMjg2MTE3NmNkY2M2&hl=en&authkey=CLHOpPkF"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL-MZDp8vlC_xfMYufYz5R2LgdDtHrT7yrf-Q_mhQzdrqb81fEIryDcBFHTFBg2srClWOsyF0vBbbXiTuuVR1gP0l0drXo4fgrHKYhCSO6TBm120sn5GHSTRD0zi-4AgHrhObYVwbLKE/s400/Bumble+Bee+List+Poem+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click the pic to download the bumblebee pattern.</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">So, I have to tell you that this is has been my favorite Spring project BY FAR! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Lately we have been talking a lot about "juicy" words. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Enter Bumblebee List Poem. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">To begin, I had the kiddos close their eyes and visualize a bee flying around outside. Then, they opened their eyes and we brainstormed juicy words that described what the bee was up to: buzzing, swooping, soaring, stinging, pollinating, etc. All things bees. After brain-storming, the kiddos went back to their desks, put this precious bumble bee together, and wrote their very own list poems. Simple, cute, and they LOVED IT!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Rain, Rain, Go Away:</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>A Long 'A' Sort</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAOfsEdxmIom7SwcsPlJ1vLna959EtJK6dVfekkvDf9fYdo9qgzH41k4eg1BsaVPBtZ4N8ncNPWb6_WWW0cNcLXPraRfJ1tlI5wrvuR5Y4XGv_OgeaFG4U9zpsJu8vld36MN8hzjSfi4/s200/Long+A+Sort.jpg" width="150" /></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So, this little buddy was morning work. Super easy to put together and it didn't take the kiddos more than 20 minutes to do themselves. The low-down? Each kiddo gets a page of raindrops. I gave my low kiddos raindrops that already had words printed on them. Then, they had to read the word on each raindrop and decide if it had the long A sound or if it didn't. If it did, they cut out the raindrop and glued it to their umbrella page. As for my higher kiddos? They got a page of blank raindrops and had to write their own long 'A' words. And did I mention that theirs turned out waaaaaay cuter than mine? A yellow umbrella with orange polka dots? What was I thinking?!?!?!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">So....I have to know. What are you doing to cover your walls with Spring this year??????</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a FABULOUS Tuesday!!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-46651725256397299552011-03-07T20:40:00.007-06:002011-03-07T21:15:27.454-06:00Spoiled With a Brand New Look<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, I have to share how EXCITED I am about my blog's new look!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to sweet </span><a href="http://oh-sospoiled.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cara</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> over at </span><a href="http://oh-sospoiled.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Oh So Spoiled</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> for spoiling ME with this cuteness! AMAZING!!!!!! Check her out, y'all. She's WONDERFUL.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In other news, want to know what I've been up to in the classroom?????</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It took our ENTIRE reserve of glue sticks for the rest of the year (AHHH!), but I am pleased to announce that my Firsties and I have evicted old man winter from the classroom. No more snowmen, no more cute penguins, and if I so much as SEE a snowflake.... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Goodbye, Winter. Hello, Spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Old man winter has left the building.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And, to celebrate? Well, let's just say that we celebrated with construction paper and Elmer's in hand. And THAT makes my heart happy ♥♥♥.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Monday, y'all!!!!!</span>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-25156826543060905852011-03-05T11:32:00.005-06:002011-03-05T11:50:22.345-06:00Newspaper Mini-Unit<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Alright, y'all. So, earlier this month my Firsties and I did a little newspaper mini-unit. To be honest, I wasn't at all sure how it was going to go down, but they LOVED it. So, I thought I would share. Hope it helps you!!!!!!!!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">We began our unit as I begin all of my units- with a KWL chart. And let me tell you, the kids cracked me up with their "prior knowledge" about newspapers. For example, did you know that, "Newspapers can tell you there are cool pants you can buy at Old Navy?????" Direct quote. HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurhBfBIZr5jftgeOxaGR-_Y1J6L72pyM5u2ARPyIIcT5y8jMhCzCULC5lv0c5RLJ6ZiErBQubaPHYbT4aeags4xdfJV6BhioVoD1DBKq3ZbHyk2Z4seLXRGpC9QWID3W-YabG9YsJa7M/s1600/What+WE+KNow+about+Newspapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurhBfBIZr5jftgeOxaGR-_Y1J6L72pyM5u2ARPyIIcT5y8jMhCzCULC5lv0c5RLJ6ZiErBQubaPHYbT4aeags4xdfJV6BhioVoD1DBKq3ZbHyk2Z4seLXRGpC9QWID3W-YabG9YsJa7M/s200/What+WE+KNow+about+Newspapers.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gSkWqAYh-CGqFsGeIsG4E-zSJtZFtoDKeUWNmysb8onNahYSNUFJ65cktVMuLAFkMx9L0Whfsn6u5tKvJ_hFbzbQp6RoUt0WyBN0VDclnnC06SnhQKivsy_gBRCv4kdcu61n4cpnXPU/s1600/What+WE+Want+to+Know+ABout+Newspapers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gSkWqAYh-CGqFsGeIsG4E-zSJtZFtoDKeUWNmysb8onNahYSNUFJ65cktVMuLAFkMx9L0Whfsn6u5tKvJ_hFbzbQp6RoUt0WyBN0VDclnnC06SnhQKivsy_gBRCv4kdcu61n4cpnXPU/s200/What+WE+Want+to+Know+ABout+Newspapers.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">After making our KWL chart, we dove into all things newspapers. Manufacturing, sections, writing headlines, newspaper funding, jobs at newspapers, ads, etc. and so forth.<br />
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Here are some of the activities I used:</span><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"><strong>HIRE ME, MR. EDITOR!</strong></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">So, I'm always astounded by the sheer number of people it takes to publish a newspaper. And, the talent it takes to fill all of the jobs at a paper is soooooo diverse. So, the kiddos and I spent some time talking about the various jobs available at a paper (editor, journalist, sports writers\, cartoonist, etc.) Then, after talking a bit about each job and the talents that would be required, I had the kids apply for a job at the newspaper. They had to list the job they were applying for and give reasons why they would be good at it. Of course all of my boys wanted to be Sports Writers. Go figure....</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 30pt;">Hire Me, Mr. Editor!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 16pt;">(Click the picture preview to download)</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMjQxNzI0ODMtNmFkNi00NGZkLWE2MTUtODY0OGQwMTY0OTAz&hl=en&authkey=CKqNvaEG"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysXzeQpmC8e-Vv2iDmxEi242WyrP2Yq_trnIXze7iXuxJFyeICcySz8JQP1Q4cqbrLG9wupMQnfanaOGOrKuv9s69_0iPdpcpq9UIskbZb1sJcPBV66taZfSFit1r_xAZjSlBaMaKn3c/s1600/HIRE+ME+MR+EDITOR+3.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMjQxNzI0ODMtNmFkNi00NGZkLWE2MTUtODY0OGQwMTY0OTAz&hl=en&authkey=CKqNvaEG"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRdQq8GZRgecb7AYACWb2kb3KUirscakWRRU7Qd9xZVr6CQl59tcQnDs5cbvzAdc7HuHlZtxXo5Z9g-U_1mHkp1exfV3H9prJEe8F6E17Is8GyoVvbIl9VNAEs6IIo2dfJLgwZGYSfszI/s1600/HIRE+ME+MR+EDITOR+4.png" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">HEADLINE SORT</span></b></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Throughout out unit we spent a lot of time talking about the diversity of information that's present in a newspaper. The kids were amazed to learn that papers give so much information about so many topics- sales, world events, sports, etc. And, they thought it was FABULOUS that the newspaper also has games! Ha!!!!!</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">After surveying all of the information you can find in the newspaper, we discussed how editors organize all of the articles in the newspaper into sections by topic. To give the kiddos practice "being an editor" I made this reading center. Kids read the headlines, and decide which section of the paper the article would be found in.</span></div><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 30pt;">Hot Off the Press Headlines</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 16pt;">(Click the picture preview to download)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNDM2MTZlMGEtNDM2NC00MmZiLWI4N2QtZjUyZDgyOTlmZjlh&hl=en&authkey=CKKQ9ZgO"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLPfe7gjhAZDA02UV05iZEFbAPmCGEQr0C8svwuxCR_quWBQmGhuR0CXEjq0DiOCtfQxacgqUKNuh2WPf6U0dPM934oha-w-OQ8_clSvO3k_Ckp-L5PXKTVgXgSt1NzKPkh5PQra6jr0/s320/Hot+Off+the+PRess+HEadlines+4.png" width="247" /></a></div> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNDM2MTZlMGEtNDM2NC00MmZiLWI4N2QtZjUyZDgyOTlmZjlh&hl=en&authkey=CKKQ9ZgO"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MCxKse_mlNLzSWOVZgItrUiV3gWNNvFSymqC5oZzgqPHts0mZoqtkvUjAtl1WuNcZrgP14YEXSupi8y8kGyPBnIj9uFr9KZnPH5FnMZxkD1oKEo1wth1mnqK4k5JsuU3ix9zS_RUX10/s320/HOT+OFF+THE+PRESS+HEADLINES+5.png" width="247" /></a><br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNDM2MTZlMGEtNDM2NC00MmZiLWI4N2QtZjUyZDgyOTlmZjlh&hl=en&authkey=CKKQ9ZgO"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE91Iq4mP_zCPiZiclRxgnFieTiePx0NZKoSMh2pTNLaLRDqmqKEtV-usy4sjaM94wE7nGI_e6dmWSDcCkt8OVm3vZOfqal98mDfERcUlwlG6rPJ10l6vmjF_udlKYFey2D9LuI5tJdFM/s320/HOT+OFF+THE+PRESS+HEADLINES+6.png" width="247" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"><strong>WRITING HEADLINES</strong></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">The culminating activity for our unit was writing our own newspapers of course so we used this activity to practice writing headlines before writing the headlines for our own stories.</span><br />
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</span></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Extra, Extra! Read All About It!</strong></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: x-large;"><strong>I Can Write Headlines!</strong></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 16pt;"><strong> (Click the picture preview to download)</strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNWJhYTI0ZDMtNDljZi00MWZlLThhMDUtMzAwNDllYmI4MTkx&hl=en&authkey=CLT19c0G"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvHffvM3LpaQIqUp-Dyq7B8mVipxVaNd7SeFg-R-I-u7vQ53xKa5QEhm1LQ_eOXq_NdoczFM_85x8_RKxICtGmre8mT17GT0ewzqNiK4tfchEIGNHHJNEPTcK6cu8RG5GsNEHN-urDG0/s320/I+CAN+WRITE+HEADLINES+2.png" width="246" /></a></div></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp32O7MvWENs2zosJAeTKJbnMwB1b8Tufj6oZOLTZImtWFZWbQYadN4fw9dSb2n7cf1dPCu3ik2Phd4mD3-OshSvVKPYVrkXlxgDGby3rrIj1i9ClwPglxqpMEJ4MTD3e7MpPWyzw6Xcg/s1600/I+Can+Write+Headlines.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong></strong></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">At the end of our Newspaper Unit, we were privileged enough to tour our local newspaper's press building, The Kansas City. It was FABULOUS! If you have a newspaper in town, you should DEFINITELY take a field trip to tour their presses. It is so worth it and the best part is that most newspapers offer the tour for FREE. Pure Awesomeness.</span><br />
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</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"><strong>TYPE SETTING: THE EVOLUTION OF NEWSPAPERS</strong></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
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</strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">To prepare my kiddos for the Kansas City Star tour, we spent a couple of days discussing how newspapers are put together. First we talked about modern-day publishing which uses computers and publishing software to layout a newspaper. Then, we discussed how newspapers were put together BEFORE the advent of computers (Of course the fact that computers didn't used to be EVERYWHERE is totally unfathomable to my kids. </span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">They. make. me. feel. old.)</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">When we talked about old-fashioned type setting, the kids learned about how Type Setters used to lay out entire newspapers by hand using font molds and frames. CRAZ-I-NESS, right? And that's not even the craziest part!!!!! All of the stories had to be laid out BACKWARDS in a MIRROR IMAGE. I get overwhelmed just thinking about it. Thank heavens for modern-day technology, huh?</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">In an effort to give my kiddos a little old-fashioned type-setting fun (ha!), I had the kids time themselves stamping a sentence backwards. They LOVED this. And, it took them FOREVER. Then we compared how long it took them to stamp the sentence backwards with how long it took me to type the sentence on the computer. No contest. </span><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 30pt;"><strong>Newspaper Type Setting</strong></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 16pt;"><strong> (Click the picture preview to download)</strong></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPYzVkZmFlZGEtMzAzMS00NzQwLWEzY2YtMGM2MmRmYmE2ZjZm&hl=en&authkey=CLr_uik"><img border="0" height="247" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQayvAqZTqPR4I4_1VcXlEU6BC7F1mSvwq3GNog0rLlEX14eK9UV3r9HpQVUtqzS5sTAgVxAoobJ927XNJVeBq0yx-pqAqXrKtMQBeBUiX-BWmkW1AI65HMenR5lKwsD9nZlsVciBZPYM/s320/NEWSPAPER+STAMPING+2.png" width="320" /></a><strong></strong><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">NEWSPAPER PUBLISHING</span></strong></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">And, what newspaper mini-unit wouldn't be complete without the kids making their our own newspapers??? Here's the newspaper we made as a class before the students each made their own paper.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87rcz_gfBKEFSmKNqTMhb7VEu80yFKQ7kC5cOsSIuTZLtHhg4Sa3-seB4SFWCu0UDqf2hfb3MElliL2GUKkvrAKaxTMjxv-lKgIIe-prmsya7p3L7lvU3LahI0Uwig0Dy2ECQapH2mu8/s1600/NEWSPAPER+FRONT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87rcz_gfBKEFSmKNqTMhb7VEu80yFKQ7kC5cOsSIuTZLtHhg4Sa3-seB4SFWCu0UDqf2hfb3MElliL2GUKkvrAKaxTMjxv-lKgIIe-prmsya7p3L7lvU3LahI0Uwig0Dy2ECQapH2mu8/s320/NEWSPAPER+FRONT.jpg" width="261" /></strong></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzi4W_XQHSJBZH889KUN_oDYNiwpbEpzlDqk9zIHwCMjV0Qj83MJPfJTlIEPhc8j7qrZ_ZGkvmT7BFmcj1d2Lrq_iM1ZMJDeNYyzK8xL2syqDA9RV1o5zwaPWqVJvOto1QLZNl35TwJ0/s1600/NEWSPAPER+BACK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><strong><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzi4W_XQHSJBZH889KUN_oDYNiwpbEpzlDqk9zIHwCMjV0Qj83MJPfJTlIEPhc8j7qrZ_ZGkvmT7BFmcj1d2Lrq_iM1ZMJDeNYyzK8xL2syqDA9RV1o5zwaPWqVJvOto1QLZNl35TwJ0/s320/NEWSPAPER+BACK.jpg" width="269" /></strong></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Each newspaper the kids made included a feature story about our trip to the Star, an editorial about a topic of their choice (one little boy wrote about the quality of the school cafeteria's chicken poppers- HA!!!!!!) and coverage of the Super Bowl. Each kiddo also had to draw one ad, one comic, and report about the weather.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Then, after the kids finished their newspapers, we had a publishing party and the kids read one another their "hot off the press" papers. </span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">SO cute.</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Hop you have a WONDERFUL Saturday, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt;">Mrs. Thiessen</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-19902872648640546952011-03-02T18:47:00.003-06:002011-03-02T18:51:53.160-06:00Ow Sort<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So, I have a confession to make.....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">LOVE</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">. PHONICS.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And not just a little bit, my friends. Sounds spelling relationships, schwa sounds, the phonetic alphabet, blends, digraphs, EVERYTHING!!! The whole nine yards.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But, the sad this is, I was a whole language learner.... </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Devastating, right? </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I never even ENCOUNTERED phonics until I student taught at age TWENTY. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Saddest story ever.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">BUT, there is a happy ending, for when I got my grimy little paws on phonics we became inseparable. Believe me, it did not take long for sound spelling relationships to ROCK MY WORLD. Everything I knew about language went completely kaputs. The fact that short o says, "ah"??????? INCREDIBLE!!!! That one alone had me for 6 MONTHS. My “ah phase"... I remember it like it was yesterday. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But, I am sad to announce that I have finally found a flaw in my dear friend phonics. And here it is: One spelling </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">SHOULD NOT</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> be able to say two sounds. Seriously. It is SOOOO confusing to First Graders. The poor darlings get in such a tizzy. And, recently their tizzy has been with the 'ow' spelling.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Enter this sort. And, can I just share how excited I am that it's all black and white? NO LAMINATION OR EXPENSIVE COLOR INK NECESSARY. Woohoo!!!!! I hope I'm not the only one excited about that fact, because let's face it… I'm pretty excited about that fact.... Ha!!!!!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So, here's the deal: There are two cows. There's a Long O Cow and an /ow/ Cow. There's also a page of spots for the cows. Kiddos just read the word on each spot and decide if it says the Long O sound or the /ow/ sound. Then, they cut out the spot and glue it on the corresponding cow. Easy as cake and the kids LOVE it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hope it helps you and your Firsties.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive';">Mrs. Thiessen<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive';"><br />
</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 47px; text-transform: uppercase;"> <!--StartFragment--> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy';"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Doodle Tipsy"; font-size: 40.0pt;">The Dairy Cow “OW” Sort<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Doodle Tipsy"; font-size: 18.0pt;">(Click on any of the picture previews to download the entire file)<o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive';"></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive';"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive';"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPZWI3ZjQyY2ItNzUxZC00ZWUzLTkyZTktZTNlNTQyZjNlZWYz&hl=en&authkey=CNK8-MEP"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8lm6jBGiw2z6Xw4X5UVarRfkLYQMHMYAEV1X7gUdKiKJ6mTf8g07wjfJWb6s9e3J7DS11f886xeCAguA5aUZfRvVPDiSYEQa-NWTx-3vb8O_qRlPkUbP24J7m1lGeshK0dS-Ft-KydIQ/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPZWI3ZjQyY2ItNzUxZC00ZWUzLTkyZTktZTNlNTQyZjNlZWYz&hl=en&authkey=CNK8-MEP"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGzybhn_QxE7ucX9o2j2cODRMR6LVAjI6gNdCqk1NTlsuJGFW2QWVYMPvbmtSRfD7_V0E1nB_wgphHWIUTmQON44K17pDU6QsFcehBTfrl4nOxeJG16O7Ejzp69cFeVYykJ3GU1dP7kE/s1600/Picture+2.png" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPZWI3ZjQyY2ItNzUxZC00ZWUzLTkyZTktZTNlNTQyZjNlZWYz&hl=en&authkey=CNK8-MEP"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxXl8KI6zuxh2pCk35mbjc7VIFWqvzOesCU3Kv8F8SZRp_5WoW_Vj7Dav0ym1rYyy6JGPtqXl4HY6xcFzyMvT3-BKNp3l2DCKGdI-IXu7JZu3GWcokIZIkdCAGMDGmDpyxSolRas6qvk/s1600/Picture+4.png" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1523922807"></span><span id="goog_1523922808"></span></div></span>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-81349385222694833512011-02-28T15:48:00.007-06:002011-03-01T07:46:11.784-06:00Leprechaun Homophone Concentration<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">LETTER TO FEBRUARY</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Dear February,</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">So this is it, huh?? You're leaving and I wasn't even done with you yet. </span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Goodbye teeth.... Goodbye presidents.... Goodbye February To-Do list, </span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">and..... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">HELLO MARCH!!!!!! SPRING BREAK, above-freezing temperatures, meeting the National Teacher of the Year, starting our Frog Unit, beginning First Grade Anthologies, and did I mention, NO SNOW?!?!?!?!? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Y'all, I don't know if anyone else is feeling this way, but I am MORE than happy to watch February sail off into the old blue yonder. Bring on the SPRING!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Speaking of Spring, need a Leprechaun-themed homophone concentration game???? Well, guess what you lucky duck?!!?!? I made one. HA!!!!! (No one actually thinks to themself- "Hmmmm... I really need a leprechaun-themed homophone concentration game..." except me. What. A. Dork.) </span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Anyway, there's also a Show What You Know quiz to check your kiddos' understanding of Homophones after they play the game. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Have a MARVELOUS Monday and happy almost-Spring!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt;">Mrs. Theissen</span></div><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Howser; font-size: 25pt;">Leprechaun homophone concentration</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Howser; font-size: 13pt;">(Click any picture preview to download the entire file)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMjczMWNhM2MtYjgzMi00NDA4LWE4MjgtN2Y2ODJhOWRhYzU4&hl=en&authkey=CMjoocYN"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmmxrybfNNhvvqPj9v1u4Wuoge5j67QdXnAuifudyDCd67wuqXt7-ZWciPhP97iwi2mlbTdCiuxqFRNKI8KlSptRss4iCx7V4THbwieK1hpx6tfB0mNhkgZ3qAmQsL8jcZOm2OQAENmU/s1600/Leprechaun+Concentration+1.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMjczMWNhM2MtYjgzMi00NDA4LWE4MjgtN2Y2ODJhOWRhYzU4&hl=en&authkey=CMjoocYN"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsayFXI_fzIn_KV9wqT-GCknfcMp12W3xKl_V3EJ9cV9gY9w896jNExIJbLyTvvjAFRnWZSpZzNrFtmqHgXGt1ZpBObNCL-B4kyt_XdbOqMtAXl4uAVQQ0kubQbzHnknrmQ16yJ6jwPA/s1600/Leprechaun+Concentration+3.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMjczMWNhM2MtYjgzMi00NDA4LWE4MjgtN2Y2ODJhOWRhYzU4&hl=en&authkey=CMjoocYN"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhypqLUiuwfaRPIkKpQadaXtRfwpMEUMdr_ijCjaSwptBs21Zyt0weB2x93f9enn3l79yDia1A5JZ571TioHOV793bJKGJpVs1zq5qAg8AUN-Gk51rcIlzXmWePqK7jClhk_gxwBNEsQ/s1600/Leperchaun+Concentration+2.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Howser; font-size: 13pt;"></span><br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Howser; font-size: 25pt;">Leprechaun homophone show what you know quiz</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Howser; font-size: 13pt;">(Click the picture preview to download the file)</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNTI5MWU2N2YtMjVhNi00MDVlLWI2ZDEtYTRkZDg1OThkMjEx&hl=en&authkey=CJXcjtEH"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JhUnPkVbN3uQhQvSp7DksQ2bMB_aVMXocmCNzrL3USGAOL5NXXb9KeWL9trv2HpMqml2pGsMWCBKkc7p39aGploJTXVhpmY4HMEP-Uhpt7QCGNSA1Z5-DI2IcP-ARoYo5w1gpbzNinY/s1600/LEP+PIC.png" /></a></div><br />
</div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-66311890377400921022011-02-26T15:48:00.000-06:002011-02-26T15:48:20.345-06:00Reading Centers<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">So, this week I was standing around scratching my head thinking, "Golly, what on earth am I going to do for literacy centers next week?" And, of course I'm thinking this as I'm surrounded by PILES of stuff I've accumulated but never seem to use. </span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">So, I got to thinking: Why don't I use all of my extra stuff to make reading centers? Two birds, one stone, right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">I can't say that what I came up with is too terribly brilliant, but I thought I'd share a couple of activities anyways just in case you're knee-high in extra supplies too!!!!! </span><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"><strong>Unifix Cube Compound Word Building</strong></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Here's how it works: Program unifix cubes with compound words. Write each smaller word in the compound word on a different color of unifix cube. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27E7SzYfyF3j02E1WtkaM6cpVQev6_Pl_LTrR1WWPk3_1lcDFJKr-eTYg5W5T7SD4Tk2SFC2ShP2Euypk_bUubkC79QeqA-IQGo84LhqoXyaBm_J_gwqp7tLabWH8bCHhgQnzG2_EKTk/s1600/KC+Star+Field+Trip+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27E7SzYfyF3j02E1WtkaM6cpVQev6_Pl_LTrR1WWPk3_1lcDFJKr-eTYg5W5T7SD4Tk2SFC2ShP2Euypk_bUubkC79QeqA-IQGo84LhqoXyaBm_J_gwqp7tLabWH8bCHhgQnzG2_EKTk/s200/KC+Star+Field+Trip+004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Then, put the cubes for each compound word into a baggie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Whenever you use the center, kiddos just come and grab a baggie of cubes and build a compound word. By having each smaller word in the compound written on a different color of cube, kiddos can figure out the compound word without being overwhelmed. It also helps them break the compound word down into its two components. Here are some example words written on the cubes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzCxD-RMGP1DoDEpTNLGLmoSKMHdJbPFpmuHttysCzHc-MeleXkIF6XlqwROEHrX5zJK89Upy8dfzc2s8VJqa5Xi9dKbaQjjOwIv5sEO7eLXcnpqBX9TnlAtWNqDTyFvqgWl0_fvz8vk/s1600/example+compound+words.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzCxD-RMGP1DoDEpTNLGLmoSKMHdJbPFpmuHttysCzHc-MeleXkIF6XlqwROEHrX5zJK89Upy8dfzc2s8VJqa5Xi9dKbaQjjOwIv5sEO7eLXcnpqBX9TnlAtWNqDTyFvqgWl0_fvz8vk/s200/example+compound+words.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Finally, you can have your kiddos write the words they build on this recording sheet in a word sentence.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMjY1MTc1YmYtZjRiOS00OWZlLWJlNTktZWRlMTA4NGU0NmMw&hl=en&authkey=COb6lP4C"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOaCf6haSZofzO03fSf4Kza6UnyLH60OwPbuA3e_oXSmMajalvAfZXFPW4pqugxeLuZsbBId0_JIJrx2NYU8OeElt93ijDUAZLz7QzOcp5lD997ofhZzzvndaK6ePblwG85wLSQkVBUCY/s320/Compound+Word+Recording+Sheet.png" width="246" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">I'll be doing compound words with my higher kids. For my lower kiddos, I'll just throw a bunch of letter cubes for a certain sight word into a baggie, and they'll have to unscramble the letters in the baggie to build a sight word. Then, they'll have to write the sight word on a recording sheet and use it in a sentence.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgeBH1IGCdk8pFuKchCD419y5pq89PzpbY2TClAiIQZPDkU9Qd3ZIgdE4B2r5SNMm5Uqa5WqEaY3w90fvVUT_K4LMVUX-oI7HUxnIgAheV6_aqljAuMZDEhkhiFARdT6E9vYaXPpSLuY/s1600/Unifix+Sight+Words.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgeBH1IGCdk8pFuKchCD419y5pq89PzpbY2TClAiIQZPDkU9Qd3ZIgdE4B2r5SNMm5Uqa5WqEaY3w90fvVUT_K4LMVUX-oI7HUxnIgAheV6_aqljAuMZDEhkhiFARdT6E9vYaXPpSLuY/s320/Unifix+Sight+Words.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"><strong>Pattern Block Vocabulary</strong></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: 13pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">This center is SUPER SIMPLE. And, who doesn't need a little bit of simplicity in their life?</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">So, to make it just get some pattern block picture templates (I got mine from my FABULOUS and LOVELY co-teacher Mrs. Enge). Then, write vocabulary words or sight words you want kiddos to practice on each shape blank.</span></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ_6B9r1t6pT7bArvoKfRsyKg3CusEXcrP7GZ4UiVlhtOyqmNYqkcuQ7lFEIBdUKPT_fvidXUT2RnFEk0eXiP2iy6zk_trbX-z8combkex_K3XGj4eK1ozUjfPfJdDh-z483VJMVafHY/s1600/PATTERN+BLOCK+CHICKEN.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQ_6B9r1t6pT7bArvoKfRsyKg3CusEXcrP7GZ4UiVlhtOyqmNYqkcuQ7lFEIBdUKPT_fvidXUT2RnFEk0eXiP2iy6zk_trbX-z8combkex_K3XGj4eK1ozUjfPfJdDh-z483VJMVafHY/s320/PATTERN+BLOCK+CHICKEN.png" width="246" /></a><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIs_rAPQbNlQhy3QHoVVULqB7LNCuc_qOfnYFeva3QFb36ayI3QpHYdsDNJ1NESRTQrtPe0VY582pcDdyxU-bdt6ZlLsebOKNqOxAumCRdanfAby-j5mXX_0mgxdNGczPgMmTNCq8hdw/s320/Pattern+Block+Butterfly.png" width="246" /></div><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">This center is designed as a game to be played in pairs. To play, students grab a pattern board and a tub of pattern blocks. Then, they take turns trying to cover up all of the spaces on their pattern picture with blocks. To cover a space, a student has to say the word on the space AND use it in a sentence correctly. If they can do those two things, they can cover the space.</span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozLd3KpZjh4wJ7fQckRNVFHjf0mjhMGYzAfnUKrpkB7cBWjkbvcxqMsXEPy1UO9YjO3E6wGghAiFTMRNMQ7XYXf6mB0c__FUic3Hg8CoLaox4hLi1xdro1a3RZWwY6DEyCwBBkSjL0rI/s1600/KC+Star+Field+Trip+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozLd3KpZjh4wJ7fQckRNVFHjf0mjhMGYzAfnUKrpkB7cBWjkbvcxqMsXEPy1UO9YjO3E6wGghAiFTMRNMQ7XYXf6mB0c__FUic3Hg8CoLaox4hLi1xdro1a3RZWwY6DEyCwBBkSjL0rI/s320/KC+Star+Field+Trip+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">The first kiddo to cover their entire picture wins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Oh, and did I mention how excited I am that it is THE WEEKEND?!?!?!? WHOOOOO! Can you say Pajama, Bible and Star Trek marathon? FAB-U-LOUS. I am so excited.</span><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!!</span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt;">Mrs. Thiessen</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"></span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt;"></span></div></div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-47222133524287279062011-02-21T19:16:00.001-06:002011-02-21T19:23:16.881-06:00Reading Comprehension Printable Sort<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Well, I am very pleased to announce that there are only 14 days of school left until Spring Break. But, who’s counting?!?!? HA!!!! I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but the BEAUTIFUL weather we’ve been having is definitely putting me in the mood for a break. Bring on the above freezing temperatures, please!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">So, did anyone else watch the season premiere of the Amazing Race last night? What happened, Cowboys?!?!?! My favorite team in last place??? So sad. Good thing I believe in retroactive prayer, because they need some serious prayin’ if they are going to escape elimination after ROUND ONE. Total sadness</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">…</span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">.. But, it’s okay, Cowboys. I believe in you. I promise </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">♥♥♥ </span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">But enough about the Amazing Race</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">…</span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"> On to business</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">…</span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">We’re well into the Second Semester of First Grade which means reading comprehension is BIG TIME on my mind. Below is a reading comprehension sort to provide practice recognizing past, present, and future tenses. In addition to the sort, I’ve included a small quiz you may want to give your kiddos, too. I always like to give the kids a “Show What You Know” activity following any kind of group work to make sure they’ve understood the concept individually. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Have a fabulous Tuesday!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt;">Mrs. Thiessen</span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 45pt;">Sail, Sailed, Sailing<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 20pt;">A Past, Present, and Future Tense Sort <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 27px;">(Click any picture preview to download the entire file)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNTZmMDcwNGEtM2RjOC00OTkzLTg3M2QtMjY1ZDZkNTNjOWRl&hl=en&authkey=CIaFpIYD"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL7xqpwRB5Zw4KI1J9ISn3hjFadEZqxdqmUOCklVK0n39KAdsJrXrmOuJ8hOEgpvR-LvGx60e5thO0B4u4LsqmKsJEBtHnT0Y4q_z7PU9_B5Hn6KnXMbw7xDfD13nrYhZEMmoghKQdLQ/s320/Picture+1.png" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNTZmMDcwNGEtM2RjOC00OTkzLTg3M2QtMjY1ZDZkNTNjOWRl&hl=en&authkey=CIaFpIYD"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIywaBSm-175vGn2yUYXUXpjrzsw3gG6eSsjMMV1nEBtyG3jpNq4DySztZ-RN3CdOYHnthKuMQS827tEexBctJoj9JtwCuNTHe_JEr8XH5jYPU5SbXHYbsefqOH14kzAERCHaeR4bm0MU/s320/Picture+2.png" width="246" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPNTZmMDcwNGEtM2RjOC00OTkzLTg3M2QtMjY1ZDZkNTNjOWRl&hl=en&authkey=CIaFpIYD"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZT7F4jyURff60ObJpYXRR8lMs3_y1yxd6ELpElfv5nhLiQkXqGPEgMBTqwxUoJFeIM2PfeBCrj3ZnqTFqF4JqVrdx16sZm_QHvUOTFXX5NsQD11bbNeBrHLK43FfdE2wBaYslri_bQU/s320/Picture+3.png" width="243" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 45pt;">Sail, Sailed, Sailing<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 20pt;">A Show What You know Quiz </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 27px;">(Click the picture preview to download the entire file)</span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy'; font-size: 20pt;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: small;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOWI0YzEwOWQtNzJjMy00NWY5LTlmMGYtMTRlZjUyZTQ5NThm&hl=en&authkey=COi5t9EH"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxi22J1PPUMGdK98O9Ln5D1KL55kaY3kWioG7B6eZmbs37pnMr1M5YV5WJo_XDSTKYbq5EmsHsz-bKiWr0-K33uR4wgB7wjoOG-1EVyzWLx7Rao1cWFSVi8LC62A2G1ZmV8QlagojMwA/s320/Picture+4.png" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Doodle Tipsy';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 27px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-23424370785384654852011-02-20T10:50:00.001-06:002011-02-20T10:50:00.196-06:00Long Vowel & Syllable Sort<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Hey Y’all! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Can you say 3 day weekend?!?!?! I sure can, and believe me, I’ve been saying it ALL WEEK. After all, three pajama days in a row is incredible and, on top of that, the new season of the Amazing Race premieres tonight after evening church. I cannot wait!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">But, until then I need to study for my ESOL certification test. Booooo, right?</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Have any of you amazing teachers gotten your ESOL endorsement? I think the test is going to be a bit of a doosy, so if you have any advice, I'd love to hear it!!!! In the meantime, <o:p>I'll try and get my study on..... <grimace></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Alrighty, so you wanna see something I was doing when I should have been studying yesterday? (In addition to eating way too much and watching Star Trek, of course</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">).</span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;"> I made this little workshop activity. You can use this sort two different ways: to practice long vowel spellings of E, I, and O; or, to sort syllables. I personally plan on giving only one sort to my low kiddos (they'll practice whichever skill they're weaker on), while I'll expect my higher kiddos to complete both sorts. Can you tell that I <span style="font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 20pt;">♥</span><span style="font-family: ArialMT;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"> </span></span></span>differentiation? There's a recording sheet to go with both sorts. ENJOY! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Have a FABULOUS Sunday!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt;">Mrs. Thiessen<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Doodlers'; font-size: 28px;">My Old McDonald Vowel and Syllable Sort</span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DJ Doodlers'; font-size: 14pt;">(Click any of the picture previews to download the entire document)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMmE3YjI5MDQtNGQ5MS00OTVlLWE4ZWUtMGM1ZjYzYzM5ZTkz&hl=en&authkey=CJPD7ccF"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIJx52sRm2k7t4OXSQecZEfny7wgj_iQWo4q-tBbDNQleyCsI09iU1tFC2nAqssE8buw9N7vTlKu1onKtUyjnpS-_B_bPLsMh9Jw03ueoZCGkn_Mt4NUNcz920GNEj-8h1_INbQh0c2k/s320/Picture+3.png" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMmE3YjI5MDQtNGQ5MS00OTVlLWE4ZWUtMGM1ZjYzYzM5ZTkz&hl=en&authkey=CJPD7ccF"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9T9fwCRsFTyWReDIM0-n-9YCrzYqwi0hZyZHUXS4gFT9dYI-cphi-ygyt6rW-2VwxFQz7ltst2RH4_ncqr4q7WhyphenhyphenLzGaEx73UXIoI24d3mFh9KbSHqAgUkfODFYihrYJZ8SHTcKcxAhY/s320/Picture+6.png" width="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMmE3YjI5MDQtNGQ5MS00OTVlLWE4ZWUtMGM1ZjYzYzM5ZTkz&hl=en&authkey=CJPD7ccF"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ5xHzA0EqNMVI0Sn5lhkSn6eTLrtoJHDWeZnxRsi-kspSYU-snUm1R44WWVWKyxpAbgG5XpnP5kZHorvQvwMcMFEX8RQt6j712976Hn-AmKkXeBhPxsGNhb8-2XYDoIv-8tEhthMe2M/s320/Picture+5.png" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Doodlers'; font-size: 28px;">My Old McDonald Vowel and Syllable Sort Recording Sheets</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'DJ Doodlers'; font-size: 13pt;">(Click the picture preview to download the entire document)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'DJ Doodlers'; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"> </span></span><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPZjk4NWIyZWEtYjIxNi00NTNkLWJiNDYtZjA1ODgyNDIyNTJh&hl=en&authkey=CPfB8ocN"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrB5L6O2sFkqOl1603NajrE965ZxMxWjuWzk8TI9Z2QTNQNfbt2jblrDaU9KObxukp210-Xzhs9nst3n6wZCC9m6Kqnrf7lD-sSI9djpreooGOKWxEmFmYqOQqi6nOxEuaNSHCjZMdImo/s320/Picture+8.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-60401734637995222202011-02-19T11:00:00.000-06:002011-02-19T11:00:34.229-06:00Stylish?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33w1bH570Lmd-uvYK5tRXzEAFNNL6ZKpIJizoKF_aq2EJD2PDvq4UF3SFd6GvLwKInO2QmHQHQRaHfeUiq9QEHimS4kWQ7Bd_KxthWkvartLdp7ik4lfMclKqFz_RZtdPMSifxBDsIuU/s1600/StylishBlogger_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33w1bH570Lmd-uvYK5tRXzEAFNNL6ZKpIJizoKF_aq2EJD2PDvq4UF3SFd6GvLwKInO2QmHQHQRaHfeUiq9QEHimS4kWQ7Bd_KxthWkvartLdp7ik4lfMclKqFz_RZtdPMSifxBDsIuU/s1600/StylishBlogger_thumb.jpg" /></a></div><!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">So, sweet Dana from <a href="http://love2learnandshare.blogspot.com/2011/02/stylish-blogger-award.html">Love 2 Learn and Share</a> a</span><span style="font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">warded me the Stylish Blogger Award. Thanks, Dana!!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Who knows... maybe this will motivate me to spruce up my blog so it will actually be stylish..... HA!!!!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-bottom: 16.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;"> Here are the rules for receiving this award:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">2. Share 7 things about yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">So, 7 things about me. Here we go</span><span style="color: #2f191a; font-size: 13.0pt;">…</span><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">1. I LOVE pandas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I have them all over my classroom. Someday, many years from now, when my kiddos reminisce about First Grade, that’s what they’ll remember about it. Not anything about me personally, or what they learned. Instead, they’ll remember the pandas. HA! <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">2. My husband is in medical school. At one point, we actually had a box of someone’s bones sitting in our Living Room. The sad thing is, that is completely normal for us. Glamorous, huh?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">3. I LOVE the AMAZING RACE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Season premiere tonight. Be there.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">4. My school is closing at the end of this year. Sadness....<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">5. My favorite place to eat is the Pronto Pup stand at the Kansas State Fair. YUM!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">6. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Neurological abnormalities fascinate me. Favorite author? Oliver Sacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">7. I am a Star Trek junkie. J</span><span style="font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">ean Luc Picard is AMAZING.<span style="color: #2f191a;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2f191a; font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;">Wanna see five amazing blogs that I just discovered?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Here they are.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="http://snippetsbysarah.blogspot.com/">Sarah’s First Grade Snippets</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Pea Cari"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><a href="http://whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com/">What the Teacher Wants</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 17px;"><a href="http://thoughtsofesme.blogspot.com/">Musings of Me</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 17px;"><a href="http://www.abcand123learning.com/">ABC and 123</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 17px;"><a href="http://www.thekinderpolkadotpatch.com/">T</a><a href="http://www.thekinderpolkadotpatch.com/">he Polka Dot Patch</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">Have a wonderful Saturday, y'all!!!!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive';">Mrs. Thiessen</span></span></span></div><!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Pea Missy Cursive"; font-size: 13.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment-->Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-28786427828194522742011-02-16T17:04:00.000-06:002011-02-16T21:03:50.611-06:00President's Day Activities Two<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">So, here are a couple of things we're doing in First Grade this week to celebrate the old presidents. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">First, we read a couple of books about Lincoln and Washington and documented our learning (the kids LOVE this.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9xM8JxXvXCojcg_vlnk5RK-X38NVA8iuNuu7YLFi840UTpyfrDK8OEoFdolMAqizt0eb4cz5UUSrpWIdEZbBa031_JbhvRM838CEW2W2ktja7CdxntSVZdT2mz1hGKeX_XJqol27iGE/s1600/President+KWL+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9xM8JxXvXCojcg_vlnk5RK-X38NVA8iuNuu7YLFi840UTpyfrDK8OEoFdolMAqizt0eb4cz5UUSrpWIdEZbBa031_JbhvRM838CEW2W2ktja7CdxntSVZdT2mz1hGKeX_XJqol27iGE/s320/President+KWL+2.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRngJ7Rujs9XybB1ykBXPlfzQX8Lub8z9xgKZLbXHEY8cSZafYCGMpA9ga9UhyJYrWEIk9WUpIm4itWXdFls8eZPyLhK6iFlOGZHU8sHS47ADmnnTCyPo2uGi-DIvnOz8HW7nLULbwls/s1600/President+KWl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRngJ7Rujs9XybB1ykBXPlfzQX8Lub8z9xgKZLbXHEY8cSZafYCGMpA9ga9UhyJYrWEIk9WUpIm4itWXdFls8eZPyLhK6iFlOGZHU8sHS47ADmnnTCyPo2uGi-DIvnOz8HW7nLULbwls/s320/President+KWl.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">Lincoln’s Log Sorting Center</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">This week I wanted to incorporate President's Day into my reading workshop, so I made this little center. President’s day theme? <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Lincoln</place></city>’s cabins. The idea is pretty basic. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">Students sort “logs” onto <city w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Lincoln</place></city>’s “cabins”. Once they fill a cabin up with logs, they’ve built it! (And, wowie-wow-wow are Firsties proud of themselves after they’ve “built” a cabin!! Ha!)</span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JCCHDq40noT1CiqKsUWQFzQMZl6Dnxn__P10RLPMinsbC7HTaQbkfKI50uGbt76dqfDY1x0pBK_OZ8LFaouKoiMe2xxawjHIAHJG9OLBEDKU-HQWwmp9p5zaI6tOrboqoNvN5ppPHOw/s1600/unsorted+log+cabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9JCCHDq40noT1CiqKsUWQFzQMZl6Dnxn__P10RLPMinsbC7HTaQbkfKI50uGbt76dqfDY1x0pBK_OZ8LFaouKoiMe2xxawjHIAHJG9OLBEDKU-HQWwmp9p5zaI6tOrboqoNvN5ppPHOw/s200/unsorted+log+cabin.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-Sorting</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1NaWuOs84dJV-E3XxrWSW4m5jjirj_xJBFUWUj8R_fqI5Z34MkL2HmW10K8p_IMVxk61-O95DXDERitkkf17Z5IYcrePGOsXAcPoFsFGtXn3aVREq-y2BmCdxkBz1YoketCeaCYrajQ/s1600/BLOG+to+upload+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1NaWuOs84dJV-E3XxrWSW4m5jjirj_xJBFUWUj8R_fqI5Z34MkL2HmW10K8p_IMVxk61-O95DXDERitkkf17Z5IYcrePGOsXAcPoFsFGtXn3aVREq-y2BmCdxkBz1YoketCeaCYrajQ/s200/BLOG+to+upload+001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post Sorting</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">Here are some example sorts. </span></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseu5D-ZOj-d3-zhzMrkBN2-Lnimc7l7GsHOVgqiPLF-Cz9C0PNjQ1zAks9qyzhQSMQRKaNMDZQgwE63UoHXHEcL3tP2qAnn21gr5glj_U1hMqX3HLljnm9J-JVNvuN9z2basyOsiPkPU/s1600/log+cabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseu5D-ZOj-d3-zhzMrkBN2-Lnimc7l7GsHOVgqiPLF-Cz9C0PNjQ1zAks9qyzhQSMQRKaNMDZQgwE63UoHXHEcL3tP2qAnn21gr5glj_U1hMqX3HLljnm9J-JVNvuN9z2basyOsiPkPU/s200/log+cabin.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Compound Words V. Non-Compound Words</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1NaWuOs84dJV-E3XxrWSW4m5jjirj_xJBFUWUj8R_fqI5Z34MkL2HmW10K8p_IMVxk61-O95DXDERitkkf17Z5IYcrePGOsXAcPoFsFGtXn3aVREq-y2BmCdxkBz1YoketCeaCYrajQ/s1600/BLOG+to+upload+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1NaWuOs84dJV-E3XxrWSW4m5jjirj_xJBFUWUj8R_fqI5Z34MkL2HmW10K8p_IMVxk61-O95DXDERitkkf17Z5IYcrePGOsXAcPoFsFGtXn3aVREq-y2BmCdxkBz1YoketCeaCYrajQ/s200/BLOG+to+upload+001.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long E Words and Short E Words</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">What I love about this center is the variety of sorts you can make to differentiate for different kiddos. I stuck to sound sorts when I made my cabins, but you can also make syllable sorts, type of speech sorts, computation sorts, even and odd number sorts, and all other kinds of sorts with this pattern.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">Want to make your own? Here’s how.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">First, print <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMDgxOTdiZGEtYzAwYi00NGM3LWI0ZjEtZTBhMTFhZDQyMzky&hl=en&authkey=CMeDqMAN">this</a> pattern (click the pic to download). It is UGLY. But, I promise it will turn out okay.... Just trust me on this one :) </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMDgxOTdiZGEtYzAwYi00NGM3LWI0ZjEtZTBhMTFhZDQyMzky&hl=en&authkey=CMeDqMAN" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvs9z6C-uGoMHhyz6gLxpUo_ax6P1JLBQulQ7lcMuwrBfktqRbektcSIyrKmM-yRSMKiL6OX1rnEckhWdKOw7U-CjPjVm0msBXjbMmm7mFJqNQ3BVngH82d_RQ4wc-qPQ8hJrqsMmo9IA/s200/Picture+1.png" width="153" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> I know it is ugly!!!!! See explanation below. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';"> (I was totally afraid to cutesy this pattern up in case I lost the sizing of the craft sticks. They were a TOTAL nightmare to trace! Hence the lack of loveliness...)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">To improve your cabins, I suggest adding some Cabin Bling. I just added a door and a window to mine because I am an underachiever, but that shouldn’t prevent you from going wild!!! You may also want to laminate your houses for durability.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">After you’ve made your houses, program craft sticks for whatever skill you want your kiddos to practice. Math, reading, whatever. You also want to create labels for the houses (e.g. “Long E Words”, “Short E Words”).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">To store this center, I put all of the sticks for each sort into a different labeled baggie. Then, I pull specific sorts for different kiddos who need work on different things. Or, when I’m feeling crazy, I just put out all of the baggies and the kids can sort whatever two groups they feel like. Before sorting the kids like to "shuffle" the sticks- translation: dump all of the sticks on the floor and swirl them around like there's no tomorrow. Then they get down to sorting business and once they’re done, the sorting sticks and labels go right back into the baggies. EASY!</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcvmtP7qfdVaQS2YKjBJ3McH45l_lXQVZ5VoiPO1UY08T_Bb0YIjFR6sRajYhU7uj5YvZR4smwiIPm8q4Jh-iKnn81aeE1RaWejGJ2dVTLTbGiZhtlSVWGgMzFxVF6BQPqwf3nsTqe1s/s1600/choose+a+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXcvmtP7qfdVaQS2YKjBJ3McH45l_lXQVZ5VoiPO1UY08T_Bb0YIjFR6sRajYhU7uj5YvZR4smwiIPm8q4Jh-iKnn81aeE1RaWejGJ2dVTLTbGiZhtlSVWGgMzFxVF6BQPqwf3nsTqe1s/s320/choose+a+bag.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storage</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">President Mobile</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';"></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">So I totally wish that I could take credit for this super cute idea, but I can’t. It was entirely the mind-child of my brilliant and adorable colleague, Mrs. Shackelford. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">My class hasn’t actually done this activity yet, but here’s how I plan on doing it. First, the kiddos are going to make their mobiles (glue a presidential silhouette to each side of a heart- EASY!!!!). </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ4N6c7fhKCrF7HCBQT33bDjACmsYeFxp9ez8KD7pleD79ZQ86rrDRivgHAFYBynidp_hnZ1wkT5_1vkrCxzif45UBEdnqgsNqm-sU3oa8408hlFmTM-k3h3JTF27vLhNElY1MWmQi9Q/s1600/Presidents+Stuff+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJ4N6c7fhKCrF7HCBQT33bDjACmsYeFxp9ez8KD7pleD79ZQ86rrDRivgHAFYBynidp_hnZ1wkT5_1vkrCxzif45UBEdnqgsNqm-sU3oa8408hlFmTM-k3h3JTF27vLhNElY1MWmQi9Q/s200/Presidents+Stuff+003.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurLwa8qrxsLMCMZwr9GgavmeBrTMZK3sqSYl9V6s_MpoPEFhW2E9os8PwBv2ooj04FZdvxWEQpzyPQ6zTs5jcOBD34Ycy5Torq9DAbsKVvWeAxYJJPpvz-gMzaOA7h8JeV-FXIv91cps/s1600/Presidents+Stuff+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurLwa8qrxsLMCMZwr9GgavmeBrTMZK3sqSYl9V6s_MpoPEFhW2E9os8PwBv2ooj04FZdvxWEQpzyPQ6zTs5jcOBD34Ycy5Torq9DAbsKVvWeAxYJJPpvz-gMzaOA7h8JeV-FXIv91cps/s200/Presidents+Stuff+004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">Then, the kiddos will sort statements about each president onto to either side of their mobile, gluing them to the mobile tail. Simple and cute. And who can’t use a little simplicity in their life?! Here's what it looks like when it's done (one pic of each side).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vRc-5sxOwrSat64lyxYlVCl92iVBIkHbBZdTTuOCyPZRgmSMYUlY59vBasKwugyxr09NGbvB_ulc-tpoCeDBRMViAqVMbhPx9YFbaCrfdJWimNt4TyL9SAPy3rJFWcHwTlXO7RqvVqA/s1600/Presidents+Stuff+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vRc-5sxOwrSat64lyxYlVCl92iVBIkHbBZdTTuOCyPZRgmSMYUlY59vBasKwugyxr09NGbvB_ulc-tpoCeDBRMViAqVMbhPx9YFbaCrfdJWimNt4TyL9SAPy3rJFWcHwTlXO7RqvVqA/s320/Presidents+Stuff+001.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmy7k-LQB7kMc24XT42gK8x7LKoXBL6ND6kiFW_IE6SJ8KPnD0gcCVhyBcfbd9gKWcXtkUx65LcheWB-nIfD2SjzlLUR1a4RepZ5MV4FNMB3vQkpOfs0OW1dA1fs1UbIvgSqG97BUSwE/s1600/Presidents+Stuff+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnmy7k-LQB7kMc24XT42gK8x7LKoXBL6ND6kiFW_IE6SJ8KPnD0gcCVhyBcfbd9gKWcXtkUx65LcheWB-nIfD2SjzlLUR1a4RepZ5MV4FNMB3vQkpOfs0OW1dA1fs1UbIvgSqG97BUSwE/s320/Presidents+Stuff+002.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">Any big plans for the Presidential Weekend? I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but I plan on catching some zzz’s. (Can you tell my mind is already on the weekend!?!?!?!)</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari';">Have a FABULOUS Wednesday!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive';">Mrs. Thiessen</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-32628728130076167552011-02-14T13:58:00.000-06:002011-02-18T08:17:20.076-06:00President's Day Activities<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Alrighty, so while I was in the process of planning for President’s Day next week, I thought I’d share a couple of the things I’m working on.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">President Venn-Diagram</span></b></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMWZmMDg3M2MtMjMxZi00YWE3LWFlNWItMjc0NDNiYWIyMmI4&hl=en&authkey=CKCyve0E" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_bfhXeT4hGG1gP80L22oRBE0IahZ6TAra4nhquJgAZCSIClPGu5zGRJhE-QqUOqlXxTHhcKw5oFsEwo9YQ4zSINmjaikJSQw3a050rNo4VFYpeePmBJj1t5H5y0iJ138q7qB-ulL5os/s400/BLOG+to+upload+007.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click the picture to download the pattern for this activity. Each paper has directions regarding what color it should be printed on. The only paper that needs to be resized is the Venn-Diagram itself. Just blow it up to 11x17 and print it on white construction paper. I suppose the only thing left to explain is George's hair... it's just two cotton balls glued smack-dab on both sides of his face. EASY! (p.s. The patterns were homemade, so they're a little unpolished. SORRY!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What President’s Day isn’t complete without the old George v. Abe Venn Diagram?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Hence this buddy. </span>I added a little crafting component to make it hallway-worthy. If you’d like the pattern for the presidents, just click on the Venn-Diagram picture to download it!!!!! </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Persuasive Writing</span></b><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I figured it was high-time I got my kiddos working on persuasive writing, so next week the kids are going to write persuasive “essays” stating why they should be elected president. Should be an absolute hoot. I cannot wait to read what they write!!!!!</span></div> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMDPupwhmid7n6uu6-u_uWSTyqIS7DZ5vdKaMz3kOCnS2ubxgoKwWg4KxUT533Glbe06scUUeUxcGINPiyC1fzvTX6fXm3ugIu8fUwAwUKeX0MNiI3f6P3Uz61kTOHMh9p6o2ghJhIyk/s1600/BLOG+to+upload+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMDPupwhmid7n6uu6-u_uWSTyqIS7DZ5vdKaMz3kOCnS2ubxgoKwWg4KxUT533Glbe06scUUeUxcGINPiyC1fzvTX6fXm3ugIu8fUwAwUKeX0MNiI3f6P3Uz61kTOHMh9p6o2ghJhIyk/s320/BLOG+to+upload+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table> <span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">S</span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">o, what are YOU doing for President’s Day? I'm eager to hear!</span> <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally, I have a couple more presidential things I’ll try and post later in the week (once they're finished, that is...! Ha!) </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Have a Marvelous Monday!!!!!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mrs. Thiessen</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And P.S</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">…</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">.. Happy Valentine’s Day!</span></div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4974144358382427490.post-86643648343343324692011-02-13T11:20:00.000-06:002011-02-13T14:34:51.257-06:00President's Day Printable Center<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">So, here’s a little President’s Day syllable sort that I’ll be using next week to celebrate the big wigs of our country. Some of the 4 syllable words are kind of tough for Firsties, so I’ll only be giving those to my most advanced kiddos. Isn’t differentiation the best?</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 13pt;">Hope it helps ya! I’ll post more President’s Day stuff later this week!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: 17px;">Happy Valentine's Day!!!!! </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Pea Missy Cursive'; font-size: 13pt;">Mrs. Thiessen</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Pea Cari'; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Cheri; font-size: 20pt;"><b>President</b></span><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><b>’</b></span><span style="font-family: Cheri; font-size: 20pt;"><b>s Day Syllable Sort</b></span></span></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cheri; font-size: 15pt;">(Click on any picture preview to download the entire file)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMmQ2YTMxMDctOTUzMi00YTU5LTkwNjktZWY2YmEzY2Y5ZmU5&hl=en&authkey=CIzmscIO"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSj02xc07HaaNiQn3Z-4QlTjTR-w4hnAkefWW22XQXnRK9TeQ7Ts9KkFS81eQjcWXZIsklxT94R_wPtKtNlnoPmKFUcqZfoPCByQ6bkIOTcqz2BND9qiDI1jFUd4iSNNTppkyl05tS4Q/s320/Picture+1.png" width="241" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMmQ2YTMxMDctOTUzMi00YTU5LTkwNjktZWY2YmEzY2Y5ZmU5&hl=en&authkey=CIzmscIO"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrXQo3zDUz0K2FSFKHWMbj8TWvEReFg-JD1SJ2nK4awtfAuYjcXLgNVOgYw5GMljRMXNCyv823uDpDWIsj-tMQvPwdMqFzO0VdDqjL6cXJ8z5GOEHe9khEabERGO8Nmc9u9Si4R-8gj8/s320/Picture+2.png" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPMmQ2YTMxMDctOTUzMi00YTU5LTkwNjktZWY2YmEzY2Y5ZmU5&hl=en&authkey=CIzmscIO"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEh-nDPv9YZsMj7ngtYzM5VXiRZbWMhkMDcda_SEutxozm9fYhyphenhyphendHSTNQXcfZ6KVYxdYgT1qoDa9kjMRepOr6O5-arMY1fegpl5c-PJsjegRSlwvKDBm5667nLwIkN88g6EcueCVEkDVM/s320/Picture+4.png" width="249" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cheri; font-size: 20pt;"><b>President</b></span><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><b>’</b></span><span style="font-family: Cheri; font-size: 20pt;"><b>s Day Syllable Sort </b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cheri; font-size: 20pt;"><b>Recording Sheet</b></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Cheri; font-size: 15pt;">(click the picture preview to download the entire file)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bx2AfXyzJRoPOGJjZDRmZmEtYjY5Yi00ZDQxLWEyYjctOGMwNDZiOTdkMWUy&hl=en&authkey=CLHrr5UL"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOorCIbZlTpv_m7NEBLcX-blSanKw8KTXSLNZi7JHET2WRCujnEbhuOr_wm9gDEtTjUZp5OKxC4wSbKPh5Bv3V31DlxQMJvet5EY3ttymugCTpGVFbDKR_O1VJIDRnkIHk8YzY0wt4Ds/s320/Picture+5.png" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Cheri; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Alexandra Thiessenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14553116519479701823noreply@blogger.com5