A Proud Day to Be a Teacher!

We had the honor of attending the Herb Kohl Education Foundation Awards Banquet in Green Bay, Wisconsin this past weekend.  LuAnn Neuenschwander received a Herb Kohl Fellowship Award, which is a prestigious award among the teachers in the state of Wisconsin, and LuAnn & I got our picture taken together with former Senator Kohl.

LuAnn, Sen. Herb Kohl, Amber

  He told stories from his childhood, which included how his father instilled the love of learning and the importance of education in him.  During the two hour event, we were enlightened with stories of how great our students and teachers are doing in Wisconsin.  Kohl praised all of the state's educators for their dedication to our students and to the educational profession.  His comments were very inspirational!  

We would like to share an inspirational quote from Herb Kohl...

"An overwhelming majority (of educators) are enormously dedicated and competent and are willing and do an enormous amount of work and put in a tremendous amount of time, on and off the clock, to ensure that their students are given the best opportunity to learn and grow."

It was a proud day to be an educator!  Thank you, Sen. Kohl, for all you do for education!

Amber and LuAnn

  

We're Aquaholics!

Let's just skip spring and bring on summer.  Sand between our toes, relaxing sound of the waves, and being a beach bum sounds perfect to us!  Until then....we are excited to share our Ocean Emergent Reader with you!  

Click {here} to check it out at TPT
Click {right here}  to check it out at Teachers Notebook

Also in the book you will find...

• Fish have scales.
• Turtles have flippers.
• Octopus have tentacles.
• Seahorses have snouts.
• Sharks have a fins.

In this unit you will find...





Emergent reader

Emergent reader with fill-in-the-word

Worksheet



Word cards for pocket chart

Don't forget to check out our Math & Literacy Ocean Units.

Click {HERE} to go to last year's Ocean post.

Check out our TPT shop.

• Click {right here} to see our Ocean Literacy Unit
• Clck {right here}  to see our Ocean Math Unit

Click  to go to our Teachers Notebook shop.

• Click {here now} to see our Ocean Math Unit
• Click {here now}  to see our Ocean Literacy Unit

Thanks for reading!  Enjoy your break!
Amber & LuAnn

TGIF

You know it has been a long week when you go to unlock your classroom door by hitting your car door opener...and wonder why it won't open! 

Click {right here} to watch this little pep talk...too cute!

Enjoy your weekend!     

Nursery Rhyme Fun!

Nursery Rhymes are fun!

Children love them!

Most importantly…They provide a warm, nurturing experience between an adult and child.

Songs and rhymes for young children have been passed down for generations.  Sad to say…this is not always the case anymore.  
 

“Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.”  After I read that, I have been reciting nursery rhymes with Cayden like crazy!  

Isn't he just A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!?!

There is an enormous educational value in teaching nursery rhymes.  Here is how we use Nursery Rhymes in our classroom as a teaching tool. 

Nursery Rhyme Fluency Chart (Color & Black and White)

Nursery Rhyme Game (Color & Black and White)

Illustrating Nursery Rhymes

Labeling Nursery Rhymes with word bank

Labeling Nursery Rhymes without word bank

Matching Nursery Rhyme picture to word phrase

If you like what you see...you can click {here}  to purchase our Nursery Rhyme Unit! 

Because nursery rhymes are so popular, many children who don’t even know each other will still have these in common and care share the knowledge of each nursery rhyme.

If you and their friends are excited about making rhymes, finding patterns, substituting words etc., they will be too - it will rub off.

Thanks for reading,
Amber & LuAnn

Theme Giveaway Winners!

Thanks to all the great bloggers who participated in our super giveaway!  We enjoyed reading EVERY sweet comment...and it just reassured me/us that thematic centers are very beneficial to our students in many ways!  I wish everyone blogging friend could win!

Lucky # 8 - Suzanne Sweeney

Lucky # 60 - Jessica

 

Watch your e-mail for all the units! 

 

Blogging Friends...Enjoy the rest of your school year!!!  

Rockin' Giveaway

If the winter blues are not for you, we can help with...
a Blogger Giveaway!!!  We have come together to give away 11 terrific themed units that will help get you through the rest of the school year.    

Click {right here} to check out Kindergarten Crayon's..."Lucky as a Leprechaun" Unit

 Click {right here} to check out Growing Kinders'..."Hoppin' into Spring!" Unit

Click {right here} to check out Alessia Albanese's..."How Does Your Garden Grow?" Unit

Click {right here} to check out Melissa Freshwater's..."Incredible Insects" Unit

 Click {right here} to check out Julie Lee's...."Dino-riffic Fun!" Unit

 Click {right here} to check out Donna Glynn's..."Community Helpers" Unit

 Click {right here} to check out Kindergarten Hoppenings'..."On the Go" Unit

Click {right here} to check out Babbling Abby's...."Amazing Astronaut Activities!"

 Click {right here} to check out A Cupcake for the Teacher's..."On the Farm" Unit

 Click {right here} to check out Jamie Mayas'...."It's a Zoo!" Unit

 Click {right here}  to check out Kindergarten Rocks'..."Oceans of Fun Math Centers"

Click {right here}  to check out Kindergarten Rocks'..."Oceans of Fun Literacy Centers"

Books are good for the brain, but themes are fun for the brain!  To win ALL these units, please leave a comment if you use thematic centers in your classroom and why.  Don’t forget to leave your e-mail address with your comment.  

2 Super-Duper Winners will be drawn on Sunday at 10:00PM!   It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3. 
We can’t wait to read your comments!

Got Deanna Jump?

The Wisconsin Kindergarten Association has started a Facebook page.  Check it out {by clicking here}....and "LIKE" us!   

The sweet Deanna Jump is coming to our 2013 conference. 

Our fall conference brings awareness, understanding and knowledge of new practices and activities done at the kindergarten level. Next year’s conference will be held on October 19, 2013 at the Bridegewood in Neenah, Wisconsin. Deanna Jump is our speaker. Mark your calendars!

Thanks,
Amber & LuAnn