Insects Continued and another Freebie!

Hello again friends!
I wanted to share the rest of my insect stuff with you all but first... What do you all think about a mid-year classroom photos linky party?? thumbs up? thumbs down?
So, I was going to go to work today, take some photos of the activities I wanted to blog about and get ahead with some prep stuff BUT I spent the entire day at the stinkin' DMV! UGH! I spent 3 hours waiting and 3 minutes completing my transaction. AND my phone had just 30% battery so I couldn't sit and tweet, pin or read on my nook app. So, I'll have to put the pictures up next week. Sorry.

Anyway, this year we spent our time teaching just 4 insects: ants, ladybugs, bees and butterflies. We started the unit with a KWL chart which the students LOVED because I typed their responses right in front of them. They were so excited to see their words on the interactive whiteboard as I typed it. I always include the name of the person who helped fill out our chart so at the end of each sentence I typed you'd hear the whole class say that student's name. It goes a little like this:
"Boy bees are called drones"
"Great idea Andy! Let me type that, Boy bees are called dron..."
"ANDY!"
"Oh, Andy said that? Thanks friends"

I love it! Carrying on...
We also label the parts of the insects we learn about. I set up a whole Insects bulletin board/station for the students to come back to and for us to add to. Here is a snapshot of it...

At this point, we had not gotten to our L part of the KWL but the K and W are up. After we learn about each insect (we spent about a week on each one), we type up what we know about that particular insect. You can see under each one of the insects is a sheet of facts that the students have helped me create. I use that same type during the lesson approach and it is quite engaging and meaningful. I also like that the students remember who said what fact when we create charts. In the picture, you can also see my Insect Lifecycles which you can download for free here. We also fill in a sheet to describe each of the insects. We give a big talk about being Entomologists during our insect unit and the kids guzzle it up! Does anyone use Kaplan's Icons of Depth and Complexity? We do so you'll see the little glasses icon on the sheets but there is a set without them too.

When we get to bees, we make our own little bee with bee facts on it but you can use this template for any of the insects. I'm so bummed that there are no pictures to go with the activities but I will get them to you asap. Promise.

Here is the activity we do (your freebie!): 

Get it for free at my TpT store here. 

Lastly, my favorite part of the Insect unit... INSECT JEOPARDY! We play teachers versus students and they get so fired up! You can see just how competitive they are when we play! lol. One of the questions asks, 

"What is another word for a butterfly's wings that means the same on both sides?" 

As the teachers, my co-teacher and I thought out loud by saying things like, "hmmm, I wonder what it could be? Maybe equal? no... I just can't remember because it is a long word... hmmmm... I think it starts with a /S? sound..." 

One of the students yells out, "CHICKEN POX!" 

Chicken pox? I couldn't resist laughing. He was really trying to throw me off my game. lol. You can grab Insect Jeopardy at my TpT store here. 

BUT if you are one of the first 3 people to comment, you can get it for free!!! Let me know what you think about starting a Mid-Year Classroom Photos Linky Party... and it's yours !

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

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Autism Awareness and Let's Get Acquainted!

First of all- Happy Autism Awareness Day!

I work at an amazing inclusive charter school. We strive to meet the needs of all students. In my kindergarten classroom, I have students who are gifted, typical and have special needs. The best part of all of it? Watching the kids learn and grow with and from each other. The empathy and respect that our students learn from being in classrooms with friends who would typically be in a separate classroom is astounding! I cannot even put it into words. I am thankful that there is more awareness for students with autism and I hope for every person- especially teachers- to know that there is nothing wrong with any person with autism, just something different just like you and me. Visit my friend Adie's blog, she is a Special Education teacher at my school and an awesome person! Special Education Meets General Education

Ok, next order of business... Let's Get Acquainted!

I just started following Flying Into First Grade's blog and she has an awesome idea for a new linky each Sunday! This Sunday is about our faves, here are mine...

Favorite Place to Shop
Ummm...well... I have a little bit of a problem with shopping! lol. I can spend some serious time at the mall. But what can I never resist, ever?? TARGET!  Target holds a special place in my heart (and my wallet)

Favorite TV Show
I'm a little embarassed about how much TV I really watch... let's just say my DVR is always full. But here are a few shows that I hate missing... New Girl, The Mindy Project, Any of the Real Housewives series, Grey's Anatomy, Modern Family and The Office

Favorite Sweet Treat
Doughnuts! I LOOOOVE doughnuts! So bad for you but soooo tasty. I like to bake, a LOT, so I usually don't eat too much of what I bake but I do love some doughnuts!

Favorite Food
PIZZA! That's it, I just love pizza. (I'm not really that healthy, am I?)

Favorite Restaurant
Wood Ranch BBQ...yummy! In fact, today's the day my hubby makes his final decision about work, so maybe we will visit Wood Ranch tonight!

Ok, your turn, Link up!

Lastly, are any of you on Twitter??? Follow me! (in the right sidebar) I just followed The 3am Teacher this morning and totally got hooked, there are so many bloggers out there on Twitter! I joined last month and haven't been able to put it down since, I can't wait to start tying in my blog, my job and everything in between!

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway! 200 followers and counting, yippee!!
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Currently & a Giveaway!

Hello folks!
It's April Fool's Day and I have no pranks, jokes or fools... I'm quite the party pooper but that's okay because I'm joining Farley's fabulous Currently Linky party AND I'm finally having my 200 follower giveaway!!!
Here's mine...

Listening- Spring break couldn't have come soon enough! I needed the break and I totally feel like the kids were ready for a break as well. They were driving me nuts! I had a day to catch up on some work and prep and the rest is relaxation...
Loving- For Easter, I got to spend the day with my husband and our newest niece! She's only 3 months old, doesn't care about Easter but she is super cute to stare at and play with. My husband doesn't understand how my sister-in-law and I can just stare at her but I'm sure the ladies and mommies out there understand me! Maybe when (hopefully) we have our own, he'll understand (no it's not a plan yet)
Thinking- about my husband's great dilemma! After high school, he was in the military for 6 years, traveled overseas, went to war 3 times and moved far away from me and his family. After the military, he took a year off then started school. He finished his BA in three and a half years and was just offered 2 positions at UCLA (where he was interning). I am more proud of him today than I have ever been. Now he has to make a tough choice between 2 completely different jobs.
Wanting- a new phone! I picked up my cousin's phone on Thursday and said, "that's it! I need a new phone!" Her phone was so awesome; it was some sort of Galaxy phone. I want one, but I don't need one (until I throw it on the floor! just kidding).
Needing- a pedicure... badly... enough said...
Advice- JUST LAUGH IT OFF! Come on, what else can you really do sometimes?
Your turn, link up!

200 Followers and a Freebie!

I can't believe I have 200 followers! It took some time but now we are here! Time to celebrate... anyone want in on a giveaway??
Side story- We had a Chinese New Year parade today... anyone else do that? We don't have a big Chinese population and we don't have parade for any other events (besides Halloween) so I'm not sure I like it too much! Luckily, today was a nice, cool day so we weren't sweating as we were wearing our dragon hats. =)
Anyway, since I'm in such a great mood because I'm at 200 followers... here's a freebie! We've been working on our best estimation skills and I have to say, they are pretty good at it! There are some, of course, who don't realize the difference between 100 and 40 but besides that, we are all good. Here are some shots of my kiddos in action...We used the Sunflower Estimation sheet where we estimated how many seeds would fit in the middle of the flower. The other is the Marshmallow Mouth... how many marshmallows will fit in the mouth? You may notice that in one of the shots there are circles drawn in the center of the flower. In my classroom, everyone gets what they need and not all students are quite ready for estimation so their job is to glue the seeds in the circles and count them. The same goes for the marshmallow mouth except there is no picture. 

Want the Estimation Sheets?? You can snag them on TpT by clicking the picture OR leave a comment with your email letting me know that you'd like a free copy... today only! =)

If you're interested in being a part of my 200 follower giveaway, please let me know also... leave me a comment or shoot me an email: vanessa.escobar17@gmail.com

Thanks friends!

Winner! Winner! And other things...

I have had an amazing week! This is the first time I have been able to sit down at my computer for longer than 10 minutes. I feel so left out! Let me give you the rundown of my week...
Monday a Summer school meeting. Yes, I am teaching summer school but not to worry... I have inspiration (more to come). Tuesday was my birthday so, dinner with the fam and back home to work on summer school madness. Wednesday was more summer school work and PACKING. Pack. Pack. Pack. Thursday was report card day, finish up those grades and start those comments and my sister invited me to her place for dinner, how could I say no? Friday was the last day of school. Wait, what?! The last day of school! Woopdy, Woop! But how did it sneak up on me!? I have been so busy preparing for summer school and packing up my classroom that the last day of school did not get the full attention and respect that it deserved. I made all of my students gifts (quickly on Friday morning): a handwritten note, a penny & a kiss (read my freebie post for more info), a pencil and a book. My students were such sweethearts this year. I cannot believe it is all over. *Sigh* I am really going to miss them! *Sigh* Now to start my summer! Well, kinda, I can start when I finish my summer school curriculum to start in July, finish my report card comments and finish packing up my classroom. But after all that, summer here I come! lol. Man, have I had a week!

Speaking of summer school... I taught summer school last year and boy, it was a hot mess! We have a K-4 group and a 5-8 group. The K-4 group is broken up into 4 groups 2 K-1 groups and 2 2-4 groups. Still with me? Well, they rotate between 4 classes and basically, I teach to all the kiddos in K-4. Can you imagine my panic? I teach kindergarten, what do I do with these "big kids!?" I thought I had it all figured out last year but I WAS WRONG. Don't get it too twisted, they all did a great job hanging in there with me and I had a great plan for each day, but it was not what I would want to do again. So I am jumping in again but this time with a better plan. I have to think about all those grade levels, all my students with special needs and all of my students who are below grade level. I have to think about how to organize it all, how to get to each student, and how to make it fun, I mean, it is summer! SO what should I do???? I was discussing with my co-teacher and since I am a Daily5 maniac, she simply said, "Do Daily 5 Math." DUH! GENIUS! PINTEREST, HERE I COME!
Here is my inspiration for summer school... (click on the picture to take you to my pin & the link)

BUILD stands for: Buddy Games, Using Manipulatives, Independent Work, Learning Numbers, Doing Math. 

I am changing the I from Independent Work to Interactive Math. We have a subscription to a great math site IXL and I may do XtraMath.com which is free. But since I'll have different grade levels, the site will give them their independent practice without having to make copies & figure out what they can do.

What to do for inclusion?
That one is easy, make sure every student has a choice of activity at their level, to work on their goals. Since not all students will be able to access the computers or use the mouse, using the iPods with math games will work for some students. While others will have their choice of "Interactive" games to play.

I am hoping that the plan will work out. I am starting to prepare my materials and I'm crossing my fingers, toes, arms, eyes and legs that I don't lose my mind! Any tips for me? Please help out! =) 

Lastly, we have a WINNER! 

APRIL WOLFE FROM Wolfelicious

won a $10 TPT giftcard for joining my BirthdaySchmirthdayGiveaway! 

thank you all for participating... another one will come very soon... 

Happy Sunday! 

Birthday Schmirthday Giveaway!

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to! For some reason, this year I am not so excited about my birthday. My wonderfully wonderful husband threw me a surprise party on Saturday with my family and, while I was super excited, I cried because I just don't want it to be my birthday yet! I am not so old but not so young and I just don't wanna grow up yet! I decided to cheer myself up with a giveaway! Here it is... the 1st Annual...

Already a follower? Help lift my spirits and post this image on your blog, too! The more followers, the bigger my smile! Really! Your chance to win ends on Sunday... Good Luck!
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