When I first started this blog 8 years ago, it was also a family posting so my adult children and extended family could see what was going with their Minnesota family!
So here's your first of the year sneak peek into the life of the O'Duggans!
(or where in the world is Mrs. O?!)
Our last adventure a few weeks back had this view...we were north of Finland, MN . The wolves were singing to me as I sat in the jeep and enjoyed the light show! The next day we hiked 3 peaks over 8 miles in the Sawtooth Mountains. Then the next day I soloed hiked 7 miles with a rendezvous in the middle to hand off the keys to the jeep! We did get to dig for agates. That's what I love to do!
One day in the next 5 years we should be all done hiking the Superior Hiking Trail! Maybe. There will always be agates, though!
Then last weekend we drove 7 hours to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to help my nephew with the fixer upper home he purchased. A lovely river runs right through his backyard! After a pretty tough day of sawing, hauling, general sprucing up we had a painting party because decorations are just as important as sheetrock!
Monday started out with Elf Cookies for our Ee day snack!
The kids practiced letters and numbers with this squishy stuff! What fun!
Oh! How EXCITING! We had an Ee day EXPERIMENT as we created ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE!
(Yeast, strong hydrogen peroxide, a little food color, a little water, and a little dish soap... the recipe is online)
Before the experiment we talked about safety.
Safety goggles really weren't necessary but aren't the kids just adorable?
When we followed directions and measured and mixed the ingredients, we were like real scientists!
And here's the exothermic reaction as we mix 2 compounds (yeast and H³0 to create something new and different H²O and suds)
Exciting!
Be looking for a new lucky duck book called New Shoes...a guessing game!
On Monday afternoon we created these adorable Pete The Cats!
We painted Pete's feet!
Oh the kiddos have discovered different toys in the classroom...
I love those wedgets!
This guy had discovered the rainbow can be used to build with!
Tuesday's new morning challenges included:
Shape sort and match..
Pete the Cat sentences..
And numeric order with Pete...
On Ff day this fabulous friend brought fruit snacks!
Here's a direct quote from my Instagram account on Tuesday evening:
"Oh.My.Goodness!
Look at those faces!
The kindergarten kiddos received their 2nd free book of the year thanks to all the generous sponsors on my social media feed. The first book, The Gruffalo, was sent home in their Open House packet so I did not get to see their reaction.
Wow!
Really look at those faces!
So many of you are responsible for those smiles and earnest looks of concentration.
I still get very emotional when I share the story of so many folks reaching out to make this sponsorship happen. Each and every one of the 37 kindergarteners in our district will get a book every month of this school year!
Just imagine the joy!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
(Yes, I'll probably post about each new book they get! They are just so darn cute) @ Lewiston-Altura Elementary"
There's been so much support from my social media friends and family! I'm humbled by their generosity.
For Tuesday's centers the scientists got to mix their own compounds... vinegar and baking soda!
What mad scientist fun!
Station 2 was friends mini puzzles...
Station 3 was shape fidget spinner graphing...
And station 4 was color coding with Pete the Cat as we focused on 1 to 1 counting...
I'd like to take a moment to show you some of the bonus work the kids can choose from when they finish their morning work:
They can draw a picture or print the alphabet or write words...
Dot painting the letter of the day...
Punching on the letter of the day...
They can play 'race to the top' uppercase and lowercase letter recognition...
What fun and educational work!
Here's the current example of the artwork in our ABC books:
Watercolor Ee eggs...
Fancy fish...
Great big glitter Ggs...
Happy hearts...
We played a fun new game using our letter recognition skills...
We've been thinking like scientists as we labeled Pete...
Here's a new to us item... counting boxes!
The great kid brought Gg Graham Crackers with gummy worms!
Our leader sure is having fun reading one of our charts...
Wednesday we had our first Writers Workshop! The kids wrote about Pete, where he stepped, and what color it turned his shoes... the focus was color words and beginning sounds..
Letter Gg day just wouldn't be the same without using the Goofy Glasses! Be looking for a lucky duck book called "Guess Who? "
(I gave up on being dignified about 2 decades ago... Haha! )
Our Petes are all finished and in the halfway!
It's All Good!
For Letter Hh day we read the Hopes and Dreams you sent in at Open House. The kids were thrilled to have your words read to them!
Then they wrote and drew their hopes and dreams for what they'd like to be when they grow up.
So sweet!
Good Reads this week...
Thursday's centers included:
Button Race with me...
Letter building using buttons...
Letter matching with Ms. G...
Color word building using playdo...
We had new morning challenges on Friday:
Apple word match...
Apple beginning sounds...
Apple counting...
Friday we had a SHAPE PARTY with all these great shape crackers!
Also the kids won 10 points in the ABC game (I leave one card out of the set as we say all the letters, sounds, sign language. If they tell me the missing letter they get a point!)
So they voted and chose midnight brownies aptly named as I only get a chance to make them at midnight!
And now for the week of September 23-27:
Language Arts: letters Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll
Beginning sounds and rhyming
Math: numerals 0-5
Theme: Apples!
Social Studies: Leaders at Home and School
BIG NEWS:
HOMECOMING WEEK DRESS UP DAYS:
Monday: class colors (kindergarten is white)
Tuesday: Sports Day
Wednesday: America Day
Thursday: field trip day so no worries
Friday: School Spirit Day (red and black)
Apple Orchard field trip is on Thursday!
A note will be sent home on Tuesday for students and volunteers.
We'll be walking down to the Homecoming parade on Friday around 1:45 if you'd like to join us! You can meet us at school or at the parade.
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