Let me start off by saying that I did not quite fit everything into the week before Halloween like I had planned, so this week we did our pumpkin science. It may become tradition for two reasons: Everyone is getting rid of pumpkins on the cheap after Halloween, and the kids have had “hands on” experience with pumpkins and are bursting with schema! I wasn’t sure how it would fly, but the kids were 100% into the whole experience.
Because we have done apples and bats in this same format, students did most of this pumpkin book either collaboratively with their teams, or individually during workshop time.
Let’s talk word wall for a second… I have finally found a system that is working!
I bought this little pink box at ikea during the summer. I typed up the year’s worth of words one day, put them in teaching order in the little pink box and the rest is history.
Although this is roughly my 16th word wall, {why must they change the words every.single.year?} I still found that in years past, I just couldn’t keep up with the pacing of introducing. I would skip a week here and there and then all of a sudden it was December so I would start throwing words everywhere in a spastic panic. #justbeingreal
Last week we had what I thought was a red ribbon assembly. At least that’s what I was told! It turns out it was a surprise assembly for me! I won the COLORIZE your classroom grand prize put on by Astrobrights Paper! I have so much to share but have been waiting for the release of production. I can share some quick snapshots for now that I have been given by coworkers. I can’t wait to share the entire thing from start to finish. It was such an incredible experience.
The pictures below were taken after a tear-jearking video of my students, colleagues, and administration. They had even arranged to have my family there in the audience. My coworkers had hidden them from me and when I saw my husband and children in the crowd it was such a special moment.
If you click on the picture below, you can read the write up from our school website.
If you are looking for new ways to incorporate honoring veterans into your standards based learning, I am super excited about my newest unit. It’s still discounted!
Every year we create a class banner for the Veterans Day Assembly. The students color the pieces and we arrange them on a large piece of butcher paper to put up at the assembly. There are also other activities to do with this as well. You can check it out by clicking the picture.
And that’s a wrap for this week!

Congratulations again on your Astrobrights win!! That is so awesome!! I love that everyone worked together to surprise you… so sweet. Have a great weekend!
Kristin
My Carolina Classroom
Congratulations on your big win! I can't wait to see the final product. That smile on your face says it all. 🙂
Teaching Doodles
Congratulations!!!!! I am loving the scientist lab coats!
Mrs. Spriggs’ Kindergarten Pond
Congrats for your award and newspaper feature! I agree, the smile on your face in the 3rd picture is really cute. You looked surprised and really honored. Way to go! Green Apple Lessons
Congrats again, Reagan! Well-deserved! I hope you have a nice weekend!
Megan
Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade
Mrs. Wheeler's TPT
Congrats, not only for the award but for finally finding a solution to those pesky word wall woes. I always abandon ship pretty quickly too. So maybe next year I can try to implement your sorting idea to make my life that little bit easier.
Thanks Sheri
Early Years with Sheri
Congrats on your Astrobrights win! That's so exciting! I think it's awesome that they surprised you with the convocation! It's also always nice to know that the word wall struggles that I have are also struggles of blogger "celebrities" also! Two years ago I started putting all of my words in order in a small box like the one you got from IKEA and it has definitely made it much more manageable! Hoping it continues to work for you!
Brandy
Firstie Kidoodles