Thankful Thursday

I have so much to be thankful for, I am truly a blessed young woman.

I am so very thankful for my family, friends, my job that I love, my health that I take advantage of, my dog, my students and my home!

A Quick Funny~Today one of my students and I were talking about toys and playing with Barbie doll houses. I told them I use to have one and it was big and so cool. She said, "Mrs. Collins, you had a Barbie house back in the old days when you were this big?" (and she held her hands about 2 feet tall). Oh how I LOVE my kindergartners!

Have a great day!

Guess who won the Battle of the Shoes?

Yep, you guessed it.... Houston won!

Houston showing off his new monogrammed backpack and lunchbox.

Houston woke up this morning and instead of getting dressed, he watched Curious George. When it was time to go, he whined that his school shoes were too tight and made blisters. It was already 7:30, so I told him to grab his other shoes and I put my bag in the car. Next thing I know, he is sporting his John Deere cowboy boots with khaki shorts. I think he was trying to start a new fashion statement, because I got a new student today and the mom was telling her son to look how "cool" his boots were. OMG, only my redneck son!

Anyway, school is going great! I am so proud my students are finally getting into a routine and it makes my job alot easier.

Welcome to Mrs. Collins Kindergarten Room

Ok, so I finally got some pics of my classroom this week. I wanted to take some of the students, but it was crazy trying to get everyone into a routine and trying to teach rules and procedures.

Here are my mailboxes. The kids put their papers or other things that need to go home each day here.

Here is my teacher table where I teach small group. Behind my table, I have the colored cart organized with my supplies and my teacher editions are in the yellow crate on the air conditioner vent.

This is a view from the back of my class. This is the back of my easel I teach from, my rocking chair and a view of my classroom tables.


This is my manipulatives. They are labeled and organized into math on the right side and reading activities on the right side. Also, my science and ss Big Books I teach from.

This is my behavior system. It seems to be working well! Last year we did 5, 4, 3,2,1. This year our principal wants E,S,N,U. They get one warning before they move to an S.

This is my listening center. Also, I have my state standards chart posted. Now, I have moved teh spi chart up higher and posted my Star of the Week poster and child's' faves on this board as well. I have added a small child's beach chair here for the children to listen or sit and read in.

This is my News Board. I have menu, schedule, roster, newsletter and VIP info posted on this board. Also, my mini laptops are here.

This is my whole group area. We do Reading, flash cards, morning message, calendar, stories and many other fun things here.

This is the back side of my morning meeting area and my classroom library.

Here is an interactive pocket chart I use for stations. I update it every 2 weeks. Also, my Star of the Week bag, bear and folder for the Star to take home each week.

Here is another cabinet with manipulatives and games to play at stations or free time. To the side is my stations rotation chart. i have not added names and grouped students due to not having Dibels scores back yet.

This is my dramatic play center. The children love to look at the real cookbooks and recipe cards.

This is a view from when you walk in the classroom. Notice the word wall in the back. It will be completely full by the end of the year. My students usually learn about 200 K, 1st and even some 2nd grade sight words. I had to add an extra table this year due to having 21 kids compared to the usual 16 to 18. We only have 2 K classes rather than 3 this year.

This is another view of the side of the room from the front of my classroom.

Also, the chairbags are new! I love them! I provided the demin fabric and the other K teacher sewed them. We have 22 chairbags each. It worked out perfect! Usually, I use the vinyl ones and they tear up and get stained and nasty. So excited about these! Anyway, here is Mrs. Collins' Kindergarten classroom! Welcome!

Wordless Wednesday

Me and Jodi cliff jumping!~

Cooling off!

Once again, I think the heat has taken a toll on all of us this summer. We have taken advantage of swimming and trying to stay cool as much as possible. Here are some funny pics of Houston playing with the coolest toy ever, the Seadoo. We went to a friend's house, Uncle Ricky, where I did swimming lessons. After the lessons each day, we would play for a while. The seadoo costs around $200 and is a water toy for adults or kids. It carries you around the water and will even take you to the bottom of the pool. It is so much fun as it glides all over the pool. We all had a ball playing with it!

Taking Houston to the bottom of the pool

He finally came up for air

He glides down once again

Surfacing to the top!

This is what it looks like! SOOOO much fun!

Sooo comfy!

Yep, another furniture update!

Here is Houston playing and wrapping himself up in the shrink wrap and plastic. He thought he was hiding.

Here is a picture of our new Pillowtop Mattress. It has posturepedic (SP) therapy too and is amazing!

This baby is so think, padded and comfy! It feels like you are sleeping on a cloud.

Before, our old mattress was so flattened and lower. This pillowtop is so thick that it almost covers up the sleigh bed's headboard. I feel like I need a ladder to get in bed at night. :)

Check it out

We finally got our new furniture last week, but I have had so much going on, I haven't had time to show it off. We have already had visitors over checking it out, but here is online tour for you. This is the old living room set. There is a funny story behind the new one. I will post on down near the new furniture. Let's just say, it was a crazy adventure!

Here is the new look and new leather furniture. Also, here is the story. Tim got off work to go and pick it up. He drives more than 1/2 way there which is about 45 minutes and his truck breaks down. Then he comes back and gets his dad's truck in Collierville and goes back. He gets lost almost 30 minutes out of the way. Next, he finally arrives and it starts raining where he can't go anywhere or it will get ruined. Finally he heads home with everything. Friday night, I went out with the girls, so we decided to wait until Saturday and set everything up. Well, as we were unwrapping and screwing legs on and setting up the loveseat, we noticed the leather had a tear on the bottom. Then we had to reload it up and haul it back to Memphis and get another one. Finally, after we witnessed a bad crash, we made it there and back safely. The scary thing was, neither one of us had our licence b/c we were rushing to get it loaded and take it back, I forgot my purse and Tim changed into shorts and left his wallet in his pants. WOW! I am soooo glad we finally got it set up. I am so excited about the leather since it is easier to clean and care for. What do yall think? I love the CHANGE!!!

My new favorite drink is.........

...........a Memphis Margarita!!!!

Friday night was girls night out! It was so much fun. We went to the movies with a group of girls to see Eat, Love and Pray, which was pretty good. I am thinking I talked or laughed through the entire movie. The couple next to me must of thought it was hilarious because the man laughed all night. Then a few of the girls went out for drinks afterwards. I saw this cool looking Margarita and liked the name of it, so I tried it and it was fabulous. I mean, sooooo delicious! Can't wait to go back for more. The best part was..... someone else got our tab on our drinks! Whoo Hooo! Looking forward to the next night out with everyone.

Houston's 1st day of school

So Houston officially started Kindergarten on Friday. He was so excited to see his all his friends! Here are pics of him last year on his first day of Pre-K and pics of him on his first day of Kindergarten! My baby is growing up so fast

1st day of Pre-K

1st Day of Kindergarten

Teacher Week~ Day 4

If you have been reading my blog this week, the you know it is Teacher week from Babbling Abby's blog. Today's' theme is all about "showing off" your classroom. I have been super busy this week Brigance testing students and we have had some changes at our school this week and in my grade level, so I have not had the time to take pics of my classroom yet. Tomorrow is the first day for Kindergarteners, so I will def take pics to show you.

These pics are from last year.

This is my Reading area for Circle Time and Whole Group Reading Lessons
This is a view facing the entrance to my room.
By the door are my mailboxes, pocket chart, manipulative/game cabinet and bean bags for reading. To the right of the door is my computer station and kitchen. I now have an additional 4 mini laptops at my computer station.

Here is the front of my room. Board, Message Center, Star of the Week Board and in the back, an interactive alphabet bulletin board.

This is the back side of my room. My file cabinet, storage cabinet for supplies, snacks, art and craft supplies.My discipline system is the traffic light on the storage cabinet with clothes pins.

This is a view from the entrance of my classroom door. It is small and was once an open classroom. Yea, not my cup of tea, but I did it anyway. Now it is closed off. This year I have 21 students with one more table and chairs, so it is a little crowded right now.

And that is it. I will definitely update you with new pictures in the next few days!

Creative Ideas~ Day 3

I am so excited to participate in Babbling Abby's Teacher Week!


Mrs. Collins Kindergaren Creative Ideas on Day 3

* For every letter we learn, I try to do a fun day that relates to that letter. For example, when we study letter Pp, we dress in our pajamas for the day and eat popcorn. The kids love it and it makes learning the letter and sound so much fun! This picture is from last year on letter Pp Day!




*Teaching Kindergarten is the begining to writing sentences and I use a "space rock" to help leave a finger space. A space rock is a rock that goes in a fish aquarium. It is big enough to use to leave finger space. Each child has one they keep in their art box and they pull it out when needed. I can Not take credit for this. A coworker/pre-K teacher, Melissa introduced the idea to me.

* Another thing I do to help my students learn sight words is teaching bubble gum words. I get a cut out of a bubble gum jar and blow it up. Draw 30 circles because I have 30 weeks of sight words. Each week the child learns his/her sight words (bgum words) they color a bgum in their jar. At the end of the year, they know 200 sight words and should have their jar filled up. They love to compete and be the first one to color their bgum for that particular week. Another idea from Melissa!



*For a writing assignment and to see growth over the year. I have a class bear, Max. He has a folder and bag. Max goes home with the Star of the Week on Monday and comes back the following Monday. The Star Student is to write and illustrate sentences about what they did with Max. It is amazing to see their handwriting and invented spellings at the beginning of the year and compare it to the second semester.



*I use fly swatters to swat words they are reading off the word wall. They are fancy fly swatters with a pretty flower on them and the kids love to SWAT the words.



* Another thing I do to keep up with student info is the clipboard. I have a wooden clipboard and on the back, I have a piece of paper taped down with every student's contact info and parent names listed on back. I can grab it in event of an emergency without having to dig into a file.

Teacher Week~ Day 2

Ok, so after joining Babbling Abby's blog, I am participating in her Teacher Week.
Day 2 is all about Teacher Must Haves for the classroom.

1. The first thing I could not live without is my hot glue gun. I already shared it on yesterday's post. I use it to keep posters, pocket charts and other things on the wall. It does not leave marks or pull paint off either.

2. The second thing I have to have is my big pink 52 oz Bubba Keg thermos. I drink water in it daily and carry it everywhere.

3. Next is my mailboxes that I use to keep my children's work neat and organized.

4. My lysol chlorox wipes are a must have. I use them EVERY afternoon to wipe down my tables after the kids leave. They leave a fresh scent and sanitize the table at the same time.

5. My blue bic pens. I ONLY write in blue ink and love this bic pack of pens. I actually bought a box of 25 yesterday at WalMart for $3 :)

6. My vinyl hot pink folder. It has notes of things to do, blank paper, my class list, seating chart, testing scores, phone numbers and other VIP info.

7. My Junie B Jones chapter book collection. I read a chapter from these chapter books EVERY SINGLE DAY first thing in the morning and after lunch. I love to see and hear their expression and laughter and listening to the crazy things Junie B does at school.

8. My fabric on my bulletin boards. I used paper for years and it would fade or tear. I broke down and bought solid fabric and covered all my bulletin boards in fabric and only change them out at the end of the year.

9. My electric Boston pencil sharpener from School Specialty. I used a hand crank for a few years and had a cheap electric one. I ordered this one and it has been great. I use it though and might occasionally allow one special helper to sharpen pencils in the afternoons.

These are some things that I adore and hope you enjoy reading about some of my Must Haves!

Teacher Week

Ok, so after finding Babbling Abby's blog. I am going to participate in Teacher Week. It looks like so much fun and I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts so far!

1. I have wanted to be a Kindergarten teacher my entire life. As a child, I would teach my bears, dolls and little sister. It is my dream job and I am proud to say, this is my 5th year teaching!

2. I absolutely get excited when I go to Knowledge Tree (the local Teacher store) and could spend my entire paycheck on things for my classroom or students.

3. My glue gun is just about the handiest thing around in my class. I actually had to go this week and purchase another, due to overusing it and burning it up! I hang EVERYTHING on the walls with hot glue. **HINT- Concrete walls and tape and low air circulation= posters all over floors.

4. My school is a Title 1 school and I wouldn't trade it to go work at a private school. I have gotten to know so many of my students and their families and I feel like some of them are like my own :) We really don't know how blessed we are.

5. I have had 5 principals in the past 5 years at one school, but I am very excited about the changes that have been made this school year.

6. I have been Brigance Testing my K students for 3 days now and man, I am ready to get into a routine, so I can get to know my kids and just teach.

7. I don't think I could live without my mailbox system I use for my students. Each child has a mailbox that they put work, notes to go home or papers in each day. Every child has their own in ABC order and they are such a blessing. (even though they are just about on their last leg, just worn out, lol) I also store colred paper, copy paper and construction paper in them.

8. I don't know what I would do without all my teacher friends. I have so many and it is great just to be able to talk, share ideas with or just vent to. I have met many teacher friends throughout my career and became close to a few this summer. I am so excited to share, talk and plan online with these fabulous ladies this school year!

9. Last, teaching is so rewarding for me to see the children and their growth throughout the year. Over the years, I have seen many light bulbs come on and the excitement on their face is priceless. The most rewarding I believe was this past year. I had many students with different needs in my class and the results on the Stanford test made me so proud. The majority of my students tested at a end of 1st grade or a 2nd grade level student. I had one particular boy that really showed huge growth. He came in not knowing colors, letter recognition or numbers and left out with Principal's List. I was amazed and super proud to be called his TEACHER!

This is a start about some of the things going on with me and my Kindergarten year so far. Happy Teacher Week!

Catch up from the weekend

This would be the bday Build a Bear Camo Ammo
Houston at Maple Grove Farm for Ava's party

Houston and Trey

Dustin's party

Hou Boo and Jodi

me and Beth

Hou and Sissa

I have been slacking the past few days on blogging. I have just been going and going and haven't had time to slow down yet. So, I thought I would catch you up...... Friday night I went shopping to take advantage of the tax free weekend and then we took Houston to Build a Bear to use his bday gift card. Of course, he chose to purchase the camo bear and tent. It is too cute!

Saturday was spent partying all day! We had 3 parties in one day, we made some big furniture purchases (I will keep ya posted) and shopped a little more.

Saturday morning was spent at Maple Grove Farm, which is the best place to have a children's bday party. The kids were so entertained and the adults got to hang around and talk.

Saturday night we headed over to Dustin's birthday party at Melissa's house. I shouldn't say Melissa's house anymore, because they have been married a month and it is his too, but that is just habit. It was so much fun! I think everyone had a wonderful time. Houston and Neal always have such a great time together, Tim hung out with the guys and I hung out with the girls, the guys and Beth I tried to keep our little ones entertained. Jennifer and Jodi and Melissa even helped on that one too. They all played a little ball in Melissa's backyard with the kids. We had a ball as always with everyone :)

Sunday was refreshing as I heard an incredible back to school sermon at church. Wow, my heart needed to hear that and I know that through that sermon, God was speaking to me. I have been praying about many things and I know that in time, everything will work. I just need to be patient. Sunday afternoon was lazy but do you know what 5 hours on the water feels like? OUCH, let's just say my body is feeling it in certain areas and I am thinking sunscreen will benefit next time.

Today was back to school to test the Kindergarteners. Do you know how boring it can be to test a handful of students and then do nothing the rest of the day? I would rather be teaching my class, then trying to find something to do. The kids usually check out after their test and leave, so it is the other K teachers and me and maybe 3 kids. UGH, Anyway, there will be a routine Friday when they start their first day! YAY! After school, Houston and I headed to Oakland to run some errands and do some more shopping. So now I am home and exhausted and thinking of hitting the sack early!