Five for Friday Flashback: 2.15

Oh.My.Word!

We all deserve a little pat on the back and a summer vacation right this minute.

Valentine's Week is filled with so much excitement.  We can hardly contain ourselves with all of the love in the air and the sugar in our bellies.  It's such a romantic time in the life of a 1st grader. 

This week, as we read Splat the Cat, one of my students commented that at the end of the book they thought Splat and Kitten were "in love".  The rest of the class busted out in an "EWWWW!"  

Another student proceeded to tell us in a you-wouldn't-believe-this-story kind of way that "My parents kiss in front of me.  They look like this: (insert seven year old OPEN MOUTH kissing the air! I lost it completely.)

Another student then replies, "ME TOO!" (insert seven year old kissing the air! and all of my other students kissing the air and simultaneously saying "EWW" at the top of their lungs.)

I just laughed and laughed and laughed.  

1st graders can say the funniest and most inappropriate things sometimes.  After I finally gained control of my laughter my classroom, we continued on to finish Love, Splat.

Needless to say, we had so much fun this week and worked so hard, our district decided to give us the day off on Monday.

(I mean, we knew about it since last year when they posted our school calendar on the website....but I'd like to think they are saying "well done!" right about now)

We have President's Day off! 

Hip! Hip! Hooray!

Now, before you unfollow me and leave me nasty comments, let me gently remind you we didn't get off for MLK and haven't had a break since Jan 3rd.  

JANUARY THIRD PEOPLE!  

That is all.  Thank you. 

(Now you may throw your rotten tomatoes.) 

*Insert shower and change of clothes from all that tomato slosh*

okay.

on.with.it.

One

My safe place.

Shubert has been teaching us how to calm ourselves down when we are feeling upset or cranky.  Which has been happening more often than not lately.

This week we used our Cranky Cream. the Focus Formula, and Kindness Cream like crazy.

And it worked wonders. 

Every time!

You can read all about it here and get your free labels too!

Two

I began a Valentine's Incentive at the beginning of February when I found this cute heart giraffe poster at Target.  When the students won the Teacher vs. Student game during a whole group lesson, I would pick a student to come play pin the tail on the donkey (pin the heart on the giraffe).

On Valentine's Day (imagine that!) a student finally pinned the heart in the heart!  We all voted to have a "game day" party where we will bring our favorite board game to school and teach others how to play it.  Don't you love rewards that also teach others how to cooperate? 

#letsallgetalong

Three

On Valentine's Day, we each got a box of conversation hearts.  

We sorted, tallied, graphed, and analyzed the data.

Am I the meanest teacher ever because I didn't let my students eat them at school?

Four

On Valentine's Day after my students came in from recess, this was on the board.

Of course, I got the usual "EWWW!" from the students at first.  

But then I gave them each a candy "hug" and "kiss" for a taste test...you know, the chocolate kind?

My students picked which one was their favorite and colored the chocolate to match:

Then we were off to make our class graph.

Last, my students had to analyze the information by answering questions on their recording sheets.  One of the questions was "How many more students liked hugs than kisses?"  This type of questions always stumps my 1st graders.  So I taught them to make partners:

And then we counted how many extra there were without partners.

Does anyone know a better way to teach comparing numbers?  

I would love some new ideas.

Five

We had our Valentine Exchange (No party! Just a time to run around the classroom and yell at the top of our lungs an exchange. PTL!)  after lunch and were so thankful for all of the goodies.

It's always so much fun to see what kind of Valentine my students bring.  

It always matches their personality. 

This year I had a student bring 4 boxes of Valentines with 30 cards in each (we have ten students in our class).  It was so sweet that she shared some with a student who forgot to bring his Valentines.

*SIDENOTES*

This weekend is a three day weekend for me and I am NOT going up to the school!  This is the first weekend in a L-O-N-G time that I will not go up on Saturday to get caught up.  I am planning on spending all three days away from school.

This coming Thursday I am going to a 1st and 2nd grade conference (which means I will really only have a three day week! WHAT?)  

I can't wait to share with you how my Daily 5 rotations are going!  You'll never believe what I am trying!  Come back soon to find out :)

Don't forget to link up!

Happy Weekend Friends,