OPEN HOUSE 2008 Part 2

Last week was Daniel's Open House,

this week was my Open House...

Our Science Fair display boards...
Presenting our rock collection to our friends...
For homework tonight the students had to lead their parents around the classroom, show them their work, and let me just enjoy watching the interaction.
Making the rounds of Room 3...
Posing with my lovely girls!  Could this really be my 21st Open House? Ugh! time flies too fast!

ROCKS! ROCKS! AND MORE ROCKS!

It is our Annual Science Fair!

All the kindergarten classes are working on collections. My students and I have been collecting rocks. Tomorrow students will be expected to share what they have discovered about their rock collection. Although the end of the year is a bit hectic and the kids begin to think they are already on summer vacation...it's also a great time to just sit back (more like walking around) and observe what they have learned this year and how they are using it. They still drive me crazy, but they continue to amaze me! For my stull lesson (yes, NBCT still get stulled) I guided the students in a simple sorting activity. Then I let them go... and away they went!

This group decided to sort, trace, count, and write!
I know we are into Thinking Maps these days, but sometimes, nothing works better than a Venn! It was so wonderful listening to the conversation D and J had about where to put the rock that was both smooth and rough. I introduced them to a new graphic organizer!

Here the girls explain their sorting...

Working as a team! How cool is that for 5 year olds!

Explaining our thinking...

DANIEL'S OPEN HOUSE

Daniel shows off his print-rich, child centered, first grade classroom.
Getting tired of mommy taking pictures of him.
A picture with his student teacher. 

He had to write an apology to her once for acting up when his teacher was not there.  That's what you have to do if your mommy is a teacher... you write a lot of notes if you misbehave in class.

Sharing his favorite part of the story Big Al, one of mommy's favorite stories!

Every Baby Grows and Grows... (sing to Raffi tune)

What is up with all the babies this year? he he he... and they are all growing up so fast too!  Here's some updated pictures of Isabel. Look at all that hair! Enjoy her now Amalia... fast forward 7 years... you should see what I have to go through just trying to get a 7 year old to brush his teeth! 

What a happy baby girl!

Isn't she lovely....

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

GUESS WHO I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP

... BESIDES NICK JONAS.

DISNEYLAND WITH FLAT HOLLY!  

(That girl gets around!)

GETTING READY TO RIDE BUZZ LIGHTYEAR.

JUST CALL ME INDIE!

Daniel request that I post the following...

Daniel - "Write in your journal that you, me, and Popo went to Disneyland today. And say that Daniel rode the Indiana Jones ride." 

Mommy- "Were you scared on the ride?"

Daniel - "I was a little nervous. I didn't look in the eye. Tell them I didn't look in the eye."

GOING TO THE CHAPEL...

Well it was actually a very lovely country club... and a beautiful sunset wedding. Sigh!

READY TO CELEBRATE!

GROUP SHOT WITH FLAT HOLLY BEFORE DINNER!

LOVELY CENTERPIECES....

EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!

  (Um, and a nice newlywed as well)

CONGRATULATIONS & MUCH HAPPINESS, CHARLES AND ELIETA!

FRIDAY EVENING WITH DANIEL...

(FYI: The sound in the background is his bath water running.)

"Daniel is playing the guitar, that he's playing Kiss the Girl and that's it." - DPF

Here's another way to play the guitar.

WE LOVE POTATOES!

How cool are my kids? I wasn't sure how well my kinders would do working with a partner to complete a bubble map (describing potatoes).  They amaze me! ... they also drive me crazy, but they still amaze me!

Here are collaborative bubble maps done by kinders...

Lets try a tree map now! Completing surveys independently...

The girls explaining what they are doing...

    

The Rose Bowl and the Baby Child

Look how big and beautiful Allison is! She's growing up so fast!

Today I walked (well actually mommy and Mrs. K walked and I used my scooter) around the Rose Bowl. Mommy didn't think I would make it all the way around, but I did!  Mommy said I could have been more cooperative, but she wasn't complaining since we finished the 3 miles in one piece.  Allison came too! She didn't rest too much, but was very cute. I call her a baby child because she is not just a baby, she is a little child too... baby child, it makes sense to me.