Who is celebrating tomorrow?

Who is celebrating Cinco De Mayo tomorrow in their classroom? Living in West Virginia most of my life, we have never really celebrating this festive holiday, but I am beginning to notice it is becoming more culturally diverse all throughout the nation and my rural area.

While shopping this weekend, I saw several signs for businesses who were joining in on the FUN.

Head over to your local Moe’s on Saturday for Cinco De Moe’s. Check your local store to see exactly what “specials” they will be featuring for this festive. I hear the yummy queso calling my name. Mmmmmmm

Giant Eagle is celebrating with a week long Latin America Cuisine Food Fiesta !“Yummy”

Cinco De Pinterest

Recently on pinterest, I discovered a bunch of adorable ideas for Cinco De Mayo.

Here are just a few of my favorite finds…

From Oh My Creative!

Oh My Word!!! How adorable and clever is this!!!!

From Aunt Peaches

Step-By-Step Directions!! Pure Cuteness!!!

From Ruffled

DIY: Mini Piñata

Step-By-Step Instructions (Love These!!)

From Little Nummies

Cinco De Mayo “Healthy Snack”

Don’t Forget My Cinco De Mayo Unit

My Unit will be on SALE through

SATURDAY for $5

There are 14 different activities to help your little Niño’s and Niña’s join in on the “fiesta”.

Don’t Forget to look at my earlier posting for some other cute CINCO ideas!!!!!

{Click Here}

Hope you all have a “wonderful” Fiesta!!!!

Melissa

Celebrate EARTH DAY

It’s time to celebrate this remarkable planet we live on. What are you doing today or everyday to help planet Earth? A kinder class in my building picked up trash around the school.

One of my favorite quotes from a kinder gal, “Guess what we did today, Mrs. Freshwater… We picked up smelly trash to help make Earth a better place.” (I loved the additional little word “smelly” to sentence.)

I am celebrating today by putting my Earth Day Unit on Sale. Head on over to scoop it up. Don’t delay as the sale ends tomorrow. Teaching your kiddos about Eco-Friendly Habits is something that can be incorporated all throughout the year.

Have a great day!!!

Always, Melissa

Yo Ho Ho… It’s Pirate Time

Over the last few weeks, my mailbox has been running over with sweet comments and unit requests. First, I have to “thank you” for being so kind and generous. My bucket is running over and I can’t express how appreciative I am. The requests for themes is growing at a rapid pace. (I have been writing down your ideas!) I have been trying to update my units from last year, but I have not gotten to them. ( I am trying, but time is definitely getting away from me.)

I am loving the numerous different pirate theme activities and décor ideas I have gotten from pinterest. {Click Here to follow my pinterest pirate board} 

Here are a few of my favorites. (Just click the picture to head over to the original owner.)

 Pirate Theme Word Wall Freebie from

 Frogs in First 

Pirate Voices Freebie from

Kinderglynn

Pirate Math & Art Activity from

 Erica Bohrer’s First Grade

Pirate Classroom Decor from School Girl Style

Considering polka dots is one of my “favorite things” I see a pirate theme in my future classroom someday. Last year, I grabbed some adorable pirate themed items from the Target Dollar Spot during the summer. (Confession- Oh My!) I have a fetish with the dollar spot. Okay, maybe a borderline addiction- heck let’s be honest it’s a full-blown addiction. I can not seem to get enough. (It’s only a dollar, right…)

Without further ado, I present my newest theme unit.

Pirate Adventures

Math & Literacy Centers

There are 20 different math & literacy concepts. (10 of each) Here is a glimpse at the titles and concepts within the units.

Math

• Buried Treasure (Coin Recognition)
• Batten Down the Hatches (Time Analog)
• A Pirate Voyage (Time)
• Hoist the Anchor (Tally Counting)
• Ahoy Matey (Counting By 10’s)
• X Marks the Spot (Counting 20+)
• Sunken Treasure (Double Digit Addition)
• Pirate’s Cove (Before & After)
• Walk the Plank (Number Order and Number Writing)
• Ahoy Me Hearties (Measurement)

Literacy

• Blimey Blends (Blends)
• Polly Parrot Rhyme (Rhyming)
• Oh Captain, My Captain (Vowels)
• Ship Shape Words (Silent e words)
• Yo Ho Ho (Syllable Counting)
• Thar She Blows (Digraphs)
• Shiver Me Timbers (Sight Word Recognition)
• Mystery Maps (CVC Words)
• Aaaarrrrgggghhhh (Real/Nonsense Words)
• Final Journey (Ending Digraphs)

Just for you

A Pirate Theme Freebie {Click to download}

Hope you enjoy!!

Always,

Melissa

It’s Fiesta Time

It’s hard to believe that the end of the year is rapidly approaching. After reading a story in our first grade reading series, “Mama’s Birthday Present” I have been addicted to anything related to the word fiesta. My favorite place to eat is Moe’s.

I just can’t seem to get enough over achiever taco’s or queso and chips. Mmmmmmmmm!!! To celebrate my Moe’s addiction, I decided to create a Cinco de Mayo Mini Unit!! This unit has 14 different activities 7 math and 7 literacy to help you make your Cinco de Mayo Celebration quite FESTIVE!!

It is 96 pages- I have included both black/white and color coded cards by popular request. This way you can choose whether or not you want to print and go or copy, cut, and paste. (Everyone likes to do different things and my mailbox has been swamped with requests for color coded cards!!)

Math
Terrific Taco Tally (Tally Counting)
Pedro’s Pesos (Coin Recognition)
Hot Chili Peppers: (3 number addition)
Nacho Nacho Man (Teen Number Counting)
It’s Fiesta Time (Time)
Dance the Cucaracha (Before & After)
Viva La Fiesta (Patterning)

Literacy
South of the Border (Ending Sounds).
Mariachi Madness (Vowel Sounds)
Feelin’ Hot! Hot! Hot!(CVC Words)
Taco Grande (Sneaky E Words).
Sunsational Sounds(Beginning Sounds)
Cha-Cha Chant(Digraphs)
Cactus Clusters (Blends)

I was also inspired with April Larramore’s of Chalk Talk posts about Cinco de Mayo!! All I can say is cute! cute! cute!

Head on over to Chalk Talk and check it out for yourself!!!

I already grabbed my copy of Cinco De Mouse-o by Judy Cox

Plus if you have extra plastic eggs laying around. Head on over to Playing it Cooley for step by step instructions on how to make these adorable Cinco-De-Mayo inspired maracas.

Viva La Fiesta

Always,

Melissa