You know how the universe sometimes nudges you to do something, change something.

For the last few years I have been taking things out of my classroom. Making it more simple, fewer colors, less clutter.  I want the kids and their work to be the focal point, and the classroom "decor" to be the background.  A background that supports independence, curiosity, imagination and learning.

This summer, I knew it was time for my classroom alphabet line to change to something more organic, more simple, more natural.

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Sandi

I have been thinking about changing my alphabet frieze in the classroom for a couple of weeks.

Then numbers 1 - 6 fell down.

And that settled it!

The alphabet had to go.

Time for something new.  Time for something less manufactured and more organic.

I went looking for inspiration.

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Sandi

It has been alphabet week on the picket line.

First it was glass gems, and then wooden blocks.

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Sandi

With a $2 investment, modge podge and a bit of time, I have a set of upper and lower case glass gems that look amazing.

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Sandi

Today was Penguin Day.  

We make penguin hats, put on penguin tummies, eat fish and krill and take care of eggs and chicks.

It's a kindergarten institution.  

Then our Student Council announced a school spirit Pajama Day.  

So it became Penguins in Pajamas Day. 

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Sandi

Earlier in the summer I added a sidebar link to all my sensory bin posts.

(It's right on the side - and will take you to a handy dandy photo list that will link you to all my sensory bins - or you could click [here].  

One of the families from my class last year told me (in the nicest way possible) that I had not included their favourite bin.  

A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault, and illustrated by Lois Ehlert) inspired bin.

So, S, E, A and C (who was not even around when this bin was last out) - here it is.

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Sandi

Shiver me timbers and rattle me bones - we got through another Pirate Day.

I added a new activity to Pirate Day this year.

A Pirate Treasure hunt  - with a twist.

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Sandi

We have been learning about worms (in honour of Earth Day) and talking about the letter W w this week.

My student teacher did a cool worm experiment to show the kidlets.  She put a q-tip dipped in nail polish remover near the worms body.  That part of the body moved away from the q-tip.

Back to W w.

A few weeks ago one of kidlet's mums asked if we were going to make waffles when we talked about W?

Great idea.

Today, we connected the brain with the stomach.

We mixed up the waffle batter.

I cooked up the waffles while the kidlets were at music class.

Waffles, with wildberry jam, whipped cream and a worm on top.

There were no leftovers.

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Sandi

I believe that being outside, hanging out with nature, is good for the body, brain and soul.

I know that I am very blessed to live in a town on the ocean, with forests out our backdoor.  And  even more blessed that my school has a huge school yard with hills, a garden and a big forested area.  

We play outside ...  exploring, running, making games, digging holes, climbing, pretending ... every day.

One of my goals for this school year was to bring more of our structured, focused learning outside.

Today, we brought a wee bit of literacy outside. We made a nature letter museum.  (A tip of my cap to Juliet from I'm a Teacher Get Me OUTSIDE Here.)

We brainstormed what we could use from the forest to make the first letters of our names.  We were pretty limited  to leaves, sticks and pinecones.  Pinecones being the hands down material of choice.

this young man spent over half an hour sounding out and making pine cone words

Check out some of the exhibits in our Letter Museum.

After making our letters, we got down to the serious business of playing with sticks, rocks and leaves, running, jumping, chasing - the serious business of childhood.

            

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Sandi

I want the boys in my class to believe that books and reading are totally what boys do.

So, I try and get outside my girl brain, and make sure that I have lots of boy inviting, boy friendly books in the classroom.  (I think I have more snake, shark and monster truck books than some school libraries!!)

Nonfiction books about animal with sharp teeth, explosive science books  (volcanos, earthquakes, hurricanes) and books about machines that make deafening noises are easy to come across, but what about alphabet or number books that intrigue boys. 

When I found an alphabet book that my boys devoured, I knew that I had hit pay dirt.  

Superhero ABC

written and illustrated by Bob McLeod

published by Harper Collins in 2006

fabulous for children 5-8

Bob McLeod has created a superhero for each letter of the alphabet.  Their names, their superpowers and other little bits of information about them all connect with the alphabet letter.  

Check out DangerMan. He does daring deeds every day. He doesn't have a dog.  And he duels with dragons. 

The illustrations are straight out of a comic book.  Not surprising since Bob McLeod was a comic illustrator for DC and Marvel for many years. 

My boys love this book.  During "quiet" reading time, I often find a couple of them, hidden in a corner, talking, laughing, pointing things in the book out to each other, showing each other their favourite superhero.  Enjoying the book.

The girls have been spotted enjoying the book too.

Last year we had a superhero morning, enjoying literacy activities with an adult. The kids made some mighty fine superhero masks and capes. (The capes were kitchen catcher style garbage bags - they worked brilliantly).

Permanent dress up capes in the classroom are made out of thrift shop women's skirts.  When we need them, scarves and blankets also make fine superhero capes. 

Bob McLeod has a website with some cool superhero printables.  

Meet the Dubiens has a fun idea for a superhero photo shoot.  

Superhero ABC is one of my best books for boys. 

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Sandi

animated alphabet website - animal noises included

One of my goals (way prefer "goals" to "resolutions") for the new school year is to make technology use in the classroom seamless - a teaching a learning tool to be used at the right time for the right reason.

We have been very technology poor (the only technology in the room was what I brought from home), but now we have an ipad and they are supposed to be installing a ceiling mounted projector this summer.

I am joining Brenda from Primary Inspired ABC for her literacy and word work website blog hop.

One of my favourite alphabet websites goes with the book Bembo's Zoo. Click on the book cover to head to the Bembo's Zoo website.

The opening screen is a choice of all the alphabet letters - accompanied by some wild animal jungle noises to get you in the correct mood.

When each letter is selected, the name of an animal (beginning with the chosen letter) appears on the screen.

The letters then flip and jumble themselves around 

and transform themselves into the correct animal. 

Here's a quick overview of the alphabet - with a different soundtrack

.

I have spent far too long playing with the letters and watching in fascination as they transform into the animals.  Hope you and your kidlets enjoy it as much as we do.

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Sandi

use your noodle

I have been coveting Montessori number rods for a couple of years.

source: Montessori Matters

Sadly, they don't fit my budget;  I even investigated making some.  (I asked my husband to buy me some wood and cut it to the right lengths - but he bought the wrong grade wood, and they have been sitting at the back of my car's trunk for over a year).

 I have been number rod-less ... until now.

Now my rods do not look as sleek and smooth as the ones that Maria Montessori created ... because my rods are made with pool noodles!

Grabbed a few noodles from my noodle stash. (Had some left over from making swords, and have bought a few more in "must have" colours!)

I marked cutting lines - 10cm, 20cm, 30cm all the way to 100 cm, and cut the noodles to the correct lengths.  I used a break knife, not a saw; the saw helped me keep my cutting edge level.  

I alternated the colours to provide some differentiation. 

I wavered back and forth whether I should print the numbers on the rod or not.  Numbers won.

And then I played counting. 

the 7 rod and the 3 rod are as big as the 10 rod

the 1 rod and the 2 rod and the 4 rod and the 3 rod are as big as the 10 rod

the 6 rod and the 4 rod are as big as the 10 rod

Now, unorthodox though they might be, I have counting rods -- oops, counting noodles.

I'm going to cheat a little bit here.

These were made, but not by me.

A former student, current high school art student and family friend wanted a project.  I was happy to oblige.

It all works with the rock thing that I have going on this summer.

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Sandi

I was lucky enough to be part of a pay it forward surprise package for my class from a pre school class in Australia. (I am going to post about this over the week end, so I don't want to say any more!)

But, I will say that one of my favourite alphabet books is written and illustrated by an Aussie and was in our package.

It begged to be included in Susanna Hill's list of perfect picture books.

Animalia is a visual wonder.  And the vocabulary is pretty impressive too.

Animalia

written and illustrated by Graeme Base

published by Penguin Books, Australia, 1986

themes  alphabet and animals

suitable for ages 4 - adult

opening lines ...  An armoured armadillo avoiding an angry alligator.

synopsis ...  Animalia is an an alliterative alphabet book and contains 26 illustrations, one for each letter of the alphabet.  Each illustration features an animal from the animal kingdom along with a short sentence utilizing the letter of the page for many of the words.  The illustrations contain many other objects beginning with that letter that the reader can try and identify.  As an additional challenge, the author has hidden a picture of himself in every picture.   - Wikipedia

I like this book because ...  
Animalia is an absolute visual feast.  Kids Book Reviews says, " Animalia captures your imagination completely".  I agree.  I have spent happy hours lost in each page finding new surprises and treasures.

It's also a fun challenge to find the picture of himself as a boy that Graeme Base has hidden in each page.  It's not an easy feat.

The vocabulary that is introduced to the reader through the illustrations is amazing.  

I am sure that everybody who has read this book has their own favourite page. Mine is the letter L - Lazy Lions Lounging in the Local Library.

resources ...
As well as being a book, Animalia is also a computer animated television series which "tells the story of two human children, Alex and Zoe, who stumble into the magical library which transports them to the magical world of Animalia".     - WIkipedia. 

Here's a quick trailer to whet your appetite.

I bought the Animalia app for my ipad (also ipod touch and iphone compatible).  According to appadvice:  Animalia has been a great hardback book for the last 20 years, and is better in its new digital form.  Now the same great book has even more deluxe images to truly see the finite detail, and there are brand new touch based interactive features.  This app really shows has the iPad can reinvent and provide brand new interest in a classic book.  For only $3.99 Animalia is an absolute steal on the iPad and is great for young and old alike.

Hopping around the internet, I found another alphabet picture book that brilliantly (at least in my mind) marries art and the alphabet.

Welcome to the Learning Den writes:  It contains 26 lovely paintings by renowned artists. Each hides a letter while exposing children to fine art.

have a fabulous Friday

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Sandi