14 in '14 Linky Party

Miss Kindergarten, A Teeny Tiny Teacher and Dragonflies in first have created a fun linky party to sum up 2014.  You can come up with your own 14 moments or use their suggested ones.  I am going to try and use their...here we go!

Family
It's been a rough end to 2014 for my family.  We've suffered an unexpected loss of my uncle, another uncle is sick and working on getting better, and my mom and dad have suffered some health set backs.  We are working together to overcome these obstacles and I need to make a better effort on spending quality time with my family.

Healthier Choices
My mom is currently going through her 2nd round of radiation treatments.  She is wanting to make healthier choices, so I have decided to join her on this journey.  Tried my first spinach, banana, blueberry, and raspberry juice on Christmas day...wasn't as bad as I thought.

My Niece and Nephew
I am very lucky to be able to watch my niece and nephew grow into their own fun person.  They are sweet, kind, loving, funny, and smart kiddos.  My sister and brother in law are doing a pretty awesome job.

I have watched my niece grow through her participation with her halau.  She has grown so much and has shared her love of hula just like my Grandma Oda.

My niece has been our "photographer" for our holiday cards since she was 3...she will be in 9 in January.  I've been playing and learning more about Photoshop and loving the idea of creating my own photo cards.  Here's our 2014 holiday photo...lucky to be married to this man for 11 years today (12/30/03)

Teaching for 16 years and still going.  Yes it's gotten more stressful, but the rewards of watching my students grow each year is priceless.

I've enjoyed my journey in the blogging world and I feel I am still fairly new.  I'm just happy that I've been able to blog more often.  

I love Pinterest!!  I've found great pins for my classroom and baking.  

I love directed drawings and this has been my favorite one so far.  I got the idea from ARTventurous

My favorite dessert to bake during Christmas is Santa Hat Brownies!!  Here's a photo that I made for my sister.  I got the recipe from Gourmet Day Today.

A mother in my class makes beautiful jewelry from shells and beach glass that she finds here in Hawaii.  I was fortunate to be given this beautiful key chain.  It is my new key chain for my classroom keys.  If you'd like to check out her website go to Sea Kissed By Kris.

Nothing really new for me this year that has become a favorite.  

Since I am not a cook...my husband only gets desserts...lol!  Couldn't narrow it down to just one so here's our favorites:

 Calfornia Pizza Kitchen, Ruby Tuesdays, Macaroni Grill and Paesano's.  

I couldn't narrow it down to just one, so here's my favorites :)

Hawaii 5-O, Revenge, and Blue Bloods. 

I loved the Christmas Movie Marathons on The Hallmark Channel!!

Jeans and a comfy blouse/t-shirt.

I found this one on Facebook and it sums up my family right now.  

Phew, I did it!!!  It was fun going through my pictures and remembering the important parts of 2014.  Here's hoping for a fabulous, healthy and fun 2015 to all you!!

Xoxo,

Julie

It was a busy December!

Mele Kalikimaka!!  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas  and made some wonderful memories with family and friends.  It was a busy 3 weeks in December that flew by.  Our school had our Winter Program on December 19th.  Our music teacher taught our kinders 3 songs...I'm a Little Snowflake, It's Wintertime, and Must Be Santa.  They did fabulous!  We also created Christmas Trees using sugar cones...it was a success and a fun time with all 77 kinders working in our school cafeteria.  

I came across a fabulous and cute reindeer directed drawing from ARTventurous.  It was fun activity to do with my kindergarten students.  We love directed drawings.  I love the collage apps on my phone, but didn't use my phone to take these pictures...so I created it on picmonkey  

Sheri and I braved the crowds and went to see Christmas Lights in a neighborhood in Waikele.  She brought her 3 daughters and I brought my niece and nephew.  They had about 8 house synchronized to music that ran for an 1 hour.  I fell in love with this hedgehog and the peacock was beautiful.

This was one of the houses that was synchronized.

There was also another street nearby that had all houses decorated.  My nephew was over the crowds so my husband took him back to their house...which was in walking distance from the madness.

Here's to another great year for everyone.  Hoping 2015 will be an even better year.  Hau'oli Makahiki Hou...Happy New Year!!

XOXO,

Julie

It's already December...Currently Time!!

It's my favorite time of the month.  I truly love doing and reading everyone's monthly Currently.  Stop by Farley's to join in the fun!

Listening..."The Voice" is one of my favorite shows to watch.  I don't have a favorite this season, but they are pretty awesome.

Loving...I bought some wonderful resources from this sale...not so sure my credit card loves it, but I sure do!!

Thinking...Lots to do in the 3 weeks that I have left with my kinders.  I have to finish our end of quarter assessments as well as fit in as much Winter crafts that I can.

Wanting...I love Starbucks!!  Iced Chai Tea is my favorite drink to get.  The Green Tea Latte is a close 2nd!

Needing...Pictures for our yearly Christmas Card...not my husband's favorite thing, but I do love to send them out to our families and friends near and far.

Giving...We sometimes forget the special people because we get so caught up in our busy schedules and lives.   I lost 1 uncle and another is sick.  My dad needs oxygen pretty much the whole time and my mom was just diagnosed with 1st stage breast cancer.   It's been a rough month or so for my family and I truly cherish and love them.

I want to wish all of you the merriest of holidays this season!!

Xoxo,
Julie

Super Cyber Savings Sitewide Sale!!

  I will be participating in TeachersPayTeachers Super Cyber Savings Sale.  Please stop by my store on December 1st and 2nd.

Thank you to Jen Jones for creating this awesome image.  

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.  I can't believe December is right around the corner.  I only have 4 more Saturdays to get my Christmas shopping done.

Xoxo,

Julie

My Kindergarten Class Needs Your Help

I would love any help in getting my donors choose project funded for a new short throw projector.  Currently our projector sits on a low cart and is very dim.  I was fortunate to have a Smartboard donated to our classroom, but unable to fully utilize it due to the ineffective equipment.  If anyone can help, my kinders and I would greatly appreciate it.

Here's the link to our project  Our 21st Century Projector


Thanks again for your help...
xoxo, Julie

Our First Directed Drawings and It's November Currently Time

Halloween was a wet one for us here in Hawaii.  Our school had a parade for the students in grades preK to 3rd in the morning.  My kinders came to school dressed in their Halloween costumes and we walked along the fire lane for our parents and upper elementary students (grades 4-6).  We made it one time around before we got drenched!!  Other than that, we did have fun showing off our costumes.

I followed the Fall Favorites Blog Hop and came across Elyse Rycroft from Proud to Be Primary.  She had the cutest directed drawing of Frankenstein...which she called "Franken-Buddies."  I love directed drawings and I am always impressed with my students' work.  Even my most reluctant artists are able to complete one and are very proud of what they have created.  Stop by her blog and pick up her easy to follow directions for a great art activity.

It's time for Farley's November Currently...head down to her blog to join in on the fun!

Listening:  Law and Order: SVU.  It a favorite of mines and I'm watching the reruns on USA Network.

Loving:  It's been really hot and humid lately in Hawaii and I'm happy that it's cooling off here.  I also love my students first directed drawing of Frankstein that we did for Halloween.

Thinking:  Christmas is 7 weeks away...How fast it's approaching and things I have to get do and get ready for.

Wanting:  The cooler weather to stick around...it's not fun teaching in a portable with temperatures reaching 90 degrees with only the windows open and ceiling fans to try and cool us off.

Needing:  I signed up for a 3 credit course about our new Language Arts Program:  Wonders.  It's due soon and I have to get moving on finishing everything up, but I will be out this week for a 2 day conference.  Not great time management and planning on my part :(

Reading:  We are moving along with our new program...lots of bumps and road blocks along the way, but it's been nice to see my kinders understanding the different concepts.  Currently trying to plan out the next couple weeks which is why I am reading Unit 4.  2 more weeks to go.

Happy November...xoxo,

Julie

Liebster Award!!

Thank you to Krissy from Krissy's Kindergarten for nominating our blog for the Liebster Award.  It's an award for new bloggers and to help them gain more readers/followers.  I will answer the 11 questions from Krissy and then I will need to find 11 other blogs with less than 200 followers.

1. Why and how long ago did you start blogging?

I began my search for ideas on other blogs for my kindergarten classroom and teamed up with another K teacher at my school and began our blog in 2013.

2. What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why? 

Diverse...our teaching styles are different, but we are able to share ideas and use them effectively in our classrooms.

3. Is there something you learned late in your blog journey you wished you knew before?

Same like Krissy...being consistent and wondering if my choices to post are good ones.

4. What is your favorite past time other than blogging?

I like doing crafty things (baby shower diaper cakes) and baking.

5. How many hours per week do you dedicate to your blog?

NOT ENOUGH...I had hoped to blog once a week, but life can get crazy.

6. What category of blog posts do you enjoy the most?

I love Farley's Monthly Currently, classroom organizations, and technology.

7. Where does your blog inspiration come from

The first blog that I followed was Kindergarten Crayons by Fran Kramer.  She has lots of great tips and ideas.

8. Which post that you've written are you most proud of?

I liked my directed drawings and artsy ones.

9. Is there any post you have been planning to do, but have postponing it for a while now?

Five for Fridays and the Good Idea one....just don't know if I could come up with 5 things or if my idea would be a good one for others.

10. What is your favorite aspect of blogging?

Meeting other educators and sharing ideas.

11. Which recipe, project, or idea on my blog would you be most likely to try yourself?

I have been looking at the Common Core Books for LA and Math for awhile...Will be picking a copy up after payday tomorrow :)  

Okay...here's my 11 nominees...

Pauline from First Grade By The Sea

Caitlin from Confessions of a Teachaholic

Leslie from Color, Cut and Glue

Alex John from The Kindergarten Connection

Stephanie Ann from Sparkling in Kindergarten

Laura from Luv My Kinders

Karen from Kennedy's Korner

Cherilyn from Mrs. Harrison's Hive

Lindsay from Just Keep Teaching

Susan from Mrs. Dow's Little Owls' Nest

Erica from Miss Vees Kinder Kraziness

This was harder than I had thought and I hope I didn't double tag some.  

Now that you've been nominated, here are the "official" rules for accepting:
1. In your post, link back to the blogger who nominated you as a thank you and "shout out."
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you (the ones I answered above).
3. Nominate 11 blogs of your choice that each have less than 200 followers. Provide them with 11 questions to answer or have them answer the questions above.
4. Let your nominees know that they've been nominated and provide them with a link to your post so that they can accept.
5. Send your nominator a link to your post so that s/he can learn more about you as well! (You can just put your post link in the comments below!)

Looking forward to meeting new "bloggers" soon,

xoxo...Julie

Woohoo...It's Fall Break.

I can't believe that we finished up with the first quarter this past Friday.  We are officially 1/4 done with our school year.  I am pleased with the progress my little kinder kiddos have been making, but there's still a lot to learn and do.

It's time for Faley's October Currently...I love seeing what other fellow educators are up to.  Here's what I am up to this October..

Fall Break had officially started this past Friday at 2:05 p.m.  I am looking forward to sleeping in a little longer, but it won't be too long since I will be dropping off my hubby at work this week...we only have 1 car.  

I have to begin report cards and get ready for Parent Teacher Conferences since those will be starting soon after we return from Fall Break.  I also need to get moving on my Wonders PD portfolio...it's due sometime in November.  So maybe, I won't have too much time to relax this Fall Break.

I love living in Hawaii, but the heat and humidity is ridiculous.  Temperatures are reaching 90's and my portable only has oscillating fans.  We are roasting in there...not fun to be all sticky by 9:00 a.m.  Hoping that the trade winds will return soon and make it somewhat bearable to work and learn in our classroom.

Since we will be beginning our Go Math chapter about teen numbers...I will be posting I can compose teen numbers  for free for the whole month of October.

Happy Fall...xoxo,

Julie

Donors Choose

Crossing my fingers that I will be able to get "Our 21st Century Projector Project" funded.  I am so fortunate to have a SMARTboard in my classroom, but it isn't being utilized very well because the projector I have sits on a low cart and it's very dim.  Every time I use it, I have to close my windows and doors so that the classroom is dark enough.  The children have learned not to sit in front of the projector because all we will see are their shadows...they love to make shadow puppets.

I have been so fortunate to get several projects through DonorsChoose.  It's such a wonderful organization for teachers to have to help get materials that are hard to fund through our shrinking budget given to us by our schools.

From now until September 13th my project will have donations doubled using the code "INSPIRE".
Hopefully I will be able to get this project funded.

Happy Sunday...xoxo,
Julie

It's September...

We've been in school for a month already.  The children are settling into the routines and making new friends.  I have a fun bunch of kinders this year and can't wait for more adventures throughout the school year.

I love Wheel of Fortune and it's always easy to solve the puzzles at home.  I've always thought of trying out for the show whenever they come to Hawaii, but I always chicken out.

My niece and her halau competed in a hula competition this past weekend.  She has gotten better over the years and it was so nice to see them and celebrate their wins.  She also used my grandma's ipu in one of her dances.  She has the love of hula that my grandma had.  My grandma would be so proud of her.

We've been in school for a month and there are some changes/accommodations that I need to make to help several students learn better in my classroom.

I love living in Hawaii, but the humidity has been horrible.  It's been hot and sticky the past few days.  Oh how I wish I had a/c in my apartment.

We have begun our new LA curriculum...Wonders.  I have signed up for a 3 credit PD course to dig deeper in the curriculum and I haven't started day 1 yet.  I "NEED"  to get moving.

3 places I'd like to go to, but never visited:  New York...Times Square and the Statue of Liberty.  Oregon...just because.  Japan...I love the Japanese sweets and novelties...Hello Kitty, Kerropi, Little  Twin Stars and My Melody are my faves.

2 more work days to go...enjoy them.

xoxo, Julie

Link up now...

First week back to school and I survived Open House

Very exciting to start the school year and meet my new kindergarteners.  We had completed our screening the week before school started...they are a fun, new group.  I will have 19 kinder friends this year...2 less than last year, but I know it will go up sometime during the school year.  We always have the late ones to register and some that come just during the winter wave season.

My class is all set up, but I need to get baskets and baskets to store all the components of the Wonders LA program...I have run out of shelf space and I don't really know where the baskets will go...aaaahhhh. Tomorrow is my inservice on Wonders with other kindergarten teachers in my complex.  Crossing fingers that it will be worthwhile and informative.   It will be nice to see some friends that I have met through various workshops.

Time to head off to bed...it was long and hot today.


Yay, everyone loves a sale!!!  Head on over to look at some fabulous stores that will be participating.  I am joining in on the fun as well.

Happy Friday,
Julie

Sorry for being MIA on here...the end of the year got crazy for me.  May Day, end of year report cards, gifts, slideshow and packing up my room all had to get done before the end of May.  It was crazy, but it all got done...only to have to set it up all again for the new school year.

I have been enjoying my summer spending time with my family and friends.  It was very relaxing and fun.  Too bad, my husband couldn't take off to enjoy it...at least we have the weekends.

I head back to school on July 28th.  I will be going back to work next week since my room should be ready...floors waxed, carpet shampooed, windows and fans wiped down.  Hats off to the custodial staff at my school.  They work so hard, yet clean all classrooms over the summer break.

I want to wish  you all a fabulous new year with your new bunch of kiddos.

See you all soon...xoxo,
Julie

Spring is here!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful spring break.  Our break was in March and we've been back for about a month.  It's a busy time in kindergarten here in Hawaii...we are busy getting ready for our school's annual May Day Program.  Each grade level decides on a song or songs to perform for our families.  We will be doing a Tahitian song called "Tamatoa."  We are fortunate to have a kindergarten teacher that knows Tahitian and she has been teaching all our kindergarteners the dance.  We are very excited to perform for our families.

In between daily classroom lessons and May Day practice, we were able to fit in another fun directed drawing activity.  This fun ladybug came from DoodleBugs Teaching and I absolutely love it.  I also printed out a sun from a clip art bundle that I got from Teacher Laura.  I will will be putting their name in the sun and gluing it onto their completed ladybug.

Here are the suns waiting to be glued on their ladybug pictures.

These activities have been a joy to do with my kindergarteners.  It has helped them with following directions and becoming the artists that I know each can be.  Even my most reluctant artists enjoy and are very proud with the final product.  If you haven't tried directed drawings, this will be a great project to try.

I also found a cool online photo edit program that allows me to add cute borders/frames around my pictures. Go and check out Fotor Photo Frames.  I love it!!

Happy Weekend,

Julie

Happy St. Patrick's Day...a little late

It was a busy week before St. Patrick's Day for us.  It was the last week of 3rd quarter, I had my formal observation scheduled, and it was the week before our Spring Break.  And to top things off, I got super sick and lost my voice.  I survived my formal observation and now await for my post conference with my principal when I return.  We had end of quarter assessments to get through as well.  We did have some fun in between assessments and created our Leprechauns.  We are enjoying directed drawings and my students continue to amaze me.  I found a cute Leprechaun Directed Drawing from First Grade Blue Skies.  What makes it more amazing is that Jennifer gave this as a freebie.  So head to her blog to pick up a great activity for your students.

 During my Spring Break I rested and fought off the bad cold and was able to get these ready to be posted up in my classroom tomorrow.  Yes, my break is over today...for those that are just staring your spring break...enjoy and have fun!!

xoxo,
Julie

Hina Matsuri...Happy Girls' Day

March 3rd is Girl's Day.  Here in Hawaii we have a melting pot of cultures and celebrate different cultural traditions throughout the year.  Today, we talked about a celebration in honor of girls and families wishes for the girls in their families.  I read 2 great books to my kindergarten students.

Girl's Day with Yuki-Chan by Tokie Ikeda Ching describes Girl's day traditions in Hawaii.

  Girls' Day / Boys' Day by Minako Ishii shows customs and traditions for Girls' Day and Boys' Day through beautiful photographs.  One side is about Girls' Day and flip the book over and it's about Boys' Day.







We created this cute doll for our art project...

I forgot the mochi at home so they will eat it tomorrow.

~ Julie