February Currently

I am linking up with Farley for her February Currently.

The weather has been crazy here in Hawaii...nothing compared with the snow and cold on the mainland.  We've had a huge swell that came in last week and we've had rain and strong winds.  Today was a hot day and the downpour helped cool the evening here.

We've had a busy week at school with lots of deadlines...happy to just sit back and relax.

Weekends always end so quickly and I just wish it could last longer...heehee.

My parents are getting older and some health issues are arising...I need to be able to stop and just sit and talk and enjoy them while they are still here with me.  I don't like the idea of thinking that they won't be with me forever.  My niece and my nephew are also growing up...my niece is 8 years old and my nephew will be 3 in July and starting preschool in the fall...wished they could stay little forever.

I "freak out" at the sight of geckos and lizards.  I can't stand them and they gross me out.  My students learn this on the first day of school...they get a special treat if they can catch and throw a gecko out.

I am the youngest in my family...glad that my cousins and I are closer, but it was hard growing up not being "allowed" to hang out with the old kids.

I love to learn new things about technology and blogging has opened many doors to different learning opportunities.

I hope everyone has a wonderful February...don't forget to link with with Farley's Currently.

Xoxo,
Julie

Donors Choose

I have been very fortunate to have 2 projects funded through this great organization.  I need some help getting this last project funded.  I have been busy trying to convert my "old" cassette tapes into mp3 files so that they can be uploaded onto our new iPods.  It would help greatly if this project were funded so that my students will have more books to listen to and read with.  Any help would be appreciated...it only has 18 days left.  Here is the link....We Love Books

Thank you,
Julie

Big Wednesday....Waves...Waves...Waves

The students came in very hyped because of the waves.  We could hear the waves crashing all day and smell the salty air.  Since all we could talk about was the waves we decided to paint waves. Here are a few pictures.

Martin Luther King Jr. Directed Drawing

I was fortunate to find a directed drawing activity for Martin Luther King Jr created by Mrs Miner.  I was very impressed with the quality my kindergarteners were able to produce.  It was a fun and engaging lesson.  Here are some samples of my students' work.  Here is the link to her TpT store

The cute stiched chevron digi paper was created by Graphics From the Pond.  Check out her TpT store for it.  

Hoping the waves are not too large tomorrow morning on my commute to work.

~ Julie

Volcano Time!

We are so lucky we live on an island!  We have been learning about volcanoes over the last week and to finish off the theme we made paper mache volcanoes.  We used mini milk cartons from lunch for the base.  The project took a few days, one to do the paper mache, another to paint and a third to erupt. 

After eruptions, students wanted to take home their volcanoes,- no way they were taking home sticky soggy volcanoes. I had not planned on them being so attached to them… silly me… they did turn out really nice, so I made a deal- we throw them all away and we make clay models that they could reuse.  DEAL!

PS. To obtain excellent eruptions when students are not around I added a little red food coloring gel inside the milk container and a drop of dish soap.  Students used a funnel to add baking soda and a squeeze bottle to pour in the vinegar.

Here is a photo of the clay volcanoes too.. (which was even longer process… by oh well)  I know they will be reused!

January Currently

I hope everyone as a healthy, prosperous, happy 2014!!  Once again I am linking up for Farley's CURRENTLY...

Listening...
Hawaii has some beautiful weather, but when the tradewinds are gone, it can be a little bit sticky and humid.  Luckily, it is not as sticky and humid like the summer, but I still need some tradewind like "breezes."

Loving...
My husband works for a great company and it has been very kind to us, but he is always working when I am on vacation :(.  Thankfully it's a federal holiday so he was off today.  We were able to spend some time together before he has to go to sleep because his work time tomorrow begins at 3:30 am.

Thinking...
I enjoyed my Winter break...sleeping in and not really having to think out "school" stuff.  Now I am feeling the pressure to get moving on the things that need to get done.  First thing on my checklist will be report cards.

Wanting...
Our Winter break started a few days before Christmas and will end on January 5th.  With the hustle and bustle of the season, I would like just a few extra days to just to "breathe" and not worry about any gifts to get or desserts to bake.

Needing...
Holiday times are filled with fun times with family and friends.  I also get some orders for desserts to make for friends and parties.  Parties + dessert baking + lack of sleep = a pretty bad headache.  It also doesn't help that it is a bit warmer than usual.

Memory and/or tradition...
Growing up my family would get together for Christmas and New Year's and we would play lots of games...7-11 is our family favorite.  Each family would purchase gifts and they would be put in the middle.  We would form a circle around the gifts and each player rolls a die.  If you roll a 7 or 11 you get to pick a prize.  It continues until all presents are gone...now the fun begins.  Once all gifts are taken, we roll again and this time if you roll a 7 or 11 you can take a prize from someone else.  This continues for 5 more minutes.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and created many memories.  Once again, happy 2014 and keep on creating more memories with your loved one.

Happy New Year,
Julie