my room thus far

this is my room thus far...here is my circle time spot..

This is my ABC Center....and word Center for later in the year.

This is my CGI Math Center and my story Board Center...Fun Place

Block Center...they will use the white board to count and record the blocks they use. and to draw a structure to matches what they build. Yea for Counting Collections in the Block Center! This is my Listening Center ....Lori Barnett gave me the Cat in the Hat Painting..Her daughter was in my very first kindergarten room...

This is my "blue Bucket" Center...it is a center that gives the students a little freedom in their center choices. Or so they think...but they are still constructing and building...

My wonderful "Book Nook" that my amazing dad build for me. This is a student favorite. they love to curl up with a book and read for a bit. Neat place to get cozy and get lost in a book.

Drama Center: I bought "real" objects from a thrift store in town. I have found that kids love to play with "real things" Their play is more imaginative when they have this type of stuff. They have enjoyed it so much...if you ever have old things that you might want to donate just let me know..i will gladly take it off your hands.

another pic of my drama center....

As i finish up other projects i will post them...any input is welcome....looking forward to seeing this room full of sweet little babies in the next few weeks...happy teaching

and so it begins

august 2010 has started off with a bang...i have been in a training for CGI2 for the last four days...my mind is pretty much spent..i did get some great ideas about what to do with my kiddos this year though...i am looking forward to taking them to the next level this year. i don't even know my kids names yet and i am already scheeming ways to make them into little math beings... I spent the week with some really amazing teachers. Three of which i spend everyday with at kindergarten. Betty, Courtney, and Aimee. I took this picture today while we were working. Betty had to leave early so she is not in the pic. Next time i will get her pic. She is a amazing teacher. Aimee is wonderful. She is always encouraging and a very hard worker. Her room is right across the hall and i know she gets tired of me popping in. Courtney is on of my oldest friends. We have been together for over twenty years now. I am blessed to be with her everyday...I am so amazed that my God gave me such wonderful people to work with...i am already so excited about the gift he is going to give me in my students this year. Be on the look out for them...they are coming soon. Tomorrow i am going to work in my room and try to get it ready...I will post pics as i finish the projects up...i hope it turns out good...two more work days unitl district meetings start. Better hurry and finish. i am going to be better at posting this year. I am more motivated...i have more to tell i guess. Looking forward to the adventure. Happy teaching!

Kindergarten Valentine's Party is an unforgetable day...the kids had the most fun today exchanging cards and candy. I just hope they are all brushing their teeth tonight. I have the best room mothers in the world. Thanks to Pam and Jessie for helping to make each party so special. I love my job. It is what i am meant to do. Thank you Father for the Job that fits me so perfectly.

weekend warrior for my kids

I wanted to show you all what i have been busy doing this weekend. First of all let me tell you that i am tired of tying shoes...It is hard to bend over and tie 20 kids shoes 3 times a day and not to mention how time consuming that is. SO I took an old pair of my shoes and painted them purple (cause purple shoes are always more fun) and mounted them on a blue wooden board. Then I laced them with florecent Yellow Shoe Strings (because who doesn't want to tie florecent yellow shoe strings?). This will give my kids some much needed practice in tying and my job should get easier. I hope they love it. My 2 year olds keeps begging to learn too do it so he can play with the shoes.
I also got this idea from another teacher at school (thanks Mrs.Rich). My kids weren't wanting to go to the writing center very much. So i made a cape that has a "W" on it. They get to wear the while they Write., hence the "W". It will make them want to write more when they get to wear the Cape...we will call them super writers. I will let you know how this turns out. I also bought some other stuff to "beef-up" my writing center...but i want to try it all out before i spill the beans. The other cape has the word "Cats" on it. My room is the Cat in the Hat Room so i figured who ever was my star reader for the day could wear the other cape. I mean who doesn't want to wear a Cape? WE all secretly do i know....wish me luck....it is all in the name of making learning fun...

The Most Beautiful Women of West Side

The secretary can as our fearless leader: Beth Rushton as Angie Waters

The Middle Hall Beauties: Mrs. Heinze, Mrs.Nipper, Mrs. Neal, and Ms. Covington

Fancy Nancey : Anne Gean

James Souter as Mr. Dishy Washy

WE celebrated the 100th day of School last friday as school. You have to understand that is the BIGGEST DAY of the Year. The kids all come to school in the fanciest clothes they can find. SO do the teachers and we all be as fancy as possible all day. We eat with our pinkies up and call each other darling. It is so much fun. I wasnted to show you a picture to help you understand . Sequense, feathers, and tiaras are a must have during this event. We also had some special guests at the school that day. Mr. Wishy Washy and Fancy Nancy were there to help us celebrate. We spent the day counting to 100, licking a sucker 100 times, building 100s, and many more 100 things. So if you are ever around our area near the end of January be sure to stop by the kindergarten to see the most beautiful and by far the fanciest teachers in the state of Arkansas.

pictured left to right: Mrs. Rich, Mrs. Powell, Mrs. Heinze, Ms. Covington, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Nipper, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Neal, and Mrs.West Side Mrs. Waters.

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN: "ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN
(a guide for Global Leadership)
All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.
These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK."
by: Robert Fulghm
http://www.roberfulghm.com/

Well my babies have been hard at work this last week. They had a lot on their minds so we put pen to paper and got it all out for the world to see. My kids are such great writers this year. They are so imainative and creative in their writings. C loves to write about lizards and dragons. I am glad because i only have to read about them and not actually see them. Another writes about anything pink. But the first picture inparticular hit me hard. This student hasn't made much progress and hasnt really given me anythin in the past. So needless to say i was surprise when he showed me his writing this particular day!!! I don't konw if you can read what he wrote...but he said " Mrs. Heinze is the best teacher, I love her" This made every frustrated i had with this baby over the last 5 months well worth it. I saw that he not only appreciated me but that he was actually sounding out words. I feel like i can no make it the last 5 months of school! I love moments like this. They make all the hard minutes ok! Happy reading.
MHeinze

Hearts and Hellos

Well today we went back to school...after the Chirstmas Holiday. Always hard to go back but today was prefectly perfect...no i don't mean that nothing went wrong...what i mean that inspite of things that may have not going according to my "Lesson Plans" things were just fine and actually pretty SWEET! Let me start by telling you the things that all Teachers cringe over...1. frist day back from a Christmas Holiday. 2. Snowing outside while you try to entertain students in the room. 3. Lice...yes Lice ...but after the entire class went through the nurses office including me and five students gone we managed to make it just fine. Although i did feel a little more ichy the rest of the day. Hahahahha you know the feeling don't, you are probably iching right now as you read. Back to why my day was so sweet. A sweetie pie named from my favorite book of the Bible made this picture you see. It was full of "Hearts". I asked "R"why she drew so many hearts and she simply replyed "i drew a heart for everytime i missed you while we were at home"...Needless to say we hugged and I OOOOed and AHHHed over the beautiful artwork for a while. Funny how the five year old mind and Heart work sometimes. Sweet Hearts and Hello's were shared by all today as we stared this new semester off the right way. Happy reading!
mheinze

where the magic happens

Well my centers are staight, my boards are cleaned, my tables are washed, and my books are opened...but am i really ready for the first dy back after Christmas Vacation? Who knows...all i realy know is that in about 11 hours all my babies will walk down he hall ready to begin a new semester and i will waiting to show them new things as soon as they walk in my room. Lets see this week we will work on RULES...we all need a crash course in them after a long vacation. We will also begin working on blends and diagraphs...needing a new way to teach them. It is hard sometimes because of the mundaine of it all. Understanding that no matter how many times i have taught a certain thing...i have only taught it to these sweetie pies one time and they need it like it was the first time i have ever done it. You know now that i have taught a few years...i have begun to understand that it is not what i learned in college that makes me a teacher it is what i do with the "everydays" that make me a teacher. I am ready to see the K-girls tomorrow ( I HAVE FIVE GIRLS THAT START WITH K) walk in with their new Chirstsmas clothes on... I am ready to hear J tell me about his new baby brother, and C tell me about all his new electronic toys he has, and get a hug from two little kboys...they are like bloodbrothers. A is going to wear me out but i know he needs love and hugs more than any of the others...Father just make my arms hold him in the ways he need to be held even if...i am tired and don't want to keep holding on to him. I have the chance tomorrow to reach at least 20 lives and make a difference. Praying for a positive and joyous heart beat tomorrow. Thanks for hearing this teacher....mheinze

Maiden Voyage

Today I am starting a NEW blog. I am the author of heinzechronicles.blogspot.com and i wanted to start a blog to talkabout my work. I am a kindergarten teacher. I have taught for five and half years. Everyone always says "you have to write all this down"..so i am officially taken their advice and putting it all into words. Happy reading and hopefully you will see life through my eyes or better yet the eyes of my 20 5 years i work with everyday. While i am busy trying to show them new and amazing ways to see the world they are always helping to me to understand that Childlike Faith is much more imporant!
Mheinze