Where?

YES- I REALIZE IT'S THURSDAY! :)


Where do I get to teach?
The greatest building in the greatest school corporation! Topeka Elementary School in Topeka, Indiana. When I got married two years ago, my name changed from Miss Prichard to Mrs. McDonald. As a kindergarten teacher, it worked out perfectly that my classroom theme would be...

Mrs. McDonald's Farm!

Below are many pictures of my home away from home. We are lucky to have a big classroom, despite the odd pentagon shape that it is. 

~Alissa

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Week in KA

One of my favorite weeks of the school year is when we get to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! every day. The students are so excited by day 3 because they know some of the words. It's fun as their teacher to see them make connections between letters in their names and letters in the book.

Resources for this book are unlimited on TPT, but I will show you a few examples of what we do. These are all ideas shared with me.

My students enjoyed making a quilt of coconut trees. 














This was one of their favorites. A coworker of mine has foam letters that we trace and cut out. The kids get the first letter of their names to decorate. Then in the hallway we make our own Chicka Chicka Boom Boom tree.

Most of my students never have tasted coconut milk. I bring in a coconut and before they can see or smell the milk, they guess what it will look like, smell like, taste like, etc.
Then we try the milk and most students do not like it! (The teacher doesn't like it! :) )
We graph our data and use many math skills with this single graph.











And to finish the week, Youtube has a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom video the kids can sing along to. Below is the link

Enjoy!
Alissa

Monday: Who

Who: Monday
Obviously, I am a teacher. But that is not all that I am. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. 

I am married to my college sweetheart, Keaton. We met about six and a half years ago in my first class at Huntington University. He scoped me out during class, we started talking on AOL Messanger, and we went on our first date a week later. The rest is history! :)

Our first child, Easton Reed, was born on February 7th. Being parents has been a fun, rewarding, and exhausting job! He is such a good baby, but Keaton and I had tons to learn. Easton brings such joy to our days. I am so exciting to watch him grow into a little boy!

Now onto my educational self...

I taught 5th grade in inner city Fort Wayne, Indiana my first year. To say it was challenging would be an understatement. My patience and endurance were tested in more ways than one, but this job taught me SO much and I am grateful for that. My second year of teaching I taught 2nd grade at a school in Huntington that I student taught at. I loved being here. It was very comfortable for me to be around people that I already knew. But God had plans for our family to move so we did. Keaton's job moved us back to his hometown in Shipshewana, Indiana, and by God's grace I got a job teaching Kindergarten in Topeka. I am currently teaching my second year there and love it! 

My student population is half Amish, half English, and a few Arabic students. Westview Schools trusts it's teachers to follow the curriculum, but teach to the students' individual needs. It is honestly a dream corporation to work for! :)

In my spare time, I enjoy looking at blogs, biking, walking with my family, Zumba, and scrapbooking. But my favorite thing to do is play with my son!

Love,

Alissa

Welcome!

Welcome to Mrs. McDonald's Kindergarten Farm!

I am new to blogging, but love to follow kindergarten blogs all around the world. I plan to try and post what is happening in my classroom, and hopefully learn how to link different articles and resources.

My goal for next week is to complete the "Back to School 2014: Link Up With Blog Hoppin'" blog. Stay tuned!