Lunar New Year is all about the dragon and the bling.

So you need a dragon with a bit of pizazz.  

Pizazz on a budget (especially for a kindergarten class of 20), can be tough.  But here is an easy and effective way to make a Chinese New Year dragon. 

There is just so much potential for a Valentine's sensory bin.



The question is when to stop - not where to start.

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. 


Penguins are just so friggin' cute.

When I clued in that South Africa was not just home to lions, giraffes, hippos and zebras, but also to penguins, I knew what we were going to include on our itinerary.


Boulders Bay.  An hour outside Cape Town.  I did not stop grinning the entire time we were hanging out with the penguins.




I love reading penguin books with my students.  Because, as well as being friggin' cute, penguins are also friggin' cool.


The Emperor's Egg is an amazing book.  It's about Emperor penguins. But this year, I wanted to highlight a book about African penguins.





There is so much scope for the imagination with tooth fairies and tooth dudes.

Because they are definitely not all the same.

Yes, there are the traditional ones with delicate wings, wands and flutter-y feet,
but there are also tooth fairies that look like they would be right at home on Halloween night, and tooth fairies that wear leather and drive motorcycles.


images from The Tooth Fairy, What Do Fairies Do With All Those Teeth, Andrew's Loose Tooth
We figure that since there are lots of different kinds of kids, there must be LOTS of different kinds of tooth fairies.  And there are lots of different kinds of tooth dudes.  

So much scope for the imagination, I just can't resist having  a tooth fairy/tooth dude photo shoot.

I bring in my tooth fude - tooth dairy (there really isn't a good way to combine the words dude and fairy), suitcase.  



This week the Dental Hygenist came to call.

She told the kids that she wanted to check to see if everyone had the right number of teeth - but actually it's just for stats to see if the pre-school dental programs are effective. 

We use it as an excuse to talk about dental health and wiggly teeth.

Wiggly teeth lead to discussion about the tooth fairy.  We decide that there can also be tooth dudes.  Equal opportunity tooth taking - treat leaving; it is the 21st century!

And we learn that some countries have a Tooth Mouse. 


goal for the week:  lots of outside play time.

Last week was a typical BC week in January.  Rain, rain and more rain.


Way too many inside recess days for anyone's well being.


This week the weather is co-operating - and we are going outside.  


When we are outside,

 we can use our big muscles, 





use our imaginations,

would you like a cupcake?

my horse's name is Daisy

dig, build and create



see the world from a new perspective,

             

or find a quiet spot to sit with friends.



Being outside is good for the body, mind and soul.  




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I asked my husband what children's books made his voice a little gruff and his eyeballs sweat a bit.

His without thinking about it answer was  





Today's kinderblog challenge is sharing  our morning routine.

It's not very exciting. 


Get up.  Get clean. Get dressed.  Eat breakfast while checking email and FB.  Make hair and face presentable. Grab some lunch.  Head out the door.


Now a fantasy morning routine … so much nicer. 


I am gently awoken after a full eight hours of lovely sleep by sunshine peeking through the window and my husband bringing me a cup of tea.




After ten minutes of enjoying my tea while my husband inquires about my day, I enjoy a half hour of yoga, in my ever-so-peaceful yoga sanctuary. 




A quick shower in my rain head, and body jet shower. 



During this time my breakfast  - nutritious, delicious and beautifully presented - is made and is waiting for me. 





Time for a quick check of personal emails and FB;  I know that I will have paid time at work to check school related communications.  


It's always a good hair day, and the only make up that is needed is a touch of lipgloss.


I throw together a Pinterest-worthy outfit  that looks as amazing on as it does in the photo.




The lunch fairy has been at work and a delicious, nutritious and beautifully bento boxed lunch is waiting on the counter. 




My husband and I kiss at the door as we head our separate ways.  


And the day is on a roll ...





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and then I don't feel so bad

Day 6 of the Kinderblog Challenge: a photo of your favourite thing about your classroom


I have lots of "favourite things" in my classroom.

After school, when things were all tidied up, I was wandering around the classroom with my camera.  But none of the photos felt "right".


There was something missing.  


Actually, there were someONEs missing.  


All the little someones who bring life and laughter to the room.  


They are my favouritest thing about my classroom. 








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So far I have only had one day with my class (I was on leave before Christmas).

I have quite a kindergarten to-do list.


laugh so hard we are a wee bit out of control

get lost in books together

Back to school today.

The kinderblog challenge wants to know what is is my school box.  


I have a backpack, but I only use it when I drive my scooter to school.  


Briefcase - so not my style.


A cute tote would be lovely.  But not practical enough. 


My school box (a sturdy, plastic file box) carries all the weird and wonderful and oddly shaped things that I take to school more efficiently.




of the kinderchat blog challenge.

If you could live in any historical era, WHEN would you live?


I watch Downton Abbey.  Life looks pretty good.


But I think I need to be specific.


I would need to live upstairs.


Even upstairs, I need to be specific.


Cora is far too nice, child birth did not work out well for Sybil and Edith always gets dealt a poor hand in life events.


That leaves Mary or the Dowager Duchess.  




I could make that work. 







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I was given some winter break homework.  
Ms Clayton from The Bird's Nest nominated me for a Sunshine Award.  She thought that some mid-winter brain activity was in order before heading back to the classroom on Monday.  
The Sunshine Award seems to have a thing with the number 11. 
task 1: 11 fascinating tidbits
•  I was born in Newfoundland.  Newfies seem to be a source of amusement for Canadians.
•  I had an English accent until I went to school. It was kind of cute.

•  I had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up when I was little. Being Pippi Longstocking seemed like a good option.  (kinderblog challenge: day 4 - I'm working smarter, not harder!)


•  When I was in grade three, I was asked to play the cymbals rather than sing in the school Christmas concert.  


•  My high school drama teacher told me to "lose the glasses" 'cause I would look better without them.  He was right.  But it was hurtful.  And was unprofessional.


•  My first teaching job was in the Canadian Arctic.  Yes, I saw polar bears.  No, I did not see penguins; they do not live in the northern hemisphere.





2013 was a pretty good year.

My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.


We took a three month leave of absence from our teaching jobs, packed our backpacks and went exploring for 99 days.  


We met interesting people, went to amazing places, learned intriguing histories; learned of sadness and hope and wonder.  


It's hard to choose one "best" thing.


We did have an "I was there when" experience.


We were in South Africa on December 5, 2013 when Nelson Mandela passed away.  


We were witness to the national mourning of the man who gave his life to the struggle for freedom and equality for all South Africans.



candle light vigil in Cape Town
After spending 27 years in prison, 18 of them on Robben Island, Mandela was able to walk as a free man without bitterness and recriminations.  


Mandela's cell on Robben Island     

We were witness to the celebration of the country that this man was able to build.  To build through forgiveness and reconciliation.  



During the Capetown memorial for Madiba, my favourite quote was from a member of  the African Tenors:  
You know you are in the new South Africa 
when a white man sings in Zulu, 
three black men sing opera, 
and then sing in Africaans.  




Tata. Madiba. Nelson Mandela. 
Beloved in his country.  A world hero.
May we learn well what you taught.

 Rest well. 













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Been pondering one little word for 2014.

Last year was JOY.  

It's a good word.  Joy does not require life to be perfect.  It requires me to see and live with, and find joy in the imperfection.

Joyful living requires me to live in the present.  That's a good thing.

Joy is still a good word.  I still need to be conscious of seeking joy.  It's easy to be joyful on top of a mountain on a warm sunny day. But not so easy other time.  Especially when I feel pissy.


A new word has kept showing itself.  

This quote is on my fridge. 




My one word for 2014.


Kindness.  

Doing something for another, with no expectation of return.


Even when it is hard.  'Cause I don't' always want to be kind. 

Especially when I am feeling pissy. 



linked with 






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I have accepted the Challenge.

The #kinderchat 2014 January Post-a-Day Blog Challenge.


31 days.  31 prompts.  (Hopefully) 31 posts.



Day 1:  a photo to represent 2013

December 2013, Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa
Last year I chose JOY as my one little word.  

Not because I am really good at joy.  I am actually much better at worrying (ya, ya - I know worrying is like praying for what you don't want to happen - but I look at it as being prepared for the worst case scenario …)


In 2013 I tried consciously to be open to experience the joy in whatever I was doing.  


This year's one little word … still pondering … stay tuned.






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