Fall for Falling Prices

In honor of my favorite season I am hosting a TPT sale.  Check out my store and get my products for 20% off Wednesday-Friday!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tracy-Hoesli

A BOOK GIVEAWAY!

Look at this exciting giveaway from Literacy and Laugher.  Click on the picture  to go to her site.  She has some cute ideas!

One School, One Book

One School, One Book.....Has anyone ever heard of this program? One School, One Book is a reading program that encourages students, parents and the whole school community to read together. Our school decided to try this program this year. We have chosen two books for the year; The Indian in the Cupboard and The Lemonade War. To participate in the program you pay a one-time fee for the different book units available. The units include an opening kickoff assembly, trivia questions, reading timeline, parent letters and so much more. Our school purchased a copy of the books for each family in our school. Currently we are reading The Indian in the Cupboard. Next semester we will read The Lemonade War. Last year we began a reading shirt incentive program. I have to admit that this was my pet project and I stole this great idea from my daughter's school. The student's purchase a reading shirt for a minimal fee and once a week the entire school wears their shirts’.  Once a month the shirts are collected and patches are put on the back to represent the number of books the students have read for the month.  In our building one patch=one book list submitted.  Each grade level has specific book requirements.  In kindergarten I give my students a book list and after they have read 10 books they bring the list back and get a new one.  Last month one of my students read 40 books!   This year we have merged our One School, One Book program with our reading shirts.  I just picked our shirts up tonight to distribute to our school. They are so adorable I had to show them to you. If you have any questions about our reading program please e-mail me. I would love to share!

Transportation With Pete

                                  
I am getting ready to start a new unit next week in reading all about transportation.  I thought who better than to go over the different forms of transportation than my students favorite cat.  Check out my new unit now available on TPT.  Pete the Cat dives into the world of transportation.   Also join me for a link party.  I would love to hear other ideas for transportation!  Click on the picture to visit my TPT store.

COMING SOON

I couldn't wait to share this information.....I am busy working on a Pete the Cat transportation unit.  Keep checking for updates.

Mouse Paint

Check out my new unit on Teachers Pay Teachers! You can download a free sample to see what you think.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mouse-Paint-Color-Flash-Cards 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mouse-Paint-Mini-Unit

Eric Litwin and James Dean

I am so EXCITED! 

Look who I met tonight!

Eric Litwin and James Dean the author and illustrator of

Pete the Cat

Eric entertained with singing, reading and amazing humor.  While Eric actively engaged all the enthusiastic children and adults, Dean painted a picture of Pete. 

Eric shared with us there is a NEW PETE the CAT book in the works.  I think it is called Pete and His Four Buttons.  I can't wait!  If you ever get a chance to see these two men, DO IT.  It is an experience you won't forget!

I think my daughter, Kacie entertained Eric and Dean as much as they entertained her.  Look at their shirts.  They are wearing our Pete's Club buttons!



For All You Pete the Cat Fans

I found this really cute Pete the Cat video for The Wheels on the Bus.  I will use this with our upcoming transportation unit.  Had to share!

Bucket Seats

Look what I made today!  This is a bucket seat that I made for my Girl Scout troop but it would be super cute in a classroom.  Here is what you need: kitty litter or paint bucket, carpet pad, fabric scraps, Duck Tape and a hot glue gun.  I am so lucky to have a recycle shop close to my house named Leftovers.  They do charge a small fee for recycled items but it is very minimal.  It keeps them up and running.  I took the kitty litter bucket and wrapped it in super cute Duck Tape.  The cushion on top is made from carpet pad that I got free from a local carpet store.  The cushion is wrapped in a fabric sample from a swatch book that I also picked up at Leftovers. The cushion is hot glued to the top.  This was a super easy and cute project.   You could carry it around to tables as you confer with students or put it in a reading area for extra seating.   The best part is that if you take the top off you have extra storage inside!

My Little Musician's First Piano Recital

A proud mommy moment!  Today my daughter had her first piano recital.  Just wanted to share.

A Little About Me

My name is Tracy.  It is hard to believe that this is my 15th year teaching.  I started out in third grade but have happily landed in kindergarten.  Kindergarten is my passion.  Along with being mother to my beautiful daughter Kacie, who is 7.  I teach in Florissant, MO which is a suburb of St. Louis.   For the past year I have been inspired by some very creative women who bring teaching to a new level and blog about their ideas.   So, I have decided to jump in the blogging world and do some sharing myself.  I am currently working on some things I would like to share with you.  Hopefully my ideas will inspire you too!

Testing

So this is my very first blog.  I am excited to see where this goes.  If you are just joining me be patient.  I have so much to share.  I just have to figure this out first!