Friday, March 27, 2009

Our First Official Follower: Davian!


Congratulations to Davian! The first Think Cave follower! Davian, you can expect a prize on Monday!

See you then!

Mr. G

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Word Wall Words

Here are the word wall words for themes 5, 6, and 7:

Theme 5

when
school
new
this
that
how
over
house
nice
good
her
thing
was
give
little

Theme 6

out
no
won't
old
best
there
be
sister
brother
teacher
rain
day
after
make
boy

Theme 7

went
will
with
pretty
talk
made
want
off
quit
kick
very
night
zoo
ride
saw

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Class Song: "That Underpants Guy"


Please enjoy our latest class song:

That Underpants Guy
(to the tune, "American Pie")

A long, long time ago
In an elementary school far away
Two cool kids made comic books

George Beard was the kid with the tie and the flat top
Harold Hutchins had a t-shirt and a bad haircut
Make sure...you remember...that now...

They had a mean principal named Mr. Krupp
He yelled, "Blah! Blah!" and thought that school should be no fun
George and Harold hypnotized him...turned him into Captain Underpants
They said, "Your Captain Underpants" and the Krupper had not a chance...

Well, my, my, it's that Underpants Guy
If you hit him with some water
He is just a bald guy
He wears underwear to fight evil and crime
And swings from toilet paper all the time...
Yes, I sure hope that it's two-ply...

I can't believe Kruppy is flying
Man those undies look really tight-y
At least his cape covers his backside-y!

And do you see him flying through the air
in nothing but his underwear
I wish he'd put some clothes on

And we were singing...

My, my, it's that Underpants Guy
If you hit him with some water
He is just a bald guy
He wears underwear to fight evil and crime
And uses wedgie power all the time, yes, he uses wedgie power all the time...

Tra-la-laaaa!

Mr. G

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

My Daddy Snores


My Daddy Snores, by Nancy H. Rothstein, is the story of a little boy who struggles to get a good nights sleep because of his dad's horrible snoring.

In an attempt to get a full nights rest, the young man's mother attempts to sleep in some fairly unusual places that include the bathtub, a hamster's cage, and a doghouse!

The illustrations, done by Stephen Gilpin, are hilarious and make the book very enjoyable!

While the book is extremely funny and well done, there is a serious purpose behind it's creation: to help those who struggle with snoring.

The story that tells how the book came about is very interesting:

"Nancy (the book's author) was inspired by her husband’s very loud snoring to write My Daddy Snores. Frequently escaping her husband’s snoring to another bed in the house, she knew she was not alone and had visions of people playing “Musical Beds” all over the world! One morning while helping in her daughter's kindergarten class, exhausted from another night of interrupted sleep, Nancy wrote a story on a piece of construction paper about a family who didn't sleep well because of Dad’s noisy snoring." [1]

Further, a companion website to the book was created in an attempt to help those who may struggle with chronic snoring. The following is a sample of some of the vast resources found at the My Daddy Snores website:

1. Kid's Center- This section includes fun games and facts about children who may have problems sleeping.

2. Resource Center- This section includes a survey you can take to see if you have snoring issues(or you could just ask someone who lives in your house!), treatment suggestions, and sleep awareness.

3. Radio Show- This is a blog radio that discusses good sleeping and how to get it.

My Daddy Snores is a great book to read with your kids and I highly recommend the website for fun and information regarding the importance of healthy sleep.

Now, go to bed!

Mr. G

*** A Special Notes to the Dads of my students:


I posted this information by request of your children! Some mentioned that you have a "snoring problem." :-)


Reference:

1. About us, http://www.mydaddysnores.com/about.html.


Thursday, March 5, 2009

Nate the Great


Due to a request by a student in my class, I am offering a link to Nate the Great's website.

About Nate the Great:

Everyone's favorite detective--Nate the Great--has been delighting readers for over 30 years! The quirky characters and fun storylines are a big hit with kids--all of whom love to solve each mystery alongside the most popular sleuth in the business. Now Nate the Great books have brand new covers and each book includes extras such as riddles, jokes, crafts, recipes, exciting facts and much more! Young sleuths can now solve a mystery with Nate, then enjoy extra pages of fun!

The site offers more about the Nate the Great book series, printable activities, and more! Check it out here.

Keep Reading!

Mr. G

Fun Resource: SI Kids


Sports Illustrated for Kids is a great website for your child to follow their favorite teams, play great sports games, and watch fun cartoons.

Check it out here.

Enjoy!

Mr. G

Monday, March 2, 2009

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!


Today we celebrate the birthday of beloved children's author, Dr. Seuss. His real name was Theodor (Ted) Seuss Geisel and he was born on March 2, 1904.

While in college, Ted drew cartoons and used his middle name "Seuss" to sign his cartoons. He later added the "Dr." to his name to make him sound more important. Clearly, the name stuck!

In my view, the brilliance of Seuss's books lies in the fact that he is able to take very simply word groupings and create incredibly fun, easy-to-read stories that children love. When you add his imaginative illustrations and memorable characters, the combination is irresistible.

Dr. Seuss gave us such great characters as The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, Horton the Elephant, and the Lorax, just to name a few. His stories are unique and timeless.

I encourage you to visit Seussville with you child and rediscover the genius of Theodor Seuss Geisel aka, "Dr. Seuss."

And remember: "A persons a person, no matter how small...!"

Mr. G