Anybody Seen Quackers?

Happy Halloween! Quackers went as Perry the Platypus this year! See his belly? He filled up on candy... You could almost say he was stuffed!

Resting Up

Halloween is almost here and Quackers wants to be extra ready for it! He slept through the whole school day!

Counting Bracelets

This week we learned how to count by ones and practiced adding up different numbers to make 10! Before our lessons Quackers brought each student their own counting bracelet to use during out counting story!

Ice Cream!

I think Auackers was hungry because he made hiself a bowl of ice cream! Good thing it's not people food, or we might have had another mishap like last year!

'Owl' be watching you!

Quackers made a few friends this morning!

Hiding

In a kindergarten classroom you clean up a lot of toys! It seems that when I was cleaning Quackers thought it would be funny if he was put away with the regular stuffed animals. He wasn't fond Monday, wasn't found Tuesday but finally on Wednesday one of my smart ducklings went "Teacher! He might be in the toy box!" And sure enough he was! Silly Quackers!

SuperDuck!

I know hes repeating an old idea... But can you blame him? Everyone wants to be a superhero at some point!

Sweetness

On Friday the kids earned an extra sweet snack... but look what happened to the rest! Bad Quackers! Stop eating the Halloween Candy for the kids!

Gone Fishing

It's Friday, an absolutely gorgeous Friday where I wish I could be fishing... and it looks like Quackers wishes the same!

Batty

Halloween is still WEEKS away but my ducklings are already super excited! I've already heard about my princesses, my ninja turtles... almost everything! Well, today, the ducklings drove Quackers absolutely BATTY... with a few new bat friends to hang out with!

Stuck in a Web

The little ducklings (especially the girls) freaked out when they saw poor Quackers up in the spiders web! He was so high up (and I"m so short, so how in the world could I save him?) that he was most certainly doomed! The poor duck! Luckily the spider was nice and only wanted to give him a sticky hug.

Beep Beep!

A yellow truck appeared in the room today, and of course Quackers decided to keep it!

Sunny Days

My room is a little dark because my windows are tinted, so Quackers decided to brighten the place up with his sunny disposition!

Smart Duck

Bad Quackers! Those were for the kids! 

As usual Quackers keeps them guessing! The kids couldn't find him anywhere! During snack I pulled out the candy bag and said...
"Quackers! How did you get in there?"
*16 pairs of eyes on me*
"I'll have to get you out... *rips bag open and duck and empty smarties wrappers go flying*
Eight students went for the wrappers, two went for the duck, and the other ten sat in shock that he 'ate' that much candy!

Quackers Who?

The 'Invisible Glasses' came out today... and guess who got into them right away!

When I wear my Invisible Glasses the kids can't talk to me, I'm 'invisible' in the classroom! This comes in handy when I need to grade papers, or set up the afternoon lessons while the art teacher or music teacher is in the room. I've had an observer come in the room too and when they're in there they can just hold the 'invisible glasses' and the kids know they can't talk to them!

I actually picked this up when I was in a preschool classroom a few years ago as an undergrad and decided to implement it into my own classroom, and so far, it's been a hit! Here are a few comments from my kids:

"Miss is back!"
"The art teacher is still here..."
"Miss S are you invisible?"
"I think she's invisible."
Me: "I'm invisible."
"Aww... I wanted to show you my monster..."
"And mine!"
"Oh and mine too!" 

Stickered Up!

I bought new stickers today and you know what that pest did!? He got into them! Ooh that crazy, crazy duck of mine....

Rub a dub dub

Open House night! Unfortunetly, only the parents go the joke of 'three ducks in a tub', but at least Quackers finally got a bath from sitting on the dusty ledge!

Rub a dub dub
Three ducks in a tub! 

Quackers = 8 Letters

Finally, a craft that Quackers can do! Since he's finally going through Kindergarten, he's learning how many letters are in his name! Many of the kids were able to spell their own names, and had fun learning how many letters were in their names too!

"He Flewed!"

"How'd he get up there?"
"I know I know! He flewed!"
"He can't flewed, hes a stuffed animal."
"She did it! "
"She who?"
"She teacher!"


"He's sitting on something!"
"What is it? "
"I cant see!"

Listen Up!

It took the kids a long time to find him today! He was perched up on the loudspeaker, and was telling the kids they need to hush during announcements! (They're getting there, but sometimes they need to hear it from a duck, not just the teacher!)

Fly Away!

He 'flew' from the loudspeaker all the way across the room to the pipes that are in the wall!

"He moved again!"
"How'd he get up there?"
"Did you move him up there?"

Tehehehe

On the Edge

Quackers has settled into the routine, and is busy on keeping the kids in the room! After all, Quackers and the Elf on the Shelf are best friends and he tells the elf everything that happens in the classroom! Cocoa the Elf was in my third grade room, I wonder who will stop by this year?

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to the school year everyone! I have moved from one town to the next, and from one classroom to the next! I'm now in a Kindergarten classroom for the first time, and already we're off to a great start! Quackers has, of course, moved with me, and my little ducklings absolutely adore him! He moved in with the flowers and can't wait to meet the kids!

Topsmead State Forest

Did I mention that Smidgen likes to go hiking? He does! Today we went to Topsmead State Forest in CT and had a wonderful time! We saw a few birds, the flowers were in bloom and it was just warm enough that we were able to hike down to the bird hut!

Just a Small Amount

One of the year end gifts from one of my ducklings was this little one: Smidgen! He's just a small amount of Quackers! Yes, he is the itty bitty beanie Christmas edition... but we can't ht have two Quackers roaming around the world now can we? Smidgen was small enough to accompany mem in my travels over the summer, looking for new adventures and places for Quackers (or just Smidgen) to visit! Here he is hanging out at the local lake catching some rays! He might pop in here and there just to say hi, or he might end up somewhere fun in the state!

Welcome to the crew Smidgen!

Africa 3 Zambia

Now, most of us grew up reading about rhinocerous in books, or watching TV shows about them, but my wonderful contact was able to get a photo of one! What is fabulous (I believe) about this picture is that you can see the rhinos reflection in the watering hole!

Africa 2 Zambia and Zimbabwe

If you do this with your classroom, make sure you know where your contacts are going... so you can add it to your lesson plan! I had all sorts of questions asking about how tall that bridge was, how they built it and how long it was!
Our Contact (and Launchpad!) went to the Victoria Bridge where it connects two different countries together; Zambia and Zimbabwe!

Africa 1 Zambia

Well the votes decided he should go to South Africa! And while he was in South Africa, Quackers met a funny little duck named Launchpad McQuack! (We're being silly, we know!) In our reading, we read an informational piece about the tallest waterfalls in the world, and Victoria Falls was mentioned! How lucky are we that a contact was able to go there and share their experiences with us? Pop Quiz... do you know what the tallest waterfall is in the world? My kids know!

Japan 3

Today, Quackers and his contact went hiking to Kujukashima! I heard they had a wonderful time!

Japan 2

Quackers landed in the airport this morning! He's in Sasebo, Japan with my contact Miss W. What a lucky duck... he can fly without getting tired!

France 1

Today Quackers went to the Pont du Gard in France! It is a beautiful Roman aqueduct that is 31 miles long!

France 2

Ah, Carcassone! I actually visited here a few years ago with my family, and I plan on going back some day in the future! Enjoy the pictures from France!

Japan 1

Huis Ten Bosch is an amusement park in Japan! (The things you learn when you do research for your students!)
While Quackers is here, his contact, Miss W, is deciding where he will go next. Will it be to London or to Africa? She will decide with persuasive letters from the students!

Greece 1

Don't Fret! There will be more Greece pictures! As of this day, the kids were getting excited for Spring Break... and so was their teacher! Quackers is going to be headed to France next... with a possible few stops along the way!

Spain 3

Within our little classroom we are also learning a little bit of Spanish! As you can probably guess, our day is filled with lessons and just a little bit of fun! Oh, alright, we have fun all day we are learning. Since we also Religion in this school, the kids found the Easter celebrations around the world that more interesting! I am very fortunate that I have these wonderful friends that can share a piece of the world with my students!

Spain 2

With Easter now just behind us, we approached the Unit of Time in the classroom. With Quackers half way across the world, telling time became that much more interesting!

Switzerland 1

In order to get to France, one must fly through Switzerland! This was taken just over Grenada, Switzerland taken by me, the teacher! The poor duck though was so tired from flying from Greece to Switzerland, that he forgot to include himself in the picture!

Spain 1

As Easter approached the Northwest corner of our state, Quackers decided to see how the rest of the world celebrated! Fortunately, I had a few contacts in Spain during the celebrations that were eager to share with the students what they were experiencing!

Czech Republic 4

"Good morning!
Well, I'm flying out of here today. Can you believe that the Ceska Republika has flowers already?
I'll be in London all Easter weekend, Happy Easter everyone!
Love, Quackers"

Happy Easter!

Czech Republic 3

"Hello!
Isn't this cathedral beautiful? Believe it or not, it's older than any of the cathedrals here in America! HUNDREDS of years older! Imagine going to church here every Sunday! I wonder if they had heating like we do now.
Quackers"

Student: "Wait, he's home? Quackers is home?? Woohoo!"
Seems like he's been missed!

Czech Republic 2

"Hello Class!
I decided to check out one of the castles for myself today! This one was absolutely beautiful! Unfortunately, a duck like me can't live here! They said I wasn't a Prince. Oh well.
(Prince) Quackers"

The students were impressed with the castle! A few wished that they could check out what was going on inside!

Czech Republic 1

"Hello!
I just flew in to Pivotec, Czech Republic last night! Did you know that Czeck Republic is known as the castle capital of the world? We have more castles than any other country in the world!
Love, Quackers"

A bird's eye view of the Czech Republic! A shout out to my wonderful high school friend that was staying in Czech Republic for a short time! More to follow!

Taj Mahal

Our little Yellow Friend is going to visit India, at the Taj Mahal next! 

He was able to join a school group for the day to check out this beautiful building in India. 

Did you know that the Taj Mahal is in the center of a beautiful love story that took place in the 1600s? Check it out here: http://www.tajmahal.org.uk/story.html

Ireland Last Day

"Hello Students!
Alas, today is my last day in beautiful Ireland. I wish I could have stayed a little longer! I'm heading to India!
I hope the Irish eyes are smiling on me during my travels!
Love, Quackers"

Ireland Parade 2

Because of time zones, Quackers was still watching the Ireland St. Patrick's Day Parade!

I was told that it was very interesting seeing all the locals come out for the day. It could be compared to how we react to Mardi Gras! 

I can't say that is true or not seeing that I've never been down south during Mardi Gras nor have I ever been in Ireland for a St Patrick's Day parade!

Ducks on Parade

St. Patricks Day Parade in Ireland!

Quackers enjoyed this year's parade, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing his cousin in the parade! The kids said it looked a LOT like Alyssa, maybe it's one of Alyssa's cousins? 

Thank you again to my friend's son who took this fabulous picture!

Castle in Ireland

Ireland, Day 2
Today, Quackers went exploring and found a castle! If the US continues to be cold, he might just stay there! Though, I wouldn't recommend staying there for long, I heard castles were pretty drafty.
Thank you to my wonderful friend at school for lending me her sisters Ireland pictures!

Ireland 1

Happy St Patricks Day!
Quackers hopped over to Ireland with a pair of festive glasses (which he 'left' in the classroom for me!) and played a game of 'Where am I?' with the kids!
This was a fantastic 30 second lesson for St Patricks Day because the kids had no idea where Ireland was!
Hope the leprechauns left you a present!

Leaving Florida

"Hello Class!
I'm heading home today, but Quackers is on his way elsewhere! I wonder where he will end up!
Love, Alyssa"

Have a safe trip Alyssa!

Winnie the Pooh (and a ducky too!)

It's Winnie the Pooh and a duckling too!

I just happened to look up the original print date of Winnie the Pooh and it was 89 years ago that he was first brought into our lives... in 1926! That means by the time I have kids, he will be 100 years old!
Since we're in CT, it's rather nice to get a few pictures with the blue sky and green grass! I'm starting to wonder if they're ever going to come back!