Same and Different...

Aren't these two pets adorable? Our friends over at Manaia Kindergarten have been sharing their pets at school. (We are going to do something similar when school starts up again in a few weeks). Some of their students have cats and others have dogs. They are welcoming comments from others that will help kids (and big people too) know the similarities and differences between the two pets.

Click on over to their site and share a thought or two:

Manaia Kindergeraten Cats & Dogs.

Dog& Cat image borrowed from Manaia Kindergarten's blog.

20,000 Visitors...

Wow! We started our Kindergarten Blog a little less than a year ago and we have had 20,000 visitors locally and from all over the world. It's almost hard to believe that anyone, outside of our classroom, would be interested in what we do in class. 

Thanks to the many folks who have visited and continue to return to see what is going on with us. Thanks to the parents who have allowed their children to visit and explore our blog on a regular basis. Thanks also to the parents of my students for your trust and allowing me to share your child with the world. Thanks to the many other students across the globe that have visited as well. Thanks to instructors/professors who use our blog as a model for how to blog with young learners and the potential that lies within using Web 2.0 tools with such young students. Thanks to our "Blog Buddies" in New Zealand as well as other classrooms we have come to know through the wonders of blogging. The Kindergarten Tales blog audience has far exceeded anything I could have every imagined in such a short time! I am practically at a loss for words!

In a little over a week, we'll be starting a new school year with two new sets of Kindergartners. Only a few of them know of the blog; but if things go like they did our first year... the students will quickly become excited and involved! I am very excited to see where we will go with it this year as well.

We certainly hope you will continue to check in on us as we share our learning with the world. We look forward to reading your comments and giving you insights to what we do in Kindergarten.

Thanks again!

Nutkin's Blog...

You may recall several months ago we sent a package to our blog buddies at Manaia Kindergarten. One of the items in the package was a furry toy squirrel. They shared his first day at school: Mr. Squirrel's First Day. They setteled on the name "Nutkin." Since then Nutkin has had many adventures with the kids. In fact, he has had so many wonderful outings and visits that they have given him his own blog! Yes, Nutkin has a blog all about him. Isn't that wild? ;-)There are photos and videos of him as he travels out and about New Zealand. It is fantastic to see him having such a grand time in New Zealand. He even went to visit Beverly at her home as she recovers from her surgery. Nutkin is so thoughtful! You can see the video of his visit: Nutkin at Bev's Place. We've added his link to our list of blog buddies. Please be sure to visit it often to find out what he's been up to. We love that with a quick click of the mouse, we can check in on Nutkin and see how he's getting along. Thanks Manaia Kindergarten for keeping us posted! ;-)

Nutkin's First Day in New Zealand

Nutkin in New Zealand...

Our friends at Manaia Kindergarten are showing Nutkin a really good time in his new surroundings in New Zealand. Rohan invited Nutkin to spend the weekend with him. He took lots of photos and made an adorable video to share with us. Thanks Rohan your video is GREAT! Mania Kindergarten is also looking for input on naming Emma's bunny. Be sure to cast your vote for the name you think fits the baby bunny. Thanks again Friends!

Gifts from New Zealand...

Our friends in New Zealand sent a package to us. We were so excited. We tried to guess what was inside. We got a lot of very interesting things. Photos, souvenirs and stuffed animals. How wonderful! Thanks Manaia Kindergarten for sharing with us.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Our Package Arrived...

About a week and a half ago, we mailed a package to our "Blog Buddies" at Manaia Kindergarten in New Zealand. We talked about sending a package to them to share something from our world with them. Back when we did our "Squirrel Facts", they told us that they don't have squirrels in N.Z. We knew right away what to send to them. Mrs. Blakely ordered a squirrel puppet on the Internet. Several parents went to the bookstores in town and online and got squirrel books to send along with the puppet. Mrs. Blakely showed us books on Amazon.com and both classes got to order a book they thought our Blog Buddies would enjoy. We gathered several other squirrel related items, gave the squirrel advice on flying in a plane, kissed him goodbye and shipped everything off in a big box to New Zealand. The kids at Manaia Kindergarten seemed to have welcomed the squirrel with open arms. Click here to see what he did on his first day in New Zealand: Mr. Squirrel's First Day in Manaia Kindergarten, N.Z. We are excited to see what he'll do there.