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Here are a few pages I will be including into the take home/sight word folders for the first few weeks. Each child will also have a name practice page as well as some name activities. I will be working on those over the next couple of days. Anyway, the first one is a sight word coloring page and the second is a take home number/word/counting memory game. For the game, I would print on card stock and then have parents cut apart. To make it easier for parents and kids, I will be putting a star on the back of all of the numbers, a heart on the back of all of the words, and a circle on the back of all of the counting rectangles. That way students will choose one heart, one star, and one circle when they are playing the game. Hope you enjoy:)
Rocket Ship Coloring
I am not sure what the problem is, but for some reason this page is not looking its best. HOWEVER, if you click the words Fish Count, found below, you will be taken to Scribd, where you can download the correct version:)!
Fish Count
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Kindergarten Overview
, WHello blog friends!
I have been busy this morning creating my Kindergarten Overview Packet. The idea is that we will spend the first two weeks of school going over some of the key concepts that students will be expected to know prior to the end of kindergarten. Most of these skills are taught in our school's pre K program, but unfortunately many of our students do not attend any kind of pre K. So, in an effort to review with those who have attended pre-K and to provide a quick overview for those who have not, I have created this packet. I will send all of this home in a folder on the very first day of school. Students will be expected to bring the folder back each day.
This morning I am posting just the parent letter and weekly, "What are we Learning?" pages. Check back later today for more practice pages.
What Are We Learning Overview
I have been busy this morning creating my Kindergarten Overview Packet. The idea is that we will spend the first two weeks of school going over some of the key concepts that students will be expected to know prior to the end of kindergarten. Most of these skills are taught in our school's pre K program, but unfortunately many of our students do not attend any kind of pre K. So, in an effort to review with those who have attended pre-K and to provide a quick overview for those who have not, I have created this packet. I will send all of this home in a folder on the very first day of school. Students will be expected to bring the folder back each day.
This morning I am posting just the parent letter and weekly, "What are we Learning?" pages. Check back later today for more practice pages.
What Are We Learning Overview
Friday, July 29, 2011
Numbers...what do they mean??
Hey all!
I am still working on those basic beginning of the school year skills. One of the skills that we work on all year is counting. I created the following activity to help students see that numbers can be represented in different ways, but that they are still the same number. The first two pages are number cards. Each number will be represented four times. Cut the cards on pages 3 and 4 apart. Students then sort them based on how many items are on the card. (ex. 3 hearts goes on the 3 card, 10 hearts on the 10 card, etc.) Feel free to print and use in your classroom. If you repost this link, please do so in a way that sends people to my blog as this is my original work. Hope you are all enjoying the last few weeks of summer!
Math Number Game
I am still working on those basic beginning of the school year skills. One of the skills that we work on all year is counting. I created the following activity to help students see that numbers can be represented in different ways, but that they are still the same number. The first two pages are number cards. Each number will be represented four times. Cut the cards on pages 3 and 4 apart. Students then sort them based on how many items are on the card. (ex. 3 hearts goes on the 3 card, 10 hearts on the 10 card, etc.) Feel free to print and use in your classroom. If you repost this link, please do so in a way that sends people to my blog as this is my original work. Hope you are all enjoying the last few weeks of summer!
Math Number Game
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Classroom Organization
"I will stay organized, I will stay organized, I will stay organized" That is my mantra for this year. My first few years of teaching I was very organized and everything had a place. However, then, I switched grade levels AND classrooms. I want from a small portable to a VERY LARGE inside classroom and from teaching fifth grade to kindergarten. That transition was great, except for my organization. First of all, the classroom was HUGE compared to what I was used to, and second, there is a lot more 'stuff' in a K classroom than 5th. So, this year, I WILL stay organized. I thought I would share a few of the great and INEXPENSIVE ideas I have found to help with organization.
First of all, I have been trying to find ways to create more storage in my classroom. Specifically, storage that is enclosed. So, here is one way that I think is just great! I am thinking of creating four these to use at my play dough table. Then, when that workshop is closed I can simply put all of the play dough inside a bucket and have a clean table! Click on the picture to go to a teacher blog with directions, below the picture is a link to a website which sells actual bucket seats.
Bucket Seats for $6.59
Here is a similar idea using file folder crates, click the picture to see how these are made!
What to do with all of those pencils, markers, pens, crayons, etc, etc, etc! A great very inexpensive solution that could be customized to your classroom theme! I am going to try this idea, but I think I will use scrap book paper to wrap some of the outside tubes, or maybe just paint! I will also probably glue the rolls to a cork board which can then be hung on the wall. Again, click the picture to learn more!!
Okay, this next idea, I LOVE! I saw this picture and really liked the idea,
but was concerned that my little kindergartners would knock over the cups. So, I came up with this instead. Take eight Starbucks cups and glue them into a tray. Ask for both the dome lids and the flat lids when you are at the store. I would use the small (or tall in Starbucks lingo) cups. They are shorter and will hold plenty of paint. As for the tray, anything will work. Target has some plastic trays for $2.50 that would be great. Once your cups are glued into the tray, you can put the paint into the cups. When students are using the paints, put the dome lid on for scraping extra paint off of the brush. When the are not working, use the flat lids (cover the straw hole with tape to prevent drying out). The trays will fit easily on a shelf or the cups can be stacked in a cupboard out of the reach of little hands.
Happy organizing!!!
First of all, I have been trying to find ways to create more storage in my classroom. Specifically, storage that is enclosed. So, here is one way that I think is just great! I am thinking of creating four these to use at my play dough table. Then, when that workshop is closed I can simply put all of the play dough inside a bucket and have a clean table! Click on the picture to go to a teacher blog with directions, below the picture is a link to a website which sells actual bucket seats.
Bucket Seats for $6.59
Here is a similar idea using file folder crates, click the picture to see how these are made!
What to do with all of those pencils, markers, pens, crayons, etc, etc, etc! A great very inexpensive solution that could be customized to your classroom theme! I am going to try this idea, but I think I will use scrap book paper to wrap some of the outside tubes, or maybe just paint! I will also probably glue the rolls to a cork board which can then be hung on the wall. Again, click the picture to learn more!!
Okay, this next idea, I LOVE! I saw this picture and really liked the idea,
but was concerned that my little kindergartners would knock over the cups. So, I came up with this instead. Take eight Starbucks cups and glue them into a tray. Ask for both the dome lids and the flat lids when you are at the store. I would use the small (or tall in Starbucks lingo) cups. They are shorter and will hold plenty of paint. As for the tray, anything will work. Target has some plastic trays for $2.50 that would be great. Once your cups are glued into the tray, you can put the paint into the cups. When students are using the paints, put the dome lid on for scraping extra paint off of the brush. When the are not working, use the flat lids (cover the straw hole with tape to prevent drying out). The trays will fit easily on a shelf or the cups can be stacked in a cupboard out of the reach of little hands.
Happy organizing!!!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
New Things!! Freebies inside!
It has been a few days since I have posted much of anything, and there IS a reason!! I have been busy working away on several fun new projects for my class. Here is a little sample of what has been going on...
Thanks to Kindergarten Crayons and Fabulous in First for sharing the awesome color/number freebies above. I printed their cards and then put them on cardstock, we will use them to play a class matching game throughout the year! I can't wait to try out these awesome ideas!
As for the other items, here they are! The game I Have, Who has is used in many classrooms. I have made a set of cards for the game using our STAR words for the beginning of the year, which are color and number words. Print on card stock and laminate to make your cards last longer! Feel free to use this activity, but please do not repost as your own! Don't forget, when playing the game, the first person to go reads only the BOTTOM of their card, place this card face up on the table throughout the game. The last person to go will be the person who is holding the card which matches the top of the starting card. Have fun playing:)!
I Have Who Has Color and Number Words
And for more color word practice, I made the My Book of Many Colors. After I made the book there was a copy sitting on our table and my kiddo decided he would like to try finding some colors! As you can see we used magazines to find pictures for each page. He also colored the words and then traced the words at the bottom of the page. This is a great activity for both preschool (like my little guy) and kindergarten. The book includes all of the following colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, white, brown, black, and gray. Enjoy:)!
And here is the document!
My Book of Many Colors
I have also been very busy crafting (thanks to Pinterest) things for my classroom. Those adorable little airplanes, which I will be using to hang great work from on a bulletin board, can be found here at parenting.com
I have mentioned before that I am always looking for ways to keep my kids in one place while in workshops and centers. I have made two of these great rugs which will be great for keeping fidgety bottoms in one place. The directions can be found at Family Fun .
It has been a busy week of crafting! And there are more projects on the way! Check back soon for more freebies!!! And don't forget to follow the blog so you will be notified when there are freebies available. The link to follow is on the left!
Thanks to Kindergarten Crayons and Fabulous in First for sharing the awesome color/number freebies above. I printed their cards and then put them on cardstock, we will use them to play a class matching game throughout the year! I can't wait to try out these awesome ideas!
As for the other items, here they are! The game I Have, Who has is used in many classrooms. I have made a set of cards for the game using our STAR words for the beginning of the year, which are color and number words. Print on card stock and laminate to make your cards last longer! Feel free to use this activity, but please do not repost as your own! Don't forget, when playing the game, the first person to go reads only the BOTTOM of their card, place this card face up on the table throughout the game. The last person to go will be the person who is holding the card which matches the top of the starting card. Have fun playing:)!
I Have Who Has Color and Number Words
And for more color word practice, I made the My Book of Many Colors. After I made the book there was a copy sitting on our table and my kiddo decided he would like to try finding some colors! As you can see we used magazines to find pictures for each page. He also colored the words and then traced the words at the bottom of the page. This is a great activity for both preschool (like my little guy) and kindergarten. The book includes all of the following colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, pink, white, brown, black, and gray. Enjoy:)!
And here is the document!
My Book of Many Colors
I have also been very busy crafting (thanks to Pinterest) things for my classroom. Those adorable little airplanes, which I will be using to hang great work from on a bulletin board, can be found here at parenting.com
I have mentioned before that I am always looking for ways to keep my kids in one place while in workshops and centers. I have made two of these great rugs which will be great for keeping fidgety bottoms in one place. The directions can be found at Family Fun .
It has been a busy week of crafting! And there are more projects on the way! Check back soon for more freebies!!! And don't forget to follow the blog so you will be notified when there are freebies available. The link to follow is on the left!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Kinders on the Block
Check out this great new blog!! Especially if you are into giveaways and fresh ideas! She has found tons of great pre-school giveaways and linky parties!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The greatest teacher incentive: The freedom to teach - The Washington Post
The greatest teacher incentive: The freedom to teach - The Washington Post
This article makes several really valid points. Unfortunately, most of you all who read this blog are teachers, so, it will be validating what you already know. I wish there were more people in positions of power that would spend more time listening to those of us in the trenches. I dream about a day when I can actually teach my children what the need to know. There was a time when children were taught how to do basic tasks, and it was acceptable for them to work in jobs where those tasks were necessary. I hope someday we will come back around to accepting children for who they are, not push them to be someone that are not.
This article makes several really valid points. Unfortunately, most of you all who read this blog are teachers, so, it will be validating what you already know. I wish there were more people in positions of power that would spend more time listening to those of us in the trenches. I dream about a day when I can actually teach my children what the need to know. There was a time when children were taught how to do basic tasks, and it was acceptable for them to work in jobs where those tasks were necessary. I hope someday we will come back around to accepting children for who they are, not push them to be someone that are not.
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