VIP AND ALTERNATIVE SEATING

I can't wait to get my kinders. I hope they like my additions. What do you think?

Word Wall

Getting my room in order and this is my word wall.  What do you think?

My First Blogger Teacher Meetup

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to spend a day with other blogging teachers.  It was the second annual Red Stick Teacher Round Up.  Have you ever been to one?  So much enthusiasm after school hours was inspiring.  I have taught K for 22 years and summer is usually dedicated to putting work out of the mind.  The last few years I find myself enjoying time preparing for the upcoming school year.  It was good to see so many young teachers who are so motivated to prepare our little ones( of all ages) for a GREAT year of learning.  This was exactly what I needed to remind me I'm not the nut for thinking "school" on my off time.  It's a GREAT hobby.  What are you doing with your summer?

Don't Leave the House

I promised myself I would not think about school for at least a week after I got out of school. We'll that didn't work. I was sent out to get hoses, 2 water hoses. Unfortunately I had to walk past other things with my eyes open and wound up seeing things I might need. Then I ran to DT to see if there was anything I missed my last trip.

Louisiana Teacher Blogger Meet Up

I am so excited to finally get to attend a blogger meetup here in Louisiana.  There is so much I would like to share, but can't figure out how. Now maybe I'll get the therapy help I need.  do any of you go to blogger meetups?  I've never been to one and am so excited.

Easy and Fun Math

My kinders love playing with these linking cubes, usually just building instead of something wonderfully academic. Soooo... I decided to make these Count and Stack cards.  They simply have to identify the numeral on the picture and make a stack of that many cubes.  When the card is full they can play with the cubes, their favorite part. (surprise)  I made them for the entire year and have 2 levels for differentiating the activity.  I have it in my TPT store. Go over and check it out.  

Count and Stack

Quick, Easy and Fun Center

I found these test tubes at DT and picked up a few hoping to figure out something to to with them. I did!

I created words and added glitter.  These were the only ones that were easy to read.  I will number them and my littles will write the word when they figure it out.  What do you think?

Centers and Fun Science

I can't believe I'm still sane.  This time of the year is always crazy. Here's some of the things that help break the monotony.

We did a fun science experiment.  This is the food coloring, milk and dish soap experiment.  I loved the amazement on their faces when they saw the reactions.  THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME COMING BACK!!

Louisiana celebrates Mardi Gras and here is one of the beginning sounds centers using symbols from my state.

We are doing more writing.  This project took multiple days.  They did the four corners page for ideas, then used it as a reference to create the story. 

And of course I'm still using the Sit Anywhere Pass for good behavior.  We also have a No Shoes Pass.  

Happy Thanksgiving from my Kinders to yours

What a week.  I'm not even sure I survived.  I'll let you know in week or two.  To end our study of thanksgiving we made Thanksgiving story bracelets.  They enjoyed it and were able to retell it later.  What do you do special for Thanksgiving?  I'd love to get some new ideas.

What are we doing this Fall

This is my favorite time of year so far.  My kinders have our routine down and we can do some fun stuff without my constant correction.  The freedom makes our days go so much better.  In Math we have been talking about measurement so i gave them a piece of yarn and let them explore the room and document their findings.  This student labeled their picture without my prompting. WOW !!!

Each month we will create a way to display words we are learning.  They made this tree by tracing and cutting out their hand, then using precut leaves (if they cut them they may be too small to write on )  Next time we're going to try for a turkey with word feathers, and....... hopefully they will write some sentences with the words.  I'll try to share that later.  What are you doing for fun?

So much to Learn

I have been so motivated to change up things.  After 21 years in K I needed a kick in the ---.  So many inspiring blogs have done just that.  I knew I was in a rut, but could figure out hwo to get out of it.  Now my mornning starts with a Message and Greeting. This one comes from Kindergarten Smorgasboard, the shoe Greeting.  The kids love this one.  I have different ones on sticks and we draw one each day.  They ask for this one alot.

I am also encouraged to incorporate Interactive Notebooks.  This is one of the word sorts.So much more to do, but babysteps will get me there.  

Math has always been more hands on, so using Chinese Jumpropes to make shapes was a no brainer.  

What have you been doing differently?  I would love to know. 

Are You Scared?

It's that time again.  

I made it out of my little World

I'm so excited to be shared on another site.  I use Halloween to win a Drug Free door decor.
It's one of my favorites and as I perused to net I came across it and got so excited. Go by to visit and see if you can find my "Wanna be Vintage" blogpost ( pre- T is for Teacher).
click  to see it here

Getting into the Routine

Routines are set.  We're moving on at a pretty fast pace, but it's going as smooth as expected. Yes, there are meltdowns, me and them, but I'm blessed to have a good bunch of kinders and a fantastic Para. These are some of the things that we have mastered so far.

This is the first year I have used Interactive Notebooks and I'm loving it.  After 22 years of Kindergarten I still love the excitement of doing something new.  We have been doing ABC Bootcamp (from Kindergarten Smorgasboard) and we have pages for each letter.  This is our first sorting activity we have put in it, they did it all.  Isn't it GREAT!!!  How do you use the Notebooks?

We do Math Tubs following the lesson everyday.  This independent time has proven to be helpful in so many ways.  My favorite is that it gives me time to work 1-1 with each student on a skill while everyone else is engaged; and they get to choose whatever they want to work on.  

More Classroom Angles

Guess where I am this morning?  Not on vacation that's for sure.  But this is one of my favorite places for some strange reason.  This is my Center shelf.  I have Literacy centers on one side and math on the other (the backside).  Each group will work in their color baskets each day while I pull groups to my table in the corner.  From this angle it looks like a mess, but it's getting better by the minute. 

Getting Ready

This was my room last week.  I couldn't figure out what to do with tables.  There's something on every wall so I have to make things visible from everywhere.

So I turned them on an angle.  What do you think?  They don't spend much time there anyway.  

When you first walk in the room.  This is straight ahead.  I have computers on the far table.  I'm still working on this area.  Tell me what you think.  

Back to School Brag Tags

I'm seeing alot of hype about Brag tags on the internet, so I thought I would join in.  I'm going to get some binder rings them my littles to keep them on.  Just don't know where to keep them.  I've made my first one to get started.  If you want to try them out I've posted them in my TPT store.  Click
here to go.

T is for teacher is having a SALE

To celebrate our INDEPENDENCE I am having a sale at my TPT store.  Since my prices are already low, this will make it even more affordable, so come by and see if there's something you want.
T is for teacher Sale

what do you think?

Now that I'm comfortable at my new school, I want to get organized.  Don't we all?  lol
Since we're the "WILDCATS" I made a teacher binder set with that theme.  Get a free copy and let me know what you think.
Get your  Wildcat Teacher binder freebie
I still don't know how to get a cover picture, but I'll keep working on it.
PLEASE let me know what you think.
Thank you

thinking ahead

 I was in Dollar Tree and saw all these cute cut outs for school, so I got a pack and brought them home to decide how to use them.   This is what came to me.  My Kinders usually need work on beginning sounds and matching so .........  They simply match the pictures with the same beginning sounds.  And it only cost $1 for one set.  I hope they have more when I go back.  Now if I could just figure out how to rotate the picture when I insert it.  Any suggestions?