Back to School 2014-2015

I can't tell you how excited I was to start this school year!  I'm working at a new school in a new county with my oldest teacher friend!

I spent my summer with family and friends.  I got to meet a lot of my new coworkers at beach and pool days so I felt really comfortable getting started in a new place.

This year I've decided not to share pictures of my students faces because my new county is smaller and more protective of the students privacy.  I did get releases from their parents (as always) to share students working through pictures and video however their sweet faces are only for us!

We did a staggered enrollment so half the students came the first day and the other half started the second day.  It was nice to ease back into kindergarten with 6-8 students each day.  Everyone came on the third day and no one cried...hallelujah!

During the first few days we took pictures...

...participated in Kissing Hand activities...

...and got a little silly with Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

The following week we hosted Open House for the parents to come learn a little more about kindergarten expectations and routines.  We had a few technical difficulties but overall it went well.

Because Open House came out of no where, I kept it simple.  We did a grade level PowerPoint in the Media Center and then headed back to our classroom to share teacher-specific information.

I hopped on the Flipbook bandwagon and created my own version.  I set up some sign up sheets and posted a cute wish list...that I totally forgot to point out.  I told a few jokes, talked to parents (I love getting to know them) and wrapped it up.  Sometimes it's nice to keep it simple!  

Homework Menus

Click here for more information about Kindergarten Homework Menus!

If you are like me you get LOTS of unsolicited feedback about your homework each year.

"It's too easy.  We need more!"

"It's too hard."

"It only takes us 7 minutes to complete the whole week..."

"It takes 2 hours, tears & a bottle of wine for me to get this child to write 3 words that rhyme with cat."

Everyone has an opinion about homework because we all have that reference point from our own childhood.  At my former school we stopped including spelling words in our homework and the parent response was similar to the way the Bible describes the Apocalypse.  Their argument was that kids need to learn how to spell.  Our stance was "Duh, of course they do!"  Spelling words don't need to be the centerpiece of homework though.  There are more important standards that children need to work toward and this opens up the possibility of more engaging home learning!

For me, homework is about finding a gentle balance between family time/extracurricular activities and continued learning.  I believe that in kindergarten and first grade homework should consist of brief tasks connected to classroom learning.  It can serve as a gradual release of responsibility from teacher led concepts at school to practice with those skills independently at home.

Another important component of homework is that it provides parents with the opportunity to measure their child's learning.  It allows teachers, students, and parents to work closely to develop a "team" mentality.  We are all working together for the students success!

Since I've started using my most recent homework format Kindergarten Homework Menus and First Grade Homework Menus, the critiques I've received about homework have been replaced by more engaged parent discourse about things they see their child struggling with and what else they can do at home to support their little person, which was an unexpected and pleasant surprise!

Click here for more information about First Grade Homework Menus!

For the past year and a half I've been experimenting with new homework formats.  Last year, I taught first grade and created Homework Calendars.  These were VERY successful and I saw more completed homework than any year prior.

The August Menus have simplified tasks and a book log.

This summer I was thinking about how much I liked the calendar format but I wondered if I could increase student engagement by making their homework choice drive. This is when I came up with the idea of a Menu!

Each month includes 4-5 tasks for Reading, Phonics, Writing, Science, and Math.  Each Menu also includes weekly high frequency words (I prefer to use Fry words, find more information HERE).

The tasks are tied into what we are working on in class and students choose one task to complete each night.  They complete the task on notebook paper and color in the square on their Menu.

In Kindergarten, the month of September focuses on letters and sounds and then students work with 5 high frequency words per week from October-May.  Kindergarten students are introduced to the first 150 Fry words through these Menus.  The First Grade Menus plow through the first 340 Fry words at a rate of about 10 per week.

***TIP:  Instruct parents to help students set up their tasks!  They can complete multiple tasks on each page to save paper.  Students will need help setting it up for the first few months but after that they become self-sufficient!

Both Kindergarten and First Grade packs include monthly high frequency word assessments (pre-assessment & post assessment) to help gauge student acquisition of these words!

You will also find book logs and a dual June/July Menu for continued learning through the summer.  The August Menu serves as an introduction to this home learning format.  You will see a practice book log and an abbreviated Menu with simplified tasks.

                          Kindergarten Book Logs                                      First Grade Book Logs

Both Kindergarten and First Grade Homework Menu downloads come in the form of a compressed file.  In each download you will find:

1. Completed print and go Homework Menus (1st grade also includes the old Calendars).
2.  Monthly High Frequency Word assessments.
3.  The Three EDITABLE options:

• Blank, fully editable PDF of the monthly Menus.
• Menus with set tasks and editable high frequency words.
• Menus with set high frequency words and editable tasks.

4.  Blank, EDITABLE Calendars that can be used for a multitude of purposes.  I use mine to communicate behavior grades with parents.

                       Fully editable                                                                                     Editable
                     (tasks & words)                             Editable tasks                      High Frequency Words

           

 

Please note that the directions are not editable on any of these forms.  Please review them to ensure your satisfaction!  I will add this option in the future but that is not something I will be working on anytime soon!

Editable Monthly Calendars that can be used for multiple purposes.  I use them to communicate daily behavior.

For more information about Kindergarten Homework Menus or First Grade Homework Menus please check out the product descriptions and the FREE PREVIEW!

Establishing Routines and FREEBIES!

Its been a minute since I've worked with kindergarteners!  I forgot just how much work kindergarten teachers do to engrain rituals and routines into students minds and behaviors.  The reminder that they build so much of the foundation that we all work off of has made me appreciate kindergarten teachers even more!  Throw a kindergarten teacher a hug TODAY!

Two of my little people practicing "Buddy Reading".

Establishing rituals and routines can be tedious but it is an essential part of good classroom management.  It needs to happen in EVERY. SINGLE. THING. that you do with your students so that they understand expectations and consequences.  Lining up, coming to the rug, getting water, using scissors, sliding down the slide, partner work, independent work, blowing noses, and so on and on and on and on, over and over and over again!  Oh, it's painful, but the payoff for a few weeks of tedium is a year of peace!

I'm a big fan of the collaborative expectation setting approach.  For example, today we are going to use scissors but I think we should make a list of rules to follow while we use them so that we can all be safe.  Turn and talk to your partner to create 1 rule you think we should follow to be safe when we use scissors in our classroom.  Partners share their rules and I chart them.  When the chart is complete I ask what the consequence should be for someone who chooses not to follow the rule.  Usually a warning and clip move is the decided upon consequence.  The result is a memorable discussion and chart to display and refer to through the year.  

After our discussion and expectation setting I give them an activity to practice their new ritual/routine.  For the next few weeks, every time we use our scissors, we review the chart before we begin the activity.  After that it's typically smooth sailing because the expected behavior has been engrained in their minds and they understand the consequences.

To make establishing these rituals and routines a little easier I'm sharing my anchor charts and activities for cutting and gluing with you for free!

 Click here to get Scissor Practice for FREE!

Click here to get Glue Practice for FREE!

First Day Pictures!

This has been one of the craziest starts to a school year I've ever had.  That's one of the things I like most about this job though.  Anything but routine.

I like my job like I like my kids, the weirder the better :)

I totally spaced on the "First Day of First Grade" pictures so we took "Second Day of First Grade" pictures.  Luckily, they're adorable everyday so it worked out!

Here's a little peek at my sweet, silly students (only the ones whose parents gave me permission to post, of course).

I mean, seriously, are all first graders this adorable or is it just mine?

Peek In My Room: Virtual Tour

Hey everyone!  I wanted to give you a little sneaky peek into my classroom.  I will let the pictures and videos speak for themselves.  Please enjoy!

I finally found the panorama option on my iPhone...awesome!

This year I decided to add hanging table numbers and more paper lanterns.  Because, why not?

Next you will see my whiteboard, calendar, and birthday board set up:

Video clip of our beginning of the year calendar elements:

Video of the Common Board Configuration:

I painted these new months-of-the-year hanging plaques this summer.  I've been wanting to spruce up my calendar for a while and these guys did the trick.  I'm going to attach popsicle sticks or clothes pins with each students birthday to the corresponding month once everything is settled!

Video clip of our birthday board and routines:



Now we'll move into specific area's of the room.

Above you will see a picture of my classroom library and below you'll find a video clip:

This is my Word Wall corner.  Below it is the Writing Station.  The following video clip will provide a few more details.


Up next is the listening center!

Finally, I wanted to share a few pictures and videos of some handmade items in my classroom!

Behavior chart:

Classroom helpers/jobs chart:

How we go home:

Last, but not least, C3B4me!  Best invention ever.  This is a reminder that students need to ask 3 people before they interrupt your reading groups, testing, RTI, whatever time to ask you to repeat instructions (that you probably gave 3 times already).  I love that it helps my students develop a sense of personal responsibility to begin solving their problems independently!

I hope you enjoyed this interactive tour!  Let me know what you think.  All questions and suggestions are welcome!

Back to School Ice Breaker

How do you break the ice on the first day?  Last year I used this little "ice breaker" game and it was a fun way to make new friends!

Since I thew it together last minute last year I never really did anything with it.  This year I decided to throw a dress on it share on TPT!

Students will work in small groups of 2-4 students. They will take turns rolling a die and moving a plastic bear manipulative the number of spots they rolled. 

If they land on a picture they find it on the Question Key, read it, answer it, and ask their partners to answer as well! If they land on a "you choose" arrow they can share any fact they would like about themselves. 

When all players make it to the finish line they can find new partners and play again!

What I love most about this game is that it's "print and play" friendly!  Last week I printed 10 copies of the game board and 1 copy of the question key (I projected it onto the board).  I laminated everything for durability this weekend.  Today I added 1 die and plastic bear manipulatives.  Voila!  Done!  Just what I need during Back-to-School CRAZY!

Oh, the kids had a blast too!  I'd post pictures but I totally forgot my camera today!  Looks like my students will be taking "Second Day of First Grade" pictures tomorrow!  

Womp!  Womp!

Up, Up, and Away!

Oh my, where to begin!  This summer got off to a lazy start and by lazy I mean I kicked it for one whole week before I put myself into overdrive.  I've created 14 activities that I CAN'T WAIT to try with my class next year/in just a couple of weeks!  I've uploaded them to my TpT store, all for under $2.50!  More about those in later posts.  I also just uploaded pictures of all the things I want to share with you, however, I'm sure you don't want to spend the next hour starting a novel comparable to a George R. R. Martin book so I will try to contain myself!

Today we'll talk a little about superheros!  Our school theme next year.  If you're looking for some superhero inspiration feel free to check out my superhero theme board on Pinterest.  I've gotten basically all of my idea's from there, where did I ever find inspiration before I stumbled onto that web site!?

Here are a few pictures of my pinspirations...

Blow pop superhero's!

I maybe got a little ahead of myself and made shoe wings to give my students for Christmas...ridiculous, but cute!

Wonder Woman socks (with CAPES!) and Shoe Wings!

I wonder how wearing this outfit on the first day  would affect my class size :)

I got the blow pop cape and goggles template @ zakkalife!

The Wonder Woman caped socks are from Wacky Planet!

Silver Shoe Wings are from Shwings!  I made a template using my Shwings and traced them on stiff felt to make shoe wings for my whole class.

Finally, I found this awesome Superhero Identity Packet at Family Fun!  I'm going to use it on the first day as an ice breaker for students to work on together while I sort their supplies and take their first day pictures.  Since they will be working somewhat independently I needed to simplify it.  I used some of the Family Fun packet in mine and provided a little more space for pictures.  I'm going to post mine below if you'd like to use it, however if you have older students who are capable of more writing definitely use the Family Fun packet, it's totally adorable and light-years better than mine!

Click here to get your Superhero Identity packet!

I hope you all enjoy your last few weeks of vacation!