Groundhog Day Books and a Freebie

Groundhog Day is almost here! This is such a fun day for exploring our shadows.  Over the years, I have collected some great books that I love to read aloud or add to our listening center.

My all time favorite read aloud is Ten Grouchy Groundhogs.  I purchased the audio version years ago from Scholastic and it is always a big hit in our classroom.  It is so cute to hear my students chanting along with the story. We usually begin subtraction during this month so this title lends itself naturally to learning how to subtract.   

This Grouchy Groundhog Freebie can be used while you read the story or it can be used by students to create their own subtraction sentence.   Have a great Groundhog Day! Here's to an early spring!

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Counting and Cardinality Winter Edition

In my last post, I talked about how I pace the Common Core into "chunks" of comprehensible teaching and learning.  I provided this example of what the strand looks like over the course of the school year.

Math time usually consists of: calendar and math routines, whole group math lesson/workbook, and math work stations.

Today, I am going to share some math routines that I will use to teach this standard.  To begin with, students will practice writing their numbers daily using a dry erase board and marker; a nice transition after recess.  I like to use music whenever possible.  So, I plan to use this oldie but goodie as well as this hip-hop diddy to teach numbers to 20 during calendar.  Afterwards, we will continue to work on subitizing numbers using dot cards from this fabulous blog.  I will also introduce I Have. Who Has?  I love this book and used it a lot in when I taught first grade. Unfortunately, it is a little too difficult for my kindergarten students.


I created this I Have. Who Has? winter Edition card game to play with my students.

Graphics From the Pond and fonts from Kindergarten Works

I think my students will absolutely adore this.  I also like that I can control which cards I give students based on their strengths and weaknesses.  Most of my students can count to 10 and beyond but I have a few who need additional practice as well as some who need help with "oneteen" also known as eleven.  Get your copy here.

Looking for more freebies?  Even though, I don't go back until the 7th but I am starting my planning.  Are you?  Click below for more wonderful, teacher created freebies.


Happy Teaching and Planning!    

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Common Core Math Kindergarten Style

Math Storage

Keeping math organized has been one of my goals this year.  To help me, I try to house all our math learning tools in one place.  Some items are kept on the shelf for easy access.  These are manipulatives which we use often.  The colored boxes; scrapbook containers, house manipulatives which I have a bulk of such as linker cubes and tangrams.  The numbered boxes are our Math Work Stations.  

A Peek into Our Learning

 

This year, my teaching of math has shifted towards the Common Core.  As a result, our work during math time differs greatly than in the past. 

The Santa Count and Scoop center works on counting teen numbers and learning about the Base Ten system.  In the past, we would still be working on counting from 0 to 10 at this time of the year.  

Another major shift is introducing addition and subtraction much earlier than before but with a greater emphasis on thinking about number and number relationships.  We have been working on number bonds for the past few months.  I love to use the red and yellow counters for this.  A simple game we play is "Shake and Count."  I give them a set number of counters and they just shake and count how many red and how many yellow.  We, then, record, the different ways to make the given number. In November, we worked on making 5 using turkey feathers.  

This month, we are using Christmas trees to show number bonds which we decorate with red and yellow ornaments.  Grab a copy here.   Santa's Sleigh Drop is from Mel at Frog Spot.  The center focuses on subtraction.  The kids select a card and then, problem solve using counters as presents.  They are doing great with this.  I have never taught subtraction this early but through hands-on learning they are learning about this concept using a timely subject matter which piques their interest. 

And, just in case you missed it, I posted this on my Facebook page.  

Our new book box.  Formally known as a Kleenex box.

Isn't this what teaching is all about?  

Finding meaning and purpose in all we do.

Happy Teaching!

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QR Codes Tutorial

Many of you wondered, how to create QR codes.  Today, I am going to share how I create them.  This post shares how I use them in my classroom.  

To follow along this tutorial, you will need a mobile device such as a smartphone or iPad with a QR app installed to scan the QR codes within the tutorial to "see" the difference.  If you are interested in creating QR codes, I use this website.

As you can see in Box 1, Data Type, QR codes can be embedded from many sources.

Scan to see what it looks like.

The above QR code was created by simply typing in Box 2, Content.   If you like, choose a color (Box 3).  Finally, click Download QR Code.  This is effective and easy to do.

Since, I am creating these for Word Work, I wanted to create a "fancier" image.  To do so, I created my document in Power Point.  Then, saved the file as a .jpg file which I uploaded it to Google docs.  I add the website address in Box 2, Content, and selected the URL shortener to create a "less busy" QR code.

Scan image.

Did you "see" the difference?  

I am going to use this next week during our Word Study.   I am sure the kids will love it.  You can grab a copy for free.  Yes, free!  I hope that you'll love it.  

Click image for your copy.

I hope this tutorial inspires you to give QR Codes a try.  If you do, let me know.  I think my next QR post will be on Tips and Tricks.  Anyone interested?  

Happy Teaching!

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Thanksgiving Retell

Click here for your copy. 

My students did such a great job learning about the first Thanksgiving.  They were able to retell the story to their families using their retell necklaces.  I was so proud of them.  To help, I made a simple text version of the Thanksgiving story.  I printed it out and glued onto colored scrapbook paper to match their retell bead.  The visual helped my students tremendously.

We also watched the classic Charlie Brown, The Mayflower Voyage.  You can find it on this DVD or access via YouTube here (Part 1) and here (Part 2).

My little one and me

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded that I have so much to be thankful for this year; my health, loved ones, school family and for the collaboration and learning I have found via blogging.

From my classroom to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. I hope to share more about QR codes this week.

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Pumpkin Life Cycle

Our class has had a wonderful time learning about pumpkins!  I love how the bulletin board display came altogether.  I could have easily spent another week on this topic.  Here are a few ideas that I used last year.

This year, we focused on the Pumpkin Life Cycle.  I created two projects which my class completed that I am sharing with you.  First, we made a Pumpkin Life wheel similar to the one seen on our bulletin board display.  For the student version, they had an orange cover which when all put together looked like a pumpkin.

I also made an emergent reader for my students to read independently during Daily 5.    

Here are a few books that we've read so far.

Grab your Pumpkin Life Cycle goodies here.  If you like them, leave a comment, follow my blog or Facebook page.

Happy Teaching!

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The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

Of all the books that relate to the Fall season and/or Halloween, this is my absolute favorite.  Why?  I love how children naturally begin to participate and read with me.  You can not help to get involved with the story.

Listen to my class from a few years ago reading the story.  :)



Last year, I shared how I love to use this book to teach prediction.

Towards, the end of the story, the Little Old Lady hears a knock at the door.  The narrator asks, "Should she answer it?  What do you think she saw?"  At this point, I stop and have the students make their predictions.

Click here for your copy.

The students draw their prediction using this template that I created.  Afterwards, we see if our predictions matched what actually happened in the text.  Many times, students will draw a few parts of the story but not the entire scarecrow.  The conversation is always lively.

This is a

Happy Reading!

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Fall Is Here

Fall is my favorite time of year.  Inspired by this, we painted the trees using wine corks instead of q-tips as our medium.  The kids did great! Better yet, not one child went home wearing paint.


Today, we made sight word trees.

Each year, I begin the unit singing Leaves are Falling; a remake of a popular song.

Click here for your copy.

Later, we make a class book.

Each child will write their name and draw a picture of themselves.  


Happy Fall!

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Our Treasured Words

This year, we are implementing a new reading program, California Treasures Reading.  It is a very comprehensive program that I am adjusting to after many years of another reading series.  Along the way, I am tweaking and adding components which I feel meet the needs of my students.  One of the things that I am adding are Rapid Automatic Naming Boards; which I call Fluency Boards.  I first read about them here and used them successfully with my students all last year.

Here is how it works in my classroom.  
I create the Fluency Boards for the skills (letter(s) or high frequency words) we are learning.  In class, I project the Fluency Board and we quickly read it as part of our daily morning routines. Some days, we go over more than one Fluency Board.  This depends on our needs and time.   I also send the Fluency Board for homework.   On Friday, I use the homework Fluency Board to quickly check if they can read the words or letters.  I send home a quick note to parents about which need additional practice.

Click image for link.

Using these Fluency Boards has helped to keep me and my students accountable to our learning.  Since we practice these often, most children are successful.  For those who are not, I can meet with them during small group instruction to help close the gap in learning.



I love them!  Would you like a copy?  I created two sets; a teacher and parent version.  That is 30 weeks of Fluency Boards organized by Unit and Week.  Free just for you.

Click image for link.

As a thank you, please leave a comment or better yet, Follow my blog or Like my Facebook page.


Happy Teaching and Learning!

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Alphabet Exploration

After four days of minimum days, our kinder students will be going to school full time.  The afternoons will be hard for some but I hope to make school exciting enough that they will not even realize that they are at school.  This week, I will introduce Word Work.  I am going to keep the tasks simple; with the intent of having the students explore the alphabet.  Like you, I have students with all, some or no letter recognition.  

To differentiate, a variety of tools will be available for them to use. 

Play Doh Letters: On Monday, I plan to introduce magic play doh and teach my students how to roll snakes to form letters.  They will have letter stampers available as well.

ABC Fishing: Students will go fishing for magnetic letters using these fishing poles, I purchased from Lakeshore Learning.  These will serve double duty. I am using them for math, too.

Letter Beads: Students can practice their fine motor skills while finding the letters in their name.  Letter beads are a year long word study choice in my classroom.

Alphabet Matching: Alphabet puzzles, alphabet games and pocket chart letters will be used to help students identify, sequence or match the alphabet. 

Connect 4 ABC:

I created this game to help my student with letter recognition and fluency.  I plan to play this with my class using the document camera; me versus my students.  Eventually,  I will add it into our Word Work centers.  My proficient students will be able to play the game with my monitoring. 

Here is a freebie for you to try with your students.  The alphabet is in order so that students can sing the alphabet if needed to identify the letter.

What do your literacy centers look like?  Do you have any favorites?

Happy Teaching and Learning!

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Teaching Colors

We begin the year with exploring and teaching colors.  Although, we wish all of our students knew this, many come in with limited knowledge, so we do our best to fill in those gaps quickly.

Their first homework assignment is to bring objects or pictures  that focus on the color.  We will use these items to help create our anchor charts.

Literature is embedded throughout the mini-unit.



I like to include books that they may be familiar with from preschool as well as some new or funny stories along the way.  I always include books that are easy enough for everyone to read and have these available during Book Buddy reading time.


Centers help students foster independence and working with others.

Even a game like CandyLand includes accountable talk.  Students must tell their partner what color they have.   I make sure to include variety and "fun" tools like these paint dots, foam dice and food.  Center time is short; 10 to 15 minutes depending on stamina.  In the beginning, we all may be working on these activities together.  Later,  I will transition them into Math Work Stations.

Would you like to use these in your classroom? Click on the links to get yours.  The pattern strips can be found here from Fran at Kindergarten Crayons.  I created the Brown Bear Roll A Color Sheet and the Gummy Bear Color Sort and Graph.

Need more ideas? Follow my Pinterest Color Board.

Happy Teaching and Learning!

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Planning for my Classroom

Summer is winding down. Usually, that means heading into the classroom getting my room ready. This year, it means waiting for my room to be repaired, painted, and cleaned. Right now, all of my teaching wordily possessions are in storage. I am trying not get stressed about it; but I am stressed about it all.

So, instead, I have been working on a few classroom projects at home.

I made a classroom wreath from these items. Most can be found at your local craft store. All, I did was wrap the burlap ribbon around and used florist greening pins to hold the flowers in place. I hope to change the flowers out seasonally.

Here is how it looks now.

I made these adorable postcards to send home to my students. I love the owl's expression.

Click on image for yours.

I've also been creating items to use in my classroom. I am trying to use less ink so I am getting creative with scrapbook paper to add a pop of color. You can find these at my Teacher's Notebook shop. Most items are on sale for around $1.

School doesn't officially start until the last week of August. Until then, I will be mentally planning my classroom's layout and preparing for the new year at home. I really can't wait until I can start unpacking and decorating. Then, it will really feel like Back To School; the most wonderful time of the year!

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Subtract with Pete the Cat

I am planning to use Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons to create subtraction word problems. 

My students will use this work mat to draw and write their subtraction sentence.  Later in the week, we'll make a class book.

Click image to get yours.

Happy Teaching and Learning!

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