Elephant and Piggie

Now that my daughter is reading, she wants to read all.the.time. No complaining here. I thought I would share with you some of her favorite books. We both love the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems. If you haven't heard of these...you must check them out. Our public library has all of them and we have officially finished and AR tested on them. Scholastic had them in the last book order the year, so I purchased some to keep at home.

Not only are these book hilarious.....they are so great at teaching students about how to use their voice in reading. Here is an example. 

 

The whole book is speech bubbles. She knows to raise her voice when the letters are big and in all caps and to lower it when they are small. 

 

We also love to each choose a character and read the parts. So fun!

If you do not have these books in your classroom, you must get them! They are perfect for end of the year kindergarteners as well as first and second graders! I'll be back soon with another series we just found and love!

Makeover Madness

I'm so excited to have FINALLY finished a small HUGE makeover on one of my oldest products. Let me begin by saying that I have been wanting to makeover this product for quite a while, but the file was corrupt and wouldn't open. So...this week I tackled it. And by tackled it I mean started ALL over!

This unit is perfect for beginning of the year Kindergarten. The picture cards can be used all year long for beginning sounds in small group (or ending sounds). This product will be on sale until Monday!!! Click on the picture below to grab it:

Check back next week to see what the TPT Seller Challenge has in store for me!

TPT {Seller} Challenge

I'm taking on a challenge and SUPER excited about it! I'm joining the TPT {Seller} Challenge!

Let's be honest...I hadn't posted in 4 months until last week. I need something to get me in gear! :) Here is a look at my stats:

Now...let's chat about my stats:
Facebook - I was in a Fourth of July hop a few years ago and my FB page blew up. I'm very thankful for that. Since then...FB has changed and I notice not as many people see my posts. I also need to be more interactive with my followers.
Instagram: I have a personal instagram...but not one for my blog. That is about to CHANGE!
Twitter: I signed up a few years ago...but I'm a little scared of twitter! :)
Pinterest: I use pinterest DAILY...but both my personal and blog are on the same account and I'm okay with that.
Bloglovin': I remember being SO excited that I finally had 1000 followers on Google...only to find out they were no longer going to do google. I was so upset! I love Bloglovin' so much more! :) Change is good!
TPT: I love my store...but I need to a pay more attention to it! :)

I'm super excited about the changes that will occur! I hope you will join too!!!

Reading Around the Rainbow - Sight Words

I have been teaching "rainbow words" for about 8 years now...revamping as I go along. I found that if I have some sort of reward system...the kids TAKE OFF. This year was so exception. I use this unit to help teach sight words in my classroom.

My school system uses the Journey's reading series...so this unit is aligned with that reading series. I also added color words and number words to 10 at the beginning. I posted about using rainbow words here....but here is a recap.

The first set of words we learned are called our "red words". Each color set of words has about 15-20 words.
 Here is the "prep" work we do before school starts so that the entire system is set up and ready to go. First I print and laminate each set of polka dot words.

 

I place a magnet on the back so that I can add them to my word wall (which has magnetic paint) as we learn each set of words.

To prep for student's, we run each set of words on their color construction paper, along with the Congratulation card and staple them. That way as soon as they have learned one set, we can send home the next set immediately.

We also create a folder with a check list for each student. Each folder gets a checklist with each set of words: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

All students receive a set of "red words" in the summer before school starts. We encourage parents to start working on them over the summer. At the beginning of school we start checking students on their words. As they pass the words, we celebrate it in class (claps all around with a few "woo hoos") and then the students get to place their name on the color they just passed.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much the kids love this. They come in begging to "test" on words because they practiced last night! It is so much fun. All but 2 children in my whole class knew ALL of their words before I had even introduced the blue words yet! SO EXCITING! It seems like a lot of prep work, but in the end...it pays off! If you are interested in using this unit in your classroom and use Kindergarten Journeys , just click on the picture below.

Kindergarten Tips

First and foremost...Hi! Really? Has it been 4 months since I have blogged? Apparently so. I am so sorry. But...I am on summer break and have been for 2 weeks so....hopefully I am back. I am so excited my friend Mary from Sharing Kindergarten is having a linky party. What an easy way to get back into the swing of things!

 

I am by no means an expert, but I have been teaching Kindergarten for 13 years. Here are a few things I wish I had known from day 1!

 

 

 I began doing this 2 years ago. I get on my knees (to be at their eye level) and greet them daily with a hug first thing in the morning as they walk in the door. I start this on day 1. It takes some kids a little while to hug me back, but they all do. It is the best way to start the day. Some kids don't get hugs at home. I want them to know they are safe with me and that I love them. I feel this little step has changed the dynamics in my classroom. They know they are loved by me.  Their hugs and get tighter and tighter as the years go on. Trust me....this is a game changer guys!

 

I know you have TONS of standards to teach. You have so many assessments to give. You are held accountable. I do know that...but they are 5. Let them be little. Let them giggle, laugh, and play. It is easy to incorporate it in your centers. They have no idea they are learning. Brain breaks are my favorite way to let them dance and laugh!

This is one of my favorites. I have been creating a hard copy scrapbook for each kiddo since my first year. I take several pictures each month and keep several of their writing pieces and art pieces. I (my assistant does a lot of the work) puts it together throughout the year and then binds it together. This year I also created a digital scrapbook. There are TONS of great tutorials on this. (Mary has one!) I am SO happy I did this. I cannot tell you how many parents come back and thank me and tell me their high school student got their scrapbook out and was looking through it. I know I will enjoy looking back at the digital scrapbook many years from now!

Lordy. This one is important. The first month is ROUGH. Like dead-dog tired rough. BUT...it does get easier. We start the first week of August. I always remind myself that if I can make it to Labor Day...I'm all good. They are learning the routine and learning the ropes. Just reinforce the rules and routines consistently and they will get it. Listen...I still have to remind myself of this rule after 13 years!!!!

There are TONS of awesome K teachers in the blogging world and we are all here for each other. I hope you gain a lot from these tips!

It's a Sale!

I'm sure you have heard about the Teachers Are Heroes sale tomorrow! Tomorrow also happens to be payday for me. Coincidence? I. Think. Not. :)

I have my wishlist loaded up and ready to go! Do you? I have my store marked down 20% tomorrow. Type in HEROES when you check out (and don't forget that...because I have before) to get an additional 10%!!! I have updated a few items in my store just in time.
My Happy Birthday Silly Cat unit is newly updated with 8 Literacy AND 8 Math centers. You can check out a preview video on my facebook page.

I have also recently updated my Lucky You! St. Patrick's Day unit! It includes 7 Literacy AND 7 Math Centers.

 

A sale is always a great time to get my Letter Grab and Go Bundles...great for RTI!

 

Go get your wish list ready!!!! Have fun shopping!

That Silly Cat!

Well, I have enjoyed 4 snow days off this week. I love a good snow day or 2, but a week? Not.so.much. We got 8 inches then got another 2. We had fun on Monday and Tuesday but yesterday and today the temps have been BRUTAL...so no more snow play. I have been able to update a few of my units. One of the first units I created was my Silly Cat (you know who) unit. It was originally a certain famous author unit but since that is a big NO NO...I changed it to Happy Birthday Silly Cat!

 It contains 8 literacy and 8 math units for your kindergarten or 1st grade classroom. I originally planned on doing this theme next week and then the week of Dr. Seuss' birthday but since we have missed all week and I already had everything planned.....we will just being doing 1 week! Here is a little sneak peek of my updated unit!

I love this week. We usually have dress up days and our cafeteria makes a special snack! I'm sure we will do many of the things we did last year.  I love to read Dr. Seuss' books to the kiddos. It is super good for those kiddos who still can't rhyme. So...what do you do for Read Across America Week?

Valentine's Day Recap

Well, I don't know about you but it was a CRAZY (and long) week! We had a reading night at school (until 7:30), parent teacher conferences (until 6:00) and then Valentine's Day party on Friday. The kiddos were super excited and we had a fun day! Here is a little of what we did!
On Friday, we passed out our Valentines.

 
We did this SUPER cute activity from Curriculum Castle. They loved it!.

We also did our Valentine Conversation Heart Graphing. (Note to self: Next year....change the white to blue. The boxes I bought this year didn't have white but blue instead!)

 

We ended our day with a fun party. Here is the picture I used for Scrapbooks this year.

I'm super excited because we are expecting snow tonight and tomorrow. Like significant snow. We had so much last year I was SICK of it, but I've been DYING for a good snow this year! I think it's coming!!!!! Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Currently February

I'm linking up with Farley again for her currently series!


   

  Listening: I don't even know what he is watching! I'm trying to finish up on the computer so I can go play with little bit!   Loving: My newest Stitch Fix I got on Friday. Y'all. I haven't had a stitch fix in a long time. The last time I tried the service, they were relatively new. I would put in a for a box and it would be over a month before it would come. I'm quite impatient and didn't love it! Now....they are FAST people. I put in a for a box and literally got it in like 5 days! 5 days people!!!! I'm always amazed that they are spot on. When I get a pair of jeans I think there is no way they will fit. They've never seen me! They were PERFECT!!!!! I don't know about you but I don't have time to shop these days. I love that they send me things that I would never find in my hometown. I love that I can try it on in my room and send it back in my mailbox with no shipping costs! If you haven't tried Stitch Fix, I really encourage you to give it a try! It's hassle free and super cute clothes!
Thinking: Y'all. We have the SLOWEST internet on earth. When we moved in our house, I was silly and signed a 2 year contract with Dish. We only get so much internet usage and then they "slow us down". WHAT??? We are finally get faster, unlimited internet on Tuesday. I cannot WAIT to watch some Netflix!   Wanting: To buy EVERYTHING in the new Matilda Jane release that came out today. Eek! I'm dying. (And so is my wallet!)

Needing: A great Valentine Craft. I can't find anything I just love! Got ideas??
Pageant Name: I don't know anything about pageants. I've never been a pageant girl. I'm thinking Know-It-All Sweetie??? Probably not a name that would help me win, but I'm just being honest!
Also, I am having a SuperBowl Sale in my TPT store! If you are anything like me, you would MUCH rather shop on TPT than watch the Superbowl!!! :) 

100th Day Fun

Our 100th day was Friday! Woo! Hoo! I love the 100th day. Having it on a Friday made it a bit more....crazy. Those children were so excited! I may or may not have done things totally different and I may or may not do that again next year. In the past I had 4 groups and we switched every 30 minutes. Very organized. (That is me...OCD...organized.). This year I decided to do 7 groups. I assigned them to their first group then they came to me to see where they went next. I looked around to find a group with openings and sent them there. Lord Have Mercy. I thought I was gonna lose my mind! They had fun but I think I'll go back to OCD next year! :) Here are some of my favorite shirts this year:

We did the fashion show from Kinder-Craze. ADORBS! They loved it and we had so much fun! :) I highly recommend it for your 100th day!

We also did lots of other fun activities. Writing to 100 (ok...they didn't think that was a lot of fun!).

100 day necklaces with fruit loops

 

100 day glyph

 

Their favorite activity HANDS DOWN was building a tower with 100 cups. They LOVED it so much!

 

We also made a 100 day snack at the end of the day. Yet another favorite.

 

 

My team of teachers (minus my aid who had to leave early) had these ADORABLE shirts made this year! So fun!

 

When is your 100th day? I hope you had as much fun as we did!