Link Party

I just linked up to my second (or was it third?!?) linky party!  Click on over and check out what great ideas Beth at Living Life Intentionally has rounded up for us!  I linked up my Creation Story post which you can see HERE or why don't cha just hop on over to the linky party and see what other fellow bloggers are giving out! 

Thanks, Beth for rallying us together to compile that HUGE bank of ideas. (I think my idea was number 226, now that's a lot of ideas!!!)

g-e-r-m-s

Yuck- it's that time of year again... germs are in full swing!

So, to equip my Kinders with the tools they need to stay healthy, I intentionally plan a germs unit in science class around this time every year.  (that was a long sentence, but I don't think it's a run-on, I checked...but I do teach Kinder, so I may be a bit rusty- don't correct me, I don't like it when I'm wrong)  :)

Anyway, so here it is:  and it's yours if you want it:

This is mine, from when I was in Kindergarten... I got the idea from looking at the box of things my dear momma kept that I made as a tot.

Here's what I made:

Click HERE to get your downloadable copy.

All you have to do is have them trace their hand, cut it out, and then YOU staple the tissue and hand to the face.

You can comment below with your e-mail address if you want the .doc version so you can add your own little touch.

g-e-r-m-s

Yuck- it's that time of year again... germs are in full swing!

So, to equip my Kinders with the tools they need to stay healthy, I intentionally plan a germs unit in science class around this time every year.  (that was a long sentence, but I don't think it's a run-on, I checked...but I do teach Kinder, so I may be a bit rusty- don't correct me, I don't like it when I'm wrong)  :)

Anyway, so here it is:  and it's yours if you want it:

This is mine, from when I was in Kindergarten... I got the idea from looking at the box of things my dear momma kept that I made as a tot.

Here's what I made:

Click HERE to get your downloadable copy.

All you have to do is have them trace their hand, cut it out, and then YOU staple the tissue and hand to the face.Publish Post

You can comment below with your e-mail address if you want the .doc version so you can add your own little touch.

Just go with it...

So, as I was picking out my non-fiction books for this week, I came across a cute book about deer.  With hunting season in full swing, I just knew some of my boys would just love this book- so I checked it out!  With my 10 books in tow from the library to the car, I about dropped all my books when I remembered that I had a set of deer antlers in my classroom.

Side note- we had taken a trip to a local petting zoo where they have deer.  I was talking to a parent about the antlers and how cool it would be to have a pair in my classroom when a guide asked me if I wanted a set... umm... let me think for a second... YES PLEASE!

Anyway, I was so excited I about dropped my bag of books- luckily no one was in the parking lot with me except for my 2 year old and 4 year old, and they don't notice when I get excited because I do it quite frequently :)  It's old hat to them anymore!:)

So, I threw out one of my lessons for the following day to embrace what had become a teachable moment with my non-fiction book.  Here's the pictures to tell the story:

We talked about how boy deer use their antlers to fight other boy deer.  *Don't worry, I use 2 very calm, well-behaved boys to do the demo...  no eyes were poked out during this dramatic interpretation.

Then we passed the antlers around.  We even noticed that one of the antlers still had fur on it!  soft :)

So, embrace your teachable moments and just go with it!

I'm hungry for some comments, so here's my question to you:

What was your best teachable moment that wasn't planned??

(I guess all teachable moments aren't really planned, now are they????)

anyway, please share! :)

The Creation Story

I work at a Catholic School- so we teach religion.  One of my favorite activities is this creation mural.  It's my favorite because they not only learn about the Creation story, but they learn LOTS of art techniques along the way!  

Here's what we use:

Glitter- stars

Oil Pastels - moon and sun

Paint (we discuss value- dark to light) - sky and grass

Texture wands- water

Computer - tree

crayons - animals

Up!

I have a portfolio for each of my Kinders, and I always put a few work samples from each month into the portfolio.  I also try to do a cute, seasonal craft for each month as well.  This is one of my favorites and I wanted to share! :)  I found the idea on Handprint and Footprint Art

The above pic is actually a picture from her blog (I blurred the boys face.)

Anyway, I made a template for this cute-ness of a project, and here it is:

Click HERE for a downloadable version.  For some reason, google docs made the circles gray, so if you want the original as a word doc, comment with your e-mail address and I'll be happy to send it your way! :)

Enjoy! :)

Science!

Science is probably one of my favorite subjects to teach.  I love how it just lends itself to hands-on exploring.  I thought I'd share my Science Journals with you!

This is the cover of my journal.

And this is what the inside looks like.  I make 1 copy of the above page, and staple about 20 of these front/back to the front cover.  That gives us about 40 experiments in a year, which is great! :) 

Here is one of my most recent science experiments:  Learning about static!

Take a balloon (you've already got the Kinders HOOKED just by saying the word Balloon!  :)

Shake some salt and pepper on a paper plate, and have the Kinders rub the balloon on their head to create some static.  When you run the balloon over the paperplate *without it touching the plate!* the salt and pepper start to "dance"  STATIC!! :)

*Don't forget to record your experiment in your new handy science journal!!!*
You can get your copy of the science journals from my Teacher's Notebook Store: 

Turkey Math

My Kinders and I just finished the cutest little Thanksgiving math project.

And for the life of me, I can't remember where I got this download.  I know it was free, and I'm bummed that I can't remember how to find it- so you can make these with your kiddos too.  (But it doesn't look like a hard template to make, so if you really want one- comment with your e-mail address and I'll make you one real quick and e-mail it to you.)  :)

Anyway, here are some pics of it in action- ADORABLE! :)

Just love when they work together :)

We even added number sentences on to take it one step further.  They were only allowed to use 2 colors of feathers, and then make a number sentence out of *color* + *color* = *total number of feathers*

We added googly eyes and a beak for cuteness.  You can't go wrong with googly eyes.

Even had a few Kinders decide not to use 2 colors and do a +0 number sentence.  Right on, friend!

I'm looking for more Thanksgiving-ish ideas, so if you have one, please comment with your blog address so I can check it out! :)

Guided Reading

So, I snatched this awesome freebie from KindergartenWorks .  Once again, thank you :)

But, I needed something to put in it! :)  While I love Kindergarten Works Teacher's Notebook Site, and have been a loyal customer, I needed something a little more custom to my needs.  I use my Guided Reading binder during the Teacher center of my literacy stations.  So, my teacher table has the blending board, pencils, letter cards, sightword and spelling word lists, decodable books, and my handy dandy binder.

So, I went about creating my very own custom Guided Reading Log. 

It would look something like this in action: (name totally fictional- I don't have a Molly or a Smith in my class this year!!!)

This guided reading log is available through my Teacher's Notebook Store: 

Literacy Center Organization

Found another link party, and thought I'd link up again! :)
Check it out here:
Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations

Topic:  Literacy Station Organization

I have to give credit where credit is due, and I'll say I got most of my literacy center ideas from Kindergarten Works.  This website has been a great boost of energy I needed.  Just when I was getting comfortable in Kinder, I got this volt of energy that sparked me to do some fun, new things!  Change is good, right?

So, here goes:
I have 10 literacy centers.  I have the kids rotate through them by keeping them with their classroom jobs partners.  So, when it's time for them to rotate, I just move 1 popsicle stick instead of 2.  So, the popsicle sticks say "Line Leaders" "Computer Equipment" etc.

I keep all of my materials in white tubs I bought at Wal-Mart.  

A teacher friend's dad made this cubby for me!  LOVE IT!!!!  I gave him 1 bin for measurement, told him I wanted 12 bins and bada-bing, bada-boom, DONE :)

I use 5 of the 12 bins for Literacy Centers.

So, let's take a look at each Literacy Center I have:

1.  Big Books.

At each station, I have pockets with "to-do" ideas for my Kinders so they know how to spend their time at the center.

Big Books "to-do":  Read with a pointer or Rainbow your words. My big books are stored in the back of this block wooden easel.  (The to-do cards are attached to the side-my picture should have been zoomed out to show you the easel, sorry 'bout that.)

2.  House

House to-do: Look up words to write.  Make a shopping list.  Call a friend.  Type an e-mail.  Read to Lucy.  (At the beginning of the year, we took a class vote and named our baby doll.)

I sent out a call for broken household items and received a Nintendo DS, iPod Shuffle, iPod touch, iPad, screwdriver, digital camera, 3 misc. cell phones, the cutest toaster I'd ever seen, and so much more... needless to say, our house station is STOCKED!

We made a classroom phone book, so the kids can "call" their friends using our phonebook on the lifeless cell phones.

3.  Writing

Writing to-do:  Look up words to write.  Mail a letter to your friend.

I took a free printable from Kindergarten Works and enlarged it and put it in a document so I could print it on envelopes.  The kids love this!  They feel like grown-ups when they drop their letters in the mailbox.

4.  Detective Center

Detective Center to-do:  Write in your detective Log.  Find the letter or word.

This center is in one of those white tubs, so they take the tub to a designated spot in the classroom to do this center.

I put a few seasonal books in there for the kids to look through.  They get clipboards and laminated paper magnifying glasses to look for the words I specify each week.

5.  Playdough

Playdough to-do:  make a word with playdough.

Got these free printables from Kindergarten Works (Thanks!!)

6.  Letter Tiles

Letter tiles to-do:  Spell your spelling words or sightwords.

7.  Retell

Retell to-do:  Retell your favorite story.  

In this bin you will find 2 books, props, and a black pillow case.  I sewed one end over on the pillow case to make a place for a tension rod to go through.  The kids put the tension rod through and hang the curtain between the 2 doorways of my coatroom.  All I did for props was scan the book pages, print them, cut them out, laminated them, and put them on popsicle sticks.  They LOVE this!! :)  I've got a few 3D props that they can use too- plastic fruit for The Very Hungry Caterpillar; stuffed Clifford dog for any Clifford books, etc.

8.  Poetry

Poetry to-do: Match words you know.  Highlight words you know.  Circle words in your Poetry book.

My poetry station is in a corner of my coatroom hanging on the side of my metal filing cabinet.  They get to read the poem (We've read it several times in class before I put it at the Poetry station), use the index cards to match words, and circle words in their own poetry books.

This is a little invention of my own: I created a word document with 5 rectangles on it.  Colored the rectangles blue, red, yellow, green, etc.  Printed it out on to clear transparency film and ta-da!  Highlighters! :)

9.  iPad station.  I am fortunate enough to have 2 classroom iPads.  The kids are allowed to 2 choices of Apps they can play on during Literacy centers.  I use iPads also during math, quiet time, small group instruction, one on one instruction, and as a reward for good behavior.  They are the BEST!

10.  Teacher station.  That's me! :)  We use a blending board to make our spelling words.  We read a book that is all about our letter of the week.  We clap syllables.  We name rhymes.  You name it, we do it!  I record it all in my handy dandy Literacy Binder for quick reference at conference time.

So, there you have it.  My 10 Literacy Stations.

oh, I also do cross-curricular learning centers in the afternoon, and I store all my center materials in cereal boxes.  Here's a pic.  Let me know if you want to know more! :)

Word Work

I found a link party on Mrs. Patton's Patch and thought I'd send over my ideas I use in my classroom.  So, here goes:

Top 5 ways I like to incorporate Word Work into my Kinder classroom:

I use cheap magnet letters and an extra metal shelf I had laying around in my classroom- the kids spell our spelling or sightwords for the week on them during centers.

I use a blending board at the teacher center during our morning literacy centers.  A teaching friend of mine- her husband made this for me.  It's simply a piece of wood with 2 notches router-ed out... one for the letter cards to sit in, and one for the piece of plexi-glass to sit in.  Works GREAT! :)  

Thank you, Mr. Handyman!! :)

The kids touch the letters as we say the sound, and then run their finger along the entire length of the board to blend the sounds together to read the word.

I use a miniature pocket chart and letter tiles to let the kids spell words during literacy centers.  This week: find a picture of your friend and spell their name using correct capitalization.

Got this handy-dandy printable from KindergartenWorks.  I'm loving this blog, and this playdough idea for my literacy center.  Thanks KindergartenWorks!!

Finally, I use these mesh sheets for my kids to write our spelling or sightwords on.  This creates a bumpy texture for the kids to feel their words once they write them.  I got these at a teacher store, but you can certainly use those plastic cross-stitch sheets too!

So, there it is... 5 of the ways we do word work in my classroom! :)  Thanks for stopping by!

Giveaway- check it out! :)

Treasured Giveaway!

Click the link above to learn about the Treasured Giveaway!  Great classroom idea- Foldables!  Definately making some for my own classroom- or using these if I win the giveaway!  Stop by for your chance to win too! :)  These could be made easier for Kinders or harder for older grades.  Very customizable!

Bats!

We just finished our science unit on Bats.  Here's what we did:

We read Stellaluna.  (Love this book!)

Made a Venn Diagram of Bats and Birds.  (Excuse the poor handwriting- I was writing sideways!!)

Then we traced a bat cardboard cut-out onto black or brown paper.  We glued eyes on to add a little cute-ness :)

Then I glued a cut down the middle toilet paper roll to the back to make a cuff or bracelet for the kids to wear and fly their bats around.

We also added 2 bat facts to the back for the kids to share with their families!

This was not my idea.  I can't seem to find the blog where I found the idea.  If you know, please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due! :)

Non-Fiction

Have you noticed that the new Common Core Standards are really hitting non-fiction books??

Since received my copy of the Common Core Standards, I've been on a quest to find some really great non-fiction.

Mission: ACCOMPLISHED!

I'm here to tell you---  Capstone Press offers GREAT non-fiction books.  I haven't found one I didn't like yet!  And, my Kinders beg me to read more non-fiction.  They are LOVING it! :)  Plus, it's teacher friendly, in that, as I'm browsing my local public library, all I have to do is walk down the aisle and look for this star      on the side binding.  EASY!

Now, go find yourself some great non-fiction books!  If you have any great finds, please share! :)

Monster Glyph

My first post!  It's a little intimidating.. but I'll give it my best shot! :)

For Halloween, my kiddos and I made some nifty monster glyphs.

First, I read 3 books to them:

There Was an Old Monster Who Swallowed a Tick
If You're a Monster and You Know It
Go Away, Big Green Monster!

They were all 3 great books, they begged to hear each one again and again! :)  The first 2 are great, too, because they have a website you can use to play the story as the kiddos work on their glyphs!

Here's our monsterous recipe!
Hair=How old are you?
Teeth=How many teeth have you lost?
Eyes= Square-boys; Circle-girl
Nose= "J" - blonde hair; "W"- brown hair
Ears= round-youngest child; pointy-middle child; squiggly-oldest child
Face= Favorite color

Here's how they turned out: