Where's Waldo? My blog still exists!!...

I haven't completely fallen off the face of the Earth. I've been...well BUSY! Wife, mom, sport spectator for my children, teacher, new grade level this year, snuck in a vacation over Thanksgiving for 7 WHOLE days....you know....just living 

life, and blogging less. That's okay to do? Right? 

Don't think I have stopped blog stalking you all, and downloading from TN & TpT like crazy......oh, I still do that!

As the year has settled in (a third of the way done already)----WHAT?! And winter break coming up, maybe I can start to pick up on my blogging again! I bet all you busy ladies understand, though. 

Anyway....regardless, I've found a wee bit of time to create a few new things. Here you go! Some Freebies, and new winter things on the way....

MY TEACHER IS MISSING! Writing Prompt - FREE!http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/my-teacher-is-missing

FRIENDLY LETTER TEMPLATE - FREE!
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/friendly-letter-template

GREAT GOBBLER-FACT FAMILIES TO 20
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/great-gobbler

WINTER WONDERLAND-BASE TEN MATCH
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/winter-wonderland-base-10-match

THANK YOU NOTE TEMPLATE - FREE!
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/MiTeacherGirl/thank-you-note-template

OhMYword...it's nearly October!

I have been a busy, busy, BUSY little teacher in my new grade level, and I have totally neglected my blog(s)! I can't help it---being a wife, and mom come first and foremost. Then, being a teacher, and finally, sharing anything on my blog comes in any "free" time I can spare. You totally get that, right?! Right!

I am having so much fun in first....I've caught what seems to be the proverbial "First Grade Fever!" Best illness by far! ;) 

However, it's been a bit of a jump.....just when I thought I was getting ahead of the game, I go and jump ship on PreK-K grade levels and throw myself into a new grade----without many activities and stations made for first graders. Thank the high heavens for TpT and TN....I've been buying goodies left and right that have been huge time savers. In the mix, I've been trying to make a few fun stations of my own. I've got a long way to go, but I feel like September was a complete blur.....so I'm trying to make sure that October feels less insane! 

Now that we have routine, order, initial assessments and running records complete, and math and literacy stations (Daily 6 of my own interpretation---yes, I said 6)....I feel like I can dig in and give them some goodies to work with. 

Here's a bit of what we've been doing....

 We've been working on before/between/after.....so, of course, one of our stations was practicing ordering numbers. Students draw an owl card (you can break this activity up into 3 levels/tiers)....write the number that is on the owl on the laminated/dry ease recording sheet, and then write the other numbers that either fall before, after, or between. The kids LOVED the Free Pick card. Little math minds thought it was hilarious to pick numbers like 5, 018! If they can do it, why not?!



We also played (I say played, because they essentially think it's a game!)...Write Around the Room to 120. This activity also has 3 levels. Some students search for the green cards, some pink, and some yellow. A scavenger hunt that was 25 minutes of FUN...and also ordering numbers as the Common Core tells me to do! ;)

Click any of the activity images to get a copy of your own! 

We've also been working with GIANT fall 10-frames. The kids thought the giant frames were so funny. Nearly everything is funny when you are 7---I'm catching on to that, real quick! 

Here, this little math mind is working to draw a ten frame to match the one she drew out of the pile, write the corresponding number, tally it, and write an addition sentence for it! 

Lots of skills in one little, I mean GIANT, 10 frame! 

Coming up, we'll enjoy some base 10 matching & building our own Freaky Frames! Have you seen the huge pack of 50 erasers (i.e.: math counters) at Big Lots? $3.00 and they will go great with my Freaky Frames game! 

Freaky Frames + a sunny Autumn afternoon - a FREEBIE for you!  Click the photo! 

I hope your stations are up and running and you are finding some routine and productivity in your classroom! I hope October is less blurry than September!!! Have a great weekend, everyone!  

Dolch "Ball Words"

It's been days in the making (literally)....printing, laminating, cutting, and placing on rings, but I'm finally done!! I'm using the "Ball Words" from A Differentiated Kindergarten to help my students work toward mastery of all 220 words. With such a fun little program (complete with student recognition and awards), it shouldn't be a problem at all! I am certain students will take full initiative to want to practice their words and play all of the fun little games included.

I can't even begin to tell you how many games you can squeeze out of these fun little cards---and many of the other printables included but not shown here. How awesome!! 

If you get this printable, here are my recommendations: 

1. 1. Get a ton of card stock & ink (worth the money you will spend!...better yet if your school has a color printer you can use!!)
2. Stock up on your caffeinated beverage of choice and throw it down the hatch often!! Maybe even order a pizza & throw on some comfy clothes - you'll be there awhile.
3. Gather several of your closest friends and relatives to help. (I got mine done with the help of some chatty work sessions with my friends and colleagues & paying a small fee to my 9 year old for each page cut out...and to my 5 year old daughter for sorting the words into piles!...it's not child labor if they offer, you pay, and they love it! Right?!---OH, and not to forget my dear husband who cut the very last set that I "just couldn't muster up the energy to do!)
4. Find a place to hang all these in your classroom - child accessible! 
5. Have fun and keep in mind the smiles & excitement you know your students will have learning with colorful, aesthetically appealing, learning materials!! ---which is why we do what we do! 

In other words, "Have a Ball!" 

Ready, Set, GO: Essentials!!

At the beginning of the year, there are some particular essentials that I must have to help keep my students organized AND keep the ever-so-important lines of communication between home and school open!

My essentials are (but not limited to): 

• Home/School Folder - sent home daily & returned daily. I prefer daily communication, rather than Friday folders. As a parent of three children, it's hard to get an over-stuffed folder on Fridays with work that my little ones may not even remember. So, as a teacher and parent, I think it's easier to send home whatever needs to go home on THAT day. Granted, there's great pieces of work to display in the hall, or art that needs to dry, or writing that may take a few days to get through the whole process....but you get the gist. 
• Money/Notes Pocket  - for inside the home/school folder

This year, I am also using writing folders. My Pre-Kinders did not need it...but now that I'm moving on up to first, we are going to need somewhere to store our writing pieces as we are working on them! So, that's another essential to stay organized. 

And...of course, there's the typical essentials to stay organized: student name labels, labels, labels!! 

Today, much to my surprise while I was putting together & making these essentials, I stumbled across the best label designer!! Did you know that Avery (the maker of all the self-adhesive labels) - has an online design and print area on their website?! Am I the only one who has just found this little gem of a free design tool?!?!?!?! If you want to check it out, click HERE. You can create your labels, save them online or to your computer, create PDF's & totally rock it out---so simple!! 

Here's what I made today....

CUPCAKES stands for: Children Using Practical Communication And Keeping Everything Safe! 

The ones I made for my students have their names on them under the cupcake. If you'd like to grab this FREEBIE, click on the photo! They go great with my other Sweet Shop Theme in my TN shop.

I also made this Money & Notes Pocket label for inside the CUPCAKES Folder. The label goes on the zipper pocket with the clear window. No more missing lunch money, popcorn money, book orders, or notes from parents. It's in one safe place, rather than jiggling around the bottom of a backpack! Want this label, too? Just click the photo--it's FREE! 

Lastly, here's the writing folder label. All the labels are made for Avery Shipping labels 58164. 

I hope you get a chance to design some great stuff on the Avery Design and Print Online site. 

It's a great teacher's helper!!!! 

It's CrUnCh TIME!

Does anyone else feel like it's CrUnCh TIME?! I know some of you bloggers out in GA, FL, and even Texas are just about ready to start school any day now---if you haven't already! I still have until after Labor Day, but am suddenly feeling like it's crunch time!

I've spent quite a few hours in my room already....but having moved to a new building, and new grade level, I was feeling a little panicked. In order to focus on the curriculum, I really wanted to have my room in order. Because, you know....as the saying goes....

Source: someecards.com via Keri on Pinterest

I'll be sure to get some pictures up of my classroom soon! I'm not a big fan of work in progress pictures....so I will post when everything is done (or at least will look done to anyone besides me!) I think I'm really going to enjoy my new room this year....and with all the Pinteresting ideas, TpT purchases, crafts, and the like that has consumed me this summwe, it should be a fun, bright, cheerful place for me and my new first grade friends!

But, speaking of CrUnCh TIME....here's some schedule cards that I made to keep track of our daily schedule. I have to say that I am pretty good about keeping to the schedule in my lesson plans, especially if I post it for the kids to see. And while I can be flexible whenever needed, a good schedule will keep our day running smooth and with focus.

These schedule cards do not have cute little pictures on them for emergent readers....but rather I wanted the focus to be on the word, and the TIME! I notice that the Common Core doesn't hit time too much, and I don't really like when concepts are covered in a unit and then not revisited. We all know that learning needs to be circular---come back and re-visit skills and concepts often. Use it or lose it, right?!

By including working with time at Calendar/group using Every Day Counts math, and with our daily schedule cards, we will be off to a good start practicing telling time each day!

Click the picture below to grab your copy in my Teacher's Notebook Store.

I've also recently added quick daily reading practice for students!

Are you a first grade teacher that uses Harcourt Trophies?  Click HERE to see how I've aligned it!

New Look!

Everyone needs a new look now and again....and since there are new changes/adventures coming for me this year, I decided to change this blog, AND my classroom blog geared toward the students/families that I work with!

So---CHEERS to what's to come in the 2012-2013 school year!! I am loving this fresh new look!

Weekend DIY stuff...

Surely you've seen the crate seats posted all over Pinterest. 

So have I, and I finally got around to making some this past weekend!! 

These will be so great at school. Can't wait! 

AND---I found this great idea shown below on... 

Seriously, Marsha at A Differentiated Kdg. has so many great ideas and printables!! I'm sure you already follow her blog, but if you haven't....go check it out. You won't want to miss it! 

Recently, she had a post about listening center organization---and I am totally doing it! 

You can see her post HERE. 

She is putting her Daily 5 listening to reading materials in a tote bag....the book(s), CD players, and pencils. Each bag is numbered 1-6, and includes these cute little tags she made for the Daily 5 Listening to Reading rules and expectations....

These are the bags I found ay Walmart. They were in a 3-pack for $6.00. Score! Pretty good deal, I thought. The picture doesn't show how bright the colors are, but they really are! 

You can download and print/laminate/cut the tags.

Stick them on a binder ring (or shower curtain hooks...because really, I happened to have a spare pack at home. Why the heck not use 'em?!)

And there ya have it....everything in one spot. Now I just have to remember to get some 3M hooks to stick to my wall for the totes to hang on. 

She also posted some leveled response sheets to go with the listening station stuff. 

And DONE! Didn't know I needed these bags until I saw it on Marsha's blog....and had to have it for obvious reasons! It took no time at all to get these bags ready. That's my kind of project! 

Grid Games & A Manic Monday FREEBIE!

Today's Freebie: GRID GAMES!

It's nearly the beginning of the school year, and for you PreK-K teachers like me, don't you think it's amazing how we seem to forget just how little the children are in those first few weeks (okay, MONTHS) of school?! They come from all walks of life, all sorts of backgrounds and experiences...including no experiences, for some of them! 

So...let's bring them in, put them in a room full of 16, 18, 20+ other children their age and begin to form  a cozy little family! HA! Easier said than done, sometimes. 

There are a million little details, activities, games, and ice breakers that you will no doubt implement in order for you to get to know your students, and for them to get to know one another. One (of many) of my favorite ways to get children working together is to sit down and play a little grid game. If you are looking for a great small group activity in the beginning of the year, grid games are great for your youngest and most inexperienced students - AND play can be modified to meet the levels of your higher learners. As the year progresses, your students will be able to play these grid games in a center, at an independent station, in pairs, or other small groups. 

What is a Grid Game?

A grid game teach is a type of board game that teaches one to one correspondence, counting, numeral identification, and even work on addition. To play a grid game, children roll a game die, identify the numeral (or count the dots) and count out that amount of manipulatives. Each manipulative is placed over one picture in the grid. Each player gets their own grid mat. Children play until the whole grid is full. The first person to fill their grid wins/that round is complete. Continue play as long as time/interest allows.

Why Grid Games?Board games are the original turn-taking games, and a grid game is one form of a board game. They can be played without having to remember a lot of rules, they are fairly fast paced, and it does not take long to wait for your turn to come back around----perfect for little ones learning to take turns and build patience.

Go ahead and grab your grid game freebie here! I hope you give them a try if you haven't yet used them with your students. If you are familiar...you know kids love these games, and it's nice to have different game mats to play with!   

Your students can practice counting, 1:1, number recognition, addition, and taking turns with this fun grid game!  There are 5 game mats with 10-frames & 5 game mats with 20-frames to use with your students' various abiltiies/levels.

These are great for a small group/center activity. Laminate and cut out game mats.

What you need: Printable game mats & 1-2 dice (either with dots or numbers). That's it! With the 10 frames, students will only need 1 dice; with the 20 frames, students can roll 2 dice and add them together if you choose.

Cover the spaces with glass stones, pom poms---anything small enough to fit inside each box. First person to fill up their grid, wins! Play again and again as long as time allows! :)  

Kindergarten Concepts & A Freebie!

Hey all! This is Jessica from Under the Alphabet Tree! 

I am so excited to be blog swapping with Keri today!

Today I'm going to be sharing with you an idea I got from my co-worker, Lisa! I was lucky enough to get new tables in my classroom my 2nd year of teaching! I started naming my tables by coins because my students had such a hard time with identifying coins. But since that is not a kindergarten standard anymore, I wanted to make some new signs that I can change out through the year to help reinforce some big standards that my kiddos NEED to have mastered before 1st grade!

The table signs are a great tool to help teach kindergarten skills in every day situations! These will be great in calling by tables to come to the carpet, to line up, to earn points for following directions or to call attention when need be! These can be switched out easily if you hang them from some fishing wire and a paper clip! I will slip mine into a sheet protector and hang from the paperclip... like pictured here:

They can easily be switched out through the year! The barrel of monkeys you see pictures above were used to reward tables who were following directions as a whole! When they earned 5 monkeys, they got a prize from the treasure box. But when you download my freebie, be sure to check out the last few pages because I created some small pictures that match the table signs. You can tape them on your whiteboard, and mark the tables with tally marks as they are modeling good behavior! =)

Some rewards you could use could be:

5-10 minutes of free play at the end of the day
First dibs on computers
Read with a friend
Prize from treasure box
Stickers
New, fun pencil and more!!!

I am sharing my table signs FOR FREE with you and in return I hope you follow my blog! I post freebies all the time! 

Table Signs

I also just opened my TPT store recently! I just posted my student's organizational S.T.A.R. binders last night, so be sure to check them out!

Now, if you have any other ideas of how my signs can be used, please be sure to share by commenting! And if you have any other suggestions on skills that can taught towards the end of the year, be sure to let me know! I always welcome suggestions!

Thanks so much Keri for letting me post on your blog!

Sincerely,

Jessica

Volunteers in the Classroom & A Freebie

 I always need a helping hand. Don't you?! However, we don't always want lots of helping hands IN the classroom all the time. It's like taking your 2 year old to your classroom to get some work done on the weekend. Work is the last thing that happens! Anyway, here are a few of my tips & tricks for incorporating helping hands in (or out!) of your classroom, that will hopefully help you kick off the beginning of your school year!

For me, one of the most important beginning of the year MUST-DO's is figure out a way to gain parent support and participation---volunteering! In my school and classroom, there are a variety of ways for parents to volunteer. 

Here's a few ways that volunteering can happen. You might be familiar with....

1. In the classroom - parties, events, literacy stations, etc.

2. Field trips

3. Library

4. Mentoring

5. Donating supplies

Additionally, there are other ways that parents can volunteer. When you are a busy teacher/mother/wife/team parent/committee member, etc. you have to pull out all the creative stops to get parents on your team and assisting you throughout the year. How can you not? You simply cannot do it all---though we do try all too often! Feel free to delegate some things to ready and willing parents. 

At the beginning of the year, at open house, or on the first day, I send home a volunteer "Help Wanted" form. You can get it HERE. I explain to parents that I simply want them to fill it out and return it---even if they do not think they can volunteer. Something might come up during the year---a day off, a great field trip, a special project that I might need their help with....you just never know! 

Some parents work full time and think that they do not have time during the school day to volunteer, which is completely understandable. I've seen more than my fair share of mothers whose first born is entering my classroom and a school setting for the first time and it breaks their heart that they think they are going to miss out on being able to help with school related things. For this, I have a solution: help from home! 

Helping from home is a great way for working parents, stay-at-home parents with younger children, or parents with no vehicle/transportation, for example. I love being able to find a trustworthy mom/dad that I can send home a bundle of laminated items, a quick note that says when I need it back, and a gallon size ziplock bag to return in all! It's a big step being able to let it leave your hands and hope you get your beloved laminated items back---but once you find just the right person...you will never regret it! Tell parents just tuck the kids in bed and cut away while watching their favorite TV shows---just like we do! :) 

You can also have parents help from home by: 

• Stapling reproducible books
• Sawing full length pencils in 1/2 to golf pencil size (You know there's a handy dad in the group somewhere!)
• Cutting dry erase boards out of shower board if you are making a classroom set
• Making slanted dry erase boards out of shower board & PVC pipe
• Packaging up materials for individual students for crafts/projects---so that each students has all necessary pieces in one spot. 

And lastly....if you still have a FREE CHOICE dramatic play time (I really hope you do!), consider inviting/scheduling a parent to come for that time of day (OCCASIONALLY!). Have a specific job/plan for them while they are there. For instance, you have a group of students that love the block area, and choose to go there all the time. They love the matchbox cars and blocks---but you haven't yet seen them take it to the next level and build ramps. Bring in a dad who might enjoy spending some time in the block area, getting down on the floor, making car noises, and showing that group of students how to build ramps, ask questions, predict, create, test, and re-create. 

Bottom line...KNOW your students' parents just as well as you know your students! Know their careers, interests, hobbies, talents, schedules and levels of willingness to participate and volunteer in whatever form! Utilize them in your classroom or for your classroom needs in any way that benefits you, and is a win-win for everyone! 

I hope this helps kick start welcoming parents into your classroom! Any way that we can help parents get involved and stay involved is welcomed for the greater good of our little learners!

I'm curious....how DO YOU gain parent support and volunteers? Any tips & tricks for me? Leave me a comment; I'd love to hear from you!

Banners, Banner, Everywhere!

I just got with with a custom order for Kari, a 7th grade math teacher! 

These were just too cute, and I had to share! 

This one says: Smartie Pants   :) 

This one says: Super Stars   :) 

I had a lot of fun making them, and I am certain they will go great with her black, red, and white color scheme! It's little things like this that make our classrooms not only cute, but inviting and aesthetically appealing to both the teacher and the students who look at the same walls for 180-something days each year. 

Way to go, Kari, for making your students' learning environment a visually appealing place to be! 

Christmas in July!

It's like Christmas in July! I know everyone is gearing up for back to school---and the cash and credit cards and getting extra exercise in the process. I heard something on TV last week that has stuck with me. It was a commercial of some sort, and a teacher was referencing how much money she spent on her own classroom. But, then she said:

"I may be depleting my future, but I am not depleting the future of our children."

Profound right? And exactly how we feel! We rarely stop to think twice about how much money we spend on our classroom and students because it's for the best! So, as you are shopping like crazy for your back to school supplies, enjoy all of these freebies from Manic Monday---think of it like Christmas---in July...and all year 'round!

Merry Christmas! 

Not Rushing Summer, But....

I've got some great new Christmas clip art----SO CUTE!

Here's one little irresistible guy...

So tell me, what concepts do you typically teach in

 December and January?

 Please leave a comment and let me know! :)