Gearing Up for the new school year!

Here we are....it's finally summer! I might say how much I am looking forward to a break, but the truth is, I spend a great majority of my summer prepping for the upcoming school year. I know you do, too! I've been pinning, blog stalking, thinking, thinking, thinking, organizing, and making some new activities for my centers. I'm not finding as much time for making things as I want to, but summer is just getting started....and in between work, I'm also being the #1 cheerleader for my kids at basketball camp, tennis camp, baseball practice/games & playing lifeguard in the backyard pool. Not to mention, the cleaning lady and in-home chef never show up----so, I'm on those duties as well!

I'm also trying to read a bazillion Jodi Picoult books since I happened to order a bunch. How can I resist---shipping is free----love me some Amazon Prime! And where do I fit it workouts? Oh, anywhere between 9-11pm. It's amazing how much stuff you can actually fit in a day!! LOVE IT!

As I'm home with my 3 kiddos this summer....we are often cleaning, organizing, and pitching items out of their rooms, closets, and toy boxes. This often leads to another project, and another, and another. And then this happens...

Agreed? Do you all do the same?!?!?! 

So while I'm boxing up more items from around the house that will eventually make their way to the classroom, take a gander at my new math and literacy pack available on TpT. It's 87 pages consisting of 6 Lang. Arts activities and 5 Math activities. It'd be great for incoming first graders or end of the year Kindergarteners. 

CLICK HERE TO GRAB THIS MATH AND LIT PACK! 

Have fun thinking about the new school year----because I know you can't resist!!! 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Firefighter-Frenzy-Math-Literacy-Activities-742867

Writing Conferences

I absolutely love teaching writing! My class this year has really seemed to enjoy writing right along with me. We've done so many great projects and activities together this year, and today, we held one of our last big writing conferences during Daily 5. Technically, mine is Daily 6....but I only tweaked it to work for me.

Anyway, at the beginning of the year, they wrote about "Sweet Summertime"....a topic that led to something they did over summer break. This week, we wrote about "In the Summer"....something they like to do in the summer. Today, we took an opportunity during Daily 6 to compare those two writings and reflect on their individual growth as a writer. During each conference, we also looked at the "In the Summer" writing and worked on the rubric together. *I have to give a shout out to Rachelle @ whatthetacherwants.blogspot.com for her FREE writing prompts and her kid-friendly rubric. I love it!

I love that this planned conference time turned into spontaneous video making of some of the students' reflections. My iPad was sitting on the table with us, and one child asked to make a video of his conference. Soon....many students were asking! So, I thought, why not?! For one, they love seeing themselves on video, and secondly---what a great opportunity for me to learn from our conferencing and do better myself! This was such an awesome moment in our day today. I loved seeing them laugh at their writing from September, and marvel at how far they really have come!

Here's a few of the conferences we caught on video. There are a variety of students here---some who excel in writing, some who are shy, some who would never want to speak on camera before, and some who have come from not being able to compose one sentence to writing nearly on grade level, and legibly! Everyone has made growth, and I couldn't be more proud! It's inspiring me to search for more ways that writing conferences are held with such young writers. If anyone out there has something to share, please do!

At the beginning of the year, this child (above) said something I hope to never forget. It was the first time we were doing author's chair, and he started out reading very strong, but he quickly trailed off----sweating, red cheeked, shaky voice, trembling hands, and on the verge of tears. He looked at me with great fear and said: "Mrs. Powell, I'm trying really hard by I just don't think I can do this because it scares my heart." 

Ohmyword! Heartbroken. I felt so bad for him that day, it made me want to grab a tissue. But here he is at the end of the year, asking to make videos of his writing conference, reading in the author's chair voluntarily, blogging, and being an all around leader and role model. He's grown so much, and I am so proud of him! 

There are a handful of video here, but each one is great (I think) because they are being so reflective and honest about their writing abilities and their growth over the school year. I could not have been this tuned in with my writing abilities when I was 6 or 7 years old....and I am in awe of them! 

Here's one more video. It's super cute how giggly she gets over her beginning of the year writing. I couldn't insert the video though, so you'll have to click the link. Eh, technology! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nieuCyYmA20

Taking the 'Common' out of Common Core

The common core is everywhere! And in some States, it's not....anymore. For those of us that are still driven by the Common Core, posting those "I can" statements daily/weekly/permanently throughout our classrooms....how do you find ways to keep your classroom creative, fun, & hands-on, all while meeting those Common Core objectives?

Here's a few things that we've recently done in my classroom to keep our learning fun, fresh, and engaging! I thought I had a picture of this....but I can't seem to find it amongst the bazillion photos in my camera roll. So, imagine this.....a first grade classroom with a sand table? Yep--that's us! We often use it for math. Actually, it's not a sand table....but sand totes (the plastic rubbermaid ones). Since we live in Michigan where it still feels like the Arctic....we have laminated missing addend snowflakes buried in the sand. We call it Blizzard Beach. It's funny that none of my students found the mix of beach, summer, winter, & snow items all mixed together a bit odd----that's Michigan for ya! But it keeps sensory play in my classroom at the same time my students find missing addends. Using different totes for various levels of missing addend work keeps that station FUN & differentiated. I really need to grab a picture of that, but in the mean time, use your mental images, and look HERE.

Recently, it was the 120th day of school for my students. 1.NBT.1 says that students should count to 120 starting at any number less than 120. In this range, read and write numerals and represent a number of objects with a written numeral. So that we did! Not that we haven't been working on it all year----but because we HAVE been working so hard, we chose the 120th day to celebrate it!

We decorated our entrance to our classroom....and just in case anyone questioned the hustle & bustle, the giggles galore, and the multiple times the firsties broke out in tune ("Red Solo Cup....I fill you up..")

 Go ahead, I'll wait while you sing along...

....but just in case anyone questioned our day, I went ahead and posted my 1.NBT.1 objective right on our sign! 

Students decorated their own T-shirts----some were tallied, BeJewled, covered in buttons, painted, and more! Not one shirt was the same!

 And here.....you'll understand why Toby Keith is considering letting us cover his Kids Bop version of Red Solo Cup (wink, wink). There were multiple structures built throughout the day with 120 Red Solo cups. Cooperative learning, planning, and creating....I loved listening to their conversations, compromises, ideas, and minds at work!

Here's one child enjoying 120's day to the fullest....crown, 120 apple jack necklace, 120 pom-pom shirt....what's not to love about 1.NBT.1?! 

1.NBT.1 also helped my students satisfy their tastebuds by counting out 12 groups of 10 snack items to contribute to a trail mix. See? The Common Core is Y-U-M-M-Y! 

(Click the photo of the smarties above to get your own 1st Grade 120 Day fun!)

At this point in the year, if you are like me, you are finding the Common Core just another 'chore'. And when something becomes a little too chore-like....it means we need to spice it up! What fun ways do you put the paper/pencils down in order to take the 'Common' out of Common Core? 

@MiTeacherGirl

Blog Sabbatical Over! #INSPIRED!

It seems as if this year has thrown me for a bit of a loop----but in a great way! I haven't been so great about blogging since, well, November....because I have been so busy diving in and trying to be the the best I can be at my new grade level. Something had to give for awhile, and it happened to be blogging. So, to say the least, it's been a long while since I've been in the blogging world, but I just returned from the MACUL conference for 2 full days and am feeling more inspired and motivated than ever!

I was able to attend this conference by invitation with 11 of my K-12 colleagues from my district! I was so honored to attend and we had a blast! I attended several amazing sessions and was a little star struck by some of my favorite people on Twitter/blogs. Insert name dropping: Kevin HoneyCutt, Adam Bellow, Erin Klein, Kim Powell - to name a few! How about any of you? Did I pass you in the halls? Were we in the same sessions together?! I'd love to hear from you if you were there! 

Not only did I hear some very inspiring words, I learned SO much from my sessions. As I dive into some projects, explore some of the fabulous apps, and implement all of the innovative ideas and techniques, I will roll those out into my blog to share with you! The overall theme that I noticed is that classrooms have already, or are working toward, putting a device in each child's hand in the classroom. Some of the buzzwords I heard repeatedly? iPads, interactive whiteboards, apps, technology bond, and 1:1 classrooms. I can't tell you how many times I heard 1:1, 1:1, 1:1. JEALOUS!.... and motivated to see if I can work toward that goal. Donor Choose project submitted less than 24 hours post conference? CHECK! Pre-Grant Writing thinking and searching....CHECK! I can so vividly see how I would integrate iPads into all areas of my instruction, especially - and not limited to - Daily 5! If my students had their own iPad on a daily basis----oh, the possibilities!! 

Clearly, technology and devices in classrooms is quickly becoming ever popular, and necessary. It's the new paper/pencil, it's innovative, IT'S. THEIR. WORLD!!!! Currently, my students have better technology at home than they do in our school/my classroom. And some don't have technology at all---and I don't have much to offer them. That's so backwards! It is my job, my mission, and my responsibility to provide them with cutting edge projects, time to explore, learn, create, and publish. As Adam Bellow so wisely noted, we are currently preparing our students for the 22 century and occupations that don't yet exist! The longer I don't have technology & the longer my school district doesn't have this technology, the less prepared our students will be for the real world, for their world, for the technology driven world. 

I cannot wait to dive in to all the knowledge and put all this excitement to good use! In the meantime...

I'm curious, how many of you have 1:1 classrooms, use kindles, use hand-held interactive whiteboard tablets, have 7+ iPads? Tell me, I'd love to hear from you about what technology you have available in your classroom! 

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