Five for Friday: Fraturday Style

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday (or Fraturday in my case).

Saying Good-bye to Summer!

 

Last weekend, we were able to get out for one more camping, hiking, and dirt biking adventure. I can't believe that October and fall are already here.

 

Miley had a blast! She wishes we went camping and hiking every weekend.

I Found Some Word Work Inspiration

 

I found these amazing dice at the Dollar Tree. I love the sight word dice and had to stop myself from going overboard and buying one set for every kiddo. I settled for 2 of each of the sight word dice sets and 1 of the math sets. When I got home, I was inspired to make Roll and Write mats to go with the dice. Then I thought, why not make a word work set for others to use?!

Bam! Roll and Write Sight Word Addition is Born!

 

Here is an example of a station put together. I love that Roll and Write is so low maintenance. Click here to get yourself a copy.

Roll and Write: Color Word Freebie

 

After I made the Roll and Write Sight Word Addition, I was inspired to make a Roll and Write Color Word Freebie. Click here to get yourself a copy. :)

Speaking of Color Words

 

The time has come for me to switch my sensory table to a more fall theme but I wanted to show you what our current table looked like before I switched it out.

I used shredded black butcher paper for the filling and then added/buried colored items. The kiddos have to use the thongs to pick out the items in the paper and put them in the appropriate bucket. The wonderful cards and color labels came from Marsha McGuire and her Back to School Math Stations. I love all of her kindergarten math and literacy station ideas.

Teaching Ways to Say You're Sorry

 

My little ducks got in a little trouble for not being kind at recess yesterday, so when got back to class, we had to have a discussion about playground rules. I love having my kiddos write letters of apology. It helps teach them responsibility but also encourages them to vocalize their actions and discuss the appropriate behavior.

Plus look at these names! We are getting better at the writing our names with a capital letter and lowercase letters.

Enjoy the rest of your fantastic fall weekend and be sure to stop by and visit all of the wonderful bloggers linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching.



Five for Friday: Spetember 6th

Happy Weekend Everyone! I am linking up with Doodles Bugs Teaching for another installment of Five for Friday!

 

Be sure to stop by an get a peek at everyone's week. :)

 

1. Someone is a Genius!

 I found this on the kindergarten math book that I inherited. So genius! No more bindings that come unraveled. It looks like the creator just hot glued the bead in place at the end. When I find out who did this, I will be shaking their hand.

 

2. Just had a good laugh at myself.

Apparently, I am a subconsciously a little more wiped out this week than I thought. I was just cleaning my kitchen counters and realized that I have had my eye drops sitting by my coffee maker all week. Ha! Hmmm...that's one way to get a refreshed morning look. I am just going to leave them. It seems like a legitimate plan. :)


3. Just when I thought I was done laughing at myself!

 

I would like to start by saying that I love my calendar. I was so fortunate to have inherited a homemade calendar set from a former teacher. She made all of the months of the year letters different to match the month (these ones are made out of wallpaper) and each month, the date cards are different picture patterns. Love it!

 

Now here is where I can't believe that myself and all of the adults that has been in my room this week. I was off by one day on the date this week, THE ENTRIE WEEK! Oh my! I'll just quickly change it Monday and cross my fingers that no one notices.

 

4. For the Love of Pete

I had an unfortunate/fortunate event happen this last week. I was out of town last Friday and had requested one of my favorite subs for the day. Upon arrival, our school realized that 2 other teachers didn't have subs so they pulled mine for another classroom. Here is me grinding my teeth. They then split my kiddos with the other 2 kindergarten classrooms. Let's be fair....... at first I was very upset understatement because of all of the planning, the inconvenience to my coteachers, and to my kiddos but now I think it is a blessing. Let me tell you why, I planned for the sub to teach Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes sub plans by Peace, Love, and Learning. They are very thoughtfully done, too fun, and free! Since my sub was pulled though, I got to teach about Pete. Yay me! I love me some Pete!

The kiddos really liked making a Pete book of their own, and we practiced tying our own shoes after matching up the shape shoes.

Here's our interactive writing of labeling the parts of Pete. The kiddos loved sharing the pen and we will be doing much more activities like this. Also, if you have never seen Mr. Eric read/sing this story, I highly recommend that you You Tube it.

 

5. Quick Assessment for the Start of the Year



I love having a sign in during Back to School Night! Just looking at their handwriting tells you so much about a child and where they are in their learning. With a quick glance, I can tell who is able to write their name without assistance. Who knows their capital and lowercase letters and how to form them. It also tells me how the students fine motor skills are.

I also then have them sign in every morning. It is amazing to see how much they grow in a short amount of time.

Thanks for stopping by! Have an amazing weekend!

Five for Friday: August 16th

I am linking up again with Doodle Bus for Five for Friday. I actually need to be saying Five for Fraturday! Our building had Back to School Night last night and after it was over, I just wanted to crawl into bed and snooze. Any hoo! Here are my Five for the week.

1. Remembering How Far You've Come

I found myself a little frustrated that my classroom still wasn't exactly the way I wanted it to be. I didn't have every decoration up or have all of my plans already printed, copied, and ready to go. I was starting to make copious list of what need to be done and then I said to myself, "Self, you need to calm down. Look how far you've come." I needed to remind myself that my room needs to be ready for kids but decorations do not have to be perfect for the first day. I thought I'd show a little bit of where I've come and where I am now.

My new room after my kiddos helped me move. Don't worry I got everything put away and I talk more about that organizing adventure here.
 

What my room looked liked when I came back in last week.

 

This is a view of my front boards. I still need to finish the calendar and add my schedule but I don't have a class until Thursday. Lots of time.

 

View of my kids working space and back counter. Very sterile currently but I am going to add some fun borders and a lantern hungry caterpillar is going to go above the cabinets.

View of my library, listening center, and sensory table. We are out of laminate right now so I have to wait to laminate my cute book basket labels and lots of other things. Oh well...just roll with it!

 

View from my kiddos backpack hooks. I have a rug on order! So excited.

2. Kindergarten Schedule

Our kindergarten schedule this year is a little different than it has been in years past. This year we are testing kiddos on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Each family has a 20 minute block. This allows us time to test and then go over kindergarten expectations and answer any questions.

Then on Thursday, I have the top half of my class comes to school for the whole day and on Friday, have the bottom half of my class comes for a whole day. With this format you can really teach all of those important skills of how we use the bathroom and wash hands, how we get our lunch, and how we go home. Plus with the smaller groups, kiddos get to know you better and begin feel comfortable quicker.

On Monday, I will then have my whole class all together. This will be where the real fun begins.

3. Daily Schedule

Here is a look of what I am thinking about for my daily schedule once we get the ball rolling.

We are also going to adding music into our day once a week but I'm not sure where that will go.

4. Mike Wazkowski

I was recently able to go back to Idaho to visit some of my favorite people. While I was there, I couldn't help but stop and see what the landscapers at Community Park put up this year. Every year they make a character out of the flowers. They have done the Cat in the Hat, Shrek, and this year is Mike Wazkowski from Monsters Inc.
 

Super amazing! You can't tell by the picture but down the side of the garden is his name, Mike in flowers. Too clever!

5. Teachers Pay Teachers Sale

Teachers Pay Teachers is having a big sale on Monday and Tuesday so be sure to check in and get stocked up for the school year. I will have all of my items on sale as well so be sure to stop by!

 

Thanks for swinging by and be sure to check out all of the fabulous teachers linking up with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday!