I'm off to plan for summer school, and organize some of my classroom, pictures to come!
Enjoy the sunshine!
P.S.
If you're here, follow me!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Daily 5 Starter Kit
So I, like all my other teachers out there, keep thinking about all the changes and exciting things I want to do for next year. I introduced Daily 5 during the last month of school and I am so excited to begin next year with some new ideas, especially with the blogging world on my side! I put together a "starter kit." Anyone who has done Daily 5 knows that it takes a lot of prep to start and after that, it is smooth sailing. I put together the "start" part because that is the most fun for me! One of my colleagues said she is interested in doing Daily 5 so she came into my classroom to see how I run things and became more excited to see it in action. She also said that she is just not good at making all the "cute stuff," well Amy, problem solved! I am also working on BUILD (spin on Daily 5 for math) so I'll, hopefully, be posting more about that soon. For now, here it is! The starter kit...
I'm off to plan for summer school, and organize some of my classroom, pictures to come!
Enjoy the sunshine!
P.S.
If you're here, follow me!
I'm off to plan for summer school, and organize some of my classroom, pictures to come!
Enjoy the sunshine!
P.S.
If you're here, follow me!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Winner! Winner! And other things...
I have had an amazing week! This is the first time I have been able to sit down at my computer for longer than 10 minutes. I feel so left out! Let me give you the rundown of my week...
Monday a Summer school meeting. Yes, I am teaching summer school but not to worry... I have inspiration (more to come). Tuesday was my birthday so, dinner with the fam and back home to work on summer school madness. Wednesday was more summer school work and PACKING. Pack. Pack. Pack. Thursday was report card day, finish up those grades and start those comments and my sister invited me to her place for dinner, how could I say no? Friday was the last day of school. Wait, what?! The last day of school! Woopdy, Woop! But how did it sneak up on me!? I have been so busy preparing for summer school and packing up my classroom that the last day of school did not get the full attention and respect that it deserved. I made all of my students gifts (quickly on Friday morning): a handwritten note, a penny & a kiss (read my freebie post for more info), a pencil and a book. My students were such sweethearts this year. I cannot believe it is all over. *Sigh* I am really going to miss them! *Sigh* Now to start my summer! Well, kinda, I can start when I finish my summer school curriculum to start in July, finish my report card comments and finish packing up my classroom. But after all that, summer here I come! lol. Man, have I had a week!
Speaking of summer school... I taught summer school last year and boy, it was a hot mess! We have a K-4 group and a 5-8 group. The K-4 group is broken up into 4 groups 2 K-1 groups and 2 2-4 groups. Still with me? Well, they rotate between 4 classes and basically, I teach to all the kiddos in K-4. Can you imagine my panic? I teach kindergarten, what do I do with these "big kids!?" I thought I had it all figured out last year but I WAS WRONG. Don't get it too twisted, they all did a great job hanging in there with me and I had a great plan for each day, but it was not what I would want to do again. So I am jumping in again but this time with a better plan. I have to think about all those grade levels, all my students with special needs and all of my students who are below grade level. I have to think about how to organize it all, how to get to each student, and how to make it fun, I mean, it is summer! SO what should I do???? I was discussing with my co-teacher and since I am a Daily5 maniac, she simply said, "Do Daily 5 Math." DUH! GENIUS! PINTEREST, HERE I COME!
Here is my inspiration for summer school... (click on the picture to take you to my pin & the link)
What to do for inclusion?
That one is easy, make sure every student has a choice of activity at their level, to work on their goals. Since not all students will be able to access the computers or use the mouse, using the iPods with math games will work for some students. While others will have their choice of "Interactive" games to play.
I am hoping that the plan will work out. I am starting to prepare my materials and I'm crossing my fingers, toes, arms, eyes and legs that I don't lose my mind! Any tips for me? Please help out! =)
Monday a Summer school meeting. Yes, I am teaching summer school but not to worry... I have inspiration (more to come). Tuesday was my birthday so, dinner with the fam and back home to work on summer school madness. Wednesday was more summer school work and PACKING. Pack. Pack. Pack. Thursday was report card day, finish up those grades and start those comments and my sister invited me to her place for dinner, how could I say no? Friday was the last day of school. Wait, what?! The last day of school! Woopdy, Woop! But how did it sneak up on me!? I have been so busy preparing for summer school and packing up my classroom that the last day of school did not get the full attention and respect that it deserved. I made all of my students gifts (quickly on Friday morning): a handwritten note, a penny & a kiss (read my freebie post for more info), a pencil and a book. My students were such sweethearts this year. I cannot believe it is all over. *Sigh* I am really going to miss them! *Sigh* Now to start my summer! Well, kinda, I can start when I finish my summer school curriculum to start in July, finish my report card comments and finish packing up my classroom. But after all that, summer here I come! lol. Man, have I had a week!
Speaking of summer school... I taught summer school last year and boy, it was a hot mess! We have a K-4 group and a 5-8 group. The K-4 group is broken up into 4 groups 2 K-1 groups and 2 2-4 groups. Still with me? Well, they rotate between 4 classes and basically, I teach to all the kiddos in K-4. Can you imagine my panic? I teach kindergarten, what do I do with these "big kids!?" I thought I had it all figured out last year but I WAS WRONG. Don't get it too twisted, they all did a great job hanging in there with me and I had a great plan for each day, but it was not what I would want to do again. So I am jumping in again but this time with a better plan. I have to think about all those grade levels, all my students with special needs and all of my students who are below grade level. I have to think about how to organize it all, how to get to each student, and how to make it fun, I mean, it is summer! SO what should I do???? I was discussing with my co-teacher and since I am a Daily5 maniac, she simply said, "Do Daily 5 Math." DUH! GENIUS! PINTEREST, HERE I COME!
Here is my inspiration for summer school... (click on the picture to take you to my pin & the link)
BUILD stands for: Buddy Games, Using Manipulatives, Independent Work, Learning Numbers, Doing Math.
I am changing the I from Independent Work to Interactive Math. We have a subscription to a great math site IXL and I may do XtraMath.com which is free. But since I'll have different grade levels, the site will give them their independent practice without having to make copies & figure out what they can do.
What to do for inclusion?
That one is easy, make sure every student has a choice of activity at their level, to work on their goals. Since not all students will be able to access the computers or use the mouse, using the iPods with math games will work for some students. While others will have their choice of "Interactive" games to play.
I am hoping that the plan will work out. I am starting to prepare my materials and I'm crossing my fingers, toes, arms, eyes and legs that I don't lose my mind! Any tips for me? Please help out! =)
Lastly, we have a WINNER!
APRIL WOLFE FROM Wolfelicious
won a $10 TPT giftcard for joining my BirthdaySchmirthdayGiveaway!
thank you all for participating... another one will come very soon...
Happy Sunday!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Birthday Schmirthday Giveaway!
It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to! For some reason, this year I am not so excited about my birthday. My wonderfully wonderful husband threw me a surprise party on Saturday with my family and, while I was super excited, I cried because I just don't want it to be my birthday yet! I am not so old but not so young and I just don't wanna grow up yet! I decided to cheer myself up with a giveaway! Here it is... the 1st Annual...
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sunday, June 3, 2012
10 Followers and a Freebie!
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO! 10 Followers! You can't see me but I am doing a happy dance! I know this doesn't mean much to those of you who have thousands of followers (as you should), but I am over the moon that there are people out there who love blogging and blog stalking as much as me! If you're here... follow me, too!!!
For my new followers, I have a freebie!
While some of you are kicking your feet up and enjoying your summer vacation, I still have 1 more week with my kinder kiddos. For my last day of school, I will be making my kiddos some cookies with a cute "you are a smart cookie" label. I will also read Miss Bindergarten Says Goodbye to Kindergarten. This book is the cutest! I'm sure all of my fellow Kindergarten teachers have all heard of Miss Bindergarten.
In this book, she goes through the day and cleans up the classroom saying goodbye to each of her students. At the end, she gives them all a goodbye gift, "A penny for success to come, a kiss to know you'll be missed." So precious, right?
I have made a label/card for my students to give them each a penny and a kiss. I plan to type each of their names in it and write a special note to each of them on the back. I have already started to think of the special messages I want to give to each of them. I really am going to miss this class!
Here is my template for the taking...
On another note, I am reading all kinds of posts about classroom management and I'd like to post my ideas soon. I know that many of you are like me and the "teacher brain" never turns off! I, too, am thinking of how to organize, rearrange and revamp my classroom! Especially with my new co-teacher moving her desk in to my teeny-tiny classroom (pictures to come). Phew! I have a lot to work to do and I LOVE IT!
Come back soon!
For my new followers, I have a freebie!
While some of you are kicking your feet up and enjoying your summer vacation, I still have 1 more week with my kinder kiddos. For my last day of school, I will be making my kiddos some cookies with a cute "you are a smart cookie" label. I will also read Miss Bindergarten Says Goodbye to Kindergarten. This book is the cutest! I'm sure all of my fellow Kindergarten teachers have all heard of Miss Bindergarten.
In this book, she goes through the day and cleans up the classroom saying goodbye to each of her students. At the end, she gives them all a goodbye gift, "A penny for success to come, a kiss to know you'll be missed." So precious, right?
I have made a label/card for my students to give them each a penny and a kiss. I plan to type each of their names in it and write a special note to each of them on the back. I have already started to think of the special messages I want to give to each of them. I really am going to miss this class!
Here is my template for the taking...
On another note, I am reading all kinds of posts about classroom management and I'd like to post my ideas soon. I know that many of you are like me and the "teacher brain" never turns off! I, too, am thinking of how to organize, rearrange and revamp my classroom! Especially with my new co-teacher moving her desk in to my teeny-tiny classroom (pictures to come). Phew! I have a lot to work to do and I LOVE IT!
Come back soon!
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