I hope everyone had a great Christmas and is enjoying their break! I'm trying to get caught up on a few things. Can't seem to find time while I am working during the week. I've added a Thanksgiving page that tells how to make a no sew Pilgrim hat, bonnet, and collar. I hope to add Christmas stuff soon also. Enjoy!!    

The Discipline Dozen and Bucket Fillers

I'm trying to update a few of my pages of things we've been working on the past few weeks. I've updated the Back to School page as well as my Colors page. Here is a picture of the entire Discipline Dozen set that is on my TPT store. I've linked a previous post to my store..and you can also find it on Pinterest.

Here is my bucket filler board! I thought it turned out pretty good. The posters are on my TPT store, and I bought the tin cans from Orientel Trading. They have a lot of choices to choose from....and they even have CHEVRON tin cans. We read How Full Is Your Bucket, and my kids get to add a cotton ball every time they do something kind for others. Once their bucket is full, they get a special treat from me such as eating with a friend at lunch, or wearing no shoes in the classroom. I found some cute freebie coupons on Pinterest that I plan to use for my bucket fillers. I'll post a link soon.

We survived our first week!

Whew! What a week! We survived our first full week of school with success! I always forget how "new" everything is to my kinder kids at the beginning of the year. Lots of time is spent on procedures....how to raise our hand, ask to go to the bathroom, sit criss cross applesauce, stand in line, quite workers, go through the lunch line, get a new pencil, use glue, cut, write our names, and on and on and on. My own child began kindergarten this year, and I believe we were both exhausted by the end of the week. I wouldn't trade it for anything. We did have a minor hiccup this week when my 15 month old fractured a bone in her leg and had to get a cast (sniff sniff). It was one of those freak things where she was standing at the coffee table....plopped down...and her leg got stuck under the table. Anyway, we are all good now, and we are trying to rest up for another full week of fun in kindergarten.

Day 1-Check!!

Today was our first day of school. We had a fantastic day filled with a Pete the Cat hunt/tour, back to school stories, brain breaks, shake breaks, fun, painting, and exploring. I always forget what it is like at the beginning of the year. Lots of modeling and routine explanations. Teaching my new kinders to walk in a straight line (which most of them did perfectly), learning to raise our hands, stay in our seats, stay in classroom (yes ;)). I am ready to crash. But, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't love it!! One more day till the weekend to refresh and prepare for next week! Day 2: bring it on!!!

Different ways to show a number posters...

Click on the picture below to follow the link to my TPT store for your copy of the "I can show a number different ways..." posters. I can't wait to use these this year in my classroom. I just printed off my copy...now to laminate!! There are 8 half-page posters that show a ten frame, hand, numeral, number sentence, tally marks, domino, die, and objects/manipulatives. The images below show all of them except the domino....but, I promise...it is in the download. :)

Chevron Behavior Clip-Chart

I've just added a chevron behavior chip-chart that includes a monthly behavior calendar and explanation of how I use it in my classroom. Check it out at my TPT store. Just click on the image below, and it will direct you to the site.

Teachers Pay Teachers Sale Aug 4-5th

Click on the image below, and it will direct you to my TPT store. Use the code below to receive 20% off at checkout. 

One week and counting...

I can't believe that the first day of school (with kids) is one week away!!!! EEEEEKK! Lots to do....and so little time! I think that most of my back to school list is completed. I'm excited, anxious, and more! Ready to see what our year has in store!

Coloring Anchor Charts for Kindergarten

So, I found a request from another teacher on TPT to create an anchor chart for coloring...so...I thought "why not?" It shows what poor coloring, o.k. coloring, and good coloring looks like. There is a poster for each type along with a sign to go with the posters. Check it out at my TPT store.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Anchor-Charts-for-Good-Coloring-Chevron-1360763

The Discipline Dozen

Meet 12 characters who will get your classroom behaviors headed in the right direction at the beginning of the school year! I came across the original "Discipline Dozen" during my student teaching in 2000, and have LOVED using them every year since. I was wanting an updated version of the set, but can't find anything like it ANYWHERE....so, I got busy and made myself a new set I can share with everyone. The "DOZEN" has little mini blurbs about each character and what behavior they exhibit that isn't a pleasant one....there are 10 unfavorable characters/traits (bossing, tattling, interrupting, cutting (hair, clothes, etc), yelling, lagging behind (with work or in hall),  whining, asking unnecessary questions ("When are we having snack, lunch, recess, playtime, going home, P.E?....and on and on), not sharing, being rude and mean. And, there are two WONDERFUL characters named "Cool Cade" and "Cool Carley." There is also a mini blurb about what the "cool" kids do that makes the teacher happy" After I introduce each character to my class, I hang them up to display, and I refer to them ALL year long! The characters provide a great illustration to primary students of what is appropriate and what is not! Take a peek at my TPT store, and get yourself a copy today!! Just click on the image below or follow the link.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Discipline-Dozen-Chevron-appropriateinappropriate-behaviors-at-school-1348156

Common Core "I Can" posters from The Curriculum Corner

Check out these GREAT "I Can" posters that I found on The Curriculum Corner's site!  They have been newly updated and include COMMON CORE standards for reading and math in a language that parents (and teachers :) ) can understand. AND, they are completely FREE!! They also have "I Can" posters for 1st and 2nd grade too.

 

FREEBIE!! Bucket filler/dipper posters!!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bucket-fillerdipper-posters-1333496

Check out the link above at Teachers Pay Teachers for free bucket filler/dipper posters. I am going to use these on my bucket filler bulletin board as a reminder of what a filler and a dipper is. The link is above, and here is a snip it of what it looks like below.

First TeachersPayTeachers Product FREEBIE!

I'm so excited to have created my first TPT product. Shopping on TPT is almost as addictive as Pinterest! It is a back to school write the room math center to help introduce the kids to the center. Easy for them to use, and it requires little writing for the beginning of the year. Great for those pre-k and kinders that enter the classroom with little or no experience using pencils and crayons. Just follow the link below for the FREEBIE on TeachersPayTeachers!!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Write-the-Room-Math-1332243

Class lists have been posted!

I just got my list of my sweet little kinderkats today! I'm so excited! Such a sweet bunch, and we are going to have a fun year! Now....let's begin writing and typing up all those sweet names on everything .....can't wait to meet them all at orientation in a few weeks.

New Look!

I am a penny pincher (try to be), and I found this free and cute blog template. So, I am trying it out. I know, I know....there are bicycles on the page. I am not an avid cyclist, but I have been in a mountain bike/kayak/trail adventure race once before. And, I surprisingly placed 3rd with my teammate! O.K. so there were less than ten in my category, but we were proud of our accomplishment. Back to the bikes....since I've had at least ONE bike adventure in my life....maybe it is OK that there are bicycles here and there on my page. Oh well....it is a cute template....and...best of all...FREE!! When I have time to make things to sell on TeachersPayTeachers....I'll (maybe) buy a template. Until then....we are going with the bikes. So, enjoy!!

Class Lists

Drum roll please.........class lists will be posted July 18. Very excited to see who my new kinder kids will be.

Woop! Woop! Two posts within a week!

Our teachers are jumpstarting our year at AMSTI/Investigations year 2 training this week. I'm already getting excited about all the new "math" stuff we'll be using this year! I'm enjoying our lunches "out" since it isn't something we get to do during the year. Well, off to bed to get some rest before we load up on more math for tomorrow.

Yes, I'm still here!

O.k., so it is a goal of mine to have a more active Blog this year. I've posted a few things, but I'm hoping to make it a routine to post more frequently than last year. I'm in the beginning stages of my "back to school" to do list. This year will be a little different because my son will be starting kindergarten this year (sniff, sniff). I hope to make a few more posts prior to school starting in a few weeks. Happy Thursday!