Valentine's Day Sale

It doesn't feel like it should already be February. But it is here. This month has been busy with fun activites and I'm so excited to start this next week. Our Valentine's Day party has been cut short due to some important people coming to our school on that day, but it doesn't mean we won't celebrate it. I've got crafts and lessons about love and friendship lined up for this week.

I decided to have some fun with Valentine's Day during math and literacy centers as well. We will be graphing conversational hearts, measuring hearts and recording how big they are, completing a fun color by number, and playing a fun Valentine's Roll the Dice game that I had one of my parents create for me.

In literacy centers we will be using my brand new Valentines Day Packet.

This packet includes 13 literacy activities that cover many of our Common Core Standards. They will be recording beginning sounds and ending sounds, identifying the number of syllables in words and rhyming words (or not rhyming words),  unscrambling popcorn words to identify those sight words that we have been learning, writing the room with vowels, and much more.

I have placed this packet on sale for the weekend. It is now $4.00, which is 50% off the original price. The sale ends on Monday morning. So go on over and grab this packet and let me know what you think!

A-Z of Me

It has been forever since I have had the time to be on blogger. Before this afternoon, I hadn't read a blog post in so long that I feel so lost. But while reading some today, I found a linky that I just had to join! Maybe it will be the first of many new blog posts... or maybe I will be absent again. I'm not sure. There is no telling. Maybe one day I will figure out what to talk about again. Maybe?

I'm linking up with The Polished Teacher. Head on over to her blog to link up!


So without further adieu, here is the A-Z of ME! (Reminds me of the book I read every year during our "All About Me" unit ABC I like Me!)

A: App
My favorite app right now is MyFitnessPal. I have been using it everyday for the past 2 weeks. Counting my calories has almost become an obsession... and I am truly loving keeping up with it, as well as putting my exercise in. I feel like it is helping me be accountable for what I put into my body and I'm feeling healthier. Hoping I can shed like 60-100 pounds before the day that I say "I do" (which we are thinking will be the Fall of 2014).

B: Book Character
As of right this second, my favorite book character from a kids book is Curious George. I love how he is always getting into trouble. He's hilarious!!

C: Clip Art
Because I am BROKE! My favorite clip art is MyCuteGraphics! She is very talented and offers her stuff for free! She has allowed me to create so many wonderful packets and I am so very thankful for her hard work and generosity!

D: Dollar Spot Find
This really just depends on what I am looking for and what they have. My latest favorite find though was these cute crayon erasers! I just loved them! But I've also found books, games, a stocking gift for the boyfriend (a laser gun keychain), pencils and soo many other awesome things!

E: Essential to Start the Day
A nice hot shower! This is one of the only things that can truly wake me up and make me not feel groggy.

F: Font
I have so many favorites. And honestly, my favorite just depends on what I am working on and the look that I am going for. KevinandAmanda fonts are awesome.

G: Game
My favorite game of all time is Aggrivation! This is a game that I grew up playing with my family. I love board games! One of my favorite things to do as an adult is get together with friends for dinner and a board game. Sadly I just found out that our friends that we do this with just got orders to move. If they do not get unapproved, they will be moving to Ft. Hood, Texas, which makes this girl VERY VERY sad!

H: Holiday
Christmas. Okay, this may sound selfish.... it may sound childish.... but I LOVE LOVE LOVE getting presents! However, I also LOVE buying presents for others! I love the family aspect of it. I love the decorations and the lights. I love picking out the tree and decorating it. I love the eggnog and other yummy food. I just love the entire holiday!

I: Ice Cream
Again, this just depends on what my mood is. Yesterday was my "cheat day," so we got an apple pie for desert. To go with it we got plain vanilla ice cream. However, other times I want double chocolate with chunks. I also like the strawberry with chunks. So, it really just depends on my mood.

J: Jewelry Piece
Several years ago for Christmas, the boyfriend got me this gorgeous ring with a blue stone. I wear it everyday and the few times I have taken it off I end up sick to my stomach with worry that something has happened to it. When we got robbed a few years ago, I had taken it off the night before to dye my hair. When I couldn't find it at the apartment, I was so upset. My cousin found it like two weeks later when she came to stay with me and I jumped up and down like a little girl and cried for joy!

K: Kid-ism
Not really sure what this means! Sorry!

L: Location to Travel
Honestly, I just want a vacation. Rather it is to Myrtle Beach to see the boyfriend's mom... or to some other destination. I don't care. Right now I just need to be out of TN. HOWEVER, the boyfriend and I have been talking about "honeymoon locations" and the places I keep thinking of are: Hawaii, Bahamas, New York, or Vegas. In fact, I really wish I had the money to go to the I Teach K conference in Vegas this year.

M: Management Tip
Be firm! Be fair! I try really hard in my classroom to be fair. I know that sometimes I am not... and most of that has to do with special circumstances... but all of my kids get the same warnings, same consequences, same rewards. Also, don't fight every battle. There are somethings, that you just gotta let go. You know?

N: Nail Polish
I am really bad at keeping my nails polished. Right now I am using this really cute aqua color I got from Target for Christmas. It is completely out of my normal range, but I kinda love it! Usually I'm a pink and red kinda girl. Although if I were to do my finger nails it would be red or french manicures.

O: Open House Idea
Our open house is very simple. We have the rooms open for the kids/parents to see. But we don't do much else. Something I do think I will do next year is to have the goody bag ready for them to take home that day. Just a little something to get them excited to come back.

P: Pinterest
I love pinterest! I love finding ideas and thinking how I could implement them into my own home or lesson plans. I will say that I often do not actually get to do them because of the lack of time, skill, or money. But finding the ideas of things that maybe I can one day do is amazing!

Q: Quote
"Where Am I? Who Am I? How did I come to be here? What is this thing caled the world? How did I come into the world? And if I am to compelled to take part in it, where is the director? I want to see him?" --Soren Kierkegaard

R: Read-Aloud
There are so many that it is hard to narrow it down. But these are the ones that come to mind first. The Mitten and Snowflake Bentley are two of my favorite winter read-alouds. Any of Pete the Cat stories are FUN for both me and the kids. This week I'm reading My Lucky Day which has been one of my favorite basal stories to read since I first started teaching.

S: School Supply
Without a doubt, my favorite school supply are Scentos Smelly Markers. I get giddy anytime I get a new one. Right now I am using the Valentine ones. Not only do they smell great but they are inexpensive! Which this teacher loves!

T: TPT/TN Item
I have several items that I love! But currently my favorite item I have in my store is my Valentine's Day Literacy Packet "Won't You Be My Valentine?"
It is jampacked with 13 literacy activities covering several CCSS standards. Click here to go check it out.

U: Unofficial Hobby
Crocheting. I don't do this often enough, but I love working with my hands to create something one of a kind. Currently I am working on a blanket for a parent who is due in March. I need to hurry up and get it done though so that I can give it to her.

V: Video Brain Break
I am not a big youtube person. However, there are lots of times when the boyfriend calls me into the office to share a funny video with me. I do love the autotuned videos however!

W: Ways to Spend the Day Off
Now that the boyfriends schedule has changed, I really love spending my days off with him. I don't care what we do, but I enjoy hanging out and being with him. Shopping for the house, checking out new fishing spots, sitting at home watching TV, or hanging with friends.

X: X-tra Special Blogs I <3
There are bloggers that have become special to me... bloggers that I am glad that I have met/know. But as to not hurt any feelings... I will not say names.

Y: Yummy Desert
I don't think I have a favorite. I like cheesecake, chocolate pie, apple pie, ice cream, milk shakes. However, I am trying to be good right now. So I will have to pass on most desert that comes my way for the next little bit.

Z: Zoo Animals
My favorite zoo animals would have to either be monkeys or elephants. Monkeys are funny. Elephants are beautiful creatures. They are really smart and I love that they are capable of painting. How cool is that?

Okay... so is me A-Z!

The knowledge behind a hug

This week we have been having awards ceremony (basically everyday because of weather) to award kids for their academic growth and to recognize those kids that have been our classroom heros because of great behavior.

Well on Thursday or Friday (I honestly can't remember which right now), happened to be 2nd grade awards. The kids in second grade are the kids that were in my first kindergarten class. While taking my current kinders to lunch I happened to run into two of my kinder moms from that year, both of which are probably 2 of my favorite moms from that year. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and care about most of my kinder parents, but these two moms (among a few other) have just made an impression on me.

One of these moms has her daughter in kindergarten now and I think we were both devestated when she didn't end up in my class. However, I suppose it was a good choice, because she loves her teacher and her teacher adores her!

ANYWAYS.... I'm getting way off topic.

Basically, after seeing and talking to both of these moms, they both gave me a huge hug and told me that it is always good to run into me.

I have always tried to be that teacher that goes out of my way to build relationships and I only hope that I will continue to be able to do this. I have gone to birthday parties, tumbling meets, and church events. At all of these events, not only were the kids happy to see me but the parents seemed thrilled too!

I love making people smile. It's part of who I am. I love building relationships that extend beyond the classroom walls. Now, I'm not going to say that I have made any friends that are parents... although I'm not against it. But I want to be that teacher that the kids remember long after they are through with their academic career.

I know I have several of those teachers. Mrs. Sissom, my kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Giles, my third grade teacher. Mrs. Hale, my 6th grade reading teacher. Mrs. Walls, my junior English teacher. 

And it is probably because of those aforementioned teachers that my love for knowledge has continued to grow.

So to all of those readers that are one of those teachers that are building relationships with their students and class families, I want you to know that you are amazing and appreciated.

I'm truly glad that Mrs. Amy and Mrs. Cindi were there that day and both gave me a hug, because I think that for just a moment I started doubting myself and if I was making any difference in their lives at all.

Great Resource for Math

Hey! So I feel like I am doing better at posting more. :) (Even though technically it has already been 8 days.) But that is better than like 2 weeks right?? Right?

Anyways, each Thursday we have our kindergarten team meeting where we discuss random things, or work on aligning standards to our reading series, or meet about data. But today was exciting! Not because anything truly special happened, but because at the very end of the meeting, our academic coach shared a website with us that OMG, I think I love!

I have heard of the website before and gone once or twice but I have never really explored. But today got me hooked! It is the Read Tennessee website. And oh my, is it wonderful!

 If you click on "Math" and then go and click on the link that says "K-3 Math Common Core Standards" in the "Teachers" section you will be directed to a page that give you an overview.

On that second page (where you will find the 'Common Core Standards in Mathematics' overview) if you look at the blue column you can click on your grade. (Unfortunately if you teach anything higher than 3rd grade, this will not help you.)

Here is Kindergartens page.

There you can search by the different domains (i.e. counting and cardinality, geometry, etc) and specific standard.

Once you click on the standard that you want you will be taken to a page that gives you a summary, understanding (things that the students need to know and understand), specific questions to focus your instruction, and the skill progression.

You will also see a bar at the top.

 

This is where I think it really gets awesome!  Each one of these gives you lots of resources. And they are REALLY REALLY good! 

I highly recommend that you click on the photo below and head on over now and check out this website! And go ahead and share it with the people you work with! I am sure they will LOVE you for it!

While you are there, check out the "Read" section too. I haven't been over on that side, so I can't "recommend it." However, with the math section being as good as it is, I am sure that the "Read" section will be pretty awesome too.

38 Hours and counting

I officially have less than 38 hours of break left (I think it's 38 hours... sounds good, eh?) Today I worked from before 8 till after 4 on a Valentine's Day Literacy Packet. I had lots of fun working on it, but around 6 I realized that I was STARVING! I went the entire time without eating or drinking anything and I think I only went to the restroom like once. I'm wondering if this was me trying to get myself back in the habit of work...work... working! Who knows?

Tomorrow I am going to be devoting my time to getting report cards done and finishing lesson plans and laminating and cutting and prepping some things for my lessons. Sounds fun, right? Uh... I'm not too sure. But it's gotta get done!

This break has gone by WAY too fast. The first weekend seemed like it took forever and then after that it was like I was on a roller coaster that was going WAY TOO FAST! (For those of you who have already returned to work, you have my sympathy!)

So I wanted to share with you what I will be doing in Math this next week. We will begin our Geometry unit. This unit is to last for the next 7 weeks! This stresses me out! Because I honestly get bored after about 2 or 3 weeks of any given topic in math! Math is NOT my strong point. I can do small group and math centers without a problem! But whole group math, that is where my brain screams "HELP! HELP! HELP!"

But after doing some research on my favorite site (I think you already could have figured this one out) Pinterest, I came up with a week worth of lessons that I am super excited about!

We'll start the week (MONDAY) out by reading Square Cat. After reading the story we will discuss the attributes of a circle and a square. We will record these attributes on our "Attributes of a Shape" anchor chart. After discussing the attributes we will decide if we want to be a round or square cat. (We will discuss why "round" is a good word for "circle.") My hope is that we have time to create our own Round Cat/Square Cat. (This idea came from Chalk Talk: A Kindergarten Blog)

On Tuesday we will review the attributes of a circle and a square. I will then show the students a rectangle. All of my students should know what it is (let's hope!) We will discuss and record the attributes of a rectangle and then I will read the math book Two Short Two Long by Christianne C. Jones. After reading the story, TSW sort squares and rectangles.

On Wednesday, we will review the different attributes of the square, rectangle, and circle again. (By this time they should be VERY familiar with these attributes.) I will show the students a triangle. We will discuss and record the attributes of a triangle. I will read the story The Greedy Triangle. We will discuss the story. After reading the story, TSW will sort triangles and not triangles.

On Thursday, we will begin again by reviewing the attributes of these 4 basic shapes. I will read Shapes, Shapes Everywhere. We will make a web of places that we can find shapes in our real world surroundings. We will then go on a shape hunt (something I have done every year) and we will look for shapes around the school. Students will identify where shapes are and I will take pictures of these shapes. (I will use these pictures to make a Shapes In Our World power point that we will use to review shapes in our environment.) When we return to our classroom, TSW draw a picture of one object that they found that represents each of the 4 basic shapes we have been learning about.

On Friday, we will once again review each shapes and it's attributes. (They should REALLY know these attributes now!) I will read Shape Capers. After reading this math story, we will graph our favorite shapes. TSW create a picture using their favorite shape. TSW write about the attributes of their favorite shape. I will combine these shape pictures to create a class book "A World of Shapes." (This idea ALSO came from Chalk Talk: A Kindergarten Blog)

I am REALLY happy with this weeks math plans, but as you can see the majority of my ideas have come from Mrs. Larremore over at Chalk Talk: A Kindergarten Blog.  My fear.... is where do I go from here? What ideas do you have to teach shapes?