Common Core

Well in typical school style, my mom's classroom wasn't ready.  She got all new flooring though and it looks super night.  She also has a giant room so I really don't feel sorry for her.  I also realized one of the greatest things you can keep in your desk is this:

 

Why do I not have a little tool kit in my room?  We used it countless times to tighten some knobs and things.  It was just great to have around.

 

I have also been looking for a good Common Core checklist.  I want to use this as I go though our reading/literacy lessons to ensure that I'm hitting all of the standards.  I plan to check them off as I cover them and marking each time I cover them throughout the year.

This is a great free checklist I have found on TPT.  It's great and I like the "I Can" language they use.  Makes it simple for everyone.  Click the picture above to link to Elaine's TPT store.

 

I am going to be working really hard this year to stay organized (although I say this every year).  Wi

 

 

New Math/Literacy Centers

I made a new beginning of school centers pack.  It includes:

You can check it out in my TPT store (which is having a 20% off sale).  Just click the picture below to take you to my store.  It includes math and literacy center games great for the beginning of the year.

 

 

This morning I am going to help my mom set up her Pre-K classroom.  It's usually a good opportunity to sneak around the school and check out the kindergarten classroom and hopefully steal some ideas!!  I'll be sure to post pictures.

Sale

I am hosting a sale in my TPT store.  20% off everything.  I'm also still waiting for more people to follow me to get more freebies (anything you choose) from my TPT store.  Click the link below to go to my store.

Labels and such

This year I am going to do all of my labels and name tags on my computer.  In past year I have written them all out, but I think I will like have them typed much more.  I am looking for a free font with dashed lines so that I can create my own desk nameplates.  I saw this great idea of using Velcro because I'm so tired of kids picking the book tape I normally use.

 

I also saw this great idea for dry erase board erasers.  I have seen these things at the dollar tree-they are facial cleaners that I believe come 2/$1.  I saw this on pinterest, but the picture is not linked so I don't know who posted this

 

 

 

 

Classroom Centers

I was thinking about my classroom centers that I have at the end of the day.  In these centers I usually include an art activity and another "fun" type of center (blocks, dramatic play, exc).  I feel kind of tired of the same old centers that I always use and was trying to think of ways to add to them.  I was thinking about having a pocket chart center.  Just something that goes along with the theme we are talking about.  I know that the student's like to be the "teacher" and put the pieces into the pocket chart when we do different classroom activities.  What an easy way to hook them in- and "trick" them into learning.  I have been brainstorming some ideas- none of which I too creative right now but I did come up with a simple beginning of the year apple pocket chart. 

The concept of this pocket chart center is very simple.  You can choose to have student match color to color word, number to number word, or add the small apples to show the number or number word. You can then record all the information onto the recording worksheet.  Seems like a simple idea, but I have a feeling a lot of the students will be excited to do this.

 

Well just to go along with my apple theme.  You can snag up my Johnny Appleseed Math Centers for free in my TPT store as well.  Again, it's one of the first center packs I made, but it's free and had decent graphing and roll and cover games.

 

 

Odds-n-ends

I was excited to have an email from my friend today with some family pictures.  They turned out pretty good.

This is my husband and I with James.  We keep him in the summer and weekends when his mom works.  He spends a lot of time with us- we call him our "rental child"

Here's the whole family, my brother, Andrew and his wife Andrea and my adorable nephew, Colton, my mom and dad and me and my husband.  We took these out at our family lake where we spend time on the weekends. 

So I have read this book on the Daily 5 and it sounds great!

 I wish I had people following me now who could comment on how they use the Daily 5 in the classroom.  It is one of those things I am thinking about starting, I'm just hesitant and need to dive in with some advise from those who already implement it in the classroom.  I also think this is something that my students probably would not be ready for until after Christmas.

I am also hoping to become more organized in my classroom.  I was thinking about adding some  schedule cards- wondering if this would keep the "when is recess questions from constantly interrupting at the beginning of the year.  I found these signs at Mrs. Ricca's Kindergarten page.  You can click this link http://mrsriccaskindergarten.blogspot.com/search/label/Classroom%20Organization and scroll down to the bottom to find them.  She has other freebies as well that are great!

Who knew?

Wow so youtube is amazing for teaching you how to do things.  So I had been making most of my products in word.  I had no idea how much easier and how much better they can look using powerpoint!  I learned how to do most of it so quickly with this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kOdpkZ4rU8

So with that I created this document- so I will post my first powerpoint Brown Bear count the room for FREE!

Well now I created another themed count the room.  I loved these wild west graphics from mycutegraphics.com -- I think I might incorporate this into my farm theme.