Short a...

Whew! I survived Christmas.  We had 4 days of Christmas.  The one good thing with it being on Tuesday we didn't have to double up any of them.  So Christmas day was spent at my mother-in-laws and wouldn't you know, my husband got SICK!  Yes, he had the flu that has been going around.  According to him it hurt all the way to his fingernails.  So dramatic!!  Off we went to the mother-in-laws without him. It was fine. Just makes it a little more stressful by myself.
I spent today putting Christmas way.  So now back to getting ready for the new year! School will start back in a week. CRAZY!! 

Well, we are going to start CVC units after break! So I decided to make these packets to help my students learn these words.  We will match, build, and write these words.  Students will really learn to read these words instead of just memorize.  We will focus on ways to really become good readers and writers.  I thought logically I would start with short a.  I made a packet for the -at word family and the -an word family.

  -at word family

This packet included cat, mat, rat, sat, bat, hat.

There is a page for each word like the one below.  Students trace the word three times, then write it on the line twice, the trace and read the sentence.  Students then cut and glue the word. 

There is also a word building page for each word.  Students use the beginning sound of the pictures to build the word using the provided letter cards or magnets letters whichever you prefer to use.  Then students match the picture in the middle.  Then in the bottom boxes the students use a dry erase marker and write the word.  

There are also two review pages that have the students matching the words to the pictures. 

 

Here are some examples of the -an word family set. This set includes can, fan, man, ran, tan, pan.

click here

click here

I'm looking forward to using these packets with my class. As a FREEBIE to you I am giving you the posters that go with these sets.  These posters can be made into a book or displayed while teaching that unit.  ENJOY!  Visit my store on TPT to purchase yours for only $2 a set!  Remember I'm donating 100% of my sales on TPT from now until January 14 to Sandy Hook teachers.

Teaching Supporting Teachers

Well, it's been a week now since Sandy Hook tragedy.  I have cried a little, well a lot!  And hugged my littler kinders a little more when they left for break on Wednesday.  So sad!  We all have been impacted from this and  I want to support fellow teachers in CT. So I am linking up with Kristin from Little Miss Glamour Goes to Kindergarten.
From now until January 14th 100% of my TPT sales will go towards the teachers in CT!! I can do my little part of help those who need our support and love. SO clean out your wishlist and purchase some products to support CT teachers.

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

Gingerbread freebie and Christmas lights

I have been working on a new literacy center/word work unit.  It has uppercase and lowercase Christmas lights.  Students use the picture mats to match the upper and lowercase letter to the picture under the tree.

 Students can use these same letters to string up the lights in ABC order. You can use upper or lowercase letters whichever fits your students needs. 

 Now you can wrap up the presents.  These 50 word mats use the letter presents to build the words.

 

Click on the title to go to my TPT store to pick up your own Christmas lights unit today.
Christmas lights literacy fun

 

Well in the spirit of the season we are reading all the different versions of the Gingerbread Man.  Today we read the The Gingerbread Baby.  I created this retelling page to help students retell the story.  First, mix the dough to make the gingerbread man.  Second, the gingerbread boy runs from all the animals. Then he goes into the gingerbread house that Mattie made for him. Lovely story with a great ending.  I have been working with my kids to retell using our retelling rope.  LOVE IT!! It is just a piece of fleece rolled up with four ribbons tied in it.  The students hold each part of the ribbon as they retell the story.  FUN!  It had helped students with comprehension and retelling!

Gingerbread Retelling

A little Christmas and Gingerbread fun!

We have been having fun reading all the different versions of the Gingerbread man!  My kids love the Gingerbread Pirates!  We are starting our Gingerbread Time to the Hour next week. I'm excited to play a little BINGO!  Click here to go to my TPT store to get your very own!

We will also review our numbers 11-20.  I will use this counting center as a math read the room.  I hang all the counting cards randomly around the room and have the kids walk around the room, count the cards and write the numbers in the boxes and color the correct color. Click here for my TPT store to get this http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-counting-11-20

This is my kids favorite Gingerbread song to listen to.  A cute video from our fav, Mr. Harry!


Here is a little gingerbread FREEBIE!  It fits our word wall words the past couple of weeks! Enjoy!

click here

 

OK!  I need to take a small moment to brag about my kids this year!  They are so awesome!  Not only are they the nicest class that I have ever had but they are smart too!!  They try hard and always do what I ask!  They are making my job easy this year!  LOVE THEM!!  So we have a school improvement goal to improve number sense.  The Kindergarten team took Counting to 100 as a goal for the year.  Now, in Nebraska we haven't adopted Common Core.  I know, I know.  We are one of the only two states that haven't adopted it yet.  I'm sure it's coming soon.  Anyhow, every month we have the our kids count to 100.  I record it on recording sheet with every month a different color.  So they can see their progress. I know get to the good part... so today was the testing day.  Not only were they so excited to count for me, 80% of them did it!!  YAY!  It's only December and they can count to 100!  I was amazed.  And they were so excited to sign their name on my handmade poster board that said 100 club and wear a 100 crown I made from  bulletin board border.  I can't wait till next week when we hand out certificates in front of the whole school during community. 

Ok! I'm done! Have a great day! Enjoy all things gingerbread! :)

Gingerbread Sound boxes and other random thoughts

We have been working hard to learn and stretch out those important CVC words.  My kids are doing great at it.  We first count the sounds on our fingers then write them in the boxes.   I made these Gingerbread man sound boxes to use during the winter season. :)

click here for sound boxes

 Cup in a cup

A Great Classroom Management Tool
I have always done can of names.  It helps me call on everyone instead of just having that one dominate student answer every question.  I usually just pick a stick and throw it down.  Then I end up losing some and having to pick them up all the time. Well this summer I went to a conference and the speaker said she used a cup in a cup.  DUH!! That was a total Ah-Ha Moment!!  Well, I love it. I just move the stick out of the cup after I call on them and then move them all back when they are all out of the cup. 

A little Candyland fun!
I found a couple CandyLand games at Goodwill.  However, this time of year you can get them cheap. I picked up one on Black Friday for $4. I wrote all the word wall words that we learn throughout the year and students play like regular CandyLand but they have to read the words that they land on.  I have an ABC, sight words, and number board. 
A fun game students love to play and have fun learning!!



A closer look!










French Fries!
This is another favorite math center! 
I went to Burger King and asked for 20 French fry containers.  Then I cut up yellow sponges. Students count out the correct number of French fries to put in each container. My kids want to get them out during centers and serve them to each other! So cute! Thinkin I need to go get some more and write addition problems on them.


 

 

I had to add this cute picture from our Thanksgiving celebration!  We painted vests and made feather headbands.  Then made super yummy turkey snacks!

 

 

December fun!

December Writing

This is a fun writing center that I use for my Daily 5 work on writing center.  I put them in a pocket chart and the kids have fun sitting and writing the words.  :) It's a FREEBIE for you!  YAY!  Just click on December writing below.

December Writing

I have also made a fun Time to the Hour Gingerbread Man.  I created a matching digital and analog clock game, two cut and glue match worksheets, make a clock with gingerbread man and best of all BINGO!!  There are 20 different game boards that everyone in the whole class can have their own.

This is my newest TPT item. Hope you enjoy it!  Gingerbread-man-Time-to-the-Hour

 

This week we have been learning about money! 

So we have been watching some Money songs on YouTube.

Here is our favorite!! Watch out it's addictive.  The kids were singing it all day!  I even went home singing it! 

 

 Another favorite

 

Enjoy your weekend!

Liebster Award!!

My first blog award!!  How exciting!!  I was nominated for the Liebster Award 3  times.  Wow!   But, what does the word mean???  After doing a little research, I found that this word means "dearest" in German. I am so thankful for the 3 great ladies that nominated me!!  Thanks ladies!! :0)

What is it?

The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It is to show new bloggers that they are appreciated and to help spread the word about their new blogs.

The Rules:

- You must post 11 random things about yourself.

- Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.

- Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.

- Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post.

- No tag back (but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you!)

11 Random Things About Me!!

1.I never ate cake until my wedding; I used to tell people I was allergic! Weird, I know.

2. I have 3 kids, 3 dogs, a cat, turtle, fish and a husband! That's one busy house!

3. I love the colors pink and brown.

4. I played the clarinet in high school.

5. I was the state and national powerlifting champion in high school.

6. I ran my first half marathon two years ago.

7. I signed up for the WARRIOR dash already; and it's not until JUNE!

8. I have dyed my hair since high school.

9. I played soccer in high school.

10. I am only 5 ft tall and my 8 year old son is almost taller than me.

11. I love diet coke!!

 

Questions from Kindergarten Faith:

1.  When did you start blogging? In September 2012.

 

2.  Why did you start blogging? I have followed blogs for years and people have said to me "Why don't you start a blog?" So on our three week fall break, I thought I would try it out!  ADDICTIVE!!

 

3.  If there was one thing you could share with new teachers what would it be? Smile and laugh at yourself.  Kids might not remember how you taught them the facts but they will remember how you made them feel.  Take time to get to know your kids and where they come from. It's makes a world of difference!! 

 

4.  What is your favorite thing to do? Blog, play with my kids, go camping!  Jet-skiing

 

5.  What is your favorite kind of ice-cream? Cookie-dough

 

6.  Would you rather snow ski or swim in the ocean? ocean!  I love the warm sand in between my toes!!

 

7.  What is your favorite book? Where the Red Fern Grows..My third grade teacher read it to us and I fell in love with it!

 

8.  What is the craziest thing a student has ever told you? "Why can't you say "mother f****er?"

 

9.  What is something you have learned from your students? Never complain about what you don't have because there is always someone who has less than you.  so sad.

 

10.  Do you have a class pet?  If so, what? :0) No, not allowed in my district. :(

 

11.  What do you look forward to the most about blogging?Getting to know and learn from other teachers!

 

  11 questions from Club Kindergarten

1. What's your favorite teaching memory? Watching my kids faces at the zoo every year on our field trip. So many of them have never been there before.  They just love it!!

2. How long have you been teaching? 11 years!

3. Favorite hobbies? blogging, shopping

4. What's something on your bucket list? Take my kids and husband to Disneyland. My husband has never flown in an airplane. 

5. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Disneyland!! or a cruise

6. When did you start blogging? September 2012

7. Favorite book, child or adult? Where the Red Fern Grows

8.Favorite TV show? Bachelor, can't wait to watch in January with Sean!

9. Which holiday do you enjoy the most? Halloween

10. Favorite celebrity?  Channing Tatum, the only reason to watch Magic Mike!!

11. Pinterest or Facebook? Facebook; but I love them both!

 

Questions from the Constant Kindergartener!

1. What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher; ever since 3rd grade

2. What's your favorite food? Mexican

3. What's your favorite color? pink and brown

4. Why did you start blogging? to share ideas with teacher around the world

5. What's your favorite animal? horse

6. What's the craziest thing a student ever told you? Do you have a mom?

7. What's the best thing about teaching for you? Really getting to see that lightbulb go on.  My kids learn and grow SO much during Kindergarten.  It amazes me how five and six year olds can be bi-lingual!

8. What's the worst thing about teaching for you? Understanding, what my kids are saying.  Sometimes I just don't know what they are telling me because of language barrier.

9. Have you travelled a lot? If yes, where? Nope, we just go camping.  We did to go to Memphis Lakes in Kansas and Lake McConaughy this summer.

10. What is your favorite TV show/movie? Bachelor

11. What's your favorite hobby? shopping

 

 

 

My nominees....

 

1.The Kindergarten Backpack
2.Kelly and Kim's Kindergarten
3. Kindergarten Cafeteria
4. Mrs Janelle's Kindergarten
5. My Crazy life in Kinder
6. Klassy Kinders
7. I heart my Kinder Kids
8. Kinder Karla
9. Mrs. Jones's class
10. Kick Starting Kindergarten
11. Kinder Kids at Play

Questions for my Nominees
1. Why did you become a teacher?
2. How long have you taught?
3. What are your hobbies?
4. What is your favorite food?
5. What is your favorite subject to teach?
6. What is your favorite learning website for kids to use?
7. When did you start a blog?
8. Why did you start a blog?
9. What are your future goals?
10. What is on your bucket list?
11. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?

Enjoy!  I will look forward to getting to know you! Good luck in your future blogging experiences!
Thanks! Kindergarten Faith, The Constant Kindergartener and Club Kindergarten for the bloggy love! 
It is fun being nominated!! 
Have a great week!
Lisa











 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a FuN Week!!

Well, this week was a little different.  I was asked last Friday after school to fill in for the PRINCIPAL!!  I got my administration endorsement a couple years ago so I was excited for this opportunity.  It was fun to see kids in a different way and visit classrooms. I visited 1st grade writing celebrations and 4th grade plays and helped my Kinders with their turkey snacks! I got to hand out excellence tickets, it always makes my day when I can put a smile on a kids face. :)  But next week my Principal is back in the office and I'm back in my classroom. 
I did make some fun little centers this week.  I finished up my Word Building Centers.  This has 3 different centers in one packet.  The first one I took all the word wall words and created beginning sound cards.  Students write or put a letter tile on the box under the picture.  Here is a sample of the cards.

I also created a Mystery code game.  I made a code of students to follow.  Each letter has a different symbol. The students use the code sheet to decode the words.  I made a code card for all 50 sight words that we teach using the Journey curriculum.  I will be adding this to a word work box.

The students love to be detectives and complete these word cards.  It's a favorite second semester.
Linking Letters---I pinned this last month and had just used cards I have had for years.  I decided to remake them and make them for every unit.  You could also just put magnets on the back of these and students could build words on magnet boards. 

This packet also has letter cards to build the words.  These are the cards that I use for linking words together.  I color coded my units so it put 8 words in each group.  This way its not too overwhelming and students work on the words that are learning at that time.  I always tell them they can go back and do the other colors we have already learned after they finish our color we are working on.  This unit is only $3 on TPT.  And everything is on SALE UNTIL SATURDAY in my TPT store! Click here to link to my TPT store. Word Building Activties-Click here

I also created a new packet to help students review and work on these sight words.  I often make a stamping center for my kids.  But they often get done with this so fast. I created a page where students need to Read, Write, Stamp, and Glue.  Students need to take those extra steps to write the words.  Then they have to find the correct word and glue it in the box.  This is just $1 on TPT.  Click Read-Write-Stamp-Glue to go to my TPT store.

And a FREEBIE for you!!  Next week our words are come and me.  Two words that I didn't have in my sight word packet.  I use Fran Kramer from Kindergarten Crayons-Sight Words to Rock Your Room To packet for our sight work pages. But she didn't have any pages for come or me.  I created my own. 

Here they are for in.  In case you teach these two words. Click on the words to get these pages.

Come  me

Hope you find something you can use in your classroom!  Have a great Thanksgiving!

Build-a-Word

Build-a-word

I created this word work center.  I used unifix cubes and wrote a letter on each one with a black sharpie.  I write it on all sides of the cube.  Then students link them together to build words.  I have them color the words to match after they build them.  I created these pages to match our units.  If you would like different words to match your curriculum let me know I can make them for you.  :) Enjoy!

Number hunt

I found an alphabet hunt on pinterest and have been using it with my bingo dabbers.  Since I have kids that need to work on number recognition I made this number hunt.  I will say the number and the dot it with their bingo dabber.  If you don't have one of those dabbers you could always just a highlighter. :) I do this in small group work but you could just give them numbered notecards and have them pick a card and dot it as a center.  :)

                                                                           Number hunt

Some of my favorite...math stations edition

Math Stations

Here are some of my favorite math stations.  I have four HAVE to Math stations each week that rotate through each table.  After the math stations make it through the table I put them in plastic containers and the students can have free choice when the have to stations is complete.  So students always review and visit past favorites. 

Linking Numbers

I took a number line border that I bought at Dollar Tree and cut it up into pieces by each number.  I made this two ways to do it. In the top picture, students make their own number line.  I hole punched each side of the number card and have students using learning links to make a number line. The bottom picture put a hole punch in the bottom of the card and have the students link the correct number of links to the card.  I have these for numbers 1-10.  A great way to practice numbers!

 

A Thanksgiving Favorite!

I colored and wrote the number to the middle of the turkey body.  I glued it to a small paper plate. Then hot glued colored feathers to clothespins.  The students just clip the correct number of feathers.

A gobble-gobble good time! LOL!

                                                                   

Number pockets 

I used library pockets to make these.  I just laminated and glued numbers onto popsicle sticks. Then I glue the dot cards to the pockets and laminated.  The students have to count the dots and put the correct number stick into the pocket. 
  

 Number chain

I just made number strips and then laminated them.  I added velcro to each side of the strip.  The students link the numbers together to make a number chain 0-30. 

Ponytail Patterns

Even though we haven't done patterns in a long time, students still love to do this.  I borrowed some rhythym sticks from the music teacher and bought lots of those little ponytails.  The students make patterns on the sticks with ponytails. :)

Number Dominoes

I used number stars from Sparklebox and then drew a line down the middle with white chalk.  I then used stickers on the other side.  Students count the number of dots and connect them on the rug to make dominoes. They can turn them or connect them in a row. 

Number Tic Tac Toe

This is a super easy way to make your tic tac toe board interchangeable.  I just used thin tape on a magnet cookie sheet to make a tic tac toe board.  I got tiny cute tic tac toe pieces from Staples. I used small stars that I wrote the numbers 0-20 on.  I just picked 9 numbers and set them on the board.  The students play in pairs.  One is X's and one is O's.  The students say the number before they can put their piece down.  Whoever gets 3-in-a-row first is the winner!! 

Roll, Say, Keep Thanksgiving Edition

I created this game because I have some kids that need to work on number recognition 0-20.  I added to 30 to challege those that have mastered to 20.  It's an easy games students can play in partners or small groups.  If you would like to download the game just go to my TPT store.  Have a great day! Lisa http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lisa-Bohaty