Kindergarten Common Core

Have you heard of this book?  I saw it floating in the blogging world a few weeks ago and had to check it out and you can too!

This AWESOME 600 page Kindergarten Common Core  resource is dedicated to helping you meet the common core standards in your classroom!  The workbook includes worksheets, center activities and posters that are broken up by each standard for Language Arts and Math. Not only are there TONS of activities but the graphics are adorable!  I downloaded the preview and was quite impressed by what I saw. I loved the story element posters.  This will be great to review and anxious to introduce it to my students.  If you’re a Kindergarten teacher who has just started using common core standards or will be seeing them in your classroom soon, then this is a MUST HAVE! It’s currently $39.99 and well worth the money!  Jump over to their Kindergarten Common Core workbook page to check it out! Better yet, if you’re a blogger and you blog about this book, you can get one for FREE until tonight. Go here to read the details……..sooooo worth it!

Kindergarten & The Daily 5

I am exciting to share with you that my students are in full swing with the Daily 5. They have learned Read to Self and Work on Writing and are doing an AWESOME job. They are up to 15-20 minutes of each Daily 5. They were excited to learn what it was all about and they are very proud that they could read/write for that long. I have been doing Daily 5 in my classroom for 4 years now and I love it! Last year, my class was the exception so Daily 5 wasn't in full swing, but it's great to have it back and looking like it should be.

 Read to Self

She was acting like a teacher and reading to her students :)

 Work on Writing

I was a little worried about these 3 sitting together but they were quiet the WHOLE time doing what they needed to do! AMAZING!

 While students are doing The Daily 5, our Reading Teacher, my classroom para and I pull groups to work on reading skills. Here are the two in action, since I'm taking the pictures. :)

I can't wait to see what the ret of the year will bring with the The Daily 5. I know the kids are just excited to be part of this. I'll keep you all posted on how it all goes. We are off to a great start!

Reading Curriculum

Next year, our school district will be implementing Scott Foresman's Reading Street. I have heard a little about it and am anxious to see the Kindergarten curriculum and what it all has to offer for my students. I have been able to look at the 1st grade version and it looks awesome but there is so much! As of right now, Nebraska, has not adopted the Common Core standards but I know in a few short years we will be teaching them. I have enjoyed the many activities that I have gotten from other teachers are already aligned to the CC standards and will make the transition smoother. It's going to be a lot and so my hope is to see if someone out there can share what they do. So, here is my shout out to all of you...I want to know if you use Reading Street and please share me your thoughts about the curriculum. I would love to hear about it.

I survived the first week!

Well, the week has come to an end and I can officially say that I survived the first week of school. I started with 20 students on Tuesday and it looks like it's going to be a great year! Now, I'm not quite back in my routine of things and a schedule but I'm hoping that will come as each new day passes. I will have to spend some time at school this weekend to get things ready for next week. Our school opted to do Curriculum Night this coming Tuesday instead of a Back-to-School night, so I have to get things ready for that. Still a lot to do and get organized but again, that will come. I hope all of you had a great start to your school year. I know some of you are still on summer vacation and I hope your enjoying every minute of it. Have a great weekend everyone!

First Day of School Tomorrow!!

Well Kindergarten friends, it will my first day of school tomorrow with my new kiddos.  I'm looking forward to a new year but also not prepared for the new year ahead.  This year I will have only 21 students, between the ages 5 & 6, to start the school year.  That is low compared to the 25-27 students I usually have.  Nebraska raised the cut off date this year and I believe that has affected some of my numbers.  The old date was October 15th but now it's July 31st.  What a difference it will make not having any 4 year olds in my class.  I was fortunate also to have most of my new students during summer school.  So I'm looking forward to working with them again.  When do all of your kiddos start?  I hope all of you have  a great school year.  Wish me luck...:)

In Pictures and In Words - Chapter 11: Layout and Design

For the last chapter in this book Katie Wood Ray talks about the layout and design of the pictures within the book as well as the illustration on the front and back covers.

I have enjoyed reading other bloggers who are part of this book study and their books selections.  A lot of you have mentioned some of the ones that I was thinking about when reading this chapter.  Check out our hostesses this week, KinderGals, to see all the other bloggers who have posted.  Thank you ladies for hosting this week!

Here is a book that would include more then one technique, What Do You Do With A Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Some of the featured techniques would be:
Technique 40: Designing the Placement of Words and Pictures
Technique 41: Using Word Layout to Convey Meaning
Technique 44: Designing a Cover
Technique 50: Using Graphic Features to Show Information

This is a fun book to read with the students and can be a great learning tool.  What class doesn't like to play a guessing game and learn new facts about animals that they are not familiar with.

I have really enjoyed being part of this book study this summer.  I have learned a lot by reading the chapters but I have also learned from others in the blogging world and building up a wonderful library of information and books.  Thank you DeeDee Wills for setting this all up and your hard work in keeping a book log and guiding us.  I hope everyone has a great school year and thanks for sharing all your thoughts and ideas!

My room is done!!!

It has been a very busy and long week. I started my classroom on Monday morning and my goal was to be finished by Friday afternoon. I reached my goal and I am ready to crash! This week has been very busy with working in my room and evening activities that my head is spinning. I was very blessed yesterday to have my mom help me in my room. She took the day off to spend with me and we got some things accomplished. She helped with the birthday board. :) My goal every year is to have my room ready by the time teachers have to report back so at that time and I work on schedules and other paper work that is necessary. Thanks for stopping by and I hope all of you are getting your rooms ready or at least thinking about how your room is going to look.

My birthday board!

The Word Wall

Colors and the Alphabet - purchased from Live, Love, Laugh Kindergarten's TPT store. Love the colors and all the materials she created with the same theme/decor. The Word Wall letters were also from this TPT store

Class Library