Interactive Monthly Writing Journals

I'm really excited when I get my students writing.  They often come to me not knowing how to write their own name.  I get such joy out of watching them grow as writer's. 

Early on, I like to foster independence with writing.  It is not easy, trust me.  Student's want to write like adults and can get frustrated easily if they can't.  We start the year having a talk about how I used to write when I was their age.  Believe it or not, I have a writing sample from when I was in lower elementary school (thanks dad!)  It really helps motivate the kids to show them that I practiced and got better over time.

To promote independence and ownership of their writing, I created Interactive Montly Writing Journals.  Each month, September through June, has a cover sheet with a graphic design for the students to personalize.  Another sheet is provided with commonly used words for each month. There is also a space for students to write words they commonly use.

 

 

To purchase this product, just click on the picture.  Thanks!

 

 

 

 



Beginning Sounds Freebie!

Hi again!   Two posts in one weekend.....I know!  Just a quick post though.  As I've posted before we are now using a new reading program in my district (Superkids.)  I made a cute freebie to go along with the 1st Semester letters.  My kids are doing really well identifying beginning sounds so they are ready for some independent practice.  You do not need to be using this reading program to benefit from the freebie.  Just click on the picture to download.  Hope you enjoy!



Fall Fun!

Whew, whew and WHEW......what a week!  It must have been a full moon because my kiddies were KA-RA-ZY this week!  It seemed like the longest week ever.  That could also be due to the fact that I noticed we'll have a 3-day weekend in November.  It seems that as soon as I know these things, time STOPS!  I so desperately need a 3-dayer!  Yup, made up that word!

So anyways, we have been slowly busy in my class.  I say this on purpose.  We started the Superkids Reading Program in our district this year.  It has many pro's and con's.  The con is that it moves s...l...o...w...  Like REALLY slow!  I guess that could also be a pro.  We learn one letter, yes letter as in singular, each unit.  A unit can take about 1 1/2 weeks to teach.  So when you do the math - I'll do it for you - we are just starting our 5th letter for the year. Like I said   s....l....o....w!  I'm use to teaching 3 WORDS per week, not letters, so this has been a huge adjustment for me as a teacher.

On the pro side, this program really allows you to dive into each letter.  We really give the kids ample time to master identifying the letter and the letter sound, write the letter and identify the letter sound in everyday words.  The program also gives you LOTS of teaching resources.  The kids can access books and games online for free, all of my materials are available online as well.

A BIG con for me is I have to re-create my entire toolbox of games & center activities.  This equates to work, work and more work.  I've been working 10-11 hours at school each day then coming home and putting in another 4 hours of work in front of a computer.  I should be able to move my neck again in about 2 years!

What does that mean to you, you ask?  Well what that means is that first, I am creating lots of new, fun activities.  Second, I can't offer new products without offering new FREEBIES, right?!?!?!  So here comes a recent product I uploaded on TpT called Fall Print-and-Go Math & Literacy Activities.  Since I'm working so much on the curriculum, I need activities that are ready to go without all the prep-time required. 

This product has lots of print-and-go goodies.  In fact, it's ALL print-and-go......doesn't get much easier than that.  But wait, there's more (**said in my best infomercial voice**) ~ All of the activities are Common Core Aligned.  Just click on the picture above to download this from my TpT Store.

Now back to that FREEBIE!  I'd like to give you a cute-lil writing page from the Fall Print-and-Go product so just click HERE and get your's today!

Halloween Activities

Hi All!

It's been a while since my last post.  My district bought a new reading curriculum this year so everything I've made for my Kinders went out the window!!!  We are now using the Superkids curriculum which I both like & dislike.  I hate scripted programs so I'm not a big fan of that part.  I do, however, like that each student is starting from the basics.  The program incorporates reading & writing so even my kiddies that know their letters and letter sounds are getting MUCH NEEDED writing practice.  They are also building their confidence in working with each letter sound. 

Unfortunately, we only learn one letter at a time so it is slow moving to say the least.  We've learned three letters so far (I'm used to teach 12 sight words by this point.)  The upside is I feel like I have almost ALL of my students on the same page which is quite an achievement.  I have one little who is still not picking up on the sounds but I'm working with her.

SOOOO, with all that being said, I've been scrambling to create new games / activities for my kiddies to do.  Almost all of my previous games were based on Sight Words (Dolch.)  I am no longer allowed to use them because we are required to use Superkids with "fidelity."  (I have come to HATE that word!)

Here are some new Halloween-themed products I've made up for my kiddies.  The first is a Missing Letter / Number center activity that is Common Core Aligned.

You can provide students with magnetic letters or numbers to fill in the blanks.  I prefer to give my kids Expo markers to fill in the missing numbers / letters.  It gives them the additional writing practice.

The second activity / product I made is The Ultimate Halloween Pack which also some great center activities. 

This product includes a few Roll & Record activities, Number Sequencing, Letter Matching and One-to-One Correspondence activities.  There are also some Classroom Management Goodies for you :)

Both products can be downloaded through TpT by clicking on the picture.  I hope you enjoy, and keep checking back for new, updated products!

Back-to-School SALE!!!!!

I hope you've heard by now......there is a HUGE back-to-school sale going on over at TpT!!!  Most seller's (including moi) have listed their products at 20% off.  WOOO HOOO!

Head on over and stock up on those BTS must haves!  Just enter the promo code BTS13 at check-out for your discount. 

Last night I uploaded a great little resource for the beginning of the year focusing on developing a solid number foundation.  I found that the program we use didn't focus enough on the numbers 1-10 then jumped into the tricky teens.  Hopefully, this will help me give them that basic layer of understanding single numbers before jumping forward.

Here's a closer look at the printable for the number 7.....

Students are able to trace the number, read the number word, create a ten-frame, write the number independently, color 7 objects, write the number word, draw 7 objects and distinguish the given number from other numbers.......all in ONE easy printable!  I'm all about saving space and copies!  I can't wait to use this with my kiddies!


Here are some of my other products you'll definitely want to start the year off with!

                                 This product has morning work for your littles for three days

per week.  Be sure to pick up  Part II for the 2nd half of the year!

Everything you need for that last minute fill-in!  Keep everything

organized in one place to make the day run smoothly!

This is part of my Common Core Math Assessments.

TONS of activities to assess all of the Common Core Math

Standards!

Hope you have a GREAT Sunday!!!!  I'm off to pick up some great deals at TpT!



.....another FREEBIE!

Just wanted to stop by real quick to post another FREEBIE for ya!  I use these in SO many different ways in my classroom.....from my lil one's who need extra practice writing their name, in Guided Reading groups to write out beginning, medial or ending sounds or just to practice any form of writing.  I hope you can use them too :)

I made these in five different colors.  The product includes 10 cards.  Enjoy :)

I'm BACK!!!!!! Oh, and here's a FREEBIE!

Man, oh man, where do I begin.  Well first let me apologize to my fabulous followers for being awol for over three months.  This lil ole thing called LIFE took over and got the best of me.  I mentioned in previous posts that my daughter was graduating high school in June.  Well jeeze was that a lot of work!  I had no idea how much of my time all that would take up.  We started with her prom in May, then graduation, then Senior Week, then my own class of students was finishing up and before I knew it, it was July.  Absolute panic sunk in because my own wedding was in July!!!!  Planning for that was somewhat of a crazy time as well but I can happily say the day was perfect!

This is the hubs and I after the ceremony.  We had a great time, but an even better time on the honeymoon!  We went to Nassau and had the best 7 days of our lives!!!!  Check out these pics.....

.....and trust me, every minute of every day was this beautiful!  We are already planning a trip to go back asap!  So I hope that explains where I've been and I hope you can forgive me :)

So back to business!  I have been working on a bunch of FREEBIES to make up for my absence.  I'll start you off with a 2013-14 Academic Calendar.  I don't know about you but I plan on being organized with a Capital "O" this year!  Just click on the picture to download your copy! 

I'll be back this weekend to upload the rest of my Common Core Math Assessments.  Oh, and did I mention they'll be part of the Back-to-School sale through TPT?!?!?!  WOO HOO I love the sales!