There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Chick {Sub Tub}

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I will be working through the summer on Swallowed a Bat and Swallowed a Shell.  Keep your eyes out for the additional units and a bundle coming your way! 

Five for Friday

Yay!  I'm officially on Spring Break.  Keeping this week short and sweet! I have a few hours of daylight to enjoy!  ;-)

1.  Reading Room Makeover!  It's actually my closet but the kids enjoy their little space!!!  Dots, Letters, and Canvas Pictures from Target.  Curtains, Stools, and Table from IKEA.  Book Bins from The Dollar Tree!  I wish I'd thought to take pictures behind the curtains.  I have themed boxes for each season storing all holiday fun.  Two full shelves of book bins to rotate on the shelves in our room.  AND as a looping teacher, I have many activities, centers, supplies needed for first and second grade.  I might need a U-Haul to move out!  HA!!

2. SHAMROCKS!!!  Last Monday we planted our shamrock seeds.  I decided to start them on St. Patrick's Day (actually the day after) to better align with the start of life cycles with a seed.  The kids were overjoyed to see our little sprouts popping up!!! I ordered the Irish Dirt and Shamrock Seeds at Chinaberry.  Link here.

3. Teacher Lists.  Ohmiword!  I signed up for Teacher Lists a few years ago and had a widget on my sidebar of the blog.  I began blogging in 2009 with a classroom blog which morphed over time.  During those years, widget helped drive donations with parent support.  When my blog morphed so did the blog design.  At some point the widget was removed unknowingly.  So to my surprise, I was contacted by Teacher Lists the other day.  I honestly forgotten about my wishlist UNTIL yesterday. So, to keep it short... I had three boxes of Wet Wipes donated to my classroom.  Who doesn't love free!?!  Thank you, Teacher Lists!!!!

4.  Shoe Tying Club: I hadn't remembered how needy the little guys are in Kindergarten. I thought I was going to lose my gourd over being asked to tie shoes.  Have you seen where those germ infested strings and what they cruise through?  NO THANK YOU!!!  At first, I tied.  I tied and tied and tied.  Then I told the kids about "MAGIC SHOE STRINGS".  You know, the ones that tuck into the shoes.  Why not, it's a fashion statement!  After that, I bought a few resources to help encourage students to learn!

In one of the Scholastic Magazines, I bought this cute little book.  Provided are steps and illustrations for several different ways to tie a shoe.  I figured if they couldn't do one, maybe the could do another. The kids can take this book and practice as one of my early finisher activities. 

I did purchase Shoe Tying Club Brag Tags but the icing on the cake was creating their shoe and tying their laces for our display on the cabinet doors above the water fountain.  My students are reminded to practice tying shoes every time they get a drink of water.  Great motivation!  I used Alisha, The Bubbly Blonde's Steppin' Into a New Year unit.  Everybody made their shoes.  Once students can show me that they can tie their shoes and keep them tied for the day, they get to put a ribbon in their shoe.  We then display the shoes proudly as Shoe Tying Club members!

5.  SPRING BREAK!!!!  I get to spend time with the Mr! Eat, Eat, Eat!!  And SHOP!!!  I have an obsession with all three! 

This past week I really began exploring Polyvore.  I'm hooked!  Need interventions!!  I cannot stay off the website or app.  Then last night I figured out how to make outfits.  You can actually link and purchase the items from real stores with great prices.

This one is Sweet as Sugar by Primary Graffiti...  Everything is reasonable.  Shirt-Target, Pants-Buckle, Watch-Fossil...etc!

Another set entitled Summer Lovin' by Primary Graffiti.  The shirt is not as reasonable but everything else is... I cannot wait to make more sets!!!  Keep up to date with my new Graffiti Swag Pinterest Board.  And if you are interested, you can keep up with me at Polyvore.

Don't forget to link up with Kacey!

Okay, That wasn't as short and sweet as I thought.

Hope you have a remarkable weekend!

6 Phases of Teaching

I came with the intention of writing a new post entitled Technique Tuesday.  I was going to discuss in more detail a book study I'm currently hosting in school.  I hope a summary will do...

Last year Deedee Wills introduced me to Katie Wood Rays' In Pictures and In Words.  Best book!!  It's changed the way my students craft their writing and illustrations.  In combination with guided drawing once a week and a guided drawing center, students have taken the time and care needed for a strong illustration.  They share their work with pride.  

This year, a few teachers in K-2 decided to get together for professional development and read this book again.  We share our reflections and most recently began diving into the techniques. I'm a bit ahead of the game because I started day one of school.  Here are a few samples from my class...

This was a combination of techniques: Crafting with Distance Perspective (up close and in the distance) AND Crafting with Positioning Perspective (in front , back, side).

This was a combination of techniques: Crafting with Positioning Perspective (in front , back, side) AND Crafting a Background (a lot, little, hardly any).  

As you may be aware, our school theme this year is SUPERHEROES.  We started the year off with a book of the month to align with the theme entitled SuperHero ABC by Bob McLeod...

Oh.my.word, the kids were so excited when he came to our school.  Bob McLeod shared the process that took place to create his book.  If you are not familiar, you probably know his work.  He become a top inker at Marvel and DC on many series, including The Incredible Hulk, Conan the Barbarian, The Legion of Super Heroes, Detective Comics, Wonder Woman, and The New Titans, as well as penciling Star Wars and several Spider-Man fill-ins for Marvel.  Cool right?!?  

Not only did he share the process of creating illustrations, he guided the kids through a session making Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Last nine weeks the kids were invited to watch Superman for their 9 week reading reward.  This 9 weeks, they learned to draw with a "REAL" illustrator!  Doesn't get any better...

Each week I teach my students a technique.  On Fridays, we have a guided drawing sessions.  The growth in their work is astonishing!  I have a guided drawing pinterest board that I display on the white board.  Before we start drawing, we discuss the shapes recognized within the picture.  To link, click image below...

So are you interested why I titled the post 6 Phases of Teaching?  Watch the video below.  On difficult days like today, I need a little laugh...  I found this video three years ago and it always reminds me things will turn around after a summers break.  ;-)

What stage are you currently?

RtI

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Welcome Back to MTSS Monday!  Today I'd like to share ways in which I keep up with daily accountability and data.

To ensure parents are on track with Kindergarten expectations, a checklist of objectives are given for each subject.  My team and I meet with parents each nine weeks to discuss expectations and progression.  It's my goal to have parents sign each nine weeks, stating they were informed and understand the expectations.  As the year progresses, face-to-face meetings begin to fizzle which leads to stuffing the checklist with the report cards. I find this provides the documentation needed to show a bridge between home and school.  You are welcome to take a peek at our expectations here.

For student accountability, I have the kids record their MTSS task daily.  Using a spiral notebook in which I scooped up for five cent at the back to school sale, I have my darlings glue in their weekly recording sheets into their notebooks on Mondays.  This notebook will come to our small group when meeting with kids on specific skills.  By having the kids document daily tasks, I've eliminated my need to record for 20 students and ensure that the kids understand their focus and activity. Be patient and find what works best for you.  My class took a couple of weeks of solid practice before everyone was independent at recording.  It was ABSOLUTELY worth it!!!

If you are interested, you can grab a copy by clicking the image above!

My primary focus for assessments in tier one and two this year in Kindergarten has been Alphabet and Sight Words.  I create flashcard rings to assist in daily practice.  I gave each child a set of cards.  When a letter or sight word was mastered, the card would be removed from their ring. 

 Click Image Above to Download!

Click Here to Download!

 

Have you heard of Michael Heggerty?  His lessons on Phonemic Awareness are short, repetitive, and scaffolded.  A bit behind the man: Michael Heggerty was an educator for 30+ years.  28 of those years happen to be in a classroom with 24 years teaching first.  He began a research action project on the importance of Phonemic Awareness instruction and as a result, he has published a remarkable curriculum.  AND Florida teachers... It aligns with expectations for FAIR (Florida Assessment in Reading).  

Heggerty explains on his website how Phonemic Awareness is an auditory training process and does not involve print; thereby, highlighting Phonemic Awareness is not Phonics!  He later goes on to dichotomize the differences.  

The kindergarten version of these lessons (blue book) spends more time on each skill. The kindergarten curriculum covers all consonants, short vowels, digraphs, blends, and rime patterns. By comparison, the yellow book also goes into long vowels, R-controlled, special vowel sounds, and multisyllabic words.

Each curriculum is intended to be completed with a whole class group. These lessons should only take between 12 and 15 minutes a day. Pacing is very important. It should be quickly paced and free of interruptions. Link here to access the 38 week scope and sequence.  To see a sample of his Kindergarten lessons, link here.  If you are interested, he has a purple book for Pre-Kinders, a blue book for Kindergarten, and a yellow book for 1st and 2nd grade. (Sample lessons available for each book on his site!)

Okay friends, I will be back in two weeks for MTSS Monday.  I'm plan to fully enjoy every minute of my Spring Break! Happy Teachings!!!

Five for Friday and SOOO much more (Freebies)

It's Five for Friday.  One week to go before spring break.  I will survive...

I think!!! 

This week Kindergarten had their PD meeting for a half day.  I really enjoyed this video shared during the session.  The video is entitled Bloom's Taxonomy According to Andy Griffith!

While at the meeting, my kids worked on one of my sub tubs without me (no pictures, boooo!)  I left my Swallowed a Clover tub.  If you are still looking for activities, you can scoop this file up for 1/2 off through the weekend!  I'm linking the blog post with visuals of the activities.  You can link to the store if interested by clicking the image below.  =)  I'm working on completing Swallowed a Chick this weekend. 

Okay, down to Five for Friday business...

1.  RAINBOWS!!!  We've been working on compound words for a few weeks.  We concluded this Monday with a cute craft from Miss Kindergarten Love!  I just love the rainbows!!  My walls are so bight and pretty! 

On Tuesday we 'Tasted the Rainbow' with extended our fun with a graphing and data lesson while 'Tasting the Rainbow'!  This activity came from Erica Bohrer!  I really love the addition of the data piece geared perfectly for my class!!!

2.  St. Patrick's Day!!!  Starting Wednesday we began building background on St. Patrick's Day and Ireland.  We read Gail Gibbons' Book! <---- Love Her with Puffy Hearts! To align with our learning, I used Teaching in High Heels' unit: St. Patrick's Day of Fun.

3.   We've been plugging away at MTSS Centers this past several weeks.  The first image is linked to my St. Patrick's Day centers which are on sale 1/2 off for the weekend.  The following images provides a glimpse at students completing the activities.

This week we tackled Easter Centers.  I've linked the first image to my store and the second provides another example of kids at work!

IF you are new to my blog and store, you might like a sample of the activities I provide for MTSS centers.  Just click the image to download the freebie!

4. Math Mania!!!  Today we dove into non standard measurement with The Teacher Wife's Shamrock Measuring Activities.  Another perfect unit for my kids! 

 I sure wish I had this printable.  This activity was discovered long before Pinterest and possibly TpT.  I only have a hard copy.  Keep an eye out on my Facebook Page, I will upload a freebie copy of the file so that you may enjoy ordering numbers through 20!  This was a transition piece today but enjoyed by all!

5.  TULIPS!!!  If you've followed along for the past Five for Fridays, I've been sharing my Tulips.  A true sign of spring!!!

Hope you have fun-filled "outdoor" weekend!

Don't forget to link up with Kacey from Doodle Bugs Teaching!