It's a Jungle Out There! A Kindergarten Blog: September 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Giveaway!!!!

Here is a giveaway..

Two smart board activities for the books "There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat" and "There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves."

This is a notebook file for smart-boards. This smart-board activity goes along with the book "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat." In this activity students can move the objects and have the lady swallow them into her stomach. This help in retelling the story! Students will have to also sort objects by if they were swallowed or not swallowed. The next slide also has were the students move the objects that were swallowed to match their beginning letter. Students use picture to sequence the story. Students will be able to create a circle map on one of the characters. It also incorporates math by counting how many were swallowed by looking at a graph and having them write the number while determining more or less.

This is a notebook file for smart-boards. This smart-board activity goes along with the book "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves." In this activity students can move the objects and have the lady swallow them into her stomach. This help in retelling the story! One slide has where the students COMPARE the story "The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat" and "The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed some Leaves." Students get to sort which items were swallowed in what book. Students will have to also sort objects by if they were swallowed or not swallowed. The next slide also has were the students move the objects that were swallowed to match their beginning letter. Students use picture to sequence the story in order. Students will be able to create a circle map on one of the characters.

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Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Math Centers This Week

I hope everyone is having a blessed week so far at school! I know that I am finally getting into more teaching. Which I LOVE!! First off I want to show you what I won at our PTO Meeting!!

Isn't that so amazing? Parents paid money to put their child's teacher into a drawing for this supply cake. I was so honored to win it. There is so much wonderful things inside. I think it is so pretty that I don't want to take it apart to use the supply. ;) My kids loved having it delivered to the classroom today. (I think they were more excited because they also get a special snack from the PTO)

Now that I got all my excitement out, I wanted to share with you some of the math centers that my class are working on this week!

K.CC.1 and K.CC.4 Pencils/Erasers:

Students have to count the dots on the pencils and then place the correct number eraser on top!

K.CC.1 and K.CC.4 Pigs/Corn:

Students have to put the pigs in order from 1-10. Then they draw a corn cob and count the dots and place the corn on the correct numbered pig.

K.CC.1, K.CC.3 and K.CC.4 Counting Sets:

Students draw a card with pictures on it. They have to count how many are there and use their wipe off boards and write that number. They are practicing counting one-to-one and writing numbers.

This center is to help in Common Core Standard K.CC 4.b and K.CC.1

The number of objects is the same regardless of their arrangement or the order in which they are counted. The students place the number cards in order and place the picture cards under the correct number.

K.CC.1 and K.CC.4 Counting to tell the number of objects

students have to put number cards in order and then place that many bears on the card.

I hope that you enjoyed some of the math centers that I am using this week and maybe you can use some in your classroom!!

Data Organization "at a glance" Notebook

Is it sometimes hard to collect data and know how to use it to benefit the students? Have you ever felt like you could see what all the students know at the same time? My grade level has came up with a great idea for data organization and have been using it for years now. We have a notebook that has all the material that we assess in it. For example, one page in my book is for uppercase letter recognition. Every single child is listed on the page and it shows what they know and don't know. It is an easy resource for me because I can look at it and see exactly where my whole class is "at a glance." It helps to see where the largest need is and helps in planning my lessons to benefit the students.

How I created my notebook...

Do you know those grade books and lesson plan books that the school always gives you? If your like me they always ended up in the closet not being used. Does yours look like this?

My grade level took this lovely unused notebook and glued our charts for each area in the book and added the wonderful sticker tabs.

Here are some pictures... Sorry if you can't see them too well.

The initials of the students are listed along the bottom of the page and the green that is colored in shows what they know.

Reading Assessment Data shows what reading level the students are on!

For math we write the standard along the top and mark what level they scored on benchmarks. This helps in seeing what needs to be re-taught.

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Second Week of School is Done :) and Freebies I found

I don't know about you but this has been a LONG but wonderful week. I love all my new students and I am very excited for this coming year. They are still getting use to the routines and procedures of the classroom. They will be Pro kindergartners before you know it. I am lucky to be at a school with such wonderful people. They are always willing to help you when in need and always there to give you encouragement when you need it the most. I am blessed to be teaching next to so many amazing and wonderful educators. They make your job more exciting and fun! With all the excitement this week, I will say I'm so glad it is the weekend. (even though I am working my second job all weekend)

On another note, I want to thank Schoolgirl Style for featuring my classroom on her website. It was such an honor to wake up the other morning and see that post. It made my DAY! Melanie is very talented and creative. The classrooms that she designs are amazing. She loves to help other in anyway she can. She even gave my husband idea on how to decorate a "manly" high school classroom. Check her website out and all her items in her shop. You will find lots of cute and trendy classroom decoration for all themes.

And here are some FREEBIES