I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Thank you for hosting, Kacey!
We measured, watered, and watched our amaryllis bulb every single day since we planted it. Finally, it was JUST about to burst open on Friday afternoon right before our week off. SO, my wonderful mother took care of it for us at her house- and she actually made a book to show the children the beautiful blooms!
That wasn't all- she brought in the plant, which now had four gorgeous flowers on it. I love my mom's excited face! That is exactly what makes a great teacher, because you should have heard the excitement when the children saw those flowers. The book has been a favorite in our classroom book bin!
Every year, I take the children's pictures in a hat they choose, and have each of them tell me why they are lucky. This first one made me smile.
This one got lots of bonus points, as you can imagine...
Letter Man is great reinforcement for those children who still need some work on letter sounds. We use him for reading sight words, too. Then, of course, he becomes Word Man...
I got the garbage can at the Dollar Tree. My sweet husband made the hair for me, just because that's what kindergarten teacher's husbands do. And he wanted to give him a mullet. Because that is just what men do, I guess.
We also have fun feeding Hungry Harry. He's a tennis ball that I cut a slit in with an Exacto knife. The eyes and hair brought him to life. Eating letters and words keeps him alive. He's always hungry for letters and words. Sometimes numbers or shapes. He's our hungry helper.
One of my favorite things to do is watch the children read in their special spots. I have pop sickle sticks with eight different special spots on them. The spots I use are housekeeping, front corner, under table (3 times because I have 3 tables), rug, by my desk, and out in the hall. Each pair of reading buddies (which I choose ahead of time, by the way) choose a stick and go off to read, read, read. It's just a fun way to change up independent reading time.
Magic Smart Glasses are a fun way to change up Read the Room- or to wear when they are writing sight words. They just write more neatly and remember how to spell those words better with these magic glasses. You know- it's magic!
I wrote this letter because I wanted to send home some ideas to help parents while they read at home with their children. Reading at home with children is such a huge benefit and important part of a child's reading success, but sometimes we forget that parents don't always know what we're focusing on or looking for as they read with their child.
I labeled the praise points, "Wonderful," and the questions for parents to ask, "Wondering." These ideas help parents remember to praise, praise, praise and encourage their child as they read together at home, as well as provide questions to help parents take their child deeper into the text and beyond the text.
If you would like a copy to send home with your students' click the picture below if you would like a copy! Enjoy!
Have a happy, healthy weekend. Thank you for stopping by!
I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Thank you for hosting, Kacey!
We had a snow day on Monday, and then two two hour delays this week. I have to say... our schedule was messed up, but I did love it so- not so much the shoveling and snow that went with it, but I guess I'm not going to get a delay for sand and sunshine!
We did this little "Love is" writing activity this week. First we talked about what love is to us, and shared ideas with friends. Then, the children wrote whatever they wanted, starting with "Love is." I took each child's picture making "I love you" in sign language, and then they made a little frame around it. Simple and sweet, and a good chance for the kids to remember those spaces and punctuation marks.
I also posted about our How To Heart books here. We have lots of fun making hearts now. They are everywhere throughout the day. Randomly. It makes me smile.
Recently, I've seen several posts on facebook asking about how people manage assessments for their students. Since we just finished our second round of report cards, I wanted to share again how much our kindergarten team has loved using ESGI as an assessment tool.
Here is a visual:
Assessments before using ESGI...
And... Assessments AFTER using ESGI:
Yeah, it's pretty clear.
I posted ALL about the benefits and some examples of what ESGI offers HERE.If you want to learn more about ESGI and to get a free 60 day trial of the software, click here. If you like using it and want to purchase the program, you can use my special PROMO CODEB1119 and receive $40 off your purchase for the first year. The price is usually $199 a year, but with the promo code, it will be $159 for the first year. Check with your administration because they may be able to purchase it for you. They can use the code and get it for $159 for the first year, too. Enjoy!
We had so much fun playing our new "Secret Word" game! I did this with a small group of four. I had four bags made up with magnetic letters- each with letters for three of the same words and then one different secret word in each bag. The children knew the three words but not their special secret word. They had to dump the letters and quickly build the three words on the magnetic board. Then, with the left over letters, they had to figure out their secret word. Each child tried to be the first one to discover his/her secret word, and shout it out. They had a ball! Finally, they had to write all of the words on their recording sheet, including their secret word. You could also have them write the words right on the dry erase board. Here is a little sample of one group playing it. (Except you might think this little sweetie's word is, "I won" because that might be what she says instead of her sight word...oops. We take games seriously sometimes...)
Here's a simple little recording sheet I made to use with the game. I just had the kids write each of their words twice. You could also have them write right on the whiteboard. Click the picture if you'd like a copy.
We are really working on listening to each other in our class. I am thinking some adults may have missed this lesson when they were in school- not only listening to children, but to other adults, but that's another post I will never write. ANYWAY...
We're having lots of fun with it, so I thought you might like it, too.
I have the kids get into Chit-Chat pairs.
Each person must ask their friend a question, LISTEN, and remember the answer. Then, the other partner asks, LISTENS, and remembers.
After a few minutes , I say, "Class, Class." Everyone says, "Yes, Yes," and it's quiet. No more talking. Then, I go around and ask each person to tell me his/her partner's answer- with no help. We started off very easy with "What is your partner's favorite color?" Then, we moved on to favorite holiday, favorite zoo animal, favorite farm animal, favorite dinner, favorite breakfast (with more details, like what KIND of cereal, what do they like on their pancakes...) It's not as easy as it seems at the start. They are getting great at it now. Hopefully, it will help them in life forever, to realize how important it is to really listen, and how much more special you feel when you think someone is truly listening to you.
Number 5 had to be this new song, Give Me Five, from Rocking Dan Teaching Man! It's perfect for reminding the children of the combinations that make five.
Between this and The Friends of Ten, my kids have gotten to be so good with facts to ten!
Every day during our morning meeting, we count the days we have been in school- like probably all of you do. Last year, I started adding ten frames to our counting.
As we get up in the number of days, we count by tens instead of ones some days using our fingers. The kids flash ten fingers for each ten that we count. Then, when we get to the ones part, I have them show me that number with their fingers. For example, if it is 47 days, they flash ten fingers four times as we count ten, twenty, thirty, forty, and then I say, "Show me 7 fingers." This is fun because they can see that more than one answer is right- 3 and 4, 4 and 3, 2 and 5, 5 and 2. Then, I will call the leader of the day up to help me show how it can also be zero and 7, 7 and zero, 1 and 6 or 6 and one. It's such a simple, quick activity, but the kids have really loved doing it, and it reinforces those number facts. The "one" days (like 51) are fun, because it's only zero and 1, or 1 and zero. They think that's funny. I love how that is funny to them. This was Wednesday- day 95.
Our amaryllis is GROWING like crazy! We're having fun with it.
Have a happy, healthy weekend. Thank you for stopping by!
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