Lesson 4, 5 and a Unit 1 combo pack! Journeys!

Holy Moly!! It's been a crazy two and a half weeks since school started!! Not only at school but in my personal life as well. I haven't even had a moment to write about the first two weeks. I will! I just don't know when.

I finished Unit 1 for the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys for Kindergarten. I had to finish Lesson 4 and 5... and then I grouped them all into a combo pack!

Check them out at TPT!

You can find Lesson 4 here: @ TPT

You can find Lesson 5 here: @ TPT

And you can find all 5 lessons here: @ TPT

Enjoy!!

We're not cupcakes!

There is a two word phrase that I hate! Can you guess what it is? 

"I'm done!" 

So on the 6th day of school I said to them "You're not cupcakes!" And the looks I got were priceless! 

So I explained to them the cupcake story. 

I asked, "When you bake cupcakes, how do you when they're done?"

In which they replied, "The timer dings!" 

So I asked, "Are you guys cupcakes?" 

I got a big "NOOOO!"

Then I was able to explain to them, "if you're not cupcakes, then I don't need to know when you're done, right? When you say 'I'm done!' All I hear is a oven timer dinging. "

For the rest of the day, if anyone said "I'm done!" I looked at them and said "you're not cupcakes, I don't need to know when your done. " 

Today, while in centers. One group finished before we were ready to switch. I overheard them saying "but we're not cupcakes! She doesn't need to know that we are done. Maybe we should do something quiet until we switch." 

Yes!!!!! I'm so proud of these kids so far!! They've done such a wonderful job! 

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys - Kindergarten - Lesson 3

Lesson 3 is completed! Now that the students are learning a few sight words, I added in some new fun activities! I hope you enjoy!

Visit my TPT store to grab these! Or go directly there using this link.

Math Journal Prompts

I've been so focused on the new Journeys ELA program, that I've kept putting off writing the prompts for my math journals. Well, I decided this weekend that I couldn't put them off any longer. While my step-son was playing some Minecraft on his Xbox, which I guess some big stuff just happened to that game, I decided to write... write and write!!

And well, I only came up with 54 prompts. But, I'm thinking that's pretty good for now! I don't know how quickly my students will pick up on them. There may be some who need these beginning of the year type of prompts longer than the others, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!

There are 2 different prompts per page, with 10 prompts of the same. I know some classes are larger than 10, and all you'll have to do is print each page twice. For someone like myself, who's class will probably be no larger than 8 children.. making 20-30 prompts per page was a waste of paper!

I put a primary journal on my school supply list. The kind with drawing space at the top and writing on the bottom. Like the Mead Primary Journal below. This is what I plan on using as our Math Journal.

I may put something nice on the front, but I don't know. I think it'll be fine leaving it just the way it is.

The students will glue their journal prompt on the lined part of their page, and they'll draw on the top half. Later on with the prompts, i'll have them write simple math equations to represent what the prompt is saying. Once the school year gets going, i've only allowed a 15 minute space for Math Journals... I still don't know if this is something we can accomplish in this amount of time! We shall see!

For now, enjoy the beginning of the year Math Journal Prompts!! You can get them at my TPT store!

Chevron Behavior Clip Chart and Calendar Recording Sheets

Okay, so I already have a clip chart. It's up and ready to go... but I was just given the greatest idea on how to record the behavior by a great friend! So, of course I had to make it! After I made the calendar pages, I just quickly added in the clip chart for anyone who does not have one. Just to be safe. :)

So this is how it works. My students will have a plastic 3-prong folder that they will use as their take home folder. In the middle, I will place a plastic page protector which will be for their weekly newsletter and their calendar behavior recording sheet.

At the end of the day, they will take their take home folder, open it up and grab the calendar. Which ever color their clip is on, they'll color that square. If the student is below the green "ready to learn" color, I will add a reason why.... which is where the 10 different pre-made reasons are already there! So all I have to do is put a number down! That is, unless the reason isn't on there. Then i'll put a 10, and write on the back of the sheet the reason along with the date.

This is a perfect way to keep track of their behavior for a month, and the reasons why! That way the parents and I can try our best to fix them.

Pretty great! Right? Well I hope so. I know sometimes the best laid plans never work. So let's hope!

Anyways. You can get these calendar recording sheets and the clip chart at my TPT store! Happy shopping!

Could I be overwhelming myself?

I am not only a Kindergarten teacher, a wife and a step-mom... but I'm also a Thirty-one consultant. As I was working on some lesson for my class, an email came through from Thirty-one.

I had already decided, being a first year teacher, that I will not take many parties in September. However. I might have to change my mind about that one!

DOUBLE HOSTESS CREDITS!! Plus it's an amazing special that includes the perfect teacher bag.. the organizing utility tote.

So I just might have to push to book more parties in September! I really hope I don't burn myself out. Someone tell me it wont be that bad!

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys - Kindergarten - Lesson 2

I wish I could say I've been working hard on setting up my classroom and such since the last time I posted, or at least busy relaxing. But I've been busy doing other things! Family reunions, watching my nephews, yard work... and 7th year wedding anniversaries! ;) I guess that day was pretty nice and relaxing!

Anywho, I finished Lesson 2's supplemental materials! My stations are ahead of the game luckily! If I finish Lesson 3's, all of Septembers ELA centers will be completed! Well, besides the printing and laminating part of it all.

I added a few more fun items to this packet. I hope you enjoy!

Visit my TPT store to grab these! Or go directly there using this link.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys - Kindergarten - Lesson 1

The first lesson supplemental materials of Journeys is completed!! Unlike the "Welcome To Kindergarten" section, this one has 6 different stations. The rhyming station can also be completed as a whole group activity, but it needs to be teacher run. Unless you have some VERY high flyers. Then challenge them with it!!

Enjoy!! You can get it here!

Number Of The Day Posters

My calendar area and time just didn't seem complete. That was until I found this on pinterest! A great way to implement the Number Of The Day and have it be interactive!! All I need to do is laminate the pages and they'll be dry eraseable! Wonderful! We can now discuss the number of the day and the many different ways to show that number.

I can't wait to get these up and going! You can get them at my TPT store for your calendar time!

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys - Kindergarten - Welcome To Kindergarten

As I'm starting to plan for the first few weeks of school. I noticed that my Journeys doesn't have any materials for stations, thus, I must make up my own! And so I did. Well, for the "Welcome To Kindergarten" section so far.

Included in this are three different stations. The Welcome To Kindergarten section mainly focuses on the letters A-J. So these stations focus on those letters as well. I have Letter Matching station, Letter Find station and a Play Doh station. This will work great along side the Listen to Reading station and Guided Reading station in which i'll administer the BOY assessments.

I'm going to start working on the supplemental materials for Lesson 1 tomorrow!

For now, you can pick this up yourself at my TPT store! Happy Shopping!

Play-Doh Mats

My play-doh mats are finished! With the alphabet and 108 sight words. This will be perfect as a word work station! Just let them roll out the play-doh and place it on the letters to form the words. I can't wait for them to get their hands on it... that is, after I buy more laminating sheets. I used up all of mine!

You can get yours at my TPT store!

Ice Cream Scoop Sight Word Word Wall

I'm not a huge fan of typical word walls. I don't really know why, I just never was. Even with the word work station, I just don't feel they are useful enough for the students.

So. I came up with my own word wall. They are grouped together, not alphabetically, but by levels. Each student will start with an empty cone at the beginning of the school year. They will work on mastering the sight words under the white "vanilla" level. Once it's mastered, they get to add a scoop of vanilla to their cone and will then work on the pink "strawberry" level.

There are a total of 9 levels, and 108 sight words total. These sight words are considered level A, and good for Pre-K, Kindergarten or First.

I set the first 4 levels up in my room today! I printed the flash cards on colored card stock that matched the level color. I'm going to have to search for some brown card stock!

So all of this can be yours!! Just check out my TPT page!

And as the teachers in my school said, "Just another chevron thing to add to your room!"

Numbers!!

Half of my numbers are up and I'm already in love!! So are the other teachers at my school. That is, after they say "you and that chevron!" Haha 

Hopefully the rest will be up tomorrow. That is if I can get my butt working once I'm at the school. 

Check out my previous blog post by clicking here.

You can also check them out at TPT!

Number Pictures - Chevron and Polka Dot

I am still working on decorations for around my room, and saw these numbers on pinterest. Yes, I could have bought them from the teacher to help her out... but I figured, since I haven't received a paycheck yet, to make them myself! So I did and now i'm offering them to you guys. That is, if you have received a paycheck... unlike me. :)

You can get both the polka dot and the chevron files here: At TPT

I can't wait to print these up and put them up in the room! I'll be sure to post a picture for when I do!

Printables to send home

I'm starting to work on more items for my classroom! Setting up the room is getting there, there's still a lot more to do... but i'm getting there!

So while i'm home, and doing a plethora of laundry that I've been slacking on, I figured i'd work on a few items for my room.

The first thing I figured I'd work on, is the weekly newsletter. With birthdays, fun memories, objectives, and special notes just from me. Just to give the parents an idea on what we will be working on.

I plan on sending this home every Monday. I would love to send it home on Fridays, but at my school Friday is a half day and there's just not enough time. Plus, sometimes, I'm not 100% planned for the next week. Please tell me I'm not the only one who waits until the last minute to plan?


The next thing I made is a calendar. We send home monthly calendars to the parents with important dates, as well as journal questions. Journals are to be completed at home as a part of homework. A lot of the teachers go to a website and make their own calendar on there. I decided I wanted to carry my chevron theme to a lot of things, so why not the monthly calendar?

I added in the holidays we observe, and will add in more dates as time goes on. This is also good for my teacher binder!



The Weekly Newsletter and the Calendar are available at my TPT store for only $1!!!

I worked on my Meet The Teacher Letter, which is adapted from the ones all over Pinterest.

And then, I worked on the dreaded supply list. I have seen many of my non-teacher friends on Facebook blow up about the supply list. They cannot believe teachers ask for so much and how they ask for specific brands. I try to defend us teachers, I try my hardest, but some people just don't understand it from our point of view.

I didn't think writing up the supply list would be so hard. Yes, I do ask for specific brands. A) I know what works. B) There's also a fairness issue. Even though I am very big about kids learning that sometimes life isn't fair and we all don't get the same things, we get what we need.... just sometimes, if I can avoid the green eyed monster with who has crayola crayons and who doesn't, I'll avoid it!

My parent friends also don't understand why teachers don't want you to label all of your items. They feel it's going into a big pot and your 2nd box of crayons might go to a child who's parents didn't buy him supplies... ... and while yes, that might be the case. The real case behind it is when your child needs that 2nd box of crayons, I don't want to shovel through all of the extra boxes of crayons to find the one specific box that is your childs! I want to just grab one and go.

And so, the dreaded list is done. I tried to keep a lot off of the items I really really wanted. I am going to go buy some items that I want specific types of... like plastic folders. But, I hope no parents complain!

So that's that! I worked on a lot today and will start working hard on a few more items. I have a lot on my "to do" list in my head.

iPad

I know one of the first things I'm going to buy is an iPad for the room. I have found so many great sites, like tumble books, that would be great as a station. 

So, why not try to win an iPad!? 

Teacher created website is having a giveaway. They're giving away an iPad and iPad mini! So, why not give it a try! 

You can enter as well. Check out the website and give it a try! http://tcr.me/a9m

Good luck!! 

Lots of changes!!

I haven't posted or done any work in awhile because I had a feeling things were changing, and boy was I right! 

I am no longer teaching First grade come September, I will be teaching Kindergarten! 

It's a big step for me but I can't wait. I finally was able to get into my room yesterday and start working. But first, we had to paint the walls. I was glad I was able to pick the color, a nice calming blue color. The fabric for my curtains are on the way, and I hope it's a nice color contrast to really make it pop. 

Today I finished up with the paint and started on moving everything around. Sooner or later I will go through everything to see what all I have. 

And so it starts. I can't wait for the point when it finally starts feeling like an actual classroom. 

Teaching what?

I haven't been doing much prep for September yet because I heard there might be changes. And well, changes there was! I'm no longer teaching First grade come September, i'll be teaching Kindergarten! This is going to be such a new and wonderful adventure for me! My mind is already spinning with tons of ideas.

As of right now, I believe I have 5 or 6 children in my classroom!! I'll wait until your shock wears off..... 5 or 6! There may be as many as 8, but that's stretching it.

I was able to visit my room this week, and boy oh boy it's a mess! We're going to be painting the walls and everything is in the middle. There's no rhyme or reason to where everything is either. It'll be fun to go through it all to see what is what and where everything is. I don't think i'll do much planning until I get straighten up in there first. Then i'll get down to the nitty gritty on how I want things to run.

Kindergarten here I come!

Must Have Mondays

I am linking up with Teaching With A Touch Of Twang today for Must Have Mondays!!



My must have, since I am still a substitute teacher, is very detailed lesson plans! In a huge district with 7 elementary schools, it's very common that I walk into a room without detailed lesson plans.

The more details the better! I know how important structure is and it's difficult to keep that structure when detailed plans are not given. So I am very thankful for this must have!



You don't understand how nice it is to work in rooms that are organized, ready and detailed! Some days I walk away feeling like I wasted a day trying to figure out how to run certain activities, and I get tired of hearing "No we don't!" and "Yes we do!".

Some classes are better at "Do I look like Mrs. So-and-so? Is it okay if I do things a little differently?" However, some classes cannot handle any change at all.

So my must have, is detailed and organized lessons when I walk in!

The Ultimate Chevron Classroom!

This weekend I planted my garden... and I made the ultimate chevron classroom!

It's available on Teachers Pay Teachers! So get yours now!


Included in this file, are two different alphabet posters. One that each letter takes up one sheet of paper, and one that has two letters per page. It is very colorful and has cute graphics.

Then there are the name tags. There are 4 different types of name tags, from very simple to having the alphabet, number line to 30 and left and right hand signs. These are perfect to print out on card stock and to use contact paper to apply it to the desks.

Then I made labels for your boxes of items. Pencils, markers, crayons, scissors.... all of those fun things!

Sometimes folders that the kids have are cuter with a little color on the front that you can write their names on! These are good on file folders and pocket folders. They include To Do Folder for their desks, homework folders and take home folders.

Running stations can always run smoother when you have posters all around the room, or inside the baskets for each station. You'll never have to hear "Where is this station?" The station include, Read to self, word work, meet with teacher, read to someone, listen to reading, work on writing, study spelling.. and blank ones that you can write on yourself!




Last but not least is the classroom schedule. I *think* I have included pretty much anything that can happen during the year. Since I will be teaching in a Muslim private school, I have also included Islamic Studies, Quran, and Salat al-Dhuhr.

I know I am ready to print these out and start hanging them up in my room! Too bad I have to wait for the end of the school year and for the room to be cleaned out. I'm so excited yet, I must wait. I'm also taking these to kinkos or Staples to get printed, to save myself some ink!

So, this is it! What do you think? Do you love all of the chevron goodies!? If so, please check it out on Teachers Pay Teachers!