"Wild About Learning" and a FREEBIE

First week of school is just about complete! I LOVE my Kinders, but WOW, I always forget how simple you must begin. My two favorite examples from the week....."What does clean up mean?" and, after showing students how to choose the "shapes" tool on the Smart board, I had some students trying it out. Well, he forgot to click on the shapes icon first and I said, pointing to the icon "Remember, we have to tell it we want to make a shape first." He leaned in close to the board and said "I want to make a shape." LOL (CONCRETE THINKERS)

It's also been so fun having a school-wide theme. Our theme is "Wild About Learning". I thought it would be fun to go around the school, snapping pics of all the fun decor.

Now on to the FREEBIE!

I have loved using this template for my math tub planning and word work planning. I'll let you download my first few weeks that I've completed. Just delete out my pages if you want. There are blank templates at the end.  Hopefully, some of you can find it useful! Enjoy!

Click HERE for Math Tub Planning Sheets.

Click HERE for Word Work Planning Sheets.

Freebie Friday!

Today's Freebie will enhance your listening center! I've created a playlist of some of my students' favorite songs from Jack Hartmann, Dr. Jean, Greg & Steve, and Steven Fite.  It provides your students will a page to follow along while they're singing the song. I obviously cannot provide you with the tunes, but most of you have the music any way! Just print and spiral bind your pages together. I also made a Smart board version of the book to model tracking print with the music as a whole group. Enjoy and have a wonderful school year!

Click on pic to get file :)

Click on pic above to get the Smart board version.

CLASSROOM REVEAL!

So my decor is what I call hodge podge haven. It's a little chevron, some polka dot, some "wild" print because of our school-wide theme and a lot of my favorite color - BLUE! I know, it's way too many patterns, but I think it works just fine for me.

I'll give the tour in a complete 360 around the room, starting at my computer area. Sit back for a moment, there's A LOT of pictures with descriptions! I hope you like....

Hope you enjoyed!

Table Caddies Complete

1. I considered for a moment having multiple colors of caddies, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I truly think I have some type of disorder?! They must all MATCH :)

2. This spray paint is awesome (and a little pricey), but is made especially for plastics. I probably could have used only 1 can, but I had to paint the bottoms and give a good second coat too. I ended up using about a can and a half.

3. We now have all black caddies.......time for some ribbon! 

4. Staying with the "wild" theme, I chose a zebra and snow leopard 1.5" ribbon. It took right at 33" for each one.

5. I made some labels that matched my name plates on the tables. Ready to laminate! BTW, I LOVE this Scotch laminator.

6. They are complete.....time to take them to the classroom.

7. They have found their new homes for the year. I must say that I adore them :)

Freebie Friday!

I have been trying to add more options to my writing center so I decided to beef up my labeling activities first. I was creating some new pages and decided that I wanted something different for my students than the usual ring of vocabulary cards. What I came up with is one picture card with pieces of the different pictures from the labeling page on it with the vocabulary word. (Kind of hard to explain - See pic) How much more fun is that?! Students will have to pay attention to detail to know what word to write. I love it! The bundle includes 12 different pages, each with their picture clue vocabulary card.

For your freebie today, I'm giving 2 of my favorites from the pack! Enjoy!

Click on the pic to get yours!

Back to School Math Center Games and Freebie Friday!!

We know in Kindergarten how important it is that students spend some time during the beginning of a new school year just exploring different manipulatives on their own. It's interesting to observe if they're sorting them, building in patterns, counting with them, or none of the above. Once they've been given free exploration time, then it's time to add some simple activities that do not require a whole lot of explanation, but do require a specific task. These simple math center games are perfect for this transition time. The students will use Unifix cubes, links, flat glass beads, clothespins, and even rocks as manipulatives!

Click on pic.

Now, on to the FREEBIE! Another classroom issue that must be prepared for........."I'm done, now what can I do????" What do you do with those Fast Finishers? Well, for the last 2 years I've used a system in which I post a "Fast Finishers" Poster on my board and I'll provide their options of activities to do under this header. This may have the same activities for weeks or I may choose to change things up often. It's up to you! 

Click on pic to get yours FREE!