iPad Mayhem

I have tried so many different procedures for storing our iPads and headphones when not in use.  Needless to say, I have YET to master this dilemma. I set aside two cubbies to designate for these supplies and THIS is how I picture it to work........

Well, THIS is actually as good as it usually gets!!

I am now off to search iPad storage ideas on Pinterest!!! lol

Also, while we're talking about technology....One of our report card standards for writing is that they explore digital tools to produce and publish writing. We have taken this standard very slowly, but have loved using the Paint Game on www.abcya.com.  I know a lot of you use this website, but I never really considered using the Paint game until a co-worker suggested it. My students love it and think they're just playing a game.  We began the year by just playing with it. I required for them to type or write their name and to attempt to spell something.  Here's a few of their works. Oh ya, we printed these pages out from the game and formed a class book.

We've recently been working on Silent E words, so I thought it would be fun to make a new book of nothing but these type of words. I thought they did a great job. Here's a few....

Centers in Action!

Yesterday I blogged about how I organize my materials for my centers. Today I will explain how my centers are actually ran. I changed how I run them just slightly from the previous year. I still continue to use a "Daily 5" structure, but it is now called "LEARN". This stands for Listen to Reading, Enjoy a Book, Attention to Writing, Read to Teacher/Someone, New Words.  I LOVE this and found it HERE. Reagan Tunstall is amazing, really! Anyway, I bought her center rotation system and tweaked it to fit my needs. I turned the powerpoint into a SMART board file, added my animal groups, links and timer.

Okay, let me sloooow down and start from the beginning...... I divide the students into 5 groups - Lions, Tigers, Giraffes, Elephants, and Monkeys. My lions are my highest students and so on. I form these groups based on many different things, but mostly by their skill performance and behavior.  They change periodically, as I see fit.  Here are my posters that I laminate and then write their names on with dry erase. I've also included an editable version if you prefer to type their names. (I used "African" font for the title- it's free and can be found HERE)

Click on Pic!

Now, as I briefly mentioned above, I use a Daily 5 structure during centers. We go through the whole introduction of centers, just like the Sisters. We use anchor charts and go over expectations EVERY day for at least the first month. I use these posters as my anchor charts. They are free and I print them as poster size, cut, glue, and laminate them.

Click on pic to get yours!

So, I have these 5 centers that we rotate to every 15 minutes for 5 rotations. Realistically, once you include a couple minutes for clean-up time, centers usually take around 90 minutes total. We can usually get 4 of the 5 rotations completed before lunch and then the last one after lunch. The students know where to go by viewing the board (they end up having it basically memorized).

This is what the main menu looks like.

When you click on the each sign it takes you to the page that shows who goes where and includes the timer to keep us on track. They look like this. 

And so on........

This works for me and my class. They can practice their reading skills by completing a task, but not being in the center too long and losing their engagement. I get to meet with every student, everyday. My groups are usually only around 5 in each, so I get to really zone in on how they're doing. The biggest difference between what I do and what the sisters do is that I assign them where to go. However, once in word work, for instance, there are choices- 8 choices usually. Every student is assigned a number.  Once they complete a tub, they will check off their student number by that tub on the chart. So, if I'm student #4 and it's Monday and I Stamped the Room with Tub 2, I'll marked off my 4 in the column next to the pumpkin stamping game. On Tuesday, I'll need to select a different tub. Last year I did not have any form of accountability to which tub they completed and in the BIG picture, it probably doesn't really matter because every tub is a necessary skill to practice. This simply helps those that want to do the same thing over and over without branching out to work on a different skill. 

The next day they will need to select a different tub in word work, and so forth. I may, on occasion, require students to all complete a specific tub by the end of the week.

I hope this makes sense to you all. I'll gladly answer any questions that you might have.

Center Organization

Organizing your centers is one of hardest things for teachers, but can be one of the biggest pay-offs if you take the time and just do it. I'm going to show you how I have my math, word work, and writing centers organized.

Before I begin, I have to stress.......This was not all done at once! It has taken me a couple years to work up to this. Just focus on one center this year or one aspect of this organization system. You will continue to tweak your system as you grow professionally and finally reach a point of contentment.

I begin by using a table/chart to provide a visual and guide that I will house in a binder and use for easy changing of centers.

I have these charts made for each center.

Once I have chosen what activities that I want in that center for that time frame, I place a copy of the chart and all materials (that can fit) in a plastic envelope with a label of the dates covered. I have designated a specific color to each center. My writing center is black, math is red, and word work is blue. 

Once these plastic envelopes (purchased at Dollar General for $0.50 each!) are stuffed and labeled, they are placed in a storage tub that is labeled with the month and placed above my cabinets until needed.

You will find different activities that you like better and will constantly adjust your charts, but the overall system is in place and pretty easy to use. My goal is to have it so organized that my student teacher can pull down a tub and immediately know which tubs to replace when and with what materials. My third grade daughter helped me switch out centers last school year on Fridays and it was a piece of cake! My focus can now be taken off the stress of center changing and on to something else! lol

I have included a copy of my center activities for the first half of the year, along with a blank template for you to begin creating your own! ;)

Click HERE

Freebie Friday!

First, just a few random things that I love! This is the new bulletin board design made by my co-teacher. I love it!

Also, I wanted to share my new organizational tool for storing all  a few of my zippered bad games and such. I love it! It's so handy to turn and grab an activity to work with my kiddos at my teacher table. As the year moves along, I'll just trade out the bags for some new ones. I used a small curtain rod, the large Command hooks, and medium sized binder rings. (I believe 1").

Now, on to my freebie! We have been doing DINOSAURS this week (which I also love)! Last year I made these for my freebie!

This year I made some cute little sight word dinosaurs that you clip clothespins on to spell the sight word. (They look really cool with their clothespin spikes!) I also made a few small letter sequence dinosaur puzzles. I hope you enjoy and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

Freebie Friday!

This Friday's freebie are objective headers for your classroom. I'm sure most of you are required to post the week's objectives on your board or somewhere. I put magnets on the back of mine and displayed on my front white board. It's quick and easy to just write or draw a visual of our weekly objectives. I hope you have some use for these and have a fabulous Friday!

Click on pic to get yours!

"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.

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!