Make & Take

We had a pinterest inspired make and take party today and it was so fun! We made lots of new things to use in the new year. Whoohoo!

So I was cleaning up looking through supplies and found some of my Target purchases and made these up real quick:

Target has these foam blocks that I picked up but wasn't sure what to do with - but of course I had to have them! I bought the pretty alphabet stickers from Target as well - both came from the dollar spot! I am going to use them in small group to identify letters or in large group to practice sounds. Just need to find a pretty container to put them in.

I picked up foam letters and numbers last night from Dollar Tree and threw these together too - in a crafty mood so I'm going with it! Made a set of letter sticks and a set of number sticks (1-20).

I can't wait to use these with my new Kinder-Kiddos! What games have you been making for the new school year?

Pinterest

I.am.officially.addicted. I can't get enough of this site and continue to find new boards to follow everyday! Not to mention new pins and such...whoooohoooo!

Life Isn't Always Frogs and Cupcakes is having a linky party...for pinterest-inspired items. We haven't had ours yet, but I'm so inspired that I invited all my teaching buddies to my house for a make and take party next week. Here are some of the items we are going to work on making!

 
I can't wait!

Sight Word Game

I am loving the "Find the _____" sight word game that I have seen on some other sights. I made several different ones this year and the kiddos love it.

 

The basic premise: Students take turns reading sight words. Students must read the sight word in order to lift the card to see if the hidden object is there. If they can't read the word, they can't lift the card to check. We played as a class and in small group - both were fun. =)

 

"Find the Farmer" is below! Enjoy. More coming soon!

Find the Farmer

Super easy to do:

• Print sight words file
• Laminate/cut
• Place the cards in a pocket chart
• Place the hidden object behind one of the cards.

 

G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y.!!!

I love blog giveaways - they are like the lottery for teachers (and you don't even have to pay to enter)!

Enter the giveaway at Mrs. Kelly's Kindergarten and you just might win the grand prize - which is pretty fabulous.

The winner receives everything from Mrs. Patton's TPT store. Yes - everything!

The giveaway ends Wednesday night so go quick!

LiNkY pArTy!!!

I love linky parties! They have so much information and are on so many great topics...

Which brings me to my next point. :-) Growing Kinders is hosting a linky party on Kindergarten schedules.

Growing Kinders

It is so hard to fit everything in. The schedule below is one that I created in August - but it has changed considerably! Through the year, I stretch out Writer's, Reading and Math Workshops. Which means that rest time, social studies and science - even the restroom break!- get cut as the year goes on.

It looks good on paper - but I don't follow it strictly. Kinder kiddos need structure but flexibility - so while the schedule is created - I'm totally fine with changing things up!

My kiddos loved reading and math workshop this year - so I stretched the time out to fit their needs as the year progressed.  The hardest part of our schedule is that lunch starts at 10:55 - so we have about 1.5 hours after getting settled in to get everything for ELA in. It's craziness. My teammates and I have talked on several occasions about teaching 10 things at 10% to get it all in versus teaching 2-3 things at 100%.

I don't think there is ever an easy answer...

10-11 Schedule

Shout-Out to Kindergarten Crayons

If you have not been to this blog yet, go. Now. Right now. This stuff is amazing - and free!!! Whoohoo. Currently there is a book discussion of the new Debbie Diller Math Work Stations Book. Double whoohoo! Check it out!

End of Year Gifts

So, if you are like me (which I'm sure you are not-haha!) you knew the last day was coming but didn't buy gifts for your kiddos yet. Every year I get them a little gift bag - mostly little cheap toys that they will love.

I was at Dollar Tree searching through the toys and decided to go a little smaller with my gifts after not really finding anything that stood out. Still a meaning behind each gift - and I spent about $.59 per kiddo - not too shabby.

I bought a puzzle for each student (they came in a pack of 2) and attached a Smartie candy to the top.

I made a label to go on each puzzle box.  The name badge labels from Avery fit perfectly on the box - it is the 48395 template. If you don't have the labels, you can always print on regular paper and tape/glue them to the box. I recommend printing on a laser printer - just because labels slip in inkjet printers and then the text doesn't line up with the template. :-(

All finished! Ready to go for 22 Kinder Kiddos tomorrow!

The label link is below! Enjoy - if you are thinking about graduation gifts it means summer is in sight...! ;-)

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