Volcanic Subtraction

Check out this Volcano Subtraction Pack! Click on the picture above to grab your own!

If you  liked the Dinosaur Addition posted about a month ago you'll love this subtraction packet! Click HERE to find the dinosaur addition activity post.

Free Math Talk Cards

Like many of you I have been reading Math Work Stations by Debbie Diller and it is AMAZING! If you have not checked it out you should run out and go get a copy. Seriously go get it;) So many great ideas. It inspired me to make some math talk cards I know I could use. To grab them just click on the picture below!

Facebook Mixer

Kinder Fun had a great idea to see how many educators there are out there on Facebook. Click on the picture below to add yours.

Check us out on facebook too by clicking on our button!

Magazine Noun Sort

Here's a great nouns sort that is super easy and little prep time. Just print the sorting sheet below and have students browse through magazines and cut out pictures and sort according to person, place or thing. To download your own FREE copy click HERE!

Behavior Management Sheet

Over at the Lesson Plan Diva she is having a linky party about behavior plans. There are some great ideas!Head on over and join in!

Last school year I had a student who did not seem to respond to any behavior modification plan. Then I started brainstorming and picking coworkers brains' trying to figure out what in the world would work. A teacher that was helping me brainstorm asked what he liked and showed me a behavior management chart she had used and had success with. He LOVED Spiderman so that's when it clicked. I googled a picture of Spiderman and printed it out in color on card stock and then cut it into about 8 pieces (1 piece per time of day) and put Velcro on the back on each piece and the other side of the Velcro on another piece of card stock. We broke the day into 8 parts to make it manageable for him and started off with him having to get 5 out of the 8 pieces to pick a prize and then slowly moved it up to 8 out of 8. After each part of the day he would evaluate with me if a teacher had to talk to him or if he made good decisions. If he did he could color a spiderman AND put on a piece of the spiderman puzzle (it was a great visual!) If he did not we would talk about what he did and how the behavior could improve. I would write the behavior in the "comments" section. At the end of the day we would count and if he got the predetermined amount of pieces he could pick which prize he wanted. If he did not we would discuss how he could change his behavior to earn a prize the next day. He would take it home and his parents would sign and he would return it the next day so it was constant communication with the parents. I worked it out with his parents that if he had a good day he got a prize of his choosing at school and then the parents would also reward him at home by playing a game or something of his choosing, same with consequences. Hope you have success with this as well. Click HERE for your own copy and hopefully you can use it to adjust to your schedule and tailor it to your students needs.

Columbus who????

At my school in Kindergarten we cover all the American Holidays. Each year when I am teaching this I am always wanting reinforcement activities. It seems like a month after we have talked and talked about Christopher Columbus they have forgotten. And truthfully I realize why.....we talk about a holiday and then move on. I needed a way to spiral the holidays so they would not be forgotten. So I created this holiday packet with games, assessments, and activities to reinforce the holidays throughout the year. Each holiday has it's own fact card, name of the month it is observed, as well as words and pictures associated with the holiday.  The goal is that after discussing a couple holidays students can sort the cards and month according to the holiday. This pocket chart activity could stay in rotation as you discuss more holidays. To check it out click on the picture below!

Specials Cards

At our schools activities like PE, Art, Music, etc. are called specials. Each year I cut out the cards and put them in the order we go to them and glue them on construction paper and hang it on my board with a clothespin to show where we go that day. This cut down on confusion especially after the weekend;)  Students always like to see where they are going the next day too. I found the clothespin system really kept me on track. Some teachers put magnets on the back to put them on the whiteboard and just move a magnet piece to show where they are going. Since everyone's school is different there are several blank card for you to add in the ones at your school. Here are the cards that have helped us stay on track. Hope it helps you! To grab your own for FREE just click on the picture below!

Schedule Cards

Here are some schedule cards that we made for the upcoming school year. To grab your own click on the picture below. We left some blank so you could add subjects if you wanted. Enjoy!

Science Time!

Another often difficult task as a primary grades teacher is finding the time and resources to teach science.  With everything else that has to be fit into the day, I find myself fitting science review lessons into my literacy centers.  I made this unit on The Water Cycle to help my kids review our science lessons during centers.  It includes three center activities, that can be used independently or in whole group.  It also includes six assessment pieces.  Hope you can use it too!

                                                        Click here to get your copy!                 

                                          

Favorite Authors

So hard to choose! There are so many great ones that we consistently use in our classrooms for different areas. One is Robert Munsch...his books always keep students engaged and have a cute message.

Surprisingly enough Jamie Lee Curtis has written some really great children's books as well. They have great messages!
   
Doreen Cronin is always a class favorite.
             
And last but not least Judy Schachner. We both teach at schools with high Hispanic populations and they always think it's funny when we read Skippyjon Jones and have to read some words in Spanish!
  

Join in on the fun and go to Cluter Free Classroom to share your favorite authors! Can't wait to see!

Social Studies!

I REALLY love teaching Social Studies in my first grade classroom, but often feel that I am pressed for time or resources.  It was my  goal this summer to make lots of activities that were fun for the kids, yet easy to grade.  So far I have completed one unit.  Not the progress that I was hoping for, but it's a start!

I am really proud of this unit as it covers all the American Folktale Heroes that are a part of our Social Studies curriculum.  It teaches Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, Davy Crockett, John Henry, and Annie Oakley.  There are fact cards on each character, at least two activities, and an assessment.

This is my first post on TPT so I am very excited!!!!

Click here to snag this Social Studies Unit for your own!

I have...Who has....School Rules

Looking for back to school stuff?!? I know it's hard to believe that we'll be going back so soon. But here is an item that goes along with the Be Cool and Follow the Rule Packet. This I have who has game will help reinforce school rules and get the kiddos familiar with what is expected. I'm loving making these games and hope they helpful. If you like this game check out our whole back to school packet by clicking HERE! As always love to hear hear your comments!!! Click the picture below to download the game for FREE!



I have....Who has...Shapes

I have.... who has... game about shapes! It can be played two different ways:

1) With pictures

  OR

2) With words

For your own free copy click on the picture! If you download it we would love to hear from you!

Castles and Crayons 300+ Giveaway

Over at Castles and Crayons they have reached over 300 followers! Wow! In honor of this milestone there is a great giveaway with great goodies. Find out how to enter by clicking on their cute button!

100th Day Linky Party

Over at Teacher Blog Addict they are celebrating blogging for 100 days!
They are asking: How do you celebrate the 100th day of school with your class?
Here's a few that we do in our classrooms:
1) 100 years old portrait! I give students a paper shaped in an oval for the face and have them draw what they will look like when they are 100 years old. After they finish drawing their face I have them squish the oval and when they open it up it is a wrinkly looking face. They then glue the face on a paper and draw their body under it (it looks like caricature). Then they write what they will do when they 100 years old. They love it! Wish I had pictures...will take this year.

2) We count object by tens to get to 100.

3)Fruit Loop Necklace I give students a laminated 100 chart and give them fruit loops. I tell them each row of 10 needs to be a color and then when they fill up their board they string it altogether for a 100's day necklace!

4) 100s chart game with money.  This game is very similar to the one 3rd Grade Grideiron (Click HERE to check her game out) posted but with a money spin. Pairs of students get a  laminated100 chart (or two if you want each student to have their own...the game lasts long that way) and a dice with pictures of the coins. Students take turns rolling the coin dice and put an X on the hundreds chart for the value. For example if a student rolls a quarter they will mark 25 number boxes. They keep going until they reach 100!

5) We read lots of stories about the 100th day of school. Here are some favorites:

    
To join in the fun go HERE!

Calling all Kindergarten Teachers

I recently found this blog and she had such great ideas I just had to share! Click on the button below below to check her out!

Bulletin Board Saying Party!

Really Roper had a great idea for sharing bulletin board ideas. Click on the picture below to join on in the fun to share your ideas, and grab some new ones too!

I wish I had a picture and I will post when I put it up in a couple weeks. In the beginning of the year for my bulletin board I take a piece of poster board and cover most of it with black butcher paper (like a Polaroid) and on the black butcher paper in chalk I write Say Cheese To Kindergarten! and on the bottom I write Miss Young's Class. Then at registration I take a picture of each of my students and after they are developed I cut their pictures out in the shape of a circle. I buy the camera cutouts from Schoolbox (There are enough for a class set in one package). I glue the each students picture in the lens of the camera with their name under it. I then put the cameras randomly on the board with the "Polaroid" in the middle.It's pretty adorable if I do say so myself;) This year I think I am going to laminate the cameras and use them to hang their work all year.

Giveaway over at Ladybug's Teacher Files

Kristen over at the Ladybug's Teacher Files is having a giveaway for reaching 1,000followers! Wow! We're impressed!  If you don't already follow you should! Such great resources! To find out how to qualify head on over and check it out!

Linky Party

Yearn to Learn is having a linky party and we couldn't resist! To participate this is what you need to do:

1.  A blogger who is a "New Kid on the Blog"
(Let's say someone who has blogged 2 months or less and has less than 200 followers)

2.  Post a blogger in your same grade level

3.  Post a blogger in a different grade level

4.  It's all about the button. Find a cute blog button and post it.

So this is our list...so hard to pick so many great blogs out there:
1. Kindergarten Corral
2.  Plug n Plan and Lesson Plan Diva
3. 3rd Grade Gridiron

4.

Be Cool Follow the Rule Packet

I know I know it seems all too soon but we're going to be headed back to school before we know it! We have preplanning in 3 weeks...EEK! I know that in our classrooms the first couple weeks are all about school and class procedures as well as where things are located in the school. In Kindergarten I know first hand how HUGE these skills are and how they set the foundation for the rest of the year. Having the kiddos learn these routines makes life so much easier;) So the thought was wouldn't it be great to have some resources to introduce and reinforce these skills?!?! This packet was then created. I hope you find it helpful and as always love to hear your feedback! To check it out click on the picture below!

Free Animal Number Set

Head on over to our TPT store and grab this great number packet....for FREE! To download click HERE! As always we appreciate your votes and feedback and feel free to leave a comment!;)

Another Giveaway!!!!

Over at Target Treasures she is giving away a Target gift card. Awesome blog that posts great finds at Target...I mean who doesn't love that?!?! To enter click HERE!

Awesome Giveaway

The Lesson Plan Diva is having a fantastic giveaway for reaching 500 followers so head on over and check it out!!!!! Click here to grab all the cool freebies!

Play Ball!

These adorable baseball bases were at the dollar store!  We both got one to use in our classes. Our idea was to use these to spice up flashcard drills.  We were going to have the students get "on base" by answering problems correctly.  It should make things a little more interactive and interesting. 


This was our idea, now we want to hear from you!  Does anyone have any creative ides for incorporating this baseball game into their classroom?

Number Game

Here's a great game for students to get familiar with numbers and number words! To download just click HERE to get it from our TPT store! It's FREE...we would love to get your feedback and votes. Thanks!

Wiggins World Giveaway

Over at Wiggins World she has having a great giveaway for reaching over 150 followers! Head on over and check it out by clicking HERE!

Toolbox ABC Packet

I hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July! This is a great packet for the beginning of school! It includes 26 uppercase letters, 26 lowercase letters, and assessment sheets for the students to show what they have learned. You can use it for an alphabet line, alphabetical order, word wall letters, sorting, pocket chart, flashcards, and many more! If you download it we just ask that you vote and give us your feedback. Thanks! To download just click HERE!

And the Winner is.......

Thank you to everyone who participated in our giveway! The lucky winner is....

Enter a lower limit:
Enter an upper limit:
Random Number:

So when we post the random number generator it won't show up for some reason. Sorry! I promise we did it and it's number 33! So congrats.

meesa said...

I follow your blog!

June 28, 2011 4:44 PM

Meesa send us an email at courtandkj@gmail.com and we'll get that scrabble packet to you! Happy 4th!

Giveaway! Just ONE day left!

Tomorrow we are going to pick one lucky winner for the Scrabble Pack. Click HERE to find out how to enter!

Thrifty Ladies!

As we have blogged about before, books are a MAJOR weakness of ours.  We are always looking for cheaper ways to outfit our classroom library.  Well today, on our way to the Dollar Store, we decided to stop at a thrift store!

We had fairly low expectations when we went inside, but were very pleasantly surprised!  Not only was there an AWESOME selection, most of the books were current titles and in excellent condition.  The best part?  They were all just 25 cents!  We each got around 30 books each, for the low price of $9.00.  Most tthrift stores are affiliated in some way with charities, so you really feel good about your spending as well.  Also, when we only spend 25 cents on a book, it's easier to not worry so much about the kids being careful with them!  We love this because the more books the students have access to, the better they will read!

Check out our haul!

Story Elements - Accountability Piece

Here's an accountability piece to go with the story element cards. Click Here to get to the post with the cards. To download the accountability sheet click on the picture below!

And don't forget to participate in the giveaway! Click HERE to find out details! Just two days left!!!! Good luck!

Dollar Goodies

We were out leisurely shopping and we COULD NOT resist all the great stuff we saw the one spot at Target and at the Dollar Tree! Take a look:

We found these great Sesame Street books to put in our classroom library at the One Spot at Target.

Found these great card games at the Dollar Tree. These will make great literacy and math stations!

We got these great charts at Target in the toy section. There is one for a bulletin board design, one for birthdays, and one for a daily activity chart. Each one was $2.50....such a great deal! I mean how could we resist?!?!

How cute are these for helping students get to know community helpers?!?! Found at the One Spot a Target.

These goodies are...you guessed it...from the Dollar Tree. They had great stuff! The sentence strips to write sight words  for the word wall. There is a cute postcard to send to students right before school starts to introduce yourself.  Also, reward tickets and great stickers (a teacher's best friend)

These are some great things for the treasure box! We like to get stuff for the treasure box that has more than one thing in the pack, more bang for your buck, all of there were from the Dollar Tree.

At the Dollar Tree we found this great sound tube. And thought...what a great way to teach sound!  It can be used as an easy experiment to study how fast and slow vibrations teach pitch.  You can demonstrate and then the kids can try!

At Target we found these great sticker incentive charts. We each have "Sticking to Good Behavior" Charts in our classroom(more to come on that later) and these will work perfect for positive reinforcement!

We also found these great sticker charts at the Dollar Tree. We were thinking these would be great to put in students' homework folders as a reference chart for when they do their homework.  We got some for money, colors, letters, time, and they had some more on place value and measurement for older students.

And last but not least the Weather Chart from The One Spot at Target. On the other side it has a place for predicting the weather for tomorrow.

So after spending a small fortune each we were very satisfied with our purchases;) Great minds must think alike, check out our friend The Lessson Plan Diva