Five things I could not have survived the first week without!

The first week (ok, the first four weeks) of kindergarten are always hectic, crazy, fun, draining and...entertaining.  My group has 2 weeks under their belts now....Zero the Hero will visit us for the first time on Tuesday!  I know there are probably new kindergarten teachers everywhere wondering...what did I get myself into?  =)  It's ok, we all get it, don't panic!  I can promise you they do calm down (a little) they do love you no matter how frazzled you are on the inside and they do LOVE everything you do for them.  With that in mind,  here are 5 things I could not have survived  my first two weeks without:

 

#1

These absolutely necessary posters were created by Peace, Love and Learning and she has them for FREE on her blog!  Click on the pic to go to her blog...it's fabulous!!!!

 

#2

Rules!  Rules!  Rules!  We go over them every...single...day.  Love Whole Brain Teaching!  If you're interested you can get these cards FREE by clicking the picture. 

Sadly these card were created by me and the original file I created them with was corrupted on my computer...gah!  I've had lots of requests to "modify" for individual use but I can't because the file is kapoot!  =(   This download is safe though!!!  =)

 

#3

Again a FREE download from Growing Kinders!  It's a great discussion tool and helps kids identify above and below the line behavior.  LOVE! 

 

#4

Candy?  Prizes?  Uh...no....all they want is to be cheered for!  Look how nicely you lined up...hip hip hooray!   Did you see how Susy helped Brian...seal of approval!  Trust  me....it's a high better than tootsie rolls!  And again...FREE from Dr. Jean!

 

#5

GoNoodle is a must because....they can't sit for longer than ten minutes!  Get them up, move them around, cheer for them and you're good to go for another ten minutes.  Best part....it's FREE (sensing a theme here?)

 

Hope your first few weeks were as....entertaining as mine were! 

 

 

 

 

Handwriting Zoo Addition

I love this addition to my Handwriting Zoo packet:

Honestly I don't know why I didn't make these years ago when I first started teaching my students about the handwriting zoo!  It took a couple smart teachers requesting them on TPT to finally make me slap my own  head and go 'well duh of course they need practice pages that match!'  

So thanks for the request ladies and make sure and download the revised version on TPT!

If you haven't seen my Handwriting Zoo posts check them out here:

http://inspiredbykindergarten.blogspot.com/search/label/handwriting%20zoo

And remember TPT is having a SALE right now!!!!!  Woohoo!

First "School" Purchase of the Summer

I didn't mean to do it. 

 I went to Wal-Mart for gift bags and wrapping paper. 

 I was NOT planning on spending money on school.  

But, let's face it, I'm weak.  

I saw them and I had to have them.

  Scentos Daubers!!  

I have a slight addiction to Scentos.  

I hear admitting it is the first step towards recovery- I hope not!

It really doesn't take much to make me happy. . . 

Center Books: Read the Room/Write the Room

Yet ANOTHER center book I use throughout the year is our Read the Room/Write the Room book.  If you've miss the other center posts and would like to read them click HERE.

Read the Room/Write the Room is another repetitive book in nature but keeps the kids engaged and searching for new words every time they use the book.  The book is in ABC order with a few extra pages at the end (ing, sh, wh, ch & th). 

On each page the kids are searching the room for words that match the directions in each box.  

At the beginning of the year I print the cover onto construction paper and bind all the pages into a book.  They keep the book in their special center box and pull it out when it's their turn at this center.

I keep a special box of fun pens, pencils, markers and glasses that the kids use when working on this book.

I even keep the glasses from 3D movies and pop the lenses out.

I like this book because it requires kids to really look at the words in our room (especially the Sight Word Wall, which we call Popcorn words).

If you are interested in looking at this book on TPT ($3.00) click HERE.

Center Books: Popcorn Words (Sight Words)

Another Center book I use is a Sight Word book.  Just like my ABC/Fine Motor Skills book by Sight Word center book also has pages that are repetitive but the activities are diverse enough and hands-on enough to keep the kids interested in it all year long.  

Each sight word in the book has 3 pages of activities:

Page 1:

On the top of this page the kids trace the word using crayons, fun markers, pens, etc.  We make the rule that they  need to trace it 5 times.

On the bottom of the page they cut the word out, unscramble it and glue it back together again.

Page 2:

At the top of this page the kids use magnifying glasses and find the word as many times as they can.  The circle or color the word every time they find it.

On the bottom of the page they uses alphabet stamps to stamp the word.

Page 3:

On this page the kids cut out the scrambled sentence, glue it in order and then draw a picture to match the sentence.

Then the book will repeat these 3 pages again using another sight word.  The great thing about this book is you can put the pages in any order you want.  Here are the words included in this book:

Again, when working in centers some kids will get 1 page done and some will get 4 or 5 pages done. They work at their developmentally appropriate pace.

If you are interested on seeing in on TPT click HERE.