March Madness

Today I came to this conclusion…55 days of school left.  Oh My Word, how crazy is that, for us it comes down to 6 weeks until spring break, and then 6 weeks until summer break…YIPPPEEE!!!  My mind is in planning overload for the 2012-2013 school year.  My discovery of all the teaching blogs, and Teachers Paying Teachers has inspired me beyond inspiration, and tomorrow will give me the opportunity to start my “summer project pile”!  Yep people that’s right, have you heard of the TPT sale happening tomorrow?  So many great bloggers/creators are offering a 20% off sale, and TPT will be giving a 10% sale, giving us a sale of 28% off all their goods!!!  Check out the great sales, and don’t forget that promo code at the bottom!

So I too have been busy in preparation for the upcoming month…the kiddos loved their February word banks, and I was SO impressed with some of the sentences that they made up all on their own in the lil journals, that I decided to create a new set for March, and here it is for you:

And, after great inspiration from Cara Carroll at The First Grade Parade, I created a set of ABC order words.  We LOVE ABC ordering in my class, we do it weekly with our rainbow trace spelling cards, and having a smaller set to work with really makes my little’s feel completely successful on their own!

I hope to create some more little March fun for the kiddos, but I love to have all my ducks in a row pre-month entrance, and thought maybe some of you would too!

Chat Soon – Kim

How many SWEETHEARTS do you have?

SO… hubs says that I use the word “SO” too frequently, so I will be altering my openings.  Maybe, we’ll see.  So anyway…

February, such a sweet month.  Literally, sweets EVERYWHERE!  Really we may never get winter and I am doing everything I can to avoid those sweets that look me in the eye at every glance in preparation for my summer wardrobe, ugh! 

I personally can easily pass on those chalky lil conversations hearts, but how can you truly celebrate Valentine’s Day without have them?!  There is no doubt, that the kids, all kids, LOVE THEM!  What teacher wouldn't take advantage of their students love of cuteness and sweets and turn it into a love of statistics and graphing?  Logical connection right? Well to a teacher, OF COURSE!  So, yes I know everyone probably has one of these lil graphs laying around somewhere, but I always like to “cute it up”, much more applicable than Oakdale’s “cowboy up” for the teaching profession!  Happy Hearts and Cupids and all that cuteness!

Chat Soon - Kim

As Promised…

Here is February’s Lil Journal that I will be having the kiddos write sentences in from the February Word Bank Card.  Print these and cut in half, to make your own journal!  Stuff as many writing pages as you want into it!

Chat Soon - Kim

Can it be??? Is that 100 I see???

100 days brings such anticipation.  Hallelujah, only 75 days left until the glory of summer?  But my oh my so much to accomplish in those 100 days!  Why there is still telling time and 2 digits with and without regrouping…I mean all these things have been touched upon, and dealt with whole class, but to get them doing it all on their own?  Oh my, I have my work cut out for me!  I mean look at all these projects that will be joining my room next month, once I get through the scissor time!

That awesomeness you are looking at is part Doodle Bugs Teaching, and part Mwah!  I got inspired from Teacher Bits and Bobs to do a little monthly writing book.  The word bank you see in the above picture is right here for the taking, You.  Are.  Welcome!

Oh the cuteness of the clips art is enough to brighten this mini storm!  Thanks to kmpdoodles and dazzle clip art!  I forgot the journal cover and pages that I made for the kiddos to do their writing in, so visit again on Monday, and I’ll have it up for you!

As I mentioned in the beginning, things are CR-A-ZEE, but I must still do some kind of celebrating in the classroom for 100 days!  If not else than to reiterate the word “celebrate” from The Sleeping Pig!

These Cool Kids are here show the kids that finishing off the 11-12 School Year will be a skate!

Chat Soon - Kim

High Frequency Words…

It appears as if those Houghton Mifflin resources were a big hit to all, so glad that you are enjoying them as much as I enjoy creating them to share with you!

My grade level team has revamped how we test High Frequency Words over and over again!  It just seems as if we cant find a good balance between taking too much time from the classroom to test weekly, and not holding the student’s accountable enough by letting too much time pass!

This year I created “progress reports” to be used at the end of every other Theme!  This way no matter what way we test, weekly or at the close of each trimester, we have a way to give the parents a little glimpse of how their kiddo’s are doing in a more formal manner, more frequently!  I highlight those words that they kiddos do not know, write their percentage next to their name and circle happy if they met my district’s requirement for mastery, and sad if not!  Enjoy!

Chat Soon - Kim

For all my Houghton Mifflin Friends…

Have I mentioned before that my district has had the same reading curriculum for the ENTIRETY of my 9 year teaching career?!?  Oh I have?  Ooops…

Inspiration hunting I went, and man oh man I have found it!  You MUST visit Abby over at The Inspired Apple.  While on one of my stalking, uh I mean visiting,  stops by her blog I stumbled upon her Long and Short Vowel packs that can be purchased at her TPT store.  In each of these packs she has a word hunt page where the kiddos get to use their magic wand (highlighter) to find the designated words!

So…with her permission I have created a very similar doc with the use of PHONOGRAMS!  I love the Houghton Mifflin I Love Reading Books, but hate the double sided copying.  These little docs allow me to print on the printer and only on one side!

Without further adieu…May I present to you Triple Clusters Word Hunt, which goes with HM Theme 4 Week 3!

And…SH/TH/WH Word Hunt, which goes with HM Theme 5 Week 1!

Chat Soon – Kim

Let’s talk Turkey…

So, again I am trying something new this year!  I have done Mr. Turkey Goes for a Walk in many different ways.  First I did him as a 6 page flip book, then I did him as a multi-page full book with a turkey to cut out and glue on each illustrated page.  This year, with our normal Veteran’s Day, a full week of minimum days for conferences, and extra long Thanksgiving break due to a Furlough Day being attached, I feel as if my November is being robbed of me.  I love Mr. Turkey, but couldn’t give it the time I usually do. 

Alas, I created something new.  My first labeling activity!  I have been inspired by Mrs. Carroll over www.thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com and all of her GOODNESS!!!  I must admit, I kind of like this cuteness on my cabinets this year!

The story gives the kiddos a bit of freedom as they get to choose where three of the words go within the story!  Go ahead…make your own…

Thanks so much to DJ Inkers for Mr. Turkey himself, and Kevin and Amanda for the ADORABLE fonts!!!

Chat Soon – Kim