Hello Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year...love the cooler weather (especially after enduring the 100+ temps this summer while pregnant!), the fall decorations, the food, and the list goes on!

Have fun and get creative with your kids! I created a class book based on the pattern of the popular "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat" children's book. Have your students draw and write what they would swallow if they were the old lady. I like to have my kids brainstorm as a whole group first and then have them each complete a page for the class book. So much fun to come back together and read our book!  Download them from my TpT store!

This next class book is based on the pattern of the popular "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" children's book. I love reading this with them after they have created it!  I have them get in "trick-or-treater" mode (haha) and draw/write what they see as a trick-or-treater. Again, I would brainstorm with them as a whole group first and then have each student complete a page for the class book.  And...did I mention this is FREE?  Download it here!

I also included a link to BrainPop Jr.'s Halloween clip; it explores traditions associated with Halloween and also discusses Halloween safety.  As an extension and to make this personally meaningful to your students, I created a brainstorming web for students to include their own Halloween safety tips.  This could be done in groups or independently.  I think Halloween safety is so important to discuss...especially with the little ones!  Click on the BrainPop Jr. screenshot below and it will take you directly to the site.

Time to go walk...having a neighbor with a newborn is fun! I'll be adding more over the next few days!  Currently working on Thanksgiving and Christmas products (while Jet naps)!

Happy 100th Day of School!

Happy New Year, Peeps (a little late)!

I had so much fun getting this blog going this past fall and feel so bad I have been MIA since November!  I finished a tough semester in graduate school in December and spent a lot of time relaxing, eating [tons], and traveling over the Christmas holidays!  But...I'm back!  A lot of exciting things happening in my life...and I can't wait to share them with you! I'm currently taking my last course and will graduate from The Graduate School at the University of Texas with a M.Ed. in Instructional Technology on May 18th!  The end is SO close!  Only a few more weeks...but who is counting? ;-)

So...the 100th day of school is here!  Can you believe it?  The 100th Day has been my favorite day of kindergarten since I started teaching in 2008!  I just have so much fun seeing the smiles on my kids' faces throughout the day!  I even gave my TCEA badge to another teacher last week so I wouldn't miss the 100th Day (I look forward to TCEA every year)!  I told my student teacher to get some sleep tonight, haha!  I am always more exhausted than ever after the day is over...but, knowing my kids had a blast makes it worth it!

I have always been one to eat my dessert first...so, I've decided that is what I'll talk about first.  The 100th Day Snack is literally the cherry on top...

I created a table with 2 columns (Snack Name / Parent Name) and listed 10 different snacks I needed parents to buy (see below) and send in...and shared it with them on a Google Doc [so that it is automatically updated when a parent signs up].  They sign up on the Google Doc, bring the snacks in, and I put them in trays [I bought for .99 at Party City] on each table.  After previewing the snack/sorting mat as a whole group, I have my kids return to their tables and gather 10 of each snack from their table's tray. After they fill their snack mat, I have them choose 2 snacks they would like to eat...and we put the rest in a Ziploc bag and send home. So much fun!  

Now...back to the beginning of the day (now that I have gotten the "dessert" out of the way - ha).  We are dressing up like we are 100 years old tomorrow (some years we have made t-shirts; I polled the parents this year using PollDaddy on our classroom website and dressing up won this year).  So...after the parents come in and take pictures after morning assembly, I usually start the day with a lot of fun, fast-paced activities.  I have the straws helper lead the class in counting to 100 on the interactive hundreds chart on my SMART Board, have them do 100 jumping jacks, have them write their name as many times as they can in 100 seconds, and then have them go to their tables where they will find their hundreds chart along with a sheet of stickers.  You can purchase this hundreds chart by going to my TPT store or clicking the image below:

I have them create their own pattern with stickers for each row of 10. Not only do they like having their own hundreds chart and counting/creating a unique pattern for each row, but this is also an activity that develops fine motor skills (peeling each sticker and placing it in a small, designated space).

You might also want to check out BrainPOP Jr.'s 100 video:

And of course, I love to read Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day during our read aloud time after lunch:

Well, I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating the 100th Day this week!  "See" you very soon, Peeps!  Off to bed to get some ZZZZzzzzZZZ's for tomorrow!

"Brainstorming Templates" on TPT

Happy Weekend, Peeps!

I hope everyone had fun this week!  I'm still exhausted from Halloween on Wednesday!  So...I'm taking break from the Texas Tech vs. UT game (it's halftime, no worries - ha!) to blog and upload some more of the templates I've created (see previous posts) to my TPT store.  I actually found the USB I thought I had lost over a year ago and I'm elated!  So many Activ Flip Charts, lesson plans, and activities for my Kinder Peeps; I'm planning to upload as many of these activities as I can over the holidays (my graduate courses come to an end the first week of December...Merry Christmas to me!) and my school district's last day before the holidays is December 21st.  Anyway, I'm ready to give Deanna Jump some competition, haha!  I just love her products and blog...if only I had the time.

I've uploaded what I call "Brainstorming Templates" for letters A-Z, consonant blends, and digraphs...you will find brainstorming templates like the one shown below (students draw the picture and then stretch the word in the space under each picture) in my TPT store.

My kinders get so excited about "brainstorming" because they love to draw and come up with words we haven't yet discussed!  Like I mentioned in my initial posts, this is the first year I've tried this (in lieu of the cut-and-paste picture sorts)...and they have become such confident writers through these activities!

My kinders are also brainstorming in our pocket chart station during literacy work stations in the morning.  I cut card stock into 4 different pieces and leave it for them at the pocket chart each day (along with crayons, markers, etc.).  They brainstorm words with their partner and then draw and label pictures of words that start with the letters, digraphs, or blends given on the pocket chart each day (see picture below).  I just love the chicken!

What do you have your kinders doing in your pocket chart station?  Would love to hear all about what you're doing!

Coming soon:  election activities, class book templates, graphing activities, and several literacy work station ideas...stay tuned!  Well, my husband is making dinner...so, until next time!