Both the number line and the 120 chart are important tools for our kids to use. They are equally important and make wonderful resources for our kids to use when problem solving, counting, etc. I think it's extremely important to equip our kids with the tools necessary to be successful. I display the number line (0-120) in my classroom and all of my kids have a personal number line they keep in their desks. Their personal number line contains the numerals 0-20. The reason for this is so that we can practice with the numbers we will more often than not work with in our day-to-day math. In Kindergarten we ... Read More
Writing Fast Finishers
Happy Tuesday!!! (Is it Tuesday already?!) I'm trying to finish up my presentations for next week's I Teach K/I Teach 1st conferences and I'm working hard on empowering our primary writers at the moment. As I was pulling out my resources for this particular presentation, I came across a stack of my writing fast finisher activities that always seem to be a hit with the primary teachers I mentor. Let me break it down for ya. Pick a Pocket *might* be one of my most favorite writing station fast finisher activities ever. You can differentiate and modify as needed. I used this in Kindergarten and 1st grade. ... Read More
Learning the Alphabet – Phonics FUN!
Let's talk a little bit more about phonics, shall we?! Last week we talked a little about some important Phonics non-negotiables. You can check those out HERE. I also shared a couple of fun games & independent activities I like using in the classroom for phonics instruction. Today's post is dedicated to my Kindergarten teachers. Kindergarten is where it all begins. We set the tone for the rest of our learning experiences in Kindergarten. We wipe noses, zip pants, tie shoes, dry tears, and instill within our kids a love of learning. Bless the Kindergarten teachers of the world. I taught ... Read More
Let Freedom Ring!
Happy 4th of July!!! I hope you're all having a wonderful holiday....or had a wonderful holiday weekend :) This is what it's looked like for me the last few mornings... After spending a week in Dallas for the Get Your Teach On Conferences, I was ready for a little R&R! If you're looking for a good summer read, this book is EXCELLENT (so far!!!) Speaking of GYTO, if you ever have the chance to attend one of these conferences, YOU MUST GO!!!! I felt so blessed to be a teeny part of it. It was absolutely AMAZING!!!! Here are a few little highlights... Now I'm spending time with the ... Read More
Phonics, Fluency, & a Deal of the Day!
Today we're talking all about fluency and phonics. First we're focusing on phonics and then we'll get into the fluency portion. And if you love practicing reading fluency like I'll do, you'll LOVE today's deal of the day!!! Do you have a specific phonics curriculum you follow in the classroom? Saxon? Horizons?? Or do you just make it up as you go? I'm asking because I'm genuinely curious. I've only taught in one district where we were required to follow a phonics curriculum. If I'm being honest, I didn't think it was effective or appropriate. I feel like it's more important ... Read More
Sight Words & Freebies
It's Friday and you know what that means?!?!? Well, nothing really. Except that it's Friday :) I love Fridays. Since I'll be headed to Dallas for the Get Your Teach on Conference on Sunday, I'll miss spending my 12 year wedding anniversary with Mr. Spouse. SO we'll be celebrating tonight instead. Yes...I think this might be my favorite Friday of the year so far :) Now let's get right down to it and talk about what we're really here for...SIGHT WORDS!!! I've talked about my Spelling Sticks in some of my conference sessions and frequently get asked if I have a copy to share. These little sticks sit ... Read More
Short Vowels, Deal of the Day, & A Freebie!
We talked a bit about writing on Monday, so I wanted to follow up with a few short vowel activities today. Teaching our kids how to identify medial vowels, blend, and segment sounds is one of the first steps we take to make them independent readers and writers. One of the first phonics skills I cover at the beginning of the year is vowels. I introduce both short and long, but focus mainly on the short vowel sounds until that concept is mastered. However, I think it's important for our kids to know BOTH sounds since they'll encounter those sounds/vowels in their reading. When I introduce vowels, I tell my kids ... Read More
Let’s Talk Writing!
One of the topics I'll be presenting in Vegas in July is all about writing. As I'm going through my presentation I thought it would be the perfect time to talk a little bit about it here and show y'all what I do and what I feel helps to make writing in my classroom so successful. First up, let's talk about some writing non-negotiables. If we expect our kids to become fluent writers capable of producing more than just a sentence here and there, we have to give them TIME to write. Not just 5 minutes here and there, but time for sustained writing. Not only do we need to give them the time to write, but we need to give ... Read More
Summer & Supply Labels
Happy Summer!!!! Well...for some of you, anyway. I know that's not the reality for everyone right now (and I'm sorry!!!), but for those of you relaxing poolside reading something other than a staff email or PD book, happy summer to you!!! Our last day was last Thursday and here's how my boys celebrated.... Pretty awesome! What that picture doesn't show you is how I forced my boys to get dressed as quickly as possible ...with their "mud" shoes...and race outside to take a pic before the sky opened up & rained yet again. They were not amused with my desire to capture their last day. I was all, "get ... Read More
Lemonade & Retirement.
Goodness I love that word! Unfortunately I'm nowhere near the age I'm actually able to reap the benefits or enjoy it myself, but I do love that word a lot. Although I'm not quite ready to retire anytime soon, I do have lots of resources that are ready to take the leap. And because retirement has it's benefits, these resources will be offered at a deep discount before they're gone for good!!! I'll be posting my retiring sets throughout the summer, so stay tuned to see what's headed out & grab 'em on the cheap before they go! First to retire, two of my favorites! These files have been bundled and ... Read More
