Back to School 2015

Hello again!  So I have taken the biggest hiatus from blogging one could imagine.  Last years bunch was a lot of work and fitting in this blog just didn't work.  But here I am ready to try it out again.  We have started our second week of school and whew is it crazy to think I keep doing this year after year with these kinders.  I am absolutely exhausted everyday by 10:50 when we go to lunch - as are they.   Anyway, I did want to tell you a little about what we have been up to.  As you know, in kindergarten our first month or so is all about routines and expectations.  My class has done a pretty good job grasping all of those things so far.  We started week one with our classroom rules book as our main academic focus.  I thought I took a picture but it looks like I didn't. 

This is the second week and I introduced the concept of reading centers. Each day, I model how to read our center chart t and where to go. The students work at a center about 15 mins, my timer has been woderful, then we all color in the center on our chart to track the things we have finished. Now, I introduce and practice this way because eventually, I release the children to complete all 4 centers on their own while I do guided reading. This is one less things to have to teach later because they have been trained to color their center chart after completing the center. 

    

  

Here is the poetry center at work. Students read the poem from the previous week to themselves, read it to a friend and listen to a friend. Then they glue and illustrate in their poetry journal. 

This activity is at the ABC center where the students are recognizing their letters to color and make a picture. These students are working independently so I can teach the groups at the poetry center. 

Of course, there is always teaching kids how to use the computer. Here they are working on www.starfall.com. Next week, they will start on our reading program. 

This was one of our opening work activities from this week. 

Right now at math stations, the kids are just exploring the manipulatives. Here's some pictures. 

Well hope your school year is off to a great start. I'm hoping to be back Friday with my Five for Friday pics.  Cheers!

Back to School Tech Style

Welcome to the Back To School Tech Sweepstakes!

Check out this amazing giveaway sponsored by Mom Powered Media. How amazing would it be to win this awesome computer...but I'm even more excited about the $500 Visa card!!  So keep reading and enter to win at the bottom of the post!  Good luck!

At Mom Powered Media, we believe in higher education and want to help our network readers get there. To help you do just that, we are giving one lucky reader a $500 Visa Gift Card and HP 14″ Chromebook PC. There will also be 20 second place winners to take home Back To School Prize Packages. So what are you waiting for? Let's get BTS ready, tech-style! Special thank you to our supporting co-host bloggers: Monica's Rants, Raves & Reviews, The Jenny Evolution, Memoirs of a Clueless Woman, My Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Life, My Daylights, Barbara's Beat, Saving You Dinero, Shaping Up To Be A Mom, Robyn's View, Coupons and Freebies Mom, A Hen's Nest, Budget Savvy Diva, Mutterings Of A Mindless Mommy, Your Sassy Self and Nest Full of New. Open your sleek, next-generation HP Pavilion 14-Q020NR 14" Chromebook PC to get online, fast. You can access your favorite websites and Google Chrome apps on the 14-inch diagonal HD display in seconds. HP 14″ Chromebook PC features:

• Intel Celeron 2955U Dual-Core processor 1.40GHz
• 2GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory
• 16GB solid state drive
• 802.11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN
• Intel HD GMA Graphics
• Webcam
• SD memory card reader
• 1 x USB 2.0 port, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x HDMI port, 1 x Acer converter port
• 3-cell lithium polymer battery for up to 8.5 hours run time
• 2.76 lbs, 0.8" x 11.3" x 8"
• Genuine Google Chrome OS Software

One grand prize winner will receive a $500 Visa Gift Card and HP 14″ Chromebook PC. Twenty additional winners will also receive a Back To School Prize Package.

Giveaway ends August 15th at 11:59pm, open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+. Excludes Quebec. Only one entrant per household, per address. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Enter using the giveaway form below. Good luck!

Entry-Form


Disclaimer: The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entrant per household, per address. Void where prohibited by law. Winner(s) will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. The sponsor(s) will be responsible for product shipment to winner(s) of this sweepstakes. This event is in no way administered, sponsored, or endorsed by, or associated with, Facebook and/or Twitter, Google, Pinterest. Contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com if you have any additional questions or comments.

Five for Friday August 23rd

1.  I started back to school yesterday and today with professional development both days. 

2.  Here is what my classroom looks like right now:

3. I have NO billeting boards started or complete!  However, I do have great ideas for all of them (4). That is my goal on Monday morning first thing!!

4. Here is my puppet center from www.scholastic.com. I got it with my bonus points several years ago. 

5. Here are the other pictures of my unfinished classroom!  Please wish me luck next week as I have LOTS of ideas and know what I want to do but need the time to get it all done!!

What do you think? Can I get it finished before Open House on Thursday??

Enjoy your weekend and be sure to link up with Doodle Bugs.

Tried it Tuesday - Exciting!

Oh my gosh! I can't believe I am actually linking up for Tried It Tuesday!

The idea of a Juice Box Robot came from a silly email my husband got about the 80s or something but when I researched it on Pinterest...oh my!  {HERE} is the search I did on Pinterest!  Too much to pick from so I just decided to go with applesauce, juicebox, mini raisin boxes and laffy taffys.   I wanted to get apple juice boxes but they came in a pack of 8 and Hi-C was a pack of 10 and cost about the same or a little less.  They still need some googly eyes and a spoon strapped on the back.  I have one size eyes, but hubby said he liked the example that had 2 different sized eyes, so I have to hit the craft store! 

Here is my robot army!! :)

 (sorry for the glare!  That's the first bit of sunlight we have seen in 48 hours due to rain and dark clouds!)

This is an up close look!   Since my husband and I are both teachers, I get to make double the crafts!!  I made 50 of these suckers (27 for hubby and 23 for me).  That's a lot! But my precious 2 year old helped line up the raisins and stack the applesauce.  It was a fun bonding experience on the second rainy day in a row.  I needed something different to entertain her!  
I made these welcome cards to attach as well. I haven't passed them by hubby yet, but pretty sure I'll use the purple ones for my robots!! :)

Click here for your free copy from my TpT store!!
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed it. Be sure to head over to Fourth Grade Flipper and link up for Tried it Tuesday or just to check out other's ideas!!

Beginning of the Year Literacy Pack - And TpT Sale!!!

I just finished this product!  I'm so excited!  I had a vision this morning and this is what it turned in to.  I can't believe it is actually finished and is my first Literacy product in my store.  

Here are the pictures for the whole pack:

The font is from Kevin and Amanda! The frame graphic is from The 3AM Teacher! The cute scrappy kids are from Graphics From the Pond because I'm a Clipart Addict!!
You can get this pack for free right now by leaving a comment with your email address and tell me how you will use this in your classroom.  I will send it to those who comment!!!

If you miss the freebie, it is on sale right now in my TpT store where you can get an additional 8% off until tomorrow.  Go get it while you can!!! (click the image to get to my store)

Happy Shopping everyone!!!