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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Updated Halloween Math and Literacy Activities

This was one of the first Halloween products I made back in 2011.  It was sorely in need of a face lift.


I used Velcro along the side and on the letters to keep the spiders in place.  This is helpful for children with poor fine motor skills who keep knocking them off.



We still need to practice putting numbers in order to 20.  This game will be perfect for that.



You can never get enough practice counting.


I'm introducing number words this month. 


I've included some flash cards for the children to practice putting letters in the correct order to spell some Halloween words. 



Don't forget, if you have already bought this, you can download the upgrades for free.  If you haven't grabbed it, it's on sale for 1/2 price until the weekend.  Click on the first pictures to go to my TpT store. 

Monday, September 29, 2014

The Book Whisperer - Chapter 2

This week is Chapter 2 of our book study on "The Book Whisperer" by Donalyn Miller. 


   The Book Whisperer.png

If you don't have the book already,  you can grab it here.




The second chapter talks about the different types of readers.  

Miller changed the negative labels of "struggling readers" and "reluctant readers" to "developing readers", "dormant readers" and "underground readers".

 In the chapter she describes each of these types of readers and how each of them can be successful lifelong readers.

As a child, I was the "underground reader".  I hid the book I was reading in my desk, I raced through the book I HAD to read to get to my book and I read wherever I was.

I really like that the author gives the children a survey about their interests to find out what types of books might interest them.

Since I teach kindergarten I offer my students lots of types of books and have them "look at" and pick books that peak their interest.

Hopefully I can instill the love of reading in them for an early age.

For my thoughts on Chapter 2, check out the posts below.



Thursday, September 25, 2014

Halloween Calendar Freebie

October starts next week.  Don't forget to get your new calendar numbers ready.  Click on the picture below to get this set for free. 







Monday, September 22, 2014

The Book Whisperer - Chapter One

I'm so excited to be doing a book study on "The Book Whisperer" by Donalyn Miller with a few of my friends.


   The Book Whisperer.png

If you don't have the book already,  you can grab it here.



I read "The Book Whisperer" a few years ago and it was a nice refresher to reread it.

The first chapter talks all about the author's first experiences with teaching reading. My parents were readers and I think I got my love of reading from them.

 In the chapter she describes exactly how I was taught as a kid.  I hated all the books we had to read for high school;  anything Shakespeare, Wuthering Heights, etc.  I just didn't get the draw to the "classics".

For someone who can read a book a night, these books were just torture to me.  I hated having to pick apart every little detail and symbolism in the books.  For me, it ruined the purpose of the book.  

Why was I reading it?  In school, because I HAD to.  Not because I enjoyed it or wanted to.  I was the kid that rushed through my work so I could get to my book.  The book I WANTED to read, not the book I HAD to read. 

If it wasn't for my parents who instilled the love of reading in me, the school system certainly wouldn't have made me a reader.  It would have turned me off reading altogether.

Like the author, in examining how I became a reader and what I experienced in school, it made me think about how I wanted to teach my students. 

Since I teach kindergarten, I will usually be the first experience they have with formal teaching.  I have to instill the love of reading in them from the beginning.  

I found the chart on page 16 to be helpfully when examining what I'm doing with my reading program.  




What about your reading program? Does it incorporate any of the 5 key components?

Click on any of links below for more posts on chapter one.






Tuesday, September 16, 2014

The Witch Interactive easy readers


I'm so excited to have another set of interactive books ready.  "The Witch" is a very simple easy reader.  It's on sale until the end of the week for 1/2 price. Click on the picture below to grab it.



The first book is a regular book with simple text.



The second book contains full sentences.  The children put the full sentences with the correct picture.  If you want to make it harder, you can cut the sentences into individual words. 



The third book involves having the children pick out the correct word to complete the sentence. 



The fourth book works on the word "The".  Children need to find the word "the" from a selection of sight words. 




Monday, September 15, 2014

Halloween Freebie

In my bid to get more organized this year, I'm starting to get my Halloween items in order.  I updated my Halloween freebie so click on the picture below to grab it.



Sunday, September 14, 2014

Dear Future Me.....

My good friend Crystal from Kreative in Kinder is having a linky party.  She had the best idea to write herself a letter.  I decided to join in too.

After a tough year last year I was a little apprehensive going into this year.  I spent a lot of time over the summer investigating The Daily 5 and re-working my long range plans.  

Here is my letter to myself. 



Head on over to Kreative in Kinder to read more letters and to join in the fun. 

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Happy Birthday Freebies

 It's my birthday.  It's always difficult to have a birthday in the first few days of schools, so I thought I would share some of my fall freebies.


Before I do, I wanted to announce the winner of my Barker Creek giveaway.  Congratulations Anna.

 

Here are some freebies for you.