Quantcast
Channel: The Kindergarten Smorgasboard
Viewing all 934 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard of End Of Year Read Aloud Books!

May 25, 2014, 2:25 pm
$
0
0
Well, it's Sunday but you won't see Schedulin' Sunday!  Technically we have school next week.  3.5 days.  But I am not planning anything.  It's MOVIE WEEK!  Not really....we have a few things to finish up.  I am planning a little celebration for our last day.  And we're just gonna spend time together being the 'staches for a few more days.  No tears.  No tears.

And I realized that this post is number 600.  Holy crap.  I sure have rambled on a lot.  600!  Thanks for reading my insanity and supporting me! Here's to the next 600!



So last week I asked all of my Facebook teacher friends to share their favorite read alouds for the end of the year.  I got a terrific response with tons of great ideas for read alouds so I wanted to share those with you.  It's great how we all think alike in ways and the same books made lots of appearances and then we all have our personal likes.  I got some terrific new ideas for books.  And yes, they're already ordered on Amazon (Amazon Prime and 1 Click are DANGEROUS.  My $1,000 credit card bill is bad...but it's worth it, right?!)

So here are all of the end of the year read aloud suggestions from my friends on Facebook!  I hope you find some great new books for your class!  And please leave comments with other books that aren't included!!!  The more the merrier!  You can click on any of the books to get them at Amazon!!!!!





































↧
Search

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Submission For Smorgie: Word Study

May 27, 2014, 4:26 pm
$
0
0

Hello Tuesday!  2.5 more days of school for me!!  We can do it.  We can do it.  We can do it.

It's time for another Submission For Smorgie and another EPIC give away for my 2 year 
blog-iversary super celebration!!!  It's a lot to take in.  Can we handle it?!

Let's get started.  Today's Submission For Smorgie is about how I do Word Study in my classroom.  Word Study is how we teach spelling.  It's not lists that we memorize and test on.  It's an approach where we are learning the features and patterns of words and implementing those into our spelling.  It's great for phonemic awareness because students are learning to listen for certain sounds and features.  I have no doubt that word study plays a key role in our DIBELS scores being so good.  

Trust me.  I was SUPER skeptical at first.  Totally against this.  I mean, I did the whole spelling list every week and I'm a good speller....so why not do it that way?!?!

But then I started doing it and saw a huge improvement in my students' writing.  When I moved to Kindergarten, I was worried about how in the world it would work in kindergarten.  People, it's amazing.  The growth in writing is tremendous and THEY BEG TO DO IT!  Seriously.  We love word study.  

We use these books for our word study and DSA (Developmental Spelling Analysis) is the test we use to group and differentiate our word study.  YES!  It's differentiated to meet the needs to students where they are!!



These pictures show the test (bottom) and a student test.  The test on the right is mid-year and the test on the left is the end of the year.  

These books contain the sorts that we use.  Our district provides these for us, but they are available on Amazon.  Just click the books to check them out.  They're worth the investment.  TRUST ME!  There are more books but these are the three that work with Kindergarten.


This is the book that contains the assessment pieces and lots of other helpful information on using word study in a classroom.  


Here's the video.  It's 11 minutes.  You see Alex working through the different pieces of word study and I explain what we do and how we do it.  As always, leave a comment with any questions or click the Submissions For Smorgie button on the right side of the page and leave a question!

(Hopefully I edited this into the right order...it's the first time I've used clips to make a video...mustaches crossed)



You can also the video on YouTube!

And now for a Scentos mega prize pack give away!


People, this massive Scentos prize pack can be yours!!  ALL YOURS!!!  Just enter with the Rafflecopter below and one lucky winner gets this smelly goodness sent to their door!!!





a Rafflecopter giveaway
↧
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Adding Machine and Celebrity Guest Appearance!

May 28, 2014, 4:11 pm
$
0
0
1.5 more days to go.  I despise taking my room apart at the end of the year.  It's so sad and bleak.  But I do get access to the room all summer and as soon as those floors are waxed, I'll be getting that room back together.  And thanks to a top secret project with my pals at Creative Teaching Press, I have a major jump on some stuff already!

Ok...enough about me...I could talk about me all day...but I know you're here for something fun, useful and interesting....so how about a do it yourself project for math centers?

Ladies and gentlemens, I give you the adding machine!



I have seen this all over Pinterest and loved the idea but it looked a little complicated.  Then I saw this idea and I knew I could do this.  What I love is that this makes a great math center but it would also be great for introducing addition at the beginning of the year!!!!  


What you need:  plastic solo cups in 2 colors.  A box or container for your machine.  I bought these at Wal-Mart (no lids!) for about $3.  Some card stock to match your cups, black foam board and a hot glue gun.

I'm sorry I don't have pictures of the assembly process.  My SD card on the camera had a glitch and there is a gap of missing pictures...but here's what I did.

1.  Cut the bottoms out of the cups.
2.  Glue the cups to the foam board.  Put them on the side and angle them IN towards the center.
3.  Cut out a plus sign and equals sign.  (Just strips of card stock)
4.  Glue the symbols on.
5.  I added the border since I already had it!
6.  BAM!  Adding machine.

I put PomPoms in the machine for manipulatives (since I have about 24,876 of those things....People, they multiply like rabbits...) in matching colors (of course!).

Students put 2 number cards in the machine.  They place the cards under the cups.  They put the correct number of Poms into the cups and they come out in the machine.  Then they count the number of Poms and write their equation!  



My 'staches LOVE this center!!!  

If you'd like the free number cards and recording sheet, click HERE!

Thanks to Creative Clips and The Hartmann Sparkle for the fun graphics!


And now, the moment you've all been waiting for.  

You "met" her the day she came running from the building during the first fire drill of the school year, arms flailing wildly screaming "IT'S A FIRE!  IT'S A FIRE!" She stole your hearts with her never ending quest to make us laugh. 

 She completely worked her way into my heart as someone who has profoundly impacted me as a person and a teacher.  I only wish that I had half the spunk she has, half of her drive and most importantly, half of her positive and happy outlook on life.  

This girl came into my classroom on day one and when I asked her name, she looked at me and shrugged.  Her vocabulary consisted of:  "HUH?" "OH!" and "OH MY GAWD!" Today, she's ready for her big move to first grade.  She's reading at grade level.  She is at 80% mastery on nearly every skill.  People, she has gone from answering me with "HUH?" and "OH!" everyday, to reading and comprehending books!!!!!  

Here's my truth:  that first day, I was like, "oh no...this isn't gonna be fun!" I admit it.  I was a little less than thrilled to have this sassy little one in my class.  But after a couple of days, I knew I had someone  special in my class and I vowed that by the end of kindergarten, she would be able to read a book.  I sorely underestimated her.  Weeks and months of "HUH?" and even more weeks and months of her wandering aimlessly in the halls while we were walking in line (literally...she was ALL OVER THE HALLWAY! I had to assign someone to coral her anytime we were in the hallway!)  has turned into my proudest teaching moment.  She has made my laugh and cry (i'm crying now as I type...) and solidified my belief that if you expect them to succeed, they will succeed and more.  I set her bar far too low and she proved to me that the bar should always be set high.  If you set it, they will reach it.  But most importantly, she has made me a better teacher and a better person.  

She will forever be my amazing, courageous, hilarious, Fire Drill.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Shantasia!




And by the way, the theme of the TEDX conference where I am doing a TED Talk is "One Voice" and I am building my talk around her and how her one voice represents all that is great about teaching and education.  Cue the kleenex.
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard FIve For Friday FREEBIE!

May 30, 2014, 2:41 pm
$
0
0

Today was the last day of school for us!  It was the last day for students but I have some work days next week but I consider myself on summer vacation.  That means lots of sun, naps, tons of new creations and 3 presentations to prepare the kindergarten conference in Vegas!  

Here is my first Five For Friday of the summer with a much requested FREEBIE!



This week we celebrated C for crazy hair.  You can't really tell but that's definitely purple glittery hair!  I had glitter all over me and the school...I love glitter!


Yes. I. Did.  Thanks to my TBFF Jenny for playing along with me!  I am so excited to work with her on the same team next year.  We are going to be a WILD K team next year!  Check out her amazing clip art at The Hartmann Sparkle!


This is my buddy Alex.  He was very sad today.  He wouldn't take his backpack off all morning and never smiled once.  I am so thankful to have had this incredible kid in my class.  He was awarded the Fan-Stache-Tic Personal Assistant Award yesterday for always taking care of me!  Love him!


And, now here are some of our Fan-STACHE-Tic end of the year awards!!!!!!  



Fire Drill made me cry again today.  Her dad pulled up at dismissal and she jumped into my arms and squeezed.  I owe so much to that little 'stache.  She won the Fan-STACHE-Tic Shantasia award for always being HER!

And...this school year began with her yelling this word at me:  "HUH?" and it ended perfectly today when I said her name and she yelled out "HUH?"  

This was my absolute best year of teaching my most favorite class ever.  Period. 

And here's your freebie!  I made our Fan-STACHE-tic awards editable and free.  You'll need to download some fonts (links in the freebie).  Just download, open the file in PowerPoint and type!  


HAPPY SUMMER!

I put my entire TPT store on sale for 20% off today and tomorrow to celebrate the end of the school year!  





↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard June Currently!

June 1, 2014, 11:35 am
$
0
0
Hello June and summer vacation!!!   If you're still in school I hope it's a great week for you!

Summer vacation?!  Hardly!  I have 3 presentations to prepare for the I Teach K Conference in Vegas and I have to write my TED Talk!!!  Holy cow...that TED Talk is making me a hot mess.  We got our speaker package and well, it's intense....speaking coaches...television cameras and lights...clothes...yowza!

So, I am excited to kick off my summer with my mustache lovin' buddy, Farley at Oh Boy 4th Grade for my June Currently!


Finally, he turned off that horrid movie!!!  Now we're watching Roseanne!!!

I love teaching and I love my 'staches, but I do enjoy my summer of creating, napping, making projects, staying up late and being a real human again!

I want a nice tan.  That' all.

I need nothing.  I have all I could need and more.

My summer bucket list is always the same:  a six pack.  And it never happens.  

This year I also have to do 3 presentations at the I Teach K conference and WRITE A TED Talk.  People, a TED Talk.  I have my idea so hopefully it will flow out of me once I start writing it.  





↧
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Monday Made It: Light Box

June 2, 2014, 1:17 pm
$
0
0
Ya'll, I am so excited that my friend Tara at 4th Grade Frolics has started her weekly Monday Made It Linky party!!!  I love MMI because it really keeps me on task for getting some stuff done for my classroom!  And I love making stuff.

So, today kicks off Monday Made It and....drumroll please....  SUMMER WITH SMORGIE!


It's 2.5 months of fun in the sun with ME!  I have a weekly schedule of blog posts that I will follow.  I have lots of things to share and show ya!  Hopefully you'll find one thing you can use!  I also plan to have some give aways and tons of freebies!!!  

Here is the weekly schedule!  The great thing is that I am going to make these linky parties so ya'll can link up your blog posts each day!  Except Monday Made It.. Go link up with Tara!  Seriously, she's amaze-balls and glitteriffic!




So I like to pin things on Pinterest (DUH!)  and then in the summer I like to make stuff (DUH!) 

I have seen light tables and light boxes in classrooms and love the idea but didn't want to spend the money.  So off to Pinterest I go.  And I find this pin from TeachPreschool.   

She has laid out how to make a light box so I went with it.  I did make a few tweaks for my own sanity.  So, here's how I made a light box for my classroom and some ideas from my amazing Facebook friends on how to use the light box!






Materials:   A plastic box with a lid (find a lid with as few lines as possible!), rope lights, metallic spray paint, frosted spray paint.


 Step 1:  Spray paint the inside of the box metallic. This helps reflect the light up and out!

Step 2:  Spray paint the lid with the frosted spray paint.  This keeps the light from being too bright!



Step 3:  Drill a hole in the bottom corner of the box for the rope light.  Slide the slide through.  

I just laid the rope lights in the box.  They could be secured with hot glue or E6000 glue.  

I chose LED rope lights because I don't want to deal with batteries.  I go through enough batteries!  I can sit this on the floor and plug it in! 

And the LED rope lights are bright!


BAM!  Light box!  I am so excited to use this in my classroom!!!  This will be a fun and engaging way to meet tons of Common Core standards!!!

My total cost was about $30.   



I bought a ton of these small plastic cups (Yes, they're shot cups!!!!) from the Dollar Tree.  These will be excellent for the light box activities my FB friends shared with me!  All of these activities were shared with the idea of using the plastic cups from the Dollar Tree!!




















↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Tasty Treat Tuesday And Submisison For Smorgie!

June 3, 2014, 10:53 am
$
0
0


It's Tasty Treats Tuesday!   Today I am showing you how we made a healthy, fruity turtle snack.  We made our turtle snack during our unit on fables.  It was perfect for the Tortroise and the Hare!



You will need 1 apple per 2 students.  5 Toothpicks per student.  5 grapes per student.


Step 1:  cut the apple in half.  This is the teacher's job.  No knives to the little ones!   Even I don't do that...lol.


Step 2:  Students insert 4 toothpicks on the sides.  2 per side.  These are the legs.  We pushed the toothpicks about halfway into the apple.  Push the 5th toothpick into the front of the apple for the head.



Step 3:  push the grapes onto the toothpicks!




BAM!  Turtle snack!  Fun, healthy and honestly, it makes a darn cute turtle!



BEFORE EATING THE TURTLE:  I HAD THE 'STACHES REMOVE ALL OF THE GRAPES AND PULL OUT THE TOOTHPICKS.  I CHECKED EACH APPLE TO MAKE SURE ALL THE TOOTHPICKS WERE OUT!  Safety first kids!

If you have a blog post about a classroom treat or a fun treat for home, be sure to link up!







I had a Submission For Smorgie question about Foodie Fun Friday so I thought it would be super fun to answer that question on Tasty Treat Tuesday.  I'm sorry Jenea.  I know I butchered your name.  I tried real real hard though!  Thanks for the great question!




And how about prizes?!?!?!


Who wants a fun new teacher t-shirt?!  My friends at teachershirts.com are giving away two different shirts!  I have the Pre-K is so last year shirt and I LOVE IT!  I get so many giggles when I wear it!  And the mustache t-shirt is...well...perfect.  Here's the deal with the mustache shirt:  YOU CAN'T EVEN BUY IT YET!  People, I know.  It's actually one of their higher end shirts becuase it's embroidered.  It's only here, folks!  Enter to win!  And check out teachershirts.com for awesome shirts.

And if you're heading to Vegas for the I Teach K conference and to hang out with me, check out their awesome new Vegas collection!


a Rafflecopter giveawaya Rafflecopter giveaway
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Monday Made It: Mustache Calendar

June 9, 2014, 10:36 am
$
0
0


Happy Monday!  It's a rainy dreary day here in Music City.  It makes me want to go back to the beach!

I am super excited to link up with my friend Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It party!


Today I am showing off my new planning calendar for the new school year.

Last year I did a binder.  This year I stepped up my game a bit. Ya know, bigger and better!


I am sticking with the mustache theme in my classroom for next year...but adding in rainbow colors!  So I designed my calendar to match that theme.

I have a 2 page calendar for each month, 1 page calendar for each month (month at a glance type thing...) to do lists and meeting notes pages.

Here's a truth:  I am a huge tech/gadget guy.  BUT for some reason I just cannot make the switch to a digital calendar.  I want to...but there's something about writing in a calendar with different colors and circling and underlining...digital can't give me that satisfaction, yet!


After printing my pages at home, I took them to Office Max (right by my house...) and had them bind it.  It cost me a whopping $4.  It has a clear cover on the front and a nice hard black cover on the back.  I love this design so much better than the binder because this allows me to fold the pages back for better writing!!!  





I printed my to do lists and meeting notes on colored paper in the colors of the rainbow...ya know, rainbow mustache theme and all!!!

If you want your free calendar, click the picture below.


If you want an EDITABLE cover page for your calendar, CLICK HERE!
This will download a 1 page PowerPoint slide so you can type your name and information!  Unless you really want a Mr. Greg calendar...and if you do, who can blame ya?!


And now for an EPIC prize give away for my 2 year blog-iversary celebration!

SERIOUSLY...GET READY FOR AMAZING!

So, my class is obsessed with Boogie Boards!  These are LCD tablets that you write on and then push a button to clear the screen.  I had to create a shcedule for the 2 in my classroom.  We use them for write the room, count the room, add the room and more.  They have so many uses.  

Seriously...AMAZE-BALLS!

Click here to see them in action in my classroom! 

And CLICK HERE!

Since my 'staches love these so much, I asked my friends at Improv Electronics if they would donate 1 or 2 for my big anniversary.  Well...they totally went above and beyond.  



Ryan from Improv emailed me back and said they'd love to help out and asked me to check out a picture and see if that would be ok.

PEOPLE....GET READY....

They made....

OMG...

LIMITED EDITION, CUSTOMIZED Boogie Boards for my give away.   PEOPLE, THERE ARE ONLY 2 OF THESE IN EXISTENCE (3 if you count the one I'm getting!) IN THE WORLD!  

YES!!!  They made  them with my name and logo on them!  Talk about amazing!!!!!!!!!  

That's right, today, you can enter to win one of two customized, limited edition Boogie Boards for your class!  You also get a cool neoprene carrying case!

Enter using the Rafflecopter and good luck!

↧
Search

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Tasty Treat Tuesday: Bagel Pizza!

June 10, 2014, 7:56 am
$
0
0


It's Tuesday so that means it's time for Tasty Treats Tuesday!

This week I am featuring a fun and simple snack that can be made at school or at home!  Anyone with kids at home this summer, this one is for you!


Bagel pizza!  Who doesn't love pizza?  And what kiddo doesn't love making their own pizza?  

We did this snack when we were learning the letter P.  P for pizza.  It's perfect for P.  But it could be useful for a very basic introduction to fractions also.  Or even symmetry.  Pizza and common core!  A perfect combination!  See, pizza is a useful and beneficial tool to learning....not to mention my most favorite food ever.  Serioulsy, pizza for dinner every night would be fine with me!

You will need:  
bagels (1 half for each child)
pizza sauce
mozzerella cheese
pepperonis (or any topics!)

Step 1:  spread the sauce!  I give each 'stache a bagel, plastic knife and a dish of sauce and let them go to town.  You can tell this is early in the year just by their fine motor skills!




Step 2:  add the cheese.  Again, I gave them a little container of cheese and let them go!  

(Those little containers are from Ikea!  99 cents for 6.  Guess where I'll be going again this summer?!)


Step 3:  Add pepperonis.  



Step 4:  Bake!  
I have a toaster oven in my classroom so I put them in the oven at 400 degrees and baked for 5 minutes.  I highly recommend a toaster oven for your classroom.  We use ours a lot!  A co-worker even baked a cake for silent E week!!!!!!  How cool?!


And finally, you eat your pizza!!!!!!



If you have a Tasty Treat to link up, be sure to add your link!!






Don't forget to enter for your chance to win one of 2 limited edition Smedley's Smorgasboard of Kindergarten Boogie Boards!  There are only 3 of these in existence!!  

Click the image to enter!!!








↧
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard What's Happening Wednesday!

June 11, 2014, 2:38 pm
$
0
0
Happy Hump Day!  But really, when you're on summer break, do the days really matter?!



Since it's technically Wednesday....that means it's time for What's Happening Wednesday!  And what's happening today is pretty freakin' awesome....no really....

What's happening today is a real life video shoot...in my classroom....with GoNoodle for a GoNoodle commercial.   TRUE STORY.  My classroom has been turned into a film set.  Complete with lights, cameras, a director, producers, sound and light guys....and even the cool board that they slap to start filming.  Except it's not a board...it's an app.

So, GoNoodle is a brain breaks website that my class is OBSESSED with.  We get awesome five minute activity breaks throughout the day to keep us focused and engaged.  GoNoodle is actually headquartered here in Nashville so I get to hang out with the cool GoNoodle staff.  Yes, it's ok to be jealous.

GoNoodle asked if I would be interested in using my classroom for their video.  Um...let me think...YES!


Now...I'm not in the video.  But my classroom and some kids from my school are there!  It's been super cool to see this all done.  The director even says:  "quiet on the set!"  I feel so...movie star-ish.





Seriously...such a cool day.  The kids had a blast.  The video will be done in 4-6 weeks.  As soon as the video is done, I'll share the link!

Also today, I got to meet Abby who is the brains behind GoNoodle.  True story.  She came up with the idea and created the games.  People, she even names the champs.  Abby is my hero!  

I also got to meet Holly.  Holly is the person behind the GoNoodle Instagram account!!!  YEAH!!!!  Now you know who's GoNoodle-gramming on Instagram!

Can I also just say how sad I am that I didn't get my picture with either one of them!?  BOO!   
Bad. Greg.

Do you GoNoodle?  If not sign up for a FREE account!  Seriously...you and your students will LOVE it!



Feel free to link up you Wednesday post!



↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Thrifty Thursday: 3D Ten Frames

June 12, 2014, 9:12 am
$
0
0


Happy Thursday....or the continuing 2 month weekend.  I made this comment to the mister last night and he was less than pleased about my 2 month weekend!  But I am working and being productive on my long long long long weekend.

OK...what teacher doesn't love the Dollar Tree?!  (Even after my unfortunate incident last month with the employee who was so rude and hateful to me that I found a manager and let her know all about it...then I let the corporate office know about it...and now I'm telling you.  She was MEAN.  She didn't speak to me except to yell at me when the credit card machine was asking me a question....just sayin...)

But seriously...The Dollar Tree is like teacher nirvana.  You can seriously rock out a classroom just by shopping in that store.  And not to mention do some serious damage to your credit card.  It's a good thing they don't have a website with one click purchasing like Amazon.

So, my Thrifty Thursday posts this summer will be all about how to use amazing finds from the Dollar Tree in your classroom.  Today's post features the plastic shot glasses that you can get during the summer.  You get 24 cups for $1.  I've always wanted to use them in my classroom but never figured it out.  Until now.  (I also used them with my new DIY light box/light table!  Click HERE to see that post!)


That's right.  3-D (3-Dimensional Ten Frames!) using plastic cups from the Dollar Tree.


You will need:  plastic shot glasses, black foam board, E-6000 glue, measuring tool, tape and scissors.

The foam board and glue came from Wal-Mart.  They were less than $10 and can be used over and over again.


Step 1:  Measure.  I made each board 9 inches by 4 inches.  I played around with placing cups on the board until I found a look that I liked and I measured based on that.


Cut the board.

Tape the edges.  This isn't necessary but it looks nicer...


Glue.  I put a small circle of E-6000 glue around the bottom of the cup.


Glue to the board. 


BAM!  3D ten frames!  

I am super stoked about these.  For about $10 you can make a class set of these.  I am thinking these will be great at the beginning of the year when we're learning numbers and counting to 10.  It will be so easy to see who's getting it and who isn't.  And later in the year when we hit teen numbers....and making 10...and small group math....Seriously...so many uses for very few dollars!  I mean you give them number cards and a recording sheet...and you have a math center!!!  BAM!

I used straws for counters becuase that's what was lying around in my office.  But I'm thinking pom poms would be PERFECT for this.  I think ping pong balls would be awesome too...but I can see those going all over the room.  Pom-Poms, straws, craft sticks....so many things can be counters!  



And you combine two of the ten frames to have a twenty frame for numbers to 20!!!!!


Thoughts?  Will you try it?  

And remember, you can link up your Thrifty Thursday post below!

Before I go...I have to share my new addition to my office!

I love my new banners!


↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Monday Made It: Rainbow Clipboards!

June 16, 2014, 12:07 pm
$
0
0
Hello Monday!  That means it's time for Monday Made It with my friend Tara at 4th Grade Frolics!

So last night I posted on Instagram that I needed an idea for Monday Made It...I got tons of ideas.  But then I woke up this morning and decided to take a leap and try something VERY radical.  Are you ready???

I am going desk-less/table-less next year.  True story.  My friend Erin Klein at Kleinspiration has inspired this new idea.  

Here's the plan:  1 round table, 1 small rectangle table and hopefully a restaurant booth.  This will provide seating areas for students who want them.  (I will also keep my guided reading table!) These places will also promote collaboration and working together.  The rest of our work will be done on the floor!   Now, I know this is a little different but there is some great research on how this promotes teamwork and creativity.   There is also research that says laying down is great for handwriting because it forces us to use the correct muscles when writing.  I figure I'm going to give it a shot and see how it goes. If it's a huge bomb, I'll bring in tables and we'll fix it.  

With that in mind, I decided to a project my friend Jenny at The Hartmann Sparkle suggested!


Since we will be using our clipboards all of the time, I decided to make them more fun!  What's more fun than a rainbow?!

You will need:  clipboards ($1 at Dollar Tree!), spray paint (paint+primer in one $4 at Wal-Mart), clear coat!





It's simple!  Just spray the clipboards!!  I sprayed only the front.  I'm thinking of adding some dry erase paper to the back.  



I love how these turned out!  

I did cover them with a layer of clear coat and Modge Podge to help seal the paint!

Super fun, super bright and super easy!

Here's a super fun and useful tip when spray painting:


Place your clipboards (or anything...) in a box.  NO MESS!!!  Brilliant!






↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Submissions For Smorgie: Routines and Procedures

June 17, 2014, 9:28 am
$
0
0

Howdy!  I know it's Tuesday so it's supposed to be Tasty Treats Tuesday but I realized I hadn't done a Submission For Smorgie in a while so I wanted to do another video to answer some questions!

Today's Submissions For Smorgie was about procedures and routines.  I share some top procedures and tips to teach those procedures at the beginning of the year! 








In the video I mention the toilet spider.  Here he is:

Click the picture to read more about the toilet spider and get your FREE bathroom procedure cards!









Read Chrysanthemum and make anchor charts for words that wilt (hurt) and bloom words (help us)! BRILLIANT IDEA!!!!!!!!  I wish it were my idea but it isn't!


My friend Lee shared his lining up procedure:  his class pretends they are cars going to Sonic!  They talk about being in line, not bumping, staying in line and it's all related to going through the Sonic drive-thru!  LOVE me some Sonic so I love this idea!  


Click HERE to see more about our morning procedure and our differentiated morning work!






Click here for the Whole Brain Teaching Website!

And be sure to visit my friend Mrs. Shipley because she is the Whole Brain teaching GURU!!!  Seriously!  








I hope this gives you some ideas and reminders for the beginning of the year!  Please feel free to leave comments and share your procedures for the beginning of the year and tips on teaching those procedures!  I'll keep adding to this list so we have a huge resource for the new year!!


↧
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard What's Happening Wednesday: Personalized Books!

June 18, 2014, 1:18 pm
$
0
0
Happy Hump Day!  So here's whats happening on this Wednesday...

Just found out I have torn cartillage and ACL damage in my knee.  Surgery on July 17th.  First.  Surgery.  Ever.  SAD MR. GREG.

I was playing around on spreadshirt.com yesterday and this happened....


True story.  Now you can purchase your very own #smittenwithsmorgie t-shirts!  Go ahead...you know you want to!


In April, my friend Debbie Clement spent the day at my school.  Debbie is a phonemonal author and songwriter.  Her music program with our students was simply the best assembly ever.  Hands down.  

During her visit to classrooms, Debbie was using my personalized and autographed copy of her book, You're Wonderful, when a kindergartener asked her a question and an idea was born.

Skip ahead a month and that idea came to life. 

My 'staches and I celebrated our year together and they each received A PERSONALIZED and AUTOGRAPHED copy of the book Tall Girraffe.  EPIC.  Each of my 'staches took home a book with their name in it.  A book they love to read.  A book that contains their name.  The power of that moment was incredible.  









I recently asked Debbie about the experience in a fun little interview!    Here's what she had to say!


1. Tell us a little about yourself my friend. 

First of all, let me start off by saying THANK YOU, loud and clear. I am so grateful for all of your support over the last couple of years.... first in cyber-town and now in real life! It has been such a great joy to get to know you. I look forward to our future collaborations. The more we work together the more EPIC our school visits become. 


Debbie Clement Author Illustrator School Visits with Mr. Greg!

I am just finishing my 18th year as an independent 'Arts Enrichment Consultant' while owning my own consulting company-of-one: Rainbows Within Reach. For the ten years before this most recent chapter, I was a Resource Teacher in a private school serving young children with special needs. I provided all types of experiences in the Arts over that decade. The importance of music to young children was impressed on me during that tenure. We could get children to sing, when they were hesitant/incapable of speaking. 


Debbie Clement makes school visit

I resigned from that amazing center after being promoted to an 'all administrative' position. I took a leap into the unknown in an effort to bring music into the lives of more children. I started off singing the classics and playing the guitar. Then I started with my own little ideas, giving myself permission to write little ditties from my imagination. That's when the big-time fun truly began. At this point I have written and recorded over 100 original songs for children, onto seven different CD albums! Who knew? Every new project is a thrill!


Three Picture Books by Debbie Clement of Rainbows Within Reach


My most recent evolution is to turn three of my songs into the traditional picture book format. So now I wear the hats of music-lady, author, illustrator AND publisher! Yup. We both like hats, Mr. Greg! I have made the illustrations for two of my three books from fabric, as small quilts. I'm gradually creating digital files of my songs in Mp3 format, with support materials. Those are available for purchase and immediate download at Teachers Pay Teachers. 


Filming Educational Videos against a Green Screen: Debbie Clement

On the near horizon I have a couple of *AWESOME* videos coming out, filmed on behalf of the Zaner-Bloser publishing house. They will be released this summer and I am so excited for your readers to see and use them {FOR FREE} in their classrooms this fall! I'll be sure to let you know when I have the links to share! 

2. What does it mean to you as an author to see your books in the hands of children?

It is an absolute DREAM-COME TRUE! When I see my books in a classroom (or public library) my heart starts a little conga beat. When I see my books in the hands of children, usually beginning readers, I literally want to do cartwheels. As a self-published author, having taken a loan out against our house to get my first book printed, seeing them in the hands of eager readers is the fulfillment of every goal I've ever set for myself. 


Debbie Clement's Opening Keynote for "I Teach K" in VEGAS!

Most teachers and librarians *discover* me as a result of my giving a workshop at a conference or possibly from one of my rabid fans. There is no marketing team. So seeing the fruition of my efforts ~~ in person ~~ brings tears to my eyes. That's why an interview such as this means so much to me! I'm so grateful for your shining the spotlight on my efforts, Mr. Greg. It means the world!

3. What is the highlight of a school or classroom visit to you? 


Author-Illustrator School Visits with Debbie Clement

Planning a school visit is an absolute delight. Making the arrangements to suit each setting is something I look forward to designing together. Pulling into a new building and seeing my name 'up-in-lights' makes me realize that our plans have taken root. People are anticipating our time together! It never gets old!!


Welcome Banner for Author-Illustrator School Visit with Debbie Clement

Walking into a building to a 'welcome' banner makes me smile from ear-to-ear. Seeing how individual teachers direct their students in response to my work is seriously THRILLING! To realize that my arrival has been anticipated and prepared for with student work? PRICELESS!!!


Student Art Response for Author-Illustrator School Visit with Debbie Clement
Kindergarten Art Response to Debbie Clement Picture Books: NY, TN and OH School Visits

4. How can I as a teacher build on your visit? 

Each teacher has their own unique way of planning and preparing their students for my arrival. In a perfect world, the children will have had numerous opportunities to sing and read my songs prior to my arrival. Having a set of my books in the hands of the teachers makes our time together that much more meaningful and concrete an experience. 


Illustrator Debbie Clement helps Kindergartners compare her original quilt to the finished book's format
Mr. Greg took this picture, the day following my visit to his school.
He made the connections for me to visit another Nashville Kindergarten!
We are comparing the actual fabric quilt to the book's illustration. 
The concept of authors and illustrators being actual PEOPLE is very surreal for young children. Talking about how those are 'jobs' and that books are actually people's ideas that have come to completion is very nebulous indeed. The reason I 'dress' in my happy array of colors and patterns is that I am making every effort to DRESS as the illustrations I made for my first picture book. Often times when I hold the book in front of my ensemble-costume, the kinders say in total amazement, "OH, YOU'RE THE BOOK!" The lights turn on and the dots are connected. Literally. 


Four Foot Tall Thank You Letter from Kindergarten Students via RainbowsWithinReach
The most unique thank you I've ever received. Read more here.

One of the best 'follow-ups' to my school visit is when teachers direct their students to create writing as thank you cards. They are prompted to recall their favorite parts of my presentation as pencil meets paper and I'm thrilled to receive snail mail! 

5. Talk about the spark for this idea, to place a signed and personalized book in the hands of each child in my class.

Last summer after my keynote in Vegas at "I Teach K" I met Heather from the Washington DC area. We built an amazing visit that included EACH of their 178 kinder-kiddos receiving my book, "Tall Giraffe." I seriously felt like Oprah, delivering each book to the new recipient. So I'd had that experience for the first time, just this fall. 


Kindergarten Children Celebrate Early Literacy in Song & Story with Author (Debbie Clement at RainbowsWithinReach)  

While visiting in the classroom next to the Mustached Monsters, I had a student pick up your copy of "You're Wonderful" and he asked a little bit indignantly, 
"Why does it say 'Mr. Greg' in this book?"
His question went off like an alarm. I realized that this child had never had, nor possibly seen, a *PERSONALIZED*  book!?!?!?!


Debbie Clement's Picture Books: The Power of YOUR Name in a Book!

The really incredible thing about our visit this year? We had the luxury of time to talk and plan and debrief! I could share that observation with you. Driving together through the storm and traffic the next day? The brain-storming began! What would it take to get a PERSONALIZED copy of 'Tall Giraffe' into the hands of each of your Mustachioed Monsters? And the rest is history as they say. How I wish I could have been a fly-on-the-wall when you handed them out!

6. Is Mr. Greg your favorite? 

Surely you're not asking me to pick favorites? Not a professional like you? In all honesty? It is so truly fantastic to get invited BACK to work with a school visit coordinator the 'next' time. The first time is just that: the first time. After the coordinator has had the opportunity to 'see-me-in-action' and understand what my presentations can mean to the curriculum and the day-to-day lesson plans, the next school visit just becomes that much more EPIC! I vote for EPIC whenever possible. We'll let your readers reach their own conclusions about my favorite: wink-wink. 

I am grateful for each and every SHOUT OUT in social media! 
Every pin starts a new ripple.

I invite all Smorgasboard Readers over to my blog! 
I work hard to share the excellence I observe on my school visits. 

Join my 153,000+ Pin Followers, Click the pic! 

Follow on Bloglovin

Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, Second, Third, Homeschooler - TeachersPayTeachers.com



And now for a giveaway!!  

One person will win a personalized, autographed copy of Tall Giraffe from Debbie.
5 people will win a free digital file of the song Tall Giraffe!




a Rafflecopter giveaway
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Thrifty Thursday: Cookie Sheet Ten Frames

June 19, 2014, 9:49 am
$
0
0


Hello Thrifty Thursday.  I seem to be on a ten frame kick with my Thrifty Thursday posts!  Last week was 3D ten frames and today is cookie sheet ten frames.  Can you tell that we love ten frames in our class?!?!  I mean...they're fun and engaging and so useful.  So let's get started.


Materials:  cookie sheet, gems, magnets, glue, marker, ruler, Washi tape (optional...I used rainbow duct tape that was already in my office!)

All of these things cost $1 each at Dollar Tree.  The gems are the class stones that go in the bottom of the vase and can be found in the candle area.  The magnets are just circle magnets and are found in the craft area.  The cookie sheet is a cookie sheet found in the kitchen area.  hehe  


Step 1:  measure.
I measured the cookie sheet to be about 13 inches.  So I divided that by five to get 2.6.  I marked my lines at 2.5 inches.  

I measured the width to be 9 inches so I made that line at 4.5 inches. 


Step 2:  draw the lines

I used a Sharpie to draw my lines to make the ten frame.


Now, you can leave the Sharpie lines and have a perfectly usable and easy ten frame.  But I like lots of color in my life so I used my rainbow tape to make the lines.



Step 3:  make your magnetic gems

I used a drop of E6000 glue and glued the gems to the magnets.  BAM!  Easy as pie.  MMMM Pie.  Peanut butter pie.  (Since I'll be down for the count with my knee surgery on July 17th, can I just put our a request for peanut butter pie?!  Please and thanks.  And yellow cake with chocolate icing...and chocolate cake...and brownies....mmmmm brownies...)

Now, you can simply use the gems without magnets.  But I like the magnets because they keep the gems in place.  More manageable and makes for easy storage.  The gems just stick to the ten frame!  BAM!


And that my friends, is how you make a simple, thrifty magnetic ten frame!   I can't wait to use these in my guided math lessons and centers.  And even for whole group lessons, these would make a great visual.  These will be great for addition and subtraction too!  Look at that...cheap and useful all year long!

Total cost:  $3.  


I added an extra magnet on the top to hold the number cards....genius, right?!

I made these super cute superhero number cards to use with our ten frames.   Can I just say how much I have missed creating resources?!?!  Seriously.  All of my time has been spent on my presentations on Vegas.  I have a list of 30 creations to make this summer.  I guess I know what I'll be doing after knee surgery!  (Any requests for creations...let me know!)

Anyway, click on the picture to get your free set of number cards.

And can I just say, my new color laser printer is EPIC!  Everyone needs one those printers!






↧
Search

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Five For Friday And A Fabulous New Friend!

June 20, 2014, 1:32 pm
$
0
0
Happy Friday!  But it's summer so that makes every day a weekend, right?!




I ordered this awesome cover for my MacStache!  I love that when I'm presenting in Vegas for I Teach K everyone will see this!  FUN!  I found this at skinit.com!  They have really awesome stuff!



I love summer nights out in the yard with the CEO and the mister!!  Nothing like a beautiful place to enjoy a beautiful family!


True story.  I made #smittenwithsmorgie t-shirts!  That. is. all.


I finally finished this newest creation!  I've been missing creating since I'm spending so much time prepping for Vegas!  This is 220 pages of EDITABLE rainbow themed mutache classroom decor! I have been printing it already and can't wait to see it come together in my classroom!  

If you'd like to win a copy, leave a comment with your classroom theme for next year.  I'll pick a winner this weekend!  (Please leave your email!)


It's funny. 


And now for a Fabulous new friend!


A few months back I was contacted by a reader of this blog wanting to come observe my classroom.  I said yes because I LOVE LOVE LOVE when people come to observe!  



My friend Starla lives about 2 hours away and came to visit the 'staches!   And now she has started her own blog!!!!  YAY!

Here blog is Super Starla's Kindergarten!  (How cute is that name?!?!)

Here's what Starla says about blogging:

My name is Starla Jenkins, and I live in good ole' Tennessee. I am 25 years old. I've been married for 2 years, and we have a yorkie that we call our "dog son". This coming year will be my 4th year to teach kindergarten. I LOVE KINDERGARTEN! I love watching them grow. I know children grow each year of school, but it seems like they grow so much in kindergarten. I love teaching them to read and watching them learn new things. I love the excitement on their faces when we learn by having FUN. Learning can be fun! So, why not have fun?! 

I have followed kindergarten blogs for years. Blogs, like yours Mr. Greg, have helped me as a new teacher. Blogs have taught me new strategies, new activities. Blogs have inspired me. One of the best things about blogs is the way teachers can connect with one another. Through your blog, I was able to connect with you, Mr. Greg. I am so thankful for the opportunity to visit your school this past spring and see you in action! You are amazing and gave me new ideas that I plan on implementing in the upcoming school year! (Responsive Classroom and Word Study, just to name a few) I have recently branched out and started a blog myself. While my ideas may not be as great as THE Greg Smedley, they may help or inspire someone. Writing blog posts also helps me reflect on my own ideas. And hey, reflection is on our evaluation rubric, right?! ;) I'd love for you all to stop by my blog. I linked up with Mr. Greg for "Thrifty Thursday", and I have a FREEBIE posted. Thank you

Be sure to head over and visit her blog and check out her awesome ideas and freebies!!


↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Monday Made It: Light Table Math

June 23, 2014, 10:32 am
$
0
0


Happy Monday!  It's time for another Monday Made It! 


Today is a simple project for my lightbox that I made a few weeks ago.  Ya see, I bought all of these plastic cups at the Dollar Tree.  I wrote letters on the cups to make a fun letter matching activity.  But writing on plastic cups is hard....and not very pretty.  I like things to look good.  I look good so my stuff should look good...right?!  Seems fair to me.  

Anyways, my friend Jenny suggested printing on clear mailing labels.  BAM!  She's brilliant.  


So I ordered 2,000 clear return address labels from Amazon.  These are the smaller ones.  I suggest these or regular address labels.  (Click the picture to see the labels I bought on Amazon!)

So I designed labels for numbers and counting (ten frames), shapes, and sounds!

You can click the links  below to get your free set of labels.  Just download and use the Avery template for Label 5167.








To see how to make your own light box, CLICK HERE!


These would also go AMAZINGLY well with this super freebie!  Click the picture to get your freebie from my TPT store!







↧
↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Tasty Treat Tuesday: Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls!

June 24, 2014, 1:50 pm
$
0
0


It's time for a tasty treat!!!  This past weekend I asked the mister to make these cake batter cinamon rolls I found on Pinterest.  Of course he agreed (I mean really, could I be anymore lucky?!)


Ingredients:
Crescent rolls (we bought the crescent rounds and they were perfect!), white or yellow cake mix, butter, brown sugar, half and half (or milk), cooking spray and a muffin pan!


1.  Roll out the rolls.  (Mister tip:  roll them out a bit to thin them out!)


2.  Brush with melted butter.

3.  Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cake batter.  (Mister tip:  use a sifter!)


4.  Brush with more butter.

5.  Sprinkle 2 tablespoons brown sugar.

6.  Roll em up!

7.  Place in your muffin pan after spraying with cooking spray.
Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes or until brown.

Icing:
3/4 cup cake mix
Half and half (start small and continue to add until the icing is the thickness you want!)


Spread icing and eat.  DELICIOUS!   And simple!


This idea was found at www.sallysbackingaddition.com

Link up your Tasty Treats posts!




↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard What's Happening Wednesday

June 25, 2014, 2:15 pm
$
0
0



Here's what happening on this Wednesday.

Working on my new classroom decorations!  Mustache banner...in a rainbow pattern?  Yes please!


500 ink pens for all of my friends coming to Las Vegas for I Teach K.  Yes, please!


Pool day with my TBFF (Teacher Best Friend Forever)?  Yes, please.


Oh and you know....just an email from CNN requesting an interview.  


I also updated my mustache themed behavior calendars for 2014-2015!

Click the picture to check it out in my TPT store!


Feel free to link up your Wednesday posts!




↧

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Thrifty Thursday: Pool Noodles

June 26, 2014, 10:28 am
$
0
0


It's time for another fun filled, glitterific, Greg-tacular Thrifty Thursday project.    Who doesn't love the Dollar Tree?!  I mean everything is $1.  And they have so many amazing things for your classroom.  It really is like teacher heaven.

And who doesn't love summer when you can stay up late pinning ideas for your classroom?!  Combine the two...late night pinning and the dollar tree and you get some pretty awesome classroom tools.

Today's Thrifty Thursday idea comes from my Heidi at Heidi Songs.


If you're not following Heidi you need to click that picture and do it now.  She is AMAZING and has the most incredible ideas on her blog and her Pinterest boards are....well...insanely awesome.  I mean, glitteriffic!

So Heidi pinned this wonderful idea for using pool noodles to build color words.  GENIUS!  She really is....



I loved the idea and knew I just had to do it.   I decided to use sight words instead of color words.  The possibilities are endless.  Sight words, names, color words, counting and sets, equations...so many possibilities!

Total cost for this project:  $0.   I had pool noodles in the garage.  I had card stock.  I had markers.  Zero dollars.  Who doesn't love zero?!?!


I cut the pool noodle into 12" and then sliced in half.  Heidi has amazing directions for this project on her blog!








And here's a free set of 30 word cards for you to use!  Just click the picture to download your freebie!








Be sure to link up your Thrifty Thursday posts!





↧
Viewing all 934 articles
Browse latest View live
Search