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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Monday Made It!

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Happy Monday Made It!  And the week before I Tach K in Vegas!!!  I am so crazy excited about Vegas.  We have tickets to Celine.  We're heading to the Grand Canyon and then it's a week of teacher heaven with all of my friends!!!!  I am so excited to meet everyone but holy crap I'm nervous and scared about presenting.  YIKES!  What if people don't like me?!?!  OMG.  Too much pressure.  Where's my glitter?!

OK...enough of melting down...here's my Monday Made It!  It's simple but important!  No classroom is complete without banners!  So I made three banners for my rainbow mustache classroom!




This banner will hang above my guided reading table!  


This banner will hang outside the classroom welcoming everyone to the land of rainbows, mustaches and glitter!  


This banner will hang above our mustache rainbow word wall!  

These were all made using the template included in my EDITABLE Rainbow Mustache Theme Classroom Decor creation!

Be sure to head over to 4th Grade Frolics and link up and check out all of the awesome Monday Made It ideas!


And now a huge announcement!!!!

Who's coming to Vegas next week???  

Well, if you're there make sure to visit the Creative Teaching Press booth (Booth 112) Tuesday and Wednesday.  I'll be hanging out in their photo booth those days!  Come say hi and snap a picture with me!

And...I have 15 #smittenwithsmorgie exclusive CTP mustache gift bags to give away.  I'll be handing those out all week!!!    Make sure you find me all week!






A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Currently!

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Hey ya'll!  I figured I would skip Tasty Treat Tuesday and link up with my pal Farley at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for her July Currently!


So I am an admitted HUGE nerdy dork.  I love all those history type shows on the Travel Channel, History Channel and Discovery Channel.  I record them and watch them when the mister is at work!  NERDS UNITE!

Last night we bought me a new NEON GREEN 4 Door Jeep Wrangler.  Not only is it neon green but it's lifted with huge tires.  That car is HUGE!  And I LOVE IT!!!!

Thinking about all of the loose ends to wrap up before heading out to Vegas for a week of teacher fun and friends!  You know...packing my 500 ink pens and 1500 business cards...packing the #smittenwithsmorgie shirts...and all of my fun stuff for my 3 sessions!  

I need nothing.  I am blessed with all that I need and could ask for. 

So we usually head out for fireworks on the 4th but this year it will be all about packing for Vegas.  Our flight leaves Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m.  which means we have to be at the airport by 6.  Which means we're leaving here by 5:30 a.m. which means a 5am wake up call.  VEGAS HERE WE COME!  

Be sure to head over and check out all of the great Currently posts!






See ya in Vegas!!!!

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Thrifty Thursday: Finger Lights

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Happy Thursday!  It's Thrifty Thursday here at The Kindergarten Smorgasboard!  Today I want to show you a thrifty deal I found at Wal-Mart!  These were $1 at Wal-Mart.  I have heard that you can find them at the Dollar Tree and online also!





I  have seen these little finger lights used for guided reading and always said I wanted to try them out.  Finally I ran across some!  I'm super excited!  


These little lights will hopefully help my 'staches with their tracking skills!  And really, arent' they fun and pretty?!?!  I can see these being used for fun sight word games (light up the words on the word wall!)  At the beginning of the year you could light up letters and numbers!  You could write equations on the board and students can light up the equation that is equal to a certain sum!  So many possibilities for just $1!


How would you use these in your classroom?

And be sure to link up your Thrifty Thursday post!






A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Viva Las Vegas!

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Greetings from glittery and sparkly Las Vegas!!!    I am here with the mister for the I Teach K Conference and Teachers Pay Teachers conference.  We.  are.  having.  a.  blast.  

Let's clear up something!   DRY HEAT?!?!?!   Um. No.  It's 105 and humid.  That is all.

I am having an amazing time meeting so many incredible teachers and friends.  I'm already learning some amazing new ideas and strategies for my classroom.   And did I mention I'm having a blast!!!    Even though Celine did cancel her show.  I'm still waiting on my personal email from her since I sent my card and a Smorgie ink pen to her suite at Ceasars!




On Sunday, we spent the day at the Grand Canyon.  We took a helicopter to the bottom of the canyon.  People....it was AMAZING.  There really aren't words for the experience!   



We stood in line for 45 minutes to get sweets from Carlos' Bakery.  You know, The Cake Boss on TLC..  True story.  45 minutes.  I enjoyed my yellow cupcake with chocolate icing after the first day of the conference.  

And check out that sweet?!?!?!  AMAZEBALLS!



This is happening people.   Thursday I am presenting 3 sessions.  Excuse while I throw up a bit.  #nervous




And here is the best part of the conference!  Meeting so many of my friends!!!!  Seriously loving the hugs and pictures and great conversations!!!!!!


And if you're here in Vegas....don't forget to come see me at the Creative Teaching Press booth (Booth 112) Tuesday and Wednesday!


And if you're here in Vegas (or even if you're not and just want a shirt!) be sure to visit the Teacher Shirts booth and grab this shirt that I helped design!  You can get it with free shipping here in Vegas or you can check out their website to order your shirt!





A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Friendship Abundance

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Howdy ya'll!  We are once again back in The Kindergarten Smorgasboard World Headquarters after a week in Las Vegas.  And let's be real...it was like sitting on the surface of the sun.  Yeah, that hot!  Even though Celine cancelled, we had an amazing week.

The hightlights of the week (other than spending the week with my amazingly supportive and patient and loving mister) were the people that I met.  It was an amazing experience to finally get to hug and squeeze so many of you who have supported me and blessed my life for so long.  Seriously, my smile is still sore from so many pictures.  

I wanted to share all of the amazing teachers that I met this week.  But that was a lot.  So here is my giant friendship collage from Las Vegas.  If you're not on here, send me your picture and we'll add you.

People, what you see below is what makes teaching great.  Teachers giving up their summer to travel to a conference on their own dime so they can be the best they can be for their students.  Does it get anymore inspirational and uplifting than that?

And for those of who said such amazingly kind things about my sessions, THANK YOU!  I am excited for more sessions in the future!  

So, here are my friends from Vegas!  These people inspire me more than you will ever know.



Stay tuned! I have a brain full of tips, ideas and resources that I plan to share with ya'l between now and back to school!  

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Monday Made It: Glue Sponges!

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Howdy ya'll!  Last week I was in Las Vegas for the I Teach K conference and many people came up to me and talked about the glue sponges.  WHAT!?  You don't know about the glue sponges?  You aren't using them???  People...you have to switch to the sponge.  Trust me.  Your life will be much better.  No lost lids.  No clogs.  Less mess.  Less money.  It's a win win for everyone!



These are simple to make.  Very effective.  Easy for student's to use.  And cheap.  I spent $18 dollars to make 8 glue sponges.  They last the entire year.  At the end of the year I throw them out and then I make new ones for the new school year.  $18 dollars compared to hundreds on glue bottles and glue sticks.  Yeah.  I know...

You need sponges.  I got these in a pack of 6 for a couple of bucks at Wal-Mart.  They are the Cello brand and I use them because they're slightly moist already!  Sandwich containers with snap on lids and glue.  About 2 bottles per sponge.



Pour about 3/4 of the glue in the container.

Put 1 complete sponge in your container.  Cut another sponge in half or 1/3 to fit (varies depending on your container!).  Push them down in the glue.



Pour the remaining glue on top of the sponges.  


Place the lid on and let the sponges absorb the glue.  These take a few days to soak up the glue and be ready for use. 

BAM!  Glue sponges.  

Here are some tips that I've learned:  

Spritz the sponges with a mixture of water and Listerine every other day to keep them moist and germ free.  

Add more glue every week or two depending on how much they dry out.  

Make sure the lids are on tight!  

You can click on the link below to see my How To Video on YouTube on how to make the sponges!



And now by request, a FREEBIE!

A while back I did a Thrifty Thursday post on using cooke sheets to make magnetic ten frames.  I included some super hero number cards to 20.  I had a request to make them to 31 for calendars, so here they are.  Just click the picture to get to my freebies page!









A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Tasty Treat Tuesday!

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So it's Tuesday...which means Tasty Treat Tuesday.  BUT today's treat isn't tasty.  Well, I guess it could be...in a mental sort of way.  But it's definitely not something you want to nibble on.  I mean, you can print it and if you're into eating paper, I'm sure it's yummy....if that's  your thing.  I won't judge.  

I was honored to present 3 sessions at the National I Teach K conference in Las Vegas last week.  I know so many of you wanted videos but that's against the rules.  BUT I am able to offer you my PowerPoints from the sessions.


Here's the catch.  To keep the formatting, I have to upload them as PDF files so the videos won't play.  BUT all of the videos are on my YouTube channel!  

If you have any questions about the slides, let me know!  I can do some in depth posts about anything ya'll have question about!  

I hope you enjoy your Tasty...errr Treat Tuesday treats!

Just click on the picture to download!





A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Thrifty Thursday: Cookie Sheets and Letters!

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I left the I Teach K conference in Las Vegas with mushy brain.  There was so much incredible information and even more amazing ideas.  It was teacher overload.  But in a good way.  What teacher doesn't love ideas and information?!  I am a huge fan of the ideas that I can use in my classroom the very next day.  Seriously...I want to leave a session with at least 1 thing I can implement immediately. 

I had the opporunity to attend a word work session by DeeDee Wills  from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten and she shared a super awesome idea for cookie sheets and letters!  It was one of those things that I could do very easily with little or no cost.  BAM!  


Materials:  cookie sheets, magnetic letters and Sharpies.

Cookie sheets are $1 at the Dollar Tree and if you're like me, you have a TON of magnetic letters floating around.  



Simply write the letters on the cookie sheet with a Sharpie.  


Students match the magnetic letters to the letters on the cookie sheet!  BAM!  

This could also work for numbers!

Be sure to link up your Thrifty Thursday post!




A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Fabulous Friends Friday!

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Happy Friday.  Well...for me it's not so happy.  As you read this, I am hopefully home and resting after my knee surgery.  They're doing arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartillage in my right knee!  People, I admit it.  I'm being a big, whiny, dramatic baby.  But it's my first surgery...so I'm a little nervous.  I'll update my status on social media (Facebook and Instagram) so you'll know how I'm holding up!

But...I wanted to share this sneak peek into my classroom. I worked my booty off to get it ready before surgery.  All that's left is some decorating and final touches.  The mister is going to decorate.  I'm going to sit and tell him what to do and he's going to do it.  Isn't he amazing?!?!


That's all you get!  I'll do a full reveal with a video in a couple of weeks!!!


And now...how about you meet one of my fabulous friends?!


This is a lady that I've been friends with for over 2 years.  We've been blog buddies and chatted and she is just the sweetest, kindest person.  I was beyond ecstatic when I finally got to meet her and hug her in Vegas.  


It's Farrah from Mrs. Shipley's Classroom!

Seroiously this woman is amazing.  Talented and genuine.  Friendly.  Positive.  I can admit that it was a huge relief during my blog panel at the Teacher's Pay Teachers Conference to see her smiling face in the front row.  It sure made my morning much easier!  

Here's what Farrah has to say about blogging and teaching:
"Blogging about my classroom and how WBT has changed the atmosphere in my classroom gives me a sense of satisfaction that I can share a little piece of Teaching Heaven with other teachers.""When teachers email me and tell me that they discovered WBT through my blog and tried it, and that it recharged their passion for teaching again, I feel like maybe, just maybe, it is worth letting the whole world into my classroom for those brief moments through video!""The friendships and connections I have made through the blogging world are priceless. The ideas that I get from seeing into other bloggers classrooms through their blogs are endless. There are a lot of talented teachers out there!"


How about a freebie?


Click the picture to download your freebie!

And now a giveaway!

Farrah is giving away her Guided Reading WBT Style guide and I'm giving away $10 to my TPT store!  Just use the Rafflecopter to enter!





a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Monday Made It: Pointers!

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It's Monday so that means Monday Made It!  And despite my knee surgery (there might or might not have been a panic attack involved in the healing process this weekend...allegedly....) I have a super easy and cheap Monday Made It for you.  And per request, there is a Submission For Smorgie video!


This all got started with this picture on Instagram and Facebook.  I've always been annoyed at storing my pointers.  They fall over...they break...they're in the way.  It was quite frustrating.  Then I visited my friend Jenissa's classroom (at my old hometown elementary school!) and saw this BRILLIANT idea.

She stores her pointers in an upside down milk crate.  Seriously...BRILLIANT!  

After posting this picture I got lots of people asking about my pointers.  So this Monday Made It Post was born.  And then someone asked for a video so here ya go!  I am here to serve and help!  Ask and you shall receive!




Supplies:  wooden dowel rods, E-6000 glue, and wooden cutouts.  The wooden cutouts are from Michaels.  They are 60 cents a piece.  They have tons of different shapes and animals.  People, the mister pushed me around Michaels in a wheelchair to get these!  TRUTH!  


Simply put glue on the back of the cutout and some glue on the dowel rod.  
Stick together.
Hold them until the glue dries.

BAM!  Pointers are finished!











A Kindergarten Smorgasboard FREE Treat Tuesday: First Day of K Hat!

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People, PANIC AND FREAK OUT!  Summer is almost over here at The Kindergarten Smorgasboard World Headquarters.   It's true.  My first teacher day is July 31.  Kids return August 6.  FREAK OUT AND PANIC!

Never mind I have a gimpy knee which means i'm behind on setting up, organzizing and decorating my classroom.  YIKES!

But here's what even more scary...I know there are people who have started already or start next week.  People, where did summer go?!?!

To ease the burden a bit...here is a fun freebie for your first day of Kindergarten!  

Ya'll know I have a love affair with a good silly hat.  I mean, why not.  They're fun.  They're academic.  They're silly.  And they're hats.  

Tip #1 for the new school year:  go ahead and stock up on sentence strips.

Last year I whipped up this fun little hat for the first day of kindergarten and it was a huge hit!  So I decided to re-do it again this year!  



Here are the 2013 hats.  Of course, they've been updated for 2014!

And since i'm all about the rainbow mustaches, it's gonna be colorful!


There are three different versions included.  Mustaches.  DUH!
Bears because that's our school mascot.
Pencils because it's the first day of Kindergarten so pencils are a must!  

Here's a tip:  Make these ahead of time.  Glue the circle on the sentence strip and have them ready to go.  All you have to do is measure each head and staple.  TIME SAVER!  

Click the pictures to download your freebie and be sure to share with your friends!








A Kindergarten Smorgasboard What's Happening Wednesday: Read Alouds

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Well people, it's that time of year.  Target has filled the Dollar Spot with school goodies.  Everyone is pinning all of these amazing back to school ideas.  Teachers are cramming in the last few naps and real meals that don't have to be inhaled in 10 minutes.  Teachers are going to the bathroom whenever they want. 

It's time for Back To School.  I know some of you are back already.  We start July 31 for teachers and August 6 for kids.  This gimpy knee has until August 6 to get it together.  Ain't nobody got time for a gimpy knee when you have to chase 5 year olds around.   Just sayin...

I asked for favortie read alouds on my Facebook page and got a huge response.  There are so many amazing books and ideas.  I am listing all of the suggestions that were made.  I'm also including ideas that were shared for the books.  If you ahve ideas for these books or suggestions for other books, please leave them in the comments!  Help a teacher out! 

Also, you can click on each picture to snag the book at Amazon.  I ordered all of these that I didn't have!  Thank you Amazon Prime!  








In my class, we use Big Plans to set BIG PLANS for kindergarten.  This is when we introduce our hopes and dreams for kindergarten.  We share what we hope to learn.  We make a large circle map of all of the hopes and dreams of our class.  We make a class predictable chart where each child shares their biggest goal for kindergarten.  I send home a letter asking for parents to share their hopes and dreams for their child in kindergarten.  Then I write the child's hope on a puzzle piece and the parent's hope on a puzzle piece and create a display to remind us all of what we're working for.  It's a great way to connect our learning to home!

Click the picture to see a post with more about the hopes and dreams activity!



Any book that encourages us to be ourself and to accept others  is a must have!   And I LOVE Todd Parr!




This is a great book for talking about teamwork and tolerance.  After we read the book, I give my 'staches a piece of paper and 1 crayon.  Just 1.  I ask them to draw me a picture of a rainbow.  Then we discuss.  Then I give them all of the colors and have them to the same picture again.  We talk about which is better and why.  This is a great visual to help students understand that we must work together if we're going to make beautiful learning in kindergarten!




I read this book at the beginning of the year and we talk about the behavior of the kids.  We discuss what happens if we make bad choices (Miss Swamp shows up...and that ain't no good people!).  We make a simple Miss Swamp project and for the rest of the year if the class acts up, someone always says Miss Swamp is coming!  Great behavior management book!










My friend Darilynn shared this book and this idea:

After reading the book each child turns to their shoulder buddy and gives them a compliment.  Then each child takes a turn throwing a pebble into a clear container of water so they can see the ripple effect of the pebble.  This is the ripple effect of kindness.  POWERFUL STUFF FOLKS!!!  


We read this book and do a predictable chart.  I felt ___________ on the first day of kindergarten!

Then we drink jitter juice of course!



I just ordered my first Pete book.  TRUTH!  I am giving in a bit.  Just a bit...




After we read this story, we make a T chart.  On one side we list all of things that they do in the book to get ready for kindergarten.  On the other side, we list all of the things WE did to get ready for kindergarten.  It's a fun way to talk out some of the jitters!




Names.  Nuff said.


We list all the things David SHOULD be doing at school!  


A Kindergarten Smorgsboard Thrifty Thursday: Melt Your Own Manipulatives

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Hello Thursday!  It's a beautiful day here in Music City!  It's warm and breezy but not crazy hot and humid.  I have a feeling we will pay for this weather in August....when we're back in school...and i'm sure the air conditioning will quit.  It's just what is meant to be right?!



It's Thrifty Thursday time!  Today I am going to show you a cheap and fun way to make some unique manipulatives for your classroom.  

If you have a light table or light box, these are perfect for those.  If you don't have one and want to make a simple and cheap light box, check out my post on how to make a light box by clicking the link.


You will need plastic Solo cups.  Or any brand of plastic cup.  BUT you need a certain type of cup.

On the bottom of the cup is the little recycling triangle symbol.  Inside that triangle is a number.  Look for cups with a number 6.  Those melt the best.  Don't ask why.  But it matters.



Set your oven to 250-300.  



Place 3 cups on a cookie sheet.  Space them out so they have to room to melt down.  Place the opening UP so they melt flatter!!1  



Place in oven.  Watch the magic.  Yeah...plastic cups in the oven.  Don't worry, it won't smoke or smell or burn the place down.  Well...I don't know you so you might burn the place down.  I haven't yet...YET!




Pull out the cookie sheet and QUICKLY use a spatula to flatten out the discs.  HURRY because they harden really fast when they hit the cool air.



These are great for all kinds of things:

nametags, manipulatives, counters and more!  And they're very durable!!!

Have fun melting plastic in the oven!

Be sure to link up your Thrifty Thursday posts!


A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Fabulous Friend Friday!

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Hello Friday!  This is my last Friday of summer break.  We had back to work next week!  Womp womp.  I am super excited for a new year with a whole new batch of 'staches and a crazy new way to run my classroom.  It should be a wild, funny, productive year....right?! 

I am linking up with Doodlebugs for Five For Friday!  And then I'm featuring one of my FABULOUS Friends for Fabulous Friend Friday with a freebie and a give away!



I ordered mustache pencils for my class!  I love these!  I also ordered plain rainbow color pencils to match our rainbow mustache classroom!  These came from Raymond Geddes.  I love their pencils and they're reasonably priced!




Have you found your name on a Coke bottle yet?!  Me neither.  But at least the nice people at Coke know who they're dealing with!

PS  I was off the Coca Cola for a year.  And then my gimpy knee got in the way.  Something about a Coke is so soothing and comforting when I don't feel well.  Must. Stop. Must. Drink.  Lemonade.


Here is a big part of my new classroom idea/experiment/insanity.  Not the letters...the rugs.  Stay tuned!  I have a MAJOR reveal of my classroom and a BUNCH of new creations coming on August 1.  GET READY!


Nuff said.


Gimpy knee is slowly healing.  Stupid knee.


Today's fabulous friend is Christina from Miss Decarbo at Sugar And Spice!!!

I met her in Vegas (FINALLY) and she is as sweet and funny as she is in the blog world. 





Christina says:  This will be my 7th year of teaching and my 3rd year of blogging. The past 3 years have been the BEST years of my career because I have had the opportunity to learn from fabulous teacher-bloggers who have challenged me, inspired me, and supported me. I love talking to other educators about our classrooms, sharing professional development, and brainstorming ideas that will result in high achievement and a deep love of learning. When a child's eyes light up in my room because he is having FUN while learning something new, it is beyond a doubt the greatest feeling. Through blogging, I get to share that light with educators across the country. It doesn't get any better than that! :)

I mean, for real, how can you not love this lady?!?!

Now for a give away and a freebie!


Check out this fun QR code freebie!  WE LOVE QR CODES!

And now for a give away!

You can win Think, Talk, Teach:  Daily Discussion For Little Learners from Miss DeCarbo AND 2 creations of your choice from MY TPT STORE!




a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Submissions For Smorgie: FIRST DAY!

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It's time for another Submission For Smorgie!  This one is super appropriate since school is about to start.  We start August 6 (kids)!  I report back THURSDAY!  YIKES!  So long summer!

My room is ready.  I am ready.  I even woke up at 6am this morning to get myself in the early morning routine again.  But man it was painful getting up so early! LOL




Here are some of the activities I mentioned in the video:






Here are some more posts on the first day:




Are you ready???





A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Thrifty Thursday: Balloons!

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People, my summer is OVER.  Today was our first official day back to work.  Teachers reported for in-service.  We have 3 more days of in-service before the kiddos come storming the building!

I have been hard at work getting my room ready.  I have also been hard at work on the credit card.  OUCH!  Since I know we're all on a budget, I loved this idea for using balloons to decorate.  HELLO CHEAP!!!!!

Ya see, I had some lanterns up but needed something on the other side of the room.  Since the credit card is broken, I needed a cheap alternative.  

Try this:  replace paper lanterns ($$$) with balloons!  TRUTH!

I love that you can get any color you want.  I love that they bring a sense of fun and whimsy to the classroom.  I also love that it was a quick, easy CHEAP way to bring another pop of color into my classroom!

I have no idea where I found this...I know I saw it on Pinterest but I cannot find the pin.  If you know where this idea came from, let me know!





You need balloons and marbles.  All available at the dollar store for $1.  See...couple of bucks and you can decorate!  CHEAP!  FUN!  WHIMSY! 


All I did was put a marble into the balloon before I blew it up.

Blow up the balloon.  Tie it.  Add some fishing line and hang from the ceiling.  BAM!

Cheap alternative to more pricey paper lanterns!

Be sure to link up your Thrifty Thursday post!








A Kindergarten Smorgasboard CLASSROOM REVEAL!

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August 1st has arrived.  I know I've been teasing you for 2 weeks...and judging my Facebook and Instagram feeds...ya'll wanna see something.  Well, I am SUPER Excited to show off my new rainbow mustache classroom!!!!!!!!!!!

I am LOVING my room this year.  Colors EVERYWHERE!  Mustaches EVERYWHERE.  AND TONS OF SPACE!

You've heard me teasing an experiment that I am embarking on this year.  Here it is:  (Ya'll might want to sit down for this...which is ironic....)

NO TABLES!  NO DESKS!  NO CHAIRS!  NO ASSIGNED SEATS!  People, we're going a little montessori up on here!  I was inspired by my dear friend Erin at Kleinspiration.  If you do some research, this type of no seating arrangement is great for creativity (hello, have you met me, I am all about creativity) and collaboration!  

TRUTH!  OK...the no table thing is not totally true.  I have 2 round tables and my small group table.   In all honesty, there are enough seats at a table for everyone (FI WE NEED THEM!).  Here's the plan:

CHOICE!  CHOICE!  CHOICE.  I get asked all the time about keeping students engaged.  Well here are two tricks that work wonders:  NOVELTY AND CHOICE!  So why not give them novelty and choice in where they sit and work???  

That's right.  They can sit on the floor.  They can sit at a table.  They can stand.  They can choose a rug and sit on it.  The choice is theirs.  The novelty is that each time they work they sit somewhere different.  When we have those times where everyone needs to be working in their own space, I bought 15 bath mats so each student can have a mat to use for their own space!  

People, I am super excited about this.  I am a little nervous.  But here's my thing:  I love being a little innovative and trying new things.  It's all about procedures, procedures, procedures and expectations.  WE CAN DO THIS!  

(Plan B:  I have tables in storage should my experiment blow up in my face!)  

I will be blogging about this and sharing how it goes over the next few weeks!  Wanna take bets?!  Success??  Epic fail???

So, are ya ready to see the classroom??





This is what it might look like when the 'staches have their rugs out working around the room!

How much do you love that lamp?!

This is what it looks like if we are using the rugs for whole group work.  Can I just say I love how they look when they're all together!!!





I love my mustace clipboard from CJayne Teach!  I love my milk crate pointer storage!  

You can see the famous center wheel!  It's in a new, more 'stache friendly location this year. 'Stache friendly=less Mr. Greg stress!  

Our mini pocket charts are stored in this metal planter I found at the Dollar Tree!



Upper left corner:  CLEAR POCKET CHART!  TRUE STORY!  I'll give ya a moment...

That board is for anchor charts and activities using pocket charts.  The chart is on a curtain rod that's held up by command hooks.  The chart is attached to the rod using curtain hooks.  If I need to display anchor charts, I just unclip the chart and put up an anchor chart!

Red pocket chart:  our student friendly I CAN Statement CANS!  I know right... I can  on CANS!

Colors and shapes!  Folders!  Months and days!

Classroom library!  Thanks to Creative Teaching Press for the rainbow chevrons and mustache photo booth kid!  I love the library!  It's fun.  It's inviting.  It's cozy.  It's colorful.  It has giant fish hats to wear while reading.  What 'stache wouldn't want to read in the plastic pool with a giant fish hat on their head?!


Community supplies.  We use community supplies to foster a sense of sharing and to reinforce the idea that this is OUR CLASSROOM.  This is not Mr. Greg's classroom.  This is our classroom.  These are our things.  This sense of ownership really helps the 'staches respect our materials and property!


Rainbow Mustache Land needs a rainbow entrance!  Anyone see the mistake?!  I will write each 'staches name on a mustache next week!

The rainbow curtain is PLASTIC and was one of our finds on our last minute IKEA trip.  It makes a perfect entrance to our land of 'staches and color.  

And everyone needs a TBFF posing in their doorway.  I expect this everyday TBFF!

Small group area.  Mr. Greg's name is on the wall.  In case I forget who I am.  Which happens.

Mustache drawers for weekly work.  Laminated circles for small group work.  Thanks CTP!  

People.  This is one of those finds that well, just defies all words.

People.  IT IS A GIANT ZIPPER RUG.  GIANT ZIPPER.  The giant zipper rug leads into our bathroom.  I KNOW RIGHT!  Zipper...bathroom.   Too much.

Here's the best part of the giant zipper rug.  IKEA.  $5.  FIVE DOLLARS.  So I had to buy 6.  I have two in my room AND I gifted each of my teammates with a zipper rug.

I was like Oprah giving our zipper rugs!  YOU GET A ZIPPER RUG!  YOU GET A ZIPPER RUG!  EVERYBODY GETS A ZIPPER RUG!


Another Ikea find.  These baskets are PERFECT for folders and paper!  This one is hanging by our mailboxes.  I plan to use it contain all of those signed notes and papers that get pulled out of folders and backpacks.  Maybe this year I won't lose so many important papers.  ALLEGEDLY.  I'm not saying I lost papers.   ALLEGEDLY.  I'm just saying this will help!

I made rainbow clipboards (if we're gonna be working on the floor, we need clipboards to match our classroom....just sayin!) and use a $3 laundry basket to store them.  

Our rainbow word wall.  I am super excited to use our new RAINBOW MUSTACHE SENTENCE STRIP sight word cards on our wall!  It's a magnetic whiteboard so we can just use magnets to display our words.







Our classroom!


And now a guided tour of the classroom.  




That's it.  Our 2014-2105 rainbow mustache classroom and no tables/assigned seats/sit anywhere experiment! 

Now...did you hear???  It's a Back To School Sale!  Who doesn't love a sale?!

Click the picture to visit my store!

It's time for the TPT Back To School Sale!  People, I am so excited.  My cart is already FULL!  

I have been having a blast this summer working on new creations for the classroom.  I've been getting them uploaded to my store.  Here are some of the newest ones!  I'll be adding more all weekend long!  Check em out.  Fill your carts.  And put in all of your feedback to get your credits!

LET'S SHOP!









A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Fab Friends and TPT Gift Card Giveaway!

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Yeah, yeah I know it's not Friday...but I wanted to make sure to feature a fabulous new friend this week and I didn't want this friend to get lost in the excitement of my classroom reveal, so I waited until today.

I am super excited to introduce you to this fabulous friend.  She is my sister from another mother.  For reals.  And she is sweet, hilarious and just downright awesome.  

Everone, meet Valerie from Georgia Grown Kiddos!



Georgia Grown Kiddos

Valerie says:  "Integrity and loyalty is everything to me. Never sell yourself for
something you are not."

I love that quote.  BE YOU!!!! 

Here is a fun number freebie from Valerie!

Click the picture to get your freebie!

Valerie is also giving away her Rules Of The Classroom Poster Set to one lucky winner!


You can enter on the rafflecopter!



I am giving away a $25 TPT Gift Card to celebrate Back To School and the big Back To School sale coming up Monday and Tuesday.

My cart is FULL people!  The credit card isn't going to be happy!!  But I will be!  

Are ya shopping??  Wishlisting?  Leaving feedback??  

Enter to win $25 to spend!  Good luck!

Click to visit my store!

Two of my newest creations!



A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Schedulin Sunday!

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It's that time of year people.  A new school year has arrived.  That means the return of Schedulin Sunday here at The Kindergarten Smorgasboard! 

Normally on Sunday I post my lesson plans for you to download, however, since I only have 2 half days with my 'staches this week, I won't have any lesson plans to download.  BUT I can share with you what I have planned for those half days!


Here is my plan for the first day of school:

7:43-Mr. Greg can be found in the corner.  Crying.  Shaking.  Asking for his mommy.  The first day always TERRIFIES me.  Seriously.  It scares the pants off of me.  What if...I mess up?  What if.. I lose a child?  What if...I can't control my class?  What if..I fail?!  What if ...the 'staches don't like me?

But at least i'm wearing an epic back to school outfit!

7:45-8:15-arrival.  Students will arrive and find a seat at a table (This is the only time we will be directed to sit at a table.  As soon as the parents leave, we will learn how to get our rugs and sit on those!).  At their tables they will have a coloring sheet to color.

People...it's a coloring sheet of me!  Seriously!  It's so much fun to watch them slowly figure out that it's their teacher that they're coloring.



8:15-Announcements

8:20-Morning Meeting
We will learn how to bring our rug to the morning meeting area.  I will model how to get the rug and carry it to the carpet and put it down.  I'll model (Gimpy knee willing...) how to sit criss cross applesauce!  We will practice this multiple times if needed.

Our morning meeting will consist of a simple greeting:  My name is...

After everyone has been greeted, Mr. Greg will talk.

I share who I am and how happy and excited I am.  I share how this is our classroom and all of this stuff is ours.  We share it all.  We respect it all.  If we take care of it, we learn and have fun.  I also talk about being a family and taking care of each other.  

Next we sing two songs:  Beautiful Day by Jack Hartmann and Alien Alphabet from Intelli-Tunes!
I use this song at the beginning of the year because it sings the letters in a slow pattern so we aren't racing through  LMNOP!  It's a fun song for learning letters!

After singing, we visit the classroom bathroom and learn bathroom procedures.  Hello toilet spider!


Seriously, draw a spider in the toilet and teach the boys to pee on the spider.  You will be amazed at how clean your bathroom will stay.  I just use a Sharpie and draw him on the toilet!  BAM!  No more pee on the floor.  Until one of your 'staches gets mad and pees on the wall....allegedly!

We head back to the carpet for our first read aloud!

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten.

After reading, we make a chart of all the things Miss Bindergarten does to get ready for Kindergarten and all of the things we did to get ready for kindergarten.

Next, we write our names.  


Everyone, including Mr. Greg writes our names on chart paper.  We get to use our smelly markers so Mr. Greg gives his smelly marker speech.  Take care of them.  These are SPECIAL markers and we don't want them to go away.  It's ok to sniff them one time.  No more than one time.  

After we take turns writing our names on chart paper, we go to our seats/rugs and practice writing our names on paper.  

I keep these papers and the chart and display them as our first piece of Kindergarten work.

By now, it is time for brunch!  

This is when we practice lining up (walking feet, quiet feet, facing forward with duck tails and bubbles and STAYING IN LINE!).  Once we are in line we make our first journey into the hallways.   Pray for us.  There's nothing like kindergarteners walking down the hall on the first day of school!  People, pray for us.  We will be a hot mess.  I'm prepared.  And i'm ok with it!

After brunch, we take a stroll around the school just to get more practice walking and to see our school.

When we return from brunch, we are introduced to our first school supply!  THE CRAYON!

I show the 'staches the crayons and ask what they are and what they get used for.  We talk about what we color (PAPER!) and what not to color (tables, rugs, floors, your friends, your self, your teacher...especially your teacher!).  

Then I break crayons.  Panic ensues.  The 'staches get upset and we talk about respecting crayons and caring for them.

Next, I turn on the document camera (Elmo) and show them how it works.  We play with the camera for a few minutes.  Then I show them a soccer ball.

Click to get your freebie!

I start to color the ball by scribbling all over.  

I ask how I'm doing and they all say not good.  

Then I show them how to color in the lines, leaving no white space and using different colors!

After I model how to color my soccer ball, each 'stache gets a soccer ball and they color their ball!

Why a soccer ball:  the different sections!  It's great for staying in lines and for using multiple colors!  And it's fun!

This activity gives you some insight into who can hold crayons, who is good at coloring and who might need some extra TLC!



And since it's the first day and we are MR. GREG's MUSTACHES we will have a mustache cookie, wear a mustache hat, wear a mustache and take lots of pictures!

Click the picture to get your freebie!

And then it will be time to go home.  We will practice lining up again.  We will make our way to the front for dismissal.  Pray for us.  Dismissal is always a nightmare on the first day.  I will not lose anyone.  I will not lose anyone.  I will not lose anyone.

Friday:

Arrival
Morning Meeting
Singing
Read Aloud:  Scaredy Squirrel and First Day Jitters.
Talk about emotions/feelings.
Predictable chart:  I felt....on the first day of kindergarten.


Name practice.
Specials
Brunch
Go home!

The 2nd half day is easy because have specials that day so we get to practice that routine!  It makes for a quick day!


Feel free to link up your weekly blog post with your weekly lesson plans!





Now, how about some freebies???

Click to download.

I made these fun direction cards to add a visual to help my 'staches stay on track.  Color and black and white.  I am using the black and white cards printed on color card stock to match my rainbow theme!

How about this freebie?

This is a NEWSLETTER EXCLUSIVE FREEBIE!  If you want this freebie, sign up for my newsletter before 7:00 p.m. and this will arrive in your mailbox.  I only send out 2 newsletters a month so I won't flood you with glitter and Smorgie awesomeness!

SIGN UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BLOG ---------->

Don't forget to enter the $25 TPT gift card give away.  I'm giving this away tomorrow night so you can use it during the big Back To School sale!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you ready for the big BTS sale at TPT?  All of Common Core creations are going to be 28% off Monday and Tuesday (Code:  BTS14).  Is your cart full?  Mine is LOADED and ready!

Click the picture to visit my store!

My two newest creations!





A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Monday Made It: Math Tub Center

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This weekend my parents came to visit.  Anytime my parents come my dad asks if he needs to bring tools or if we have anything he needs to repair. 
This time I told him nope.  We're good.    Well, WRONG!  hehe



My friend Michelle on Facebook mentioned that she was going to build some center tubs out of PVC pipe since she didn't have the tubs like I have in my room.  Well when she posted the final product I knew I had to make one for my math tub centers!  


Daddy's coming, that means PROJECT TIME!

I posted the finished product on my Facebook page and people have been asking for directions and costs!  SO HERE IT IS!
Here are the measurements for my exact project:



54" long (cut into 2 27" pieces)
20" tall (cut into 5"pieces)
10" deep

Here's how we made it"

We bought 5 pieces of 3/4" PVC pipe that was 10 feet long.

We cut 12 27" pieces.




We cut 6 10" pieces.



We cut 24 5" pieces.



Then we pieced the 27" pieces together with a cross joint.  (These are in the plumbing section at Lowes/Home Depot)  This will give you the front and the back.  You will have 2 pieces that look exactly the same.  

To make the shelves, we placed 5" pieces vertically using the cross joints.  We did this on the ends and the middle.  

Then we placed the 10" horizontally to make the shelves deep enough to allow the baskets to sit on the pipe.  We connected the top bottom with elbow pieces to make feet for the center to sit on.



That's it.  It's really simple.  

Total cost:  $30 for the shelf and $9 for the baskets.  The fittings (cross, T and elbow) are the most expensive part!

The measurements are specific to these baskets from the Dollar Tree.  If you use different baskets, you will have to tweak the measurements!

Don't forget about the big TPT Back To School sale!  My store is 20% off and with the code BTS14 you get an extra 10% off!  Click the picture to check out my newest creations!








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