Blog Move

Hello,
My blog has moved and you can now find new posts here.

Halloween 2016

   Last Halloween was just crazy, insane, and stressful. I did not want a repeat of that this year, so I made some major changes on what I was going to do. We of course do a halloween parade and afterwards is when you can have a party. I don't call it a party because to me it really isn't a party and the parents just show up no matter what. And so many parents came which was great, but always makes me nervous. Though I felt comfortable and good this year about everything.

Though we first read the story There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed at Bat and afterwards we discussed what the old lady swallowed and sequenced them. Then the students had to sequence it on their own completing the worksheet. Next they had to write about one thing the old lady swallowed and draw a picture. 

For this halloween I decide to keep it simpler and less messy the better for me, so I decided to make a witch's brew instead of bringing in  tons of sweets and having to deal with that. So  next we read the story the Sweetest Witch Around and afterwards me made the witch's brew. The kids thought all of the items were funny and gross. 
List of items used for witch's brew:

• marshmallows - ghost poop
• bugles - wizard fingers
• fritos - bat wings
• pretzels - bat bones
• raisins - witch's warts
• chocolate morsels - dracula's buttons
• gummy worms - earth worms
• goldfish - dead fish
• skittles - monster eyes
• candy corn - jack o' lantern teeth
• cinnamon toast crunch - monster scabs

   
   After making the witch's brew we still had a little time before going to lunch, so we began our next story called The Monster's Monster. After coming back from lunch we then created our own monster which was so much fun to see the student's creativity. You can make this same monster craft from First and Blue Kinder Skies. I absolutely love this craft because it is very easy to make and looks so cool.

  

     Then it was time to get ready for the parade. Once the parents were allowed back from the parade is when we began to play our games; pin the hat on the witch, roll a jack o' lantern, and halloween bingo. This worked perfectly because I had three parent volunteers to play out at each game and I got to just wonder around and take pictures. 

   Overall I really enjoyed how the day went. It wasn't a lot of work for me, basically no mess to clean up, and most importantly the students had a great time. 

Follow me on Twitter

   It has been awhile, but of course like any teacher I have been very busy with multiple things going on in my classroom. We have a field trip Friday and I am still trying to get a student's permission slip, finishing my KRA, working on SLO, and just dealing with the normal everyday unexpected events that arise as a kindergarten teacher. Overall, things have been good. I have a good group of students this year and already I can see them growing and learning with just a month of school in. 

Anyways I decided to start a twitter account to keep try of some of the unexpected but funny things that happen in my classroom. My goal is to try and tweet at least 3 times a week. Ad if I can do that then I might and try to go higher... we will just have to wait and see. 

https://twitter.com/Newly_Teacher

Surprise TPT Sale: Today Only!

School is Back in Session (2016-2017)

   Today was my first day back to school. I was excited and sad to be back for a few reasons:

1. Summer is over!
2. SLOs and KRAs (ugh)
3. Don't know what the students will be like
4. Feeling more prepared. 

   Last school year I began the year after it began and so I didn't get to really experience this, but I really enjoy setting my classroom back up. At the end of the year I shove everything in cabinets or on top on the cabinets. There was a summer school program going on during the summer and I didn't want anything to break. I was so worried I even zip tied the cabinets shut (all the teachers did).

   I spent all day setting my classroom back up. Pulling everything back out of the cabinets. I also had to bring all my books back and bring in my new rocking chair. It was also great to see everybody and to just feel the excitement for the new school year to begin. 

   Also I am determined to write more on my blog. I already have some ideas for the next few weeks to post. So be on the look out for how I organize things in my classroom. I love to read about how teachers organize and thought I would share what I do. 

TPT Back to School Sale

   It's that time of the year for back to school sales start, though to bee honest they have already been out for like two weeks already.Am I the only one the is a teeny bit excited about the new school year?

   Looking back at what I had in my store just a year ago to now is such a big difference. At the time I only have free items and they were more management or decorations for classrooms. Now I have worksheets, activities, and games. All of which I am very proud of. 

Anyways enjoy the last few weeks a summer while you can!

Next Year: Star of the Week and Freebie!

  

   
   I have been thinking about some changes that I want to do in my classroom next year and I honestly can not wait until next school to implement the changes. 

   One of the things that I wanted to revamp was my star of the week. I just didn't feel it was quite special enough. I did some searching on Pinterest and Blogs to get some ideas. I finally found a few good ideas and realized that I was already doing some of things that teachers did too. 

   I really didn't like my letter to parents. The one I have know if your one of the other teachers and I just didn't like the layout on the letter. It was just so long and wordy and not eye catching enough. 

   I decided that everyday would be something special for the student:

Monday: The student will share their poster.
Tuesday: Have lunch with the teacher and two classmates.
Wednesday: Bring in an item for show and tell. 
Thursday: Bring in your favorite book for the teacher to read. 
Friday: Class will create book for student to take home. 

I also created a star of the week crown the student can decorate and wear throughout the week. 

You can get both of these for free at my teachers pay teachers store by clicking on the image. 

Next Year: Writing Binder/Folder and Freebie!

   This is something that I ended up implementing towards the end of the school year because it was really simple and I felt that I would be beneficial to my students.

   We had been using writing folders, but are folder were made from paper and were falling apart towards the middle of the school year. Now truth be told, some of this could have been saved if I had put their papers in instead of them, but then again that just wastes my time for doing other things. Also students need to learn how to place papers inside something correctly anyways. 

   I had seen on Pinerest the writing goals poster and I really loved the idea, though I decided to change that and place it as the front page in the student's writing binder to remind them what they need to be working on. I would meet with some of my students everyday during writing time throughout the week and we would check to see if they completed this goal or not. Their writing team would also look at that to help them when checking their writing. 

   Other writing tools in the binder included, alphabet chart, digraphs chart, vowels chart, writing checklist, sights chart, and color words.

   In my packet I have included different writing checklists as the year progresses because I start to expect more from my students. I also later in the year I will include the second sight word list, digraphs, and vowels chart. I add them after I have teach my students about them. 

   You can getting the whole writing packet for free at my Teachers Pay Teachers store. 

End of First School Year and Reflection

   Today was officially the last school day for teachers and yesterday was the last day with the students. I seriously can not believe how fast the school year went by. I feel like it was only yesterday that I first found out that I got the position. It felt really weird walking around my bare and semi empty classroom. 

   I will always have a special place in my heart for my first class (don't all teachers), though at the same time most of them are ready to go to first grade. It may be weird,but I am excited for next school year because I have all these new ideas that I want to use. I know that I will also be busy creating things this summer for next school year too. 

   When I think back over the course of the whole school year I am proud of my first year and thing that overall things went very smoothly. I didn't have issues with any of the other teachers and most importantly the parents. My principal evened mentioned how she was kind of surprise that she didn't get any complaints about me which she thought she would since I was late coming in, new to the school, and a first year teacher. It felt really good to hear that from her. 

Goals for next School Year:

- Planning - There was a brand new curriculum and not just for me, but for the whole county. I went through it once, so I know second time will be slightly easier. I want to be able to plan ahead and not just try making it day by day sometimes.

- Guided Math - I feel really comfortable with guided reading, but I don't feel that at all with guided math. I am going to be reading up about it from other teachers and see what will work best for me. 

- Games, Activities, and Centers - I plan for next school year to get rid of seatwork/independent work during guided reading. It was just a lot of work trying to find/create work for all my students and I don't want to do that next year. My students like doing it and I didn't like grading it. So next year they will get to choose two center options during that time. That means I need to find lots of fun game and activities for that to do. Luckily we have an amazing place called TPT with lots of wonderful creations. 

Only One Week Left

   I kept believe there is only one week left of my first year as a teacher. These last few months have just flew by. You can tell that because I didn't post anything on here during the months of March and April. 

   I am both sad and glad that the end of the year is almost here. For the past month the students have been making me a little stir crazy. They have not been listening as well and I think that is mostly from having indoor recess for almost three weeks in a row. 

   I also worry about if I taught my students all that I possibly could before they go to First grade. I don't want their teachers next year wondering why they don't know something when they should. 

   Teachers last day is on the 17th It is going to be strange not having the students walk through the door that day like they have been since September.

New County Interview

   So my interview was yesterday and it went well.... I think. I wasn't really nervous

because if I don't get into the county then thats ok since I already have a job. It would just be great to get into this county since it's a really good county and it is closer to my family.

   I was only nervous about getting their on time and knowing where I was suppose to go. I don't feel comfortable in situations where I am not familiar with the area. I just worry that I am going to miss a turn and won't know how to back back. But everything was fine. 

   When I first showed up, I was worried that I was going to be there a while because there was about 8 people already there before me. Though I was only sitting for a few minutes when they called me back into the room. It was so HOT there. I was sweating so much and couldn't wait to take off my suit jacket. The weather has suddenly decided to become more about weeks of cool and rainy days. 

   Now for this county there are 3 interviews; preliminary, curriculum, and job site. I was really worried when I started reading the questions that I had to answer. My mind at first drew a blank, but once I got talking then It started to come back to me. I have completed the first one and I have no idea when I will or even if I will have the curriculum interview. I worry about that because I am confused about what exactly it is going to be. 

I will update of course when I have the next interview for the county and how that goes. 

New County, New School?

   I can't believe that I am typing this, but I applied to a different county to possibly go to next school year. This was very unexpected because just the other day I didn't think I was going to do it, but I got to thinking about it and thought if I want to get into this really difficult county to get in then now would be the time while they are hiring. 

   I have a year under my belt and I feel that I have done good as a teacher with the situation and so. I just feel like I am going behind my principals back, which I am, but I have to do whats best for me. 

I don't know if I have said this before, but the county that I am in now seems to be struggling with their curriculum and there doesn't seem like there are going to be changes made. It is something the county designed and it is just awful. I feel like I have not take my students anything Science and S.S. related. And EVERYTHING is online. Kids now and days are in front of a screen enough. We need to put more books in front of them. I am not against technology, but we shouldn't depend on it from the beginning to end of the school day. 

I have an interview at one of their career events coming up next week and I am nervous and excited at the same time. 

5 Must Know Websites for New Teachers

   As it is coming towards the end of my first year as a teacher and new teachers will be graduating from college soon, I decided that I would share some websites that I have been very grateful that I found. 

   One thing as a new teacher that I was finding difficult was spending time trying to find worksheets and activities that I could use in my classroom. Now Pinterest is a great site and very resourceful for teachers, there is just sooo much that it can get overwhelming or I get distracted. I will be searching for one thing and stumble across others things that leads to all sort of things. I could be on there for hours. 

Below is a list of websites that you can download lots of worksheets and activities for FREE! Thats right, for FREE!

The Measured Mom- I have downloaded lots of the games from here. They were simple and easy to teach the students to play independently during reading groups. 

From Playdough to Plato- Again, another place where I gets lots of my education games that students play independently. 

This Reading Mama- I have gotten both great games and worksheets from here. One of my students favorite is the sight word guess who. 

The Kindergarten Connection- I have gotten most of my math games here that my students enjoy playing and learning. 

My Teaching Station- I have been using this website recently for my seatwork worksheets for my students. They have a good variety of worksheets that make it easy for me differentiate the work for my students too. 

Side Note: For some of the websites you have to look around for the link to download or you have to give them or email. 

Teacher Appreciation Sale (Now Over)

I am excited to give back to the teacher community with a sale at Teachers Pay Teachers. This is a great time to buy products from your favorite sellers and try new products from new sellers. 

Everything in my store is 20% off!

Here are a few of my favorite products and that I personally use:

My First 100th Day of School!

   Now, I have celebrated the 100th day twice before at my internships, but this is different because it is with my students. I came prepared for this day because I knew it was coming and wanted to get things done beforehand instead of last minute like I have been doing with all of the holidays. 

   I had my parent volunteers help me make my 100 counting mat for the snack and the 100 crowns way in advance. I am just so pleased at how to crowns turned out. I had a moment of doubt that I wouldn't be able to make them, but I did and was very proud of myself. They took so work on making them, so I think next year I will do things differently. 

We made crowns just like these that can be found at A Spoonful of Learning.

  I was going to make a banner of the students entering the classroom, but then decided I wasn't going to and then on the day of I changed my mind. I was crazy running ll over the school trying to get it done in time and the students really ended up liking it. I of course kept it, so it can be used next year. 

Overall the students really seemed to have fun and enjoy themselves that day and it made me feel really proud. Also I hate to admit this, but I felt the others teachers were a little jealous of the crowns. 

Easy, Simple, and Cheap Literacy Centers

 

   I don't know about other teachers, but as a first year teacher I am trying not to spend a lot of money, though this can be difficult. While doing reading groups it's important to keep the other students engaged and learning independently. 

   Since becoming a teacher, I am constantly searching for new activities and ways to do this while not becoming bankrupt at the same time. I only keep a game or activity out for two weeks at a time or else students become bored with it. 

   I have found some really great and cheap games that I wanted to share with teachers, especially new teachers. 

Typing

For this activity you will need some computer keyboards. I had some extras lying around in my house, but you can always go to the thrift store and get them cheap. All students do is practice typing their sight words. 

Play doh

There are so many things you can use play doh for, so spending a little bit of money will go a long way. Students can use it to make letters and words, but can also be used for math. You can find free mats for making sight words and letters(click on the links for the ones I use). 

Game Boards

There are a ton of game boards for students that you can find for free to build students skills. Here are some ones that I have; magic e, cvc words, sight words, and beginning sounds. 

Clip Cards

Again just like game boards, there are lots of clip cards and all you need is clothes pins that you can get a big bag of them at Walmart for a low price. I have rhyming, vowels  and beginning sounds. 

Sensory Bottles/Shakers

For this you need empty bottles, some type of sensory, and printed words. Students search for words in the bottles/shakers, read and write them. I made a recording sheet that you can get for free here.  

Write/Read Room

Reading and writing the room. Students walk around the classroom looking for words that start with a certain letter or they can look for words they know how to read. You can make this more fun by giving students pointers, wands, or even fly swatters to help them search. 

Popcorn Words

You can get popcorn containers from the dollar store and I just took construction paper to write the words on. Then just crumple up the words and place in the container. Students then take one out, read the word, and write it down. Click here for free recording sheet. 

Go Fish

I found this fish cut outs at the dollar store and knew right away what I would do with them; sight word go fish. Though they can also be used for other skills too like word families and the alphabet. 

Telephone

I found this idea from Kidscount1234. Students pretend to call their partner and give them a sight word to write down. There is a free recording sheet from the website. 

Winter Sensory Table Activity

   I don't just want the sensory to be something to play in, but also a learning tool for my students. I actually use it as one of my centers that the students go to through out the week. During this month of January in my sensory table I have placed snowballs. My students absolutely loved them. 

   I was searching on Pinterest different and fun activities that I can do with word families when I stumbled across this great idea. Though I don't have the students toss them. Instead they have to just search for one, read the word, and then place it into the correct bucket. I did 11 words for each word family. I did some four letters words for my more advanced students.     It was so simple and cheap and something I could use until the end of the month and just add the different word family when I taught it with the others. I bought the same ping pong balls that the website suggested and there was a lot, so I didn't use them all. I am sure down the road I will think of different activities that I can use them for. 

   I got the buckets really cheap at Walmart from the after Christmas sales, but even so they were only 97 cents to begin with. Also on the buckets I wrote on duct tape and placed on the bucket so I can reuse the buckets for other things and activities. 

First Snow Day

   So it is official! We have had our first snow day, though to be fair it should have been a normal day. We already had Monday and Tuesday off before the storm, but Tuesday was a teacher work day. That day is now Thursday, so no students and that uses two of our days, which I find really unnecessary.

   I feel like we are wasting snow days for nothing. I mean, I am sure that lots of teachers have been working and doing things from home, so we don't really need that work day. Or couldn't they picked a different day for it or even turn one of the PD days into a work day instead because we have plenty of those.

   Though, I think this is happening is because teachers need a day to complete report cards and they can only do that at school. Lucky for me, we don't have to give out report cards this semester.

   Hopefully, we do go in tomorrow for our teacher work day and the comes come in on Friday or else we have then missed a whole week of school. 

Anyways.... I thought I would share some pictures from the blizzard. 

My car got completely covered and can barely tell that it is blue not white. 

Just to give you an idea how much I got. 

Can you spot the road? The snow is so tall that you can't tell it was been plowed. 

   One really great thing about all these snow days is that I am very ahead with making products for my TPT store. I have products made all the way into April, though I am only uploading one product a week. For right now that is all I can manage, but I feel very proud of myself and one less thing to worry about. 

Today and Tomorrow TPT Sale!! (Now Over)

Starting today and ending tomorrow Teachers Pay Teachers is having a sale. This is a good time to try out my products to see if you like them. Everything in my store will be 20% off. Most of my products are only $1.00 already and then you get 20% which is a steal!

I hope everyone is enjoying the new year so far in and out of their classrooms! 

My Second Blogiversary

I can't believe it's been two years since I started my blog. When I first started I was just beginning my first internship and now I have graduated and have my own classroom. It's crazy, but exciting at the same time. 

For my blog during this next year and I said in my list of plans for this next year is to blog more!

I looked back and I did a little then half of posting then I did my first year blogging. I started out good at the beginning of the year, but then once I got the job I just became so busy. Though I want to take time and share my thoughts, feelings, and activities, so other soon to be first year teachers understand and no that it's ok to feel this way. 

I wonder how many more years I will have? 

Parent Volunteer

   Well I had the parent that doesn't like make volunteer for the first time this week. I was so nervous and I think I was worried that she was going to say something to be about my teaching or worse to one of my bosses. Hopefully she won't be around very long. She is just trying to get her son to open up more because whatever. I on the other hand am trying to get the student to learn all his letters and sounds, but apparently that doesn't worry her. 

   It went completely fine. Which was really surprising to me. I thought for sure she have something to say about my teaching or something. I figures out that she was there for 3 hours! That seems like a lot of time to me and I wasn't expecting her to be there that long. 

   But yeah, She was only in my room for maybe 10 minutes and then the rest of the time she was in the work room. I honestly didn't think I had that much stuff to do, but she did everything I gave her up until the every end of the day. 

   One thing that I thought she said was interesting was that she child didn't want her to come today. I of course didn't notice anything off from the students since the parent wasn't in the room. 

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016!

   Well another new year is here and another one has finished. I keep saying this and others do to but time is just going by so fast. 

   I was thinking last night how nervous I am because for January to be here. And this is because I have my formal observation and I have a parent coming in that is not happy with me during this month and possibly into the next month. both of those things make me very anxious. Though of course the observation more so and I think that is just because I have to type up a long lesson plan for it. 

   Usually I am not one to make resolutions because it just never made sense to me. I always thought if you are going to begin again it should be at the beginning of the school year though because thats just what I thought. 

   Anyways I am not going to make any resolutions, but I do want to make list of things that I want to happen this year and if they don't happen then thats ok. On to the list:

- Now this is not going to happen until later in the year depending on what happens with my job and stuff, but I want to get my own place. 

- I have been doing this for a few months now and I want to continue doing it and that is drinking water and drink no/very few sodas. 

- Now I don't know if this will ever really happen, but I want to get ahead with my planning or at least to try and stay on top of it.

- I always make a reading goal and this year I want to try and read 100 books by the end of it. I completed my last goal 80 (just barely) and I have always wanted to read 100 and came close one year. 

- I also want to blog more about what I am doing in my classroom with my students. I want to share more of my activities and lessons.

My plan for my blog is to upload every week on Wednesdays. Sometimes it will be a short post about my thoughts or feelings, but I at least want to post every week about something that is happening in my classroom.