Finding a Focus

     Wow! I have spent ALOT of time this summer getting re-acquainted with ideas on kindergarten teacher list servs and holy cow - the BLOGGING WORLD is incredible! However, since I am easily distracted, I have found myself popping like popcorn from one thing to the next. I go back to work officially August 30 and 31. Then my kinders will start on September 7 (Parent Meeting on September 6.) (But I'll be in my classroom daily beginning August 15 since my family begins Fall sports practice and I begin my coaching duties.)
     So, it's time to get serious and FIND MY FOCUS! I have worked my way through 3 sections of Everyday Math Smart Board lessons (which I'm sharing on my website) so I would really like to knock out a few more sections. I plan to implement the Daily 5 in my classroom and I have gathered resources over the summer and I need to gather it and make a plan. This blog {click here} has some Daily 5 ideas.
TO DO:
1) SMARTBoard lessons for sections 5-8.
2) Math Stations plan (I Love Debbie Diller's book {Click here})
3) Daily 5 plan (using Daily 5 book)
     Hmmm, this still seems really vague. Let's this - DO SECTION 4 MATH SMARTBOARD LESSONS! I'll check back in later :O)

Patsi

Back to School Giveaway!

Back to School Bonanza Contest!

Are you ready to go Back to School? This Back to School Bonanza Giveaway should help you get in the mood! Twelve fabulous bloggers have teamed up to give one lucky winner a huge back to school prize pack! *Before you enter, please, make sure to follow the directions and my examples.


The contest will run until midnight eastern time, on Thursday, July 28th.


Follow this link to find the contest:


http://ericabohrer.blogspot.com/2011/07/back-to-school-bonanza-contest.html#comments

Classroom Arrangement - A Clean Slate

     I stopped by my classroom to see what progress the custodians were making as they waxed the floor and cleaned the carpet. I was excited to find that they were done and things were drying. I hope next time I stop by my furniture will be back inside so I can start arranging things for the school year. 
     I feel like really shaking things up this year. I plan to create a shelf space in my store room at home for lots of my teacher resources and free up space in my classroom. After 20 years in my district, I have spent LOTS of time sorting and dumping.

    Here's a link to all the photos to show you my "clean slate:" 
Classroom Photos



Happy Teaching,
Patsi K in MN

Freebie! 10 Frame Number Cards

I created a simple set of 10 frame number cards. Print them on cardstock and cut apart, laminate and you can have a set for practice and for a game of memory.

You can find them on my website - click here and look for the 10 Frame Number Card item.

Happy Teaching!
Patsi K in MN

www.abc123kindergarten.com

Kindergarten Math Smart Board Files

Ok - I am going to jump in with both feet and offer something to share! There are so many wonderful teachers with so many creative ideas, that I must admit it is very intimidating!

I am working on creating a SMART Board file for each lesson in the Everyday Math series because it will help keep me on track! I am including books that I read to introduce or support the lesson and music that I use with the lesson, as well as game links for online games.

The Section 1 files are pretty simple - I found last year that my K's weren't ready for what I thought they might be on the SMART Board, so I decided to start simple!

You can visit my teaching website by clicking on the post title above to access the files for download. (Or click here) Section 1 is up, Section 2 will be coming soon and I am still creating the other lessons. I didn't include the music files because of copyright, but I did include the song title and the CD it came from.

Please comment if you have suggestions on how to make these better, or if you have ideas that worked for you. And, of course, I would love it if you would become a follower! (I have to admit I don't really "get" that part of blogging yet, but ........)

Happy Teaching!
Patsi K in MN

Birthday Freebie from Peace Love and Learning!

I came across this fun blog! She has a freebie offer for teachers - Click on the post title to access her blog.

Patsi K in MN

Everyday Math Curriculum Outline

This is a copy of the table that we use to pace our lessons for Kindergarten Everyday Math. To download a pdf version please follow this link:

http://www.abc123kindergarten.com/Site/MATH_TABLE_OF_CONTENTS.html

I am in the process of updating my SmartBoard files for math and will be linking them to this page as I finish them. Section 1 is uploaded. They are basic files because I have found that my K's aren't ready for complicated SB lessons in September. Short and sweet worked the best for me last Fall.

Patsi K in MN

Cozi Calendar - LOVE IT!!!!

I love the Cozi calendar - it is FREE and online - I have a family calendar on my macbook using iCal, but wanted something for my classroom so thought I'd try this. It works so cool - my family name is Kindergarten - the family member/who are my curriculum subjects. Then I can enter notes, journal entries and lists. I have a "who" or color for Everyday Math, Treasures Reading, Social Studies and Science.

When you enter a new appointment you choose "who" it is for - the description is the name/number of the lesson, the location/where is details (lesson title, etc.) and then I can add notes. So on my calendar I can see the subject, lesson and title. If I click on it I can see notes (like where I have materials stored or if the copies are made etc.)

I am required to post my weekly lessons plans online at our school website and I plan to print the weekly cozi calendar to submit. It will have all of the core information.

If you give it a try and find other "outside the box" tips for using it in your classroom please post them in the comments!

Kindergarten Purge

     After 20 years in the classroom, I sure have a lot of stuff! I have spent many hours over the last few weeks going through each cupboard and pulling things that I no longer need or use. Wow! AND I AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT I'M OFFICIALLY DONE CLEANING (at least until the custodial team in my building is done shampooing and waxing!)  
     Now it's time to really look at my curriculum, standards, theme plan and center plans and decide what to do with what I kept. My goal is to only have things that I USE in my space. The "2 sisters" have motivated me to reduce my footprint in my classroom space - that's tough to do - I love the little office spot I had created, but I am going to give it up! I am currently reading The Daily 5 and love searching through the 2 sisters site for motivation.     
     I also am using tips from Debbie Diller's Spaces and Places: Designing Classrooms for Literacy. I implement the Responsive Classroom approach in my classroom and love the book Classroom Spaces that Work.
     I can't wait to post pictures of my newly organized classroom - BUT I have to wait until I can get back into it. So I guess I"ll just have to spend my time thinking and planning.