Ipads in Education and FREEBIE Link

I found this link - http://palmbeachschooltalk.com/groups/ipadpilot/ -with a bunch of info for iPads in the classroom. I am still working on incorporating an iPad into my classroom. I started off with the free downloads from Lakeshore Learning - http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/mobile_apps/mobileApps.jsp - they are FREE until December 30.

I also came across this link - http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/10/apps-for-autism-60-minutes-story.html - Apps for Autism.

Happy Teaching
Patsi K in MN

Math Exchanges

Stenhouse Publishers are offering a free online preview of this book at their website - the link is http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9509&r=ue111028

There is an entire chapter regarding Kindergarten Mathematics. I am curious to see how this relates to Math Work Stations by Debbie Diller. I have implemented math work stations into my classroom gradually over the first six weeks and we are ready to use them - very exciting!

I use Everyday Math in my kindergarten classroom and have created SmartBoard files to use daily - you can download these from my website http://www.abc123kindergarten.com/Site/MATH_TABLE_OF_CONTENTS.html
if you are interested.

Happy Teaching!
Patsi K in MN

National Board Certification

In 2002, I became a National Board Certified Early Childhood Generalist. It was a LIFE-CHANGING endeavor. There was no monetary incentive from my state or my school district. I simply did it to see if I could. I was also in a Graduate Program at the time so Professional Development was the common denominator in my life - Now, 9 years later I need to decide if I want to renew my certificate. It would be yes in a heartbeat, but the $1150 fee is a little steep. So I am undecided. If you have ever considered National Board Certification I would definitely say GO FOR IT! For more information - click on the links below:
www.nbpts.org
www.ecgen.org - a community support group for candidates

If you have gone through the renewal process, I'd love to hear from you!

Patsi K in MN

Blue Ribbon School!

Our elementary school was notified about 4 weeks ago that we were selected as 1 of 8 National Blue Ribbon Schools in the state of Minnesota! Yippee!!!! It was so exciting for our students and staff! We work so hard to meet the needs of all the learners and families in our district. In November, I get to travel to Washington, D.C. for the national celebration!!! Sooooooo excited!

Patsi K in MN

Balance

As I work to balance everything going on when the school year gets rolling, I always find myself searching for ways to help me feel like I am in control! After 20 years in the same classroom and 22 years in the same house, I do have some ‘clutter’ (if you define clutter as things you don’t love or use. )Things get tucked back in behind something else, standards change, kids grow….. you get the idea. I did find a great website with a list I could relate to – check it out here: http://www.bemorewithless.com/2011/50-more-ways-to-leave-your-clutter/

I especially love #32 – stop getting organized. I would agree. I would like to just LIVE.

Make it a great day!

Patsi K in MN

Where has the time gone!

Okay - I THINK about blogging almost everyday, but the reality of life is teaching a busy room of 5-year-olds, FB cheerleading practice (I'm the coach), 2 or 3 VB games each week for my senior daughter, 3 FB games each week for my freshman son,  and being the bookkeeper for the business my husband and I own. I know..... blah, blah, blah...... but I am getting better at letting things go, unfortunately the blogging had to wait and so did the housework. But in MN, we get a 2 day break in mid-October for our teacher union professional conference, so it's time for me to catch up. Even if I haven't been blogging myself, I have been following LOTS of GREAT blogs thanks to my macbook and the mail program. So I have a few links to share and have been digging through other interests - so stay tuned...... but don't hold your breath (I don't need that guilt!) :O)

Make it a great day!
Patsi K in MN

Dr. Jean Cheers and youtube links

After the morning I spent with Dr. Jean on Thursday, I am looking forward to getting back in the classroom with the kiddos! I have had 2 back to school NIGHTMARES (which is an August tradition), so I am ready to face the REALITY of the classroom because I know it will be much better!

Dr. Jean has some fun cheers to use for transitions and rewards/compliments in the classroom. You can find them {here}. I printed them out onto cardstock and tucked them into a binder using page protectors. I have a spot next to my lining up spot that I hang one at a time and we use it as we line up.

She also demonstrates alot of her things on youtube. She is so gracious to share and its fun to "see" and be reminded of how the songs, fingerplays or actions go. Go to www.youtube.com and search Dr. Jean fingerplays - once you are there you can link off of the video you are watching to see more. She also some posted on teachertube I think, I haven't checked those out yet, but if you are blocked from youtube at school, that's an alternative.

Happy teaching!
Patsi K in MN

Back to School Prep

I have a little over 2.5 weeks until I'm in the classroom with kiddos. In our district, we start the year with the parents on the first day of school. We have a Parent's Day meeting. It works out great - we get to meet with the parents and take care of all the last minute details that are important to easing the transition for their child. The school gets the "kinks" out of bus routes, morning lines and lunch without our kinders in the mix on the first day of school. I posted the Fall Handbook that we share with our parents - it cover the basics of our kindergarten year - on my website. {click here} You can download it and take a peek if you'd like.

Happy teaching!
Patsi K in MN

Energized for the New School Year

I had such a good time connecting with old teaching friends and meeting new ones today at Dr. Jean's workshop. She is so full of energy and genuine. It was fun to be reminded of why we do what we do - for the KIDS! When I saw her 10 years ago I had a photo taken with her (which I am trying to locate) and we took one today. I'm sure neither of us have changed!

I can't wait to try out some of the new ideas I learned today. I will try to post some pics of things next week. I did some website updates {click here} regarding back to school and more will be coming - I start with kids on September 7 - teacher workshop the week before and my cheerleading coaching season is in full swing - so I have a few things on my "to-do" list! Check out Dr. Jean's website if you haven't connected with her lately - she is so generous - check out the July 2011 link for a great Parent Power Pak.

Happy teaching!
Patsi K in MN

Dr. Jean is coming to my town!!!!

I am so excited! I have an opportunity tomorrow to attend a workshop presented by Dr. Jean! It's been about 10 years since I attended one of her workshop and I am ready for a new dose of energy! Stay tuned because I'll post my favorite parts over the weekend!

Happy teaching!
Patsi K in MN

Fun Freebies

I have become addicted to following teaching blogs! Today I hit the jackpot - several teachers are offering GREAT freebies on their sites -

Kindergarten Crayons has a free pattern strip booklet - {Click here}

Growing Kinders has great blacklines for a Daily Calendar book - Click here

Mrs. Miner has a free Monkey Number Sense Center - Click here

I hope you will become a follower of my blog and also check out these great freebies that these teachers are sharing!

Happy Teaching!
Patsi K in MN

Everyday Math Section 3 Smartboard files online!

Hooray! The SmartBoard files for Everyday Math Section 3 are up on my website now {click here}. If you use Everyday Math in Kindergarten you may want to check them out. They are supplemental - you will need your teacher's manual to follow along with them. I have been working section by section to create a file for each lesson as a template to keep me on track! I don't think Section 4 will be posted until later in the Fall. I want to test out Sections 1-3 before I invest more time. If you want to be notified when I upload more, become a follower!

Happy Teaching -
Patsi K in MN

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.