It's Zero the Hero Day!!!

Every ten days the Kinderkids in Winside get a special visit from one of my very special friends --- Zero the Hero.  Zero the Hero LOVES the numbers that end in zero.  He will very quietly - some how without anyone noticing - hide somewhere in our classroom and then surprise us all as we discover him during our day!!!  It is such a delight to hear the squeals of "He's here!  Zero the Hero is here!!!"  Zero is very shy so he will whisper to me special messages to the boys and girls.  He will have me ask them about our special number and have them count for him.  As a treat for all of their hard work, he brings the kiddos a special something to snack on in the shape of a zero while we work in our Zero the Hero books.  It is always sad to see him leave but the boys and girls know he will be back in ten more days!



                       The kiddos posing with Zero the Hero!

                             A close up of our favorite visitor!

                               Our Zero the Hero book (A great find from a wonderful kindergarten teacher from South Dakota, Kathleen Petersen)

Do we have fun in Kindergarten or what!!!!!  Oh yes we do ---- because KINDERGARTEN ROCKS!!!!

September Math Stations

As a part of our Math block, the boys and girls will be working from our Math tubs.  The boys and girls will work independently on current math skill or reviewing past skills.  During this time I will be working with the boys and girls on their AR or their Accelerated Math.  I will change the activities each month.  Here's a look at what the boys and girls were working on for the month of September:

Roll the foam dice and color in the number.

Making ABABAB patterns using beads.

Roll the shape dice and color in the shape it lands on.

Making patterns with apples and coloring in the patterns.

Counting sets and finding the matching number then writing the numbers.

Read to Self

I put together book bags for my kiddos to read from during our daily Read to Self time.  This is when the boys and girls read quietly to themselves building their stamina so they can be able to read independently for 15 minutes.  While the kiddos are reading this is when boys and girls who are ready will be able to go on the computers to take their AR tests.  It works out beautifully!  Inside each book bag are ABC books (a good fit for my kinders at this time - these books will change as their skill set changes) their "reading glasses", and a pointer finger to help with tracking.  Here they are in action but I must confess I threw off all chances of building more stamina time by going around snapping pictures - oh well - I knew you would enjoy seeing your SUPER READERS in training!  

Building Stamina

OK my kinders know they ARE readers and they have the knowledge to pick out books. Now we need to build our stamina to become SUPER READERS!  The boys and girls looked at me with such confusion as I used that weird word "stamina" a few times and then they finally asked as best as they could pronounce it --- what is stamina?  Stamina is that you do that takes a long time but you never give up!  You keep working hard until you make your goal.  To illustrate my point, I read the book Dex The Heart of a Hero. In the story, Dex is a small dog who wants to be a super hero.  He knows in order to be a super hero he needs to become strong, so he exercises each day adding a few more laps, a few more push ups until he makes his goal and becomes a super hero!  I must say the kiddos caught on very quickly.  I shared with the class that we were going to build our stamina as readers by reading by ourselves a few minutes each day and keep track as we built up our stamina as quiet independent readers with our good fit books!  Our goal - 15 minutes!!!  So the stage has been set we are on our way!!  Before you know it they WILL be SUPER READERS!!! 

Our stamina charts

Our goal - 15 minutes



Is It A Good Fit?

The foundation has been set on how to read a book.  The next lesson focused on how to pick out a book that was just the right fit.  The kiddos loved this lesson! This lesson was adapted from the Daily Five book I have been reading and following as I use it in my classroom.   I packed a bag with some of my shoes and brought them to school.  I showed them to my boys and girls.  We talked about when I would wear my shoes and why.  For example, I would never wear my heels to run in, that is not the purpose of those shoes.  I would run in my tennis shoes.  It was such a fun discussion full of giggles!  I compared to the purpose of my shoes to how we pick out books we read --- books also have a purpose --- is it to learn something new, hear hear a familiar story, or to read for fun.  We then discussed that when we select a book it should be about something we like ---- kind of like picking out a pair of shoes we like.  Which is what I did with each pair of my shoes!  Next we have to make sure the book is a good fit for us ---- not too hard to read, not too easy, just right.  You guessed it, just like a pair of shoes needs to fit right or YUCK!!!!  Not comfortable at all!!!  Lastly, does the book selected help you for what you want to learn about.  After our discussion and me modeling the heels to my kinders delight and the dismay of my tired feet (the shoes were from my daughter's wedding!) I read the story Dog In Boots to the kiddos.  A funny story about a dog who goes through many pairs of shoes for different purposes finally realizing his paws were just the perfect fit for him!!! 



Becoming Super Readers!

A big part of Kindergarten  is reading, reading and more reading!  Sadly, many of my kinders come in believing they aren't readers when in fact they are!  Within the first week of school, I begin my lessons on the 3 ways my kiddos CAN read a book.  They are: using pictures to "read" the book, using pictures to retell a favorite story, using words to read the book.  Once my kiddos say "Wow!  I AM a reader!", we focus on how to pick out books that are just right for them.  Sprinkles to my kindergarten when they knew ABC books were just right for them because they knew their ABC's. (I told you I was a lucky teacher!)  All of this took about 8 days of teaching.  I was so proud of my kiddos ... they were on their way to becoming SUPER READERS!

I read this book to the boys and girls explaining why we want to become SUPER READERS!

He Is One Cool Cat.....

As I indulged myself this summer in my blog-hopping ways  reading some wonderful blogs from other Kindergarten teachers, I read more and more about this new children's book about this cat named Pete.  You know how much I love children's books so I just had to check it out. When I did --- I FELL IN L.O.V.E. with Pete the Cat!! I knew I had to share this groovy cool cat with my little kinders.  In a flash, I was on Amazon and ordered all the Pete the Cat books I could (the Christmas one is on back-order) and a Pete the Cat stuffed animal for our classroom.  Once I read our first Pete the Cat book to the class - well - my kiddos now L.O.V.E. him as much as I do!!!

The wonderful thing about Pete the Cat is his attitude about life.  It doesn't matter if you are presented with a new situation, or something doesn't quite go your way, do you cry about it?  Goodness no!  You just keep walking along, singing your song because in the end --- it's all good!  He is one cool cat!!!!

 Our Pete the Cat art work.  Patterns are from Deanna Jump, a fantastic Kindergarten teacher who loves to share.

I'VE SPOTTED A WONDERFUL NEW KINDERGARTEN CLASS!!!!

I am over the moon excited to be starting a brand new school year!!!!   It has been a bit C.R.A.Z.Y  getting things off the ground this year - - - but I am lovin' every minute of it! I apologize for not getting any posts up sooner. There is so much to get done at the beginning of the school year for this Kindergarten teacher. It is  a five page list of "to do's"  and this year it included moving --- yikes!

 I have moved into a brand new classroom this year to make room for our  BRAND NEW PRESCHOOL!!!!  Our pre-school teacher,  Megan Halpin, is no stranger to Winside Public School.  She had been para in the Kindergarten classroom for the past year and a half and did her student teaching in second grade with Mrs. Stubbs.  She has her Early Childhood degree from Wayne State College and is doing a PHENOMENAL job getting our preschool off the ground.  Please stop by and take a peak if you are in the elementary building!  You will leave with a smile!

Back to Kindergarten ... our new classroom is across the hallway from first grade (the old computer lab).  We are very cozy in our new room.  It is a great and happy space.  I will be posting pictures soon (have to get my new camera figured out first!). Thanks to the custodians for all their hard work getting my beautiful room ready with fresh paint, clean drapes and all the other little touches that were made to accommodate my little ones.

I have so much to share with all of you on the wonders of Kindergarten.  We are a world of our own and have tons of fun!!!!  I hope you enjoy LOVE  it as much as I do ----- KINDERGARTEN ROCKS!

Welcome to Our New Classroom

Well I realized I had taken some pictures of my classroom with my own personal camera to share with my daughter so here they are.  I admit there are quite a few so grab a soda or some tea, put your feet up and get cozy because this just may take a while.  Enjoy ...............   

The new Kindergarten classroom EMPTY

Here is the front of our classroom.  I had the walls painted a turquoise blue.  Blue is a calming color.

This is the south end of our room.  This is my storage space.  I had to REALLY REALLY downsize.  I hope to have cupboards built in that wall space above my counter for more STUFF!  Kindergarten teachers always need more stuff!  My sink is also on that side.

 I love natural light and our window is huge and faces the south. I have the fire exit door open because I had been painting furniture and shelves.

 This is the back of our room.  I know, I know it is just a boring white wall but I have big plans to add color!  You may also notice - no carpet - it was supoosed to be installed in August and it was - it went in the Thursday before school started!!! No pressure there!  :o)

This is the north side of our room.  Lots of bulletin board space which I already had started on.  Lots of color - I love color!  The custodians left a comuter table as a work space for me.  Much appreciated!!!    

   So where was all my stuff.......

 Some of the Kindergarten room could be found stored in the coat lockers on the Kindergarten side of the hallway....

 ...and in the first grade coat lockers.

 Some items were still in the pre-school classroom - which was also getting a makeover.

 And there was more stuff....

 And more stuff...... and I wonder why I was not looking forward to moving day!!!

Oh yeah - I also had supplies I had ordered out in the hallway.  In case you couldn't tell it takes a lot to teach Kindergarten!!!!


NOW PRESENTING OUR CLASSROOM..........

The view as you first walk in and no that isn't my laundry -those are my kiddos rest mats.

The front of our classroom

My bulletin boards with storage on top.  Those are my math and reading stations for each month.  More on those coming on future posts!  Sorry about the chairs being in the way.  How about some close up views...

 Our calendar.  We do so many math activies here that go along with our calendar books.  I will be introducing a new calendar skill every few weeks.

 Our behavior clip chart --- one of my favorite finds on pinterest!

 Our daily schedule

 Our Bucket Filling Board ... watch for more infromation on this on future posts!

 Our helper board

This is a view of the back of our room --- notice all of the color now! 

 Our Popcorn Wall - Our popcorn words are our sight words introduced with our reading series.  We call them popcorn words because they "pop" up everywhere when we read. 

 This is our class library.  I just LOVE my rugs and yes those are all of my books!!!   I just LOVE children's books!!!

 These are my kinders' cubbies.  They keep all of their supplies in here.

 Our welcome table is next to our door.  The boys and girls put their school to home folders in the basket on this table each morning.  I have some motivational sayings posted above the table with seasonal decorations on the table for all of those who enter.

 Our supply shelf

This is our shelf for creative play.  Legos, cars, trucks, pretend food, stuffed animals, dolls on one side and puzzles and games on the other side.  My hope is to continue to add dishes and blocks to our shelf. 

 This is our writing station.  At the beginning of the year, the boys and girls are just exploring with what is in the center and writing names of our Kindergarten friends.  I have examples of different kinds of writing on our yellow chart. Check out the storage under the table.  Clever - right.

  

 My cupboards and counter.  We are currently using desks in Kindergarten.  The tables I had ordered haven't arrived yet.  :o(

This is where I teach Math.  I like to keep my kinders moving around.  I sit in the blue chair and use the big chart to teach our lesson.  Quite often the kiddos will get out a clipboard and lay on their tummies or sit on the floor when we do our work together.  Our math manipulatives are close by as well. You can barely see them but our math station tubs are behind our big math chart.  Can't wait to share these activities with you!!  The kiddos love Math Station time!!! 

 This is where I meet with my reading groups.  This is also my teacher work space as I opted not to have a teacher desk in my room.  More storage under the table and my laptop close by.  My "teacher toolbox"  decorated in orange and purple another pinterest project is behind my table along with some family photos.

 Our ABC/Wordwork Station - The colored tubs off to the side will hold the different monthly activities my kiddos will use to practice the alphabet and popcorn words.

 Our listening station -- Remember all of those books from our class library, I used bonus points to get free books on CD.  I have enough for 3-4 new stories each month.  I was THRILLED to find wireless headphones from Lakeshore a couple of years ago.  No more untangling wires YAHOOOOOO!!!!

This is where we meet for our reading time.  I have my pocket chart handy for blending letters to read words.  My big book stand for sharing stories and our ELMO (yes that is what it is really called) next to my chair to display books, flashcards, and worksheets on the white board for my kiddos to see.  For those of you who remember, you can think of it as an overhead projector - just no transparencies- you use the real thing.  I LOVE it!

Well, that is it - our classroom.   I hope you enjoyed your visit.  Come back and check often as so much has already happened that I can't wait to share!!  Once you see it you'll know what I mean ---KINDERGARTEN ROCKS!!!!