Pigs in Hiding (100th day)

FREEBIE - Pigs in Hiding


The 100th day of school is Thursday......EEEKKK!!!! I am almost as excited as the kiddos (true sign on a kinder teacher :0) Anyways, we are doing tons of fun learning activities this week associated with the number 100.

What's on tab for tomorrow????Well, I'll tell ya!! Pigs - pigs everywhere!!!!!!

One of the great activities I love begins with reading the darling book - Pigs in Hiding - by Arlene Dubanevich.

It's such a cute story in which a whole bunch of piggies are playing hide and go seek. One little piggie looks for the others, but can't find them (despite it being obvious to the reader where they are). Finally in the end all the piggies come out.

Then is when all the fun begins.......

After reading the book (I read it to my class in a place other than my classroom). When we return to the classroom door, I have a friend or co-worker meet us and exclaim, " There are piggies everywhere. I wonder how many there are?" (These paper piggies are all over our room!)

We then set out on a quest to find all the piggies and count how many there are - forming a hundred's chart along the way..

I hope you love this FREEBIE as much as I do!!!

I'm BAAAACCKKKKK!!!! Oh Yeah!!!

Well - long story short: I finally got my husband off his behind (after much nagging, whining, pleading -- you get the drift). My Internet is fixed........!!!

I am totally catching up on everything....It's amazing how quickly things get carried away without you :0)

I am super-duper close to reaching the milestone of 200 blog followers..... I would love to make this milestone.....so if you would like to give my lil ol' blog a shout out - I would be super appreciative - Thank you!!! ;0)

My story from the great beyond.....

Well..... I'll be missing in action for the next couple days :0(

Yesterday night my husband got home from work, got on his computer. (Of course, I am already on mine)......And our Internet goes from Fine to Flop! We could still get on, but it was SLOWWW!!!! GRRR.......

So, my husband calls up the Internet company to try to fix the problem. Well, the Internet company flips a few switches and .....now we got NUTHIN', NADA!!! Thanks Internet company from the Dark Ages..... GRRRR.....

So, the Internet Company from the Dark Ages (which I affectionately call them) are coming out Tuesday to fix it.....but until then, we are living in the Dark Ages. Man, it takes me back to the way life was in the 80's :0) My kids think we are in Armageddon without Internet.....(there idea of roughin' it).

So, with the exception of my IPhone I am now Internet-less until Tuesday:0(

Valentine Mailbox Letters

Here is my newest FREEBIE all for you....well and me :0)!!!

One of my favorite activities for practicing letter and sound knowledge lives in a little pink mailbox I have in my classroom. I've had this mailbox for years - it's a metal Valentine's mailbox. It's perfect for my "Mailbox Letters" game!

Here is how you play it: You start by holding the mailbox (all the letters are inside). You will be the first "mailman". You begin chanting softly, "Mailman, mailman - you are good to see. Tell me, tell me--do you have a letter for me?" (this is the part that the whole group will chant) and then the person with the mailbox ( mailman) will reply, "Yes I do have a letter for you. You better read your letter too!" Then the mailman hands someone a letter to read.

You keep playing the game for as long as you have time. I love using this activity for transition time.  The kids LOVE playing "mailman" as they call it......Especially by this time in kindergarten, we know all our letters. However, to keep the kids from forgetting them, this is a great break that they enjoy and we are getting in needed review at the same time!!

I hope you can use my Mailbox Letters and enjoy them - I made them Valentine--y!!

Giveaway WINNER is......

Danielle!!!!! (I'm sending you email with you gift card in the next few minutes :0)

Thank each and everyone of you who took the time to enter my giveaway!!! It was a huge success and I appreciate it. I hope my blog offers you something beneficial for your students. Please check back often as I love sharing great teaching ideas and resources.

Marshmallow Munchers game - Dolch Sight Words

Who doesn't like to curl up in the winter with a hot cup of cocoa and marshmallows??? 

I love this game and my kiddos love it even more than that! I call it Marshmallow Munchers and it is a fantastic way to motivate kids to practice reading common sight words.

Basically each child chooses a cute "cocoa cup" and 10 tiny marshmallows!

 When the student reads a sight word correctly, he/she gets to eat a marshmallow from his/her cup! Kids love that!!!

I hope your kids enjoy this game as much as my kiddos do!! 

CLICK to download from my TpT store --> 

I also posted a new FREEBIE!!! Get it HERE!!

another giveaway....really????

Sign me up!! Ok I have been totally bitten by the giveaway bug. I mean who can resist?? It's FREE, duuhhhh... :0)
Mrs. Cupcake over at A Cupcake for the Teacher (love the name by the way) is having a $15 gift card giveaway in celebration of making it to 400 followers. Yay her!!! (Makes my blog definitely look like small beans:0) 

Anyone want to win the $15 gift card to Lakeshore or Target?? I guess the kitty wants to win!  I couldn't resist from borrowing her cute picture :0) love it!!


Ok, so here is how you do it - go to her blog and enter!!!

Woo-hoo!! I did a techie thing!!!

I did it! I did it! I tried something techie!!!....and even more stunning....it worked!! Yay me!! I followed directions from Cara over at Teaching...My Calling to remove shadows from the photos I post on my blog. Yay - photos look so much better. If you want to try please see her post - Remove Shadows Around Blogger Pictures.

So, because I was feeling extra techie, I decided to try for the next tip she was offering - how to make your own favicon to match your blog button. Well, I was up for it - it worked too!!!! Oh yeah, I'm on a roll. If you'd like to try - see Cara's post on Adding Favicons to Your Blog.

I know I will have to keep an eye out on her blog because I'm learning all kinds of cool tips and tricks!! Thanks Cara!!

~jeannie~

...another giveaway to celebrate!

Arianne from Ketchen's Kindergarten is having a giveaway for a $25 Target gift card.....like me :0) Enter now because her giveaway closes tonight at 10p.m. Don't miss out!

Ketchen's Kindergarten Giveaway

Can You Use $25 bucks??? GIVEAWAY!!!

GIVEAWAY!!

Have I mentioned just how much I LOVE blogging??????? Well, in case you haven't heard - I LOVE IT!!!! I adore learning from many wonderfully creative teachers and I LOVE sharing my things too!

I know my classroom and my students benefit from this fantastic teacher blogging community....and that is what it's really all about, right?? Our kids benefit from our collaboration!

In celebration of making what I do everyday more fun and satisfying....

I am hosting my FIRST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Here is how YOU can get entries to win a $25 TARGET gift card.... who can't use one of those??

1. follow my blog and comment here

(1 entry)

2. follow my TPT store and comment here (2 entries)

3. Like me on FB and comment here (2 entries)
4. Blog about my giveaway and comment here with a link to your blog. (3 entries)
5. Add my button to your blog and comment here with a link to your blog. (3 entries)

***Please leave your email address so I can contact the winner - YAY!!***

I am so excited about this GIVEAWAY!! I will run this giveaway until Monday night at 11:59p.m. Please come join me in learning and growing in this wonderful profession we are in!!

~jeannie~

Piggie Pie FREEBIE - short i word families

CLICK HERE!!! for Piggie Pie

Here is a short i word family activity called Piggie Pie. I tape the big Piggie cards to 4 different containers. The kids practice short i word family words by "feeding" the pies to the correct piggie! It's a great way to get them to read words with short i. I have included more difficult short i words for those kids who need a little bit more challenge - so this is also perfect for 1st grade! Check out the preview!!

I hope you enjoy! If you do please leave me some feedback - I'd really appreciate to hear your thought!

:0)

~jeannie~

A Day in My Shoes - Linkkkky Parrrtyyy Time!!!

CLICK HERE for the Linky Party!

Ok, I am officially giddy because I am joining my very first linky party (I've always wanted to do this)! So, without further delay I will let you in on my very exciting KINDERGARTEN LIFESTYLE!!

3:50a.m. (yes I am crazy) I wake up, stumble to throw on my clothes - making sure I am super quiet and not wake up my husband or my 6 kids!! Out the door I go by 4:15a.m.

I live about 45 minutes from school so I have lots of quiet time to and from work. I use this time to listen to the music of my choice (a premium as a mom of 6). I sing at the top of my voice....well, I gotta do something to keep myself awake at this ridiculous time!

4:30a.m. Stop at McD's for a large Diet Coke and I am ready to continue my drive to school.

5:00-5:15a.m. - I arrive at school .....which is a tad bit scary since I am the only one there when I arrive (yeah of course no one else is stupid enough to wake up that early).

5:15a.m.-7:20a.m. - I prepare for my day. I am not one who can get to work 10 minutes before picking up the kids. I have to have time....Greatness takes time...at least that is what I keep telling myself.:0) During this 2 hour period of time I do many things. I complete lesson plans, I make activities to use in class, and do the "menial" office type jobs required of teachers - uugghh!!

7:20a.m.-7:40a.m. - There is always time for a little conversing in the morning. Teaching can be a lonely profession when it comes to socializing with our peers (I think that is why teacher blogging is so big :0) I chat with others about the latest happenings..

7:40a.m. - I pick my kinder kids up in the cafeteria. I get lots of hugs and stories about the night before. Every once in a while I hear a complaint or two from a student...or a story that contains TMI :0)

7:40a.m. - 8:00a.m. The kids come in the room and put their things away and begin reading. I stand at the door to greet parents and students and take lunch money. After announcements I turn on our morning music and we rock out to Dr. Jean and a couple other FAB songs..

8:00-8:00 We take attendance. I have about 7 students who are bilingual and several of them at the beginning of the year would say "aqui" so there rest of the class kind of picked it up from them....now most let me know they are "here" by saying "aqui"! It's now tradition in our class.

We begin our UPSL (math problem solving). My students are super good at solving addition problems. We work as a whole group, then they partner up to do the problem independently!

8:30a.m.-8:45 - Morning message and calendar. We do both on the promethean board. Kids love interacting with the board.

8:45a.m.-9:05a.m. Guided Reading/Centers - I hold guided reading groups while the rest of the kids go to centers. Throughout the day we also always have 3 kids on a computer using Istation.

9:05a.m.-9:30a.m. Comprehension - wow the things we teach kindergarteners. From genre to nonfiction text features.....They are usually tired by the end of comprehension.

9:30a.m.-10:15a.m. P.E. - my only real break of the day....if I don't have a meeting or parent conference. All the other grades get 2 break....not kinders. NOT FAIR, NOT FAIR, NOT FAIR!!

10:15a.m.-10:35a.m. - Science/Social Studies - yep your right not alot of time.....

10:35a.m.-11:05a.m. - Lunch. I walk them to lunch and help them get their lunches......yes you have to get a vegetable....no ice cream is not a vegetable. I monitor my class and another.

10:50a.m.-11:20a.m. I have lunch. Most years I eat with my kids, but not this year. When I get back to class we are there over 3 1/2 hours straight with NO breaks!!!! EEEKKK!!!

11:20a.m. - I pick up my kids from recess and we come back to the classroom for a drink and a quick break.

11:30a.m.-11:50a.m. - Word Wall and Shared Reading with big book.

11:50a.m.- 12:35p.m. - Writer's Workshop. I do a mini-lesson and then it's time for kids to get their writer's workshop materials, find a quiet spot to write - and WRITE! Writer's Workshop is a quiet, calm time in my room. You will see kids laying in quiet nooks, lights are dimmed, and calming music is on. Kids LOVE this time!

12:35p.m.-1:00p.m. - Phonemic Awareness/Phonics. We are learning about word families now.

1:00p.m.-2:10p.m. - Math - I love using literature in my math lessons. Math is automatically engaging for little learners so it's always a fun time.

2:10p.m.-2:30p.m. Math Tubs time - same as math centers. Kids work in partners and use manipulatives to act out math problems, make patterns, graphs, etc.

2:30p.m.-2:40 - Read Aloud and get packed up! Whew....I am tired!!!

2:40p.m.-3:10p.m. Dismissal - I take out the bus kids and then return to the front of the school to help with loading car kids.

3:15p.m.-4:30 - planning with my team on Wednesdays and Thursdays!

4:30p.m.-5:30p.m. drive home - nice unwinding time from my long day. This ride is quieter than the ride to school!

5:30p.m. I pick the kids up and go home. Cook dinner, get the kids to bathe and do homework. I then jump in the shower myself.

8:00p.m. - Put the youngest 2 to bed.

9:00p.m. - Put the third youngest to bed.

10:00p.m. - Big kids go to bed.

10:30p.m. - I'm in bed and passed out. I have NO problems with insomnia ..... as you can imagine!!

Well, there is my day in a nutshell!!!

How did you like a day in my shoes??

Math FREEBIE _ Measuring Area

CLICK HERE to get this FREEBIE!!

In school next week we are introducing the concept of area. This is always a difficult concept because the kids have NO experience with measuring area.

When you are talking about measuring length the kids have some experience with that because alot of times they've seen their parents measure things around the house and they have even had their own height measured. But that isn't so with area. How often do we actually measure area??

So, I came up with the idea of introducing the concept of area by reading Jan Brett's The Mitten (I love beginning math lessons with great literature, don't you?) Anyways, we read the Mitten and discuss how the animals keep cramming in the mitten. They predict that the mitten will burst with each additional animal because they can't possibly fit.

After reading and discussing, I model measuring area using Stuffed Mittens!

Together we measure the area of several mittens and we talk about how the size of the mitten coincides with its area. I hand 3 mittens to students and, as a whole group, we order what we guess is the order of the mittens' area. Then we check! We measure the area of each mitten using the snowballs.

After several exposures with this activity, kids area ready to use it in math tubs. It's a great way to get in a difficult concept!

Please check it out at my TpT store --> CLICK HERE!!!

Please leave me some feedback and rate it as that is how I determine what would be helpful for you in the future! I hope you like it!!!!

Fish Munch - Whoa super fun game the kids will beg for......

CLICK HERE

Gosh I LOVE making cool games! This game is one I've played in small groups in my room for years! Now I've just added some cute graphics to make it even better. I am absolutely giddy about how it turned out and I can't wait to share it with you!

Kids ADORE this game and beg me to play it with them! It's called Fish Munch and here is why we play it - to practice and reinforce word wall words!!

As teachers we are always looking for fun ways to get kids to practice word wall words. These words are ultra important for beginning readers......Now your students will not only be willing to practice word wall words (www) - they will look forward to practice time.

Here is the deal:

1. Please check it out (it's for kinder and 1st grade - lots of words included) at my TpT store. 

Thanks and I hope you enjoy FISH MUNCH!!!!

~jeannie~

Way cool Giveaway .....

I wanted everyone to know about this way cool giveaway going on at Made in the Shade in 2nd Grade! You have several opportunities to win a $25 gift card to either Target or Amazon. Check it out: CLICK HERE

$25 GIFTCARD GIVEAWAY! :)

Our First Giveaway in Honor of 100 + Followers!!

The winner will be randomly selected on Wednesday, January 18th. So you have one week! :) The way to enter is easy. You get entries for being a follower...following Lisa on TPT....posting about the giveaway....and adding our button to your blog. Easy, right? Details are below, but just leave a comment for each entry with your email address as listed.

We are so excited...so now on to the PRIZE!!

****************************

A $25 Gift Certificate to either Target OR Amazon ~winner's choice!

CVC Mouse Trap FREEBIE!

CLICK HERE

Ok, my wheels are a-turning......I've been busy creating a new game to help my kids practice reading short 'a' cvc words (can, pan, cap, tap, etc.).

We began learning about cvc words right before Christmas break, but they have really started to take off with word families since we returned. We have been working on the -at and -an word families. These "word families" are our first experience with being able to read simple unknown words. The kids are super excited because they finally see how knowing the pattern can help them read words they do not know.

I am giving away that cvc/word family game I made -- DING, DING-- FREEBIE!!!

Fun Freebie #2!!

Click Here

Ok, so I have totally been inspired with the cute mice with hearts! I just love them!!

So, I decided to make cute valentine's cards....

No matter how prepared you are it always seems that come Valentine's Day there is one little kiddo that either forgot his/her cards or simply did not have any to begin with. How sad! I know I've been caught before scrambling to find extra cards.... Well - problem solved! Keep this file on hand and you won't have to scramble again. Simply print and go!

I also include valentine's cards in my writing center the whole month of February. The kids LOVE writing Valentine cards to their friends, family, and even YOU! What better way to motivate young writers to write. And it's super AUTHENTIC!! Yeah!!!

Here it is - FREEBIE!!!

Here is the FREEBIE that I promised. Please take a look at it. I really want feedback on this!!!! Please and thank you!!!

CLICK HERE

Kinder Analogy Words

ANNOUNCING.......Drum Roll Please......

I will be offering my first ***FREEBIE*** tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. Please check back. I am so excited!!!!

~jeannie~

My Schedule

I received an email from someone asking for a copy of my schedule that I briefly showed during my video "Sub Tub". So I thought I'd post it here in case anyone else is interested in it. This is the schedule that works best for my class....

My Schedule

Schedule

I have a very early P.E. time so it is important for me to get in the subjects that require alot of mental focus in before 9:30. UPSL is our problem solving time. You will notice we are in the classroom each day from 11:20 to the end of the day - uuggh!! It is hard!

I do Writer's Workshop in the aftenoon. The kids enjoy the calming atmosphere after lunch and it is early enough in the day that they are still able to do really good with their writing.

I leave Math and Math Tubs for the end of the day because those are interactive enough kids are always engaged.

More on the Versatile Blogger Award...... (sorry it took so long)

A few days ago I got 2 wonderful messages from Kim from Growing up Teaching and Ann from Mrs. Green's Kindergarten Korner. They have given me the Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you 2 so much! It is so nice when other recognize your hard work and appreciate it! You made my day bright!!!

I posted about this a few days ago, but we were just getting back to school so I thought I'd wait until tonight when I can dedicate some time to good post.....so here goes......

Here are the rules of the award!

1. Thank the person who presented the award to you and link back to them. (Check)

2. Tell seven things about yourself.

1.) I am 35 (wow that sounds OLD) but I swear I just graduated high school a few years ago....really...

2.) I have 6 kids of my own (William-14, Caleb-12, Bailey-11, Jaden-9, Jordan-, Reagan-3). Yep, that is right. I have 5 boys and 1 girl. And yes...just in case you were wonder (and you probably were) I am certifiably insane!!

3.) I have taught for 8 years (Kinder, 1st, and 2nd). Kindergarten is my FAVE!!

4.) I have a Master's in Reading.Teaching reading is my PASSION!

5.) I attended law school before becoming a teacher and HATED it!

6.) I am learning Spanish (well I am if I can ever get my butt off blogs). Ok...so I was learning Spanish...

7.) I love learning from other great teachers around the world and I love sharing my ideas as well......Ok so I pretty much just like talking...but at least it gives me an excuse to talk. :0)

There you go enough about me!

3. Pass this on to 15 newly discovered blogs and let them know they've received the award.

I've actually added lots of new blogs to my blog roll over break - Here are a few I really enjoy!

1. First Grade Bloomabilities (what a great name!)

2. The Very Book Hungry Teacher

3. Smarty Pants, Brainiacs, and a Few Freaks of Nature

4. Treasures for Teaching

5. Kindergarten Khronicles

6. Loving and Learning in Pre-K

7. 5th Grade Chalk Talk

8. "T" is for Teacher

9. Adventures in Teaching

10. Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher

11. 2nd Grade Paradise

12. 2nd Grade Stuff

13. Buzz Buzz Buzz!

14. Busy in K

15. Corkboard Connections