Small update.. a new idea!

I am expecting my new class for Orientation tomorrow and feeling very excited about meeting the new faces!!

I am working on classroom photos and updates... however, I wanted to share one little addition for this year.


I have always, always struggled in my classroom with a simple logistical problem- name tags! Essential for our Kinders to have as they are learning to write their name. I've tried adhering them to the tables with packing tape - but this becomes a mess when changing seats. I've tried Velcro strips - which of course tempts the students to play with them/pull on them throughout the day. It has always been a struggle to find something that allows for mobility but is durable.

Then (thank you Pinterest!) I found the blog Little Warriors. I saw this photo and thought it was exactly what I needed- Paint stir sticks as name tags!
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This is my version.

 I hot glued a wooden star (4 for 99 cents at Michaels) to the top of each paint stick - I am thinking they can double as individual Read the Room pointers now!

Then I wrote each student's name in Sharpie and followed the advice from the Little Warriors post and sealed with mod podge for durability.

Stay tuned... I am HOPING it will be a good long-term solution but as stated, I don't have the best track record with name tags! Still searching for the best idea...as I am in so many other areas of teaching! :) An ongoing learning process.

Enjoy the first few weeks in your classrooms.

Author Study

I am SO looking forward to getting into my classroom and getting down to "business" this Monday.

In the meantime, I am working hard at taking care of the last of my summer list of projects.

One of the "long time coming" projects I have been working on is a Monthly Author Study plan.

In my past four years of teaching, I have not had an organized way of studying favorite authors. I would fit in a few weeks here and there dedicated to a certain author, but never quite got around to an in-depth "study" the students could really delve into.

I finished creating a set of resources that I think will be immensely helpful for me in accomplishing this goal. The resources will give me a starting point for organizing the activities students complete for each author. I plan to give my students a folder for each month in which they can store all the work, projects, etc. that they complete. Then they can bring home their folders at the end of the month and teach their relatives all that they have learned!

The Author Study Pack is now available at my Teachers Pay Teachers store:

I am excited to get to work using Author Studies in September with, you guessed it.. Kevin Henkes!

I just adore his books for back to school. Here is a photo of the little Wemberly my students will be making! :)

Happy last few weeks of summer to all!

Read Alouds Linky Party

This week marks the last week before I am finally able to get into my classroom!  Therefore, I have been working at home on several projects and lessons so that I am ready to get back to work quickly come Monday! 

 One of the things I have been organizing is my read aloud library for the year. In working on this project, I was excited to find the Favorite Read Aloud Linky Party going on at Teaching Happily Ever After! I have 2 books to share that I love using with my Kindergarten students. One is an old tried-and-true favorite that I love to use at the beginning of the school year. The other is a new favorite (at least, new to me)! 

 Long-time Fave: Wemberly Worried, by Kevin Henkes

   

 This is such a fantastic book for the start of school for Kindergarteners, and opens up great dialogue about our feelings about starting school. A great text to refer back to throughout the beginning weeks! I love all of Kevin Henkes' books, but this one is my favorite.



 New Fave: The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson

 

I really felt like I must have been living under a rock when I discovered that this one was published in 1999.... However, I am SO glad that last year I was introduced to The Gruffalo! Like Julia Donaldson's other books, it is funny and engaging. However, this particular story is just plain FUN to read out loud and get the kids laughing, excited, and reciting the lines along with you. Even better, it has SO much potential for literacy learning... plot, inferencing, character traits, descriptive writing, poetry... you name it! 
A "new" classic that I have recommended over and over again.

 Join the fun! I'd love to hear your choices!
 

Welcome and a Freebie!

Welcome! 

Thank you for visiting my brand new blog. 

I am a long-time blog reader and follower and am just amazed at the wealth of talented teachers and amazing resources that are out there. 

With 4 years as a Kindergarten teacher now under my belt, I feel like I am finally ready to start sharing some of my own ideas and creating some of my own resources! 

Thanks for your support as I begin what is sure to be an ongoing learning process and a fun new endeavor for me! I am nervous but very excited.

For my first post, I wanted to share what I am currently working on for Back to School with my class!

I have started creating CAFE centers to be used with Scott Foresman Kindergarten Reading Street. So far, I have finished centers for both The Little School Bus and Fix it Duck (both now for sale in my TPT store!). I am trying to keep them as simplistic as possible... I always fall into the bad habit of forgetting just how "new" it is to the little Kinders when they first get back! 

For all you fellow Reading Street teachers... I am posting a freebie as a welcome gift to my blog... this sequencing/Amazing Words activity is part of my Little School Bus Companion Centers. Below is a link to my TPT store for the freebie and a link to the Centers packs for both The Little School Bus and Fix it Duck. 

Little School Bus Freebie

Little School Bus Centers Pack

Fix It Duck Centers Pack

Thank you so much for reading! I am so looking forward to being a part of this exciting community!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Bee