My new love......

Hello Friends!
I have been enjoying the most relaxing summer.... just sitting back and loving the time with my family.  My creative juices have been on vacation as well... {ugh!}... but I have fallen in LOVE with Creative Clips Rainbow Tots!  They are the most adorable little guys... and so perfect for kindergarten.  I will be using them on everything... from lunch tags to name plates... these guys will be everywhere.  I have made some calendar pieces... of course with polka dots! {My fav!}  Click on over to my TpT store to get your set of these A*D*O*R*A*B*L*E Rainbow Tots!
     

                    

That's all for now friends!

Ahhhhh.....

My {little and growing} TpT Shop!

Hi friends!  I have the Sunday night blues.... My family and I had a great weekend playing baseball, but now reality settles in and.... back to school tomorrow!  Only 23 more school days until summer... BUT who's counting! 

My goal this year has been to set up a little shop on TpT.  I finally reached my goal and am so thrilled to share!  It is a work in progress, but nevertheless I have posted a few center activities!  Please take a visit and see what you think. {click here :) } I would love to hear from ya all!

Have a great week friends!

Sentence Mix-Ups

Hi Friends!
I am going to {try} to get a TpT store going.  I am always in awe of all those great units teachers post on TpT regularly!  So.... I thought I would give it a try and see what happens.  The first FREEBIE is Sentence Mix-Ups.  I am a huge pocket chart teacher!  I love using them in centers to sort soooo many different topics.  I hope to make this my main focus on TpT- Center Sorts. 

Click here to grab my FREE unit from TpT!

 

I would love feedback to know what to keep, change, or incorporate. 
Happy Friday Friends!

Where does the time go...??

Hi Friends!
Long time... no blog!  Ugh.... I am STILL trying to get a handle on this blogging world.  Time has been flying by in Kindergarten!  We have been so busy.... learning to read especially.  The light bulbs went off and we are on the reading train!  I am so proud!

On a different note... my school has implemented Thinking Maps into our curriculum.  And can I say I L*O*V*E using them with my kinder friends.  I don't want to say that they are similar to traditional graphic organizers, but Thinking Maps are BETTER than graphic organizers.  The biggest reason why they are better is there are only 8 maps to use in every subject area.  My kinder friends know the names and uses for 6 out of the 8 and we are learning the last 2 now!

I use this map every week for learning word families.  My kinder friends really "get" it when making new words using this Multi-Flow Map.

We also add color to help see the connection between the left side and the right side.

The Circle Map is wonderful for all the {brainstorming} we do together.  This map is second nature to my friends now!  It is a definite staple to our word work center. So many ideas... so little time.

This is my favorite map to use because it really makes my friends THINK.  This is the Bridge Map... it is used for showing relationships.... and I make my friends tell ME what the relationship is between the top and the bottom pictures.  Plus, my friends feel so smart when they figure out the answer!  And that makes us all feel good!

I could go on and on showing what we do... and I know so many of you wonderful teachers use them in your classes!  Go Thinking Maps!!

Have a happy week friends!

Honoring Sandy Hook Elementary

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38,

 

When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

 

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,

But Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

Then He opened His arms and He called them by name,

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.

Those children all flew into the arms of their King,

And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

And as if He could read all the questions she had,

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of Mom and Dad."

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below,

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools."

"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.

"Come now my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

Hi Friends!
So... I really enjoy "borrowing" ideas from other teachers.  Isn't that what teachers are supposed to do?? I could spend hours {stalking} blogs.  Mr. Husband just doesn't get it either!  After 10+ years of teaching, he just shakes his head.  A few of the places I get inspired from:

 

And did I mention how super duper excited I am that Cara Carroll from the First Grade Parade is teaching Kindergarten this year!  She is my hero!  I L*O*V*E everything she does!  How great would it be to be a kid in HER class?!?!

There are so many more I love... thanks to all you great teachers, creative thinkers, inspirations out there!