First Week Down!

I can't believe I survived my first week with MY students in kindergarten! I love the sound of it! No it hasn't been easy and I've been exhausted but I'm still loving that I have my own class after subbing so long I feel like I get to start with my own students which is fantastic!

1. We did lots of get to know you activities, went over procedures and rules A LOT, and I started some whole brain teaching! "Class, Yes" went over SO WELL!! I'm excited to implement more later on.  Of course, I have no pictures since this week was insane.  I started reading the kissing hand and quite a few activities spurred off of it because it connected really well with what they were feeling on the first day.

2. I hope to be back more when I can wrap my head around blogging, and school, and grad school.  If you didn't check out my Apps in Kindergarten - you should.  I really excited to use an Ipad to help my students in school see if you can find anything you can use.

3. Below you will find a FREE responding to technology sheet.  I think this could be a great way to encourage metacognition even when learning with Ipads or other technology.  Students can complete it as part of an Ipad/technology center. It really gets them focused on what they learned in that time!

If you follow on Instagram you know I made some HOT Dots! I will use Skittles combined with the cards below after read alouds to get students using those higher order thinking skills! I absolutely adore the combo and can't wait to use them really soon.  Let me know if you're interested in the topper for the jar, I can upload if you want it! :)

You can find the cards FREE here!

 
5. Look what I found! This should be useful in my new state don't you think?! I've been told I don't have an accent, I guess that's a good thing?!  Minnesota definitely does though....just a little ;)

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Every Kindergarten App you could need!

 So I got one of these! I'm so excited to get the opportunity to use this in my classroom. I have got some awesome apps I plan on using for lots of small group work and centers.  These apps were mostly free and I'll show you some organizing tips along the way.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 First if you want these super cute backgrounds, check them out here for FREE! Reagan Tunstall made them and I think they will work great not to mention keep us organized since every teacher in our building will have an Ipad this year :) 

First, I organized my apps by category.  Integration will be a huge part of getting the Ipads so I want to make sure I have it organized for the students.  The categories I have are:                                                                                                                       * Phonics -  any apps that have to do with sounds, beginning, middle or otherwise

* ABCs - apps for learning the alphabet

* Writing - tracing letters, words, or numbers using correct formation

* Listening - any apps that read to the students while tracking the words, apps that I can use for Daily 5 time.

* Numbers - math concepts usually numbers, most have different levels to progress through but have a great starting point for kindergarten.  

Below you will find what apps are included in each one.  These apps are perfect for kindergarten, although not a completely comprehensive list - leave a comment if you have any other apps you use that are awesome!  Of course, along with Ipads comes rules/expectations which need to be clearly communicated before using.  I plan on using the "Guided Access" feature so that I can control what app my students stay on for the time I want them on the Ipad if I'm not directly monitoring.  It essentially keeps them locked in an app which is perfect for small groups. 

Ok now onto the lists: 

Phonics Apps: 

1. Fun2Learn Phonics
2. Phonics Easy
3. Sound Sorting (Beginning Sounds)
4. Phonics Tic Tac Toe
5. Word Cub
6. Word Family
7. Cimo Spelling - sound out 

Alphabet Apps: 

1. ABC GoGo
2. ABC Magnetic Land - could be used for spelling words
3. ABC transport
4. First Words Sampler
5. Letter of the Day 
6. Letter Quiz
7. Montessori Words
8. Speaking Spell
9. SpellBoard - could program with spelling words
10. Free fall Spelling -  great graphics , easy to use 
11. Word Bingo
12. Tommy 1

Writing: 

1. Alphabet Tracing- love how it shows the correct motion
2. Letter School - I LOVE this app and could play on it (just ask the husband!)
3. Pocket Phonics
4. Toddler ABC - yes I know it says toddler, but it worth checking out

Math: 

1. Counting Catepillar - great visuals, fun stuff!
2. Mat series - find the missing number
3. Montessori Numbers
4. Monkey Math
5. Piggy HD - cool graphics 
6. Everyday Math Squeeze 
7. Super Number Kid

Listen to Reading/ Daily 5: 

1. Miss Spider
2. Big Monster
3. Day of Diesels
4. Green Egss
5. Hiku
6. Jingle
7. Llama
8. Ugly Duckling
9. Tortoise
10. On top of spaghetti

Hope you get some ideas for some great apps to add to your collection! Share some apps you love, or other Ipad resources I'd definitely be interested in learning more!!

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Name Practice

Checking in for a quick and simple idea that was inspired by Smedley's Kindergarten Journals.  I wanted a way for my incoming kinders to practice their names as it is a very important concept that needs to be learned and practiced from the start.  We have pockets on our chairs that these fit so nicely in.

On the front side, we have an individualized name practice sheet. I made the sheets from this site using Print Clearly (dashed) font.  I slid them in the front of a sheet protector.  I practiced with dry erase markers to make sure they worked  and it worked GREAT! I plan on the students that need to, to begin by tracing their names.  

Once they have mastered that, there is plenty of room on the line to write it themselves while still referring to the dashed lines if necessary.

On the back we just have some more practice that can be used daily with no prep.  Students that have mastered writing their names, can move on to the date which will be on the board.  They will have to copy it down.  The dark black line on the bottom can be used for their sentence writing.  I plan on having a few share before we move on, once students get to that level.  

So to sum it up: 

1.  Tracing their name

2. Start writing their name on their own

3. Write name completely on their own on the back

4. Start writing the date.

5.  Write a sentence, draw a picture

6. Move onto labeling a picture

That will be my progression for the year! My favorite part of the ENTIRE project is that it has NO PREP whatsoever! You can walk around and manage students and never have to write or copy but students are still learning their names, letters, how to write a date, and then beginning sentences so it works for the whole year.    Go check out Greg's link from above, I love his take and just tweaked it for my room.  I can't wait to use these all throughout the year!

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Back To School Sale

As much as I could put off this day and enjoy summer forever, I am excited to get back in the classroom with my own students all year! I can't wait for my very first year in kindergarten!  If you are anything like me your wishlist is miles long and I have SO many things I want to try with my kindergarteners this year.

You can find my whole store 20% off!  Plus an extra 10% from TpT which works out to 28%!!! You can snag anything you need for back to school or anything you've been eyeing for awhile (like me!).

PROMO CODE: BTS13

Click on any of the pictures to head straight to my store and get your back to school shopping on :)

Become a HUGE best-seller - perfect for any grade!

100+ prompts perfect for writing time!

Great way to get students started off the right way!

Fun way to start science off!!

Fun upper elementary science!

There is also some great Common Core resources in my store - don't forget to check them out!

Happy Shopping!

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A Look around...and some funny stories

What do you want to hear first? The funny stories or some more classroom pictures??? Well good the stories are good, I promise - I'm not one to post too much personal stuff but these just cracked me up recently.

First, so I've met with my mentor, we've had orientation and inservice, it came up about my Skype interview.  Since I wasn't in the state, we did it that way.  He mentioned, "ya, I knew I'd like that girl" when I saw your picture.  So I had NO IDEA because I only Skype like friends/family that a crazy picture of me...

I can't find the one it was....this is close :(

  

Fortunately we lost connection right after we started and I had a few minutes to change it to this! I completely forgot until he mentioned it!  He said he didn't let anyone know but still...how embarrassing!

Second, so we got a new apartment - got all moved in and trying to be a good wife I wanted to make dinner the first night! I yanked open the oven and our homemade pizza went sliding in.  Needless to say the toppings fell off and although the crust was rescued the toppings smoked and caught fire :(

Luckily, we disabled the fire alarm so the whole building didn't have to evacuate but how cliche is that?! First meal and I almost burn the place down. I swear I'm not that bad!!!

Ok, now you want some pictures: 

I love my teacher toolbox!!

Job chart- the owls are adorable!

Our schedule cards and picture direction cards!

Reading Strategies!

I found all these on TpT and will try to link soon if you want to get any for yourself! :) I'm getting things put together and minus the whole information overload from these first few days everything seems to be going great! 

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New Classroom Time :)

My first post from my new place!! A 10 hour drive later and we're moved in and settled in Minnesota (for the most part).  I got a chance to see my classroom today and take inventory of what was there.  Lucky for me the teacher seemed to leave quite a bit from last year so I had a lot to work with!  My hubby came and helped move furniture (boy were those tables heavy).  I got things how I want arranged as of right now (we'll see how long it lasts).

These can be considered the "Before" pictures since I haven't put any of my stuff in yet! Can't wait to get back and do more :)      I finally get to participate in all those "classroom picture" posts!! 

Minnesota!!! We made it!!

Tables with small group work being done in the back.  

This is where our seats will be.

Sink and art stuff off to the left (can't quite see it!) 

View from the Smartboard - don't mind all the clutter!

Library area and the animals to read with!

the back store has "Mrs. Ernst's General Store" on it.

View from close to the door - the tables above would be off to the left! My desk is in front of the window, Smartboard, carpet area, and library off to right.  Bottom corner of this picture is a play area complete with all sorts of fun stuff.  

View from the tables- play area and small group work done in the back corner.  It does feel much more open than it looks on this picture ;) 

Josh photobombing! This hallway connects the 2 kindergarten classrooms together and has 2 bathrooms (definitely a *must* for kindergarteners!) 

I'll leave ya with one itty bitty wedding picture since I haven't gotten too many back yet! This has been one whirlwind summer and it's winding down just in time for school to start :) 

Got some new teacher meetings and more classroom work to do soon! Are you gearing up for school like I am? 

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Currently - B2S13

Can you even believe it is August already?! Like most teachers, that means time to kick it in high gear! I'm not sure I'm ready but who is?  I'm linking up with Farley and am anxious to find out some awesome back to school items that everyone has to have!  Lots of FREEBIES linked in so be sure to pick them up and show some love for other bloggers.

See below my new laminator that I love! I found some great deals on laminating sheets here.  I have found that brand doesn't exactly matter- hopefully this is true ;)   please someone let me know if it isn't.  I need to stock up before school starts. 

I'm not ready for the long 9 hour drive to MN but I'm so ready to get in my classroom on Monday! I've been working on decorations and Kindergarten stuff from home but haven't even seen my room - since when I interviewed it was originally for a different position.  New teacher meetings start already next week, and I'm really excited to make new teacher friends and jump head first into my first full year teaching :)

I found these awesome Binder covers at What the Teacher Wants! They have been filling up with all my stuff getting ready for Kindergarten and make the whole process cute!

My Kindergarten banner got finished and I posted it on Instagram (follow me @SSSTeaching) I LOVE it and can't wait to put it up!  I got the banner  here! 

In case you missed my Back to School Freebie click the picture below for some bookmarks!  While you're over there make sure to like my page- I'm hoping to have a Big project finished by the time the first day of school rolls around and you don't want to miss it. 

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