Five For Friday!

I just LOVE my students "Super Kinders" that I might keep it up all year long!  Every morning when they arrive at their cubbies...this display will remind them to use appropriate behaviors all day long!   HE HE HE  

You can get this creative activity from Gluesticks N' Giggles!

Our AMAZING principal had these made (she also did some of the painting) for ALL the staff in our building this summer.  Isn't it sharp!?!

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This is one of my favorite bulletin boards in my classroom.  This is where I will display all our interactive writing charts.  Each chart we make together will remain on the wall and the kiddos can keep re-reading it when they "read the room"!

The poem reads: I made this special magnet on the very first day so that my kindergarten work will always be on display!

The magnet will hang on the fridge at home.  As the student makes projects or completes good work he/she (or the parents) can change what is clipped to the magnet.   

I walked into the gas station after working LATE one school night.  The lady behind the counter said..."Is that paper clips in your hair?"  With a (I am so embarrassed smile on my face) all I could say was "Yes!".   I wonder if the next time I go into the gas station she or others will be wearing paper clips in their hair, too.  PROBABLY NOT!

Thanks for reading and have a HAPPY weekend!
Amber

Peek At My Week

Peek At My Week with Deedee Wills

Today I am linking up with Mrs. Wills' Kindergarten.  This is our first full week of school and I am sharing my "how did I fit it all in" lesson plans with you.  Honestly...I didn't!  There is so much more I WANT to do with the kiddos...but I just don't have the time (sad face).  But we got all year to try new things to keep them engaged...right!?!   Last week was a lot of routines, singing, moving & modeling!  ENJOY!  

What's In A Name Unit ~ Mrs. Leeby
September Morning Work ~ The Printable Princess
ABC Little Readers ~ Kindergarten With Susie
Science For All Seasons: Fall ~ Kristen Smith

Super Kinders ~ Behavior At School Crafty

THANKS BUNCHES for reading!  I think we are going to have an academically fun week...don't ya?!? If you have any questions, please let me know! 

Amber

Ain't I Cute!?!

School Girl Style had just what I was looking for to brighten up my classroom this year.  The hard thing was choosing a theme.  I finally decided on BRIGHT OWLS!

This is a great way to reinforce concepts being learned and make a personal connection for the start of the day! I will add a picture of a shape, color, letter, sight word, number, etc. each day for the kiddos to recite and greet me!

Can you tell what product I have on my computer?  It is What's In A Name Unit by Mrs. Leeby.  I just linked you right to her TpT shop because you should trust me and buy the unit. 

I loved First Grade Blue Skies ribbon skirt so much that I wanted something like it in my classroom, too.  As the year goes on...I will add a little more ribbon.  

Nice Notes ~ I wanted some place special to hang my
A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E notes students give me at school.  

Science Discover Center

Reading Wall

My students are bringing in family photos to hang in the frames beside the classroom tree.  This makes the students feel like they are apart of the classroom.  It is an educational tool, too! 

Writing Area

Partner Reader Bins on top
Fine Motor & Play Dough on the bottom
Almost anything play dough in my classroom is from Miss Kindergarten

Art Area

Math Wall
Number Charts are from The First Grade Parade (Don't Forget My Number)

Math Area

Secret Star is from A Cupcake For A Teacher ...and it is FREE!

Book Treasure Baskets ~ You can read about them by CLICKING HERE!

LOVE ~ LOVE our word wall.  Have you been to Susie Kane's Blog blog yet!?!  Kindergarten With Susie is the place to be!!!

Whole group learning area

FOCUS WALL  ~ Deedee Wills came out with this product just in time for me!!!

Can you see it!?!  I cannot wait to use this learning tool in my classroom with my kids.  How can a MIMIO make me so excited to teach!?!

I am IN LOVE with my classroom! 
Amber

Keep Calm I'm A Newbie ~ CURRENTLY

Listening ~ Footloose

If you LOVE anything 80's as much as I do....we should hang out one weekend!  Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Dirty Dancing, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Some Kind of Wonderful, One Crazy Summer, Can't Buy Me Love, Top Gun, Sixteen Candles...I could go on and on!

Loving ~ My New Classroom Decor

Tomorrow is Open House in our School.  I get to meet my kiddos for the first time.   I hope they LOVE our room as much as I do.  I HOPE to SHARE with you very soon!

Thinking ~ About "For Blogness Sake's" recent post on things THAT ARE HARD!

SHE IS SOOO RIGHT!  About a year 1/2 ago I lost 60 pounds.  I CAN DO it again (yes...I gained much of it back) and still take care of my boys and my classroom, too! 

Wanting ~ More Time With My Niece and Nephews!!!

This past weekend I was able to be with all my niece and nephews and it was not long enough.  They are growing up so fast and I LOVE EACH OF THEIR SMILES BUNCHES & BUNCHES!  

Needing ~ To Be With My K Team Again....And I Am!

Last year I was in a different elementary school in our district.  I am back home where I belong!  It is going to be a GREAT year teaching KINDERGARTEN!!!

3 Trips ~ 

Wyoming...I just want to give my aunt a hug right now!

Upper Michigan....Most of my family is in Upper Michigan.  I live about 4 hours from there and I do not get there enough!!!

Paradise...I want to travel with my hubby again and any place with us together would be paradise.  Palms trees would make it even more of a HAPPY place!  

THANKS BUNCHES for reading!  Watch for a post soon SHARING my creative work in my classroom THANKS to School Girls Style, Blogs, & Pinterest!   Amber  

Book Treasure Basket & FREEBIE!

What can parents do with all the little paper reading books their child brings home?  

KEEP THEM IN A "BOOK TREASURE BASKET"!

This "MAGIC" little basket will be a special place at home to keep every book that the students make & read together in the classroom.   As his/her book collection grows, the parent will encourage their child to read one book out of the "Book Treasure Basket" every day for practice at home.

The books the students bring home should have very simple and controlled vocabulary so that the students come to recognize and memorize important "sight words".  Fluency is the key to successful reading.  The more the student reads, the more confident he or she will become in your classroom!

Our favorite back to school "MUST DO" is FREE for you!  

We chose a super hero theme because every kid wants to be a super hero or meet one!!!  

Grab your FREEBIE in our TpT Shop!

Parent Letter

Labels to attach to basket

Speaking of back to school....Did you hear about our unbelievable "Beginning of the School Year Blogger Bonanza" taking place on Wednesday, August 20th.  You can attend for only $10!  And trust me...it will be soooo worth your summer time!  We have been getting tons of freebies and giveaways.  It is going to be full of information, fun and new friends!  Please come and join us...IT IS FOR ALL TEACHERS...YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A BLOGGER!!!  

We HOPE you have a FABULOUS start to your school year! 

Amber & LuAnn 

Shake of the Day Winner

What is this CUTE...if I must say...bucket all about!?!  

"SHAKE OF THE DAY"....and we blogged about it right here!

This winner of our "Shake of the Day" Unit is.....# 5 ~ STenlv....Check your e-mail!

  I love this idea -- super fun and your container is adorable! (as well as your son!) Great new idea! Thanks!    

Our "Shake of the Day" Unit  is in our TpT & TN Shops.  Just in time for "Back to School Sale"!!!

Happy Summer, 
Amber & LuAnn