What a “ROCKIN’” great time at the Kindergarten Conference in Vegas (day & night)! I love to share what I do in my classroom, and I learned some new ideas that made me dance the night away. I will share with you one amazing idea from each session that I cannot wait to use in my classroom. Check out the “Rock Star” teachers websites for more ideas.
I wish I had pictures to share because I am a visual person, but here I go…
Along with her freebies on her website for calendar time, Shari , is selling a Student Calendar Book Packet that she made with Kim Adsit. Check it out!
Rockin’ Idea: At the end of the month when Shari is taking down the old calendar numbers she will call on students to help her. For example… raise your hand if you can find an odd number to take down for me, raise your hand if you can find a number between 11-18, raiser your hand if you can find a number that has 2 of the same number, etc. I can’t wait to do this in my classroom!
Melissa Leach - Differentiate Literacy Learning with Centers
(sorry I do not know if she has a website)
This is the first that I heard of Melissa and I am sooooo happy I have had the chance to see her present. We are both Michigan
Rockin’ Idea: Blow up a word search to fill a sheet of copy paper. Have the students grab 5 or 6 different colored magnetic letters. The student will place the letters above the copied word search. Then he/she will color for example….all the p’s red, all the r’s blue, all the e’s yellow, etc on the sheet.
Heidi Butkus – Developmentally Appropriate Ways to Get Your Kindergartners Writing
www.heidisongs.com
Rockin’ Idea: Have you ever heard of….Guided Drawing? – I used her No David Character Guided Drawing during my summer school class. Check it out on my website and I believe it can be downloaded at her website, too!
Melissa Leach - Over the Rainbow with Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, & Letters
Rockin’ Ideas:
Phonemic Awareness can be done with EYES CLOSED or in the dark!
Stir the Soup…In a pot fill about ½ way full with a bunch of magnetic letters. Have the students use a ladle to scoop out some letters. You can do so many variations with this activity/center for example…say the letter and/or the sound it makes, is this letter in a friends name, say a word that begins or ends with this letter sound, put the letters in order of the alphabet, etc.
Kathy Griffin - Starting the Year Off Right in Literacy: Building Procedures & Routines
Google her name and it will bring you to her website.
Rockin’ Idea: She shared the story, Pete the Cat, by Eric Litwin.
I HAVE TO HAVE THIS BOOK before school starts! I ALSO HAVE TO HAVE “KINDERGARTEN CRAYONS” Unit on Pete the Cat. You will find it on her TPT site. I am sure you will not be sorry! Fran from Kindergarten Crayons…what can I say but I cannot wait to get to know this women better (as a friend and teacher). I am going to learn so much from her!!!
You can also download story/song at: www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/petethecat/
Kim Adsit - Differentiate: It’s as Easy as Pie!
Rockin’ Idea: I like to make classroom-made books for my students to read in the classroom. Kim makes a book called, Who is in the club? She will have a page labeled with a task that the students need to learn. For example…I can tie my shoes club. When a student completes the task he/she will sign the page in the book. I love this…it makes the students feel special when they accomplish a new task and I do not have enough room on my walls to display it all.
Kimberly Jordano - Phonemic Awareness & Phonics Fun
Rockin’ Idea: Take an empty water bottle and fill it a quarter full with sand/glitter/salt (whatever you wish). Cut out each of your student’s heads and put inside the bottle. Make a record sheet and have the students write down their friends name when they see his/her head.
If you have any questions about the Rockin’ Ideas, please ask me! I have a question for you…Have you ever used hot glue to put things on your wall!!! I think I almost fell on the floor when I heard this and I am not sure if I am willing to try it!
Amber
I know this is a lot to take in but….IT’S ALL GOOD!
