Since all of you were so interested in my Back To School Fine Motor Morning Work Stations, I thought I'd share what I've been up to for October. (If you'd like to see last month's post, just click HERE.) I just finished setting up my new Morning Work Stations for the month, and … [Read more...]
Getting Started With Fine Motor Morning Work Stations
I've told you before how much I dislike paper/pencil morning work. Blah! I mean, like anything, if it works for you, GREAT! But it has never really been an effective or engaging activity for my students. I needed something that would provide hands-on practice but give them a … [Read more...]
Editable Color By Sight Word Freebie
One of the most frustrating things in teaching for me in the past has always been the inability to make teaching materials fit MY students needs. I mean I totally get that huge companies can't possibly make a product to fit the needs of every teacher . . . they're more … [Read more...]
Move It or Lose It
Move it or lose it? Yes! In other words, if you don't just let them 'move it,' you are going to 'lose it,' as in lose control of your students and your classroom. It is an absolutely natural need for your little friends to move. God didn't build kinders to sit at a desk all … [Read more...]
10 Engaging Thanksgiving Classroom Activities
Despite the 70 degree weather on November 4th in Northern Michigan, I couldn't help but share with you a few of my classroom favorite Thanksgiving activities. These are the activities that keep them coming back for more. They engage and delight while challenging them and … [Read more...]
No Sew Table Skirt Tutorial
THE PROBLEM So, I had to take matters into my own hands. I couldn't take it anymore. My poor school is an old one and, as such, it has old furniture. I've replaced quite a bit of it little by little, but I these old tables are still around and a definite eye-sore. The … [Read more...]
Bountiful blessings of beans and more!
My sensory table friends are always asking how I secure all the great ‘fillers’ for my table and bins, and I just knew I had to share with you’re my latest ‘bountiful blessing of beans.’ Not that beans are a big ticket item or anything, but let’s face it, when … [Read more...]
A Peek At November Math Stations
My husband often asks me why am I constantly making new things for my classroom. Can't I just use the same plans I used last year and the same materials? You know, just change the dates! Well . . . yes . . . but . . . NO! My kids aren't the same as the ones I had last … [Read more...]
Trick and Treat Freebielicious Blog Hop – Come Fill Your Bags
Fall is upon is and that means it's time for some Teaching Trick & Treating! That's right - I have teamed up with my Freebielicious friends again to share some teaching tricks and special free treats for you! For my trick, I've had ton's of people write … [Read more...]
Engaging and Extending Skills With Familiar Differentiated Stations
I love it when stations start humming along on their own engines with very little need for intervention or instruction from me. I changed over new stations for math this week and Daily 5 in order to accommodate some October/Autumn/Halloween-ish themes and was delighted to see … [Read more...]
Differentiated October Sensory Fun in Kindergarten
What do you get when you mix the most beautiful time of the year with a kindergarten classroom? Sensory table fun! I know many of you have told me that you are no longer allowed to have sensory tables in your classroom because they have been deemed . . . 'unacademic.' … [Read more...]
First Day Labor Pains and Giving Birth To A New Year
The first day of school has come and gone, and I’m still here to tell about it. Whew! If you are a kindergarten teacher, I know you know what I mean by "whew!" Each year it’s the same thing, we anxiously and nervously anticipate the arrival of a new set of kindergarteners who … [Read more...]
