August 27, 2023
Meet the Teacher & Room Reveal 2023
It's officially back to school for me and I can't believe I'm on the eve of the first day. So many teacher friends of mine are already back! My district has us starting much later than usual, but nevertheless, I'm excited to kick-off our first day tomorrow!
Today I wanted to jump on here really quick and share with you my room and a little bit about my Meet the Teacher!
When you enter my room you'll see a little Student Center bookshelf on the left. On this shelf is where students can find:
- the turn-in bin
- Friday Folders (a weekly take-home folder that has student work from the week and any important items from school - it comes back Mondays)
- Tissues, hand sanitizer, etc
- Clinic office passes
- math, reading/phonics, and social studies/science notebooks
- and table group caddies that have additional communal supplies (I have a table manager job who will be responsible for handing out and collecting these caddies for their table group)
On the wall I have pockets where I place important flyers or extra copies of handouts that need to go home. It's also a great place to keep reminders and other items.
(All faux plants are from Ikea).
(Paper awnings from Hobby Lobby - similar)
Small Group Table
A new idea that I'm trying out this year is swapping my kidney table for a circle table. I like that it doesn't take up as much space and I'm able to put it near my teacher desk (which is IDEAL for me). I use these Ikea stools or students can stand - whichever makes them most comfortable. I then use a small rolling cart for my reading/math small group supplies.
You'll also notice that I invested in my own fan. I found myself getting hot last year (even with air conditioning) and it is great for when we have lots of visitors in the classroom...like Meet the Teacher!
On top of the cubbies will eventually be the wooden picture frames I have students decorate. This is a fun activity where students practice using their supplies as we introduce them. Inside the frames I have my student families bring a 4x6 family photo and it not only creates a warm atmosphere/community in our room, but it's there for when students get in their sad feelings and miss their family. I allow them to sit with their picture for a few moments and they place it on my desk when they're ready to return to the carpet/class time. I then place their frame back up above their cubbies.
Hanging from their hooks are student lanyards. Inside them I place a tag with their name and teacher and on the back I laminated colored construction paper since our specialists are trying a new color-coding system. I also place their lunch cards so going to lunch is a breeze these first few weeks. I have students use these lanyards daily for the first month or so as everyone gets to know each other and remember names. These also help our specialists learn names as well.
Phonics/Small Gathering Area
This year I wanted to create a space where students could gather with me for phonics or other smaller group activities like writing or math time. It will also double as our classroom library during reading centers and a play space for our dramatic play/interventions time at the end of the day.
During phonics, I plan to have students gather in this area facing our Sound Wall. This is when we will review our sounds that we've unlocked together. I also have the use of our white board and other tools for various phonics mini-lessons throughout the year. The intention is to make the "library" a more useful space as a class and I love the concept of students being physically in a different space during different parts of our day together.
(Black rug is from Target)
My MISC Table
Since ridding my classroom of my kidney table, I have this newfound space and at first I struggled with what to put here. So, I thought about last year and noticed that my students loved finding spaces where they had flexible seating options - and a lot of them loved standing. So, I grabbed this rectangular table (but smaller than our table group tables) and placed it here.
(The red bins here will house my reading center activities and the blue bin is where I'll place reading Write the Room activities. On the trays will be various writing paper options for students.)
The plan for this space is my 'MISC area'...meaning it's kind of a space for all things.
At Meet the Teacher it's my transportation station where parents filled out their child's dismissal tags that go on their backpacks. During the school day it will be a writing station during reading centers, an optional writing table for those who want to stand and have some space when writing, a math table for hands-on centers, and a misc table during dramatic play. I like that this space kind of formed itself and that students can choose what they'd like to do while working there.
We'll see how it goes!
(Peg Board (Ikea), I used their attachment to attach to my table)
(Peg board accessories (Ikea) for writing materials/tools)
Meet the Teacher
For the last couple of years I have incorporated a Parent Packet as well as a mini-scavenger hunt for my student families. Meet the Teacher is a quick opportunity for parents to drop off supplies and students get a chance to meet me and get a feel for the classroom.
(Green bins at the front of the room will house my hands-on math center activities).
At each table group I have my seating arrangements made - but, of course, these seats will change as needed. In each packet I have info for my classroom as well as any forms from the school. I also place the keychain I made for my students and their plastic crayon box at their seats.
The reason I have a scavenger hunt is mainly for students and their parents help me with the BTS organization. At their seats students will build their pencil boxes as well as place their other supplies in containers around the room. Their pencil boxes will then go to their cubbies and be ready for the first day of school. The other supplies can just be tucked away for the time being and organized into my drawers in the coming week.
This system saves me a lot of time upfront and gives families something to do while I'm greeting students and meeting my new parents. I'll check in periodically and make sure parents know what to do. The final step on their scavenger hunt is to take a picture with me! It gives them a little keepsake and it lets me know when they're finished. I'm able to say goodbye and chat for a moment before the first day.
Each year it seems to be a hit and makes Meet the Teacher feel less chaotic.
Well, that's it for now!
Happy teaching, everyone, and happy back to school!
August 13, 2023
Meet the Teacher Student Keychains Tutorial
At the beginning of the year I always love gifting my students with a little something at Meet the Teacher. For a brand new kinder, many of which are coming to a big new school for the first time, can have all the feelings from excitement to nervousness...and all at the same time. As a way to gently welcome them into our classroom I make these personalized keychains that they can use on their backpacks (or anything they choose!). Boys and girls alike adore them and I know the parents appreciate the sentiment.
So, skip the candy and snacks and opt for this easy peasy DIY student keychain (grab the gift tags here)!
Here's how you make them:
Gather your supplies
Amazon affiliate links used within this post
Materials Needed:
- Alphabet Beads
- Pony Beads in assorted colors
- Keychain clips
- Elastic String (recommended: 1mm in size)
- Scissors
Assembling the Keychains
Step 1: String your beads
Use enough elastic string so that you can string all of the letters in each student's name as well as have room for the colorful pony beads.
Note: my string is a little small for the pony beads (oops!) so I have to tweak how I tie them together. You'll see how I do this at Step 2...
You'll select a few colors of pony beads and begin to string it on as shown...
Then, the trick is to thread both sides of the string through the next pony beads. This will secure the bottom bead onto the keychain (see below).
Step 2: Assemble student letter beads
Next, you are going to thread the letter beads to build your student's name followed by more pony beads. This is where you can get creative with your coloring and style. I kind of chose my colored beads based on whether it's a boy or girl...but it's completely up to you!
Now, this is where I had to get creative. My alpha beads and pony beads are two different widths in terms of their opening. So, I use a heart bead at the end of the keychain to secure it all together. Simply knot it off (making a knot about 3-4 times so the beads don't slip off).
Step 3: Attach to keychain clip
Now that you have a finished keychain all you need to do is knot it around the clip. Again, I knot it about 3-4 times to secure it so the beads don't fall off.
Step 4: Attach to gift tag and hand out!
The final step is to attach the keychain to a cute gift tag and lay them out for Meet the Teacher/Open House. I put them at their seats when they arrive, but you can hand them out at the end. Totally up to you!
These gift tags are made for Pre-K thru 6th Grade and are editable right in the PDF. Simply type your name and print. You can use a hole-punch and clip your keychain right on!
Recommendations:
- I recommend having your materials on hand at school so that you can quickly make a keychain for any students added last second to your roster.
- I also hold onto any keychains of students who didn't attend Meet the Teacher/Open House. I'll make sure to lay them out on the first day of school.
I hope you enjoy your new school year and...happy teaching!
July 31, 2023
Favorite Back to School Teacher Goodies
Soon I'll be heading back to the classroom and I personally can't wait. I know there are a ton of teachers out there who love to squeeze every last moment of their summers before even thinking about the school year ahead...I'm just not that teacher. Even 12 years later I am always filled with a buzzing excitement and I hope that never fades...
So, as I eagerly await the email from admin that lets us know we can get into our classrooms, here's a list of my favorite goodies for the back to school season!
Half-Gallon Water Bottle
Last year I got on the "drink more water" trend with my very own half-gallon water bottle. Right now everyone has to have the Stanley mug...and I don't doubt it's great...I just need a little more...
So, I am a person who finds themselves drinking more water when I have a straw. So, this one from Amazon has been a great option. So far I've been happy and the half-gallon has been do-able for me each day. Some teachers I know opt for the gallon bottles...but for me that's just a little too advantageous. Another great option is this bottle...
New Speckled Apple Watch Band & Earrings
A fun gift to myself to start the year last year were these cuuuuute Mo Willems earrings! I also picked up this speckled Apple Watch band. The seller is a teacher as well and I love supporting small businesses like these. Be sure to stop by her little online boutique for some teacher goodies yourself!
New Badge Reel
My first year back I went with a cute necklace badge holder and I found it made a lot of noise when I walked and just got in the way. This last year I upgraded to the badge reel and it's been perfect for me. I opted for the olive green with leopard print and it's lasted me all year. I love the silicon beads and I love being able to place it wherever I want.
Teacher Tees
Who doesn't love a good teacher tee? I love browsing all over for new shirts to wear during the year. This one is one of my favorites and the seller makes them for all grade levels. I love finding quality shirts (think Bella Canvas) from Etsy and for simpler tees (think Fruit of the Loom or Gildan) I use Tees2UrDoor.
Gifts for Teammates
Nothing says "welcome back" like a few goodies for your teammates! My own shop, Red Oak Lettering, has a few items that can be personalized. Here are a few popular items teachers love ordering for themselves or their teams:
Personalized Pencil Keychain
Keychains are a fun way to add some flair to your lanyard or backpack. Each one comes personalized with a name as seen here.
In My Teacher Era Glass Can
Another popular choice are these glass cans with a bamboo lid. I love having a set of glassware/mugs in my classroom for those moments where I need an extra boost of caffeine.
Stickers!
I have a few stickers in my shop, but I love finding new teacher-specific stickers from all over Etsy! Created By Christine Co is one of my favorites for finding cute teacher stickers! She's a fellow elementary teacher (who somehow manages to do it all!) and I love supporting fellow teacher-sellers!
That's it for now! I wish you all the most relaxing of final summer days and best of luck as you head into this school year!
July 30, 2023
35 Weeks of Scripted Reading Lessons!
At the end of each year I always set out to explore my district's curriculum and see what I can do to create a pacing guide for myself no matter the subject. I teach the best when I'm able to look ahead and see what it is we'll be covering - especially in that first grading period. My district curriculum developers are ah-mazing! They really have done a wonderful job with how the pacing will look for kindergarten reading instruction, which made my job easier when it comes to planning the day-to-day.
Although the TEKs and learning targets were there, there wasn't much else and if you're anything like me...when the school year starts we're off to the races. When you're in the thick of it, it can be difficult to pick the read-aloud, pick the activity, and make sure it all aligns. Yes, that's a huge part of being a teacher, but let me tell you....it doesn't have to be all consuming of your time and PLC with your team.
That's why I set out to create a FULL YEARS WORTH of scripted lesson plans that are TEK and Science of Reading (SoR) aligned! I have already picked read-alouds that best fit as mentor texts for each lesson's learning objective. I have also provided teachers with guiding questions during the reading as well as extension activities for after reading where students demonstrate their understanding.
Awesome, right? Let's take a peek!!
35 Weeks of Scripted Lesson Plans
The goal of creating this resource was to, most importantly, free up planning time for myself and my team. By having our reading block planned, we can dedicate that time elsewhere as teachers. For us in my district we have 35 weeks of school and this resource takes us from the first to the last day of instruction. The other focus for this resource had those new teachers (or new to kindergarten) in mind. On our own team we were blessed with one of the best "new" teachers and it's been amazing to see her flourish. My hope for resources like this helps gives teachers like her a place to launch from. And we know beginning in planning can be the hardest.
Each lesson is tailored around the learning objective/learning target for that day. I scoured to match the best mentor texts that lend themselves to those learning objectives. Of course, you can always supplement your own read-alouds as you wish...but for me, selecting the read-aloud was always the hardest (I mean, there's so many perfect texts out there how to choose just one!). I love that step is already done for myself as is the lesson.
Each lesson begins with the introduction which just introduces the learning objective statement and intros what students will be focusing on in their reading that day. I wanted to incorporate a stating of the objective in the beginning and at the end because it can easily be a step to miss. (And we all know our admins are looking for this when they come to observe us). By stating the focus students begin to have ownership over their own learning. It's amazing to see and feel the shift in our littlest of learners when we state the focus of their learning (who knew?! Haha).
Each lesson follows the framework of:
- I DO (the modeling and think-alouds by the teacher)
- WE DO (guided reading/writing), and finally,
- YOU DO (the independent activity that aligns with the day's lesson).
Students have the opportunity to see the learning target skill be modeled and thought-aloud by the teacher during each lesson. Also, students have opportunities to pair-share (turn-and-talk...whatever you call it in your classroom) their thinking about their reading. The pair-share is a huge focus in my lessons because it's not only engagement, but communication skills are key. Students will be practicing collaboration and effective communication (active listening/speaking skills) all year long!
 |
| Using text evidence to support inferences. |
Note that there won't be worksheet activities for all lessons, however. Some lessons lend themselves for students to take work to their seats to demonstrate their understanding, but others are discussion based. This is intentional as it depends on the learning target. After digging through the TEKS for reading in kinder, a lot of them ask students to "discuss" their learning vs completing a worksheet or craft. This is great because it, again, focuses students on their ability to share about their learning which is an important skill in itself.
Then, finally, you restate that learning objective. ;)
Time for Reading Centers
At the beginning of the year you are just beginning to lay the foundation to what your reading block will look and feel like. Students are not diving right into the heavy content to begin, but rather are actively exploring what behaviors are expected during this learning block. Each lesson for the first six weeks or so has students practice and build their stamina for reading workshop. They spend a lot of time learning to be effective listeners and speakers, then build upon that as content is introduced.
However, the mini-lesson isn't your whole block! Naturally, you are going to begin to slowly introduce reading rotations or centers. Whether you are using Daily 5 as your framework or have another system that works, students should be spending time building their independent work stamina.
What are FLEX DAYS?
Flex Days/Weeks are built into the curriculum and they are exactly what they sound like: flexible days for teachers to use at their discretion within the grading period. Some of the ways I use these flex days include:
- assessments, assessments, assessments: whether they are district or state required or your own assessments as a grade level, it's important to track your students and keep a record of their understanding of the learning objectives in reading for that grading period.
- tracking data/RTI: keeping up with your students who may need some TLC require a touch more data points. So these flex days are great for extra time in your block to collect these data points.
- revisiting content: some lessons need more than one day or maybe you had a fire drill that completely ate your reading block. Either way, we need the flexibility to revisit content as our students need it.
- preparing for a break from school: breaks and holidays cut into instructional time and flex days provide teachers with the ability to fill in thematic lessons or activities, prep for upcoming school events, etc.
Flex Days are great for all of these reasons. With this resource you are able to still have control over how your block will look and feel while hitting those required learning targets. Use these Flex Days consecutively or break them up and sprinkle them in here and there.
Happy Teaching!
I hope you find this resource as helpful as I do - I wish you the very best as you begin to plan for your reading block this school year!
June 20, 2023
Boho Minimalist Schedule Cards
It's summer which naturally it means I'm also doing the very thing I shouldn't....and that's thinking ahead to next year.
It's hard for me to sit still and not use this time to think about how I'd like to setup my classroom, add or change things up, or create some new resources. My time is so valuable - don't get me wrong, our family has PLENTY planned for July - but it's even more valuable during the school year when I don't have much of it to dedicate to these things. So, I personally enjoy using this slower-paced time in my life to reflect and gear up for the year ahead.
So, as I'm looking around teacher Instagrams I'm noticing this boho naturals trend and I have to say that I'm not mad at it. I love that classrooms are beginning to get away from a lot of those distracting and overwhelming classroom decor and somewhat getting student-centered again. However, I do find a lot that is more style than substance...at least for me and what I would like to do for my kinders. Thus, I set out to create my own resources and here I am sharing what all I've been up to.
Student-Centered
This is by-far the most important thing I keep in mind when setting up my classroom. My son, who has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), has taught me a lot over the years about overstimulation and how that may affect different kids. Overstimulation can trigger all sorts of behaviors in students and therefore I try to keep the sensory levels pretty minimal when it comes to how I decorate and organize my classroom. Calm students = focused, engaged, and happy learners!
Daily Schedule Cards
As you can see my schedule cards this year are going to be black and white with little pops of color. The clipart I've intentionally kept black and white as to pop a little bit but not be overwhelming to the eye. The other important thing I keep an eye out is the use of fonts in products. So many times do I see something I'd love to download from TpT, but the font is completely wrong for my students here in kindergarten. Often they're a funky script or even the all caps fonts can be challenging to read...so cute for us adults scrolling social media, but not very student-friendly. Especially students who are just learning to read and write.
In my own products I always keep to simple fonts that reinforce the types of letter formation that I am teaching my students and what I expect for them to reproduce for me in their own writing. It also makes it easy-to-read and the B&W clipart is simple and doesn't overwhelm the eyes. Who knew so much thought goes into something as simple as this!
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