Well- Look who's back!

 Yowza- It's been a minute since I blogged! 

Let me just give a little update/ info for those that are new here.

I am going into year 18 of teaching. I have been hovering in kindergarten and first grade. Last year was in first. I also taught in a different state last year & am looking forward to coming back to my home state & school district. I am married (16 years) and have 3 awesome kiddos- 2 have already left the nest *sad face* and the other is in middle school. My dog, Sally, is a rescue that was shot in the eye & shoulder and has turned out to be the most awesome 1-eyed dog in the whole world. Here are some other highlights...

• I am going back to kindergarten for the upcoming school year. Yay!
• I am excited to post some new kinder content. I will be going to my dream school & I cannot wait!
• My classroom decor will be simple and sweet. I am looking to simplify and streamline. More on that later. 
• I love to make shirts, lanyards, pens, etc as a creative outlet. 
• I also LOVE to read when I can squeeze in the time. 

I am going to blog again later about some of this stuff. Stay if you like, it would be great to know there are others out there. :) 

Get 'Em Moving!

Hi all!

I have a wiggly group of kinder kids (who doesn't- ha!) this year so it is super important for me to get them up & moving as much as possible. One of the ways I do this is through my math centers.

I LOVE to do count the room activities! 

My kinders love to work in them, too! 

Here is an example of a count the room...

Here is the set up-

First, I put apple erasers into the bags that are labeled a-i to match the recording sheet. *If you don't have apple erasers, no worries, I have included an apple sheet for you that will work perfectly! 

Then, I put those bags all over my room. It's kind of like a Hide-and-Seek game for the kiddos! 

The kiddos find a bag, count the apples, and record the number on the recording sheet.

Easy Squeezy & super easy prep! 

Here is the freebie for ya! 

You're welcome! ;)

If you want more fun stuff- here is the entire packet! It has number activities for the kinders! 

Let me know if you snag it by leaving me feedback on TpT! 

Happy Teaching!!

Quick Hello & an Update

Hi there!

It's been a while since I have graced the ole blog! I don't even know if you are still with me...

Anyhow, I have made the transition to my new school home & I am super happy that I have made the decision. I haven't been blogging this year because I have really been focusing on my teaching & my family. I very much feel like a first year teacher even though I'm actually in year 11. This new school is just so different that I decided to put everything I know aside & learn with the new teacher mindset. It has been a growing & learning experience and I wouldn't trade it. I didn't realize that I had this level of teaching in me! I mean I have learned a whole new way to teach kiddos. I have always had my class on grade level & prepared for first grade, but this year I have my kinders on track to be G/H/I level readers by the end!  I am still in disbelief!! Don't get me wrong...I have been busting my tail! Ha!! 

Anyway, as promised, I have updated my memory book. It REALLLLY needed the facelift. Just click the pic & it will take you right to it! All you have to do is re-download it if you already own it to get the updates. Otherwise, you can stop by my FB page where I am giving one away on Friday. Or, you can get one for $2.50. 

Have a happy day!! 

Jen

Change Is Good!

Hello bloggy friends! 

I have been gone for a little while because I have been super stressed out! After much prayer, thought, consideration, etc. I decided that this year would be my last year at my current school. I have been there for 10 years & I feel like I just need a change of scenery & a new path to follow. I will miss all my students, the staff, & the families that I have come to know & love. It is super hard to say good-bye to the school that I have given such a big piece of my heart to.

But, change is good, right!?

Here are some of the things that I am looking forward to:

1. Growing & learning as a teacher!

2. Making new friends :)

3. I'm moving back to KINDERGARTEN!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!! 

I started moving 10 years worth of teaching stuff to my new classroom. You don't realize how much you have until you have to pack it up & physically move it. Needless to say, there is a lot of purging going on! Do I really need those file folder math center games? Yes, I still had some of those oldies stuck in the back of the closet. Hello Mr. Trashcan! 

I am so excited to start this new adventure. I cannot wait to blog about all my new experiences- good & bad. Ha! 

Let's Talk Writing

So this year my kiddos have really taken to writing. 

I mean REALLY!! 

They LOVE it!!

They love informational, small moment, opinion, choice, you name it. They have really great ideas & have really embraced writing

 but...

They are dropping the ball with conventions! 

I don't know how this happened. I'm teaching all the skills to them...capitals, punctuation, spacing, blah, blah, blah...

They are just not havin' it!

They just seem to disregard the need for any sort of convention. 

So, I'm busting out my good ole friend that I used with pretty good success when I taught kindergarten.

 It looks like this:

It's nothing new! In fact, I've sent it to a gajillion of you over the years! I get emails for this every.single.day! 

It's nothing special, but you WILL have to do some lessons on how to use a checklist. 

If you do it correctly this can be a very handy tool for you & your students! 

Let me know what you think!

Happy Teaching!

Hello...Is This Thing On??

Hi Bloggy friends!!

I have REALLLYYY been missing you lately!

I have had more than my fair share of crazy happening lately & I am hoping that I can get back to blogging more now. 

Anyway, enough about me...

Do you students LOVE using the dotters as much as mine do??

I am sooo over winter, but I made this little ditty to wrap up any & all winter-ish activities for this year. 

They have to roll one die, add ten, & dot the answer. If they finish dotting before time is up I let them color the picture. This is one center that is super engaging & keeps them pretty quiet as I work with small groups.

I have Roll & Dot activities in ALL of my "Save the ink" math packets. They all have different directions... sometimes they roll 2 dice & add them together, sometimes they roll 3 dice & add, sometimes they roll & subtract the small # from the big #...there are soooo many variations.

Here is this cutie for you for FREE!!

Try it out with your kiddos & see how they like it...
(click the pic to grab it!)

Let me know how it goes!!
Until next time...
Happy Teaching!! 

Purple Power!

Hello Bloggy Friends!!

I want to show you the most awesome thing everrrr.

Look at her...

Isn't she a beauty?!

It is the new Popular Purple Pencil Sharpener from Classroom Friendly Supplies. I loooove the pencil sharpeners that they make! Just take a look at the power that this little purple princess produces- did you get all that alliteration? Ha!

It gets my pencils so sharp! I'm pretty sure pencils this sharp are  probably illegal in some states...not! But, seriously, they get REAllllly sharp! 

*Bonus- They don't have that dreaded- lopsided-half sharpened- make me crazy- why does this happen to me- issue! 

You know what I'm talking about...oh, the frustration!! 

Here is some interesting info that you may not know about this awesome little company:

1. It is run by a teacher, just like us, that was fed up with all the pencil sharpeners on the market. So, he knows!! :)
2. These sharpeners are super quiet & they have a 90 day money back guarantee....but, you will love it & won't need to use it! 
3. They will ship this Perfect Purple Package of happiness to you for FREE! 
   
   
   

SO...what are you waiting for??

Go get your own Popular Purple Perfectly Perfect Pencil Sharpener- NOW!!