New Unit & A Freebie

Here is what I have been working on this weekend. I know, I know, this is not the time of year to be making a weather unit, but I just couldn't resist. Stop rolling your eyes at me...I'm a newbie, I didn't know any better! I love the little rain boot graphics...that's a good enough reason, right?! :)

So, here it is & I even put a little freebie up just to get you jazzed about a weather unit coming at the end of the year. You need to review weather, don't ya? Ha Ha!

Grab this freebie...you know you want it! :)

Have a great week everyone! Enjoy these last few weeks with your kiddos! I can't believe that I am getting ready to send mine up to FIRST grade...aaaahhhh! Where has the year gone?!?

Jen

Bees & More Bees!

We began our unit on bees & bugs this week. I always love when I get to teach this unit. The kids are always so excited & engaged! Here is a peek at some of our fun!

Here is our bee tree map.

These cute little bees are flying all around the room. They LOVED painting these bees & were super excited when they came in the next morning & I had hung them over their seats!

This is a math counting center. They have to go to the locations listed on the paper & count the swarm of bees there.

This is a bee writing center. "One time I was watering my mom's flowers & a bee flied & it was sunny & the bee was colorful" too cute!

They loved this center. It is a labeling center where they pick a bee, read the word, & label the picture on the hive. Then they color the picture. They did awesome with this one!

I will be doing ladybugs & butterflies next week. We are ending the week with a trip to the park. Yay! It is going to be super fun!
Have a great Saturday!!

~Jen

What I'm Pinning Wednesday!

Seriously, I think I need Pinterest rehab. I am so addicted to it I could stay on there for hours! Here are some of the things that I found that I really liked...

I love this little math activity...wouldn't this be perfect for the beginning of the year?!!


How cute is this adjective flower? I thought I would put a little picture in the center of the student & then they could add the adjectives to describe themselves.


I love this cute butterfly! It will fit right in to this week's bug unit activities!

Seriously!?! How smart is this!?!?! No more searching for an eraser or kids fighting over erasers! Duh!

I could go on...and on...and on...but I will stop now ;)!
We have made it past the hump, ya'll!!

Jen

Bug Freebie!

Well, I don't know about your school, but mine has testing in full swing! We are not allowed to have specials or recess. The only time we leave the room is for lunch. Talk about kinder jail! I am trying to keep the kids from going stir crazy! Thankfully, I have an awesome class this year. I have been coming up with all sorts of activities to keep things fun & engaging. I whipped this little ditty up this morning while my kiddies were working in centers. They loved it. I put it on my promethean board & we labeled it together. Tomorrow they will have the exact copy of it as morning work...we'll see who was paying attention ;)!

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6qeCVUcPIdKbzAxdmExZk51cWs/edit

I couldn't get the picture to link up...go figure...so just click on the link & hopefully you can print it off. Let me know if you can't get it so I can fix it for ya!

Jen

Back in the Groove

My kids were VERY excited to get back to school today! You have to understand that I work in a Title 1, High Priority school. These kids have been home for two weeks, and who knows what that was like for them? They REALLY missed me! They could not wait to give me a huge hug & tell me how much they missed school. These are kids that are coming from unstable environments and are often left alone to fend for themselves. They totally thrive on any attention & affection that I give to them. I am truly rewarded day in and day out teaching these children. Here are a few of my cuties...

 

Nothing like coming back from a break & having a fire-drill right off the bat! :)

 

I took pictures of my bug centers today, but I can't get them to rotate...they ALL want to load upside down. I will retake them tomorrow with my good camera & try to do a center post. I hope everyone had a great Monday!

 

Jen

All Good Things Must Come To An End :(

Well, it's official, my Spring Break is OVER...dead...gone...

I have been a very busy bee over the break and did manage to get a lot accomplished. In fact, I just posted my dinosaur unit on TPT. Take a look at it & let me know what you think. I think that it is my best yet. I always get excited about teaching dinosaurs because it is my last theme unit of the year. Is it just me, or are the school years starting to fly by quickly?! Maybe it is an age-thing...I don't know, but I feel like I just got this group of cuties and already it is time for me to teach them the graduation songs. Maybe it is because I have a totally awesome class this year & I don't want to start all over yet with a new bunch of monkeys!?!!

Anyway, I am going to jump back in there this week and teach about bugs! I am very excited to see them & get back to business for the last little bit of time I have with them!

I hope that everyone has a GREAT, SUPER, FANTASTIC week!!

Jen



Happy Saturday & A Freebie!

What's that you say??

 There are only 33 school days left in the year!

Holy Cow, where did the time go?

I am heading back to school on Monday after having a very relaxing 2 week Spring Break. I am a little bummed that testing starts at my school on Tuesday & that means no recess and no specials for us...yikes! In my class it means lots of movement & lots of craft activities to keep those little hands BUSY! What do you do when your class is on "testing lockdown"?

In other news...I have started making a dinosaur unit & wanted to share the love with you! I left suggestions on how to use the freebie, but I would love to know if you have any other ideas of how to use this center. I always love to hear new ways to freshen up my centers. Anyway...here is the freebie...go get that thing!

Happy Saturday!!

Jen

New Unit & A Freebie!

I am so excited that I have finished my Transportation Unit! It is packed with tons of great stuff ~ if I may say so myself...ha ha!!

So, here's the deal... I am going to give everyone a little freebie from this unit. The freebie will have a math activity & a literacy activity that you can print out and have easy peasy!  I know, awesome, right?! Well, what I need you to do to get this fun little freebie is simple...

1. Follow my TPT store

2. Follow my blog

3. Like me on Facebook

*Leave me a comment telling me that you got the work done & leave your email address so I can shoot the freebie to you! :)*

BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE....

The first 3 people that do the 3 steps above & also put this freebie on their blog will get the ENTIRE unit absolutely FREE!! That's right people, you can have this awesome unit for FREE! Just leave me the link to your blog post so I can check it out with my own two eyes!

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!!

Thank you everybody! TGIF!! I hope that everyone has excellent plans this weekend!

Jen

Whoa! Here is a GREAT giveaway!

Hop on over to Sheila's Sprinkle Teaching Magic blog & enter this awesome giveaway! Who couldn't use a $50 TPT gift card? There are 6 ways to get your name in the drawing~ she gives you tons of chances to win! So go there...now...hurry up!! Good Luck!!

http://sprinkleteachingmagic.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-did-you-say-50-gift-card-to-tpt.html

Things That Make Me Smile :)

Today I went back to my classroom to get things ready to go for next week (I've been out of school since Good Friday). I just smiled when I walked through the door & saw all the cute stuff that the kids had made before we left for break. 

Look at these sweet bunnies that they painted!

I LOVE these flowers! They are all so bright and cheery.

Here are our plant diagrams. I always love the way that these turn out. I'm sorry that it is so hard to read the labels.

This is from our seed study in science. They had to figure out which seed grew which plant. Don't you just love the drawings?!

I am sad that Spring Break is coming to an end for me, but I am excited to get back to my class & finish out a great year!
Next time I will post my center ideas for next week!

FREEBIE!!

I created this cutie-pie little freebie for all my new followers!
I love you all so much! :)

Feel free to share this fun little freebie with your blog world followers. I am trying to get 200 followers & then I am planning on another great giveaway!

If you do download it, please leave some feedback on TPT or a comment after this post. I would love to know what you think!

Enjoy!! :)



Whew...What a Great Week!

Hello Friends! I must say that this week in my blog world has been a busy one! I am so touched that I had so many sweet folks begin following my blog & TPT store. I have emailed tons of freebies from my Bug Unit! I hope that everyone liked it & found it to be useful in your classrooms. If you would like the entire literacy unit you can get it by clicking here and the math unit is here. Please leave feedback so I will know what you think of them!

Look at what my sweet friend Tammy did for me on her blog! http://teachertamseducationaladventures.blogspot.com/2012/04/check-out-this-great-new-blog.html Isn't she just the sweetest? Hop on over there & follow her blog too. She has tons of fabulous things for you there! Tell her I sent ya!

Have a super Saturday everyone!!

Please leave comments...I LOVE reading them!! Ya'll Rock!!(yes, I am from the south...if you haven't figured that out already!)

:)

Yay for Friday!

Happy Friday Everyone!

I have really been loving my Spring Break this week! Lucky for me, I have next week off too! YAY! I work in a year round school & we get some super nice breaks! :)

Okay, so, I am working on making some new math & literacy units & I was wondering what themes you sweet teachers would like to see. I know that my themes for the remainder of the year are...transportation, dinosaurs, ocean, Mom, bugs, & party time. Let me know what your units are so that I can make some super fun stuff! :)

Also, for some reason, I cannot read the comments past #220 to my buggy freebie post. So, if you left me a comment & didn't get the freebie in your email, that means that I cannot see it. PLEASE leave me a comment with this post & I will get the freebie to you. Remember that you have to follow my blog & TPT store to get the freebie. Don't forget to leave your email address in the post.

Have a happy weekend everyone! :) 

Facebook & a Freebie! YAY!

I did it! I made a Facebook page...please come over & "like" my page. I am really branching out! :) Here is the link...

https://www.facebook.com/#!/JensKinderKids

Plus, I made this cute little math set. Check it out, leave some feedback, and have a happy day! :)

Also, if you haven't already, don't forget to grab The Buggy Freebie by clicking here.

Please follow my blog, TPT store, & now my brand spankin' new Facebook page! Woo hoo!! :)

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at Kindergarten Blogs.

WOWZERS!!

100 Followers!!

I can't believe that I have made it to 100! I am super excited! I am on cloud 9...or should I say 100?!? I know, corny!! :) I feel so loved. Thank you to everyone that is on board with me! I am so excited to share my stuff with you. I LOVE teaching & creating new things to use with my students & to share with fellow teachers. I am learning so much and I can't wait to share it with blog world!

I am currently working on some math activities that can be used for assessments, warm up activities, morning math, or whatever works for your class. I am hoping to post them sometime tomorrow. Sorry to make you wait! :)

Have an awesome night everyone! 

Here's a great giveaway...

Nicole from Rowdy in Room 300 is having a super easy give away of her fabulous Year of Ten Frames pack. All you need to do is head over and follow her blog (which you should do anyway because it is great!) and leave a comment and she will send them to you. Blog about it and you she will throw in her Farming Unit!! Here's the link to the post :) Hurry it's only open until midnight!


http://rowdyinroom300.blogspot.com/2012/04/year-of-ten-frames-and-giveaway-where.html

Thanks ya'll!
Jen

A New Math Unit and a Little Freebie For You! :)

Yay! Here it is!

I finally finished the bug math unit. I hope that you like it! I know that I cannot wait to use it in my class when we go back to school. My kids are crazy over bugs! :)

Here is a little freebie just for you...

Let me know what you think!

Jen

I got tagged! :)

Wow! I've been tagged by Kaleigh's Klassroom
I am giddy! So here is the deal...

Here Are The Rules:

• Post these rules
• Answer the 10 questions that the tagger posted for you
• Create 10 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag
• Tag 10 people and link them with your post (and let them know they've been tagged)

Here are my questions from Kaleigh!

1. What grade(s) do you teach? Kindergarten

2. How long have you been teaching for? 8 years

3. What is your favorite subject/unit to teach? I love to teach writing & math

4. What classroom item could you NOT live without? I cannot live without my Lakeshore classroom rug! There is a square for everyone so we have no arguing over where to sit! It has been a lifesaver!!

5. How many students do you have in your class? I have 21 right now!

6. Can you post the link to your favorite TPT item? I absolutely LOVE Mrs. Wills' writing centers...here is a link for her April set~ http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Work-Station-for-April 

7. What is your favorite easy after school meal? We make a lot of spaghetti! It's quick & easy and I know all my kids will eat it!

8. What do you like to do other than teach and blog?! I play softball, read, hang with the fam, shop, & I'm getting ready to start training for a 5K.

9. What is your favorite teaching resource? Other teachers! I love all the creativity that I find from other teachers whether they are teachers at my school or blogworld teachers!

10. When is your summer vacation? (Mine's not until June 29th!) June 10th...woo hoo!!

Here are my questions for you!!

1. How long have you been blogging?

2. What is your favorite book?

3.Who is your favorite children's author?

4. Mountains or Beach?

5. What is your favorite number?

6. Who is one of your favorite teacher bloggers?

7. What is you favorite subject to teach?

8. How many kids are in your class?

9. Do you have a teacher assistant?

10. What is your favorite drink?

Here are the lucky one's that I am tagging...

1. Kreative in Kinder

2. First Grade Blue Skies

3. Growing Kinders

4. Teacher Tam

5. Miss Nguyens class

6. Math Coach's Corner

7. Ms Kerri and her krazy kindergarten

8. First Grade is Fantabulous

9. Apples and ABCs

10. A Teachers Touch

So there you have it...Have a great night everyone!!

I Feel The Love!!

Wow! I am so thrilled & honored that so many of you have stopped by my blog & TPT store and started following me! I had no idea how awesome blog world is. Everyone is so kind & super supportive!

I just started working on the buggy math unit. I will be posting a freebie from that unit as well, so make sure that you drop in and pick it up. I am thinking that I will get it on here for you tomorrow! (Fingers crossed) :)

Thank you all again for helping me to get started on this new adventure! If you left your blog in your comment I made sure that I popped over to it & followed you as well! I look forward to making some great stuff & having LOTS of freebies for you! Afterall, who doesn't LOVE a freebie?!?!

Buggy Freebie!!

A Great Bug Themed Freebie From This Unit Just For You!!

I just posted this unit to my TPT store & thought I would give you a little treat from the unit! :)

Plus, be on the look-out for the math unit to go along with this literacy unit.

Here is how you get it...

1. Follow My Blog.
2. Follow My TPT Store.
3. Leave a comment on this post with your email address so I can send your freebie!

Sounds simple enough, huh?!? I am so excited to be creating products to sell on TPT. Please let me know what you think. I welcome any comments/ suggestions. Please be nice! :) I also have another freebie for you in my TPT store...stop by and pick it up(and leave a little feedback)! Spread the word & tell all your friends!

Happy Teaching!

I selected this post to be featured on Kindergarten Blogs. Please visit the site and vote for my blog!

Freebie For You!

Don't forget to grab this freebie! You get this whole literacy unit for FREE! Please show me some love & follow my blog & my TPT store! Happy Friday!!



Spring Break is FINALLY here!!

It seems like it has taken forever to get here, but I am now off for 2 weeks! That's right, 2 weeks. I work in a year round school & it is awesome when the breaks come. I am planning on making some bug stuff to put on TPT. I am praying that I can get some followers to my store & to my blog, but I am not having any luck so far....
My principal announced today that we will definitely be losing ALL of our TA's & 4 teachers from our school. That is so sad and scary. I honestly don't know what any of us are going to do without an assistant...especially those of us that teach kindergarten. I am praying for a miracle!! I LOVE my TA and I am going to be heartbroken when she is gone!!!
So PLEASE follow my TPT store & tell all of your friends too! Help this newbie out & I will be glad to return the favor!!

Bad News :(

The school board in my county decided today that with the $10 million dollar deficit in the budget they were going to be making some job cuts. They announced that we will lose 56 teaching jobs & ALL of the teaching assistant positions! HOLY COW! And, if that wasn't enough, they also said that the class sizes will increase next year. WHAT?!?! I have 21 kinders now with a full time TA & we are skimming by. I cannot imagine having even more kids & no help at all. Who is going to help with behavior problems, potty accidents, stomach bugs, tying shoes, handing out tissues, putting on band aids, leading small goups, intervention...??? I am freaking out!! I am hoping that things will work out & some funds will open up so that these awesome TA's don't lose their jobs. I know that my TA is outstanding & it would be a crying shame to lose someone that is such an asset to our students!

I'm at it again...

I just finished another TPT activity.

I made these cute, little ocean vocabulary cards & some writing activities to go with them! Check them out in my TPT store. Click the link on the right or on the picture to go there!
Also, please, please, please follow my blog & my TPT store!! :)

Yay Me!! :)

Look what I did!! I am so excited that I have finished my first ever units to list on TPT!! Please click on the link on the right & go to my store! The literacy unit is completely free & the math unit is $3.00! Please take a look and tell me what you think about them. I can't wait to get started on some new stuff!

Zoo Fun!

Here are some of my literacy centers this week...

Pocket Chart Center

Listening Center

Matching Animals to their names

Phonics Center~ Matching monkeys to their tree by the blends sh-, ch- & wh-. Then they record their answers.

Making Words Center~ medial sound focus. They pick an animal & record the word on their belly under the correct vowel.

Labelling center~ Labelling parts of the giraffe

Writing Center~ They write a story about this monkey. This is part of our literacy program.