Happy New Year's Eve 2015! I don't know about you, but 2015 was CrAzY for us in The Amoson House. We thought we knew how 2015 was going to go... but we actually went on a wild ride. I changed schools and therefore my job has changed a lot. Here I am with the U-Haul moving my classroom. And here is the U-Haul which is very full. But here is how organized all my things actually … [Read more...]
Easy Prep Sight Word Game
Let me show you a fun sight word game. Looking for some new or different ways to make SIGHT WORDS FUN in your classroom? Sight Words are a huge part of most kindergarten programs. We Make Learning Fun! But how do we get our students to their sight word goal? We make learning FUN. Let me introduce you to an engaging, personal goal setting, wiggle approved way to practice, review, and assess sight … [Read more...]
Why Do I “Daily 5”
Why Do I Daily 5? There are so many good ways, if not great ways, to teach reading skills to little ones. When I was fresh out of college, I had no clue how to actually teach little ones to read. My first year in K was an eye opener. Teaching reading skills to little ones is a HUGE component of kindergarten. Ideally, we want to teach our students a love of reading and a passion to read … [Read more...]
Daily 5 Necklaces
You asked... you guys wanted to know about my idea to use self management necklaces. This is a management tool I give my students to empower them to take ownership of their learning during literacy time. Game on. This idea is a good one. It is working wonderfully with my class. First, how do I use a classroom management necklace? I use these self management necklaces for free choices in … [Read more...]
Daily 5 {Update} Choice Board
October is here... and so is choice board time for our Daily 5 time. I spend the first chunk of time teaching my class in small groups. We talk about how to move from group to group. Then, we work on learning how to completely activities independently. We learn how to learn. Slowly I give them a little less play and a lot more routines. I feel them out and learn what they need … [Read more...]
Read to Self Progress
I think I am beginning to see the light... we are making READ TO SELF progress... Last week, we read to ourselves for 5 minutes... TWICE! WOO HOO. Here is the online counter I used to track time. http://www.online-stopwatch.com/countdown-timer/ I had to snap a quick pic as I was "reading" If You Give a Cat a Cupcake myself.... so I didn't take the pic at 5 minutes.... What has … [Read more...]
The Daily 5 Book Study {Chapter 9}
Hello Daily 5 fans! Now that the FL gals are back from Vegas, we are ready to proceed with our book study. This week we are diving into... Sadly this is the last chapter of the book and hence the last chapter in our book study. This chapter discusses ways to ultize parent volunteers, guests, new students, and those challenging students we all have. {Aren't those the "friends" we … [Read more...]
The Daily 5 Second Edition {Chapter 8}
This is THE chapter I couldn't wait to get to. I mean, if we are training our little ones to be independent during reading, why not during math as well? Math is the KEY time to practice and work. I know I personally NEED to practice math skills many times to master them. {Flashback to Calculus in High School. I knew I was the dumbest person in the room... BUT I had to get the ideas … [Read more...]
Chapter 7 {The Daily 5 Book Study: Second Edition}
Hi Sweet Daily 5 Loving friends... Let's get ready for the next chapter in this book study. Side note: I am working on the Mac today... so bare with me. Learning curve... This is hard... I am not a fan of a Mac computer, but I am learning. This chapter helps guide teachers to learn when they should launch an additional choice fort Daily 5. This can be … [Read more...]
Chapters 5 & 6 {The Daily 5 Book Study:The Second Edition}
Today we get to talk about the next two chapters in our Daily 5 book study. I am slightly late in the game, so I didn't elaborate too much... Whenever you start Daily 5, you start by teaching your students HOW to read to themselves. Without the ability to read to themselves with stamina, the system does not work as strong. "Teaching children how to read on their own for extended periods … [Read more...]
Chapter 3 & 4 {The Daily 5 Book Study: Second Edition}
Welcome to the next step in our Daily 5 Book Study. This amazing book study is hosted by favorite gals at Freebilicious and focuses on the book The Daily 5: Second Edition {Some people have asked if this book is worth purchasing if you already have the first. My opinion is YES! And if you have never read either book, this book is complete on its own.} And if you missed last … [Read more...]
The Daily 5 {Second Edition}
Do you have your book? {If not click on this picture or here to get it asap!} Do you have the desire to make changes to make your classroom's literacy to make your students responsible for their learning? Do you want to teach your students to read not monitor behaviors? Do you want procedures and routines in place to make your students better learners and better readers?? I do! And … [Read more...]