Let's talk about some play ideas for Kindergarten. Whether you are looking for some rainy day activities or some hands-on materials to allow your students to interact with each other; we have some ideas for you. Play Ideas for Kindergarten Somehow over the evolution of Kindergarten, the word "play" has become a bad word in some schools. Some of you may not be able to "play" in your … [Read more...]
How to Reset a Kindergarten Classroom
What to see how easy a classroom reset can be in Kindergarten? Each year I have to do a classroom reset. My Kindergarten Classroom has tile floors which means we each year I have to clean up my classroom to get all the items off the floor. It is a pain, but also a time to clean up and purge items that build up. I try to keep as many items in my classroom as possible, to make the reset easier. … [Read more...]
Sharing Kindergarten Class Tour 2016-2017
Welcome to Sharing Kindergarten Class Tour 2016-2017. This is my first year in this classroom after moving to the school. It is a work in progress and it is constantly evolving. I have find, acquired, and grabbed up many classroom items over the past 12 years which helped me to create the classroom I desired. Where Did It Start? Here is a view of the classroom when I entered it to begin moving … [Read more...]
Save Your Sanity! How to Use Class Dojo to Redeem Points
Guess what I don't have? Time to waste in the classroom tracking everyone's behavior and to be constantly rewarding those who are on track doing the wrong thing! Nor do I have time to constantly be correcting behaviors we don't want to see. Time is the enemy and I think I show you how Class Dojo can be your BFF. Class Dojo is an free app many teachers use to assist build and maintain a classroom … [Read more...]
Going From One to 1:1 in Kindergarten: Part 2
Going to One to 1:1: Part 2 is the second installment of my technology journey. At this stage, I am sitting pretty with a few iPads for my classroom. Things are going smoothly, but there is still so much to learn and management issues to solve. (You can read about Part 1 here.) Adding to Technology I was able to add my first school funded device with Teacher of the Year funds. This is a humorous … [Read more...]
Going From One to 1:1 in Kindergarten: Part 1
Every teacher travels a different road when it comes to their technology journey. I am going to share with my technology journey that started with one iPad and grew to 1:1 devices this school year. This is the first part of my journey. I got my first iPad several years ago as a gift from my spouse as an expensive back to school gift. I was blown away by it and what opportunities it held. Yes, I … [Read more...]
Classroom Reveal from Sharing Kindergarten
Welcome to my classroom reveal. My second home is my classroom. It is my happy place. This classroom isn't perfect, but it was created by me! This reveal occurred when I switched school and had to move and redo everything. Classroom Goal But more importantly is what my classroom is to my students. First, I want this place to be their second home. Secondly, I need it to be their happy place. … [Read more...]
Classroom Help! What To Do?
Classroom Help! What to do? Guys. I NEED your help. I need your creative minds. I need your years of problem solving and out of the box thinking. I Need Help! Look at the panoramic view of my NEW classroom. I am SO SO SO excited to get a beautiful, bare, clean slate to start to transform. I am beyond blessed to dive into this space and make it my dream classroom. BUT. {Isn't there always … [Read more...]
Kindergarten Daily Schedule
You guys asked for a peek into a Kindergarten daily schedule. So, as always, I am here to help you take that peek into my classroom schedule. Here is a glimpse into my Kindergarten Daily Schedule. Kindergarten Daily Schedule My schedule doesn't always look exactly like this. I check out the services any and all my students will be receiving each year. Then I make adjustments based on their … [Read more...]
Moving Your Classroom
Anyone moving their classrooms this summer? School getting renovated or the floors getting waxed? Changing classrooms? Or changing schools? A few years ago my whole classroom had to be moved and placed in the gym for storage while our school was renovated. But my “stuff” was in a section along with 40 other teacher’s stuff. Materials did get mixed up. Problems occurred. I learned a few … [Read more...]
Colored Baggies… Oh My!
Are you seeing this picture correctly? They make COLORED BAGGIES? Yeah buddy. A wonderful parent brought a pack to school last year for their student's school supplies. When we opened the box, my assistant was like... "Mary, have you seen this?" If you know me you know I have this "thing" for color coding everything. So this was huge news. Well, I have been looking for them and looking … [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...]