Start Off The Year With Super Readers!

I know, I know we spend most of our summers thinking about the new school year ahead.  I love this time of year with a clean slate, my cabinets organized(not all of them), and that same thought I have every summer, "This year I am going to be more organized and get everything done!"  Well June comes along and that is not always the case.  My cabinets are a complete mess, drawers are bustling at the seams, and NO! I did not get everything done that I wanted to!  Does this happen to you?

Looking at the year ahead, this summer I attended for the first time the TPT conference in Vegas!  I came home inspired, in awww of how amazing teachers across the nation are, and ready to work.  I am not really new to TPT, only 4 items in my store, but something was missing?  The pieces of the puzzle were not coming together until I went to this conference.  I learned so much and I returned on that flight home with a completed puzzle in my head.  It all makes sense now!  Most will think WOW! how did you not know this, but I am hoping I will bring sense to those like me.....

EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED AND YOU NEED EVERY OUNCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY!

What do I mean by this?  I have Instagram, Facebook, Bloglovin, Pinterest, this Blog you name it!  But my problem was I was using my social media to BROWSE.  Instead social media is what it is, SOCIAL!  

You have to participate and be social to get your followers and share your creativity.  So here I go and I am hoping someone is out there reading this and feeling like me?  

While I was in Vegas I learned so much on how to create a Powerpoint product.  I am happy to say that this new unit is completely different than my other products. I am hoping you will use it and be just as excited as I am about it.

   SO GET YOUR SUPERPOWERS ON!

Every classroom needs that magical mask and wand to create  SUPERPOWERS!  I found mine at Party America.  I even purchased a cape too for my kiddos to wear.  When I introduce my 7 SuperPower Heroes this new school year to my kiddos I will definitely be wearing this!  Then my kiddos will get a chance to become a SuperReader too!

Good SUPER readers use reading strategies to make sense of text. Our goal as teachers is teach students to become purposeful, active readers who are in control of their own reading comprehension.  These 7 Super Reading Heroes will do just that!

This Super Reader unit includes:

*What Is Your Reading Superpower Anchor Chart

*7 Super Hero Anchor Charts 

*Super Reader Folder Activity 

*Super Reader Comprehension Sticks

*STAMINA Anchor Chart

*STAMINA Class Goal Chart

*Daily Super Hero Reading Logs

Checkout This Preview and Visit my TPT Store:

Super Readers!

I would love to hear your feedback because like all teachers we are learning together!

Sherry

How To Writing

Using mentor texts is important in teaching How To writing.  Throughout many lessons, I used mentor texts to help guide my instruction.  Together as a class, we found many examples such as BOLD words, listing the items you need, or giving warnings or hints to the reader.  My students became experts in using the mentor texts during the writing time.  I would set out all the texts on a table and students would visit the table to help them with their writing ideas.

Zev looking at mentor text How To Make a Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich.

This anchor chart guided the students to include the following in their How To Writing:

• A Title
• Pictures that teach
• List of things you need
• Labels
• Important information in BOLD
• Warning or advice to the reader

We also learned how to use transition words in our How To Writing.  I made these BOLD, large cards and we practiced putting them in the correct order.  Then I place the transition words in the student's writing area to for my students to have as a support.  

 Emily is writing how to make lemonade.  She is using her writing tools such as her black pen, spacer, date stamp, ABC chart and vowel chart to guide her in her writing.

Madeline is making an ice cream sundae!

Writers label their pictures to tell the reader what items they need for their How To.

I am finding as I get more acquainted with Writer's Workshop that the more creative I get with my lessons the better it comes across to my students.  For example, in my labeling lesson I gave every student a post it note and had them go back to their desk and write a label for me!  One by one they came up and stuck their label on me.  They started to giggle and they enjoyed seeing their teacher covered in labels.  As you can see above, this lesson stuck with them!

November in review.

Take a look at the fun things happening in kindergarten in the month of November!

Personalize a newsletter

Daily 5 Looking Alive!

I love the end of September because as a teacher you take a deep breath and know you are on your way!  Routines are set, a few minor adjustments, and you know learning is now happening.

     Our Daily 5 routine is all set!  Here is a quick peek at my kinders practicing Daily

5.

Listening to Reading:  found these great carriers at Big Lots.  Each one has two books, a response page to complete, an  I Touch and a cute soft pouch to protect my precious technology.

Work on Writing:  my kiddos work in their handwriting books for their must do and then they explore my writing center.

Abundance of writing materials!  

Word Work:  we practice our sight words at this center.  Here my kiddos are completing their sight word book for I.

After their must do is complete they explore the magnetic letters.  Look they are sorting by letters!

ABC Center:  After completing their Rainbow Letter books my kiddos play with my flannel boards.  I just purchased this tabletop flannel board from Lakeshore.  I absolutely love it!  In Las Vegas this summer at the kindergarten conference I purchased several flannel stories.  Here my kiddos are retelling Brown Bear.

More flannel board fun!

Reading to Self:  check out my reader in our classroom library!

Technology:  I introduced the Magnetic Letter app.  Easy to use for my super smart kinders!

     Beginning next week I will begin guided reading with my kiddos!  It's going to be a great year!

Vegas Top 10!

Back from Vegas with so much to share.  Ok now this was my first time attending the conference and oh my gosh, it was unbelievable!  I did not miss one session, my notebook is filled with incredible ideas, quotes, crafts, you name it!  I met so many talented teachers, and it made me proud to be part of an amazing profession.  So...I wish I could share my whole entire notebook with you but instead I decided to list my TOP 10!  

When I went back through my notes these are the things that had extra stars all around them.  Some simple, and some I was jumping out of my chair when I heard how simple teaching life can be.  So sit back, and please let me know what you think because it means a lot when I hear your comments really...it means a lot.

10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1,HERE WE GO!

During the conference I made a list of things to do to make sure I did not forget.  Now I have a checklist for summer to find those one of a kind items!

This is so true.  The minute your kiddos and parents walk through your classroom door they have an impression of what kind of teacher you are going to be.  So make that first impression a lasting one.  You can create an inviting environment that engages both your new kiddo and their parents with scavenger hunts, a photo booth, and a little treat to bring home.

I always try to teach too many games...too confusing.  Start the school year with one game and teach it good!  Then add a few more.  As the months change you can add seasonal items to the game.

Kim Adsit showed us this and I has one of those teacher moments where I looked like I won the lottery....how simple and easy.  Books are easy to flip through and students can access CD's right there to listen to the book.

Every speaker said this!  Kids need change.  Yes I know this takes a lot of time and effort but it's worth it.  It goes along with the idea of teaching the same game but using different game pieces to change it up.  Go to the dollar store and find those magical treasures that will excite your kiddos to learn.

I was making my anchor charts over every single year.  Now we all know that is very time consuming.  "The Reveal," will change your life....

I am changing my classroom to a chalkboard theme this year so I was excited to hear this simple fact.  I LOVE when I learn those inside teacher secrets!

Of course we all know that kiddos need everything in their little kinder world to make sense well, THIS MAKES SENSE!  We don't want sick markers....

Start with the positive always.  Make that summer visit or phone call that can make the difference in your school year.  Make the effort to send that friendly email to parents when something good happens instead of always focusing on the bad.

Don't, and I mean don't let teachers or parents tell you that you do all the "cute" projects with no meaning.  You can even address this at Back To School Night to explain to parents the learning that is involved in your projects.

If you have any questions about my TOP 10 just leave me a comment and I am happy to elaborate to help you get started.  Start saving for next year because Vegas is not to be missed!

3 MILLION TEACHERS STRONG SALE

Teachers Pay Teachers has hit a milestone!  3 MILLION TEACHERS STRONG!  Teachers all across the nation are sharing their creative ideas and now you can join in on the fun!  In honor of teachers I am hosting a sale on my first 3 products.  Don't miss out on a great sale 2 days only, February 27th and 28th.

STEM Ice House Challenge

My second product is here!  This is my first STEM challenge that I am so excited to introduce.  STEM is integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in daily instruction.  I did this activity with my kinders last year and it was so exciting to see the learning happen naturally.  Students build an ice house that will prevent an ice cube from melting.  We complete the experiment together as a class.  Check out this blog post from last January!

Ice House STEM Challenge 2013

Now that I am beginning to make my own products on Teachers Pay Teachers, I spent my winter break creating this and I can't wait to use it with my kinders this month.  It includes a parent letter to send home, a writing page for students to write about their ice house, and a class graph to keep track of the BIG class experiment!  Check this out on Teachers Pay Teachers!

Ice House STEM Challenge 2014

I hope you like it and please let me know your thoughts and suggestions because I am learning every day.