The Pencil Hospital

I had this great idea a few weeks ago to post a "Tuesday Tip."

Whelp, it's Wednesday.

Luckily, I operate under the "better late than never" mantra!  So, without further ado, the Tuesday Tip!



Ta-da!

The Pencil Hospital.  If your pencil breaks, take it to the hospital, borrow from me.  If you need an eraser put on your pencil, put it in the hospital, borrow from me.  Your pencil needs "sharped" (why do they always say that?), admit it to the hospital and borrow from me.

No more interruptions and they always* have the tools they need.  I sharpen them and put them back in their pencil boxes when I have a chance.  Easy Peasy!

Enjoy,
Amanda

* Usually.  There is no such thing as always in Kindergarten. ;)

I See Colors

Last Thursday we finished up our "I See Colors" book.   It follows our colors unit where we have a color of the day. This is my phase two of the Writer's Workshop before I do a true Writer's Workshop.    It has a lot of scaffolding and support and I really focus on sounding out words.

I start by modeling with my own "I see red" page.  Together we come up with things that are red.  I draw them and we work together to sound out the words.  Then the students create one.

 Then I gradually take out the words in the sentence.  They get so tickled each time I take out a word and just about lose it when they find the blank paper in the Writing Center.  It's the little things. :)

I love that they can all do this independently at their own level.  Some kids will draw an apple and write "a" while others can write "apl" and still others will record "apple."  The very best part is that each day is a fresh page and they don't have to go back and reread or remember what they wrote yesterday.  They aren't frustrated and discouraged when their writing isn't "real" writing.

This week I started following Lucy Calkin's guide for her Writer's Workshop and it is going beautifully!  Thank you scaffolding!

Happy Writing!
Amanda

"Falling" In Love With Math Centers

I LOVE the season of fall!  I love the temperature, I love the smell, I love the pumpkin and apple flavors in everything (is pumpkin in more things than usual this year?) and most of all I love the colors!  My husband and I were planning a fall getaway and when he asked me where I wanted to go, I answered, "Somewhere where I can enjoy the fall colors."  We just got back from our getaway and I am thoroughly satisfied by the fall colors.  I think he was thoroughly satisfied by the number of times he was able to tease me about my request.

But back to Kindergarten (literally, tomorrow, back to Kindergarten!).  I am really, really enjoying our math centers and my little sweeties are able to work them independently now so I can work with small groups.   It's always amazing to work with small groups because not only do you help them understand a concept better, but you really get to know your students better.  We were kind of in-between themes when I needed a change in my math centers, so I made a few fall-themed centers; why not?

Fall Leaf Memory.  Match the number of leaves to the number on the card.  Also working on that subitizing!

Spin and write.  Spin the spinner, count the leaves, write on recording sheet.  See which number makes it to the end first!

Finish the pattern, pick two patterns to record on a recording sheet.

Playing Candy Count on the iPad.  We LOVE this game, even though it's a little easy.  It asks them to sort the candy by color, counts with them, and asks questions about greatest and least.  And yes, the boxes are still ugly.  Any suggestions on how to cuten them up?

You are more than welcome to use these centers for the fabulous price of free!  Simply download them by clicking here for my TeachersPayTeachers page or here for Teacher's Notebook.  The centers practice patterning (which I know is not in the Core, but I still think it's important!) and the numbers 6-10.

Happy Fall!
Amanda