How I Line Up my Kinders + FREEBIE

Okay, once again, I've been a bad blogger, but to make it up for you I've place a new Freebie on TPT (for a limited time).

I've always assign my students a number based on my class roster. My students are required to line up alphabetically for lunch, and lets face it...it's a nightmare for the first few weeks in Kindergarten. To curb this problem, I created Ten Frame Number Cards, laminated and taped them to the floor. Each student also has a name tag with their name and corresponding number. They learn that that is their spot and there ins't any arguments for who is first. (I'll take pictures later.) It's also great for emergencies if students must immediately evacuate the classroom without chaos. We practice getting into our line spots the fastest and safest way before leaving the classroom. Within a few weeks, most of my students are able to tell me all of their friends numbers and place them in order. This year, I decided to make them into ten frames based on suggestions from colleagues. They will be listed as FREE on TPT for a week (until August 9). I'd appreciate it if you follow my TPT or blog and leave any feedback. Click on the picture below to be sent TPT.

Behavior Cards

One of my colleagues asked me to create behavior cards for her class. It's a great way to keep track of homework or behavior when students need immediate feedback. Click on the picture to download. 

OWL Gift Tags

I couldn't resist making these goody bags for my kids. The little owl candy bars are Hersey's Mini Assorted Chocolate bars wrapped up. The template for the Hersey Bars was made by Lisa Storms and says "Owl miss you" on the front, and "Have a great summer!" on the back. (I found her blog via Pinterest). You can give your students one Hersey's Owl Bar or put them in a snack bag with the topper. The topper can be found here. Hope you like it! 

It was o-FISH-ally great..Gift Tags

Sorry, I've been missing from Blogland (it's been hectic), but Im hoping to make it up with these little gift tags. I know most of you are already done with the school year (so jealous), I have 3 more weeks! Promise to blog more (especially on Common Core) over the summer. In addition to teaching Kindergarten, I also teach the GATE class (Gifted And Talented Education). It's a small class comprised grades 3-5. I thought it would be cute to make them these little gifts. The candies are Swedish Fish that I placed into snack sized zip lock bags.

If you would like a copy, click on the picture to get a generic tag: It was o-fish-ally great being your teacher.

Dr. Seuss Write the Room Freebie

I like the Write the Room from Can Do Kinders so much, I decided to make one with the lovable Thing 1 and Thing 2 themed clipart for March. Students practice counting from 11-20 and record their answer on the response sheet. Click here for the response sheet and here for the counting cards. Enjoy!

Subtraction Bowling

I recently went to the 99 Cent Store (yes, I know, a very dangerous place for teachers), but I found a cheap bowling set there! So I decided to make a bowling worksheet for a center. Students bowl and cross out how many pins they knock down. Then they count the remaining pins. Click on the picture to get a copy.

The Teacher's Pet

On an unrelated teacher side note: I just completed the Tinker Bell Half Marathon at Disneyland! Here's my puggie showing off my medal.

Cat in the Hat Sample

 I know Read Across America is in March, but I thought I would try to start making some of my own packets. Here is a sample of what I have done so far. There are two puzzles, a pattern worksheet, and a mat where students match CVC words to pictures. Click on the picture to download. If you download it, I would love some feedback/comments. Thanks!

Thinking Maps for Kinders

I wanted my little students to become familiar with the Thinking Maps we use in the classroom, so I made these mini-posters to help them. The purpose is to help them (eventually) choose which Thinking Map they should use and know how it helps them organize their thinking and writing. Note: There are 7 total I made. The circle map doesn't contain a 'Frame of Reference' since I found that the 'Frame of reference is always the same - family, teacher, school, etc. I also chose to use the word Venn Diagram in lieu of Double Bubble - personal pet peeve of mine when (might as well teach them correctly the first time, so they don't move on to middle school still calling it a Double Bubble).  Click on the picture above to download. The font wasn't coming out correctly on scrib, so if you want the pdf file directly, just send me an email/comment. Happy Thinking!

Pop ABC Words

Long ago I bought popcorn containers from the $1.00 section at Target (aah..love Target). I finally got around to making the 'popcorn.' Students will take turns picking a card and saying the letter. If they say it correctly, they get to keep the card. The goal is to get as many cards as possible, but if they pull out the 'Pop!' card, they must put all their cards back in and start again. When students know the letter names, they can say the sound too. Click on the picture to get a copy. If you download it, please leave a comment or follow me! ~ It makes me happy! :)

Visual Directions Icons

"Teacher! What do I do?" I'm tired of hearing this after I have given instructions..and it's not like I can say "read the directions" to a kindergartner. Then I saw these Visual Direction Icons from First Grade Factory and it was amazing. My kids can now tell me what to do when I place the icons on the board. I added a few more to suit my classroom needs (glue bottle, mailbox - where they place their classwork, and 2 activities to do when they are done).

VisualDirectionsIconsTrinh

High Frequency Word Cards

If you are working with CA Treasure then you know that they have these gigantic High Frequency Word Cards that takes up space. It's basically a large white card with a little word in the middle, so I retyped it so it can fit inside a pocket chart (without falling out), make it into printable rings for each student, and place it on the word wall. The cards with stars are the words directly from Treasure Kindergarten. I plan on adding color words and more HFW later. If you want me to add more words, let me know.

TreasureSightWordsKindergartenTrinhv2

Here is the original floor cards I made with dots instead of pictures (I changed it to the pictures to make it easier for the student to recognize which card belongs to them). I will use these cards as math centers where they can put the cards in order, group by colors, odd/even numbers..etc. I got the polk-a-dot border from Karen Cox. Click here for your free version.

Polka Dot Numbers

Picture Floor Mats

I was inspired by Pinterest (aren't we all) to make this for my class. I thought it would be a great way to teach the little ones about numbers and counting all year long AND help with class management (they will be assigned a number). Their number is based on their last name, so it helps with lunch as well.  Here my first official sharing file! Hope you like it. Please leave a comment if you download it.

Floor Label Numbers Pictures