My Science Journal: Polar Animals

Busy, busy, busy! I am headed to San Diego this week for training, so I am trying to cram in as much new stuff as I can before I leave. Awhile ago I began my new My Science Journal: Polar Animals and Rainforest. I have finally finished my polar animal journal (which is funny, because it is SUMMER!) But, oh well! Better late than never! Take a look!

I will be adding my rainforest unit soon. I just need to make the monkey!

Shape Unit Update!

I have updated My Kindergarten Shapes unit. I have added a few new pages for star, heart and triangle. If you have already purchased the unit, please download the updated version. If not, go check it out!

The Behavior Contract

The Behavior Contract

We all  need one. Adults and students alike. This contract is something I give out at the beginning of the year to students and parents. I give this out at our Kindergarten Meet and Greet. Parents will go over the behavior expectations for my class and will sign the contract along with their child. I save these contracts and will pull them out if needed for various reasons. Sometimes it is just a reminder to students that they promised to follow the rules. Sometimes it is for SSTs or IEPs. Either way, this is something that my Kindergarten team uses to make a clear statement on classroom expectations. Please click here is you would like an editable copy. And here if you would like it in PDF. This contract is in both English and Spanish. :)

FREEBIE Behavior Notes

Here is a freebie that I get asked about all the time. These are my Behavior Notes that get sent home with students at the end of the day. These notes are in my Behavior Calendars that I will be updating by the end of the month.

Editable Stamp It Page

Hi everyone,
I am trying to finally catch up on all of my TpT questions and requests. I apologize for my serious lack of timeliness. The end of the year just got away from me. One of the requests I had was to put an editable version of my Sight Word Stamp It! page. So, here it is!

To edit this page you will need to download the tracing font onto your computer. The font is

KG Primary Dots.

Download this font and then open the file. There will be an install button at the top left. Install this BEFORE you open the stamp it page file. Once it is installed you should have no problem editing the words so that they match what you are working on. Hope this helps!

Parent-Teacher Communication

Yes, it is important. Very, very, very important. We know this, we do this, we don't record this. Ok, maybe we do, but I know I have a problem with consistent documentation. This is something I have come to terms with and trying to remedy. I am a digital person. I cannot do the binder, the index cards, the notepad. I need something digital that is with me when I need it.

This year I will be doing all of my communication logging on an excel spreadsheet. This will allow me access to it at any time, and it can be sent to others who may need it (principal, RSP teachers, counselors, etc.).
I got this wonderful idea from Teacher Karma on TpT. I created my own editable version of it, so that I can use this digitally. If you would like the PDF copy that Teacher Karma provides, click here. I thought it would be nice to share this log so here it is!

This is an editable version that can altered in anyway you need. Just remember that when you want to add multiple students you will need to add another sheet at the bottom. Each child will have their own sheet.
Steps to add a sheet:
1. Right click the arrow in the top left corner of the spreadsheet.
2. Copy
3. At the bottom of the screen you will see Sheet 1. Click the + and another sheet will appear.
4. Right click the arrow in the top left of the spreadsheet.
5. Paste
6. You have created a new tab. Repeat this for as many students as you have.
7. Once you have enough sheets, right click the tab and click rename. You can add each child's name to that tab so that you can find them easier.

Any way that we can make our days easier is something I am all for. Between the planning and the teaching and all of the extra stuff that no non-teacher person even knows goes on in a Kindergarten classroom, I need to know that I can keep myself organized. 

Core Words Centers

Creating a classroom that is excited and engaged in sight word work might be a little rough at first. My Kindergarten students come in my room fairly confident in their ABC knowledge and some know the sounds that go with these letters. But, then I start throwing words at them and asking them to remember how to read them!! Am I crazy?! Not really.

Getting students to understand what reading is is our job as early childhood educators. We introduce kids into the world of letters and words and stories. By exposing students to sight words early, we are creating an interest in words when their minds are still learning about what reading is. I never want my students to think that anything is too hard for them. What I want is for them to know that there is a big world of learning out there and I want to share it with them.

I will be posting a paper soon on sight word education, but thought I would share my Core Word Centers first. These center activities match my Sight Word Lists in my Kindergarten Core Sight Words unit on TpT. The Core Words unit is my FREE unit, so please stop by and take a took at it. During the Core Words unit, which takes place in the first quarter of Kindergarten, students will learn 3 new words a week. These centers will use those new words and review the old with fun games and activities. Take a look:

 Letter/Word Sort

Color Match

 Picture Match

 Can You Find? Word Hunt

 Roll and Write

 Posters for every week

Spin and Color

This unit also includes play dough mats for every word and Sight Word Uno.