The New Normal

So, it's Friday, day 3 of kindergarten.  We have officially finished our first week.  

It's time for REAL talk!  As you all know I have been SO excited to go back.  But today I was discouraged.  After school I was struggling.  This new normal is hard to grasp.  Maybe it's just me but I was drained, defeated, and feeling a little sad.  

I wallowed, I grumbled, and you know what - I vented (Sorry Craig).    It's just hard!  I dug a hole of pity for about an hour, and then I put on my big girl pants, and started counting my blessings.  

So when these thoughts start overcoming you (and they might, and it might be more than once) remember...

1.  Your students are SO happy to see you!

2.  They need you!  

3.  You are a teacher, a superhero.

4.  To those kiddos you may be there one and only constant. 

I looked back on my day and this is what makes me realize it is ALL worth it...

During our morning greeting, "I am so excited to be back here with you, I LOVE school!"

"I love your class!"

"I like being here"

"Your room is so much fun!" 

Hearing all of the laughter and seeing smiles on the playground.  

The countless stories that made me laugh!  (Oh how I have missed the world of kindergarten!)

So today, after all of my self doubt and my questioning.  I am counting my blessings.  I am thanking God for giving me this gift, and for giving me the opportunity to experience pure joy through the eyes of five year olds!  So next time my thoughts get me down I need to remember - I am exactly where I am meant to be and so are you!   Tonight all over the world students are talking about how much fun they had today at school and that is a reason to celebrate!  

All the feels...

As teachers, I am sure that you are experiencing lots of feelings right now.  This year is going to be like no other year that we have had.  After 13 years as a kindergarten teacher, I have experienced a lot.  Every year is different and sometimes that's a good thing!  😉  We are so lucky to get to start fresh every 180 days!  Every year we get the opportunity to make a difference, bring joy to our students, give them a safe place, and share our love.

With all of the things happening this year and with all of the unknowns, this is the one constant.  This is what I am so excited for!  This is our chance, our chance to shine for our students.  Like every year we are blessed to have the opportunity to make a difference, to bring joy to our students and don't forget our colleagues!  This is our chance to be a constant in an ever changing world, a world with a lot of unknowns.

I have been asked by lots of people how I feel about all of the changes and my answer is always the same.  As teacher, I am going to follow all of the guidelines that I am given, and do my best to be the Mrs. Gardner that I have always been.   I will do what I can to make learning fun and engaging!  I will do whatever it takes and then I will do even more.  Why?   My students deserve it!  That is what I have always done and what I will always do!  Teaching is my passion and I am going to give it 110% and then a little more because that is what it takes!   Despite all of all the changes, that is the one thing that will never change!

Behavior Bots canTransform your Classroom!

Wow!  It has been a long time since I have blogged!!!!  So I wanted to share a teacher tip of something I tried today in my classroom.  

Before I do that I wanted to take a little time to let you know about me!  I am Melissa, and I have taught kindergarten for 12 years!  For the last 11 years I have been in the same school/same classroom.  This past year I took a leap of faith, I prayed, I listened, I packed up, and moved to a new school.  I knew that God would place me just where he wanted me - and he did!  I love my new school, my new classroom, my new school family, and my new students.  I am still working for the same great corporation just a different elementary school.  I love everything about kindergarten!  I love building relationships, doing classroom transformations, trying new things, being silly, and just loving on my kiddos.  

I like to joke that kindergarten is the best grade EVER - so I never leave!  If you are a kindergarten teacher you will totally agree - but don't get me wrong...I like to compare the first few weeks of kindergarten to childbirth you always forget how hard it is but in the end it is so worth it!  Or if you haven't experienced child birth...it's like getting a brand new puppy, you forget about the accidents, the whining and barking all night, the chewing up your favorite shoes, scratching your favorite coffee table - you just forget how hard it is!  If you haven't experienced any of these things just trust me it is hard!   

What you think kindergarten is like the first few weeks:

What it is REALLY like! 

Okay all joking aside...I am past the first week so I am feeling pretty good! 

Behavior Management

Teacher Tip:

So I have implemented my behavior management plan (I use warm fuzzies-thanks @seusstasticteacher for this idea), I have modeled, modeled, modeled procedures, we have discussed rules, I have modeled, modeled, AND modeled procedures and I still have those few kids who just aren't getting it.  (Let me say I HAVE AN AMAZING class, there are just a few kiddos who need a little more incentive.  Ultimately I want them to not only be successful in my classroom but I want them to feel successful).  

So this morning,  yes this morning while drinking my coffee, I was looking up ideas to help these few kiddos get on board.  I looked on Pinterest, you tube, I googled.   I found lots of amazing ideas but mostly whole class ideas.  I didn't want whole class ideas I wanted something simple, easy, and manageable that would help my students feel successful.  That is when it came to me!  (by this time I should have been in the shower...but great ideas don't come on schedule...haha!) 

Introducing...(drum roll please)...Behavior Bots!  

Looks simple, huh?  Well it is!  It is super simple and my students loved them!  Guess what... they worked like a charm!  Just like I was hoping! 

So what exactly are Behavior Bots?  

Only the easiest behavior management plan EVER...okay maybe not ever but I did think of it this morning, created it, put it together, and implemented it all in the same day.  So I would say that is pretty easy.  

Basically it is a paper with four gears (more or less depending on the need) and four robots.  The robots are attached with velcro.  Before each chunk of classroom time, arrival/morning circle, reading, lunch/recess, math, etc. (you get to pick the length of time), the student will start out with all of the robots.  If they blurt out, get out of their seat, argue, talk to their friends, distract classmates, have their hands on another student (you pick the targeted behavior that you are trying to eliminate), they loose a robot.  They continue to loose robots if they continue with the undesired behavior.   If they have at least one robot at the end of the designate chunk of time they get a positive reward.  In my class it is a warm fuzzy.  If they loose all of the robots we discuss why they lost them and how they can make better choices.  After every chunk of time we start fresh will all the robots.

I started with four robots because I felt that was a good starting point for my students.  Guess what they were successful!  They didn't earn a fuzzy every time but they knew why they struggled and how to do better.  (They did get them more than they didn't).  It was visual and instant to help them understand desired behaviors.  But MOST importantly the FELT success!  When my students feel success I feel success.  I know tomorrow may not be as easy as today but we are learning, we are kindergarteners, and we are going to feel success!  

If you are interested in Behavior Bots you can check them out in my TPT store at this link:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Bots-4791368

5 Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate STEM activity

I love trying to incorporate STEM activities or any type of hands on learning in my lessons.  Bonus if it is a simple activity that doesn't take too much much additional planning, work, or extra supplies.  

This week was a long week at school!  We had two late nights of parent teacher conferences, the 50th day of school,  followed by grandparents day,  all on the final week before Fall Break!  Although I was exhausted I still wanted to make it a fun week for my kindergarteners!  

So now to the simple yet engaging STEM activity!  We read the story 5 Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate to help set the stage for the challenge.   One of the things that I have learned when doing STEM activities is that they don't have to be extreme they can be simple...the most important thing is that the kids are engaged, using critical and creative thinking skills, and exploring.  

I then told the students that they had a challenge that they needed to complete.  They had to come up with a plan to create a gate for the pumpkins.  I used items from my classroom.  The only thing that had to be purchased were the pumpkin candies.  

I put the students in groups and had them discuss a plan with each other.  Once they had a plan in mind I gave them blank piece of paper and had them draw out their plan.  Once their plan was drawn they could get their supplies and begin building their gates.  

This is the first STEM activity that I have done with this kindergarten class this year and I was truly impressed!  They loved it.  All you could hear in my classroom were truly engaged students sharing ideas with each other, testing out plans, and recreating gates, until they built one that worked.  A few of my students decided to try a few different plans to see if they could make multiple types of gates.  I loved the seeing the different ideas and how their little engineer minds worked.  I was impressed with the different creations.  Here are some pictures from this STEM activity.

The Planning

The Creating

The Finished Product

The one thing to always remember when planning STEM activities, you can use items you already have.  Let the your students take the lead, let their minds be creative and lead the way.  You will be amazed with what they come up with.  When explaining this challenge I didn't give a lot of direction... I just let their creativity take the lead!

Brighten up your Cold, Rainy Spring with these easy and fun stations!

One of the things that I have learned as a teacher is that differentiating and making stations engaging doesn't have to be difficult!  I little creativity goes a long way!  

Here are a few fun spring activities that I used in my classroom!

First, with St. Patricks Day just around the corner here is a fun activity for your kiddos!  I like to have a little fun with that sneaky leprechaun in my kindergarten class.  We used to always come back from lunch to a messy classroom with a note that sent us on scavenger hunt to find hidden treasure!  My students loved this, but I decided to take it a step farther and do a Leprechaun Break Out!  I did this last year and it was a HUGE hit!  

The big idea...

The Leprechaun leaves a note giving us 3 challenges.  Once each challenge is complete we get a key that unlocks a magic clue.  After all three challenges are complete we get a final key to unlock the final clue.  This clue is a riddle that leads us to the treasure!  You can check it out here.  

Leprechaun Breakout

Scrambled Eggs 

This is not my original idea but it is one of my favorites!  

Supplies 

-plastic easter eggs

-letter tiles

-recording sheet

I use 12 eggs and pick 12 popcorn (sight) words.

I write the numbers 1 - 12 on the eggs with black sharpie. 

I put the tiles for each word in one egg and fill an Easter Basket with the eggs.  

Students grab an egg, crack it open, and unscramble the tiles to make a popcorn word.  

Then they close the egg, grab another, and do it again.  They do this until they have figured out all 12 words.  

Differentiation 

For my higher kids they work on this independently.  

For kids who need more assistance you can give them a list of words to choose from or you can give them clues.  

"It is a 3 letter word that starts with t"

Sensory Bin Learning

Supplies

-All you need is a themed bucket of some type.  

For Easter I used a basket.

-Easter grass

-styrofoam eggs

I love the different activities from @ThePrintablePrincess I used two of them for the next stations. 

For this station I took one of the literacy activities from the Printable Princess added the cards into a themed basket with Easter grass and eggs and voila' the station became that much better!  My kiddos loved it! 

This specific activity works on real and nonsense words.  I use the turtle and the rabbit to help my kids with blending words.  When we turtle talk we say each sound slowly and then we rabbit talk.  When rabbit talking we put the sounds together quickly to make the word.  

This activity works on short and long vowels.  

I do both of these activities with my guided reading groups.  

We pass the basket around one at a time and each kiddo picks out a card and then records their answer.  

Butterflies and Caterpillars

Supplies

-plastic butterfly containers

-dice

-green pipe cleaners

-recording sheet

I have small math groups with 4 students in each group.  I put one die in 4 butterfly containers.  I then fill the other butterfly containers with cut pipe cleaners (caterpillars).

Each student gets one butterfly container with a die.  They shake the die and see what they get.  They write that number in the first butterfly.  They then grab a butterfly container with caterpillars. They open the container up and count the caterpillars.  They write that number in the second butterfly.  They then solve the addition problem.  They continue shaking the dice and then grabbing a butterfly container with caterpillars, write the number sentence, and then solve the problem.  

                   

Differentiation

For differentiation I just add an extra dice for my kiddos who need an additional challenge.  

I can writing...

Look how we have grown this is a simple activity where students can write about what we have learned so far this year.  They then cut it out and make a flower creativity.  

I can writing

These updated version is a little different then this one.

Popcorn Slap it

supplies

bulletin board paper

fly swatters

This is an easy popcorn (sight) word review game.  Write popcorn words on bulletin board paper.

The teacher calls out a word and students "slap" the word.  They first one to slap the word wins.  

Hopefully these ideas bring a little sunshine to your rainy Spring Stations!  

To see or not to see...Will Phil see his Shadow?

Just a quick little post with a few fun Groundhog Day activities...

Predicting

On February 1st, I like to do a little predicting with my kindergarteners!

I usually read a Groundhog book and then talk about the Legend of Groundhog day.  

Please tell me that I am NOT the only teacher who can't remember what the shadow talk means?  I mean seriously...I have to look every year!  Does shadow mean winter or does no shadow mean winter!?!?!  I can never remember!!!  

For most people Groundhog Day is not a big deal, but for me it's my birthday.  So I feel that I should at least remember what it all means, but for the life of me I can NEVER remember!!!  One of my favorite teacher friends and I were talking about this and she was like, "Girl, I made myself a groundhog cheat sheet!!"  That's right folks she made a cheat sheet!  I LOVE that girl!  

So this year I decided to figure it out and get my Groundhog facts straight!  Did you know the first Groundhog day was in 1883!  Wow!  Did you know that groundhogs whistle when they are scared!  I know you are all impressed right!?!?!  

Well anyway, in my journey to become a groundhog day expert I thought I would create a mini unit to use in my classroom!  It is on sale in my TPT store!   

Check it out here

It includes a book with fun groundhog facts and what the legends says if the groundhog sees his shadow or not.

Here is the key:
Shadow = 6 more weeks of winter
No shadow = early spring

(no need to thank me)

It also includes labels to make a graph to predict if the groundhog will see his shadow or not.

On Groundhog Day we discuss our predictions and then finish off with a fun craft and STEM activity.  

Groundhog Craft

(Not my original idea - if you know where the original idea came from let me know)

Supplies:
small styrofoam cup
popsicle sticks
print out of a groundhog
(included in my mini unit - but you can use any one)
cotton balls

Steps-
1. Have students color the bottom of a styrofoam cup brown.
2. Color and cut out groundhog
3. Glue cottonball around the top of the cup (snow)
4. Tape groundhog to a popsicle stick
5. Poke hole in bottom of cup
Voila' you have a cute little groundhog poking his head out of his burrow!

Shadow Stem Activity

Last year after using Lego kits I got the idea to have my students build burrows for their groundhogs.

Once they built burrows I then had them put their groundhog in and create shadows.  My students loved it, and they gained a true understanding of what it takes to create shadows.  

I have included the directions and recording sheets for the STEM activity in my mini unit.

Hopefully you can use some of these simple, engaging ideas in your classroom!

BTW, lets hope the groundhog does not see his shadow!  

(I bet you had to scroll up and see what that means...I did!)

SaveSave

Bringing some fun to stations... even when it is FREEZING!!!

It is snowy and freezing in Indiana, so naturally our stations are snow themed.  

I love making stations fun and engaging.  It doesn't have to take a lot of money and doesn't have to be complex.  Here are some of the snow stations that I have used in my classroom!


Here is a simple yet engaging math station.  I can't take the credit... my AMAZING colleague created the number snowman/snowflake station and I LOVED it!  

Snowman Ten Frames

This is great for teen numbers.  

Supplies needed: 

Snowman with numbers

(could use numbers 0-10 for differentiation)

Snowflake ornaments

Laminated Ten Frame

or

Blank decomposing page

Here is the super cute snowman!

How cute is this?

So here is how this math station works...

students will get one snowflake ornament and stand at the line and toss the snowflake onto the snowman.  They name the number they get and either show it on a ten frame with manipualtives or find the number and fill in the ten frame.

I plan on using this again as I teach place value.  I have attached a link to a free place value page that you can use with this activity.  (Print the page double sided)

Get the free Place Value worksheet here

Place Value Snow Globe Fun 

Supplies needed:

small jars, 

pom poms, cotton balls,

glitter

snow related objects

I bought these cute little jars at Target Dollar Days and have been saving them until I found a good use for them!   I decided to use them as "snow globes" for my math stations.  I filled them with snowmen and snowflake foam stickers, blue pom poms, cotton balls, and of course glitter!  Glitter makes everything better...am I right?!?!?!  

I wrote a number on the back of the foam sticker.  The idea is that the students will shake the jar, find the number, and then fill out the place value worksheet.  On the place value worksheet they will write the number and then color in the correct place value blocks.  

This is a simple place value station,  but by putting the number in "Snow globes" it is more exciting!  Easy enough!  

Here is a link to free numbers and place value worksheet

Snowball Fight 

What's the worst thing about a snowball fight...the cold!

So take the cold out of it and snowball fights are AWESOME!  Last year I decided to bring the snowball fight inside.  This is a super easy activity and it is great if the weather has been cold and your kiddos can't go outside.  

Supplies needed:

Scrap paper (doesn't get easier than that)

Write letters, numbers, shapes, popcorn words, addition problems, subtraction problems, cvc words, or pretty much anything that you are teaching onto the scrap paper.  Crumple up the paper.  

Put the snow balls in the middle of the room, your students grab a snow ball and have a snowball fight.  Play music, set a timer, or ring a bell.  Once the bell rings or the music stops kiddos grab a snowball and open it up.  They then figure out the problem.

The following are examples of what you can do with the snowflakes:

Letters:

name the letter, give letter sound, name a word that starts with the letter

Numbers:
name the number, what comes before or after, draw place value blocks, fill ten frames, tally marks
(use a draw erase board to write the answer)

Popcorn words:
read the popcorn word or use the word in a sentence.

Addition or Subtraction Problems
have students write the problem on a dry erase board and solve.

My students loved this!

Paint with snow

This isn't my original idea, but my students loved it!  

I found this idea on Instagram from @callenderskinders

My students have been so excited about the snow and since we couldn't go out in the snow I decided to bring the snow to them!  

Supplies Needed:

plastic ups

snow

white paint

glitter glue

paint brushes

black paper

Grab a small bucket of snow from outside.  Take cupfuls and mix it with white paint and glitter glue.  Voila' you have snow paint.  Kiddos paint with it on their black paper.  Pretty much just like regular painting with a twist because it's SNOW!!!  

Hope you can use some of these ideas in your classroom!  Making stations fun and a little more engaging doesn't always mean extra work.  Sometimes we just have to get creative with what we have!