A Weekend Warrior!

I am linking up with DeeDee Wills with a Peek at My Week! I finished my lesson plans for the week and have started a Constitution pack to get my kiddos ready to celebrate the birthday of the constitution on September 17th. Lots of things going on!

This week, I hope to get the kids in more of a routine so that I can get ready to add stations in the near future. I really feel that my classroom management is firmly in place with my Class DOJO (which rocks by the way) and I even made owls on the floor for them to stand on in ABC order when we line up. It was great! There was no touching or pushing where my kiddos wanted to stand. Who would have thought in my sixteenth year that I waited so long to do this? LOL!

As I work on this Unit, I am really thinking of the target areas that I need to work on with my class. I typically get kinders that know most of their alphabet when school begins. I am not sure if they are just acclimating themselves to school or if we really need to work on deciphering upper and lowercase letters as well as identification. I have to administer the KRA (Kindergarten Readiness Assessment) that the state is just rolling out in the coming weeks so I will get a better picture of the needs in my room.

Enjoy your Labor Day!

Five for Friday: I can breathe again!

Phew! We are in our second week of school and I finally feel like I can breathe again. The kids are getting into a routine and classroom management has gotten much better. These are my pictures from the week...

Have I been living under a rock? Why haven't I heard of Class DOJO before? I absolutely love it and it has really helped my little kiddos get on track. We were really having such a difficult time lining up, staying in line, working without distractions, etc. I set up my DOJO classroom and it was AMAZING! The kids really changed their behaviors and the choices they were making in the classroom. I really like it because it documents whether they are making good choices or areas that need to be worked on. The parents can log in and see their progress too. Perfect!!! Check of management in the classroom! I have also begun my assessments using my pack. There is quite a bit of work to be done this year but we will do it!

We have also gotten into a good routine of doing our daily math journals. It is still a struggle to make the illustration along with the math equation but we are working on it. This is the first year I have tried these so I am interested to see the progress they will make!

The part that I really struggle with when starting a new year is all of the online training we have to complete in order to prepare for the new school year. We have to take tests in blood borne pathogens, hazardous wastes, epipens/inhalers, allergies, harassment in the work place, and several more. I am happy to say that I finally finished them. Onto bigger and better things =)

Our Everyday Math program had the kiddos learning about pattern blocks and reviewing shapes. I spiced up the lesson with these great block puzzles where the kids created pictures using the various shapes. They were a hit!!

We started our "Pete the Cat" series and started off with the school shoes. The kids then found a partner to help trace their feet in making their shoes. We used paper reinforcements to make the holes in the shoes and then crayons to draw the laces. It was a lot of work for them as they kept asking when it was game time. I was really pleased with how well they did though!

Have a wonderful labor day weekend!

Five for Friday: We are in full swing!

SO excited to have the first week under our belt! The first day is always so challenging but I feel like I can breathe a little bit more on the second day. I was thrilled that we got off to a great start with no criers! This was my week in pictures.....

 We were able to move in with my parents this past weekend which was just days before school began. Phew! It has been an adjustment week but the boys have been real troopers with their new surroundings! I am so proud of them =) We are looking forward to our own home going up very soon!

I just love the beginning of the school year because there are so many fun things to start off the year. As I got my books out, I had a real hard time deciding which ones to use on the first day. The kids really enjoyed "David Goes to School" and it was a great opportunity to reinforce some of the school rules. We will begin our "Pete the Cat" series in these next few days.

 Of course we need some fun brain breaks to help us transition through our long day. The kids were very excited as we set up our school mascot and began our challenges!

 My focus walls are coming along as I hope to build upon them as we continue into these beginning weeks. It is the first year that I have had one full time class so these are new waters for me as well. I was able to assign seats and have job assignments. Woohoo!

  
Let the planning beginning! I have spent so much time preparing for my little friends that I feel like I am behind in the planning department! This will be a 'must do' this weekend!

Have a great weekend and rest up!

Five for Friday: It's that time again =)!

It's that time of year again....fresh smell of supplies and lots of energy buzzing through the building. Everyone feels well rested and excited for a new group of kiddos! I have been going to school here and there but with three children....not a lot gets accomplished. Today was our first work day and I got TONS done in preparing the room but I still need to do all of my planning. This is always a challenging time of year for me as there are highs and lows. I thoroughly enjoy every minute with my boys over the summer and I feel that we do quite a bit. However, the last week always pushes me to want to squeeze every minute possible with them before the craziness begins all over again. So, here is my week in pictures....

 I took my boys on a mini trip to Columbus to go to COSI (Science Center) and visit my alma mater. I love Ohio State and hope that one of my boys decides to attend college there some day =)

Can you guess my theme this year? If you haven't yet, I bet you will by the end of this post. LOL!

I did get myself together and put my motivational tools together. I really hope that I like this style of classroom management and find it a positive reinforcement in the classroom.

I couldn't leave without being ready for our Open House which is on Monday night. Although my kiddos are not required to come because we do Orientation on the first day, I hope I get a lot of visitors. I know I will have some old friends visiting from previous years. It is always one of my favorites!

Something else that I am trying is a new way to add words to my word wall. You have to love all that Pinterest has to offer. LOL! I will put the words on clothespins and add them to the fabric on each corresponding letter. It's right in the front of the room which will offer easy access for our writing.

We will be busy moving this weekend as we prepare to live with my parents for the next five months. So happy that they were generous in offering their hospitality until our home is ready. I am excited that we will finally be in my school district so that my own children will benefit from all that it has to offer!

Have a great weekend!

Back into the routine!

It's my favorite linky of the week! I just love seeing what everyone is doing in their classrooms....especially as we all head back to begin a new school year! Here is my week in pictures.

I'm really trying to get organized in my room for all of my new kiddos. I have been creating signs and labels for everything from bins to helpers to my word wall!

One of the most challenging things for me in those first few days of school is dismissal. My new little kinders have such a hard time knowing where to go to get those bodies home. I am lucky to have some fifth grade helpers to assist me at the end of the day in the very beginning. 

My 'baby' turned three this week! I can't believe how quickly it has gone. If only I could get him to potty train. Ugh! If you have any great tips, let me know!

I got into my classroom for a couple of days and decorated the room a bit before organizing my book bins. I hope the kids love their journals we will start this year in poetry and math.

I want to make something like this I found on pinterest that can relate to my kinders. It would be a great activity to do before dismissal to recap the day.

One week from today I will be officially back in the classroom. Where did the summer go?! Have a great weekend!