Five for Friday: Punch Cards, Journals, & Organization!

LOL! So true!

We have now completed two full weeks of school and I can finally breathe! So happy to have that time behind us so that we can start taking steps forward =) Each day, I add a little bit more to our routine. This week, I spent a lot of time laying the foundation for beginning a solid mathematics journal. I give them the prompt, we discuss, compare, and then make the illustrations before writing the equation.  I did the first day so that they could see my expectations and then they followed. I was tickled with how well they did! Some of my kinders need a lot of reminders to add more details as they tend to rush. This will be a skill we will continue to refine over time. 

This group of kiddos I have this year...I love them but they sure are chatty and busy! So, I want them starting their day as soon as possible. I explained to them that some people go to work and have to punch a card into a clock so they know what time they arrived. We are going to do the very same thing! I have a live digital clock on the front board going when the kids walk into the room. They quickly unpack, order lunch, find their seat and grab their punch card! They copy the date and then write the digital time before they complete the bottom activity that I created. Each card has its own standard listed to reflect the standard being taught on the card. Each day will represent a different standard so that all of them are covered. After they complete their card, they bring it to me so that we can conference about it, and then it's added to the "Wall of Wisdom" in their name. On Fridays, I am going to punch a hole in the corner and put them on that child's ring that I will continuously add to until the end of the year. 

Their papers are rolled over because our classroom is so hot from the heat we have been getting in Ohio. No air conditioning and the humidity leads to many things falling over. I can't wait for the Fall air to arrive =)

In going along with our Super Hero theme, I cut out the hulk from a plastic table cloth and found some masks at a party store to create this bulletin board. In helping my little kinders show their best work, I display those that went above and beyond in making their work look great. I hope it pushes them to put forth some more effort. 

Now that our room is running more efficiently, I can finally start organizing now that all of my friends are in somewhat of a routine. I have been having fifth grade buddies come down to take the kids on the bus with them. It really helped at dismissal time! Next week, we are on our own but I needed dismissal procedures posted by our door for a quick reference as I am sure someone will forget their number. I also have some little friends that tend to invade that private space. I put numbers 1 to 24 on the floor for the line up line. Each kiddo stands on one number. I must say that it has been much better. The back corner of my room is probably my favorite. The little reading lamp adds a bit of warmth to the classroom, I put up our thematic word wall and you will also see our Incredible Work board. 

I have seriously been knee deep trying to finish these KRA's. For those of you that are unaware of this assessment, consider yourselves BLESSED! Luckily, I have a reading interventionist at my school that has been helping test all of my kids. I still have to score their observational components to get them into the computer this weekend. Then we are on to the iReady test. I'm not joking...... SO.MUCH.TESTING! I still need to assess my own things because these only give a glimpse. At least with the iReady, I can see progress over the course of the year as it is given three times.

I'm thrilled to have a long weekend and the kids have no activities either. BONUS! Enjoy your much deserved time off !