Bust the BTS Blues with a New Bulletin Board!

I can't believe it's already BTS time! This summer has flown by and I'm ready to get the school year underway! So, I thought I would revive an old post about my Kindergarten classroom and share my classroom bulletin boards. Nothing snaps me out of that BTS-FUNK like a fresh bulletin board display!

I strive to run an organized and efficient Kindergarten classroom. (With room for play and fun, of course!)  This summer I added a few things to my management system that have made a big difference!

1. My whiteboard is the hub of communication and information in my classroom (aside from the Smart Board). My "CHAMP" icons and schedule cards are on magnets so that I can easily adjust them each day or each learning block.  My Daily 5 posters are kinder-friendly and easy to understand.  (Grab them for free here!)  I also have a set of mini posters just for me, "The 7 C's of Teaching," to remind me of my responsibilities to these 21st Century kiddos!  (Grab them for free here.)  The small red pocket chart is used to spotlight our learning targets as they change throughout the day.

2. I also have a bulletin board that runs the length of the room.  The largest section is for learning targets.  Small pocket charts hold the target/standard cards for the week (or unit) so that I can readily access and display them as we transition throughout the day.  Beyond the word wall and birthday displays is the job chart.  I have 24 students and 24 jobs.  (Sounds crazy, I know!)  Students have one job per week and we rotate throughout the year.  Giving each student a job has had such an impact on our classroom community!  Some jobs are small and others are more popular, but when all students have ownership over the way the classroom runs they learn to work together and take responsibility for the good of the group!

  3. My favorite bulletin board is the one next to my desk!  I created this tree a couple of years ago and have added to it each year.  It serves as a place to post important information, student gifts and drawings, and words of inspiration about education. 

Plus, it's super cute (if I do say so myself)!

Missing anything?

Wondering where my calendar board is?

WELL... I DON'T HAVE ONE ANYMORE!

When I realized my Kinders weren't engaging like I had hoped and my day was starting off BLAH instead of WOW, I knew I needed to make a change. I tossed my traditional calendar and created monthly interactive calendars for the SMART Board! Read more about that here!

Check them out at TpT!

Don't teach Kinders?

Then check out these first everyday calendars for any primary grade!

Not ready to invest?

Then download this FREE version... test it with your SMART system and try it with your students... I PROMISE THEY WILL LOVE IT!

(And you will, too!)

Planning for Play: March - April - May

Making time for play in Kindergarten is important... even in the 21st Century! 

Sign up for newsletters and gain access to my exclusive and FREE Yearlong Plan for Structured Play and follow along as we discuss themes for March, April, and May. 

Overview:

March is all about the Arts at my school. All students in the school are encouraged to create something involving one area of art (music, visual arts, drama, dance, and media art) to share with their class. Then, each class chooses a performance for a special school showcase assembly. This is a wonderful time for students to expressive themselves creatively and share their special talents.
My favorite TpT resource for March:

April is at the height of spring time and new beginnings. We often study animals during literacy and science time which makes it the perfect month for a Vet's Office! Students are able to develop and solve problems, show care for animals, and role play.
My favorite TpT resource for April:

May is my favorite month for play because it's the culmination of my yearlong plan! Through opening their own Pizza Parlor, students are invited to plan their play, collaborate, create, and execute their plan with organization, communication, and imaginative interaction.
My favorite TpT resource for May:

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT PLANS FOR EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR!

August - Learning How to Play

September - Community Helpers: Restaurant

October - 21st Century Learners: The News 1, The News 2

November - Thanksgiving: Travel Agency

December - Engineering: Gingerbread Houses

January - Engineering: Force and Motion

February - Writing: Post Office

March - The Arts: My Talents

April - Animals: Vet's Office

May - Culminating Event: Pizza Parlor

3 Reasons Phonological Awareness is KEY

As a Kindergarten teacher I knew

Phonological Awareness to be the cornerstone to beginning reading skills.  As an interventionist I have learned WHY that is so.

First - What is phonological awareness?

Phonological Awareness is the understanding that words are made up of sounds and that those sounds can be manipulated (separated, changed, isolated, etc.)  Phonological Awareness IS NOT Phonics.  Phonics is the understanding that those sounds can be associated with printed letters.

An easy way to remember the difference is that Phonological Awareness can be taught in the dark.  It only requires listening for and producing words and sounds. Phonics cannot be learned in the dark because it addresses letters. BUT, Phonics cannot be learned without an understanding of Phonological Awareness. (More on Phonics Later!)

A sub-skill of phonological awareness is Phonemic Awareness. This is the understanding that words are made of a group of individual phonemes (or sounds).

Research shows that students can master Phonemic Awareness skills in about 20 hours of instruction and practice.  It is very important to provide opportunities for practice with each level on the phonological awareness continuum during the primary grades.

Second - Why is Phonological Awareness so important?

Phonemic Awareness in particular has implications not only in reading, but also in writing.  Once a child can articulate each sound in a word, he or she is ready to assign a letter (or letters) to those sounds in order to spell and write (that's where Phonics comes into play). Likewise, students who can segment words better understand how to blend sounds when reading.

For some students hearing the separation between phonemes (sounds) is very difficult. Delays in speech or hearing development can significantly complicate the process and they may need extra practice with the skill of articulation. HOWEVER, firming Phonemic Awareness skills is crucial to success in reading and writing.

Third - How can we teach Phonemic Awareness?

There are many different ways to practice phonemic segmentation with students, but one tried and true way is through the use of Elkonin boxes. To use these boxes students segment and push chips into a box as they say each sound.

I created these Elkonin boxes for my struggling Kindergarteners. After drawing the boxes, I added a pipe cleaner before laminating. The action of "pushing sounds" over the little bump was all it took to help them "feel" the breaks.
Watch as my daughter tries it out!

Here's a few other fun ways to practice phonemic segmentation!
Karate Chop Each Sound
Ride a Roller Coaster and go up/downhill on the middle sounds
Count sounds on fingers
Clap or tap sounds on desk/lap
Use exercises like toe touches or jumping jacks to physically move with each sound.

Phonological Awareness is KEY in literacy development because...

1. It provides students with a basic understanding of how words work before they begin to actually read and write.

2. When they understand that words can be manipulated, students begin to realize that words are made up of individual sounds in a specific order.

3. When students understand that words are made up of individual sounds and then "chunks" of sound they are ready to assign letters to those sounds.  This is writing! (And students are ready to learn to write while simultaneously learning to read! More on that later.)

Now watch as Leah segments and then assigns letters to each sound using her boxes.

ALL young students need practice with phonolgical awareness and it's a skill ALL students can and should master by second grade.
If you are looking for a way to add more practice with literacy skills into your school day and you have a Smart Board, then check out my monthly Literacy Practice files over at TpT!
(Files also sold separately here!)

The Snow Day Slump

In my experience as an interventionist I studied a lot of data and found that snow days can really have a negative impact on the progress of struggling readers.  All too often kids just sit at home on these days in front of the TV or iPad.  (Unless they have a mom like me who just made her kids turn off all technology and choose to read, write, or draw for an hour and a half... I'm so mean!) 

So, how do we keep those kids from slumping when they return?  

One way is to dive right back into a routine and schedule with lots of opportunities to read and write.  So, I've gathered some resources here for when you have those odd 2-3 day weeks mixed with wintry weather.  

Don't forget to check out my fun snow day freebie, too!

I tried to round up so tried and true as well as some new texts for this list.  

Click the titles to link to Amazon and learn more about each book.

1. Blizzard by John Rocco

2. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

3. The Snow Globe Family by Jane O'Connor

4. Dream Snow by Eric Carle

5. The Story of Snow by Mark Cassino

6. Snow by Uri Shulevitz

7. Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack

8. There was a cold lady who swallowed some snow!  by Lucille Colandro

Check out my "Snow Day Resources" Pinterest board for lots of reading and writing ideas especially for snow days!

Enjoy a snow day FREEBIE from my TpT store, 21st Century K, too!

The Best Of...

Are you a #teacherpreneur? 

Then you need to check this out!

At the end of 2014 my little TpT store was just starting to bring in a steady, albeit small return on my hard work.  I was actively pursuing marketing on Pinterest and scouring sellers' forums and blog posts for ways to promote my products.  I had found my niche, scratched the surface in blogging, and was beginning to receive some positive feedback from buyers. 

Then,last January 2015, I stumbled upon this marketing group on a seller forum and decided to take the plunge and join TBOTEMC.  It was a TpT game-changing decision for me. Over the course of 2015 all areas of my business more than doubled and in some cases tripled... including store followers, Pinterest followers, store feedback, Facebook followers, and, yes, EARNINGS!

Above all, joining this group of wonderfully cooperative and committed teachers has helped me learn how to network around the globe by collaborating on innovative marketing strategies including, but not limited to, Facebook, Pinterest, collaborative ebooks, and blogging.

Mind you, my store is still relatively small, but my sales are steadily increasing.  I still have lofty goals for 2016 and look forward to working with my new friends at TBOTEMC to reach those goals!

Would you like to increase your TpT Followers?

Would you like to improve your TpT Feeback?

Would you like an increase in sales in 2016?

Would you like to network and collaborate with teachers from around the world?

Read more about the cooperative (and our $100 TpT gift card giveaways) HERE and, if it sounds like a good fit for you... JOIN US HERE! New memberships are on sale for a limited time!

When you are asked if anyone referred you to the cooperative list ME - Hannah from 21st Century K!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

November Currently

Okay, I am a seriously neglectful blogger, but there is no better time than the present 

to jump back in!  

Read what's on my mind right now with this November Currently post, then head over to 

"Oh' Boy 4th Grade" and see other bloggers' November thoughts.

August Currently

After a summer break, I'm back at the computer to join Farley at "Oh' Boy 4th Grade," with 

August Currently!

Listening - To the “Today Show…” and that’s it… no husband, no children, no Stampy Cat Minecraft videos… only Matt and Savannah. I don’t have to be at school until noon, husband is at his training, and sis-in-law came to get my kids before 9 a.m.  Every school year should begin like this – with a few moments for quiet, un-rushed reflection…

Loving - My new planner - designed by ME!  I'm the worst at keeping up with a calendar.  Somehow I always manage to get things done, but I have no idea how.  I live a week-at-a-time, in general, by putting family activities and appointments on our "fridge calendar."  This year I'm trying to turn over a new leaf... for inspiration I designed my own calendar and had it printed and bound at Office Depot.  It cost WAY too much, but I love it... maybe I will keep up at least through August.  :)

Thinking - About my NEW position!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE teaching Kindergarten, but I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE intervention.  So, when our Reading Recovery position became available this summer I mentioned to my principal I would love to do it... and within 3 hours I had changed jobs!  Yikes!  I don't tend to make big decisions that quickly, but I know it was the right choice.  I'm motivated to learn something new about literacy instruction and thrilled to be back in a position with less to "take-home," so I can focus on my family.  It was overwhelming at first to downsize, but I am excited about my new small space!

Wanting - Time to SLOW DOWN!  My first baby starts 4th grade in three days and in our district that means going to middle school.  I'm. Not. Ready.  I think she is ready, though nervous, and I am putting up a very brave front, but I feel for the first time like my Kindergarten parents have felt leaving their babies with me.  And, speaking of Kindergarten parents, my middle baby starts K in three days!  As if a fourth grade transition wasn't enough, I'm a Kinder-Mom, too!  AND, my last baby starts preschool next week.  I marvel at the start of this new season, I'm prayerful for peace-of-mind, and I'm blessed with three amazing kiddos who get to attend an wonderful school district..., but, MAN, this is HARD!

Needing - To fold the mountain of laundry... I think I put this in the "needing" section of every "currently" post.  LOL!  But, laundry can wait... and if we wear clothes straight from the pile every some days, nobody has to know.  ;)

B2S RAK - Encouraging Notes... This has been a summer of changes at my school... several teachers are taking on new challenges.  A random, anonymous note of encouragement might be just what they need to get through the starting days.  So, I plan to sprinkle some words of encouragement throughout my school.  Who knows?  Maybe it will be contagious and others will pass along the kindness!

Whew!  That was therapeutic!  

Bring on the new school year... Here's to new beginnings!

Now - Head on over to TpT, fill your cart, 

and enjoy the BIG BTS SALE!