You Know You're a Kindergarten Teacher When...

• You always have glue on your sleeves
• Your pockets usually have school supplies and items taken away from kids
• Your own children raise their hand when they want to speak to you at home
• You say "get a tissue"- 20 times a day"
• You can tie a shoe in less than 3 seconds
• You can read a book upside down
• You bring a snack to eat at snack time
• You get excited for the Back-to-School supply sales
• You love to laminate
• You prefer sitting on the floor criss-cross-applesauce

Addition Math Mats

Today I realized my kids need more practice with math manipulatives.  I decided I'd make some Addition Work Mats for them to practice their addition facts with.  I plan to use these several ways.

1. Laminate them and have kids build the sets, then show me when they are finished so I can check them.
2. Laminate them and have kids uses dry-erase markers to draw shapes to represent the numbers.
3. Copy them off and have kids draw shapes to represent the numbers.

I've also included a blank one so you can program it with your own math fact problems.

Sight Word Super Stars

When we come back from Spring break on Monday, I will be introducing our Super Star Sight words to my class.  It is a combination of our district sight words and the Dolch list.  There are 45 words in all.  When students can read all 45 words successfully, I will place their name on s Super Star next to our sight word wall and present them with a certificate.

Super Star Sight Words
Super Star Sight Word Certificate

Ending Sounds

We have begun to work on ending sounds.  I didn't seem to have enough materials to use in class or to send home as homework, so once again I created my own.
Ending Sounds d/g/t

Cooked Play Doh

This is a great easy recipe.  The play dough lasts for a really long time.  I made mine in August and we are still using it.

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. cream of tarter
1 cup water
1 tsp. vegetable oil
food coloring

DIRECTIONS~
1.  Mix the dry ingredients in a large pot
2.  Mix water, a few drops of food coloring and oil together in a bowl, then add to dry ingrediants.
3.  Cook the mixture on low/medium for 3-5 minutes stirring constantly.
4.  The dough will start to pull away from the sides of the pot and form a ball.  Take it out of the pot when it begins to have a VERY faint brown skin.
5.  Kneed the dough until it becomes soft and smooth.  You can add more food coloring at this time if need.  You may want to wear gloves to prevent staining  your hands. 
6.  when the dough is cool, store ina Ziplock bag or other air-tight container.  I like to use frosting containers.

Short Vowel Puzzle

Made this puzzle to use with the kindergartners.  Cut out the pictures and match them to the beginning and ending sounds on the game mat.
Short A Puzzle

Beginning Addition

We are starting addition after spring break. I couldn't find anything in my resource books that I liked, so I began creating my own. Here is just one of the few I've created-enjoy! Additon 1

Beginning Sound Sorts

Here's an easy activity to practice beginning sound sorting.  Cut apart the pictures and sort them on the tree map between the two sounds of /M/ and /S/.
M and S Sound Sort with Tree Map

Welcome to Kindergarten

Welcome to my new blog.  I hope you will find my tidbits and ideas amusing and useful.