Currently..

Hello Friday! So I finally figured out how to put text in PowerPoint..took me a while but I got it thanks to The Teacher's Cauldron! I decided to link up with Oh Boy 4th Grade to show some love on all things back to school :)




I also got a call today by my principal to come in on Monday to sign "THE" contract. I know there are many veteran teachers out there and I wanted to know if this day is solely just to sign the contract? What has been your experience? Comments always appreciated!

 Have a great weekend everyone..

Photo Dump & Teacher Fashion Linky

Hello! I am anxiously waiting for my principal to call us back to return on the 13th to sign the contract, do some in-service conferences, and set up my classroom! In the meantime, I have been busy making charts, decorating bins, and putting contact paper on everything (I like to use contact paper on small things since it's matte). Anyways, here's what I've been up to..

Voice Level Chart

Behavior Chart

View of all charts hung

How do we go home chart

Paper lantern birds for each table

Colored duct tape for my morning meeting and lining up

 Read, shapes, colors, and numbers posters from Walmart @ 88 cents each!

 Paper trays for finished/not finished assignments

 Owl cork board from Target

 Two area rugs for my reading area from Ross

 CAFE poster

 Math poster

 Number Formation poster

 Class Rules poster

 Mini composition book (3 each) @ 88 cents from Walmart (may use to jot down ideas in small group time)

I'm linking up withFrom Blood to Books linky party about my fashion style in teaching. Now, before I landed my current teaching poisition, I was to wear business casual..Now I have a uniform! Yup, you heard that right! I kind of like wearing a uniform because I don't have to decide on what to wear..I wear a white button down shirt, navy slack, and navy flats/black flats with a small pin of my school on my shirt. What is your thoughts on a teacher uniform? Anyway on to the party...

Here are the guidelines...

1. Tell me your favorite store(s) that you like to get your "teacher's fashion". I like to shop at Gap, LOFT, Old Navy, and Macy*s for my tops and bottoms.

2. What are some of your favorite accessories? I'm ALL about accessorizing! I like to wear different jewelry everyday. For playground time, I like to wear my sunglasses to protect my peeps :)

3. What type of shoes do you teach in? (i.e. heels, flats, wedges, etc.) I generally wear ballet flats because they are so darn comfortable! My favorites are from Born Concept purchased at either Macy*s or Nordstrom..The price might be a bit steep, but I wear them everyday. Previously I used to wear the foldable ballet flats from Gap (the ones that have a little baggie)

4. Do you have a "go-to" item in your closet? (i.e. sweater you wear weekly, shoes you wear daily, etc.) Usually I wear the same flats everyday and my go to sweaters/cardigans are from LOFT

5. Have you ever had a fashion "uh-oh" at school? (i.e. heel broke, button popped off of blouse)

I had button come off my pants one day! I just simply put on my cardigan for the cover up ;)

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Awesome Linky Parties

Wow since I have been away there have been some really great linky parties! I have linked up with Teaching Maddeness, Teaching with Z, and Mrs. Dwyer's A+ Firsties.

First Linky..

#1 Establish a positive environment to meet all student needs.
#2 Communicate with parents effectively.
#3 Take more pictures of activities, routines, and students for the end of the year CD.
#4 Blog frequently about my class (what worked? din't work?etc.)
#5 Leave school work at school and clean up centers and have materials ready for the next day.

Second Linky...

I have several CDs I have used since working with PreK and my favorites are...

Greg and Steve! I have many of their CDs and they were ahit always with my kiddos..Here's a favorite that includes Bop til You Drop, Bear Hunt, etc.

Mr. Al a Carte

Laurie Berkner's "Story of my Feelings" book with CD (the kids really enjoy this one!)

And of course, some classics like Disney, Wiggles, Sesame Street, Barney, were in rotation in my PreK class as well.

Last Linky!

• An area of your house piled high with classroom supplies!
• You get excited at the Dollar Tree and Target's $1 aisle
• You keep pinning things on Pinterest solely for your classroom
• Kid Songs are stuck in your head
• You find many uses for toilet paper/paper towel rolls
• You find yourself talking to an adult like they are your students

That's all for today..I'm off to buy some more clear contact paper, ribbons, and copies to wrap up my school supplies...School is almost here!ahhhhhh :D

Another Award! and First Day Jitters linky

Thank you all for your amazing responses on my first day of school post! It really means a lot to me that we can all contribute to a successful school year. Thanks Carole from Kinder Carole for nominating me "The Versatile Blogger" award!

I have to tell you seven random facts about myself and then choose 5 blogs I have found.

1. I am terribly allergic to ants, bees, and cats! I carry an Epi Pen around me just in case of an emergency at all time :)

2. I LOVE small cars. Since I have no kids I can still get away with them..I previously owned a Volkswagen Beetle and currently own a Mini Cooper.

3. I'm a mutt..My parents are from Venezuela but I have many relatives from Sicily, Spain, and France.

4. I will be moving to France in the next couple of years. My boyfriend will be joining the French military and I will be supporting him by following him there and making a life to wherever he will be stationed.

5. I am an avid fan of fashion magazines..I love recreating looks on a budget :)

6. I love to eat limes! All my students will tell you that..I like to peel them like an orange and dip the slices in salt :)

7. One of my biggest stress relievers is kickboxing! I use to take lessons 2 years ago and really loved it...I might have to take it up again..or yoga...or both!

http://applesandabcs.blogspot.com/

http://asweetsouthernmess.blogspot.com/

http://cathedralkindergarten.blogspot.com/

http://www.darlinglittlelearners.com/

http://frompond.blogspot.com/

Fierce in Fourth is having a linky party about the first day and what makes us uneasy...

Here are my three...

1. Will my grade staff like me? I got so used to the third grade staff at my school that I am kind of nervous of what the Kindergarten teachers will think of me. Kindergarten has the largest staff at my school but there is a lot of turnover. Recently my principal had to lay off several Kindergarten teachers because of poor results of the SATs and/or not having high points on their observations. I am friendly and willing to work as a group but I'm not sure the Kinder teachers are the same way :/

2. Will I be able to accomplish everything in my lessons by myself? My school does not have teacher's assistant for the younger grades. This makes me feel uneasy because even though I can have the students take roles as a class, I still feel like I need backup for cleaning, organizing centers, etc. I used to work at a private preschool where I was lucky enough to have a TA. Last year when I subbed for 3rd grade, I was on my own but I felt there was no need for an extra set of hands because they were older.

3. Will I be able to incorporate all my gestures and routines and not forget about them? Upon reading about the Daily 5, CAFE, BUILD, Whole Brain Approach, I have so many ideas floating in my head about how I want to implement these strategies into my room. Question is...can I remember them all when I am front and center in my classroom? I hope so!

Regardless of all these jitters, I very excited for this upcoming school year. Not only did I get my dream grade, but I am fortunate enough to have a supportive family, boyfriend, friends, and BLOGGERS!  to guide me through this journey :)

Back to School Lesson Plans

Hello all :)

I've been thinking about the first day of school and what it entails in a Kindergarten classroom.. Here are some things I have been thinking about doing..

• Introduce myself with objects and pictures
• Recite Pledge of Allegiance
• Explain Job Chart
• Explain rules/expectations, bathroom time, and centers
• Explain BUILD and Daily 5 (should I do this the first week of school? Explain one of each one day at a time? Suggestions welcomed!)
• Take pictures of each child for centers, first day of kindergarten, etc
• Have students color a template based on the first day of school
• Have students practice gluing skills with template
• Have students create a class book and write about themselves with pictures (name, age, excited about..)
• Assess students' prior knowledge based on common core
• Hand out a getting to know you, welcome, contact info for parents..Explain HW folder
• Find out who goes on the bus, walks home, or car pick up
• Give out a small goody bag to each student at the end of the day

What are some of YOUR recommendations? I was wondering what all you fab Kindergarten teachers do on this special day :)

I'm so excited for tonight! I will be spending some quality time with one of my best friends (she moved to Tennessee and haven't seen her in 7 years!) and others from high school to reminisce and catch up with everyone :)

 There she is! (second from left) and me, third in high school

Another one from one of our formals (I'm all the way to the right)

Have a fabulous Thursday everyone!

Thanks!

I just wanted to say thank you so much for nominating me for these awards!

I have just received...

from Karmen's Kinders of Room 103

For receiving this award I have to...

1. Follow the person who gave me the award...

2. Link back to the person that gave me the award...

3. Pass to 15 new bloggers and then let them know they have received the award...

I am passing the award to these WONDERFUL bloggers...

http://themadnessthatiskindergarten.blogspot.com

http://missaugustineskindergarten.blogspot.com/

http://yeehawteachingintexas.blogspot.com/

http://kdg-frogs.blogspot.com/

http://teachingwithz.blogspot.com/

http://sssteaching.blogspot.com/

http://asweetsouthernmess.blogspot.com/

http://classroomcoutured.blogspot.com/

http://www.darlinglittlelearners.com/

http://fromafirstyearteacher.blogspot.com/

http://divingintolearning.blogspot.com/

http://dogdaysofkindergarten.blogspot.com/

http://kisforkinderrific.blogspot.com/

http://keepcalmandimagine.blogspot.com/

http://kitchinskinder.blogspot.com/

Thank you Special PreK!

This award is named for the German word "Liebster," which translates to "beloved" or "favorite", and is given to a "new, up and coming blogger."

Here are the rules:

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to at least 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers.
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.

http://kitchinskinder.blogspot.com/

http://kisforkinderrific.blogspot.com/

http://fromafirstyearteacher.blogspot.com/

http://yeehawteachingintexas.blogspot.com/

http://teachingwithz.blogspot.com/

New Layout & Photo Dump

Hello all! I'm still deciphering what classroom posters I should put up on the first weeks of school and being that I'm tight on money (no work during summer) I am going to create my own posters with 6 posterboard I bought at the Dollar Tree ($1 for two!)

By the way, have any of you bought books through Salvation Army? I bought some fantastic books several Wednesdays ago (Wednesday is 50% off EVERYTHING FYI) and each book cost $.50!!! BUT..in the meantime..Here are SOME things I have for my classroom (all my books and misc. things are in my aunt's garage)...

 My crate seats! My mom and I made 6..It was fairly easy to do..I bought the fabric from Walmart ($5/yd.), cushion at Walmart (forgot how much I spent but I onyl got one roll), and purchased the crates at Target at $3.50 each. The hard part was going to Home Depot to ask someone to cut 6 pieces of plywood (1 sheet of ply=$18). It took me nearly half an hour to get assistance. Maybe this only happens in Miami but anyone I asked for help, they said lumber wasn't their department :(

 Close up of crate seats

 2 Chart Tablets from Get Smart @ $5.50 each

 Random wreath from the Dollar Tree. Anyone have suggestions? I was thinking of hot gluing plastic eggs around it with ribbon/yarn.

 A set of 16 Expo markers from Costco @ $10

 I got several of those plastic containers at the Dollar Tree in green and blue for my manipulatives. Then I just hot glued a simple ribbon on top ($1.50 @ Walmart)

 I purchased these fabrics at Walmart (about $5 something for each yard) for my bulletin boards. The lime green one is glittery :)

 Sorry for the mess! But I wanted to show you guys I made these simple foam birds (foam sheets from Dollar Tree) to recreate this entrance....

 Hopefully mine will be just as cute!

 My binders purchased at some random dollar store..and the templates are from TpT

 A seat cover I found through the Target $1 spot

 Tissue poms (3 in each bag) @ $6.99 and a banner (about $7?) purchased at Party City

That;s it for now folks..my camera decided to die on me :(

P.S. do you like the new layout? I'm a sucker for anything free and I got this from The Cutest Blog on the Block :)

Have a great Tuesday!