The Crazy Pre-K Classroom

Hello Everyone, I am so excited to show you my newest unit I have been working on perfecting this unit with new ideas and some old favorites. One of my favorite parts of this unit is the patterning calendar. This is a calendar that uses the number cards to introduce a pattern, in this case sports balls create an ABC pattern that repeats for the entire month. Below are step by step instructions on how the put together the calendar on poster board. 1. Get a large piece of poster board or tape 4 pieces of 12x12 cardstock together in the color of your choice. 2. Cut out your calendar pieces, make sure to print out three of the blank boxes page to assemble the grid. 3. Glue the Month banner on top. Write the month in the mddle of the banner or wait until after you laminate then use dry erase markers. 4. Glue your days of the week bars under the month banner. 5. Trim around all sides of first grid page. 6. Trim the second page so that 2 sides are left on. 7. Use a small ...

I just came across a post form Mrs. Trayer at Teaching Gifted Kinders that struck a chord with me. She was expressing some frustration with the current state of teachers being evaluated upon test scores and not having time to reach their gifted students. I have to say that I agree and would add that we are doing a disservice to all of our children by "dumbing down" instead of setting high expectations. I teach in a private school with an advanced curriculum. We are approximatly 1 year ahead in curriculum standards of public schools. Which means I truly teach Kindergarten just to 4 year olds. I see many advantages to setting high standards even with young children. I believe in making my lessons appropriate for all through small group instruction and differentiated instruction which I know those of you in public school do as well. However I see one difference that I can make that many of you do not have the opportunity to. Planning challenging, high level whole grou...

Hello All, I was so excited to recieve an email this morning with a nomination for the most fascinating blog of 2012! How amazing! This is so great, I am honored and hope that you will take a moment to vote for me! And just a reminder.... I only need 14 more followers before the big giveaway, a TpT unit for every member!!!!! I am planning on doing this giveaway for every 100 members on my blog so spread the word! Till next time, Christine

Hello All, Here I am at 11:15 still in my pj's and not motivated to do anything! I know it is because I am officially out of my normal daily school schedule. With my ADHD this is never a good thing and it is the same for our children, ADHD or not. We know as teachers that a classroom schedule is crucial to a successful day. Making a schedule that is predictable and easily read by your class helps children to know what comes next, it also makes children feel secure in their surroundings. This is why I am insituting a summer schedule in my home. With 2 boys, one with ADHD and a 4 year old this will help us to make the most of our summer, peacefully! You can check out my summer schedule on my new blog www.theadhdteacher.blogspot.com You can see that today is a free day, tomorrow right back on schedule!

Why are sensory activities so important for Pre-K kiddos? Exploration is the key to learning at this age. Kiddos need to feel and manipulate objects in their environment, when they are allowed to play in what I call "controlled chaos" children are engaged, happy and learning! Here is a list of my favorite sensory bin fillers, yes I get into the mix too! Shaving cream (great table cleaner and makes the room smell fresh!) popcorn kernals with farm objects mixed beans (think sorting) packing bubbles (bare feet!) packing peanuts (did you know the newer ones dissolve in water, awesome!) cotton balls with winter wear (think snowball fight) slime (fabric softener, glue and water in individual cups, stir with popsicle sticks, then play away) Tinsel with popcorn/cranberry rope and Christmas items Rocks and Sea Shells (once again think sorting and collages) WATER and funnels, ladels, sand sifters, buckets, shovels, water toys etc.! I know this could be       ...

O.k. so I have to admit that everytime I sit down to my computer I go straight to pinterest. I can spend hours just looking through pictures and getting ideas for school, home, everything! I have some crazy 2500+ pins and plans for each one of them. So this summer I am going to redo my classroom, my house, my garden and make over my kids! Life will be busy, hehe! I don't know about anyone else but pinterest is my newest obsession, anyone else? So here is my challenge to you pin, pin, pin! Make education collaboration a top pinterest goal and resource. Whenever you see a blog or idea that a teacher or parent could use pin it, share it and we can improve classrooms together. I love to hear new ideas and have found so many great activities on pinterest, every teacher and parent should be a member, let me know if you need an invite to join, I will gladly send you one. Click on the pinterest button to the right to see what pinterest is all about!

Hello All,      So school has been over for a week and as much as I wanted school to be over I am missing my 4 year olds. What makes it worse is that I am trying to enjoy my own 4 year old! He is a young 4 so I am starting with him where I normally start my school year. I just got finished with such a group of smarties that I am having a hard time not getting frustrated with him. Am I the only one who gets this way? Plus, I guess because he is my own he doesn't want to learn with me. This makes me wonder how Mom's manage to homeschool, I know I could never do it myself. The more power to everyone who educates, whether at home or at school. Have a fantastic weekend!

Hello Everyone,      I have just redone my kids playroom! I love summer! The room now includes organizational labels to help them stay organized and to make cleanup easier. I am so happy with how these turned out that I intend on using them in my classroom next year as well. You can download this set of 25 labels by clicking the following link: Classroom-Bin-Labels-for-toys-manipulatives-and-centers Enjoy! Please join my blog and follow me on TpT for more freebies and educational ideas!

Here is the first linky party of the summer thanks to www.kindergartenlifestyles.blogspot.com  , visit her sight to link up! Here is my contribution: You can sit in your recliner and create new units for TpT without interruption. You can sleep without setting an alarm (of course my own 2 boys are an automatic alarm!) To Contribute an answer: Visit the above sight. Copy the image Create a blog post like this Link to her blog Here's to a fun blogging summer,

Well, it is just 3 days into my summer and I am already planning for next year. What can I say I am a teachaholic! I also have to tell you that I did not meet my husbands challenge of fitting everything school related into my classroom cabinets (Sigh). Instead I made a deal, instead of a pile in the garage, living room corner and dining room I am going to organize it all into an old tv armoir that we are no longer using and the rest goes (ugh!). I did manage not to bring anything home this year from my classroom and did fit a good amount of what was in the house into the classroom cabinets but there just wasn't enough space. So, I am starting to plan a new storage system for next year. Everything alike goes together, not a new concept but in a classroom that everything goes in and out each week this could save me a bunch of time. So, first things first, I am going to designate each cabinet for a specific purpose. I have this done to a point but need it more detailed. My...