Thanksgiving Freebies and Station Rotation

It's almost the end of November and I have finally figured out a way to do a station rotation in my classroom that I LOVE! I'm using it for my Literacy Groups and Math Groups and it really works. It's just taking me some getting use to but the kiddos are all like ''let's do this!"

In fact, after the many years of teaching, I think I have finally found something that works. Hopefully it'll keep working! ;)

Here's a picture of the pocket chart (please don't mind their names---this was a quick put together and I'm still working on how to display their names without it looking so jumbled). The OCD in me is bothered by it but I'll figure that part out.

Basically, here's how it goes down. In the morning I do my literacy rotations. So the right side of the pocket chart displays their groups (the groups were able to pick their own group name) and then there are letters in orange. Each letter represents a particular station in the classroom. 
 
For example, letter L is the computers, G is the reading station, D is writing, etc. I (thank goodness) have only 23 kiddos this year (the past few years it's been upwards to 28 or so) so these stations will last 3 weeks!!!! I only do stations Tuesday-Friday b/c Monday is our block day.

Here is a picture of some of the basket stations:
These hold activities from my November Fun Pack (beginning sound sort and Pilgrim ABC order) as well as syllable practice and although you can't see it, one letter is a clipboard for write the room. You can see one of the cards hanging up though.  I'll post more later about what is in each station (for math and reading).

 
I just move the letters down instead of their names to the station they would go to each day. I love this. The kiddos love this. My IA loves this. Life is good.

Same concept for math. I just chose numbers obviously for the stations and that's what they do. 

Here is a picture of where I house my math stations:

Roll a dice games, counting out chips for ten frame practice, another write the room for math, and geoboards are just a few of the activities in these stations. Again these will last for 3 weeks as well.

I'm linking up with Tales From Outside the Classroom for a Thanksgiving Freebies Linky.

 

Here are a few of my favorite freebies for Thanksgiving!!

 

You can find the pattern for these awesome turkeys from Doodle Bugs Teaching!

Grab these free calendar cards from my Teacher's Pay Teacher's store!

 

Here is a Thanksgiving Number Match for free from my store as well!! Students match the number, number word, and ten frame!!

Winner Winner!!!!

I'm a bad blogger. Busy. Tired. Crashed completely out last night after FINALLY sitting down. Once down....I'm out. LOL

So that's why the delay in announcing the winner for my November Fun Pack.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Congrats Debbie! Check your email.

If you didn't win---it's 50% off at my Teacher's Notebook store until Thursday!!! In fact, the whole store is 50% off!! Why not?!

Hopefully back tomorrow with some pics of some awesome things we've been doing in class...unless I crash again! :)


Oh and a shout out to my friend Elizabeth over at Kickin' It in Kindergarten. Last week---I was totally having a moment (or a week) of really doubting what I was doing as far as teaching goes. I was in struggle mode and really not sure why. 

I read her blog post Why Do I Do This? and it reminded me of why I do this. It lifted me up and just gave me the ooomphh (word?) (sound?) that I needed for the rest of that week.

Thanks my dear friend Elizabeth for that. Much needed. Now to finish a project and then possibly crash (theme for the night!?)

 

A Weekend Recap & a Giveaway

Saturday has sort of snuck up on me. Sometimes I wonder where the time goes.....busy busy week it has been.

Here's a quick recap.

We worked on more labeling. The kiddos loved this and finished it up with the following sheet from Cindy. Click here for the Fall Labeling sheets.

 

I've been busy updating my November Fun Pack with Math & Literacy activities.

 

So the kiddos had new stations this week which included a few of the items from the pack:

 Pilgram Hat Alphabet

 

Pumpkin Pie Beginning Sounds

(Everything is in color in the pack---I'm out of ink :( but it prints great B&W) 

 

Want to win a copy? Just follow and leave a comment. Easy peesy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

We also had a blast reading The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The kiddos did such an awesome job acting out the story! 

 

I've also been busy creating some DIY projects for my house and for others.

My turkey for my front door. How adorable is he??

 

The initial M for a lady at church.

 

I've done a couple of other letters but don't have the pictures.

I've also made my Pie Sight Word Building Pack editable. Now you can create your own 4 & 5 letter words.

 

 

That's been some of my week...how has your week been?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

40% off today---November Fun!

 

Daily Deal today!!! 40% off at Teacher's Notebook. Click on the picture to take you to the deal!

The Week "End" Review & Currently

Yep of course missed Friday's Five for Friday (as usual) but I still want to share what I did with you this week. It's been a busy busy busy past two weeks so I compiled our pictures into collages as not to overwhelm you!

 We made monsters. Find the link here. 
Then we made slime!! How fun!
Of course we read Where's My Mummy? and sequenced the story and made our very own mummy's.
We also made spiders for a yummy snack!

We carved our pumpkin. 
Pete the Cat joined in with the Fall festivities!
We practiced 5 frames with our monsters and ghost and pumpkin erasers from the Target Dollar Spot.  

 

Now it's November (hard to believe). I'm not quite ready to "fall back". How do you feel about that?

Time for currently.

 

It's very quiet in here. I haven't been home long and the hubs isn't home, so I haven't turned on the tv or music or anything. The dog is napping. Enjoying the peace! :)

Thinking that I'm almost finished with my lesson plans but I probably need to finish those. Hmm. Also I have some DIY projects I'm currently working on so I could go in there and knock those out too.....but a nap sounds better.

I haven't been able to read a book for enjoyment in so long. I need a good book. Anything good you've been reading? On the Nook?

I'm pretty blessed. So not really needing anything in particular.

A yummy pin----this isn't helping with the wanting something to snack on.

Cheeseburger Wraps=yummy!

 I have made these and they are so good and so simple. The best part is---you really don't have to follow the recipe for these. Just add your own flavors to make it the way you want it.

You can find it here at Skinny Mom's Kitchen. 

 

 

 

My Truth Monday---Creepy Edition!

I love this linky by Denise over at Sunny Days in Second Grade. I missed last week's Fitness edition (darn! LOL) but can't miss this one. How appropriate for this week. Let's get creeped out. It is Halloween week after all!

 

Foods that gross me out:

Ok, I'm a picky eater. I am not a seafood eater (at all) and refried beans just are gross. The whole nacho cheese thing in a can...it's just weird looking at it. LOL. I'll eat it on nachos and stuff, but I rather not look at it or have to dip it out or anything else. It's weird. I know...shaking your head right? LOL

Scary movies:

Really rather not. I'm a jumpy person by nature. So the whole jumping out at me is a no no. I don't mind the blood and gore (Walking Dead Fan here!) but ugh, please don't play scary music and jump at me. 

Again, fingers in ears, one eye open...can't hear it...not so scary, right??? 

The Thing:

Snakes and roaches. Ugh. I can't even type why...they just freak me out.

Where Did October Go? Pumpkins and More!

This past week was a blur! I'm so glad that tomorrow is a teacher workday (and it's a workday with NO meetings!) I have lots I want to do tomorrow in my room, organize math stations, clean, organize, clean.....you know...that stuff! :)

Last week was a busy busy busy one...so here are some pictures of some things we did. 

This is our display wall. I love displaying their work like this....adds a little variety to the classroom. Here are our bats (we hung a few upside down!), candy corn man, and silly pumpkin projects. (You can see one spider in there...he sort of looks like a jelly fish!)

A close up of a few of our silly pumpkins! I love all of the eyes on the left pumpkin.

 

My students worked on the pumpkin project while I was at a workshop. Not only was I at this workshop...but another teacher and I were the ones LEADING the workshop. This was a totally new experience for me. I have never be in "charge" of a training before. Totally out of my comfort zone...I can speak in front of kiddos all day...not adults. But I had a blast. 

Donna (the other K teacher--if you are reading this Donna--HI!! :) and I had a lot of fun planning this workshop for the Pre-K teachers in the county about effective strategies to use in helping their students' transition to Kindergarten. We also provided TONS of resources to use in the classroom that aligned with the Common Core, as well as some fun make and take, grab and go activities.

Here are a few pictures..mostly me talking! LOL (Don't you love Donna's scarecrow labeling in the background!!??)

 

 Not feeling how the camera makes me look! LOL Stand up straight Nic!!

Not sure what we were chatting about here but it must've been something good!! They were making their own pumpkin labeling activity.

 

Back in the classroom---we also worked on sequencing the life cycle of a pumpkin. 

 

 Any good ideas on cleaning this tile board?? Expo marker cleaner doesn't do it justice.

Found these small orange paper plates at the Target dollar spot. I knew they would make great pumpkins. So I used the pumpkin life cycle and shrunk it down to 50% to fit the plates. I numbered the plates to help students "see" what to do. So once we made it on the board it helped those visual learners. 
 

 

I found the pumpkin life cycle cards in this pack by Nicole Ricca:

 

Here's a little freebie for you to help you finish out the last week of October! Click on the picture to grab it. Three different themes: Spooky, Monster, and Trick or Treat.