Back to School 2014

It's back to school time and I am super excited again this year with my teacher teams! I am also super excited with the decorations I just ordered from Just Artifacts I ordered the big paper lanterns in pink, purple and black patterns. I can't wait for them to arrive!! I ordered these....

Plus I ordered a solid color of each....so a total of 9 lanterns. I am lucky that I am allowed to hang things from my ceiling. :) I plan this year to just have a color theme, rather than an animal or character as I have done in other years. 

It has been a crazy few months for me with lots of time needed for family needs. I hope things settle down and I can get back to blogging more regularly. I have had some computer problems again so I am back to my ancient and slow computer. I can't really make or draw on it because when I do too much it freezes and shuts down. Once I really investigate computers I will replace the "good" one.

So this year I will re-do my room using the above colors. I think I will do black backgrounds on all my bulletin boards and use the colors for border. I want to keep it clean, bright and organized this year!!

I did a LOT of throwing away at the end of last year so hopefully this year my set up will be quick. Last time I was at the school my floors were being waxed so I couldn't get in to set up but hopefully later this week I can go in and take some before/after pictures. I love the before and after pictures dont you?

I have a few back to school boards on Pinterest that might be helpful with your planning and organizing. I also have as a brand new COLLABORATIVE board called "Elementary Doors and Bulletin Boards". The "rules" are simple....just pin elementary bulletin boards and decorated classroom doors. :) If you would like to pin to my collaborative board it's super easy!!

1. Follow me on Pinterest.

2. Send me your email/pinterest user name.

3. I will add you and you can begin pinning. 

Joy of Kindergarten

I have a few packets which might help you with your beginning of the year planning. There is a sale right now on Teachers Pay Teachers using the code BTS14. This will give you an extra percentage off. TPT Sales are a great time to stock up on products you will need throughout the year.

September Kindergarten Common Core Homework

I like to go through my "wishlist" and try to purchase some of the items I have saved. I also use the sale as a time to check out new teachers to TPT. I know some prefer to buy from only teachers with a particular amount of followers but I have seen great products from newer teachers as well.

I will be back soon to share my other new craft project and before and after pictures of my classroom. Enjoy the rest of your summer!!!

Weekend Giveaway!!

I am so excited.....did you see my new blog address? I am now www.joyofkindergarten.com. I have been trying to figure out the directions to set this up for days. It is far beyond my computer abilities...that is for sure!!
So I would like to have a little weekend giveaway. I am giving away one set of my October Kindergarten Homework Packet. It includes 4 weeks of homework with an October theme. Although I designed it with homework in mind I think it would also be awesome as morning arrival work, or something to do for kiddo's who finish early.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a fabulous weekend!!

Kindergarten Common Core Homework for October

Hi Sweet Teacher Friends!
I have two weeks of October Kindergarten Homework now available. (Monthly packet now available) Once all four weeks are completed they will be available as a bundle. I realize many of you prefer the entire month at one time but my crazy schedule has not allowed me to work that far ahead. I keep hoping things will slow down a bit but my house is just as hectic as it was the first week of school.

October Kindergarten Common Core Homework 

October Kindergarten Common Core Week 2

I have a few pictures to share and I hope to get them posted next week. We have been doing so many fun activities in our class!! I will also take pictures at the Ohio Blogger Meet-Up this weekend....can't wait!!!

Kindergarten Homework :)

Howdy-do!! I was all set with every intention to blog about my fab idea for making cute and inexpensive window coverings. But, I have not made it to the discount store to buy the materials. It is definitely on my 'list'. I will take pictures and post about it soon!! So instead I am going to share some ideas about homework. Homework in July?
As I prepare for my new group of students coming next year, new math curriculum, and a new co-teacher (who I am so super excited) to work with, I keep thinking about how I want to manage Kindergarten Homework. I have a few thoughts on homework and I wanted to share how I currently manage it with my students. I am a Kindergarten Intervention Specialist. I work with my students in the resource classroom and in their regular education classrooms. They cut an Intervention Specialist at our building for the Fall ( well luckily she got moved to another building and NOT cut) so I am starting with 11 students. In our district, that is a big case load.

Do you have your kinders complete homework?

How often do you send it home? Weekly? Monthly?

When do you start it?

I am in the process of creating monthly bundles of homework that align with the Common Core as well as with our school curriculum. This is a sample of homework activities I have previously created:

I send my homework packets home every Monday. I also send reminder notes home in the student's Communication Notebooks (they ALL have one, and they are sent home daily to be read, signed and returned). But, what about the students who do not return the packets? In my classroom the students earn stickers on a motivation chart. When they earn 5 stickers they can visit the 'treasure' box and pick something to keep. They also receive a certificate each week. The children who do not have their homework are always upset they do not have it completed. For my students who do not return their packet, no problem!! I have a homework center in my classroom. I feel that the concept of completing homework is important, it teaches responsibility. That said, it is really the parent's responsibility to complete it with their child and I feel strongly that the child should not be punished for it not being returned.
I begin my homework the 3rd week of school, after the children have settled into school a bit. The activities are quick and fun, aligned with the Common Core. However, one of the best components of having homework is that it reduced 'surprises' with the parents. Parents who complete the homework packets are always more 'in the loop' with their child's learning level.

Here's a sneak peak at one of my new classroom sets. It's about half finished! :)

Have a great week!!

:) Nancy

Kindergarten Homework Packet #2 Finally Finished

Thought of the Day...Believe In Yourself!

Good Morning Blogging Peeps! How are you this fine, fine day? I am enjoying my last day of Spring Break. Isn't that picture so cute? It's a bit cloudy here, but still warmer than the norm so I will happily take it! This is the mildest winter that I can remember, which is A-OK with me.
I should be cleaning again in the aftermath of my oldest daughter and her son moving out into their own apartment. Somehow the house is a mess again, EEK. Her apartment is very nice and in a good neighborhood. She is very close to the playground for Bryson. It is a bit sad for me though because I really did love having Bryson live with us. He is the sweetest baby ever....but it is a good thing for them to be on their own. And good for my other daughter because now she gets her room back. This is my all time favorite picture of Bryson. It's with our boxer Roxie. Isn't it the sweetest thing?

I finally finished my newest Kindergarten Common Core Homework Packet. I made a few small changes from the design of the 1st packet, and added a blank checklist to keep track of who returns it to school. I also included a B & W copy of every page for those unable to use color ink. I am very pleased with how it turned out. Here is a preview of the packet....

Head on over to Teacher's Notebook to grab a copy.
Sweet Sandi over at Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes gave me an award but I need to find some fellow bloggers to link up with so I will gather those and write about it later. Am I the only person that has a hard time creating links? I don't know why they are so hard for me but usually they don't work, ugh. Well, time to fill the coffee cup and go do some more exploring in blog world. I must say, I read about the best ideas! Sometimes I get so lost in reading I forget to follow people and then I can't find them again, I HAVE to do better with that.
Oh my, good grief Charlie Brown...I didn't realize I had written so much. Anyone actually read to the end of this, I should make an award for that....HA HA HA! Have a FABULOUS day!!