Free for All Friday!

Here is my FREEBIE!  It goes with Scott Foresman Reading Street Unit 1 Lesson 1 "The Little School Bus."  Of course, you are all welcome to use it! Just make a letter die (Aa - Ee) with a Sharpie and a foam or wooden cube.

Little School Bus

Three for Thursday

I LOVE cute fonts!  My favorites are:  DJ Squirrelly, DJ Bumble (both from DJ Inkers), and FanciHand (free).

My favorite blog:  Wow!  I couldn't possibly choose just one!  I just love being able to hop around and check them ALL out!

My favorite online resource: Man!  This one is hard too!  I have lots of favorites, but I guess Pinterest is my newest favorite!

Where It All Goes Down Wednesday

I'm posting some general photos.  I'll try to post more specific close-ups later!

This is the view from my door, which goes out to the playground.  We don't have a hall!  Just sidewalks!

The table under the TV usually has 2 more computers.  These were damaged in the tornado and I haven't gotten them back yet.  Hopefully, they will be replaced with new ones!

This is my teaching easel.  Behind the easel is my iPod player and song props.  The shelf behind my chair is the Block Center.

This is my main focus wall.  The big white spot is where my LCD shows.  I'm imagining a SmartBoard here.

The tree house is my Reading Center.  Just to the right of it, the gray bins house my Word Work and other Literacy Centers.

This is my Word Wall with no words on it yet!  Under that is the Drama Center and Listening Center.

To the right of the restroom door is my Math Center tubs.

This wall has my Writing Center to the far left.  You can barely see it.  Then my Art cabinet and the kiddos cubbies.  Above all this is the area where I display student work.

Teacher Talk Tuesday

My advice for new teachers...

1.  Have fun every day!  No matter how stressful it all is, you've got to laugh and love what you do.  If you don't love it, do something else!  You will lose your mind if you don't!
2.  Don't ever think you've got it all down pat.  You don't.  Ever.  Keep reading professional books, going to conferences and reading these blogs.  The field of education is constantly changing and to be a great teacher, you have to keep up!
3.  You can make the parents be your supporters or your enemies.  It's best for everyone if you hold your tongue and make nice.  Be professional, respectful and friendly!
4.  Lastly, many kids today have problems at home.  Try to be understanding and be that friendly face that they need.

Blog Hoppin' - Meet the Teacher Monday

Tell us a little something about you...

My name is Karen and I'm tired!  It's amazing that I go to school early every day, stay late every afternoon and work every night , but I still can't get it all done!  Having said that.... I absolutely LOVE teaching Kindergarten!  That sounds kinda crazy, but I wouldn't want to be doing anything else!

How long have you been teaching?

This is my 26th year!  That sounds crazy (and makes me sound really old) but every year goes by SO fast!  Things have changed so much in Kindergarten over that time.  I love reading professional books, going to GOOD conferences and keeping up to date on the newest things!

You might not know...

I'm a terrible singer!  I love to sing, but I'm really bad.  One of the great thing about Kindergartners is that they don't know it!  They think I sing beautifully!  My favorite song for school is Jack Hartmann's "Silly Rock Star!"

What are you looking most forward to this school year?

I truly love every day with my students!  We have a great time!  But, I guess my absolute favorite thing is our end-of-the year program.  I feel such a sense of pride as I watch them stand on that stage and sing their hearts out!  

What do you need to improve?

I really want to work on my Math centers this year.  I'm determined to get it right!  Last year, I never got all the pieces to fit!

What teaching supplies can you *not* live without?

I LOVE my wireless headphones!  I had given up on the listening center (UGH!  All those cords!) until I found these!  The CD/iPod is right next to my small group table, so I can control it without getting up.  The kids are listening to the story WAAAAAY across the room, away from my small group.  They are expensive, but well worth the money.  Get them!

I'm a real geek, so some of my other favorites are my iPod, my Mac, the Elmo and LCD.  If my magic wand really worked I'd also have a SmartBoard!  Some of my less technical favorites are colored Sharpies, huge Post-It chart paper, my smelly markers, and of course all my books.  I have a thing about books.  Oh, and glitter!

And the winner is...

The winner of my book give-away is ... DONNA GLYNN!!!!
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this give-away!