Cyber Monday and Tuesday Sale!!!

Hope the school year is going well!  Don't forget to check out our store http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Teacher-Bin for Cyber Monday and Tuesday Sales!

YOGA!!!

Yoga has really grown in popularity over the last few years and for good reason.  I use yoga with my kiddos in special education and also strongly encourage classroom teachers to utilize it in their classrooms as a nice movement break for their students.  I have made up cards that I can use with my kiddos that can also easily be implemented in the classroom.  Yoga movements are easy to incorporate into morning meetings or circle times.  They can also be used during free play or as a station!
So why yoga? Here are just a short-list of the benefits of yoga!

• Yoga can help improve strength and balance
• Yoga helps kiddos with body awareness and a sense of self in space
• Yoga helps with breathing and awareness of breath
• Yoga helps with relaxation
• Yoga helps with concentration and focus
• Yoga partner poses promote social interaction
• Yoga can help with self-control
• Yoga can help with poor motor coordination for those in need- this point is especially important with my special education kiddos
• Yoga can help regulate the sensory system- thank you occupational therapists for helping with this point!
• Yoga can also help those with heightened anxiety
• Yoga is all inclusive - poses are meant for all abilities and can be adjusted to for each individuals

Yoga can also be done using a story format.  Doing certain poses as you go through the story.  (Example- you take an airplane (airplane pose) to visit your grandma.  She lives on a mountain (mountain pose) with her dog (downward dog pose).  The story can go from there and the children can help create!

I have also found fun books that can be read to students to promote yoga.  This book is by a physical therapist in Minnesota http://shop.livehappilyeveractive.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=37.  Her whole website is dedicated to yoga.  I have enjoyed using this book with my students as well!  

Yoga cards are a popular way to get yoga out in the school.  Our store has a new set of yoga cards out there for you to check out!

  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Yoga-Cards-926802 

October Fun and Free Play!!!

We are having glorious weather in Minnesota this fall!  We have to enjoy it all we can as we have LONG winters up here. Remember getting your students out for that break and free play that they need!  Remember free play and motor breaks are essential to learning.  They aren't just a luxury but a necessity!  It is easy to forget this aspect with all the requirements upon us!   We have added a bonus Halloween Free Play that can be purchased separately or in conjunction with the free play unit.
                                                                                                                                                                                     

Get this at our TPT store!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Teacher-Bin

Enjoying the weather with Baby Cade!

                         

Fall Ideas!!!

Now that fall is in full swing we wanted to share a few great ideas.  First off student love to play and learn so well through play!  So why not try some great fall themed games to add to your units!  These games can focus on helping children learn the necessary skills that are required of them.  We have a great Counting Apples Game!  Game is for partners to play and there are two different options, one option is for simple number identification and the second option is for simple addition.  We also have a great game for a Halloween theme called Monster Mash!  This game would remind you of your "war" game.  It focuses on numbers 0-21 and consists of Sets of Cards (6) - This many sets of cards allows you to play with several different groups of students. Each set has their own monster theme to add even more fun to the game. This way kids get to play with a different monster on different days. 

We also have monthly math homework with themes for the upcoming fall months.  They are great packets for the kiddos to work on their math with word problems, drawing, and coloring.  

There are also a few lessons that are available. The lessons include different math and literacy activities.  They also have art projects, snacks, songs, books, movement activities and finger plays.  You don't want to miss on these.

 

Morning Job Board

I have a 9-10 jobs the kiddos have to do each morning when they come into the classroom.  I have it posted on the bulletin board with a number and a corresponding picture.  Early in the year it has a couple of jobs,but weekly I start to add a job.  It takes the kiddos about ten minutes to do all jobs, but just to keep them focused I have" free time" as the last job.  There have been times when free time must be set up at a different time in my day because of a schedule, but I never omit "free time"  in a day.  It is fun to watch the kiddos get right down to business.  I have even had parents in the class say they set up morning jobs and bedtime jobs at home just like this!  The time I set up for morning jobs and free time is about 40 to 45 minutes.  Our day begins with Morning Jobs!


Morning  Jobs
1. Empty your school bag
2. Put away your BEE book  (parent information binder)
3. Drop any mail into mail basket
4. Hang up school bag and jacket
5. Choose your lunch preference
6. Choose milk preference
7. Morning sign-in binder
8. Estimation jar
9. Math card – Question of the day
10. Monthly Math journal-check this out with teacher
11. Free time

Free Time, Sign in Sheets, and Math Journals can be found in our TPT store!  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Teacher-Bin

Money, Money, Money!!!

One thing that is challenging for Kindergarteners is recognizing and differentiating between coins. Anyone who teaches money knows that kids have a hard time differentiating between coins especially the quarter and the nickel!  So to help with this I have a money chart that I utilized in my classroom.  When I first introduce money in the classroom the kiddos have a hard time!  This chart makes it easier for kids to work on their money skills.  I use different games and activities to work on money and the kids can refer to the chart when playing these games or activities.  The chart is mobile and I move it all over the room.  I would recommend a money chart to anyone who teaches money!

I also have money games available in my TPT store.  Check out the skeleton unit with the most recent money game!http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Skeletons-Dem-Bones-899170

Sale!!!

Come by our TPT store.  Everything is 20 percent off this weekend!  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Teacher-Bin

New Products in My TPT Store

I just posted a new activity.  It is a great job for the students to do as a morning job or centers, sequencing numbers and letters of the alphabet. I had several colored sets of letters and numbers and kept them in a plastic stackable drawer.  Often the kiddos played the games in the hall outside my classroom and lined them up along the wall.  When the kiddos sequenced the numbers they would line them up 1-10

below that 11-20 and the third row 21-30.  Below are the directions for...

Alphabet Cards

Uppercase & Lowercase

Number cards

1-50

Alphabet Cards Uppercase & Lowercase - Number cards 1-50 is a sequencing activity for each student in the classroom. Run each set of cards in a color. Separate the number cards from the alphabet in sandwich bags. By having a variety of colors children who work next to each other will not get their cards mixed up.

Alphabet cards are sequenced uppercase with the matching lower case below.

Number cards
Sequence numbers 1-30 early in the year, add the cards 31-50 later.

Another activity is the October math journal.  I love using math journals.  It is just another way to work on problem solving at a young age.

It has been a whirl wind month of August!

Baby Cade is doing great and growing like a weed.  My partner and daughter Chanda has been busy with Cade and learning all that it takes to be a new Mom.  I have been busy getting up some new products.  With school just beginning  I have put out a couple of activities I hope can help in the classroom.

Math Journal for September

The math journal for the month of September is great for problem solving with the kiddos.  It goes along great with Everyday Math in  " What's my Rule".  This activity is the stepping stone to playing the board game "Guess Who".

The kids love these activities, so get those brains working and solve the problems.

Another activity is the Cowboy/Cowgirl theme.  It was such a high energy theme for the beginning of the year, especially when the kiddos could be outside and use all the facilities to enhance the activities.  I also liked it during Halloween because it was a great unit for fun and costumes.  Check into both, I think you'll like them.

I have one tip for all teachers.  

With the cost of materials and the time to make or purchase them, I strongly recommend purchasing your own laminater.  I can't tell you how much money and time I saved on my own laminater.  I purchased it a Target, but I know you can get it at Walmart and a other places.  I am able to buy the laminating sheet in two sizes 8x11 and 8x17.  The laminating sheets are about $15.00 for a box of 50.  It is my favorite and best purchase.

Cade Nicholas Jothen

The great news, Cade is here!
Born August 7
He was 6# 12oz.  21 inches long
Every one is great and it is so nice to have him home.

Hop Back to School

School is right around the corner for some of you and others are already back!  We have some great activities for you to begin the year with a great jump start!
Check out our teachers pay Teachers storehttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Teacher-Bin we have a new back to school theme for you, along with a freebie!
Hop into a new school year is a theme unit to help you hop, jump and leap into the beginning of a school year.  The theme is all about frogs.  It includes books, art projects, games, songs and finger plays, along with snacks, and facts about frogs.  The theme also includes name tags, and rules for your new school year. If you want a great jump start to a new year you will enjoy this back to school theme.

Back to School Activity Set

FREEBIE GAME!

SALE Today!!!

In honor of Chanda's birthday and our 1 month anniversary on TpT everything in our store is on sale today only!  Be sure to check it out!  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Teacher-Bin

15 Products Available!

We reached our goal of getting 15 products online for the month of July!  It is our first month blogging, having a TpT store and learning lots about social media!  Our 15th product up is daily sign-in sheets!  Daily Sign in sheets are great for practicing first names and  last names.   It is a way to see improvements in handwriting as each month passes by.  Assign the students a number to write their name and the daily sign-in sheet become an attendance record!

At the bottom of each sheet any significant happening going on in school or the world can be noted and now you have a record events!

Copying a different color for each month is an organization tool to look at a glance at the separate months. It is a great assessment of handwriting and letter formation.

I like to have sheets run off for the month and ready to go when kids walk in the door in a 3-ring binder!

Special Education FREEBIE today!!!

We have a daily note freebie up on at our TpT store.  This freebie is great for special education providers who are on the go! As an itinerant provider with large caseloads and traveling to many schools it is hard to always have great contact with your families as you never seem to be in the same place.  I have created a daily note to keep better contact with families.  The note is simple with check boxes and a little section for a short note.  It worked great for me with parents, teachers, and case managers.  Share this with any providers you know! Get it here http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Special-Education-Related-Service-Provider-Daily-Note-799420

Classroom Management Tip!

A great classroom management tip is having a table “Captain”. The child who is the captain is the person in charge of the table for the month.  He or she must get materials for the table, ensure things are put away, and when games take place at the table, the table captain would have the first turn if we would play a table game. The students in my class use the school supplies community style so before having the captain, the kids would all be scrambling for materials. By having the captain in charge of materials it ensures the children are not all scrambling for materials.

I have always given the students new seating arrangements at the beginning of the month.  It promotes social skills, communication and cooperative learning.  To select my table captain the kids roll a die.  The one with the largest number (or smallest number) is the captain.  Eventually all children get a turn, but I continue to use the same process.

Now one of the jobs of the captain is to get the plastic table dishes  to the table.  It is a total organization tool for me and the kiddos.  I purchased 30 of the colorful dishes from the Dollar Store.  The dishes are used to play all table games at the table.  The kiddos have their own personal space to keep game pieces, cards, manipulative items.  If dice are involved in a game, they must shake the dice on their dish.   The plates are great for keeping art project pieces.  I don’t just use the dishes at the table, the kids use them on the floor for different games and projects.  The dishes are durable, stackable and easy to clean. The dishes are one of the best investments I ever purchased and is a super management tip.

Friday Trivia!

Happy Friday Everyone!  So happy that the weekend is upon us!  Summer weekends seem too few and too fast. It’s hard to believe it is the last weekend in July.  We posted a fun trivia book for a Friday!  This trivia book has over 300 questions.  It is an excellent tool for transition times.  It keeps chaos out of the room when there are a few minutes to spare, meaning excellent for classroom management.  You can even use this trivia as a question of the day book.  Go ahead and print it out and put it in a 3 ring binder to have on hand at all times.  You will be surprised how useful this book of trivia can come in.  Questions are most appropriate for K-3^rd grade students. The trivia is available at our TpT store.  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Primary-TriviaWho-knows-the-answer-792439  

Trivia Book!

 

Weather Charts!

We are finally getting some relief from heat and humidity around here!  It made us think of our ever changing weather in Minnesota and frustration with finding a great weather chart/bulletin board piece that encompasses all different aspects of weather that is efficient to use in the classroom as well.  We have created our own since finding one has proven to be a challenging and expensive task.  It is nice and easy as it allows the students to just color in the box corresponding with the weather that day!  We are selling the chart and bulletin board associated pictures for only a dollar!  A steal of a deal!  Be sure to check it out!http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Weather-Chart-Bulletin-board-andor-handouts-788623

With August quickly approaching we are very much in the business of birthday’s around here.  Almost the entire family (dogs included) have August birthdays.  A new little one arriving in early August will join the club too!  On the birthday thought we would love to share our fabulous birthday mini-lesson with everyone.  This lesson provides a very quick efficient way to make a student’s special day fun at school.  It includes information on a birthday book, birthday bag, games (working on skills), songs, and fun ideas to tie into the school day.  The chart provided makes the lesson move quickly and efficiently.  What could be more fun than getting recognized at school on your big day!  Check out the lesson at our Teachers Pay Teachers store! http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Birthday-Fun-787040  Not to mention we have birthday cake FREEBIES up as well.  You can pay a bundle at a education store for these but we have them for free and they are great to use as a bulletin board, on a ring, as a class book!http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Birthday-Cakes-787063

Birthday Student Picture with Birthday Hat and Cake!

Birthday Hat and Table Cloth!

Hey all!  The garage sale was a success!  We are so glad that so many people could come.  We are hoping that many educators picked up a lot of valuable stuff at the sale.  We are now back to adding products to our Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  A new product is up today!  Tally charts for working on counting days of school each month.  It can be used as a morning meeting activity or as a handout for each individual student.  Great for working on counting, counting by 5’s and understanding basic addition!  Check it out!  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Tally-Charts-for-Counting-and-Place-Value-784372

1/2 Price Day

Hey everyone!  The “education” garage sale has been going great!  Thanks to everyone who has come.  Tomorrow is the last day.  The sale will run from 8-12 and everything is ½ off!!!  Hope to see you there tomorrow!

Two More Products Up at TpT

Two more products are up on Teachers Pay Teachers!  The first product is a fun game working on simple counting and can be advanced to simple addition.  The next product is a fun bulletin board and/or class book idea.  It is about losing teeth.  What kid does not celebrate the big milestone of losing teeth!?!  Visit our TpT store to check both products out!  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Teacher-Bin

GARAGE SALE

 There is a HUGE garage sale happening this week.  If you are a teacher in the Minnesota you do not want to miss this one.  It runs Thursday through Saturday.  Starts at 8 in the morning. Tons and tons of stuff!  Check it out.

755 South Geneva Golf Club Dr. NE

Alexandria, MN 56308

It’s the end of the week!  Hope everyone is looking forward to their weekend.  Working hard on getting a garage sale together and a baby shower for Chanda.  A new game is up at our Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  Check it out.  Kids love it! http://pinterest.com/pin/11751649000850276/ (Share it with others)

OR

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Monster-Smash-Card-Game-for-understanding-higher-and-lower-numbers-768461 

Happy Thursday!  We are starting to get a hang of selling on TpT and having fun with it.  We have our first sale which we are thrilled with!   With all of the pinning we have been doing on Pinterest you can get a little off track.  So some new projects were done (maybe I should say attempted) for the new little guy set to arrive in early August.

Cardigans!

Bow Ties!

 A new freebie is up as well. One of the best ways to learn is through game and play.  Kids love to work on numbers/letters/words through games.  Many of these games involve holding cards.  With younger kids card games are so fun but one of the big frustrations is trying to hold those cards in their small hands and focus on playing the game!  You will often times see cards on the floor, tables, and  kids trying to hold them with two hands disrupting their concentration on the activity!   Check it out at The Teacher Bin’s TpT store. 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sturdy-card-holder-for-small-hands-766190

We wanted to update and add a picture of what this card holder looks like.  So easy and fun to use in the classroom!!!

Zelda Zero and the First 100 Days of School

We hope everyone enjoyed their Fourth of July weekend.  We were busy hammering out another lesson plan for our TPT site.  We are also figuring out how to get our lesson plans up on Pinterest now on several different boards!  The newest lesson plan is up and online.  A great lesson plan to get before the school year starts as it relates to the first 100 days of school.  You get games, activities, and book ideas included in this lesson plan so it is a bargain!  Enjoy Zelda Zero!  She is one wild gal!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Zelda-Zero-and-100-days-of-school-763727

Zelda Zero 100th Day of School!

Zelda's home in the classroom, looking but no touching!

Just wanted to add a few updates to this posting!  Just wanted to show off our Zelda Zero and our Zelda Zero’s home!  She is one wild lady!

FREEBIE!

Check out the freebie on The Teacher Bin TPT store.  It’s a fun game that helps kids match their uppercase letters with their lowercase letters.  Enjoy!

First Lesson Plan

Hey all! 

My first official Lesson Plan is on Teachers Pay Teachershttp://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Free-Play-Management-and-Procedures-751647 !  It is a lesson plan about free play in the classroom.  I love free play time for my kindergartners, but it is becoming an activity time that is becoming extinct in so many classrooms.   It is being replaced by longer rigorous lessons and testing.

Free play promotes creativity, problem solving, originality, and rich language experiences.  I could go on and on about the importance and benefits of  free play. The article by Alliance for Childhood is excellent and should be read.

I know many teachers dread the idea free play because it means bedlam!

Organizing free play time can make all the difference in making this an important part of the kindergarten day.  The key to teaching is procedures and management.

Cleaning and Organizing!

Today I finished cleaning out my  classroom and turned in my school keys for the first time in 36 years!  I must say it was a weird feeling. It is really bittersweet .

My desk never looked like this!   

It was often the drop off spot for everything.

I had a fantastic classroom and I loved teaching in it.  It still looks like it isn't empty. Can a classroom ever have enough storage?

Here is my classroom now!  I have  donated, recycled and given away.  I do feel like  I could star on a reality show about hoarders!

Hopefully by mid July I will be able to be ready to have a garage sale!  That is my husband’s goal for me too!