Boggle Jr.

Do you want a great game for Word Work in your classroom?

A game I love to have is Boggle Jr.   Anytime I go to a garage sale or a Goodwill it is the first thing I look for, I  can't pass up the game!   I like the picture cards that come with the game, they have a picture and word on each side.  I try to stay away from the Boggle Jr games that have the tray with the  built in clock, it's a  distraction!  The kiddos spend more time winding the timer than playing the game.  We don't play it according to the directions.  I give it a name like

Word Work Boggle Jr. or _____ Word Contest

Contests are very motivating!  I have material list and directions on how to play .

Materials needed for each kiddo

A Boggle tray

Word sheet 

Picture cards

letter cubes

How to play the game:

The kiddo picks a picture card and sets it on the Boggle Tray.

Next finds letter cubes to spell the word on the tray.

Once the word has been spelled, the kiddo must show a buddy at the table, that the card word matches the cubes.

If it's correct, the kiddo can write the word on the Boggle sheet.

Winning the Game

I have many options!

Single game-I have a certain number of words that must be written on the Boggle sheet. 

Team Game-A table group must have a certain number of words written before the time is up.

Class Game-Set a goal for the amount of words to be written for the whole classroom.

Of course if you win there is always some type of reward!

You can find the form in my TPT store

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Teacher-Bin

Movement Break

My teacher friend introduced me to the great sights on You-Tube, Kids Dance 2.   It is perfect for all the restless times or transitions in a day.  I put it up on the smart board and the kids start dancing!
They love the music and the movement.  You need to preview the song and dance you want to use.
The kids have ideas of what they'd want, but if you are prepared with your list all goes well.  One of the favorites in kindergarten is You're a Gummy Bear.   It is so funny to watch those little kiddos show their moves.

This is a great transition break. It really depends on your kids and the restlessness.  At the end of the year I used this several times!  The videos are about 3 minutes long and by the time they finish dancing a couple of videos they are ready to work.  

photo credit: Dick_Morgan via photopin cc

Classroom Game-Give the Dog a Bone

 Often times our noon also means no outside time. We play the Smart board game "Give the Dog a Bone".  It is a timed game on a blank 100 square grid. The object of the game is to locate the correct square for a number that is shown.  The game is on a timer. The kiddos are put into teams, for my kids it is  the tables they sit at.   Four chairs are lined up at the side of the smart board, as soon as the timer begins the kiddo in the first chair goes up and located the number space, then it the next child and that continues until one minute is up.  I keep track of the total score numbers found.   We play 5 rounds.  This may take a couple of days, but the kids sure love it.  The kids are very attentive and get excited during play.
Table 1=____ _____ _____ _____ _____
Table 2=____ _____ _____ _____ _____
Table 3=____ _____ _____ _____ _____

I  have rules during during our game
No one can tell the players the square the number should be in.
Everyone is good sports during the games.

At the end of the 5 rounds the winning kiddos have their names put on an award in the hallway.

You can get the award in my TPT store as a Freebie

Morning News Charts

My summer "Back School Blog" choice is Morning Charts.

My morning charts are "News" of the day.  I know I could do it on a smart board, but my kiddos love taking home the chart for their special helper day.  As the year goes on the chart becomes a learning text.  I usually don't write the whole message until the kiddos are in the circle and it becomes interactive.

 What I do is get the school calendar for the  and then buy 4 charts.  I just write the greeting, date, and important events for that particular date.

As the year goes on I start to leave out words, dates, etc. and the special helper fills in the missing information.  By the end of the year I like the special helper to fill in most of the information, including the greeting.

The chart is written for the day, but does not go home until the next day, because we read the old news first and then tear it off and start the new day.

Classroom Awards

Don't  throw away those old youth and high school trophies you have won! They are wonderful awards in your classroom for competitions, tournaments, or positive reinforcements in your classroom.  The kids will do anything to win a trophy or even have it home for the night.

 Some of the ways I use a trophy in my classroom are...
 1. Student of the Day or Week (kind, helpful, good listener)
 This is a Traveling Trophy.
 2. Artist of the Week
 3. In the Winter I have various Tournaments in which trophies are won by the kiddos
 4. End of the year- Minute to Win It games

 Before I give away the trophy I remove the plate on the trophy and replace it with a sticker or a piece of paper for the current award. It doesn't matter what the trophy top is, the kids are just excited to have it.

 It is funny when the following year teacher tells me the trophy has come back to school for sharing or "Student of the Week".

 Don't get rid of those trophies, use them in your classroom, but save a few for your own children, because they will want to bring them to  school for their own sharing time to show their classmates!

A Strategic Game-Yikerz!

Yikerz! is a  fun game I came across at the Minnesota Kindergarten convention. I watched different people playing it with one of the vendors and thought I've got to have this game, so I bought one!  The kiddos in the class loved it.  They would gather around and watch the two players playing it.  There were always squeals when the Yiker pieces collapsed together.  The next year I bought another one.  The kiddos use strategy to play the game.  I use it in centers during the middle to end part of the year. 

It was a 2010 Mensa Favorite Brainy Kid Winner

It says it is a 14+ age, but my kiddos had no problem with it.

The Contents Include
4 game board triangles 
20 Yiker pieces (Magnetic triangles)
storage pouch

The object of the game is players take turns placing their Yikerz on the game board.  During a turn, if two or more Yikerz collapse(attract) together into a group, the player must take the whole group back.  The first player to get rid of all their Yikerz first wins the game!

The 4 triangle game board pieces can be set up in different configurations and levels, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced.

It also has fun alternatives to play the game.

If you like a fun game try Yikerz!

Morning Music Playlists Throughout the Year

Every year I have a music list set up on my ipod with a variety of songs.  Each year I‘ve tweaked the lists some.  I try to match monthly happenings to each playlist.

Minnesota’s Kindergarten Association hosts a great kindergarten convention and has had all of the music artists as guests, so to say the least I have many CD’s.   The playlists really gave me a great way to use many songs.

I love music and it teaches so many skills.  It’s also fun to watch and listen to the kiddos learn the songs.  They have favorites too.

Starting in October I play Let’s Count to 100 by Jack

Hartman every day after lunch/recess.  They kiddos have movement and seem to be ready for the afternoon activities.

Some of the morning songs I use instruments.  The kiddos love to use them.  I actually have a chart with a picture of each instrument and I pair it with student table numbers, so I always know that everyone has had a chance to play the different instruments.

To find my list stop by my Teachers Pay Teachers store and get it for FREE!!!  Be sure to comment on it and let me know how you liked it!