This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like A...

I'm not going to lie but I have been rockin' out to this song all summer long. This song is probably going to be my summer anthem. I just can't get enough of it! This summer's gonna hurt as the first day of school is fast approaching.

The summer of 2013, I traveled to Chicago. I completely fell in love with the Windy City for two reasons: 1. The Weather and 2. The Breathtaking Views. Also, the pizza and hot dogs are to die for.

   

                         
The summer of 2014, I traveled to New York City. I have been dreaming for years to step foot in the Big Apple. I enjoyed every inch NYC had to offer. It truly is a great city to visit. For the first time ever, I was able to be a part of the "Today Show" where I saw Matt Lauer and Martha Stewart. Ever since the day the world change on September 11th. I've been wanting to visit ground zero. It was emotional to visit the 9/11 museum. I was fascinated by the stories of people who were there about working together to save as many life's as possible. I just love this statement that is on one of the walls in the museum. "We came in as individuals. And we'll walk out together." 

This summer, I've decided to stay in town to fulfill one of my hopes and dreams. For the last 18 months, I have been hard at work getting my Master's in Educational Administration. It has always been a dream of mine to receive my Master's to one day become an instructional leader in the near future. I am proud to say that I fulfilled my dream this summer by receiving my Master's. Many have ask if I am thinking about leaving the classroom after getting my Master's. The answer is NO! I am in no rush to leave the classroom to become a principal. I am still a teacher at heart. I still want to fulfill students hopes and dreams in the classroom. Someday in the near future, I would love to become a school principal.

This upcoming school year, I will be moving from first grade to kindergarten. I am so excited about this new journey as a kindergarten teacher. I have loved all of my years in first grade. Professionally, I have learned a lot about teaching first grade that will come with me to kinder. First grade will always hold a special place in my heart. For now, I have been over the moon about the movement. My creative mind has been working at 60 mph about the things I would like to create and implement this school year.

First, the school year can not begin without a classroom theme. Before the end of the school year, I start thinking about the next school year theme. In my classroom, I have always taught my students that there is a purpose for whatever I am teaching you. When it comes to choosing a classroom theme, I think about the purpose behind it. For instance, last year I did the superhero theme. That year, the school district was adopting a new math textbook/curriculum and I was going to be implementing a new philosophy for teaching phonics in context. I wanted my students to buy into the fact that even though we are going to trail blaze through this new curriculum we will be superheroes at the end.

This year, I have chosen a "Texas" theme. The purpose behind this theme brings me back to the days when I was a fourth grade teacher. Teaching the four regions of Texas was a blast when we learned about the past & present history that this great state has to offer. As I moved to the lower grades, it was a struggle many times when I would ask "What city do we live in?" "What state do we live in?" and I didn't receive the answer I was hoping for. As a new kindergarten teacher, I want to set the foundation and instill in my students the correct answer to those two questions. I also want to feed their brains about important information about Texas that will hopefully carry with them to fourth grade.

I've been adding to my TEXAS theme collection all summer. (****4th of July SALE*****) :)

Selecting a classroom theme is important to help motivate and stimulate your students. A theme can create a classroom environment that is comfortable, friendly, colorful, and create a positive learning and social environment for your students.

TPT is having a Mega Back To School Sale starting August 3rd and 4th. Go check out my store and save up to 28% off.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK TO READ ALL ABOUT MY BACK TO SCHOOL RESOURCES!!!

We Love Back-to-School SALES!!!

TPT will be having a Back-to-School sale starting August 3rd & 4th. Go check out the amazing sales that your favorite TPT authors have created. You will save 28% off your purchase. I will be having a back-to-school sale on all of my products.

Click here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Unforgettable-First-Grade

I will also be taking advantage of this sale myself. I can't wait to add to my teaching tool box. :)

MY BACK TO SCHOOL ADVENTURES

It has been a long time since my last post. (Sorry!!) As many of us are coming back from our summer vacation, hopefully you had a chance to relax and rest. I know its hard to start thinking about school but it will be here before you know it. Nooooo!! I have been thinking about the what & how when it comes to the changes I will make in my classroom to deliver a successful school year. This summer, I have been finding the time to catch up on some educational reading. YAY!!!

I have decided to take you along for the ride on My Back to School Adventures as I am embarking on a new chapter in my educational career. In the next four weeks, you will have a chance to read all about the craziness that comes with preparing for back to school. 

STAY TUNE!!!

Memoirs of a Goldfish {Freebie}, The Watermelon Seed {Update} & My 1st Grade Memory Book {Freebie}

4 more days of school!!! YAY!! As summer vacation awaits, my kiddos will be reading one of my favorite books before we close out for the year. Memoirs of a Goldfish is such a great picture book with bright and colorful illustrations and a clever but adorable goldfish. This book is written in a diary format which will work well this last week of school. In writer's workshop, we have been learning and creating personal narrative pieces. I chose this book because it fits well with small moments. I want my kiddos to reminisce about small moments we shared this year.

I created a reader's response flip book for my students to respond to this wonderful book that has a true meaning. Students will be actively engage with this book by following a clever goldfish as he recounts 14 days of his life starting with day one. In the end, students will be able to learn the meaning of friendship and the value of sharing one's life with others

You can download this freebie below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Memoirs-of-a-Goldfish-Readers-Response-Flip-Book-1876543

This past week, my students just loved The Watermelon Seed. I had a great time reading aloud to my students to this hilarious book about a crocodile eating a watermelon seed. 

You can download this freebie below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Watermelon-Seed-Readers-Response-Flip-Book-1870568

Are you looking for a first grade memory book? You have come to the right place. 

You can download this freebie below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/My-1st-Grade-Memory-Book-1872676

The Watermelon Seed {Freebie} & Adventurous Addition

This week I will be reading The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli. This book is one of my favorite books to read before summer vacation. The Watermelon Seed is just right for beginning readers and the kiddos are always on the edge of their seats with the crocodile's humor, but thats not all, the illustrations are to die for.

I created a watermelon reader's response flip book for my kiddos to response to this engaging but humorous story.

I plan to celebrate this funny story with a watermelon treat for my students. You can find this freebie by clicking on the link below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Watermelon-Seed-Readers-Response-Flip-Book-1870568

Understanding addition helps students understand the role of mental arithmetic in developing numerical reasoning. Students should experience the kind of lessons that help them learn basic facts in meaningful contexts and through reasoning rather than rote memorization and isolated drills. This addition unit focuses on ways to help students become more fluent with small numbers and emphasizes the importance of such fluency as a foundation for working with larger numbers.

{Back to Basic-Understanding Addition}

This addition unit covers the following standards:

-Recognize instantly the quantity of structured arrangements.

-Use objects and pictorial models to solve word problems involving joining.

-Apply properties of operations to add two numbers.

In this addition unit you will find:

-Addition Vocabulary Posters

-Math Centers

-Storyboard Activities

-Addition Stories Book

-Addition Printables

-Addition Craft-Ladybug

-Addition Craft-Butterfly

This addition unit is an introduction to the understanding of addition. Your kiddos will be actively engaged in the math centers and addition crafts that this unit has to offer. 

 You can find this by clicking on the link below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Adventurous-Addition-Math-Centers-Printables-and-Crafts-1869873

Morning Journal

Have you ever had a student who says "I don't know what to write about"? I have heard this statement many times in the classroom especially during writer's workshop. When we transition to writer's workshop, many times students have what we call writer's block. Currently at my campus, we have students who struggle with the elements of writing.  Since leaving fourth grade, I continue to see students:

-not capitalizing the first letter in a sentence
-capitalizing words in the middle of a sentence
-not using appropriate punctuation marks
-spelling, etc

I am a strong believer of implementing morning journal as a morning routine in the classroom. Since the implementation of morning journal,  I have seen students answering in complete sentences, beginning a sentence with a capital letter, and end sentences with the appropriate punctuation mark. Kiddos are not afraid to approach any writing that may come their way because through morning journal they have built extreme confidence as a writer.

First thing in the morning, my students start their morning routine which consist of unpacking, unstacking their chair, and sharpening two or three pencils for the day. Once they complete these small tasks, kiddos take out their morning journal from their caddies. Starting each class with an open-ended morning journal prompt gives kiddos, who sometimes have difficulties with written language,  a time to use previously taught mini-lessons on spelling, punctuation, and other grammar mechanics.

Setting a purpose for writing is so important when implementing morning journal. Morning journal enables me to develop a personal relationship with each and every students in my classroom. I make time to respond to each journal entry every day, so we have a sort of an ongoing dialogue. It always excites me when I see my students expressions when they read a note from me.

Morning Journal can also play a valuable role in creating and planning for future mini-lessons. Student writing can tell you many things such as spelling patterns, using punctuation marks, recognizing/identifying high frequency words, and many more. I can honestly say I sometimes have a hard time fitting everything into one day. One thing I tend to forget is handwriting. Handwriting lessons are beneficial for students especially since we are building the foundation for our future fourth graders when taking the STAAR writing.

                 
I had the opportunity to create a mini morning journal packet for my students. The packet includes open-ended prompts for each week in the month of May. Each prompt will help students not only with writer's block but with handwriting as well. It's important that our kiddos write every single day. The prompts could be extended to your writer's workshop curriculum. I always include share time to build the confidence and set a purpose for writing.

          https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/May-Morning-Journal-1752354

Tick Tock, Tick Tock Telling Time

My students are gearing up for our unit on telling time. Telling time is so important to our kiddos. I've taught fourth grade for two years and experience many students who have difficulties telling time. It's my job as a first grade teacher to build the foundation needed for the upper grades.
First, I want to give kudos to all of the hard working STAAR teachers. I teach in Texas and this week teachers across this great state will be administering the STAAR test. These students have been hard at work gearing up for this very important test. Teachers from Kinder thru Fifth grade have played in important role in preparing our students. Good Luck!!!
This year, my goal was to enhance my academic word walls. I've created a reading, math, writing, science, and social studies word walls. This is my campus expectations for all classrooms. I enjoy making mini anchor charts with academic vocabulary for my academic word walls. This makes it visible for students and basically reminds me to use it while teaching. Anchor charts are so important in the classroom because it is a visual representation for students to refer to while learning a new concept.

For my next math unit, I wanted to brighten up my math wall so I created these bright vibrant anchor charts for telling time. The anchor charts include: Analog, Digital, Clock Hands, and O'Clock posters.

 After creating these telling time posters,  I got to thinking since the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be testing this week. I will be with my students for a long period of time. NOOOOOO! Just Kidding!!

 


During this unit, I wanted to engage but teach my students about time by capturing their attention with some arts and crafts. So, I created a froggy time craft and caterpillar time craft for my kiddos. This would hopefully keep them busy during this weeks testing.
You can purchase these telling time posters and crafts below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Tick-Tock-Telling-Time-Posters-Crafts-1818740

These past few weeks, I've been reading Texas theme books such as The Three Little Tamales, Little Red Hot, and Armadilly Chili.

 


This Friday, my students will be off for the Battle of Flowers holiday. This is a San Antonio holiday. Every April, San Antonio holds a 10 day party called Fiesta. There are hundreds of events held all over the city, including parades, fireworks, games, rides, and so much fun! San Antonio celebrates Fiesta to honor the heroes of the Alamo and to commemorate the Battle of San Jacinto.

My class will be having a Mini-Fiesta this week to celebrate the each of the Texas theme books I read this week.