When it comes to making Christmas gifts for parents, you may be wondering what can your kindergarteners make? Well, there is always Christmas ornaments that turn out to be great keepsakes! But there are a few other fun ideas that rank high in my mind as Christmas gifts kindergarteners can make for parents. I like…
December usually means a whole bunch of craziness in the classroom. Usually. In order to keep my whole month from feeling like this… I like to keep as much routine as possible and add just a dose of magic. It’s a winning combination. What’s the right amount of magic you say? It’s what I have lovingly…
I love using literature to inspire projects in our classroom. Here is how we create our own version of the 12 Days of Christmas and turn it into a class book and an audiobook. It’s a fantastic project to take on in December – we like to think of it as “The REAL 12 Days…
Here are some favorite kindergarten videos on describing and naming 2D shapes. These videos are quick and very handy to use in lessons or during a transition. For example, you just might need a learning video to supplement what you’re teaching or a brain break video that can help get the wiggles out. Let’s look…
Teaching kindergartners how to cut – quick resources for teachers. Here are some bright ideas to teach how to cut for the students that need it in your classroom – be it with just a few students or as a whole group lesson. Along with teaching basics, often we need to teach students how to cut at…
Use simple hand motions and a basic office supply tool to help teach kindergarteners how to sound out words. You’ll be surprised just how well they learn to both segment and blend sounds on their own with practice. When it comes to growing readers and writers, and growing up writers who will attempt to sound…
Work on beginning reading skills with a fun building block activity. This free onset and rime activity is perfect for kindergartners to build CVC words using word families and mini Jenga-style building blocks. To build strong readers in kindergarten, we need to ditch the worksheets. We need to actively learn how to read by: reading…
Let’s teach how to rhyme with these rhyming activities for kindergarten. Here are 8 free rhyming activities you can use with your kindergarten students in guided reading groups so they can learn how to hear and identify rhyming words. Teaching kindergartners to hear rhyming words I once thought that rhyming was just something that kinders…
Teaching math strategies in kindergarten may be easier than you think. Here are the top math strategies for kindergarten that you can use in your lessons and the questions you should be asking. I’ve got everything I’m sharing with you today wrapped up in my Guided Math Pack for kindergarten. That way you can use…
Kindergarten teachers want to know: Which iPad case is the best to use with kindergartners? Well, I asked and you all answered. Here is the #1 best iPad case for kindergarten classrooms. Let me share a little about this iPad case and why it works for kindergarten. I’ll be sharing affiliate links to Amazon so you can…
Positive behavior recognition is an incredible motivator in kindergarten. Here is my simple tip on how to use “smelly spots” as a way to reward amazing behavior in the moment. I believe my students want to know what is expected, can reach my high expectations and thrive on positive behavior reinforcements. Standards are set high…
Let’s get real about literacy centers. And more specifically, literacy centers in kindergarten. We all understand the need for “centers” because we want our students to be occupied and (ideally) learning on their own so that as teachers, we can meet with small groups of students. But when did “centers” become one of these things:…
Create a year-long literacy center using non-fiction books that kindergartners love. Here is why and how I created a literacy center based around non-fiction in my kindergarten classroom. Plus, you can get your hands on all of the printable materials for free so you can make this center for your classroom too. Why a non-fiction…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a plants-themed literacy center activity set to get you started. This growing plants non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy center is, what materials you’ll need…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is an outer space-themed literacy center activity set to get you rolling. This space non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy center is, what materials you’ll…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a reptiles and amphibians-themed literacy center activity set to get up and running. This non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy center is, what…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is an ocean-themed literacy center activity set so you can try this center in your classroom. This ocean life non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a farm-themed literacy center activity set so you can give this center a try. This farm life non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a job-themed literacy center activity set so you can give this center a try. This occupational non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy center…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is an insect-themed literacy center activity set so you can give this center a go in your classroom. This bug non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is an apples and pumpkins-themed literacy center activity set so you can implement a non-fiction literacy center too. This apples and pumpkins non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a dinosaur-themed literacy center activity set so you can implement a non-fiction literacy center right away. This dino set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a construction-themed literacy center activity set so you can start up your own non-fiction center. This construction non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a human body-themed literacy center activity set so you can get started in your classroom. This set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy center is,…