I love using Sight Word Mats!  They are a great work station for kindergarten.  I can easily change out the manipulatives and the students get practice with the sight words they need in a tactile way.  They are also an easy to differentiate work station!


I like using small Sterilite containers with snap lids to store manipulatives.  They are easy to store and stack!

Some other popular ideas are:
gems
play doh
wikki stix
unifix cubes
noodles



I use my coaching binder every day.  I love having all my information in one place.  This summer, I added an option if you want to have a digital option.  Included in the updated file is a link to a Google Slide file.



In terms of keeping a digital binder, I have found that what works for me is to have a folder for each grade level and then a folder for each teacher.  

You can copy and paste from the original Google Slide document to create additional Slide documents.  Make sure you right click 'copy' and then if you create a new slide set the PAGE SIZE as 8.5x11.  Then PASTE into a new blank slide.  

The digital option can be edited and adjusted to fit your needs.  When you open the file, you'll see that  many titles say ADD TEXT HERE or TEXT.  For this form, I use it to take notes.  

This form is for classroom observations.  You can add notes.  It is different than the paper version in the binder, because you type directly in it, and don't check boxes.

When I meet with teachers, I keep track of meetings and what my follow-up focus will be.  

This form, I titled OBSERVATIONS, and then kept track of the conferences/observations I've had with teachers.  I like creating one per grade level, but you could have all teachers on one form.  Since it is editable, you can decide what works best for you.




Word walls can take up quite a bit of room, so I want to make sure I'm getting the most out of them.

When I put a new word on the word wall, before the word is placed on the word wall, we say the word, spell the word, snap and spell the word and then I use the word in a sentence.  With student's Kagan partner, each student uses the word in a sentence.

I try and refer to the word wall all day long.  This means it has to be placed in a location where it is visible no matter where we are in the room.  If I'm at my guided reading table, I want to be able to reference it.

I started putting the words on different colors, and it has made a big difference in helping students pick out words.   I can say, "that" is the word that is on green, next to "so."  It has helped students find words much more efficiently.  I also find that I encourage the word wall more.

Since the purpose is to have the students take ownership of the word wall and use it as a reference, I have had them place the words on the word wall when we add new words.

Some ways to use the word wall daily are by incorporating it into a work station.  Here is a free download that I use with students to practice finding words on the word wall.

Another freebie that will help your students is a personal word wall.  It comes with two files (one that you can edit).  
I've also had students make their own personal word wall by using spiral-bound index cards.  Back-to-school time is the perfect time to find them!  Students (or the teacher) write each letter on each page.  As words are added to the word wall, students add to their personal word wall.



I love this fun link-up!  This month, I thought I'd share two teacher appreciation gifts and one of my house projects!  

For the teacher's at my children school, I will give them Starbuck's gift cards with this cute saying (Pinterest Inspired).
For the teachers at my school, I plan to do this again!  

 Click here to download the Teacher Appreciation tags!  I need to give a shout out to Cara Carroll's Fun Fonts!  They were used to make the tags :)

The prior year, I made these gifts for the teachers and brought soda pop to the lounge!  

We've been remodeling our house.  It hasn't been very expensive, because it has mostly been paint and our labor!  We had dark brown trim from 1985 and we are replacing or painting all the trim white.  This is an "after" picture in my office.  I had looked for months at gallery walls.  This is what I did!  (As I look at this picture, I think I need to make sure everything is straight)!


These are some of my favorite spring activities for grades K-1!

This weather work pack from Kindergarten Smiles has both reading and math activities!  

Pocketful of Centers has these bright and beautiful word wall cards!

Color Me Kinder has these fun calendar cards!

Linda Post has these fun sequencing games for letters and numbers. 

Yeehaw Teaching in Texas has a fun cvc work station game! 
 



This is one of my favorite weeks of the year.  I'm not a great cook, but I like making treats!  Each day, we have a school-wide theme and special guest readers for each classroom.  Our guest readers include local news anchors, local authors, college sports players, and our superintendent.   The students get to dress a certain way each day based on a book title.  For my reading groups,  I make treats.  Here is this year's theme days and the treats I will be making!

Monday:  One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
This is by far the easiest day!  We wear red and blue and our treat is Swedish Fish.

Tuesday:  Cat in the Hat
On this day, all students are allowed to wear a hat, and I bring Cat in the Hat Hats.  Over the years, I have found that this recipe is the easiest!  The Oreos provide a great base!  My son and husband are happy to eat the Oreo tops!  Thanks to the Fancy Frugal Life for the great idea!


Wednesday:  Green Eggs and Ham

These treats were made by a Practically Functional and are very easy!  

Thursday:  The Lorax Day
This day, I don't do food treats.  Students wear bright colored clothes and I give them truffla tree pens!  Embrace My Space has lots of ideas (both food and non-food) for The Lorax.

Friday:  Fox in Socks
Crazy Sock Day!  I found this easy to make fox cupcake idea this past fall. This year will be my first year trying it out.  Thanks to Simple as That for the idea!


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