@teachingkinders5

My December sensory bin is prepped and ready to go! Students will pull a word card and use their candy cane to write the word in the salt. Then they will sound the word out and work on blending it together to read the word. Practicing reading and writing in one activity, is a win-win! #sensorybin…

Math Routines part 2 playing monster squeeze. This game really works to build an understanding of number sense. greater than, and less than. #math #routines #kinder #teachersoftiktok #numbersense

We played pass the apple as a new cooperative game during morning meeting. I made different themed cutouts to use for the entire year. If you drop the apple the game starts over. This is a wonderful game to build communication skills, fine motor control, teamwork, and community. #games #teamwork…

@The Art Institute of Chicago had so much to see! Truly...what a collection! I would definitely encourage you to visit if you are traveling to Chicago. #art #chicago #teacheronbreak #adventureawaits #beautifulthings

The Nederlander Theater was stunning! #chicago #theater #teacheronbreak #musical #adventure

Tried some more Chicago classics and they didn't disappoint! #teacheronbreak #chicago #foodtiktok #trysomethingnew #travel

I almost skipped out on this one, but am so glad I didn't! The views from @Skydeck Chicago were incredible! I even braved the ledge! #chicago #adventureawaits #teacheronbreak #travel #city

That's the view of the ledge at the @Willis Tower Chicago from the street level. Should I do it? #chicago #mustdo #teacheronbreak #adventureawaits #trysomethingnew

Another of Chicago's must do's checked off the list! Very walkable, lots to see, and just what my soul needed! #chicago #teacheronbreak #adventureawaits #travel #mustdo

When in Chicago you have to try a deep dish pizza. Are you team deep dish, thin crust, or traditional? #deepdish #pizza #trynewthings #chicago #teacheronbreak

Took an architecture river cruise with @firstladycruises and it was the perfect way to start the trip! The normal boat tour was rerouted due to a bridge being replaced. At first I was disappointed, but I quickly realized that it was a bonus experience. We went out on Lake Michigan for part of the…

I decided to treat myself to a getaway to Chicago for my track out break! Have lots of fun things planned, stay tuned! #chicago #teacheronbreak #travel #trip #adventureawaits

Here is how I plan to use the @hand2mind marble tracers for quarter two when I track back in. This will increase the level of difficulty and keep students engaged with this product. @Little Minds at Work has these amazing mats in her freebie library and I think they are perfect! Teacher tip: add…

Oops! I forgot to post this one. We had an apple tasting in class last week. We wrote our opinion about our favorite, "I like ___ apples the best." Then we did this adorable apple craft. #apples #writing #opinion #cuteness #kinder

Here's a few of our fire week books. The kids did a great job on them and actually turned out to be a great little assessment for me too, since I had the kids read them to me individually. Lots of skills were practiced with this activity including reading, vocabulary, fine motor, writing, and…

I always try to pack up seasonal resources and quarter specific items before tracking out. This way when I track in I can really focus on the upcoming quarter. It also gives me a sense of peace knowing that I don't have to worry about it during my track out break. This helps me not feel behind…

My @hand2mind marble tracers are going to be a staple in my classroom this year. Combined with the free activity mats from @Little Minds at Work I think I will be using them all year! For the first quarter we started just exploring, learning how to use them, etc. Once my students were confident…

I used this fire book to work on building an understanding of print concepts today, the heart words (I and a), and to build the connection between spoken word and print. Anytime the kids are so engaged and want to do more I'm going to call that a definite win. I think they were so excited because…

Let me show you all the things that I have in my calm down corner/safe place. Please know I did not get all these things at once. I have been adding to this collection for the last 3 years or longer. #safeplace #sel #kinder #calmdowncorner #teachersoftiktok

This is how I go about introducing my calm down corner/safe place. First, I read Calm down, Corner Here I come! Then, I have students join me on the carpet for an opportunity to explore all the "tools" we have available to use to help us calm down. We have a good discussion about toys vs. tools…

We also completed an apple book and we worked on writing color words. When students finished the book. We cut it apart to make it a book. Then they practiced reading it with a partner. #apples #kinder ##writting #reading #books

I had to hang these up! They turned out so cute! I don't have a ton of free wall space so I decided to hang these on twine in front of our class bathroom. It actually turned out perfectly. Teacher tip:use unexpected spaces and display student work. #apple #kinder #studentwork #display…

To wrap up apple week students completed an apple investigation that encompassed the skills we have been practicing this quarter in science and math. I'm very thankful I had a parent volunteer that was able to run the investigation in a small group while I did other apple related activities with…

I'm using these bookmark magnets this year to help my students find where they are supposed to write in their notebooks. Since they are kindergarteners this is all new to them. Right now I move the magnets, but I will teach them how to move them as the year progresses. It is also helpful to me. If…

We wrapped apple week up with our weekly poem and apple prints. I use weekly poems to support print concepts, heart words, reading, and other skills we are working on in class. #kinder #literacy #apples #reading #learningisfun

Here is a different way to practice matching numbers to quantities and using ten frames that we did today. Have students use a little bit of paint and a q-tip to dip and dot "apples" (use your imagination) on ten frames. It was a quick practice that engaged students because it was something…

We learned about apple orchards today and the process that takes place to get apples to the grocery store. Then we made our own class apple orchard. #kinder #apples #learningisfun #finemotor #fallactivities

Apple week is here!!!! Today we made these beautiful apples. We worked together to learn and label all the parts. I have already seen so much progress since day one! I was pleasantly surprised about how excited they are about apple week. #fall #apple #kinder #writing #iloveteaching

Sometimes managing all of the one-on-one assessments that we need to do in kindergarten is overwhelming. I find this especially true when the assessments are ongoing or given multiple times throughout the year. This is the strategy that I'm using to keep all my assessments in order and to be able…

Here are the ins and outs of the Rainbow Tiles Hundred Board from @hand2mind. This set includes two double-sided dry erase under boards, a dry erase marker with eraser, 100 rainbow colored tiles with numbers on the front side and blank on the back, and a detailed activity guide with several…