First Week of School

We were very busy this week. We started Eureka Math. This is a picture of the kids practicing counting fluency.

We counted to 100 with Jack Hartmann.

We made special glow bracelets with an AB pattern.

We played letter sound splat. For this game, I call out a letter sound and the kids have to hit the letter that makes that sound. Then they flip over the letter card. 

Then, we used the letter sounds we practiced to read the Bob Book Mat.

Later in the day, we had choice time. During choice time the kids can choose different toys to play with. They develop their social skills during this time. 

I have an awesome group of kids and we are going to have a great year. 

Kinder Graduation 2019

Wow! This year has gone by so fast. Kindergarten graduation was today. The kids sang two songs and recited two poems. 

Here is a picture of the hall where we had the graduation ceremony.

The kids made a handprint keepsake about Kindergarten. 

The kids also made these cute graduation people. The kids wrote their favorite memory from Kindergarten on the paper.

This is one of my student's art masters portfolio. They also took home their music masters portfolio.

This is a photo booth backdrop.

These are their graduation pictures.

This is an adorable cake that has each child's picture and name on it. 

Here are some of the kids in their beautiful outfits.

This is my class (all 28 of them). They are adorable. 

Congratulations to the Kindergarten Class of 2019!

Wild Things 2019

Last week my students performed our spring play, Where the Wild Things Are. It was adorable. I wish I had taken more pictures, but it is hard to take pictures while directing a play. 

Max

US Symbols

We have been learning about US Symbols in Social Studies. We read about a different US symbol each day.

Then, we make an anchor chart with facts from the book we read.

Finally, we color a page in our US symbols coloring packet. 

Flexible Seating

I am currently taking a class about inclusive education and I have been learning about Universal Design for Learning. I have been thinking about using flexible seating in my classroom for the last three years. I tried it with a group of kids I had three years ago and it was a disaster; the kids fought over who got to sit where and I did not have a lot of options for where the kids got to sit. After a week, I gave up because it was too hard. Since then, I have seen a few teachers use flexible seating and it worked for their kids. So, I decided to try it again. I raised two of my tables to be belly desks. I lowered (took the legs off) two of my tables so that kids can sit on the floor, and I left two tables at the normal height. 

Here is a picture of my kids working.  In this picture you can see one belly table, one regular height table with stability balls as chairs, and one low table with cushions.

Here is one of my students using the stability ball.

This little guy is at the low table and is sitting on a cushion.

These two kids are at the belly table.

This is the carpet area. I teach most of my lessons from this carpet and then the kids go back to their tables for independent practice. I got clipboards for my kids to use when they are on the carpet.

Here are my little ones working. They are starting to understand what seating works for them.

I also got fidgets at the Dollar Tree. There are enough for all of the kids to have one it they choose to. I had to teach the kids how to use fidgets appropriately and they understand that if they misuse the fidgets, then they have to put them back. 

I made a cool down corner. This is still a work in progress. I need to get a timer, a few calming sensory bottles, and crayons and paper so the kids can draw how they feel.