Daily 5 Book Study: Chapter 2

Welcome to my thoughts on chapter 2!

1. Do you trust your students? How do you build this trust?Yes, I trust them with their own learning and I trust them to do what they are suppose to do after we have sent our expectations and practiced, practiced, practiced.  Are you able to trust them and allow them to be independent throughout all aspects of your day?I am not sure about this one yet. It will depend largely on the group I get and what they are capable of. I always start off giving kids independence to choose. If they can't handle it, I need to make the choices for them. I agree with the sisters though that we are all more apt to learn more when we are giving a choice on what/when to do things. It is like the old joke where you let your husband THINK he made the decision. Are you going to be able to stay out of their way? This is the most difficult for me. I still argue that I am not type A but I think others would disagree. I do like to micromanage just about everything... I am really going to work to stay out of their way though. I find when I can get out of the way, I am amazed at what the kids do/say!

2. How much choice do you give your students throughout the day? (would love for you to share some examples!) I think this will be different in kindergarten. In third, I would often allow students to pick their own seat on the rug, pick their own partner, and pick their own math rotation with the framework of my expectations. I am a big proponent of making good choices. If a student was not making good choices during a group activity, they had to continue on their own at their seat. My language is very specific. "___, when you choose to _____, you made the choice to leave the group and work on your own." I think if we don't allow students to make choices (especially the wrong ones) when will they learn how to make them? That is not to say it comes easily for me, I struggle with it daily!! It is cool to see a student not pick their best friend and say something like, "I think I will get my work done better if I work with Johnny today."  Do you go over your daily schedule with your students or is it just 'posted' in the room? I write a daily schedule on the board before I leave the night before. In third grade, students would come in and read it. They would refer to it throughout the day. I found it to be a good way to keep me organized, especially when teaching 2 different groups per day. It held me accountable for what I'd planned! With the kindergartners, I think I will make some sort of picture to go with each item posted on our agenda since most won't be able to read it on their own. I can also see us reading it together as part of our morning meeting.

3. How are you going to create that sense of community where students will hold each other accountable? Last year I introduced pieces of Responsive Classroom. The kids loved the morning meeting and really were upset when we skipped it. I plan hold a morning meeting every day with my kinders. It was hard in third because I had 2 groups and not enough time with state testing. 

4. Student ownership in learning? I think it is hard for kids to understand or see a connection to why learning is important. I think repeated conversations and pointing out when their learning has helped them is one way.I am eager to hear what others think. How do you instill this in every child? Can you instill it in every child? I hope so. Again, I think building a community, talking openly about their learning, and valuing their work by displaying it sets the right tone,

5. Stamina! How are you going to build stamina with reading? independent work? Will you use a timer? Will you set goals? ... Yes! I have seen some great graphs to aide this process. This is where I will need to remind myself, "go slow to go fast!" I will use a timer and when one student gets off task, we will stop, look at the timer and graph the results. Then we can discuss how we improved or the reason we slid back. I can also see having a mini party (a song to dance to) when we reach our goal!

Here is the organizer from Live Laugh Love in Kindergarten

Thanks to Kindergarten Smiles for hosting chapter 2. Check out her blog to see the links to all the other kindergarten bloggers

Fabulous Find and a Freebie

First, I want to say a big thank you to Laura over at My Cute Graphics . Have you been there yet? She has adorable clip art and backgrounds and they are all free! The best part is, she does it because she respects teachers and what we do! You should definitely head on over there and check it out.

Well, I was so excited about all the cuteness that I started making alphabet cards, name plates, and writing paper. This is the first time I have ever done anything like this at all. So please, I am begging you, leave some comments with honest feedback! I need to know what you like or don't like. What you would change, add, delete, etc.. I really value other teacher's opinions and if I am going to take the time to make stuff, I would love for it to actually be used :) You will not hurt my feelings, I promise! One last thought, this is not intended to be a whole theme pack. I would love to make some of those eventually, but for now, I thought I would start smaller.

My Cute Graphics

Click on the first picture to get this at my TpT store! Don't forget to comment below and tell what you think! 

Reward Cards

Upper and lower case letters

Name plates

Writing paper 

We Ain't Fakin' Whole Lotta' Linky Going On!

Did you read the title like Elvis? I curled my lip and everything. I digress. Oh.My.Word. There is a lot going on in the bloggy world on Monday's! I stumbled across this fantabulous (that's a real word, right?) linky party hosted by Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics.

Soooo, here is the problem. I am feeling VERY noncommittal these days and therefor I can't participate in this awesome linky party. You see, this is what I do. I over think EVERYTHING. Grrr. It is my worst trait (I think) and it leads me to this feeling of unsettledness in the pit of my stomach. I have so many things pinned (classroom decor board) and so many things I want to craft before I go back to school but I am completely stuck in a holding pattern until I pick a classroom theme! Every time I think I've made a decision, I start hemming and hawing and then I am back at square one. I have seen SO many ideas and I love them all!  I really can't spend a ton of money getting all new baskets and I am a matchy, matchy kind of girl. I have hot pink, black, white, and teal baskets. I really am loving the pirate theme with black, white and red and our school colors are even red and white but then what would I do with all my beautiful hot pink and teal baskets? Mental note, only buy black baskets from now on as they will match every future theme! Anyway, because I love to craft and because I am afraid I will run out of time if I don't get a move on, I am committing to pick and theme and get some crafts done before next Monday's party. I hope you'll stop on by next Monday to see what theme I've choosen and what goodies I've made! 

On a related note, I found another linky/giveaway going on over at                                                         Run! Mrs. Nelson's Got the Camera! 

I have chosen to add a recipe. I have made this and have been asked to make about a million times (yes, I exaggerate and make up words!) This one is super easy, although it does require some preplanning and it feeds a crowd! So without further ado, I present to you - Chocolate Brownie Trifle. Yumm-O. Head on over to Mrs. Nelson's site to see what other cool things have been shared. 

Click here to get the recipe! 

Happy Father's Day!!

I am so blessed to be surrounded by great fathers. I have an amazing daddy who taught me everything from throwing a ball to courage and standing up for what I believe in. I also have 2 terrific father-in-laws that helped raise my husband and shape him into being a pretty amazing daddy to our children! So, to all the fathers out there who are selfless and giving with their time and affection to help those around them grow, Happy Father's Day!

Me with my daddy while getting ready for the wedding

Far left: step father-in-law, mother-in-law, my husband, me, my dad and my mom before we moved to Texas

Father in law and husband with the kids

My family last Fourth of July

My husband and his dad with my daughter in Ohio

My step father-in-law and the family in Florida 

Sight Word Discovery Bottle Freebie!!

I am so excited about this new blogging adventure that I want to jump right in and give away my first freebie!! Here is all the stuff you need for a pre-primer discovery bottle. I have included both color and black and white versions. I also included several options for recording sheets - I am a girl who can never make any decisions and likes to have many options. I thought maybe some of you out there might feel that same way! If you download this little activity, please leave me some comments. I would love to hear what you think. I need to know what y'all liked (yes, I am another Texas teacher) and what y'all might like better for next time. All the directions for putting this little activity together are included in the download!

Click Here

Background design from Graphics By The Pond and the font Pea Diane from Kevin and Amanda.

I am linking this post up with Classroom Freebies. Hop on over there for lots of super cool freebies! Jackpot!


Thanks for dropping by.

Amazing Pete the Cat Giveaway!

Head on over to Heather's Heart for an amazing Pete the Cat Giveaway. There are some super cool units from TpT and a really cute shirt too!!! I can just see me rockin' my Pete shirt while having my sweet kinders work on one of the units... I think they would love that!! Anyway, click the picture to head on over there. Good luck!

Daily 5 Book Study: Chapter 1

I am linking up with Tammy over at Live, Love Laugh for the daily 5 book study and my fist ever linky party!! I have previously read the book but then was moved into a math/science position and never used it. This year, I am so excited to be heading to kindergarten (after teaching 3rd for the last 8 years) and I plan to use the Daily 5 model for my ELA and Math block!!! I can't wait to read all the fabulous ideas other kindergarten teachers have. Everything is new to me and I am more than a bit nervous. Now, onto the guiding questions.

1. How do I teach new behaviors?

Well, all my answers will be from a third grade perspective, as that is the only perspective I have. Just like everyone else said, I model, model, model. We make anchor charts together and refer back to them as needed. I have students model correct and incorrect behavior and we discuss. As a third grade teacher, I think I moved too quickly with behaviors and routines. Assuming that they should "know" all the expectations by third grade after a few weeks of practicing. That was not a correct assumption in third and I know for sure I need to get my act together for kindergarten as it will be a year-long process. 

2. How do I teach expectations?

We talk about expectations. I let them know my expectations over and over and over again and I reward those meeting or exceeding the expectations by clipping up on the clip chart, making a comment for the whole class to hear, sending in an encouraging note to be read over the announcements, or even calling/writing home. Of course this is not every time, and I use verbal praise/clipping up the most often. I really, really want to work towards a non extrinsic model where students learn to do things and want to do things because they are the "right" thing to do.   

3. How do I monitor student behavior? whole group? small groups? individual?

I really have gone away from using whole class rewards although my campus has a lot of low socio-economic students many of whom, because of the level of poverty, exhibit ADD/ADHD like behaviors. So, I may rethink this, especially early in the year. Maybe I could start with whole class rewards and reduce the frequency in which they are awarded as the year goes on? For individual students, I used a clip chart in third grade - not sure if it will be coming with me to kinder. 

4. What do I do when a student is not exhibiting desired behavior?

Last year I started using pieces of whole brain teaching. I loved it and the students did too. I plan to learn more about it this summer through the staff development on their website. To answer this question though, I would say most of them time I try to find someone exhibiting the desired behavior and praise them for that. If that does not change the undesired behavior, I have the student clip down and we talk about it through  series of questions I learned at Capturing Kids Hearts. If that doesn't work, they clip down again and miss some time from recess. During that time, they practice reciting the rule (from whole brain teaching) that they were breaking. So, for example, if Johnny kept talking when I was teaching, he would practice saying, "rule number 2, raise your hand for permission to speak" a few times during recess. We would then have a mini conference. 

5. Whose classroom is it?

Like everyone else, I struggle with this one. I so badly want it to be OUR classroom and I have grown in this area but my default response is, it is MY classroom.

6. Locus of control?

Clipping up and down, positive notes home, stickers. I work so hard to make the rewards be internal but maybe they are just too young? Maybe they need external rewards still. I will continue to try to find a balance here and explicitly teach children to monitor their feelings. "How did you feel when you did _____ when I wasn't even watching?" I bet that made you feel proud of yourself. Isn't that such a good feeling? 

7. Where are supplies stored?
Every student had a cubby with their pencil box and basic supplies. Bigger supplies or things they need for Daily 5 will be kept on shelves at eye level. I really want them to have access to everything they need so I can be free to teach. As long as expectations have been set, I think the kids are perfectly capable of getting what they need to complete their work. I also plan to have pictures on the board like this showing what supplies they will need for each component.

After thinking about these questions and my responses, I have LOTS to decide on before my sweet kinders show up at the door in August. I better get myself together. 

As you can see, I am very new to this blogging world. If you could leave some comments and follow my blog, that would be amazing! Thanks for stopping by~~

Now head on over to Tammy's blog to see all the other fabulous blogger's thoughts on the subject