More Labels Please...

I've gotten a few requests for more Label The Parts activities from my students and other teachers.
It's taken me a little longer to get to these than planned but they are finally ready...this time with a WINTER theme. There are two levels to each image. The first level provides a cut and glue label for students to label the parts. The second level gives students the word in "Letter Shaped" boxes to label the parts. Each provide great fun for both Independent Centers or Partner Work. The set includes

• Charlie Brown-type Christmas Tree
• Gingerbread Boy
• Gingerbread House
• Santa
• Mrs. Claus
• Polar Bear on Ice Skates
• Penguin
• Mug of Hot Chocolate
• Girl with Hot Chocolate
• Elf with Candy
• Shelf Elf
• Standing Shelf Elf
• Snowman

My kids LOVE learning to read and write new words...hope yours will too....click on the image to head over to my TN shop to get a set for your kiddos:

Huge 3-Day Sale

In case you haven't heard, there's a GREAT GIVING BACK  sale over at Teachers Notebook! The folks at Teachers Notebook is "giving bad" to all its members. Make a purchase from a teacher shop and Teachers Notebook will take off an additional 10% from your ENTIRE ORDER!! In addition, I'm offering several items on sale. Please click on the sales tag above to check out the 3-Day Sale. Happy Shopping!

Halloween Freebie

Are you looking for a quick game to use in a Math Center or during a party? Try this "Halloween Tic-Tac-Toe". There are several ways to play....as they win, the kids can collect "candy" and count how many times they won. OR use the "graphing score card" and the first player to the top is the winner. Or for those who can use Tally Marks, score can be recorded with tally marks and students count the score, then add up how many games were won in all. If your students are equally matched at Tic-Tac-Toe, a fun way to play is PLAY TO LOSE! This requires a different way of thinking...the first player to GET 3 in a row is the loser and the other player gets the point. That would be interesting to watch! ;-)
I hope you can use this and your kiddos have fun!

 

Click on the image to download this freebie!

Creating Posters & Mini Pocket Charts

I love creating posters for my classroom. I use them to decorate the classroom, share poems and chants with the students in a LARGE version, and now I use posters in some of my Centers to help scaffold learning for some of my Kiddos! Once upon a time I created them all in PrintMaster, but as the versions changed, it seemed to drop the option to make POSTERS. I recently discovered I can make both POSTERS and MINI POCKET CHART images for classroom centers. This week I used the poster to help with a label the pumpkin sheet from my LABEL THE PARTS packet. I am also using mini versions of the theme related words in my BIG pocket chart at my word work center. Watch this video to learn how you can turn any PDF image into a poster or mini pocket chart images....

Please let me know if you found this video helpful, or if you have any questions about how I made the posters/mini pocket chart images.
You can visit my Teachers Notebook shop and get my LABEL THE PARTS packet for FREE!
I hope you have lots of fun making posters and mini pocket charts for your students to enjoy!

Amazing Laminator...

A few weeks ago I received an email inviting me to choose a free gift. My first thought was "Yeah Right!! Someone's giving ME something for FREE?", but I took a chance.  BOY...Am I glad I did!! The email was from a company called MyBinding.Com. and they were reaching out to teachers who may need supplies in their classroom (that's ME!!). In a few days the laminator arrived. Now, I must admit, I've heard (read) teachers rave about a desktop laminator on their blogs before and always thought it might be nice. But actually HAVING ONE is a totally different matter. I LOVE THIS THING!!!!!!! We have the big laminator at school, but you have to get the key, heat it up and the end product is flimsy unless you use cardstock. The desktop laminator is a DREAM! It laminates regular copy paper with the THICK finish that truly makes the games and activities DURABLE! If you haven't tried one, may I say you won't believe how nice the finish products will turn out? I have used it so many times in such a short period of time that it makes me wonder how I managed to teach so long without one. Who knew???
Take a look at my first laminating project.

A table top pocket-chart sorting activity!

:
Did I mention it does COLD laminating too?
I hope you'll take a peek at their website and add the laminator to your wish list!
Thanks so much to Tarragon for reaching out to me...you brought a lot of joy into my teaching world! ;-)

FREEBIE:Fall Label the Parts

Thanks so much for checking out my Label The Parts packet.  This set has a FALL THEME and contains two versions of labeling for your students. The first is a cut and glue the label. The second makes use of “letter boxes” for students to write in the letters to label the parts. Each page has the words needed printed right on the page. 

The two versions allows the teacher to pair the student skill levels with the pages.

Students label the parts and then color the sheet.

These sheets can be a great addition to WORD WORK type centers..

I hope your students have fun as they learn and label the parts! Click on the image to go to my Teachers Notebook shop and get a copy! While you're there, why not select to follow my shop, that way you'll get notification when new items are added.
Either way...........ENJOY!

Working on Comparing Objects

I am working with my students to help them learn about comparing objects and using words to describe what they see. I felt my math series went over it much too quickly for some of my kiddos, so I created this set of independent center activities to help some of my little ones as they learn. I figured I'm probably not the only one with kids who could benefit from more practice, so I am sharing this FREEBIE with anyone in need! ;-)
I've added the related Common Core Standards right on the master worksheet for easy reference as you plan your lessons.
 Just click over to my Teachers Notebook Shop to download a copy for your kiddos. Maybe while you're there you can add my shop to your favorites and get notification when new items are added.
I hope you find this useful...

Click on image to download

Teachers Are Wonderful!!

I have the honor of working with an AMAZING group of teachers....
 Last week we were in our BACK TO SCHOOL meetings....you know the ones I mean....the ones that are held in the 48 hours leading up to the start of school when you have a THOUSAND last minute preparations. Well, during a break we learned the District approved a brand-new teacher to ease the bulk of 33 students in each of our existing first grade classrooms. We cheered wildly!!!
 Then we realized our "meeting room" was  actually the yet-to-be-interviewed-and-hired teacher's classroom.
Without hesitation or a second thought, the teaching staff (and Student Teachers) started removing all the extra furniture, multiple computers, monitors, broken items and "junk" that was stored in that room and starting moving in desks and chairs.  Teachers went to their classrooms and found boarders, bulletin board papers and decorations and within an hour turned the classroom that had slowly become a giant storage closet, into a BEAUTIFUL, Kid-Friendly, First Grade classroom ready for students to arrive on the first day of school!
I can't tell you how proud I was to see all of these teachers working so hard, for someone they had never met... during the last few hours of summer....with TONS left to do in their own classrooms.....
I STILL get goosebumps! I've worked at schools in the past where teachers would've heard the news and walked away shaking their heads wondering how the new teacher would EVER be ready on time. Not this group!! What amazing ladies! What a FABULOUS way to welcome a new teacher to our building!
The new teacher was hired a few hours later. She had tears in her eyes when she saw what we had done to help make her  school-life a little less stressful....take a look at some of the photos....I would've taken more, but we were all busy getting things ready ;-)

A Treasury of Sight Words Highlights

I've been offline for several weeks. This has been a rough summer for me... in June, I had to put my longtime, loyal friend Coal, my black lab down. Then in July, my dad passed away. It's taken a while for me to regroup. But I'm back now and ready to get caught up with other bloggers as well as share things here on my blog.
Based on my popular ABC Highlights game, I received a request for a new version of Sight Word Highlights. Melissa, a fellow Kindergarten teacher requested specific words in a specific order based on the MMH Treasures Reading series for Kindergarten. The list has the basic beginning reading sight words so even if you're not using the series, your students can still enjoy playing the game. The packet gradually introduces sight words on score cards/game boards leading up to the final game board with all of the words for game play.
Click on the image to learn more:

Free Digital Books

Do you have a Kindle or iPad? Are you looking for books to use on these devices? Would you like to download FREE books? OK....If you're a teacher, I probably didn't really need to ask that last question. ;-)
The other night I was poking around on Pintrest and came upon a blog that was sharing information about FREE books. I figured if I wanted them...you might too. Check out how you can get books for all ages to download to you device:

Free Books from Cindy Blakely on Vimeo.

Get your apps and get going on gathering free books!

In Love with Mini Books

I'm LOVING making these "mini" books! I am looking forward to using them with my students. My plan is to add these books to my Literacy Stations as independent work. The text and pictures are perfect for beginning readers. The books have great graphics that are fun for kids to color. The books can also support English Language Learners as they build vocabulary.
There are 14 different titles in the ANYTIME MINI BOOKS packet. The titles are intended to be used along with other units being taught without distracting from the units' content. Titles are: Baseball, Vehicles, The Neighborhood, Insects, Fast Food, 911 Vehicles, Getting Around Town, Traveling Fast, Vegetables, Camping Out, Sea Life, Fruits, Football, and Out of This World.
You may notice some of the books have been designed to purposely grab the attention of BOYS who are beginning readers. (Sometimes we have to draw them in closer to reading). :-)
The books require only one sheet of paper and two folds to make. No need to staple, (unless of course you prefer to do so). The vision is that after modeling a few times, the papers can be placed in a Center/Station and students can fold them on their own. My goal is to put as many books in the hands of my students as possible.
The books can easily fit in student's reading bags or in your classroom pocket chart/book bins or classroom library.
If you'd like a freebie sample. click on the image below. If you'd like a set of these books then head over to my Teacher's Notebook shop to get these and more.

FREEBIE!

These packets and more available at my Teachers Notebook Shop.

Perfect Companions

I recently posted my Mini ABC Books and am now adding my Mini Number books to my Teachers Notebook Shop! These books are the perfect companion to the ABC Books.

This packet contains 20 mini booklets. One for each number 1-20.

The booklets can be used as part of small group work or placed in a Center for Independent activities. 

Each book has a variety of ways to support students as they learn the numerals. Each book explores the numeral, the number word, a traceable numeral, the number represented in pictures that can be colored, a space for the child to represent the number with his/her own drawing along with a sentence to match their drawing, tally marks to represent the number, and boxes to represent the number in 1’s and 10’s. 

These books are the perfect size for little hands.

The books will fit into bag books to take home, or in your classroom pocket chart or book baskets.

 These books are easy to assemble...just two simple folds. Model folding a few times and students will soon be able to assemble books on their own.

 

ABC Mini Books

Hi,
I am so excited to announce  my  new ABC Mini Books packet.

This packet contains 26 mini booklets. 
One for each letter of the alphabet!

They are the perfect size for little hands. 

The booklets can be used as part of small group work or placed in a Center for Independent activities. 

Each books has 3 bold pictures ready for young learners to color.

Students who are just beginning to learn letters can also write the letter at the top of each page. 

Students who are ready for words can write the name of the picture on each page.

Either way, your students will enjoy making a book for every letter.

The books will fit into bag books to take home, or in your classroom pocket chart or book baskets.

 Simply print and fold. Two folds to assemble, The first fold is along the dotted line and the second fold puts the cover on top. Model folding a few times and students will soon be able to assemble books on their own. Click on the image below to get your copy of my Mini ABC Books!

CC Standards: K.RFS.3

Some images courtesy of KPM Doodles

Record your iPad Screen

****Update to this post: I received a comment that my link didn't work. As it turns out Apple removed the App from their U.S. site. Here's what I found that begins to explain why:
Apple does not allow screen capture apps on its devices because it mimics the native screenshot capabilities on iOS. “Display Recorder” appears to take a series of screen caps to convert to video, so there is a good possibility that the app could be removed from the store in the near future. So, if this is something you are dying to have, you had better act fast.


I apologize but I am keeping this post here just in case things get worked out and the App becomes available again!  In the meantime, I'll keep searching for something similar! Sorry!*****

I am so excited to share my latest App discovery with you. The App is called "Display Recorder". It allows you to record what you see on your iPad/iPhone. Display Recorder is a screen capture App that creates a movie, complete with audio, of what you're doing on the iPad. This has potential! ;-)
This is exciting to me because I have been playing around with Keynote (which is Apple's presentation program... much like PowerPoint). However, Keynote doesn't allow for sounds/voiceovers....CRAZY right?
So while I had some fun animations, there was no audio. With "Display Recorder" I was able to take my presentation and add a voiceover.
Once I was done capturing the screen, I could preview it, edit or delete it. After the movie was done,  there are options to upload the video to YouTube...that may not be a good choice for school because many schools have YouTube blocked. Besides, I couldn't get that feature to work (I'll keep at it though). Other options include: opening the movie in  Photo Library, Open in other Apps which include iMovie, ePrint (WHY would you print it???) or DropBox.  I ran into a few problems with importing it into iMovie but will keep playing around with this App. Has anyone out there tried it yet?
Display Recorder is for sale at iTunes for just under $2.00. My mind is racing with the possibilities. Take a peek at how I used it to give voice to my Keynote on COLOR WORDS:

Display Record from Cindy Blakely on Vimeo.

I also see potential for using Display Record as a tutorial for students on Apps that may not be intuitive. Or if you have parent volunteers working with students and the parent is a tad tech shy...you could use this App to model for her how you want students using the iPad apps.
I don't know...what do you think? What are some ideas you have for recording what you are doing on the iPad? Note: Before you mention YouTube...From what I understand it doesn't allow for recording FROM YouTube....so we'll have to think of something else. ;-)
Can't wait to hear what ideas you have!

Display Recorder

Teaching In The Digital Age Book Study

I'm not even IN the book study yet... but my blogging buddy Fran of Kindergarten Crayons (who always inspires me), posted about a book study on Teaching in The Digital Age. I've ordered the book, but can't wait to jump in on the discussion!! My comments would've been far to detailed to post at someone else's blog, so I decided to just join in here in the Teachers' Lounge! ;-) Apparently chapter two is all about using digital photography. Well, anyone that knows me knows I am ALWAYS taking photos. I take close to 1,000 pictures per school year. I LOVE taking photos all year long. Fran shared some GREAT ideas on how she uses digital photography in her class and asked others to share. Here are a few ways that I use digital photography in my classroom: (follow the links to learn more)

• When students come to school to drop off school supplies, I take photos of the student and their family (I save it for a DVD that I make for each student)
• a friend stands outside of school on the 1st day and capture candid photos of the children as the arrive on their first day of Kindergarten.
• take a photo of each child and use Power Point to make individual cards (with names) to use in the pocket chart (See video below)
• Science  students share what they know...(Fish, Octopus
• Going Green
• I use Photo Story 3 to make all kinds of videos for the students to support our learning
• Abe Lincoln
• George Washington
• 100 Days of school
• Counting (coins
• Counting in Polish (the photos were shot by students)
• Patterns
• Telling Time
• Support Literacy (Pete the Cat filmed with our iPad, Llama Llama, Nursery Rhymes, The Alphabet, Animal ABC)
• Learning about Same and Different (comparing classmates)
• Using the Paint Program for Drawing

a few samples (click to enlarge)

PocketChart Photos from Cindy Blakely on Vimeo.

OK...I could go on and on...I used photos all the time to assist students learning. My classroom blog was created (2007) to help give parents a peek inside our classroom. To provide a springboard for discussions at home (especially for those students who can't seem to answer the question..."What did you do at school today?" Parents can go to the blog, see the posts and talk to their child about school.
Back in the beginning of our blogging days we connected with Kindergartners in New Zealand and did a "cultural exchange". They don't have squirrels in New Zealand and my students and I sent them a package that included a squirrel puppet. It was so popular, the kids in NZ gave the squirrel his own blog. Each child got to take "Nutkin" home and each child made a video about their adventures.
Check out Nutkin's Blog for GREAT examples of how students as young as FIVE can use technology. Keep in mind this was (way) back in 2007! Imagine what they can do with today's technology!!
So, I hope this helps you see some fun ways you can combine digital photos with various technology tools to help keep students engaged and learning!
I hope my book arrives soon so I can officially join the book study! ;-)

Read Aloud Recommendations??

I hope everyone is enjoying time off from school. If you're not out yet...I hope school will end soon for you. I am looking for some NEW interesting/fun read aloud books for next school year. I know...I know...school just ended and I'm already thinking to next year. But I am sure I am not alone. (right??...Please tell me I am not the ONLY one!) ;-)
Anyway....I am thinking I could use the power of the Internet and fellow bloggers to find my way to some new books to read to my Kindergartners. I have such great respect and regard for all of you and would love to know what you would recommend. No specific topic or genre...I am open to anything that's fun. I would appreciate any new titles you are willing to share. THANKS!

Zoo Packet

I've been off the blogging radar for a while.... I'm sure you know the routine...60 students, report cards, CUM folders, Looking Back Over Our Year DVD's for each student, packing up my room...etc. got the best of me.
Since school's been out, I've been checking out other blogs and trying to get all caught up. Not to mention my addiction to Pinterest!!
I've also worked to put the finishing touches on my Zoo-Ba-Loo packet. It's my biggest packet to date! My students LOVE learning about animals and what better place than a Zoo? The 179 page packet has a bit of EVERYTHING! It has 7 books for Emergent Readers, activities for writing, math (counting, skip counting, tally marks and more), games, pocket chart words, numerals, puzzles, data collection, sight word practice, positional words, addition, missing numerals,  more/less, ordering by size, and more!
If you're looking for something to supplement a Zoo unit you already have or something to jump start a Zoo Unit that you want to try next year, this packet is a GREAT place to start.

Click image to learn more!

Pete the Cat Rockin' the iPad

There are times I find things online and have no CLUE how I stumbled upon them....and late last night....when I should've been sleeping, I found the PETE THE CAT APP.....Wait until my students see this on Monday!! At the beginning of May, we got the newest book Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons and now we'll have the Pete the Cat App for our classroom iPads! Right now it's only .99 cents at the iTunes store. It will work on  both the iPad and iPhone!
 In the App, Pete is searching for his guitar. The player has to help Pete search the bus stop, classroom, lunch room  and playground to find his guitar. Once it's found, Pete invites the user to "rock out" with him. At first I thought the game was a little tough to find all the items....I wondered if my kids would be able to find them all.....but then I got my reading glasses!! LOL! Now that I have actually SEEN the game, I am sure they can handle it! ;-)
iTunes also has Pete the Cat books available for download as well. Click on the image below to learn more about the App and to download it for the Pete the Cat fans in your life! ;-)

Get the book here!