Launching Centers

I've been working diligently in my classroom trying to fine tune everything.  This year I am hoping to implement Literacy Stations in a rotation, so I'm moving rearranging my desks, book shelves, tables, etc. 

How does everyone organize thier literacy centers?  Do you have the students rotate to a "teacher station" or do you pull them out of their center?  I see pros and cons doing it both ways.

I intend to have the following stations:

• Reading
• Technology (computers, iPad, listening, etc)
• Word Work
• Poetry
• Writing
• Teacher Station (??)

I need to grab some inviting pillows for my reading center & laminate my labels.  Then, I think I'll be all set. 

Also, do you wait and introduce centers after a few weeks? Or do you start week 1 while you are introducing rules.  I have heard that "easy does it," when it comes to centers.  So, maybe introduce one center each week?  I'd love to have some feedback. 

Pictures coming soon of stations & my new room arrangmenet!

Vista Print + Other Pinterest Crafts

I've been busy!!  I used Vista Print for the first time last summer, creating "We Missed You!" absent postcards.  This summer, I got even more excited...

Here are my most recent creations:

Complete for HW stamp ... I use this often with important reinforcement activities.

To-Do List... what teacher doesn't need this?  Or, I could put this in the Writing Center for the students to create their own lists!

 Name Tags... I plan to cut the "This is How I go Home" nametag in half for the first week of school.  This is so important! And the race cars, aren't they just spiffy?

Sight Word Rack Cards... A list of our sight words (in order of introduction) with game ideas on the back for parents and kids to do.  Credit for the activities goes to mrsalbanesesclass

Marshmallow Toes Small Banner... Thinking of putting this in the hallway or the back of my door!

Three Ways to Read Poster... Trying to implement Daily 5 in the classroom, I figured this would be a good reference poster.

Strolling through Target, I noticed the school supplies was out ... kid in a candy store!  I scooped up some composition notebooks and with a smile on my face, I got to work! A cute label and a ribbon bookmark to help the student keep track of the last page where we worked.

While at Target, I found these cute buckets (Dollar Spot) and mog podged a label for the pencil problem I continued having last year!  Problem solved... hopefully!

Very excited for all of the new 'toys' for the school year.  Opening that VistaPrint box is truly like Christmas! Still planning to do a few more things before I start hard and heavy working in my classroom. 

Thanks for visiting :)

Another Beginning

I made it to my classroom for the first time this summer!  Just for a few hours, I was able to arrange, rearrange, and arrange once more my classroom.  It feels like such a daunting task at this point in the school year... hours of work is ahead of me!!  Changing the arrangement of the room will give me a fresh perspective this year... I'm sure :)

I have an unending to-do list, but who doesn't???  To help with my list, I plan to head to the Media Center tomorrow.  Die-cuttin', laminatin', gluin' teachers flock to the center to prepare for next year!

I've also put in an order to VistaPrint!! There's free stuff & you only pay shipping!  Yes, it may take a while to get here, but I don't need it until August! perfect :)


My next project: work on sorting through SF Reading Street Readers!

-Lynsey

Kindergarten Classroom Blog

And so it begins... the world of blogging!  This summer I have been incredibly inspired by the hardworking teachers in the blogging world.  I intend to use this blog as a means of communication from classroom to home, as well as place of organization for myself.  I constantly want to improve on my lessons and activities... and maybe if I write about them, I'll actually remember them! :)