Saturday, September 29, 2012

Math Journals

I absolutely love using math journals in kindergarten! I think it is such an essential skill for students to be able to record their thinking. I have the students do math journals as part of their rotations for math workshop. It is a great way to differentiate instruction. I can give each math group different math prompts that are at their level. Before doing journal prompts, there are a series of activities that I have students to complete so they have things to reference when they are working in their journals. Some things that I include are a 100s chart, numbers, ten frames, number words, tally marks, coins and their values, shapes, etc. I also include vocabulary. I just created a packet of math vocabulary that kindergartners need to understand. It is aligned with the Common Core Standards. The packet contains the words: sort, pattern, triangle, rectangle, square, circle, addition and subtraction. Each word has a graphic organizer with a definition, illustration, example and non-example. Check it out here!


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Literacy/Math Centers FREEBIE

My students have been having great math dialogue involving graphing!  We just recently created a birthday graph of the birthdays in our class and we graph the weather daily.  I created "Letters Around the Room" graphs, as well as "Numbers Around the Room" graphs. I have students grab a clipboard and be "Clipboard Cruisers" around the room to graph the letters that they find.  Before the center is over, I have students talk about their graphs, what they notice about them, which letter/number has the most, which letter/number has the least.  Click here to go to my TpT store to download the graphs for FREE! 

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Common Core MATH

Is anyone else wondering how to help their little ones understand the 8 Math Practices that align with the Common Core Standards?  One way that I have found is to talk to students and refer to them as mathematicians!  We also talk about the things that mathematicians do:


  • Talk about math
  • Explain their thinking
  • Make predictions
  • Work together
  • Compare
  • Make mistakes
  • Record their ideas
  • Change their ideas
  • Check their work
  • Look for challenges

I have created and uploaded a document on Teachers Pay Teachers that address the things that mathematicians do.  If you would like to check it out, click here!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Reader's Workshop

It is our third week of school and Reader's Workshop has already started.  In the beginning of the year we talk about Readers Building Good Reading Habits.  Our first unit is about building reading identities and helps our kindergartners to understand that everyone is a reader.  I have them write/draw about their favorite place to read.  I hope you enjoy this FREEBIE!  Please post a comment if you download!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Beginning of the year pictures and end of the year pictures!

I have been wanting to make my way into the blogging world, and what better way to do it than a FREEBIE!  I made this so that students can draw a picture of themselves at the beginning of kindergarten and then at the end of kindergarten.  It is amazing to see the progress that they make over the course of a year.  I add this to students' kindergarten portfolios!  If you would like a copy click here for the beginning of the year document and here for the end of the year document!  ENJOY!

Kindergarten Common Core

Anyone wondering how they are going to integrate the new Common Core Standards, well look no further...   There is now a Kindergarten Common Core Workbook.  It has worksheets, activities and posters that align with the Common Core Standards.  It includes both Math and Language Arts.  This is an amazing resource for teachers, parents and administrators!