ABC Science - B is For BUBBLES - and it's FREE!

Hello Friends,

Thank you to Classroom Clicks for the cute photo.

This is Cindy (Kinderkay Love Those Kinders). I looked at the calendar a few days ago and realized that it is less than a month until I meet my new crop of kinders - less than a month - yikes! As always, once July 4th is over, time flies so quickly.... I am going to be honest and say that everything in my classroom is still in boxes, set up on shelves, and exactly like it was when I walked out in May. We have a short family vacation coming up and then I HAVE to get started on my classroom. It's always that first step into my classroom that is the hardest; once there, all will be fine.... right?

Anyway.... I HAVE been busy this summer. Besides spending time in my garden, organizing closets, reading, reading, and reading, I have been taking a class on the Next Generation Science Standards and working on a HUGE resource. One of my passions is teaching science.  I am truly excited about changes in the Next Generation Science Standards. The NGSS was written to include ELA and Math standards which makes writing cross curricula plans SO much easier. I am in the process of sharing my thoughts on what I have been learning in my class. If you are interested in reading them, you can click the image above or HERE to take you to my blog.

Even before I took my class, I have been interested in making science real for my students.  I have always written a fun and educational science lesson in my weekly plans that we do on Fridays. More times that not, though, it will be Thursday night and I am frantically compiling supplies needed OR I I cannot find my lesson resources and become so frustrated that my fun science lesson becomes a chore. So...... I wrote this resource for ME as well as you. Now all science lessons are found in one giant resource and can be easily accessed when writing weekly plans. Yay! The other wonderful thing is that these lessons can be incorporated in my ELA and Math times; easy to cross cut into other subject blocks.

Here is a sample from the entire packet that showcases the letter B. You can try it out and see if it works for you and your students. I have published ABC Science for the letters A-M and am presently working on N-Z and hope to have it published soon. I know not everyone teaches letters alphabetically, but this was the easiest way for me to write it.

So that's all for now, my friends! Enjoy these last few weeks of summer..... It won't be long until we are greeted each morning with gap toothed grins and happy smiles!

Blessings,

I wish I was going to Orlando, but...

Hey ya'll! It's Erin Eberhart Lynch from Eberhart's Explorers. I'm so excited to be blogging at Blog Hoppin' today, but a little sad - too. I feel like EVERYONE is gearing up for the TpT Conference in Orlando....but ME. The conference starts Wednesday and runs through Friday and is jam packed with fabulous presenters!! Some of our very own Blog Hoppers will be presenting. You can check out the list of presenters here. 

Unfortunately, I will not be attending this year because I am almost 34 weeks pregnant. I'm super excited to be welcoming our first child into the world SOON, but wish I was able to travel and partake in the sessions with everyone. Meanwhile, I'll sit at home and live vicariously through those attending and work on Anna Faye's nursery. Here's a little sneak peek...

We've got a ton done in her room...but still have her closet to organize, gifts to put away, clothes to wash, things to exchange, etc. So, while I'm nesting and avoiding the summer heat - you all enjoy the conference for ME. For those of us not attending, link up with Blog Hoppin' on Instagram and tell us what you are doing instead. 

Just grab this image, use an app where you can add text to photos, and post on Instagram with the hashtag #notinorlandobut. Remember, to link up with @bloghoppin and check out all the posts from the people attending. To stalk them and see what they're up to in Orlando, use the hashtag #tptorlando16! ha Can't wait to hear why you can't go. Maybe next year??

MEETIN' AND GREETIN' - ORLANDO MEET UP 2016

Well, hello!  It's Kelley Dolling from Teacher Idea Factory.  I'm jumping in quickly to remind you that there is still time to sign up for the Annual Teacher Meet Up in sunny Orlando, Florida.  It is always such fun and you won't find a better place to meet up with old friends . . . and make some new ones.  

Our Teacher Meet-Up is moving to....

Sunny Orlando, Florida! July 13th at 6pm. #2016orlandomeetup

This will be our 5th annual teacher blogger meet up. If you've ever joined us before, you know there will be lots of fun, lots of laughing, and lots of prizes to give away! Thanks to our main sponsor TeachersPayTeachers. 

Here's a shot of some of the fabulous teachers who came out last year!

{Check out more pictures from our 2012 and 2013 and 2014 meet ups!}

At last year's meet up we gave away hundreds of prizes and this year will be no exception.  We have lots of surprises in store for this meet up, so PLEASE join us!

(A peek at last year's prizes. All donated by our awesome sponsors!)

We had so many other sponsors that helped donate over $55,000 worth of swag, prizes, and goodies!  Can you believe that?!  I don't know about you, but to us... that's a whole lotta love for teachers!  

What you need to know:

*All teachers are invited to this meet-up! You do not need to have a blog to attend this special event!

*You can RSVP on our official Facebook event page: HERE! If you do not have a Facebook account, you can RSVP by commenting on this post.

*Please don't be shy! Every year we have people who are worried about not knowing anyone. This is a great opportunity to say hi to some of your favorite teacher-bloggers, as well as meet new friends and connect with teachers from all over!

*Please download the nametag template HERE.

*The meet up will be held at The Swan and Dolphin Resort, but the actual conference room number will be posted closer to the meet up. Follow our Facebook event page to get updates on the exact location.

We are super excited for our trip this year and know that this Teacher Meet Up will be the best one yet!!

Here are the meet-up organizers from last year!

On behalf of the Blog Hoppin' Crew . . . we can't wait to see ya'll in sunny Orlando!

**I will not be in attendance this year (((insert super sad face))).  However, I will be vicariously living through you all from my computer in California :)  BIG hugs and enjoy FLORIDA/TPT 2016!!!**

First Grade Homework for the Year!

Homework in first grade... here are my thoughts...

I like homework as additional practice and as a responsibility I think my students should learn to have at a young age. As they get older they will certainly have more demanding homework and the idea of homework is nothing new, so I want them to understand that homework is part of the school process and that learning doesn't end at 3:30 when they walk out of my classroom.

That being said... sometimes homework is WAY TOO DEMANDING for little firsties and I really feel like student ability, parent involvement, and after-school activities need to be taken into account as well. I never want my homework to be too time-consuming or too difficult and that can be really hard to manage with a class of 25ish students. So after 5 years of experimentation I finally found my system that works for me and I thought I would share it with you!

After 5 years in the classroom I finally settled on a homework packet that I would send out each week on Monday that is returned on Friday. It made it simple for me to prep, copy, staple, and send along. However, each week I would look at our skills we were learning or reviewing, scour through tons of old workbooks, search online for the *best* pages, make my copies, and finally send them on their way. It was WAY TOO TIME CONSUMING! I also knew that having all my students completing the same homework was a disservice to the ones who may not need practice with that skill and the students who may be working below that current standard.

In this digital age I thought there must be a quicker way to find the pages I needed for my homework packet. So I created my own system and my own pages that work for my needs. I know everyone does homework differently and many have differing beliefs on homework in first grade in general but I thought I would share my own system because, well, it is what has worked best for my classroom and may be beneficial for others!

First, I always like to send home newsletters each week to my students' parents! I keep them pretty simple and let them in on what we are learning in the classroom. Some parent read it with their child, others read it by themselves, others don't read it at all. Either way, I like to send em home! It helps me stay organized and can be a great reminder tool for my parents when we have open houses, parent-teacher conferences, and field trips.

I have one template per month and then change the date and wording each week!

Behind the weekly newsletter I send home different homework pages based on all sorts of factors. I like having options!!!! I made at least one page for each topic I teach throughout the year. I have never been a fan of longgggg homework that is too overwhelming and I think students just need *quick* reinforcing practice each night so that played a big role in the way I set up my homework. You can see a little more about the homework pages below.

Again, I like having options and I know most teachers do too! So based on the skills I'm teaching that week, a student's ability level, parent involvement, I will send home what I believe to be a reasonable HW packet for the week. You can do the same for your students!

^^ Again, it's all up to YOU!^^
Maybe you don't send home homework because in your community it doesn't get sent back. Well, these quick check-ins can easily be made into morning work that only takes minutes to complete while students practice their skills.

If you think this type of homework might be for you or you want to try and switch it up this year, go ahead and take a closer look at some of the pages in my unit by clicking the unit below and downloading the preview!

Let me know what you think!

Here are some closeups of a few pages (more to be seen in the preview!):

End of Year - One Little Word

Hi Blog Hoppers! This is Mel from From the Pond. 

I am in Australia and not currently celebrating the end of the school year, but I am about half way there and will soon be on winter break. The school year certainly does fly by and is filled with so many wonderful and special memories. 

I headed back to the classroom 5 days a week this year, after several years of part-time teaching. I can say with complete confidence that there is nothing quite as special as having your own class. To say I am enjoying my time with my class is a serious understatement.

I made a fun little activity for you to help celebrate the end of the school year!

The printable is in my TpT store and can be adapted to any class as the students have to write in their grade. It is similar to the one I did for New Years. 

Students can think of just one word that defines their time in class this year.

Brainstorm some examples and talk about how one word can encompass memories and feelings. 

Students can use the letters on this page and the bonus letters page to create their word. Copy some in bright colours for a different effect. I pasted mine to bright paper for a nice background.

Have a wonderful day and if you are about to embark on summer vacation - enjoy!

- Mel x

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