{Extended} March Break Fun!

I've been a little quiet on social media (and haven't touched my blog at all these past couple of weeks!) because of everything that's going on around the world.  But here's how I feel - let's use this time we have to spend with our families at home and make the best of it!

I know keeping children entertained can be a bit challenging (I'm in the same boat!) so I plan on updating this blog post with ideas, activities, printables and more to hopefully offer you some much needed relief!

ONLINE GAMES

I know what you are thinking....my kids don't need anymore screen time!  True!

But there are times during the day/week that you can offer them (and you!) so down time.  I've listed websites that are just a few of our favourites in class!  Print this paper and keep it beside your computer/iPad.

NOTE:  Starfall may not work on an iPad unless you have a paid subscription but it is FREE on a desktop.

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Activities Your Kinders will LOVE for March

March is here!  Already?!?  It feels like this school year is flying by!

Although March is a short month (and broken up because of March Break), there's still a lot of fun activities I've set up!

Since St. Patrick's Day will fall during our March Break and the students won't be in school, I set up some fun activities starting last week and will continue for next week.

LUCKY HAT LETTERS

I made a small sensory bin (filled with black beans) and placed letter cards inside.  Students can choose a card, find the matching letter on their mat and trace it.  Both uppercase and lowercase are included.

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Interactive Pocket Chart {Poem Builder} - FREEBIE!

This past school year I introduced a new centre to my students.  I found that it was perfect for my Year 2 (Senior Kindergarten) students and worked well during small group instruction with my Year 1 (Junior Kindergarten) students.

I have lots of pocket charts that I have purchased over the year and I just attached it to a rolling clothes rack (although I think this year I will actually attach it to the closet you see behind with 3M hooks).

Each Monday morning, I introduce a "Poem of the Week".  We spend time together as a class reciting it (chanting, singing, rapping, etc.) and use our pointers to find letters/sounds or sight words.

We revisit our poem often during the week, listening for rhyming words, replacing words to see if the poem still makes sense and building it together.  

I write it on chart paper so that students can revisit it during the week and use a pointer to "read" the poem - it works great for practicing tracking print!

I also project it on the Bright Links board so that we can manipulate the poem - circle letters, highlight sight words, etc.

I like to cut up the word cards for the poem and place them in a Ziploc bag at the Pocket Chart Centre.  Here students are invited to build the poem (I encourage them to work with a friend to help each other).

In small group lessons, I have students who are working on identifying sight words.  I made this yellow highlighter paper by cutting a plastic pocket folder so that it fits over the cards.  We play games where I call out a sight word and they have to find it, I reach into my bag of sight word cards and see who can read and then find it first on the poem, etc.

To challenge some students, I cut up the words and have them rebuild the poem in a large journal.

I have a LOT of poems!  Although we might not have this activity out every week (I like to use the pocket chart for so many different things), I have them ready in case I need them.

Here's how I store everything:

I store all the poms in a large binder (this one is from Staples - it has a rubber re-enforcer on the side which is excellent!).

Each poem is laminated an kept in a clear plastic page protector.

I store the cut up cards in a small Ziploc bag inside the page protector as well so everything is together.

I know that many of you who own these poems have asked me about storing them.

I have included the title page for the binder here as a free download (and it's editable so you can add your own name, school, etc.)  I created it using Power Point so be sure to download and look at the "Read Me First" section to see which font I used and install it.

Click the picture to download!

You might be interested in these poems which are perfect for Back to School!

You can find all of these poems (and so many more for the entire year!) in my growing bundle where you get all of the poems at a 25% discount!

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Using QR Codes in a Kindergarten Class...and making your own!

There's a big push for technology in the classroom today.

And although I am a big believer in keeping up with the current ways of teaching and learning, I'm also one who believes technology cannot be the only thing that we rely on and expose our students to in our classrooms.  By that I mean that the technology given to us (iPads, Chrome Books, Smart Board, etc.) are wonderful tools for students to learn with (and educators to teach with!) but I also believe that we can't abandon the good 'ole pencil and hands-on learning materials!

So how do we introduce and use technology in our classroom?

Let's start with iPads

Many of us may have one or two iPads in our classroom or have access to them from the Library Learning Commons.  

In our class, we don't allow our students to download any apps they want.  We guide them to choose apps that have either already been introduced to them by an educator or are simple enough to navigate independently (many are already uploaded to the device itself).

I created this QR Code scan paper this past school year and placed it close to both the Book Nook (classroom library) and computer station.  Students simply scan the QR code and it takes them to the website that has been approved by our Board (and us!).  These websites are awesome!  They have lots of fun activities, books, games and interesting facts that our students can manoeuvre on their own.  

*Just in case anyone is wondering - we often set up a timer close to the iPad station to assist students with turn taking.*

So what exactly IS a QR Code?

Don't worry - many people aren't that familiar with what these are...but when I tell you that more and more companies are using them just about everywhere (I found one on my shampoo bottle!) you will start to notice them more in our world!

QR stands for Quick Response - basically meaning that when you scan the QR Code, it will instantly take you to a website.

So here's what you need to know...

1)  You will need to download a FREE QR Reader app on your device (iPhone, iPad, etc.)

There are lots of them but my favourite is this one.  Look for it in the App Store.

*You will probably need to allow the app access to the camera on your device so be sure to click "yes" if this pops up before continuing.*

2)  Look for a QR Code to scan.  (Try the one found below to practice!)

3)  Voila!  You are on a website for that product/activity!

Here are some other ways our students use QR Codes in our classroom during "Thinking and Learning Time".

We print and place QR Codes around our classroom.  Using the iPad, students go on a hunt around the room to find the QR Codes and check them off their lists, complete the spelling of a word, write a sight word, colour the rhyming word, etc.

Most educators that are new to QR Codes are a little hesitant to try these but I am telling you, children as young as kindergarten are so quick to learn!  They catch on fast and absolutely LOVE these activities.

You can find these in my QR Codes - Bundle on TpT. 

Listening Center

I don't have the typical Listening Centre in my classroom anymore.  By typical I mean stereo system with cassette tapes or CDs.  The problem was, our CD player kept breaking year after year and we all know they are very very expensive to fix and/or replace.  So I thought of using the iPad as a Listening Centre.  All you need to add is a pair of headphones (unless you have a quieter room LOL!).

Here are a few pictures of our Book Nook.

I print the Listening Center QR Code Read-Aloud that I want for the month (which includes 24 books so there's a great selection) and put them in a binder.

Students take the iPad and scan the QR Code of the book that interests them.  It takes them right to a website of a read aloud of that book!  Instant Listening Center without the hefty price tag!

Nearly every morning for the last 13 years (yes, I have been teaching that long!) our students sing the Alphabet Song Book together.  I was introduced to this book and song my first year teaching by Mrs. Powers, a hearing specialist in our Board, and I can't believe how amazing it is at reinforcing letters/sounds.

I have a hard copy printed in colour and bound which we use during our morning carpet time.

I also print a copy in black and white and send it home with students to practice with their families.

Students scan the QR Code on the front of the book and it takes them to a website of my singing the song (not video, luckily, but I also don't have the best singing voice!)

Ready to try it?  Scan this QR Code...it should take you to my TpT store in case you are interested in trying some of the QR Code activities in your classroom!

I've had lots of requests from teachers wanting to learn how to make their own QR Codes.

Using Google Drive to upload your own video

Do you take videos in your classroom of student learning as part of your documentation?

Ever wonder how you can actually save these videos for parents to see?  I like creating Student Portfolios (read all about that here) and inserting student work samples, photos, and now even videos through the use of QR Codes!

Decide where you want to store your videos.  If you use an iPhone/iPad or other device, be sure to download the Google Drive app.  I love using this app because it's FREE and our Board has so much storage I know I won't have any issues saving student videos.

* I like creating individual folders for each of my students.  There are many other ways you can save the videos (i.e. folders for each of the 4 kindergarten frames, themes, a project/inquiry)...think about what works best for you and create those folders! *

Here's an example I took a video of some students using the BeeBot (coding robot) which I wanted to add to my documentation.  I followed these steps below to upload it to Google Drive and turn it into a QR Code.

Follow these easy steps to make your own QR Codes!

With this QR Code image, you can now insert it into a Google Doc, Power Point, Pic Collage or any program that you use for documenting.  Save it and print it if you wish to include it in your student's portfolio.

Here's a FREE DOWNLOAD of the QR Code website sheet you can put up in your own classroom for your students to use!

Just click the picture to download.

Enjoy!

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Show Me The Number! {Representing numerals to 10}

We work with numbers to 10 on a regular basis.  I like to expose my students to a variety of ways of representing each numeral - meaning that although many of them can count orally and find the numeral, I want them to understand that numbers can be shown in many ways!

We have our students sign in each morning in many different ways.  Here is an example of how you can use 10-frames - make small square pictures for each student and have him/her find their picture and place it on the 10-frame to "sign in".  

Note:  I have MANY MORE than 12 students (actually 29 in total - LOL)!  This was taken as an example.

We use dot plates on a regular basis as well.  These are simple to make.  All you need are paper plates and bingo dabbers (or markers).  Dot each plate to represent numerals 1-10.  I like to have the plates look similar to how numerals would look on a dot die for quick number recognition.

This game is a staple in our math centre.  It's called Domino Parking Lot and it is a free download from Mathwire.com.  You can download it here.  Just add dominoes!

Provocations, or invitations for learning, are activities set up that are meant to "provoke" children.  Math provocations are simple and easy to set up and I love how flexible the materials are so that the children can use them in many different ways!

Recently we added these math cards to the math centre.  Students could use them to represent numerals 1-10 in many different ways.

This student took nearly all afternoon concentrating so that she could explain her great thinking!

You can download these cards for FREE by clicking on the picture below.

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