Down by the Sea

We're still working on our insect unit and probably will be for the next week or two. We're still swimming. Hopefully the weather co-operates tomorrow. I started working on the activities for our ocean unit. This will probably take us to almost the end of the school year. I think we have 27 days left but who's counting. Anyway, I figured that some of you would probably be ready to start an ocean unit and wanted to post some of the activities I'm planning on doing. I will have some more activities during the week. If anybody has an idea for an activity let me know and I'll see what I can do. I plan on using fishing rods (I found mine at the dollar store). I will also staple the fish (works better than paper clips). Fishing for Sight Words Turtle Numbers Clamming for Syllables If you download, please leave a comment. Thanks Sharon

Bugs R Us

We finally started our bug unit this week and I'm bugged out already. I'm behind in the activities I'd planned for last week. We start swimming next week for 2 weeks (at least 1 hour a day gone) so I'm losing all that time as well. The children are loving what we've done so far. I purchased Deanna Jump and Growing Kinder's insects unit. I love both the units. I just read Deanna Jump's post about using vocabulary in K and have to agree with her. My old school used a vocabulary program (can't remember the name of it) and when I was told to teach it, was horrified because we weren't teaching the words in context but in isolation but the kids loved it. They loved learning "big" words and using them appropriately. What surprised me the most was that my low students soaked up those words even more than my high students. But I digress. I have two more bug activities that I thought I had posted weeks ago but like I said, I'm slowly going senile so I'll post them now. I'm starting on working on my ocean activities. If anybody has any requests, let me know and I'll see what I can do. The Beefore and After activity I was just going to use with my low students. I figures my high kids would fly through it. Boy was I wrong. Not one of my students (including the student who's reading on a second grade level) got all the cards right. I probably will make an ocean themed one as well. I haven't used the Beehive activity yet but plan to next week. Beefore and After Bee Hives Sharon

Going Buggy

I know I'm slowly going crazy (my husband says that there is nothing slow about it) but I knew that I had made some sight word activities for my insect unit but could not find them. They weren't on my school computer or my home computer. I can't tell you how many times I looked for them. I finally gave the computer to my daughter and told her she couldn't go out until she found them. Within seconds, she was back. I had sent them to my home computer as an email and deleted them from school. Anyway, now that I found them, I thought I would share them with you. This is based on an idea from Heidisongs. I hide the butterfly behind one of the other cards and the kids pick a word, read the word and see if the butterfly is behind it. Caterpillar This one I plan on using hand lenses and having the children read the words and then write it on the answer sheet. Butterfly Words I hope to be back during the week with some cut up sentences. Enjoy Sharon

A Creepy Crawly Day

I was hoping to post some freebies today but time got the better of me. However, as I was perusing (stalking) other blogs and sites, I came across a web site that has lots of bug related freebies. I especially loved the bug books and how they are already differentiated levels for us. If you get a chance, check it out its Lovetwoteach.com. Old age is definitely rearing its ugly head. I have another site for you. The books came from lovetwoteach.com but there is another site teachwithme.com that has different books and activities on it. Good thing I checked my downloads. I hope you enjoy. Our district is starting its FCAT testing next week. No specials until Friday, no recess until all clear is announced. It's going to be a long, long week. Sharon

Ladybugs All Over the Place

When I was blog stalking (at least that's what my daughter says) I came across 4 really cute activities on worksmartnothardinkindergarten.blogspot.com. She has an addition, subtraction, write the room sight word and missing number hunt. Race over there and check them out. Sharon

Free Did I Mention Free Giveaway

Nicole over at Rowdy in Room 300 is having a giveaway where everybody is a winner. Hop on over there and follow her blog and TPT store and she'll send you her year long tens frame. If you blog about it, she'll also send you her Farming Math & Literacy Pack. Have a wonderful Easter and Passover everybody. If you're on spring break I am so so jealous.

Bugs, bugs, and bugs

I wrote a blog, my computer crashed and it was lost. So second time around, I'm getting ready to start my bug unit. I don't have much created yet but there are some wonderful stuff on kinder-pond.blogspot.net. Shannon Martin has some awesome stuff. Anyway here are the activities I have created. I'll be posting more next week. If you have an idea for an activity, let me know. Insect Word Wall Bee Happy Sight Word Game Buggy Addition Sharon