Kindergarten Common Core

We are right smack in the middle of using the Common Core standards full blown. Some of the teachers I work with are stressed about it, others are ignoring it, and still others are jumping in. My personal level of instruction has increased in rigor and I'm loving it. I stumbled upon this great resource for the Common Core called the Kindergarten Common Core Workbook. This is an amazing compilation of 600 pages to help you understand and implement the common core standards in your classroom. There are all kinds of worksheets, activities, etc to get you started. The ebook is $39.99.

You can get your copy of the Kindergarten Common Core by clicking on the words Kindergarten Common core. Head on over and check out the sample download. Enjoy!

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Zero the Hero Number Scrolls

I don't know you about you but I've been busy getting ready for back to school! This week I spent in training and setting my classroom up. My new classroom is AMAZING! It is very large, with a private office, private walk in storage closet, and a kitchen in the back. Being in this room and at this school is defiantly a God thing; I'm so grateful. Working while having little man with me has been a challenge; he doesn't do so well with the long hours. I'm going to miss him so much when I have to go back full time.

Aside from working in my room I've been working on plans for the new year. I created a new product for Teachers pay teachers called Zero the Hero Number Scrolls. I'm planning on creating more Zero the Hero items soon using these great custom graphics of Zero the Hero from Bennington Illustrations. Here is the summary of my new teachers pay teachers product: Count the days in school with Zero the Hero Number Scrolls. Zero the Hero visits school every 10th day! Celebrate by making a scroll and adding ten new numbers every ten days! This is an original document created by Danielle Tisdale. The product contains 77 pages with common core standards, instructions, and five different sets of numbers charts. Mix in match the number charts your children add to their scrolls based upon their needs. This product allows you to differentiate number writing with blank charts, dotted charts, charts with some numbers and not others, and charts that are dotted with a black dot to show students were to start tracing. Have fun celebrating and counting the days in school while learning about place value! If you want to check out more or download a preview click here. I'll be throwing a sale starting Aug. 11-13 on Tpt! So be sure to stop by my store. Hopefully I'll have pictures next week of some of the great things I've been working on! Best of luck as you prepare for Back to School!

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CCSS Numeracy Math Mats

I've been a bad terrible blogger.  Last summer my husband and I found out we were having a honeymoon baby - SURPRISE!  It was a long 9 months - I did nothing but eat, sleep, and shuffle through work.  We had a little boy at the end of February and he has been such a joy.   We have shuffled through late night feedings, constant crying, and many diaper changes for five months. I would love to say it is getting better but I'm more tired now than I was five months ago!  Truth is I would not change it for the world.  Parenthood is hard work!


I haven't been back to work since Feb.  I'm going back to K and changing schools. My heart is breaking at the thought that I have to head back in just a few short weeks. I enjoy teaching. I am so OCD about teaching and being creative but I can't imagine not spending my day with drool, chubby hands, and baby giggles.  My aim is for balance and if life has to be out of balance the scales need to tip toward my family.  Letting go of school will be hard but I must do it.

My plan is to take pictures of what I am doing. I am not planning on going all perfectionist like before but we shall see. 

I have started working a bit on my plans for the  year. Teaching first grade really helped me gain a broader perspective on kindergarten so I feel like I can do a better job than ever before.  For the last two years I have taught the Math Out of the Box Curriclum; which is an inquiry based math workshop - LOVED it!  My new school wants this type of math program but does not have the funds so I am working with what I know.

I found these great cubes at the Dollar Tree.  Don't you just love how you never feel like you are going to break the bank at the Dollar Tree?!? I feel like a kid with my whole life savings of $5 and I could buy the world when I am in that store!

  I sorted them by color - so relaxing.

I bought enough so that each child can have two sets of 10 in two different colors for a total of 20.  Odd numbered children have two colors and even numbered children will have two different colors.  They will start with only five of each color in a baggie. The baggies are numbered and the children will be responsible for keeping track of their cubes and storing them in their cubby.  I am also planning on adding a washable thin marker with a pompom eraser in each bag.

Then I pulled out my CCSS for kindergarten math and got started. I created Numeracy math mats where the children build their understanding from basic one to one and number writing to composing and decomposing addition and subtraction problems.  My experience in first grade really helped me to see how important five and ten frames are so I've utilized that as much as possible on the mats.

There are 25 pages - 14 of those are mats for the children to use.  These are aligned wit the CCSS.  Contains mats to cover the following skills:

1.Show the quantity for a given oral number.

2.Show the quantity for a given written number.

3.Show the quantity and write the matching numeral for a given number. (oral and written)

4.Show the number using counters of one color.

5.Show the number using counters of two colors.

6.Comparing two sets of numbers

7.Five frames to develop concept and combinations of five.

8.Ten frames to develop concept and combinations of ten.

9.Teen frames to develop concepts of numbers greater than ten.

10.Five frames to develop combinations of five.

11.Ten frames to develop combinations of ten.

12.Addition frame

13.Subtraction frame

I am planning on having the children keep the current mat in a page protector in their classwork folder. We will use these for whole group and small group lessons - they can write on the page protector with  their marker.  Once children are comfortable using these and practicing making numbers, number sentences, composing, and decomposing numbers I will add these to my math stations with some thematic/seasonal counters.

 

 I hated math as a kid it did not make sense to me.  These math mats provide kids with materials and help build strategies for math which is power! I am so excited to use these! I know they will help my children build a fuller view of number concepts in a hands on manner. 

I hope you are finding joy in your planning!

P.S. My husband's graphic design company did custom graphics for this and helped with the layout. They did a great job! I'll be posting more about his illustrations and custom illustrations in a future post!

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