UPDATED: Year-Long Calendar Cards
February 4, 2022
Although we're currently in the middle of our school year, I am already beginning to think and plan ahead for next year! Crazy, I know. But being that sort of personality (read: type A) I am always looking to make my following year a little more organized and be able to kick off the year on the right foot.
This year, with it being my very first in a new state, a new district, and a brand-stinking-new school I went with a pre-made calendar set purchased from Michael's. It's been a good little set but I missed using my own cards. So, when I took to go print them I realized I haven't updated them since 2020! And much has changed since then so naturally I took to giving them a little culturally responsible face-lift!
Let's take a look...
Updated fonts and clip art
Includes years 2022-2030
Special Events/Holidays (NEW!)
I've included SO many new events/holidays in this set!
- Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept)
- National Bully Prevention Month (Oct)
- American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month (Nov)
- Black History Month (Feb)
- Women's History Month (Mar)
- Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May)
- Pride Month (June)
- National Ice Cream Month (July)
So, if you're anything like me and you're interested in getting a leg-up on the school year ahead, these calendar cards are sure to be on your list! You can check out more over at TpT!
Teaching Without Fear | BTS Covid-19 Activities
August 15, 2021
Here we all are...heading into yet another school year navigating the waters of Covid...and more recently the Delta variant. This year I'm heading back to work teaching kindergarten here in Texas - previously had been in San Diego, CA as an English kindergarten teacher. I'm so excited for this new chapter and to once again return to public school service.
This post shares a glimpse into what I had prepared last year as I began the school year at my previous school. We were among the first of the independent schools to reopen under strict protocols and offered both on-campus and virtual learning options. The majority of students returned to campus whereas I had a few that were full-time virtual...so, that meant hybrid teaching!
In all honesty, I wasn't too sure about how our school was going to be able to handle a hybrid model of teaching (i.e. offering both on-campus and virtual teaching) last year but it went surprisingly well. Being that I taught at a private school, we'd been able to make more accommodations and the school made renovations to our site that I recognize not all schools have the ability to do. In that sense we were extremely fortunate. That being said, being able to welcome students back to school during a pandemic leaves us teachers with a lot to figure out...even two school years in...namely how to go about having conversations about the virus without scaring our students.
As a kindergarten teacher these conversations are extremely important. In any normal year my class would have our routine lessons on hygiene and washing hands but because of having been under strict health guidelines and protocols (for being able to offer on-campus classes) washing hands was ever so important.
So, how did I do it? And how do I plan to do it again this school year?
Here is a glimpse at our first couple weeks of school as we tackle the conversations about germs and how to keep ourselves safe - whether learning at home or at school.
Start with Germs
- Sick Simon
- Germs vs Soap
Covid-19 Activities
Safe and Unsafe Choices Sort
"I can be safe at school by..." Writing
"I wear a mask because..." Shared Writing
How have you had success with your class discussing germs and Covid?
Advocating for Play in a Post-Covid Classroom
May 17, 2021
2020 taught us a lot as a teachers.
It taught us how resilient our students are (and how we are!), how to adapt within any given moment, and get back to the basics which is the social-emotional wellbeing of not only our class but with our colleagues and ourselves.
That's why I couldn't stress play enough - especially for kindergartners - and how it's ever more important as we all begin to welcome students back to campus.
We all know that as teachers we need to maximize academic time in our classrooms; that ever changing requirements and expectations are being placed on us by administrations and districts. However, in that mindset of pushing every minute for school work we forget that there is so much to be learned about purposeful play.
Purposeful Play
Connecting Play to the Common Core
Connecting Play to the Real World Workforce
Balancing Playtime in Kindergarten
Making the Case for Play
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Types of Play
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This is a great visual for the types of play you will see throughout the year and how each child goes through each one at different times. Our classrooms should be flexible and always be ready to change depending on the needs of the class and what is being studied/explored.
Establishing the "rules" for Playtime
Advocating Play in a Post-Covid Classroom
Exploring Eureka Math for Kindergarten | Module 1
May 10, 2021
Years ago when I set out to develop an interactive notebook for Eureka Math's curriculum I had no idea how much it would impact other classrooms! I'm so excited that I am not the only one out there who was looking for a more streamlined way to present the lesson material. It's a great curriculum, but oftentimes the activity pages are not developed by actual teachers - and if they are I'm sorry for that criticism!
In math it's so important that students are presented with a skill, have an opportunity to work with it in an environment where the teacher is there to support, practice on their own, then move on to another activity that has them continue practicing that skill just in a different way. This is especially true in kindergarten where these kiddos only have so much of an attention span and ability to absorb new information in their budding brains.
That's why after the success of my second grade module interactive notebooks I've set out to adapt Eureka Math's modules for kindergarten and make them available to all of you!!
Interactive Notebook-Style Notes
Aligned Curriculum
Module 1: Number Sense to 10
Age Appropriate Lessons
The GROWING BUNDLE
Teacher Appreciation SALE 2021
May 4, 2021
It's that time of year again where we can all do a little more to support our favorite teachers. Whether it be loving on your child's teacher in the coming week or helping out your teacher spouse, there's no greater way to show them you care than simply recognizing their hard work.
When Covid first hit this time last year, I remember my team and I had to scramble to somehow pull together weekly lesson plans that students could do from home...in a matter of mere days. It was one of the most stressful teaching experiences I've ever had, but much like any hard circumstance, I grew stronger from it. I continue to be so grateful to my amazing kindergarten team during that time and I couldn't be happier to see them back on campus and beginning to resume some sense of normalcy.
With that being said, teachers were hit hard during the pandemic and so much more was placed on their laps. For a brief moment the hard work and dedication of educators were put in the spotlight where, for once, we were collectively recognized for what we've been able to do and maintain while students were required to learn from home. But, somehow with the passing of time, that spotlight began to dim but we nonetheless continued to love on our students and families during a year that would look like no other.
Teachers Pay Teachers SALE
Eureka Math - Kindergarten
It's Springtime!
End of the Year Prep
Social Studies
Hey there!
