Get Lucky Today!

Have you noticed that a lot of bloggers are promoting worksheets that you can print off and use the next day? Be cautious about embracing this. Kindergarten students need to interact with materials and use manipulatives on a concrete level to build understandings. Small group instruction and work stations help them to make connections and work towards becoming independent. I think we need balance with all of this and because life is so busy we fall down this "black hole." I know I have. However, there are so many amazing resources that can keep our kids excited about learning! Are you with me?

 It's a struggle to keep up with all the demands of a classroom and have any time left for yourself and your family. Literacy and math stations require a lot of prep and this can become exhausting. Worksheets can be useful to check for understanding but only if they are well designed and used strategically.

At this time of year I have an emergent reader that my students love and it has such a positive message... I need positive! Click on the picture to grab this little reader.

This packet is filled with activities to keep learning exciting in your classroom and gives you an opportunity to see how their skills are coming along. There is definite prep involved but I think it is worth it. Laminate all the games and activities, label it, put it in a container and pray that you can find it next year. I have it in my TpT store so click on the picture and it will lead you there. Have a lucky day friends and remember to "teach to the core." You can also click here.

St. Patrick's Day Reader

Lots of followers have asked me for a St. Patrick's Day emergent reader and I finally came up with this idea and I really love the concept. It's all about being lucky through a child's eyes. The text is a little more challenging and the graphics are adorable. I love how Makda did the girl on the cover. The message is positive and the shamrocks make it a wee bit Irish! If you want it you can find it in my TpT shop or at Teachers Notebook. My class will love this upbeat little reader! The repetitive text is: I am so lucky! At the end students draw a self portrait which can done as a guided drawing lesson. Easy!