Crazy for COLORS!

Back to school season is upon us.  I know several of you have been back for nearly a month now while some of you are just returning or returning in the next few weeks.

I like to start my Kindergarten year learning about colors!  While most of your kids won't come into the year reading and writing, I would bet they know a few colors!  I like to introduce them to reading and writing through colors.

Of course there are tons of fun songs about colors.  One of my personal favorites comes from none other than Harry Kindergarten!

I like to introduce a color every week (red, yellow, blue, green, orange, and purple). Lots of the activities I use come from my Color Crazy pack! Click the picture below to check it out!

For each color there is an interactive reader!  Students trace the color word and color the pictures. 

There's also a poem for each color! Each poem names a few objects that represent the color and has a question that leads to conversation around the color.  We liked to read the poem, then create an anchor chart to answer the question.  Then we used the poem all week long during stations! 

Remember those crucial kinder skills I was talking about?  My kids loved completing these printables because they could feel successful early in the year with kinder skills like spelling, reading, writing, cutting, gluing, and coloring! 

And of course, no color unit would be complete without an opportunity to get a little messy! My kids LOVED painting the color words!  We did q-tip painting to work on fine motor skills and staying in the lines.  You could also use this as a pladough mat, or use glue and glitter, or bingo daubers!  As long is it's colorful and messy, I'm sure your kids will enjoy!  Grab this one for free by clicking the image. 

Hope you and your kiddos have a COLORFUL year! :) 

FAVORITE 10 Minute Time Filler! {freebie}

Last Tuesday,  I blogged about being mindfully cross-curricular to make the most out of our limited time as teachers.  Today, I want to share another way to squeeze every spare moment out of your day.

One of my struggles as a teacher has been estimating how much time different activities will take.  Please tell me this happens to you, too?  I'm sure you've tried to fit a craftivity into a 20 minute time slot only to have to stop for specials... leaving a mess of glue and paper scraps for later.   You've probably been on the other boat, too, right?  You know... where you block out a half hour activity for something that only takes 20 minutes?  Many times, I fill that time with a read aloud or some independent reading.  Both of these work just great, they really do.  But every now and then, I get to surprise my kids with one of their FAVORITE activities. And, you guys, it's educational AND FUN!  Wee!  Fun... in kindergarten.  Those words should go together.  

I introduce to you today, your new favorite time filler.  Trust me, your kids will LOVE it and you will get some great review in of skills you've taught or are currently teaching.  I call this little ditty Mingle and Match. 

Here are 3 reasons why I *LOVE* Mingle and Match. 

Here's the premise.  I have created a BUNCH of match games to use as review or reinforcement of Kindergarten skills in your classroom.  They range from matching capital to lowercase letters all the way to matching ten frames to teen numbers.  You could certainly use these as station activities and just have students make matches at tables, but I [and the kids] enjoy it much more when you play it as a whole class game.  Each student will get a card and be expected to find the person with their matching card.  They can travel the whole room (safely, of course) searching for their match buddy.  They should be talking and moving/dancing throughout.  SO, not only does this activity give them great review, but it gives them a chance to unwind a little at the same time!  Here's how to play Mingle and Match in your classroom... step by step! 

Here's a few of my sweeties sharing their match around the rug {before I fancied up the cards!} 

My kids absolutely LOVE this game and it's so easy for a quick filler between activities.  Try it for FREE in your classroom.  Click below to download a capital/lowercase match to use at the beginning of your kinder year! 

My Sweet Little Miracle Baby and a Sale! :)

Friends, I just want to thank you for all the positive thoughts and prayers over the last few weeks.  We were induced on July 30th and brought our sweet baby girl Sawyer into the world on July 31st at 5:47 PM.  She is 5 lbs 13 oz and such a little warrior! Your prayers have meant the world to us and have truly helped us cope during this trying time! Please continue thinking and praying as her journey is just beginning!  We have her first open heart surgery scheduled for August 7th!

As you may have heard by now, TPT is throwing a HUGE Back to School Sale!  Sorry for saying Back to School.  I know those words can be hard to hear.  BUT... let's celebrate anyway with an awesome sale!

I will have TONS of items 20% off. Combine that with TPT's promo code and you'll get 28% off!! You can click on ANY of the cover pictures below to check these resources out in my store. 

What an amazing time to pick up the Fundraiser Bundles I'm running for Congenital Heart Disease awareness!  I haven't further discounted these because they're already 85% off, BUT use TPT's promo code and save! :) 

  

Check out some of my new packs that I L-O-V-E.  Full of math and literacy activities centered around some beginning of the year themes. 

 

 

Pick up this Sight Word Pack that can be used on ANY words ALL YEAR LONG! :) 

Get your kids reading during math and LOVING IT! 

And check out a tried and true favorite, great for kindergarten and beginning of the year in first grade! 

WHEW!  That's a lot of savings, my friends!  I have to admit that I've got more items in my cart this sale than I ever have before!  I'm going on a clipart rampage!!  Can't wait for the sale so I can empty my pockets ;) Just don't tell my husband, okay?!