GETTIN' BACK INTO THE GROOVE - A LOOK AT WEEK TWO

Well, well, well . . . HELLO SATURDAY.  I know all you alls out there who are back in saddle are probably experiencing a very similar feeling now that the weekend has arrived.  Mine is a cross between relief and an absolute love affair. Thank you sweet, weekend.  I needed you :)

Despite the pooped feeling we are all experiencing, I hope that your week was just as nice as mine (sans the one major meltdown).  For only the second week back at it, I was pleasantly surprised with my crew's ability to fall into line. On that note, here's a little look-see at what transpired during this "round."

ONE - BRINGIN' BACK SNACK MATH
We jumped into our math program this week.  It's the same series that my other campus used.  I'll be honest . . . it's not my favorite (I'll say that in a whisper). However, if you think out of the box you can so spice it up and teach the concepts in ways that are STILL CORE FRIENDLY and meaningful for kids. With this said, I brought back good 'ol snack math this week.  We rocked out number bonds with tasty honey nut cereal pieces.  The kids were all about it and they didn't even know there were really doing math. 

Erica Bohrer has some wonderful program resources that supplement the program ever so nicely.  The best part is that they are free.  That handy-dandy number bond template up top is from her collection.  Do yourself a favor.  Hop on over there and snag these goodies and be sure to follow Erica while you are at it - just click the image below.

TWO - LATE NIGHTS
If you have been reading my posts lately, you know that I moved schools this year.  I absolutely LOVE my new campus and my team/colleagues, but the new systems have me running right now.  I just can't seem to catch up and I haven't quite found my groove yet.  It will come. However, until then I will continue work weekends and pull extra L-O-N-G weekdays.

On Monday night I went back to school to work in my jammers.
The sign does say to be a problem solver :)
#ohtheirony

THREE - A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
As I worked my way through the week, I noticed lots of resources from friends popping up in our rotations. 

The one and only Annie Moffatt helped me see who could rhyme.
And, she helped me differentiate for my "hot shot."
(Yep . . . my little guy rocked ABC order on Day 5 of 1st Grade)
Thanks Moffatt Girls :)

Kim Sutton's Math Drills that Thrill
Such a great way to work on number sense and listening skills.
The kids beg to do this one. 

Miss Kindergarten Love popped up in my room this week as well.
Now I Know My ABCs was just what the doc ordered for independent work!
Thanks, Hadar!

FOUR - ABC CENTRAL
I quickly realized that we have some alphabet holes. Gotta fix this  . . . STAT! So, out came all the ABC activities I could throw their way.  In addition to working on a letter a day (handwriting, sound, and spelling), we also tossed in oodles of games, tunes, and other alphabet fun.  

The kids not only loved this game, but they were able to do it independently.
Hooray . . . focused at an unmanned station!
They rolled an ABC die and traced the letter that was rolled.
Next week they will play the same game and will WRITE the letter :)

The kids were introduced to Ron Brown's Intelli-Tunes this week.
We learned the Alien Alphabet.
This was followed up with a fun art activity.
The kids picked a letter of the alphabet to turn into an alien.
On Monday we will write about our aliens!

Here is that song in action.
The kids were given their song binders for the year too.
Read up on this AMAZING fluency tool HERE.  It's a freebie.
The kids got to use the fun fingers . . . you could hear a pin drop!

We have been using the Alphabet Moves tunes all week as well.
These fun little tunes work on letter sound recognition, while getting kiddos active.
They have proved to be the PERFECT brain breaks for us.
Best part . . . they don't even realize that they are learning while doing these. 
CHECK OUT THE FULL POST HERE.

To look into my ABC resources a bit more, click on the images below.  Both of these packets include oodles of professionally recorded MP3s.  

      

FIVE - GOTTA GO BIGGER
I have used The Teacher Wife's Plan Book for the past 3 years and have absolutely loved it.  If you have been at your school for a couple of years, this is such a great way to plan.  However, this year I have so many pull outs and push ins at my new school that I have to GO BIGGER.  Yep . . . I need more space to write. With this said, I went back to the legal-sized hard good planner that I used my first 4 years of teaching.  Being in a new place, I have to write every little thing down or I forget what's going on from one minute to the next. ((Sigh)) I am getting old.  I KNOW that will eventually return to my beloved online planner from Lindsey, but this year I had to SUPER SIZE it to survive all the new things rattling around in my brain.

This was last week's outline . . . it was so crowded.
I hate having to write it all down.  It's SO not my style.
But, I just have to these days. 

Here is my new book.  I even broke out the highlighters to show breaks.
I am so out of sorts on my timing . . . it will come, but not yet.
As and added bonus, Henry likes to sit on the dang thing.
Thanks a bunch, Kitty.

Alright . . . there you have it.  My week in a nutshell.  It was a great one - packed with excitement and fun.  It definitely kept me running, but what teacher isn't sprinting to save his/her life this time of year?  Big hugs to all of you.  Hang on tight.  We will get there.  I'll see you all again soon :)