Accelerated Reader

Recently our PTA bought Accelerated Reader for the entire school. At first we were told we wouldn't have to do much, but we quickly found out that kinders could not do it on their own. So after some brainstorming here is what we came up with.

Instead of sending our kiddos to the media with the rest of the school on Tuesday and Thursday morning we created a sign up genesis for parents to volunteer for time slots on Tuesday to give our kiddos the AR quiz one on one.

We were also having trouble communicating with parents to know what books students were ready to take a quiz on. The students could tell us what the story was about but not always the title or the author. So we created these slips that we then attach to the back of the homework. When a student is ready to take the quiz their parents fill out the form and send it into school.

Our PTA also purchased charms for our kids to wear on a necklace for every 5 quizzes they pass. My co-worker and I worked so hard the first week and even had volunteers and couldn't get the kids to 5 passed quizzes. So we switched it up and now students will receive one pony bead for each passed quiz they take. When they hit 5 they will get the 5 charm. 

To help keep students necklaces in a safe place and so kiddos remember to wear them on Fridays I created an Acceralated Reader Hall of Fame. To identify whose necklace is whose I created these brag tags, that you can get here as a FREEBIE!!

We are off to a great start and my kiddos are so excited to take an AR quiz!!!

Diversity Day

Last Thursday we celebrated Diversity Day at my school. The kids had a great time and really enjoyed learning about different people who have changed history.

Here is a recap of our lesson

We had parents come in to help us talk about diversity and how their family is diverse.  The kids loved to see their moms, dads, and siblings. 

We used this mini reader from Jennifer Drake at Crayons and Cuties in Kindergarten.

Grab your FREE copy of the four corners activity we did here.

Indoor Recess and Brain Breaks

It has been pretty cold here the last couple of days and with the cold come snow (yea!!!) and indoor recess. For indoor recess I offer my students 5 choices; computer, watch a movie, color in coloring books, read or do a puzzle. On days we have indoor recess we always need a few more brain breaks.  Here is a list of 10 of my kiddos favorite.

1. The Crazy Frog

2. The Sid Shuffle

3. Just Mario

4. Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride

5. Happy Feet Move It

6. If your a kid Dance Around

7. Let it Go

8. Happy

9. Shake Break

10. Ants in you Pants

Last Minute Wintery Word Work

So with the long weekend I decided I would create some new word work games to get me through the end of the month. So here you go...read to the end for a freebie!!!

Snowy Match-students read the word then add a "magic e". They read the word again and match the word to the picture. 

Mitten Match-students match the picture with the ccvc word. They can check their answers by making sure the color of the mittens match.

Wintery Fun!- students use the word cards to make a sentence. Then write the sentence next to the correct picture.

Rhyming Mittens-if the pictures on the mittens rhyme you color a happy face if they don't you color a sad face.

Wintery Words-students roll the dice then read the words next to the corresponding number. The more they roll the better they get! This is a great fluency activity. I also created this game with nonsense words grab the here as a FREEBIE!!!

Want to use these games with your kiddos get them here at my TpT store.

Off to work on some Valentine's Day word work and math a activities!!