Kindergarten Common Core

This is my second year of implementing Common Core standards into my teaching of kindergarten. I just downloaded a free preview of a great resource:

 

 

In the preview of this Kindergarten Common Core workbook are colorful resources to use in a kindergarten classroom. At the beginning of the preview, there is a list of standards with page numbers to easily access resources. There are over 600 pages in the original resource!! The sample of question cards for reading were illustrated with Scrappin Doodles artwork. On the Sounds sheet, pictures with words were included with each. The student would have to think about CVC words to figure out which word is the correct one. One of the math resources includes Number cards showing different ways to represent the numerals 1-10. There are a few literacy and math worksheets. Take a look at it yourself to see what the sample download includes! It looks like it will be a great resource in a kindergarten common core classroom!

 

If you have a blog, you could post about this by following the steps and receive this Kindergarten Common Core workbook free through email. You have to do this by September 16, 2012. CLICK HERE FOR THE DIRECTIONS TO GET IT FREE BY POSTING ON YOUR BLOG!

 





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Mimio Monday: More or Less

In the upcoming school year, I am determined to create more interactive lessons with my students using Mimio software. I love how easy Mimio software is to use. It opens up many different types of files (but not the Now board) including PDF files, PPTs, JPEGs, Smartboard and Promethean files. So if you have interactive software, yours may be able to open up Mimio's ink files. If not, you can download their free software at their site. Last year, that is what I used. I didn't have an interactive whiteboard in my classroom, but I had access through our computer lab and a kindergarten co-worker. So now, I do have access to all components since we use Mimio interactive software at our school site. Click on Mimio below to visit Mimio and try out their free software. (I am not a sponsor of or paid by Mimio to advertise! It is what my school uses for interactive whiteboards.)

Last year, when my class began to expand rapidly, I had to think about a different way to teach calendar. I happened upon A Teacher's Touch. She has great Smartboard calendar ideas on her site. Since then, I have created my own with a mix of ideas from different people. I cannot share it as it has graphics and calendar parts from Kim Adsit and Shari Sloane's calendar that are copyright protected. I like the idea of my students having their own calendar notebook. We do calendar whole group, and in January, I will start adding their own calendar notebooks.

Instead, I have created a More or Less ink file (Mimio interactive software). One of the Common Core math standards that I'll be teaching in the first six weeks of school is CC.K.6- Identify whether the number of objects in one group is greater than, less than, or equal to the number of objects in another group. I embedded a flash game into the file as well! That way, I do not have to rely on the internet connection. I will introduce this lesson after I have gone over the numerals 1-5. Click on any of the previews to download and use.

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Common Core Linky Party

Marlana at Lil' Country Kindergarten is having a Common Core Linky Party. Click on the picture above to go to her post and linky party.

For my teammates and myself, during the past school year, we have had a challenging time of starting the kindergarten common core with little direction and support. For everyone else, last year's focus seemed to be on Marzano's teacher evaluation system. Well, since 1st grade will be starting common core this school year, there is some direction and support. Around spring break, our administration bought our team this book:

Now our county is buying a copy for each school. This book has kindergarten set up in 6 units. These units are: Colorful Rhythm & Rhyme, Sequencing Stories 1, 2, 3, Exploring the Neighborhood, America: Symbols & Celebrations, The Great Big World, and Wonders of Nature: Living Things. It is somewhat broad, and gives flexibility. Most units do coincide with what we are doing already. For example, we usually start our school year with Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and Nursery Rhymes. These are all mentioned in the first unit. The newness is the terminology for us to learn. For example, my students and I interacted with poetry, but I did not discuss "stanza" with them.

I also received a curriculum map from my county this summer, and it does follow this particular book's kindergarten units. I am not sure if I am allowed to post my county's curriculum map, as it is not on our county website. However, I am working on a more specific one for my school year. The format was from a first grade teacher who blogs, but I do not remember her name. If you happen to know, please let me know so I can give her credit. You may notice that I highlighted 2 added skills to the writing part, as they are other skills I would like to focus on at the beginning of the year. I am still in the process of working on the rest of my school year. Please know that this is just my compilation of resources given to me through my county. Click here for direct link to Google document.




One great site I discovered online is Utah's Jordan School District. Looking at the kindergarten section, I see that the 6 units are the same as the Common Core Curriculum Maps book above. This site has an abundance of resources.

Happy common core planning!

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