Guided Reading Level Labels Freebie

I was looking for some green labels for my room and of course I wanted them for free!  I couldn't find what I was looking for so I made some.  

I like circle labels but I'm too busy (lazy) to cut those all out.

Copy these onto the cardstock and laminate if you wish. Then just cut them between each card.  

Easy Peasy and Free!!

I have small boxes so I have two of each!

Click on the pics to get yours for Free!!

Have a great year!

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All About Me Freebie

My blog has kind of taken a back seat for the last year!  I guess I've been livin' life and have been busy - busy - busy!  Five kids can do that to you!

On top of life - I was handed a ball curve! Kindergarten!!!  I'm certified for 1-8 however, Wisconsin DPI has made some new rules such as lifetime license and allowing your administrator to place you in a grade you're not certified for with professional development for three years!  Here's to my next crazy three years!

This is an All About Me page that I have used for 19+ years when I taught first and second grade.  Each student makes one.  Mount it on construction paper and laminate.  I love looking at the previous years and so do the students.  Especially, when I have siblings.  Pick it up for FREE. Click the picture.

Well, I still want to do this with my kinders but this would be too hard, so....

Here is my version for kindergarten!

Click the picture to grab it for FREE!

I'm looking forward to starting this year with my kinders! 

Any suggestions for me!?  I'll take it!

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BACK TO SCHOOL FRIGHT

Not sure who's more afraid the first day!  The kids or me!

I always lose sleep that first night with all my worries!

Check out this easy Read Aloud 

Black Lagoon Adventures - Back to School Fright

The kids can relate to Herbie!  Let them show you with this Let's Make a Connection worksheet.  Click on the worksheet to go to the link.

  I like to read a little of this book every day but you could read it in one sitting.  

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Birthday Tags and Popcorn Bag Tag Freebies - Monster Theme

Check out these super treats!  Get the labels for free! Available for Kindergarten to third grade!!

Here are the birthday labels that I made.  I haven't had time to make them up yet.  Below are the ones I made last year and I've included those for you too if you want Jungle.

For these I use the snack size bags from Walmart.  I fold the baggie over a bit and add the label.  That way I don't have to fill the baggie.  I bought a family size Skittles and I didn't even use them all.

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Back-to-School Fright from the Black Lagoon

Do you love the Teacher from the Black Lagoon books?

I do and so do my students.

 

I started reading the chapter books that Mike Thaler wrote.  These are short books and won't take too long to read.  I read multiple chapters at a time.

 

I'm going to read Back-to-School Fright the first week of school this year.



Click book to go to Amazon

 

 

It's such a funny story about Herbie who really doesn't want to come back to school.  I bet a few kids can make some great connections to this book so I've included a worksheet for them to write about it.

 

 

Check out the other pages for this Literature Companion.  Click on the worksheet.

Included are pages for vocabulary, writing, text connections, idioms, story elements and reading responses.  I hope it's helpful to the beginning of your year.

 

Have a great start to your year.  I get to get into my classroom for the first time this summer on Monday!  Wish me luck!

 

 

 

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The Scoreboard - Whole Brain Teaching

I just love my class!  They are the best class!

I have been trying out Whole Brain Teaching for a few years but I haven't done more than the rules.  This year I'm expanding to using more of the system.  It went super well!!  The kids were loving the action and they were very focused. 

This is my Scoreboard.  I used a wipe off board and used Washii Tape.  One section is for the morning and the second section is for the afternoon.  I used sticky velcro to attach the dry erase marker!  This is important for me.  I tend to put things down and can't find them again!!  I love that the board is portable.  This will be especially nice when I'm working with a small group and do not want to keep getting up to emphasize their behavior.

The Scoreboard was a fantastic way to get the children to focus when they started talking with each other.  Visit www.wholebrainteaching.com.  There are webcasts and tons of videos.

Every time you catch them following the rules they get a point. (smiley)

When they are breaking the rules you get a point! (sad)

Your job is to keep the points within 3 points of each other to keep the interest!  If they are ahead at the end of the day they win a few minutes to play a class game.  

I hope you try it out - you'll be happy you tried it!

My baby started high school today!!  There were tears shed - mine!!

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10 Ideas to Survive Your First Week

We are all excited for school to start - we actually have trouble sleeping the night before just like our students.  I wonder who is more scared of the first day?

So how do we get through this first week?

1.  Reduce your caffeine intake so you can give sleeping a good chance!  I'm a night owl but I know I won't be able to function with all the problems that will hit me during the week and there will be many.  So get to bed at a reasonable time!  If you're like me, my brain has a hard time shutting down.  Keep a notepad by your bed (not your phone, you'll be tempted to Google!)

2.  Pack your lunch with healthy foods and waters.  My new favorites are carbonated flavored waters so I can feel like I'm having a soda!

I love the Pink Grapefruit!  Very refreshing!  I got them at Pick n' Save.

3.  Be Organized!

• Get your desk the way you want it!
• Have a place for everything!
• Make your copies and put them in a daily organization bin.
• I love when my closet is even organized!!  Love my paper organizers!
  
  

4.  Wear comfortable shoes!  You will thank me for this later!  

5.  Don't plan too much to do on the first day!  Everything will take longer than you think!  Start your day off light with with a get to know you activity.

• Beach Ball Questions:  Write questions on the ball stripes such as What is your favorite color? What did you do this summer?  Tell us about your family.
• M&M Buddies:   Put a few kids in a group with a card with a question for each color of the M&Ms.  After they answer the question they can eat that M&M.  You can do this with Skittles or Starbursts too.

6.  Bring a snack for the whole class.  Many will forget to bring one and this will help them get through the long day!  

7.  If you're as unfortunate as I am to not have air conditioning, it always seems to get hot when we go back to school!  Let the students have water bottles, get drinks and take extra bathroom breaks - you do not want unwanted accidents. 

8.  Reward them with an extra recess.  They will love it and you can see them in a different environment. Provide some fun outside toys like hula-hoops, Frisbees, sidewalk chalk and bubbles.

9.  Take time to go through the rules.  Keep it short and simple but repeat it throughout the week.

I love this video that a principal did.

10.  Leave on time to go home to your family, friends or pets!  Give your brain a break!  You deserve it - you have worked very hard!

Have a great week back!

Share your tips for a great week!

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A Peek into my day!

I completed my schedule for the year.  I'm trying something new.  If you look at the end of the schedule I posted the times for my reading block.  I'm not going to do mini-lessons.  I do not feel very effective with this method.  I'm hoping to get more in depth with the comprehension with a larger amount of time.

Click to get this document for free in

Word

pdf

How do you break your reading block up?

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Free All About Me Booklet Page

I love making student books full of their own writing.  They are the most read books in the classroom library! I start out the year by making the first book about themselves.  After each child fills it out we attach their first day in First grade photo.  They choose their favorite color to mount it to.  I laminate each page and bind into a book.

To get your own click the worksheet.

 I've been making these books every year for over 15 years!  Some sadly have been so well read that I no longer can put them out for the kids to look at.  They love reading about their friends or siblings that used to be in my class.  They bring it up to me and say, "Did you know "Jane" was in your class too!"  So Cute!

The cover has the class picture.  Our pictures have changed over the year.  It used to be a snapshot.  I would then include a list of all the student names.  Now we get a composite photo with the names already on it.

I use a picture either I have taken or their class photo.  This pink one is about to go to the archives!

Have fun starting a long lasting memory!

Here are some things that you may find helpful to start your year out!

 Fun Game -  They'll ask to play again!

 Fun charts - put them on their desks or board.

 For the must needed data collection!

 Sight Word Games! A Big Hit in my Room for Word Work Time!

Great Homework for sight words!

Lots of goodies to help you out!

 Extra practice for the hard to teach Number Stories!

Attach the pencil bookmark to every desk.  A great reminder!

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Back to School Crunch

I'm back from my fabulous vacation to the K Bar Z Ranch in Wyoming.  It will be a lasting memory! This is my family and friends horseback riding in the mountains!

Now back to reality and getting ready for school to start!  Inservice starts on August 25th.

Our registration will be complete in two days so then I will have a confirmed class list.  I always send a welcome letter to my parents and students.  Click here for an editable copy.

Letter to the Parents

Letter to the Students

So if you're like me I'm going through my files and deciding what worked last year and what didn't, what should I change?  I am going through my wish list from TpT that I have made all year.  I have 5 pages of wishes! Don't judge! :)  So I am so excited to see if any of my wishes are putting their items on sale.   Check my stuff out too while you're there!  Have fun shopping!!

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Donor's Choose Project and Freebie Friday

I am so excited about my Donor's Choose project!  I only have $31 to go!  

I hope it gets fulfilled before school starts.  I've had a lot of generous people!  It amazes me!

Can't remember who's blog shared the idea on these cute birthday bags but I just thought it was a great idea and a money saver!

Print these out on paper and fold in half.  Fold down the baggie a bit put the paper over and staple.

I used the portion control baggies from Walmart (Great Value brand) - a lot cheaper than velum bags.

  I put a 1/4 cup in each one.  I made 20 bags and didn't quite use 2 bags of Skittles!  

Click on a picture to get a copy.  Obviously yours doesn't say Love, Mrs. Moldenhauer!

Love what you see?  Follow me on Bloglovin'!

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Take Home Parent Packs

I have many working parents who want to help in the classroom but can't volunteer to come in and they want to help.  So I developed take home packets.  I like to put them out at Back to School Nights or Parent Teacher Conferences so parents can sign up.  I also send them home with parents who request this.

One easy project to send home is the math manipulative pages that I tear out of the back of our Everyday Math Books.   Other things to send home: take apart Book Order forms, cut out lamination, call list for Market Day parent reminders, type up student stories for publishing and anything that you can think of.

I glue this sheet to the front of a manilla envelope.  I include all the supplies that the parent will need.  I try to make it as easy as possible.  Click on the page to download it in a word doc so you can adjust it to fit your needs.

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First Day Photos

Well, I've actually started my third day of school and things are going great!  I have a wonderful class.  We are working on learning all the procedures.  I like to spend a lot of time on this so they are secure in it and we then have less behavior problems.

I made a frame for the photos that has been going around blog world!  I used a frame that I had bought for my own children where you put their school pictures in and of course I never did it!  So, I re-purposed it!  Here are a few of my kiddos!

I know it's not Monday.  I made it on Monday but just got the photos uploaded!  I think it turned out pretty cute!  I hope I can preserve it for next year!

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