As most of you already know, we use Beverly Tyner's small group model at our school and if I haven't said it before, I LOVE it!! It is amazing how well the kids read by the end of the year. For the first 26 small group lessons, we focus on letters (5 a week), so I've been making centers to go with these lessons. You can find letter sorts and a letter roll game here and you can click on the picture below to get a sound sorting freebie. Once again, these go with the order we teach the letters.
I also made some graphic organizers for each letter that I am going to use whole group when we introduce each letter. This pack includes large circles for each letter that you can use as the center of a large circle or bubble map and also student circle and bubble maps for each letter. You can click on the picture to get it from my TpT store for only $2.50!
I would love to hear from you if you are able to use the freebie and if you can, I would also love for you to follow my blog {I'm getting close to 500 and feel a giveaway coming!}.
For those of you who have taken maternity leave before, what did you do to make it as non-stressful as possible? I'm
I love this! Thanks! I just posting something somewhat similar except mine are in color! As far as maternity leave, I was off the last month of school. I'm a little OCD too, but knew I had my aid who could really take control and teach! I made a binder with the outline for each week and the handouts to use. It was detailed, but I knew there was no way she could mess it up. :) My sub was a little "Barney Fife" (like she finally felt like she had a real teaching job) and didn't follow any of my plans! Grrrr.
ReplyDeleteWhat I can say is that once you have a baby, you won't be thinking about your classroom. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE my kinder babies!!!! But once you have your own child, you become a different (and better) teacher. You will be so consumed with your sweet one at home that you won't be worried about school. They will be fine and Oh SO Ready for you to come back! :)
Sarah
Kindergarten Korner
Thanks for making me feel better...with the baby coming right at the holidays, I probably won't even have time to worry about school!
DeleteHi Vickie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the sound sort. I am positive I'll be able to use it next year -- it looks great!
Regarding your maternity leave....I think it's completely normal to be freaked out. It's hard for us to turn "our babies" over to someone else! However, once you get your own baby in your arms, you won't worry so much. I promise! :)
When I was on maternity leave, I typed up a lengthy packet describing in detail every routine, etc. My sub said she loved it. She knew that I didn't expect her to "be me", but it just helped her to find answers. I also had all of the copies/little books, etc. waiting for her. I arranged it week by week. This way, she had the resources she needed to get the job done! Good luck with all of your preparations! All of us out here in blogland will be cheering you on! :)
Taryn
Thanks so much for the advice!
DeleteMaternity leave was tough...I have had to use it twice...the last time was the best. She was great and came to sit in on my class for a few days before the leave. (that REALLY helped!!)
ReplyDeleteJennifer
First Grade Blue SKies
Thanks for the freebies! They look great and I know I will be able to use them in my self-contained classroom next year!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the freebies, I will definitely be using these in my class next year. I need to look more into Beverly Tyner's small group model. Is it like Words Their Way?
ReplyDeleteI have never used Words Their Way, so I'm not sure what the comparison would be. I'll have to research that :)
DeleteThank you for the freebies! This will be perfect for my students as a review at the beginning of the year! :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
Learning Is Something to Treasure
The sound sort is exactly what I need for the boy I am tutoring this summer, thanks!
ReplyDeleteJenn
Finally in First
This is great and I'm looking forward to using this with my new batch of kindergarteners this fall. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this sound sorting freebie! I have found sound sorts to be one of the best way to practice initial sounds, and I know these are going to be so useful in the fall.
ReplyDeleteJust saw your blog. How cute! Thanks for the freebie.
ReplyDeleteLove the freebie! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeletekidzkidzkidz8.2@gmail.com
Hi Vickie,
ReplyDeleteWe've chatted on the TPT forums, and I was already a follower of your store. Don't know how I missed your blog! lol
I'm helping out with the blogiversary giveaway also!
I taught 16 years in kindergarten, so I always LOVE reading kindergarten blogs!!!
Cynthia
2nd Grade Pad
Thanks for the freebie! It's great!
ReplyDeleteVickie...we are passing along the Versatile Blogger award on to you! Hop on over to our blog to grab it:
ReplyDeletehttp://ccteachfirst.blogspot.com/2012/07/one-lovely-blog-versatile-blogger.html
Carrie
C&C Teach First
Thanks for the GREAT freebie! I am so excited to come across your blog! I am your 500th follower! Congratulations! I am headed to your TPT store now! Thank you for sharing your very usable items!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sound sorts. Just what I can use!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the sound sorts and will visit the TpT store to look at the others. I am now a follower so I look forward to hearing more about what you are doing with your kinders.
ReplyDeleteI had my third child at the end of September (Thankfully my first two came while I did not have a homeroom!!) and after school starting school August 1st and training my students in the "First 20 Days" of Fontas and Pinnell's guided reading and reader's workshop, I felt confident leaving my 4th graders to a substitute. With detailed plans & books lined up, etc., the sub just couldn't figure it out and did her own thing until I returned in January. While I was upset and I had to start over in January with training, it ended up being fine. She was a retired teacher. I had a beautiful baby boy and I enjoyed every minute of my leave. I had to learn to let go of the control and you will, too. It will all work out in the wash, right? Enjoy the pregnancy, the new baby and leave your kinders in the good hands of your substitute and co-workers!
This is wonderful! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteMy son was born just 3 days after Christmas, so I had a holiday-baby too! The BEST thing I did was to plan-ahead for myself after my leave. I had unit copies, centers, etc. all put together for myself. it made it so much easier to return to work knowing that things were already prepped and ready to go!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful FREEBIE Vickie! Thank you so much for sharing! The Super Sounds looks FANTASTIC too:)
ReplyDeleteThe Moffatt Girls
Do you mind sharing where you get the adorable clip art in the alphabet sort? I would love to use them for all sorts of things!!!
ReplyDeleteI just saw these on Pinterest and love them! I'm tutoring a child who is just beginning to read and these are a welcome addition to the skills we are working on. Thank you for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteHaving worked with a few English "super groups", I thought I'd share my personal experience. Do you know what an "ambulance" microphone is? I didn't either until I worked with Elton John. ambient sounds
ReplyDelete