We laugh.. but teachers feel this way pretty much 100% of the time! As soon as you catch up, you realize you still have 50 million other things to do-- and that doesn't even include home responsibilities, children, grading homework, having a relationship with your significant other and don't even get me started on cooking. I rarely ever did that while I was in the classroom!
The list goes on....
Well, I created a home school curriculum for a family who wanted similar lesson plans to what I did in my classroom.
ta-da--- I finished!!!
Basically, I just created lesson plans for an entire year.. I know right- insane genius! Well, this is "geared" towards a home school family. And I plan to one day go back and make one that is "meant" for the classroom. But for now-- if you could use a "break" from planning-- check this out!
PS- It's on sale for 20% off for the next 24 hours!!!!!!
I absolutelyLOVE interactive journals!!! I am still working on other subject areas, but for now I use them in Math and Science.
Here are some sample pages from my
September Math Journal Prompts in action:
I have always taught thematically, so the main themes in the September pack are Apples and Farm. However, about half of them are general prompts (like the dice, ten frame and putting numbers in order). All of these are based off standards taught early in the year for K students.
If you're interested in using interactive math journals and don't know where to start.. these are perfect! Each prompt has pictures for your kiddos to work the problem out. This helps little learners to solve the problem without getting distracted from drawing out pictures, etc.. It also offers a quick assessment for the teacher.
I have always loved teaching my kiddos the color words. It's not fun if they struggle with it.. but for the most part by the end of the year my kiddos have always mastered this skill.
Here are just a few ways I teach and review the color words!
My kiddos LOVE to use a magnifying glass. Searching for color words is a fun way to review those color words all year long!
If you like this and want to try it out, click the picture below (there is a freebie in the preview).
When I introduce each color word we do a circle map from my Crazy for Color Words Unit.
We play this game in the computer lab to review the words.
Of course, we can't forget those catchy color word songs. I think that's the trick to getting them to memorize the words.
I searched color words on Pinterest and found a ton of AWESOME resources!!! Don't ya just love Pinterest?!?!
One of the resources I came across was from this blog:
She keeps a bag of all the color words di-cut out of laminated construction paper to match the word. Kids can put them in order as a center, at the end of individual work or even do this whole group! I LOVE this idea. Plus, it's cheap and easy to make!
I also found this awesome FREEBIE on Pinterest by Renee Dooly.
What are some fun ways you teach the color words???
I had the privilege this week to see my Kindergarten home school curriculum in action! Being a classroom teacher, it was neat to see the dynamic of a home school family.
The mother (Emily) approached me this summer and asked me if I would be interested in creating lesson plans for her. She home schooled her oldest starting in 1st grade and wanted something fresh and interactive for the younger child as she started Kindergarten. I was thrilled with the opportunity, but a bit overwhelmed. I mean, I created lesson plans in the classroom, but the thought of creating them for an entire year and for someone else is a different story. Thankfully, this family has been my inspiration and my driving force to complete this HUGE project!
Each week, within each month, has a different theme. The first week in September is Brown Bear. I pulled many of the resources included from my Brown Bear unit.
The first activity for each day is a math journal prompt.
When there is a specific theme and standard I want the parent or teacher to teach, I include prompts to match both the theme and the standard. This week, they are working on sorting, counting cardinality and greater than.
There is also always some kind of game, center, activity and instructions for the parent to teach the standard for the week.
Here is the game she played just before I arrived.
I also include games, songs, videos, and links to other activities to do as a brain break or to re-enforce a skill.
Then, it was time for the literacy lesson of the day. Emily was explaining what she needed to do to make her own Brown Bear student book.
She had to read the color words on each page and color the animal to match. She did a great job! I think she only peeked in the book once. :)
Big sister is a pro at home schooling. I was very impressed how she was able to stay on task with me being in the room and talking to her mom. Emily said, she knows in a brick and mortar classroom they would have distractions around them, so it's good for them to be exposed to noise and other things going on. She says, since she is home schooling two kiddos, she normally allows the other one to read, put on headphones or practice piano when it's not their turn to have 1:1 time.
Now it's time to re-tell the story. She allowed her daughter to help her put it in order instead of just stapling it and handing it to her.
Here's a quick video from the re-telling:
Now it's time for Science! This week, they have been learning about living and non-living. She was getting this video ready when I snapped this pic.
Now, it's time to use our Science Journal and make observations about some different things that are living and non-living.
At the end of every day, there is a writing activity. In the lesson plan, it says to ask the child to imagine they are going to add an animal to the story and it gives a sentence prompt.
It made my heart so happy to see my curriculum in action! I do miss being in the classroom... So, this gave me just a touch of teacher happiness for the time being!
If you are a home school parent, a teacher who is tired of planning, or just want some fresh ideas... Check this out!
You can also check out the curriculum for the entire year here!
