I Can Clouds

This has been a crazy week!!

I live in Southern California and we are usually lucky with wonderful weather and I know all my east coast friends are still having a ton of snow and probably don't want to hear me talk about how the sun is out today.... BUT can we talk about the weather on Tuesday?

It was weird....we had literally every type of weather in one day. Including snow....okay so it was really hail {or so they say} but looks pretty snowy.

My out of focus picture is a bit ghetto, but the LA Times did a much better job capturing it HERE! By the way that is our pier in the background.... as in YES, this is the BEACH!

There also was the most spectacular, HUGE rainbow I have ever seen on this same day!

Anyway, I thought this wacky week would be a good time to share my I Can Cloud project with you.

There are so many things to teach our little friends. An area that doesn't get as much press is personal development... you know things like phone number, address and birthday. I will say in my kinder class we don't spend too much time on teaching these skills in class- just a few various projects such as the Famous Family books which reinforce addresses. We also make a phone directory early in the year with our phone numbers. But to learn their address they need a little help from their family.

In the spring I like to make these "I Can Clouds" as way for my little ones to show off the skills that they know.  These clouds include the tricky personal development skills along with some other classroom skills.

I usually use the following strips in my I Can Clouds:

-say my birthdate 
-count to 100 
-spell my name
-say my phone number
-read the color words
-say my address
-tie my shoes

Sometimes I add skipping, galloping, letter names, sounds or really anything you want to document and celebrate. They could even be different goals for different kids.

Most kids typically start with between 3-5 strips. I try to have at least one time per week that I can reassess.

They are a big, fat hassle to hang, BUT once they are up they are colorful and make the room feel like spring! Plus, to add any additional strips is easy- just a quick step on a chair and I can reach.

I will leave these up until May and then send them home. When the kiddos take them I leave the fishing line attached so they can re-hang it at home. I also send home any strips they have not yet earned so they can add them to the cloud whenever they are ready.

You can find these in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.... just click on the image below!

Thanks for stopping by!

Comparing Flat and Solid Shapes

I don't know about you, but teaching about shapes in kindergarten is one of my least favorite units.

And let me first say, I am a shape kinda girl. I am obsessed with pattern blocks and tangrams- in fact MANY of my TpT products include them! Those require spatial awareness and problem solving and well...I could go on and on.....

But I just am not in love with introducing flat shapes.... I feel like when you start the kids are like, "Yeah, it's a triangle...don't you know that? Ok ok....3 sides, 3 vertices .... I got this lady!"

{Although usually the word "vertices" is new}

Then all of sudden you introduce solid shapes and we spend almost a whole day learning how to pronounce "sphere."

"spear"

close.....

"suuuuu ....phere"

um, yes, close enough.

So we sort the shapes, sing about the shapes, we make collages with shapes, we create the solid shapes with toothpicks and marshmallows or clay or whatever.... We even make some shape people. I'm working hard to engage them and make sure they REALLY know what they think they already know!

But do you know what I have realized... I teach the two topics separately... some time is spent on flat shapes and then we move on to the solid shapes.

And do you know what the problem with that is?

This is one of our kinder math Common Core standards:

K.G.B.4 Analyze and compare two and three dimensional shapes in different sizes and orientations, using informal language to describe their similarities, differences, parts {e.g. number of sides and vertices} and other attributes.

It sounds easy enough, but I realized as much as the kids had sorted and created - they hadn't compared the two together.

We looked at them in class.... In fact, if you look at the picture above I have the kiddos come over and take a look from that vantage point in order to SEE how the flat and solid differ.

And another interesting finding was that they had trouble sorting them by flat and solid. Not on the carpet with the hands on version.... but in any other way.

So I created this quick freebie....not as much of a teaching tool, but as a quick and fast assessment at the end.

We just started using a Common Core report card this year and I am being asked to have three pieces of evidence for each area we cover and mark on the report card. So this is going to be one assessment I can use for the geometry portion.

That's it today.... I have so many ideas swirling in my head about a geometry unit I want to create the will teach flat and solid shapes simeltaneously and not one and then the other. When that exists I will be sure to let you know.

Celebrating Winter As We Head Back to School

So it's Monday.....

And not only is it Monday, but it is likely your first day of work in 2015. At least it is for me.

I have mixed emotions... don't get me wrong- hanging out in my PJs for most of the day will be missed... but I am excited to see my little friends today.

But I will be missing those PJs.....so clearly...I'm conflicted.

I just am going to share what I will be using to get me and my littles back into action this week.

The contents of this puppy will be my main focus for the week...meaning, I don't have to search around - it is all there for me in one place as I slowly am able to get back in the crazy and fun routine of kindergarten.

It is 4 language arts and 4 math activities rolled into one little unit!
Language Arts:
*The Snowman Emergent Reader
*Winter Word Practice
*Winter Stories
*Brrr! Sight Word Game

Math:
*Winter Counting {practicing teen numbers}
*Button Sorting
*Button Equations {addition to 10}
*Snowman Subtraction

Here is a glimpse at the reader:

It is 14 pages long and covers 11 colors. You can use all 14 pages or just a few. I like to make these types of books different lengths for different groups of kids.

This book will be something that they color and "be a word detective" {searching for sight words} independently. I have no problem differentiating when the little ones are at the reading table with me... or even when working with other adults. I find it is hardest to differentiate their independent time and the length will help me out with this.

I won't show you everything...you can click HERE to see the whole preview, but I want to share just ONE more thing from this unit....

Button Sorting mats in color or black and white...with 2 categories or 3..... Some are ever pre-programmed and tell the student what to sort by:

And if you are thinking....hmm, it would be nice to win that unit....well, let me help you out.

I am giving away a copy over at my friend- and fellow Primary Powers author- Aimee at Primarily Speaking.

She's celebrating her blog makeover and giving away lots and lots of goodies.

So on that note I will leave you... I hope we all make it to Friday.

A Christmas Carol Graphing Freebie

So we meet again!

It's me Christy from Crayons and Whimsy... and if you missed my first post on this lovely blog well you can read my "Meet Me" post right {here}

December has begun and it is just so hard. Right? Where should I focus my attention? On assessments? Eating chocolate? Report Cards? Holiday shopping? Teaching? Watching Elf?

Oh that's right.....

The answer is ALL of the above plus more!

So I wish us all luck to make it.

Today I am sharing a simple December math activity. I love to send this one home, but it works in class too.

It is a Christmas Carol Graph! We gather data about everyone's favorite carol and graph it.

I make a big deal about the gathering part.... I tell them...when you get home you need to talk with your parents about WHO will be your ten people to gather this important data from. And I suggest they are the ones to make that phone call {with an adult right there of course!}

I always push for family... because let's be honest, how much does a grandparent love getting the, "What is your favorite Christmas Carol call?" 

Here is a little sample action for you!

Now I need to switch gears for a minute... Can we talk about how much I adore the song Must Be Santa. Love it!!! 

It was brought to my attention that not everyone knows this one. What? How can this be? {It may account for the one sad bar colored in the above sample....probably from my vote!}

So two things:

1. Please listen to this song- I recommend that Raffi version. 

2. I provide ANOTHER VERSION with Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Don't even tell me you don't know that one!

It's ALL FREE right here:

Last thing.... did you know Primary Powers has joined forces with GoNoodle for some giveaway fun! There are a ton of things you can win! Click HERE to come on over to my little blog and you can click here to see the giveaway going on right here...for just a few more days.

P.S. It's Friday.... you made it to the first Friday in December! I am in serious countdown mode. Serious.

As in... I own this:

My sweet friend Renee at Colvie Creations made it for me and I think I need to ask her to make me a new one that counts down the days to Christmas break. Yeah, Christmas Day is pretty special, don't get me wrong... but a countdown to days in school could work well for me right about now.

Good luck and enjoy the weekend!

Christy {Crayons and Whimsy}

Hello, hello.....

You can normally find me over at Crayons and Whimsy, but I'm glad to say I will be Superhero-ing right here from time to time.

Let me share a bit about me... don't worry there isn't a quiz at the end...

I am currently teaching kindergarten, but in my 16 years I have also taught 1st, 4th and 5th. Not sure how that happened, but I have missed out on those middle grades. I have loved every grade and really have enjoyed the variety of ages and curriculum. I can't really figure out how I have been doing this gig for 16 years!?! I feel like I got my credential yesterday.

One of my years I taught in England as part of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program {and I have blogged about that here}...let me summarize that post...I think everyone should give it a whirl!

All the rest have been in Southern California. I love living at the beach and the excessive sunshine we are blessed with.... but traveling is my passion and I will get on a plane whenever I can. Literally....whenever I can!

My hubby and I were married in France and I try to go there as much as possible. This year we may go twice if I can organize a trip for Christmas. And although Europe seems to be our most frequented continent {my hubby is Euro}..... I love South America and Asia too. Hoping to one day hit up ALL seven continents! And even more so.... I am hoping to be living AND teaching abroad again sometime soon! I just thrive being in new environments and trying new things!

I feel so lucky to have a job that I adore and love that still allows me to do all these others things I think are good for my soul. And actually that gives you a little background to how the name Crayons and Whimsy was chosen.

My most recent adventure was right here in Southern California last weekend:

Yes....Hello Kitty Con is a real thing.... first ever and I am proud to say I attended. I am not sure you can ever be too old for Hello Kitty- at least that is what I am telling myself.

Anyway, you have probably noticed a fun pattern going on here at Primary Powers.... yep, we love freebies. We love that all of you readers are visiting us here....so my turn to deliver a treat.

I am sharing one of my favorite games I use to review number sense in my classroom. Why is it my favorite... because it is so easy...and engaging.

I call it Cover Up! You can grab it HERE

Cover up! is the perfect game for your kindergarten or first grade friends working on number recognition as well as one more or two more. The kids play in pairs taking turns rolling a die and then adding either 1 or 2 to that number {depending on which game mat you are using}

There are 4 game mats to choose from and all come in both color and black and white, too! Here's a little preview of this freebie goodness.

And if you want another Freebie there is one on my home blog right this very second PLUS a giveaway going on over there, too!

Happy Wednesday!