Pool Noodle Literacy and Math Rods FREEBIE

Run! Run! As fast as you can to Dollar Tree! These pool noodle connectors can be turned into all kinds of fun classroom materials, and I'm sure they could be used in any grade. I have been seeing them in Dollar Tree since late May and pondering what fun I could have with them. Then it hit me! Word rods! Beginning sounds, middle sounds, ending sounds! Simple, fun, hands on word changing rods to engage my kinders during literacy centers. 

   But, thats not all! They make excellent math center activities as well! Even SELF CHECKING math centers. 

How To 

All you need are pool noodles (Dollar Tree),  pool noodle connectors (Dollar Tree), scissors (or a knife if you are OCD about having straight cuts), and a sharpie! 

First, cut your pool noodle into three parts. (Pool noodle not pictured, sorry, I accidentally used them all before I took the pic). Next, cut the ends of the connector to shorten it and SAVE the pieces. LASTLY, cut down the connector from one side to the other so that the pool noodle can easily be rotated inside of it. 

Slide the connector onto the pool noodle, use the Sharpie to add the words, addition sentences, etc, and you are all set to go! Wait... what about those extra pieces? We used them with foam letters to create name bracelets, but you could create letter bracelets, number bracelets, sight word bracelets... the possibilities are endless! 

If you don't want to create name bracelets then check out the ideas for using pool noodle pieces that I found on pinterest. Just click on the picture below to download some free recording sheets to use with the pool noodle rods. 

Martin Institute 2015! (Slideshow Included)

    Last week I was honored to present at the Martin Institute Conference 2015: The Heart and Soul of Teaching with my friend Greg Smedley-Warren from The Kindergarten Smorgasboard. This was my first time presenting at a conference and to say that I was nervous would be an understatement. We were told to expect about 30 attendees, but the 50 handouts we prepared were gone in a flash, space filled up, and the highly accommodating micon staff had to Ustream us into another room! This should have been intimidating, but call me crazy, the closer we got to beginning our presentation the more excited and relaxed I became. So, as it turns out, I LOVE presenting and I can't wait for a chance to do it again! This entire experience has just confirmed two basic facts that I have always known: 1. We teachers comprise a POSITIVE, SUPPORTIVE, and ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY. 2. No matter how experienced we are as educators, we all have something to share and we all have something to learn. 

Highlights from #Micon15: 

1. Obviously, presenting on how to Kick Start Your Centers! 

2. Listening to Dave Burgess, the author of Teach Like a Pirate. (If you don't have this book already, go buy it! Dave is down to earth and full of wisdom that is applicable regardless of grade level. Motivating, inspirational read!)

3. Connecting with and listening to so many exemplary teachers.

4. Dinner and drinks with the Davis Academy teachers! Love them!

5. Rocking my awesome new t-shirt that was custom made by A+ Images, Inc.! I was so excited when my shirt arrived in time for the conference. A+ Images is a company that truly loves supporting teachers. They are great with custom orders, class shirts, and also have really great teacher apparel. Be sure to come back and check them out after you download your slides. 

6. BLESSING! You may already know, but I am moving to Nashville this summer where I will be teaching K in a Metro Nashville Public School. I am excited about this new adventure, but leaving my sweet school is painfully difficult. Since the time I began considering a move I have been prayerfully petitioning the Lord to choose a passionate new K teacher for BCA, someone who would love our sweet littles, help them achieve their full potential, and MOST IMPORTANTLY glorify God by helping them know, love, obey and exalt Jesus! Well a teacher at Micon came to my session, heard about BCA for the first time, and decided to look into the school. WOW, God DOES work in the details! One week later and God has provided BCA with a new K teacher. I absolutely adore Callie Nichols and am having a wonderful time teaching summer school with her now! 

    If you were in our Kick Start Your Centers session at Micon15 then I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Hopefully it wasn't too painfully obvious that I was new at this! I am so sorry that we did not have enough hand outs prepared (not to mention space), but I am so thankful that so many of you joined us anyway. Ya'll were the highlight of my summer! 

    If you missed the session, or just want to review, click below to access all of our slides!

   And be sure to visit Greg's blog and show him some love! So thankful to have such a sweet friend who inspires courage in me and many others regularly. (He had to drive 3.5 hours just to get to Micon, so seriously, show him some love!)

Nash Teacher Bash

    Summer is in full swing and I have been BUSY BUSY BUSY...gearing up for conferences, summer program, and my move to Nashville. I am so thankful I was able to take one last weekend and kick back with some of the most inspirational individuals that I have ever met! The teacher blogger community is truly an amazing family and I feel so blessed to be a part of it. Our weekend was all about winding down after the school year and having some FUN together. 

Friday Night - My First Sounds Game! 

I hitched a ride and made a sweet new friend, Elizabeth, The Speech Owl! Turns out she is related to some friends from my hometown. It really is a small world y'all! 

Check out our cool GoNoodle shades! 

Saturday Afternoon - Lunch at Atmalogy 

This delicious meal was catered by Jim and Nick's BBQ  and provided by GoNoodle! Talk about a company that supports and loves teachers!  ESGI also was a presenting sponsor for our event. 

It was so good to reconnect with so many old friends who I got to know at the meet up in French Lick earlier this year. 

I made new friends with the Glyph Girls from my hometown! SMALL WORLD! 

Did I mention there were prizes? There were prizes! AND I won! 

I can't wait to get started reading my new book! Thanks Scholastic! 

AND I went home with a bag full of goodies from some giving companies that are all about supporting educators! Can't wait to bust out those Scentos markers in the classroom. 

As you can see, we packed the house!

Saturday Night - Dinner, Shopping, and Drinks 

We had dinner at Chuys and I absolutely loved sitting with Erica, Kim, and Lauren and chatting about all things K! After dinner we shopped a bit and headed over to the Opryland Hotel for drinks.

Lots of laughter and fun throughout the night! I must have heard, "Do NOT post that on social media!" a dozen times. 

Sunday Morning - Brunch 

Brunch at Monell's Manor was just other worldly and the service was great! Hate to tell them - teacher bloggers NEVER turn off their cell phones! 

The only negative was saying goodbye! Seriously hope I don't have to wait until Spring to see y'all again!

A BIG THANK YOU to ESGI, GoNoodle, and all of these amazing companies who donated to our meet up! 

AND and EVEN BIGGER THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING HOST AND HOSTESSES for making my weekend extraordinary! I cannot wait to be in Nashville with you all. 

June Currently!

Thanks again to Farley for hosting this monthly linky! Visit her blog by clicking the button below! 

Loving

I am loving that the Nash Bash Teacher Blogger Meet Up is this weekend! I get to see my online friends, relax, have fun... and PLUS... there are prizes! We are going to a Sounds game, eating, shopping, and exploring Nashville together. 

Thinking

Yes, it is 1:00 AM here. Yes, I have my fourth ever Pure Barre class in the morning. FACE. PALM. 

Wanting

If you haven't heard yet, I am leaving Memphis and moving to Nashville this summer. I haven't decided what is more stressful... moving apartments or moving classrooms! YIKES! 

Summer Lovin

Moving

Even though moving has me stressed to the MAX, I am SO looking forward to being in Nashville. I'll be in a great city with great people! This packing and unpacking part isn't so great, but the fact that God has blessed me with the a new job and the ability to move is awesome. I am THANKFUL for this stress.

Martin Institute 

I am presenting with my friend, Greg Smedley-Warren, at the Martin Institute this summer. This is my first time presenting and I am very excited to share with other teachers about my math and literacy centers.

Disney World

My dad wanted to plan a family vacation and he asked me where I wanted to go. My answer: MAGIC KINGDOM! This is just additional proof that I belong in Kindergarten! Well, my wish came true and its off to Disney I go... just as soon as I'm done with the move ;) 

Wordless Wednesday

     I know, I know,  if you read my blog then you have obviously seen this picture before! As I'm getting ready to speak at the Martin Institute this summer and beginning to move to a new school I am looking at my literacy center set up. Right now, each of my literacy center activities has a name that relates to the the activity type (listening, games, puzzles, writing, handwriting, etc.)  I like this set up because it provides accountability for differentiating activity types. Some weeks, however, I really want to give my students two puzzles centers or two word work centers. Sometimes, I have two activities of a similar type, so I just put the "extra" activity in the handwriting bin.  I am considering renaming my literacy center bins with letters (my math center tubs are numbered). What do you think? How are you setting this up in your classroom? Please leave a comment on this post with any advice you have and let me know what you are doing and how it is working for you! 

Splish-Splash: It's a Summertime Blog Bash

School is OUT and summer is IN! For me, this usually means I get to do a few of my favorite things.

1. Lazy pool days with my baby dog, sun warmed sour patch kids (best pool snack EVER!) and margaritas!

2. Nail Bar! I live right next door to Memphis's THE WORLD'S BEST nail salon.  

3. Climbing trips with my not-so-baby baby brothers!

4. BEACH! 

This year, things are looking a wee bit different. I'm leaving my school family and home in Memphis and moving to Nashville where I will be teaching K at a public school! Right now, I'm in the middle of packing up my classroom and my apartment. Other things on the schedule this summer:

1. PD sessions at my new school throughout the summer!
2. Presenting at the Martin Institute with my friend Greg from Kindergarten Smorgasboard!
3. Summer school teaching here in Memphis!
4. Walt Disney World with my family! (MY FAVORITE!)
5. Hopefully I will also be able to squeeze in a trip to visit family in SC! 

      My students absolutely loved using these write the room activities during our literacy centers as we closed out our school year so I am making my Write the Room in Bloom pack free for a limited time! I have always struggled with students not knowing what words some phonics clip art stands for. Am I alone in this? Well, I finally found a handy trick that supports students and eliminates (or at least cuts back on) the phonics clip art confusion! PTL!!! Anything to foster independence, right? No worries, this is simple.

Before my students begin the write the room activity I place all of the write the room cards in a center tub... along with these simple trace sheets!

1. Students read and trace the words on the trace sheet.

2. Students find the matching card.

3. Students record the number of the matching card inside of the flower.  

If students are successful, the cards move to the walls and the recording sheet changes, transforming the activity into a write the room center. Or you can keep the recording sheet the same, it is up to you! 

      Remember, this is a 26 page pack, and it will become a paid product when the hop ends! (Just like the other freebies featured during this hop.)

    It's give away time and I am giving away my Knock Knock Joke Partner Plays for Kindergarten! These partner plays were a hoot and a definite favorite in my own classroom this year. Just watch the video! 

 

Did I mention that this product includes three different leveled sets of partner plays?!?!?! Well, it DOES! 

But... thats not all! I've added a BONUS of $3 in A Neighborhood K Cash! That means you can pick an additional product from my TPT shop (for $3 or less) and I will email it to you as well!!

(The gift certificate shown above is just for show, the code ABCDE is not valid. You will have to enter to win for a chance to receive A Neighborhood K TPT Cash! ) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ok, this is the best part.... my friends are just as excited as I am to share some fun for-a-limited-time-freebies with you, giveaway some more stuff, and tell you how much they love summer too!! Keep hoppin' from blog to blog until you get back to me!