Category Archives: Wishful Wednesday
Wishful Wednesday 6
Last week, I told you about my obsession with iPods–well I wrote a grant to Donor’s Choose asking for two of them for my classroom, so here’s hoping I get it funded! 🙂 Watch my Facebook page if you’d like to contribute. 🙂
I’ve decided to do a black/turquoise theme this year so I can’t live without my favorite turquoise bordette! 🙂
I also want to get 2 sets of these stackable drawers:
I want to put them under my guided reading table so that I can store materials I will use with each group in them. 🙂
I also wanted a set of these drawers, and lucky me, they were on sale at Michael’s for 40% off this week, so I got one! 🙂
I plan on putting my math work stations in them. The kiddos will come get their drawer and when they are done, they will put it back. 🙂
Kristen 🙂
What are you wishing for? 🙂
Wishful Wednesday 5
I could wish for so many things! I also seem to have expensive wishes. 🙂 (What teacher doesn’t?? 🙂 ).
I would love to get 1-2 iPads for my classroom so that I could use them in an iPad workstation. At the retreat I was at last weekend, I read an article about how Technology is such a huge part of our lives now and how much children being born into this generation are relying on it…so I figure, why not use it to teach with?
There are so many apps out there that can reinforce what I’d love for them to learn, so I can use them to show the kiddos that learning can (and should be) fun! 🙂
One of my son’s most favorite games right now on the iPad is called Futaba.
He told me about how he used it in his classroom and we play it home. I like that you can select from a set of skills and keep changing the skills to meet the needs of the learner.
There is a FREE Futaba Word Game version out now.
My most favorite part is that any teacher can create their own games for their students to practice on–that’s included in the program! 🙂 There are math and word games included and it’s a multi-player game–up to 4 students can play at a time! 🙂
I promise they didn’t pay me to write this…I just really love their game options and love how flexible they are for teachers at different grade levels. I think it did cost me $7 to download, but then there are updates every now and again that add more content to your game. 🙂
I’m off to write a grant for an iPad or two–how do you use them in your classroom and what are your favorite apps?
Kristen 🙂
P.S. Don’t forget to “Like” my Kristen’s Kindergarten Facebook page–something fun is planned for later this week! 🙂
Wishful Wednesday 4
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about my Listening Work Station for next school year. I would really like to move from CD’s to iPod Touches so that I wouldn’t have to keep track of all those CD’s and their cases anymore! I also want to get everything moved to an iPod so that my Listening Work Station can be anywhere in the room (as long as we remember to charge the iPod). The kids won’t have to be tethered to the wall anymore because they won’t need a plug! 🙂
Have any of you tried this idea with success? I got one of these headphone splitters at Target a few months ago so that I could use the one iPod that I have with more than one kiddo.
I can have up to 5 kiddos listen to the same book at the same time. I would like to get one more iPod just so the kids can listen to separate books if they choose, but I think to begin with, one will work. 🙂
For those of you who have used this idea, how has it worked? I’ve been researching it and it seems to work okay (as most kids know how to run an iPod already!) and the kids can navigate through books easily. How do you make sure your kiddos match up the book audio track with the right book in their hands? I read somewhere that you can put a picture of the book cover to help this, but I haven’t tried it yet–any suggestions? 🙂
Kristen 🙂
Wishful Wednesday 3
I saw this idea on Pinterest and I am wishing for one…I’ll get it done, just as soon as I finish my to-do list for the summer (wishing that was done too!).
Once I get this made (going to decorate it with some new washi tape I just got), I’ll either put it on my desk or I will keep it on my small group table to keep everything right where I need it. I need to find the right combination of drawers that will work best for me! 🙂 I also have to tell myself that I don’t need to load this organizer up with all sorts of things–just keep it simple with office supplies!
I’m also wishing for a new lesson plan book. I’m trying to create my own (here’s the font cover I’ve created, minus the gray border), but I’m having trouble wrapping my head around the lesson plan layout that will happen inside.
Here’s what I used last year:
I like it…just want something else. 🙂 (And I need to change a few things).
I did find this one from Ladybug Teacher files that I like.
I like how the day of the week is designated already and how all her plans fit on one page (mine is a front to back setup). It seems so smart to go ahead and list the permanent things in the schedule to the side because they won’t change. 🙂
I’m going to bind it with my Bind-It-All Machine when I finally figure it all out! 🙂 I’ll also laminate the front and back cover with my thick laminating pouches so that it will last all year. 🙂
Kristen 🙂
Wishful Wednesday 2
I did a week long workshop with some of the K-2 teachers in my district last week. I shared with them the importance of science notebooks and then we made our own, so it made me wish for more materials to make them with!
Two of the favorite items we used were duct tape (to decorate our notebooks and to hold the spines together) and straws (we taped these on to the spiral edge of our notebooks to hold our pencils in).
Look at all the different kinds of Duct Tape you can get!! This is “Duck” brand tape. 🙂
I used Jumbo plastic straws like these. I got mine at Target in the party section. There were 12 in a package (ROYGBP) and they were in a package 12 for $2.
I’m going to have to go stock up on some more so that we can decorate our science notebooks! 🙂
Kristen 🙂
Wishful Wednesday
Here are a few things I’m wishing for this summer:
I’m on the lookout for these small ziploc containers because I’m going to put my dice in them. I don’t have a problem with the noise they make as my kiddos roll them, but they keep losing the dice as they are playing games and I think this will help us kepe better track of them!
I also promised myself that I would get at least one or two more sets of these pocket dice. I kept wishing I could use them in more than one work station , so I need more!
I am also going to get this TROFAST storage system from IKEA. I’m going to also get 9 storage buckets to go with it. I plan on using it to store my Literacy Work Stations. The kids will come and get their bucket and take it to the designated place in the room.
I’m going to use the top space as a “Welcome” center. I’ll put buckets on top that the kids can turn in their daily folders, library books, and I’ll also have a hot/cold lunch choice area and some tissues and sanitizer.
What are you wishing for this summer?
Kristen 🙂
Kristen's Kindergarten 