Sorry....

I know I promised to start blogging about all the changes in my new classroom but things just got away from me this summer personally and professionally.  My classroom turned out amazing (there will be pictures) and the year started out great!  I even reached my goal for my Donors Choose items super early!  I am so so so excited to have the items I needed for my class, especially since we lost out computer lab! Now, I may need to go back and try again for a few more things to have some more technology in the classroom instead. But anyway, I have been busy creating some tiered activities for apples and pumpkins and even working on my sight word pack too!


Since I can not upload any pictures from my computer to my blog I have a new surprise...I started a Facebook page! Yup, another thing to do:) Something fun at least! So I will post some pictures there and offer the first five friends/comments my NEW pumpkin math (not even on TPT yet) set.  So come on over.  Do not forget to visit often for more exclusive freebees too!

Facebook Page

Take care and enjoy your weekend:)

Donors Choose-A Place to Sit!

So... I never ask for anything, I usually, like most teachers spend their paychecks on items for their classroom but I figured why not try this great site because I am running out of money fast this summer. AND, this week they are matching dollar for dollar with the promo code INSPIRE when you donate to my classrooms new rug. Now why me, why do I deserve a new rug? First of all it is not for me and would you like to sit on the linoleum? Last year my room or most of it was carpeted so I didn't mind not having a fancy colorful rug but this year most of the room is not carpeted.                                      


Also, since I do not give assigned seat and I am going to try and let the students work where they want to this year it would be nice to have them sit on a rug. Now, I already bought the clipboards, some lap trays, bean bag chairs, and a bench so all I really need is the rug. So please help my deserving students out (just click on Donors Choose Project to check out my page) and following along and glimpse into my world!

For now a few updated photos of my progress in my classroom. The top two pictures are of MOST of my binders. This is the material, books,stations and activities I use for my curriculum.  On the top are the hands on materials I am starting to collect for the units.  The sea of mess you see to the right is actually an improvement and did get a little better before I left. So long for today, I promise to blog about some great organizational ideas I plan to use this year very soon.

It's a Start?

Today I attempted to go back in to do something with my classroom! Because it's the summer and I haven't blogged in a while I think maybe I will try something new...blog about my journey moving into a new classroom, getting a new teammate, my adventures with Donor's Choose and keeping up with some TPT products. Oh ya and I can't forget about differentiation! I am teaching a class this summer and into the fall so I'll be sure to mention my great adventure into teaching adults for the first time!

I'll start you off with some pictures of my new, tiny, jam packed classroom!

I still have two more bookshelves, another table, and a chair that needs to be put together!

Also, my stuff from home needs to make it in too!

So today what I accomplished was unpacking three boxes just to uses the boxes to pack up the piles and piles of stuff left over from the teacher before me. Then, I moved around a few chairs. Friends, I have NO IDEA where I am going with this! I spent the remainder of my time looking around thinking "I had a plan now what?" SO that is...was my adventure for today!

Now, as for tomorrows plans. I KNOW where my library is going so I am starting there! Start with what I know. As for that heaping pile of boxes...over half is books to label with my new labels (soon to be in my TPT store) and sort. WAIT....

Thank goodness I already did that! See, I was smart when I was packing up my classroom at the end of last year!

So hopefully putting my library together will be a smooth process... I will keep you up dated! Below is a sneak peak into my book bin labels and a banner I have made to go in my reading area. Hope your classroom organization is going smoothly, until next time...

Dolch sight words and a portable word wall

It's been a while but big have I been busy! I have been getting ready for the end of the school year and trying to figure out a way to differentiate my sight words next year. For starters I am making a portable word wall for each student!

This is available in my TPT store. I am also making several activites for each set of five dolch words preprimer through second grade.  

These and other activities are also for sale in my TPT store as well as a pack.   Now I need to make an assessment for the dolch words.  I am going to dictate sentences to the students and see what words in context they need to practice. I have found that many students can write the words out of context but struggle using them. I have also played with the idea of incorporating my phonics assessment in with theses assessments as well, not sure how this will work yet. Last, for the tricky part making groups and organizing them. I already had five phonics groups going this year, with differentiated sight word groups how will this work? A few questions I am still working on: how will I assess phonics with sight words, how and where will I keep all the materials and when will I introduce the new words? What I do know is not all students NEED the same list of words so they shouldn't waste their time on words they already know. What do you think?

Getting Ready to Go to the Zoo!

I don't know about you but before we go to the zoo we research, study and learn about those animals! But have you ever looked at those books in the library from a first graders point of view?

Now, the computer research is fun, pebble go, enchanted learning, our zoo web site and national geographic all have great information but we can't forget to show children how to use books too!

A Page From National Geographic Kids

Here is a flip book you can use
to gather information for
each animal.

So I made some differentiated books for each animal we will research books for two levels in my class ( my one group can read the books). I also made a note taking flip book and matching writing paper for each animal.

I am so excited to start this research in a couple if weeks I couldn't help share what I had planned!
Below I will share one of my book sets on elephants just for my followers! Please if there is interest for more leave me some feedback and I will out them up in my                                   TPT store after I get the photographs for all of my animals.

Click on either picture caption below to view my African Elephant research pack!

Here is a page from my book showing
the two leveled text. Each book has text
features such as a Table of Contents,
bold words, and a Glossary too!

Here is one of the two pages
of paper

Instagram!

Follow me on Instagram to see what's happening in my life and classroom at Amy_Laude 

Spin a Coin

Need a differentiated way to reinforce coin values, coin names, or coin attributes? I just uploaded for only a $1.50 Spin a Coin! It has many uses and ways to differentiate with in your class.  Below is what you will get in the pack:

The pack comes with two spinners and four game boards. I have even included the fronts and backs of the coins as a choice! Just print, laminate and play.