Educational creativity

I have shared my love for interactive notebooks in poetry, so now I'll share how I have become attached to them in math. Math is and needs to be a very hands on subject for young children.  I would only use these notebooks after a hands on activity and as an added resource for children to look at. I started to make my own math notebook pages that matched the TEKS but still had a bit of fun in them.  I love all the great people on Teacher Pay Teacher that make clip art.  I have been able to take their art ability and use it to make notebook pages more fun.  I only use black and white clip art to save on ink and to make copies clear.  I have loved making these math notebook pages. Numbers 1-5 if free at TPT Since I am now teaching K,1, and 2 math, I have found as I learn a new TEK,  I can easily make a new notebook page to introduce it to my classes.  I hope as I get better at using the program the pages will become more creative and...

Children come to school with one important word in their mind.  Each child has a unique name and it brings ownership and self pride when you use there names.  It also helps children learn each other's name and builds a community.   This is why starting with their names as the first letters and words they learn is so important.  I always start everything with the child's name Word Work center-previous post with lots of fun ideas Art center- invisible name Label-label everything with their name, point out their names as you walk down the hallway Say it- Add their names to poems, fingerplays, and games.  Here in a previous post, I made Name Stick Puzzle s for all the children in my child's class. Letter work center- Rowdy in Room 300  has this free printable you can use with letter pasta, magnetic letters,letter beads, or any other manipulatives you can find. This could also be used with your sensory tub that i...

     Because we have been so focused on teaching our children to read at such a young age, I think we do not do enough math or science with our young children.  There are days, while subbing in a class, that I have seen no science and only a cut and paste worksheet for math.  Just as we teach pre-reading skills we also need to teach pre-math skills.  The skills necessary for adding and subtracting and figuring out word problems don't start in first grade.  Unlike letters, left to right, one to one corespondence, math skills come more natural to young children.  Also the math skills we teach, such as one to one correspondence, patterning, and trial and error, are some of the same skills needed in reading.      Therefore, I believe we need to offer more than just practice counting to our students.  I have chosen to split up my reading centers from my math centers to give the same amount of focus on pre-math as pre-rea...

Mrs. Miner 's kindergarten has a cute idea.  Using a digital frame to show site words.  It would work with letters, numbers, words, or anything you want your kids to recognize.  She has her kids read, spell or write the words they see.  I think I would like to try it as a bingo game.  Children could stamp or cover up the symbol as they see it. I love these math stations from Mrs. Miner's Kindergarten Monkey Business freebies Differentiated Instruction, guest post on prek and sharing  has printables for using nature in your centers. No Time for Flashcards  has a fun way to I spy letters  or anything maybe on a school walk or read around the room. I like this idea from Kindergarten Crayons  for a word work station, but I might have to adapt it a little for my kids. Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational (such a great name)  has a fun game that will get kids up and moving and keep them thinking with very little s...

To begin again. Each year teachers all over the country begin a new year in hopes of bringing the best education to a group of children.  We decorate rooms, move furniture, prepare lessons with a big smile.  As a teacher,  all I ever wanted to do is give children a positive belief in themselves and learning.  It has become difficult to do that.  All the pressure from standardized testing has been pushed completely through all levels of education.  Kindergarten included.  They need to be reading fluently or their is something wrong with you as a teacher or with the kid.  The 5 year old who just wants to please their teacher.  No matter how rediculous or inappropriate or boring the task is.  They aim to please. Well I refuse to push kids so hard, they want to cry.  I want to encourage not enforce learning.  I will begin again with the belief that every child I see, deserves what I want to give them.   I will push ...