Fall Emergent Readers for Kindergarten

Fall Emergent Readers for Kindergarten

By 3:14 PM
Do you find that it is very difficult to find emergent readers that are simple enough for new readers in Kindergarten? I certainly struggled with this a few years ago. I decided that it would be easier to create my own set of emergent readers, that aligned with the sight words that I was using. I am so glad that I did! I now have enough "easy readers" to place in my student's book boxes for the entire year. I introduce them in class whole group, we read them during our daily 5 reading time, and I then send them home on Friday for homework reading. The kids bring them back on Monday, and we place them in their book boxes. I have parents sign the back of the book showing that they read, and the students are rewarded with a small piece of candy for bringing the book back. The love candy, and showing their parents that they are learning to read, so this is a win-win!





This book practices the sight words we, like, & the. It is very predictable for new readers.



This book practices the sight words I, like, and the. It also practices sizes (small, big, etc.) Students draw a pumpkin to match the text.



This emergent reader practices the words see, the, & me. It also reviews positional words (above, below etc.)



Fall fun reviews the words I, like, to, see, & the! It is also very predictable. 


My September books are apple themed, because we spend a few weeks learning about apples in September.





I Like Apples is a book that reviews some color words. Students color the apples to match the text.



This book reviews the word love. I love apples, I love apple butter, I love apple pie, and more!




We can't forget about Johnny Appleseed! My Johnny Appleseed book reviews the words he & is. 


You can get these emergent readers in my TPT store. 

Grab one of these pins to come back.




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Crystal McGinnis
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Math Games Using Skip-Bo Cards

Math Games Using Skip-Bo Cards

By 11:41 AM


One of my favorite games as a child was Skip-Bo. I still play this game with my daughter, although it is not quite as memorable as it was when I was little. I was rummaging through our game closet, and discovered lots of old games that I could use for math centers for Kindergarten. Skip Bo was added to this pile. Skip Bo is perfect for little learners because the deck of cards has a lot of numbered sets 1-12, which is just about where our number recognition is at the beginning of school. The cards are thick and durable, which saves me time because no lamination is needed. Here are the activities that I thought of that Skip-Bo could be used for.

 Ordering Numbers-Place a deck of cards on the students' desks first thing in the morning with the numbers 1-12 all mixed up. The students practice ordering the numbers from 1-12. It is very surprising how difficult this can be for some students at the beginning of the year.

Clothespin Counting-Provide the students with a pile of clothespins. Let the students practice placing the correct number of clothespins on each card. This is perfect for number recognition, and one-to-one counting. Wal-Mart has clothespins for pretty cheap!

What is missing? Place students in pairs. Have each pair of students order a deck of cards from 1-12. One student closes their eyes, and the other student takes a card. When the first student opens their eyes, they have say what number is missing. Simple as that!


Old Fashioned Memory-Let two students play together with their decks of cards. The two students turn their cards upside down together. One student turns over two cards to try to make a match. The other does the same. When the game is over, the person with the most matches is the winner.

Comparing Numbers-This game resembles war! Two students take their deck of cards and turn them all upside down in separate piles. Both students flip over one card. The student with the highest number gets to keep both cards. Play continues until all cards are gone. The person with the most cards is the winner. Students must them sort the cards back into decks when they are done. This will help them practice number recognition, counting, and comparing numbers.

Domino Counting-Grab a bag of dominoes, and let your students match the number of dots on a domino to the number on the cards. This is perfect for number recognition, and one to one correspondence.

Number Towers-Provide your kids with building blocks. Students build towers to match the numbers on each card. They will love this!


Fill the Cup-Place a pile of Skip-Bo cards in an upside down pile. One person flips the top card over and places that many counters in their cup. Their partner then does the same, placing their amount of teddy bears in their cup. The first person to fill their cup is the winner!


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Crystal McGinnis
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Kindergarten Math Centers

Kindergarten Math Centers

By 6:48 PM
I am always looking for math center ideas for my kinders. One of the standards that kinders are expected to master is comparing numbers 1-10. I created this set of math tubs or math centers so that they can practice that standard using many different hands-on activities. They will use play-doh, teddy bear counters, building blocks, linking chains and more. I printed these using my instant ink account from HP, but I also created them in BLACK OR WHITE for those teachers who can't print in color.


Students build two different number amounts using balls created from play-doh. They then decide which number is greater and place a play-doh ball beside the greater number. All kinders seem to love play-doh, so this center will be a hit!


Students draw 2 numbers from a pile, and then count out the correct number of teddy bear counters to match each number. Students then place an alligator mouth representing greater than, less than, or equal to on the mat. This center practices one to one counting, number recognition, and comparing numbers.



Students use cubes to build two towers. Students use the height of their towers to compare the numbers. Simple as that!




Students practice counting by counting the fingers on each hand. Students decide which hand has more fingers showing, and they place a greater than, less than, or equal sign on the card.



Students build numbers using linking cubes. Students then draw a greater than, less than, or equal to sign on each card.



Students complete these clip-it cards by counting the objects shown on both sides. The cards have a variety of objects. The students then place a clothespin on the side that is greater.



Students practice creating sets that are greater using pennies and penny banks.


Students play a game of roll and compare. Students will roll 2 dice, and then place the correct amount of random counters on one side of the mat. Their partner will then do the same, and place their counters on the other side of the mat. They will then compare the numbers, and the person with the greater amount is the winner.

Students will practice the term "equal" by creating apple trees that have an equal number of apples using pom poms or play-doh balls.


This is just one set of math centers that I have created to use throughout the year. I have also created math centers for counting and numbers 1-10, 2-D Shapes, 3-D Shapes, Teen Numbers, Addition, Subtraction, and Measurement. You can check out these activities in my TPT store. Here is the link!
Get My Comparing Numbers Centers Here




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Crystal McGinnis
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Apple Centers for Kindergarten

Apple Centers for Kindergarten

By 9:49 AM
It is time to set up those September centers! One of my favorite units to teach during September is apples.  I like to set up apple themed math and literacy centers around the middle of September. Here is what I have so far!


Alphabet Find & Highlight- I hang up these apple letters around the classroom. The students go on an apple hunt to try to find them. Once they find each apple, they highlight the matching apple on their provided printable. They love to use clipboards for this activity!


                                

Apple Clothespin Clip It- Students clip the correct number of clothespins to apple cutouts. I have these apples to 20, but many of my students won't be ready for teen numbers. That is what I love about center time. You can differentiate for your different leveled learners.


Upper and Lowercase Matching-Students cut out the lowercase apples, and glue them next to the uppercase match. Simple as that!



Hole Punch Apple-Students cut out apples, color them, and then use a hole punch to punch the correct number of holes in each apple. This is a great activity for fine motor development at the beginning of school.




Pocket Chart Rhyming-I always keep a pocket chart center in the classroom. Students will match rhyming pictures in the pocket chart. They will then practice independently using the provided printable.


Play-Doh Apple Seeds-Students create the correct number of apple seeds using playdoh.


Apple Domino Match-Students count the dots on dominoes, and match them to numbered apples. We will practice number recognition, and one to one counting.



Alphabet Ordering-The students order the alphabet on a magnet board using these apples. I purchased magnetic 2 sided tape at Wal-Mart. It is very easy to use, and can easily create magnetic centers.

                                              

Apple Themed Roll & Cover- All of my kids love roll and cover! Students roll two dice, 
count the dots, and then color an apple with the matching number. The first student to have all apples colored is the winner. Simple!

If you would like my apple centers, you can grab them in my TPT store. They are just 2.00. Enjoy!









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Crystal McGinnis
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Apple Poems for Shared Reading Anchor Charts

Apple Poems for Shared Reading Anchor Charts

By 11:15 AM

September is here! When I make my plans for September, they always include apples. Apple science, apple math, AND apple reading and writing! I created some sight word poems that are apple themed to use during my shared reading block. You are welcome to use these in your own classroom! Sometimes we do our shared reading using a poem on chart paper, sometimes we use the projector, and sometimes we put the poems together in a pocket chart.



We used this poem to learn the word "are". You can let your students highlight a sight word of your choice in your poem. If you display the poems when you are done, your kids will look back at the poem to find words "they now know."



We then added an "apples are" anchor chart to go along with the poem. We wrote "apples are" sentences, and describing words. We highlighted the word "are" in our sentences.


This poem can be used to practice color words and describing words!



Sometimes we use pocket chart poems after we have learned a poem whole group. I mix up the cards and the kids help me put it together. Sometimes, I take only a few words out, and the kids help me fill in the blanks. These pocket chart poems are perfect for teaching your kids about directionality, punctuation, rhyming words, using context clues, and more! You can get my apple pocket chart poems in my TPT store by clicking HERE!


I create a poetry notebook for each of my kids, and they use them for them remainder of the year as a familiar read in their book boxes. The more reading material that I provide for them, the more fluent readers that they will become. You can get a copy of my apple poems in poetry notebook form by clicking HERE!


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Crystal McGinnis
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