Vegas - That's a Wrap

I'm the first to admit it's CRAZY it took me THREE blog posts to tell ya'll about Vegas & I Teach K!

Once again, I'm joining A Burst of First to tell you what happened in Vegas.

I'm excited to share what Kim Jordano from  Kinder by Kim's  "Bookmaking" Make & Take workshop was all about!  I'm normally not one to go to M&T sessions.  Not sure why.  I guess I prefer to get as many ideas as possible during a workshop instead of just sitting and doing a M&T.  Boy, am I glad I went to this M&T class! 

 

 

There were TONS of extension ideas how to use the books we made.  Kim provided a bag full of patterns, papers, and all the materials while she gave us the best, step by step directions.  Here are a few really bad cell phone photos from her slide presentation...

 

a "clothespin" booklet...





a "When I grow up" Booklet...

 "Eating Through the Alphabet" book and "Kindergarten Poetry Journal"

Doesn't that  ribbon just add the cutest finishing touch?

 

Collection of "Self Portraits" with simple but colorful paper plate photo frame...

 

 

We made several others including my favorite...the "Popcorn Book"!

 

Kim has graciously shared her patterns & directions for this workshop.  Click here to find out all about it!

 

I must tell you a bit of what I learned in Amanda Bistline's "1,2,3 Come Count With Me!" workshop.  I was absolutely in AWE of Amanda in this session!  She shared activity after activity of ways we can keep our students engaged with hands-on learning!  Honestly, I think you could teach all your math standards using this approach and never pull out a worksheet!  I loved it! There is an excellent post by Amanda about this session on her blog.  Take a look here and you'll see more!

 

Using a dice & Unifix cubes for building a staircase as you count...

 

 

 Quick & easy center of dot stickers & plates plus a counting manipulative of your choice!

Use a Sharpie to write numbers on slices made of pool noodles & use them for ordering

 

 

Inexpensive star stickers are good when learning to add or subtract...

Number Munchers...

Dollar Store cookie sheets simply made into Ten Frames...

 

 

So my week was INCREDIBLE! 

 

I enjoyed every minute of the workshops and shopping for teacher goodies was a treat, too.  I toured around Vegas with my hubby, dined at celebrity chef restaurants,  met Penn & Teller, and even saw the Grand Canyon for the first time!

I was also lucky enough to make a new friend from The Apple Tree Room at the big Blogger Party! 

 

Funny how you can teach different ages and live in very different parts of the country, but you immediately hit it off because you're both teachers!

I hope you've liked reading about my experiences at I Teach K.  I've loved sharing it with you!

What Happened NEXT in Vegas?

Day 2 of I TEACH K  has to be one of my most favorite days...EVER!

 

My sessions included

Kim Adsit from Kinder Gals, 

Heidi Butkus from Heidi Songs, and  

Kathleen Pedersen from Growing Kinders

so you know it was an incredible day!

 

Kim presented a brand new session "Wacky Wonderful World of Words Mini Lessons". 

She also sported one of the precious Show & Tell Aprons from Kinder-gardening 

and gave us more ideas for using it in the classroom.  I'm so glad I ordered mine! 

 

 

Kim's presentation focused on the concept of a Reader's Tool Box and how she teaches sight words.  This session was full of strategies I know I can easily implement in my class. 

 

 

 

Next up was Heidi Butkus' session to help at-risk kinders meet the standards. 

I've read Heidi's blog for awhile and was familiar with her letter & sight word songs,

but this was my first time to actually meet her.  I'm really fan now!

 

Heidi shared the importance of using simultaneous multisensory techniques. 

What that basically means is that children will learn best by hearing, seeing, saying, and doing! 

Well, isn't that's quite the concept.  We all know that but it's still  

something we all need to be reminded of and something we need to plan for in our lessons.

Heidi's session was packed with simple ideas to teach kids letters & sight words. 

How basic is this?  Yet I'm pretty sure I don't always do it!



 

 Doesn't it make sense that children will learn the letter best if they see it while they're singing it?

 

 

My afternoon was especially inspiring due to the enthusiasm & experience of

Kathleen Pedersen from Growing Kinders.

Kathleen presented one idea after another to get your school day started on a positive note. 

Here are a few slides she shared showing some of her Greeting activities.  Can't wait to try them! 

 

 

Kathleen also spoke about her morning work, daily jobs, Morning Meeting, and her calendar.  

I've been pleased with my morning routines but after seeing Kathleen...

I know there are MANY things I can change, tweak, and improve!

 

And one session wasn't enough! 

I also attended Kathleen's "Independent & Proud of It" Learning Centers workshop!

Not only did Kathleen talk about great activities for your students to work on like these...

but she also stressed the importance of teaching these skills BEFORE you begin independent centers:

• how to roll a dice
• how to use a BINGO bopper
• how to use glue
• how to use a dry erase marker
• where to put finished center papers
• how to solve a problem
• how to clean up centers

I hope you're enjoying reading my experiences at the conference. I feel like I could go on and on about it.  I've already written two long posts but there's even more.  I still haven't shared what I learned from Kim Jordano in her Bookmaking session so I want to come back to do that.   Honestly, I really want the teachers who weren't able to attend I Teach K to feel like they WERE there. I hope by sharing my story, nobody feels like they missed out on anything.

 

Be sure to read more I Teach K and Vegas stories here.

 

 

What Happens in Vegas - is finally being shared!

I'm thrilled to finally share my week at I Teach K with A Burst of First What Happens in Vegas linky party!  Even after 17 years of teaching, I'm still learning so I left Vegas with many new, incredible, wonderful things!  EVERY session I attended opened up my mind.  During the week...

• 221 pictures were snapped at the I Teach K conference
• an additional 946 photos were taken of Vegas, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon  
• my I Teach K notebook was filled with notes, sketches, advice, and inspiration
• that extra suitcase was stuffed with exhibit hall goodies & treasures
• new friends were made & celebrity teacher bloggers were met

 

I have so much to tell so let's go!

 

Monday's keynote was given by Marc Brown, talented author & illustrator of the Arthur series.  Mr. Brown told stories as if he was having a casual conversation among a few close friends.  He's as down-to-earth as you can possibly imagine and he's dedicated to children and their education more than I ever realized.  Later in the day I was able to meet him and chat for a minute...

 

 



 

Two of my Monday sessions were presented by the classy Dee Dee Wills from  Mrs. Wills Kindergarten.  Her energy, humor, and knowledge were captivating.  I quickly found myself taking cell phone pics with my left hand while scribbling notes with my right in an attempt to catch it all.  Here's a few photos from Dee Dee's slideshow in her "Just in Time Word Work" seminar...

 

Dee Dee explained how she manages centers, keeps things organized, and meets the needs of all her students with simple Word Work activities.  The best strategy I brought home from this session is how Dee Dee helps each student achieve their sight word fluency goals.  She shared plenty of examples and you can read more about her  sight word interventions  here.   I know I'll be implementing more of Dee Dee's techniques this school year after seeing her in person and hearing more about her classroom! 

 

Oh...part of the session focused on making words so Dee Dee modeled this adorable Show & Tell Apron you can use for blending words!  How sweet is that little apron?!?!?!  I'll tell you, it's SO sweet the  ladies at the Kinder-Gardening booth SOLD OUT on the first day the exhibits opened! 

 

I just HAD to have one so my order is being sewn and shipped in time for Back to School! 

I also attended Dee Dee's Anchor Charts presentation.  My favorites were these Math Charts...

Another great Monday session "Kinderbrations" was hosted by Calvie Clement.  She shared dozens of ideas for special occasions and ways you can create a true classroom community.  Her suggestion to create a class book for a Lost Tooth Celebration was fun.  Each child writes a page when they lose a tooth recording the date and their story of how the tooth was lost!

Here is Calvie's apron she wears whenever there's a birthday.  I believe the candles were attached with Velcro.

And here's a great idea for the end of the year Calvie does!  Each child decorates a basic white t-shirt with their face using Sharpies or paint markers.  Then all the classmates autograph each other's shirts! What a special keepsake!

 

Oh my goodness...this post is long enough and I'm only at the end of the first day! 

Will you come back and read what happened next?  I sure hope so...there's more to share!