Friday, January 11, 2013

What a week!


Monday we started back to school after our Christmas break.  I was excited to go back to see my kiddos and because I have a lot to do before the end of February.  I will be taking 10 weeks off once I have my baby so I have been wanting to get things in order for that.  I guess you would call it school nesting. (hehehe)  I hate that I will be missing so much school.  My last baby I only took 6 weeks off, so this one will be even longer.  I thought since it will be my last child that I should take a couple more weeks off than I did with the first.  

At my school teachers are required to provide two weeks of lesson plans when they take off for their maternity leave.  Well, I just couldn't do two weeks lesson plans!  I want to know what my students are working on and feel like I am still apart of their school day.  I have decided to work on lesson plans for the rest of the year.  Yes, I did say the rest of the year.  I couldn't just start making lesson plans for when I am due.  I needed to go in order to make sure I am covering everything that needs to be covered.  I actually love this idea!  I may start doing it every year.  I am not quite finished yet with it, but I am hoping by the end of next week I will be pretty close.  I am using crates with file folders in them to sort the lesson plans week by week.  I have finished up to the week of Feb. 8th.  I tried to put everything a sub would need in the file so all anyone would have to do is pull out everything from the files.  I hope I have enough crates.  :)
photo of crate lesson plans wolfelicious
Lessons and lesson plans in crates
I like planning my whole maternity leave.  I understand they may not get everything covered but at least I know it was supposed to be and that the materials were all there for it to be.  

Only 15 more weeks to complete.

This week my class began the double phonograms.  My school has used Spalding Phonics or at least the phonograms of Spalding.  Then the school also got Secret Stories (red posters).  On the back of the posters is a little story that has to do with the phonogram.  It helps the students learn and remember the phonogram.  
photo of secret stories Wolfelicious


 This quarter my students have to be able to tell me today, yesterday, and tomorrow.  This is always very difficult for my kindergarteners.  We go over the calendar every single day and this year I even purchased It's Calendar Time to help my students understand calendar better.  I decided to print off the days of the week and put them by my Smartboard.  When we go over today, yesterday, and tomorrow I have a student come up and point to the day that is today.  Then I tell them to slide to the left to tell me yesterday and to slide to right to tell me what tomorrow will be.  The sliding has really given my students a visual for which way they should be going to figure it out.

photo of days of the week wolfelicious

Our calendar journals we do also include today, yesterday, and tomorrow but the more we go over it the better. 

I have been thinking about my blog.  I absolutely love blogging and love hearing from my followers.  One of my New Years resolutions is to write consistently on my blog.  My goal is going to be to update you on what my class it up to each week until the baby comes.  I hope you come and check it out each week.  Thanks for stopping by!


Kindergarten, 2nd - TeachersPayTeachers.com



9 comments:

  1. What a great idea!! I wish I was so organized. I teach kindergarten also, and I hate being unprepared. I would sleep a lot easier knowing I had weeks of lesson plans ready to go! Perhaps I will follow your amazing example and start planning the rest of my year also! Thank you for the inspiration and good luck with your new little one!

    Tanya

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  2. I did something similar when having my last baby too. I also took off some extra time with him since he was the "last." I felt much better knowing that I had everything planned for and ready to go. It leaves you a chance to concentrate on the new addition and not worry about what's going on at school. Best wishes with the baby!

    Bobbie
    The Daily Cupcake…A Kindergarten Blog

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  3. April,
    I love that you're planning so far in advance-it's give you the big picture. Congratulations early and enjoy your time. I think you will enjoy your time at home more knowing everything is in order and your students are getting everything they need. I, too, always planned for my maternity leave-I can tell you love your job and your students.
    Joanne
    Head Over Heels For Teaching

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  4. Wow, you are very organized to have that much done with lesson plans! But it will feel so good when you have it done. :)
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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  5. I love it! When I had my daughter 4 years ago I did the same thing! I couldn't imagine leaving without preparing! I love the crates! I did smaller baskets for each week. I wish I would have thought of that! And as far as your planning......the sub will LOVE you!

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  6. What cute ideas! I found your blog through the Listening Rather Than Speaking giveaway and I am so glad I did, I love it and I am now following you!

    xx
    Kelly
    Sparkles and Shoes

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  7. I love Secret Stories. A college professor of mine created them and we went to her classroom to watch it in action when she first started selling them. I love the bins with everything organized for the week.

    Cara
    The Teacher's Backpack

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