Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Bulletin board tip!

So I spent all day Monday working in my classroom and I still have SO much work left to do! When I moved into my new classroom last year I inherited 3 HUGE bulletin boards.  I thought about taking one of them down but I was worried what the wall would look like underneath :( This year I have carefully planned each bulletin board: a calendar math board, my Reading Street concept board, and my Talents Unlimited board. I doubled brown and pink bordette around each board (to give it a cohesive look!)

For some reason, the board looked too plain. Sooooo...why not TRIPLE the border!!! CRAZY right?!!!! But I just LOVE the way it turned out!
My calendar math board:

My Talents Unlimited board:

Super cute!!! More pictures to come this week!!!
Enjoy!
Nicole

Friday, July 27, 2012

Classroom Sneak Peek!!!!!

So, I decided to redecorate my classroom this year about midway through last year.....yes...I think of the next year before I am finished with that year!  I am ALWAYS planning!!!!  I have been so inspired by 2 of my favorite websites www.schoolgirlstyle.com and http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/ to really challange myself as a classroom teacher/ designer! I have decided to go with a pink and brown "Sweet Shoppe" theme.  Unfortunatly, I tore my ACL (the main ligament in your knee...fail!) back in March (a month before my wedding...fail again!) and had to wait until school was out to have surgery. I had surgery the first week of June, so I have not gone to my classroom yet...You don't want to know how much that FREAKS ME OUT!!!!  So next week will be my first official day to work in my classroom....SUPER EXCITED!!!! Here is a sneak peek of some fun stuff that will be all around my classroom...drum rooooolllllllllll...........

Cushions, pillows, and a curtain for my library....

Dots on Choclate for the rest of the classroom....OBSESSED!!!!  And yes that is a PINK tape dispenser!!! WAHOO!!!! 

Cute new wordwall...the letters are brown with pink stiching...sooo cute! The cupcakes are precious, too!!!



More pictures to come next week when I get busy, busy, BUSY!!!! What are some cute new decorations you are putting in your classroom next year?
Enjoy!
Nicole

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

My first ever BLOG AWARD!!!

Thanks to the lovely ladies at
Simply SWEET TEAching
I have recieved my first ever blog award!!! Make sure to visit their blog...it's adorable!!!


Now...7 things about me!
1. I just married the love of my life, Alex, on April 14...it was the most perfect day of my life!!!

2. I have the cutest and sweetest dog, Lula Belle. We love her TOO much!!!

3. This is my 7th year teaching kindergarten and I am at the most amazing school ever!

4. I love DIY and crafts...I have a craft room!!!!! It's SUPER!

5. I am new at blogging and I LOVE IT!!!!! I have always followed so many blogs and I think blogging is soooo much fun! As teachers, we are each others BEST resource!!!!

6. I am from the great state of Alabama where we are BLESSED to have the best football, beaches, family, and live music....like tea in the South, SWEET!!!!!

7. I love PINK EVERYTHING!!!!!

Thanks for following!!!!!
Nicole

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Clip Charts

This year I am trying a new approach to classroom management in my classroom! I have fallen IN LOVE with clip charts!!! Clip charts focus on reinforcing positive behavior by recognizing students that are following rules! Students that are caught doing the right thing and going above and beyond are allowed to move their clips UP!!! Genius!!!! I always feel bad for my students that are always on their best behavior but never had a chance to visit their ladybug (the old system). I am hoping that it will be very successful!!! I have put together a few clip charts on sale in my TPT sale here.

What is your classroom management system in your classroom and how do you use it? I would love to hear about it!!!!
Nicole

Monday, July 16, 2012

New friends!!!!

I am so BEYOND THRILLED to find so many new followers to my lil blog!!!! I just completed a give away with 2 fabulous bloggers and I must say it was very successful!!!! I am going to work on another give away, so stay tuned!!!!! If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them!!! Thanks for all of the LOVE!!!!
Nicole

Friday, July 13, 2012

Playdoh FUN!!!!

My kindergarten students LOVE Playdoh....actually I am pretty sure that ALL students love Playdoh!!!! It's so great for building those fine motor skills and it encourages creativity! I use Playdoh all of the time in my classroom! We even make Playdoh at the beginning of the school year! My students can make letters for literacy centers, numbers for math centers, and free play on Fun Friday! In line with Common Core, I have made Playdoh number mats for students to not only trace the number, but fill in a ten frame with the coordinating number of Playdoh balls!!! My students are going to LOVE it!!!!
These can be purchased at my Teachers Pay Teachers store!
What are some creative new math centers/ games that you are going to try next year?
Nicole

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Common Core Math Puzzles

With the massive focus on Common Core coming to my school district (ready or not!), I have been hard at work creating games for my sweet kinders! I LOVE common core and I think it will be a great thing for my students! I also believe that it will not only make my students better thinkers, but make me a better teacher!

Here is a look at my Fairy tale and Dr. Seuss Math Puzzles. This will be a great beginning of the year activity for students working on numbers 1-10!


Both are available at my Teachers Pay Teachers store!
Enjoy!
Nicole

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

If you are anything like me, Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom is an absolute kindergarten essential! I read it all throughout the year because the students love it so much!!! I am always looking for new ideas and new crafts to do with the students while working with this book! Check out my new CCBB unit on Teachers Pay Teachers!!!
This unit contains math mats, ABC games, crafts, treats, and additional resources!
I hope you enjoy!
Nicole

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Teachers pay teachers Units!

Well, I am mostly new to all of this blog stuff! I love looking at other blogs and I have some serious blog envy!!! I am learning how to make all of these cutesy units and sell them on www.teacherspayteachers.com. I love this website SO SO SO much! I think it is such a great thing when we can support each other!!!

Teaching kindergarten is a very special task and sometimes it's hard to find activities that are age appropriate! I have created a unit that goes with Scott Foresmans Reading Street program for The Little School Bus by Carol Roth (Unit 1- week 1). It's a cute enough unit that can be used with teaching transportation or the first week of school!



You can check out (and follow) my teachers pay teachers store!
Click here.

Enjoy and be sure to follow my blog for more fun units and freebies!
Here is a preview of my Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom Unit!

Enjoy!
Nicole

Saturday, July 7, 2012

A little bit about classroom organization...

If you are anything like me, then your classroom is your second home (somedays I spend more time there than my home!) It's so important for me to make my second home super cute and fun for my students! I am currently recovering from ACL repair surgery (so not fun) and have been pretty much couch ridden this summer. It's been a bummer but I have had plenty of time to look up a TON of classroom teaching/ organization ideas. I have fell IN LOVE with these 2 teaching blogs:

Clutter-Free Classroom



I have been so encouraged to make next years classroom the best one ever!!!! I am so blessed to be at a FABULOUS school and I have a very nice size classroom!!! I have decided to turn my classroom into a "Sweet Shoppe" this year and I can't wait for everything to be pink and brown!!!!!
As you can see ....
I have a LONG way to go!!!!

What are some tips you have on organizing and decorating your second home?!

Nicole

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Welcome!

Welcome to my deliciously sweet blog, Kinder Confections (thanks Lizzie)! I hope to share with you tips and resources that will hopefully help you be a better teacher! One of my favorite things to do is read teacher's blogs! We have so much that we can learn from each other! I feel that learning from other teachers is the best professional development that we can get!!! Enjoy! Nicole