Summer Splash Travel Activity Book

On the road again! It is summer and the living is easy – unless you are traveling with little ones! Lol Now my kids are bigger – doesn’t make it easier sometimes – but I would have loved to have had this Summer Splash Travel Activity Book from Carson Dellosa when they were little! When we would go on long trips, I would always pack little surprises and treats for the kids to open en route. This would have been one of those! There are some great pages in here – some academic minded and some more fun and games. The pages have color and are thick enough to not rip easily. Now – some of the games need another person to play – so you could even take it in to a restaurant to help with the waiting. It does have an answer key also. And if you don’t go on a road trip- just use it to review skills and interact with your child! J   I participate in the Brand Ambassador Program for Carson--‐Dellosa and I received this product for free to try and review.

Task Card - Carson Dellosa

Right on task! Task Cards from Carson-Dellosa are here! There are 100 task cards in the box – colorfully divided in half by math and language arts. They are common core aligned too! The cards are labeled with the common core on the back so you can relate it to your own activity. The students can also write on them – laminated for easy use. I can see these being used in several different ways. They can be used in small reading groups or with the whole group – a quick review for the common core standard being taught or a review from previous one. I could also see them being used in morning work to review – an activity along with a message. I wanted a checklist to make sure I was covering them all – and then I read the directions included! J We all know teachers have a hard time with directions, right?!?!?! Lol Anyway – the directions tell you to go to activities.carsondellosa.com!   You can sign up for FREE! J Then pick common core activities and you get the checklist, the answer key, a scope and sequence and a recording sheet for the students to color in when they are done. This just adds to the ways you can use them! I’m even thinking later in the year, the students could read most of them by themselves and work on them together in centers or when they finish early. I participate in the Brand Ambassador Program for Carson--‐Dellosa and I received this product for free to try and review. @carson-dellosapub

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL_syLPdkjM&list=UU3GUHj-%C2%AD%E2%80%90hsfTDBiUWiTRQlIw&index=2 

Common Core Language Arts 4 Today

Well, Carson –Dellosa has done it again!  I taught 2^nd grade for years and used a daily review then. When I moved to kindergarten , I couldn’t find one that was worthwhile and then can common core… still couldn’t find one! Now I have! Common Core Language Arts 4 Today – Daily Skill Practice is it! In one simple book I have 40 weeks  of reviews and assessments! The quick and easy to read introduction explains how it is all set up. They even have a quick guide to “Building a Reading Environment” and writing strategies. Good ideas – most we all know, but never hurt to hear them again! Then there is the common core matrix! Oh, yes they did! They crossed-referenced all the standards and the weekly reviews! Ka-ching! One less thing we have to do! There are three questions for each day – four days on one page! On the back is the end of week assessment! This will save paper! Oh wait! Did I mention it is reproducible?? Now I am a little concerned that in the beginning the kids might have some trouble reading and following along, but… just like all things in kindergarten – it’s a teach and learn activity! J I’m thinking it would be nice to scan in and show with the projector on the big screen. We are always working on listening and following directions in the beginning of the year anyway. The weeks also follow the school year  - holidays in order – September/Fall, pumpkins, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah, winter, Valentine’s, etc. It’s great – no thinking required! I mean – no planning required! Haha there is an answer key too – just in case it’s the end of the day and you don’t want to think! J I’m thinking this would be great to use for morning work or even as a start to guided reading groups.  This should be a great resource! One more thing – there is a math version too! Oh my – a shopping trip is in the future!  Way to go C-D!   I participate in the Brand Ambassador Program for Carson- Dellosa and I received this product free to try and review.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKHNNpDfSMY&list=UU3GUHj-%C2%AD%E2%80%90hsfTDBiUWiTRQlIw&index=4

Talent Show

Here is our talent in the talent show! Enjoy!!The video will flip in a few seconds to make the picture go in the correct direction. We had so much fun at our talent show! We ended the show with a whole school flash mob in honor or our retiring principal/assistant superintendent. We started as a student council dance, then went to teachers, then to the whole school and ended with a slide show. It was awesome!! Checked flash mob off my bucket list! :) Always a fun time! I'm always amazed at the talents of the students also - singing, yo-yoing, gymnastics, walking on hands, twirling! They are incredible!

Summer Bridge Activities

The Summer Bridge Activities Workbook is a great resource for parents! It is a great review of the kindergarten skills. What a great help to keep them current and reviewing over the summer. It is divided into 3 sections – they can write a goal, discuss character traits, do science experiments and review all their learning. I think it is a great way for parents to see  what their children are expected to know and learn in school. Carson Dellosa included a skills matrix, reading ideas, and  a summer reading list. I like that the pages have work on them – not overloaded and not too sparse. The pages are colorful too! On the pages is a good variety of math, reading, sight words. There are also bonus activities too. In the back of the book are flashcards for letters, numbers, time, coins, shapes, a certificate and STICKERS! This will be a great resource for children over the summer! . I participate in the Brand Ambassador Program for Carson- Dellosa and I received this product for free to try and review.

Language Arts File Folder Games

Another good product from Carson Dellosa! Center Solutions for the Common Core Language Arts File Folder Games! There are 16 ready to play file folder games. They are bright and colorful –and nicely labeled with the skill. They seem fairly sturdy – will be interested in seeing how long they stay nice at centers. They do recommend laminating.  They will be perfect to use for a guided reading group. Eleven different skills are included in this set. They range from: visual discrimination, rhyming, beginning sounds, to syllables and vocabulary. The games and pieces are even color coded. I heart color coding!  I love that the resource guide includes a checklist of the centers to keep track of who has been introduced to it. The standards and skills list will be useful also as we all get familiar with the common core.  There is also a student activity page for each of the games. So nice to have everything coordinated. This will be a great addition to a classroom. I participate in the Brand Ambassador Program for Carson- Dellosa and I received this product for free to try and review.