FUN GAMES for Alphabet Practice

I created this ALPHABET GLOG for my students.

It is a collection of MANY great online games for students to practice letter names and letter sounds. 

You can find many great links to fun websites across the curriculum by clicking HERE or by visiting the Kindergarten Corner tab near the top of the blog.  

iPads in the Classroom

I may have the opportunity to have 5 new iPads in my classroom and I could not be more excited!

I believe having iPads in the classroom will:

*provide my young students the opportunity to gain 21st century skills

*increase student engagement

*allow me to create more lessons that are tailored to each child's individual needs

*be an additional way to implement the common core standards

*provide hands-on learning opportunities

*meet visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners' needs

*provide extra practice of specific skills

and so much more!

Here are some {GREAT!} iPad resources that I have found:

Common Core Aligned Apps

Symbaloo full of Math and Reading Apps!

 

     Kindergarten Apps

Search for apps based on multiple intelligences, theme or subject area, students' needs, etc.!

You can also search "common core" on iTunes for great apps that address these standards.

There are also many great resources on my Technology Tools link-up!

What other great iPad resources have you found?

Tech Tools

Just a reminder to link up and share your favorite 

Teacher Tech Tool!

Click below to check out the linky party:

THANK YOU to everyone who has already linked up. :)

Technology Tools For Teachers LINK UP

Last Spring I did a "Technology Tools for Teachers"

 presentation for Xavier University Grad students.  I used the glog below as part of my presentation. 

The professor has asked me to present on the same topic again (to a new group of grad students) and I would LOVE YOUR HELP in finding more technology tools for teachers.

LINK UP BELOW...

if you have have a great technology tool for teaching.

Ideas include:

links to online books

links to websites

great ipad/ipod apps

smartboard resources

pinterest technology boards

tips for integrating technology across the curriculum

links to technology blogs

smartboard/powerpoint files you've found or created

links to fun youtube clips for learning

technology tools for implementing common core

great CDs/songs for learning

and more!!! 

Really any tech resource that you think other teachers would value. 

Crossing my fingers someone links up with how to create a linky button. For now, please use this to link back from your post. :) 

"100 Best" Award

I just love blogging... and surprises!

Today I received an email from Online Masters in Education notifying me that my blog had received a

"100 Best Web Resources for Educators" Award.

Woohoo! 

It really made my day... to be recognized for something that I am so passionate about and to be included in a list with some of the most amazing teacher bloggers out there!

Check out the list here:

Kindergarten Corner

Please check out my Kindergarten Corner ... as I have recently added several new games and websites. 
(Last Spring I created this section so that my students had easy access to learning games while using the computers in our classroom or at home. It has been a HUGE hit!) 

I can't wait to share these with my new students this fall. 

You can click on the picture below or always access it by clicking on the Kindergarten Corner tab above.

Clean Up Robot

Have you heard of the clean up robot? 
I stumbled across this fab find this week and my students LOVE it! This song has increased the cleaning (and laughter!) at clean up time. 


WARNING! It will get stuck in your head! : ]

Kindergarten Corner

Kindergarten Corner is now open for business! ; )


I have created subject specific collections of games and videos that I think my Kindergarten friends will love! We will use these in the classroom and I am hoping that the students use these at home! : )

Please click on the "Kindergarten Corner" tab above or on the picture below to check it out!

I created these through a website called Symbaloo.
It's an awesome, easy to use bookmarking site! 

3D Shapes

My kindergarten friends *beg* me to play this song:

They have become 3D Shape experts... 

and LOVED making these 3D Shape Anchor charts.

They worked with a partner to draw a real life object/3D shape. 

They had to work together to figure who would draw, label, and talk when presenting to their peers. 

It was SO GREAT listening in as they worked out the details and I just adore how they turned out. 

If You're a Kid...

My kindergarten friends LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this song. They *beg* me to play it each day and to add it to the blog so that they can share it with their family. 

It is super fun and perfect for listening and following directions. 

WARNING: It will get stuck in your head. 

Don't forget to hit "full screen".


I {love} Harry Kindergarten!! 

Gingerbread Man Songs

Kindergarten Friends,

Look who I ran into at the Festival of Lights last night!!!

*Mr. Rider thought I went a little crazy as I had the whole family chasing him down so that I could snap this picture for you all! : )

Here are the fun Gingerbread songs we have been enjoying...

We have MORE Gingerbread fun coming up this week!!

THANK YOU!!

HOORAY!

Literacy and Laughter was awarded a 

Top 25 Teacher Mom Blog Award!

Click here to read my interview. 

Thank you so much to everyone who voted!!
 I truly appreciate your support! 

Technology Tools for Teachers

I presented to a class of Xavier University graduate students this week. It was such an awesome opportunity to share my passion for using technology in the classroom!

Most of the students are special education majors, so I tried to include several special ed. tech resources for them. 

Check out my Technology Tools for Teachers glog

Also, here are some other GREAT tech ideas
 I have pinned:

Blogging Buddies- I hope you can use some of these resources in your classroom! 

Websites for Word Work

Here are some GREAT websites for word work practice:

(to practice beginning/ending sounds, vowels, & word families)

 (memory: match short vowel CVC word with picture)

(to practice beginning sounds)

(building CVC words)

(missing vowel game)

(beginning sound bingo)

(letter matching/spelling)

Please vote!!

WOW!

Literacy and Laughter has been nominated for a

 Top 25 Teacher Mom Blog Award! 

I absolutely love being a mom, teacher, and blogger- so an award that recognizes all three is outstanding!

Please consider taking a moment and voting for my blog. 
You can vote one time each day (and vote for multiple blogs each time you visit).

click here to vote

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Alphabet Glog and Songs

I made my first glog!

Wow- I just love this tool and look forward to making many more! 

Here is an ALPHABET FUN glog that my students really love. We have been playing these games on the Smartboard this week. 

Click below to check it out:

Here are a couple of fun alphabet songs that I found this week:

 Kindergarten Friends- I hope you like these! :)

Top 10 Blog Award

My blog has been chosen for a 

Top Ten Blog Award!

Thank you to Jonelle from A Place Called Kindergarten and Theresa from  Primary Princess for nominating my blog. I really appreciate it!

Here are my Top Ten blog picks:

Thanks again for the shout out! I feel so blessed to work in a field with such dedicated, inspiring people!