7 Takeaways from the Ohio Kindergarten Teacher Conference

This year I have been working hard to finish my 30 semester hours beyond my master's degree. 

I am almost there! 

 I really have enjoyed the classes I have taken, but have also been on the hunt for some other great professional development opportunities.

Specifically, I wanted to learn from other teachers who were eager to share their tried and true ideas, research based practices, and more. 

Thursday and Friday I attended the

The Ohio Kindergarten Teacher Conference.

I had the opportunity to learn from

Cara Carroll

Dan Brassell

Pete Harry

Christina DeCarbo 

and 

more!

Here are my favorite takeaways from the conference:

Happy Teachers Produce Happy Kids

Danny Brassell's keynote "Bringing joy back to the classroom" was so inspiring!

Some of my favorite quotes from his presentation:

Take the time to recharge! 

Work will always be there - truly happy teachers have a balance between work and home. 

Sugar over vinegar. :)

Kindess matters. 

Are you a Monday teacher or a Friday teacher?

Sytematic, explict vocabulary instruction is KEY!

Cara was a wonderful presenter!
She was 100% genuine, fun, and super creative. 

She lead a great vocabulary session and shared that "there is a 30 million word gap between professional families and disadvantaged". 

She had tons of amazing ideas for vocabulary instruction. 

We should be incorporating vocabulary into 
read alouds
shared reading
guided reading
morning message
anchor charts
and more!

Cara gives her students practice with vocabulary by having them read, write, sing, demonstrate, discuss, and sort these special words.
Ahh, I have some work to do!

Click on the pictures below to read about some of the ideas on her blog:

 Cara also raved about this book:

I have been busy adding vocabulary instruction ideas on this board:

I am ready to dig a little deeper into vocabulary with my growing readers!

Choose one or two practices that make a difference in student learning. 
And then get really good at them. 

Christina DeCarbo presented on small group reading strategies. 

I absolutely love this part of our day. 
My kindergarten friends are OVER THE TOP excited about reading groups this year. 
Makes my teacher heart so darn happy!

Christina shared so many ideas and strategies...
 but stressed to choose just two and work hard to get really great at them.

The two focus areas that I have chosen to focus on over the next few weeks is: 

sight word instruction

&

retelling

Why these two?
With sight words making up 50-65% of texts, I must help my students master these to be confident, fluent readers.

I chose retelling because I noticed that many of my readers are so close to moving to a new level - but are being held up due to their retelling. 

Check out my guided reading board for more ideas that inspire me:

Use technology, movement, and music in 
the classroom daily.

Oh my goodness, Pete Harry
 (HarryKindergarten) is amazing. 

When he handed me his camera and asked me to take pictures throughout his session I was all like

YES!!!!!

Just kidding... 
kind of.
:)

Pete and Danny both stressed the importance of  engaging our students with music and technology. 

Here are some tech/music resources that I love:

Raz Kids

Harry Kindergarten Music

National Geographic Kids

GoNoodle

Class Dojo

Cara shared this one for keeping classroom volume in check:

Bouncy Balls



Always be the novice.

Yes! 

Ask questions.
Go to PD opportunities.
Read.
Research.
Practice.
Collaborate.


Keeping this one short and sweet.. 
I will always be eager to learn more - and I hope that I can inspire my kindergarten friends to be life-long learners.



Together we are better!

I loved connecting with other teachers during the conference. We can learn so much from one another. 

I am amazed with how much my teaching grew after connecting with teachers through their blogs, pinterest, and instagram. 

Here are some ways you can connect with me:

@literacyandlaughter

Literacy and laughter  on Facebook

Literacy and Laughter - TpT

Find me on pinterest



Final takeaway?
I love my job!

My kiddos were the sweetest when I told them I was going to attend this conference. 

First they begged me not to go... Then they begged me to FaceTime them while I was away. 

Seriously, I love this group!



So sweet. 

While I was reflecting on my conference, my students, my amazing school district, I was overcome with pride and gratitude. 

I am incredibly thankful for having a job that I love. 
My students inspire me daily!!!

Thank you, thank you
 to the presenters who left me feeling 
energized & inspired!

Welcome back!

Winter Break is always so much fun. 

I love all of the extra time with my family -

games, cooking, crafting adventures, friends, and more!

Here are a few highlights from our break.


My kindergarten students came back from break with loads of energy and many fun stories!

I laughed to the point of tears several times this week. What a nice reminder of how much I truly love my job - and students!

Here are some fun pics from last week:




   

This week we are looking forward to diving into alliterations and continuing our work with non-fiction, shapes, and snow!

Ways to Teach Students about Alliterations

Every year I can count on our ALLITERATION unit to be a favorite in Writer's Workshop. 

My students LOVE writing these fun tongue twisters.

I am counting down the days until I start this unit with my current kindergarten friends.
 I know they will absolutely love it!!

I love the unit because the students are working on:

 building vocabulary

studying mentor texts

writing with a purpose

letter names and sounds

beginning sound fluency

stretching (beginning, middle, and ending) sounds in words as we write

phonics

capitalization

spaces

punctuation

publishing

and my favorite...

viewing writing as FUN!!!

We read many fun mentor texts.

Each day I select a letter. 

We chant the phonics dance and practice that letter sound - several times. 

We work together to brainstorm a collection of words that begin with that sound. 

Sometimes I use Lakeshore's Alphabet Library:

Other times I draw on an anchor chart as students share words.

We also use these letter sound cards.

They are SUPER helpful for English Language Learners and students who need concrete examples. I print these on card stock and laminate for students to use at their tables.

I model how to start putting those words together to form a sentence - or alliteration with at least 3 words starting with the same sound.

Some days I read several examples in mentor texts.

Other days I use these to kickstart ideas:

I model how to write them:

HAHAHA!

Then give students plenty of time to practice.

Verbally with friends or by writing during workshop time. 

Be prepared for fun... and giggles!

Once they get the hang of it - WOW!

The students always knock my socks off!

Leah and Lauren like lollipops and ladybugs!

Dogs dig for donuts in the dirt.

The robot rattles the raccoon and the rocket.

Lions like lollipops and licorice.

You will be SO excited with their work...

it will call for a celebration.

To get ready for the celebration I create student shout out cards to share the day of the party. :)

The students LOVE LOVE LOVE these!

Parents too!

Give students a special book to work on publishing their favorite alliterations. 

about the author

For the alliteration celebration...

Each student will be bringing a small snack or trinket that begins with the same sound as their first name.

THEY LOVE THIS OF COURSE!!

Of course I use this for an excuse for more writing! 

I have used paper bags for students to collect all of their goodies, but find little buckets are much more durable - and fun!

Only $1 at Party City.

Party City has a ton of fun goodies. 

I couldn't decide on just 1 R item so I gave 

rulers

rubix cubes

and

rings

Check out my Amazing Alliterations on TpT.

Tons of ideas and supplies for your growing writers!!

Here is recent feedback on TpT:

Click {HERE} for the FREE student shout-out cards.

Past posts on alliterations can be found

HERE

or 

HERE