The Next Book on My List...

I will be reading Comprehension & Collaboration--Inquiry Circles for Curiosity, Engagement, and Understanding by Stephanie Harvey and Harvey "Smokey" Daniels. Which is a requirement in my Professional Symposium in Reading course.

So far we've had to read 6-8 Professional Journal Articles each week, report on them and work in on-line discussion groups. Between that and my other course, they are keeping me very busy!

I will report back with an opinion on this book. If you are an educator, good luck getting through the next couple of weeks--always a super busy time. Keep your head up and eyes toward that warm sunshine that you'll be able to enjoy once the last bell rings.

Tested-One American School Struggles to Make the Grade

Well, I finished the book...If you are a person who is not in the education field but wonders about Standardized Testing and the pressure that districts/teachers/students feel...this is a book for you to read. As an educator, most of the practices/strategies from this book goes against everything I believe and have been taught. It might be an eye opener for those that have not been on the inside and have experienced it.

Western MI University...Ph.D here I come!

I am so excited to share that I've been accepted at Western Michigan University in their Ph.D in Early Childhood Education!

I jumped in with both feet and have already began taking classes. My emphasis will be Early Childhood Edcuation & Litearcy...both of which I love. I will be sharing my journey along with everything that I am learning, including Journal Articles & Book Pics.

The first book that I'm reading is, "Tested-One American School Struggles to Make the Grade" by Linda Perlstein. I'll report back on it once I read a bit more.

I've already read several really good journal articles--I will be posting them as well.

**Yes, I will continue to teach at Crossroads Charter Academy and hopefully have the opportunity to share the exciting things that I learn in this program with my EC Colleagues and friends.

Check back with me soon and please feel free to leave comments and subscribe so that you receive notices when I post.

Vicky

Toddler/Preschool Games on a Budget

Whether you are an Early Childhood Educator or a parent of a little one, here are some fun, educational games that can be made on a budget. They can be made with things that you have around your house and/or items that you can find at your local Dollar Tree store.
I was able to share these ideas with a great group of EC Educators at the MIAEYC Conference that was held at the Amway Grand Plaza. I presented on Family Nights--I took them through the process of creating and implementing a Family Night program as well as sharing ideas on funding, volunteers, themes, activities and meals.

                          


                     Alphabet Soup:  Building words with magnetic letters & a cookie Sheet. 

Sorting letters/colors using a plastic relish tray.

 ABC Memory Game--using fun paper plates

                                               

ABC Order-write letters on fun paper plates and have little ones put them in ABC order across the floor.

 Work fine motor skills by using small plastic tongs to find colored letters and pom poms in a bowl.

Womens shaving cream is fun to use to for handwriting practice.

                          Soft foam cubes are perfect to use for all kinds of dice games .

                           For this fine motor game, I just took a coffee can, cut some slots on the top, hot glued some tiles and wala!! Children can work their fine motor and practice color I.D as they drop the tile into the matching slot. This will work with any manipulatives (cereal, beans, dinosaurs...)

 The Dollar Tree has some fun little frogs that can be used to "flip" into this baby-wipe box. I cut a picture from the frog-game package and hot glued it on the box just to jazz it up a bit. Little ones get to have fun flipping their frogs into the whole

This little sorting game is made out of a used frosting can. I simply cut a hole in the top and hot-glued some pom poms around the sides just for fun. Your little one can use a small pair of plastic tongs to work on their small motor skills and color identification.

I hope these activities have sparked your interest and creativity!

Vicky

CCA's District-Wide Family Activity Night

Friday, April 7th was Crossroads Charter Academy's first District-Wide Family Activity Night.
We had a great turnout and received a lot of possitive feedback from students, parents and teachers. Click into the link to view a quick movie with memories from the event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvkvOxHG2u4

Learning Games perfect for home use...

I'm being optomistic when I say that "spring is on the way". I'm actually thinking of the MIAEYC  Early Childhood Conference that is being held April 20-22 at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids. I will be a Presenter again this year with Family Nights and Parent Engagement as my main focus.

I will introduce educators to the idea of Family Nights and show them how to create a successful program, step-by-step. I will also present other parent/child engagment activities, specifically Book Buddy Bags and hands on activities that can be played in the home.

One of the new game packets I've created is this Early Childhood Literacy Activities. These games focus on letter sound and ID, emergent sight words and word family words.

Visit my Teacher Pay Teacher store to purchase ($2.50), download, laminate (or put in page protectors) and have fun!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:vicky%20Bowman

Early Literacy--Letter ID & Sound

Early childhood education is such a rewarding level to work with. Those little minds are like a sponge as they soak up everything that is offered to them in their day to day classroom life. If one were to stand on the side and watch the busyness in a preschool, kindergarten or even a 1st grade classroom, they would be astonished at the amount of learning that really goes on...when at a first glace it might seem as the children are just "playing".
From the minute they walk into the room, learning begins. From  the table activities that are waiting for them in the morning to keep their hands and minds busy while the teacher scurries around his/her classroom completing  morning tasks, to the carpet-time routines where they learn songs, poems and many social skills...those little people soak all that up and their educational foundation grows.
When I was an EC teacher, I loved to have lots of activities available for my students. They needed to be hands-on, provide opportunity to learn new skills and most of all FUN! I also sent "Book Bags" home with my students with some of these same type of learning games that they could play with their family members and always with a special picture book---fostering the love of reading is so important!
Two of the emergent literacy skills that are taught in EC classrooms are learning letter names and sounds. The cards below are fun to use as a memory game.
I've just posted this activity as a FREE download (for a short time) at my TeacherspayTeachers store. Feel free to click on the link, download and print off to use in your classroom or or play at home in your living room with your own child.

Happy teaching!

Vicky
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Vicky-Bowman

Valentine Early Literacy Games

Below is a bundle of Valentines Early Childhood Literacy Games that can be found at my TeachersPayTeachers store. Just Click the link, purchase, download and print and all of these fun games can be ready to play in your classroom or living room immediately. These games are focused on Letter ID & Sound, Rhyming, and Sounds-in-Words all of which are connected to Kindergarten & 1st grade Common Core Standards. $2.50
You can find many great games and activities along with FREE downloads.

 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Early-Literacy-Station-Games-476429













 

 

 

        

Preschool -Summer Book Pics recommended by Really Good Stuff

10 Summer Books for Preschoolers:

1. We Like Vegetables by Tess Samson

Introducing sight words and picture words, We Like Vegetables, engages early learners through brightly colored photography and comprehension activities. Repetitive words and illustrations in this book help children to become more fluent and confident in their reading skills, while educating them about delicious vegetables.

2. Beach Day by Karen Roosa

Playful illustrations make this picture book a favorite for children. Rhyming text keeps early learners interested and engaged as they enjoy a perfect day at the beach building sandcastles and skiing on the water. What a great way to present a day trip to the beach!

3. At the Shore by Tammy Jones

Make discoveries at the shore with this interactive sight book. With picture words like clam, crab, and starfish, early learners may want to partake in a real life scavenger hunt. Finding these common beach critters can bring this book to life!

4. The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

Turning a struggling garden into beautiful green landscape is the core of this illustrated book. It introduces environmental awareness to preschoolers and may inspire children turn to make changes in their own neighborhood. A wonderful story of how a little bit of love can make the world beautiful.

5. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault

This rhyming book about the letters of the alphabet is sure to attract the minds of young learners. The curiosity of the lowercase letters gets them into a dilemma until the uppercase letters come to the rescue. Through colorful pictures and simple narration, learning the alphabet is as easy as ABC.

6. The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Watermelon is the favorite food of this silly crocodile; until, one day, he swallows a seed.   Terrified of what the seed will do to him, the crocodile struggles to not eat watermelon ever again. Early childhood learners will be captivated by the playful illustrations and humorous storyline of this fun summer read.

7. Bathtime for Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Trying to get Biscuit the pup clean proves to be a challenging task as he avoids bath time at all costs. With simple vocabulary and funny pictures, this book will help children build their confidence as readers. Take preschoolers on many adventures with Biscuit in the Biscuit series.

8. Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin

Telling the daily tales of a small worm living in a big world, this book is a must have for early childhood learners. Describing the ups and downs of being a worm, such as having no arms or being able to eat their homework, readers will enjoy seeing life from a worms’ perspective.

9. Nest by Jorey Hurley

Discover the natural world through a story about a robin’s first year of life. Experience the different seasons and what they bring from spring flower buds to winters naked branches. Enjoy the companionship of father robin and comfort that family brings in hard times. Celebrate life and the beauty of nature in this heartwarming illustration book.

10. Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson

Help an apple tree change with the seasons. As early learners shake it, tap it, and jiggle it, the magical world of Mother Nature comes to life. The interactive concept of this book engages children in the natural life cycle process and keeps them interested through movement and color. Preschoolers won’t be able to get enough!

Teacher Pay Teacher Educational Games Now Available

Hi there Friends!

I have many games and activities on my Teacher Pay Teacher store that are always available. I now have many of those available in hard copy. They are printed in color on tag board and are ready to be laminated. Quick, easy and affordable.If you are interested in literacy or math check them out on my TpT store and contact me for the premade copies.

Vicky
bowmanavickyl@yahoo.com

CVC Rhyming Frog Match Card Game

Hey Friends!

I just posted this set of 126 CVC/Word Family Word Cards that have a Spring Theme of frogs & dragonflies. Students will need to match a frog word card with a rhyming dragonfly card. This card game is  on Teacher Pay Teachers. You can also order a hard copy from me, it will come in a book form, on card stock and colored.
It is perfect to use in Literacy Centers, partner work, individual play and perfect for Formative Assessment.
* Below is just a sample of the cards that is in the set.

Contact through Facebook or at bowmanvickyl@yahoo.com

Kindergarten Literacy Packet and Home Connections

Hi Friends!

I just posted a 40 page Kindergarten Literacy and Home Connection Packet on Teacher pay Teacher for $4.95. The skills that are focused on are:

Rhyming

Handwriting

Letter ID

Color ID

Sight Words

CVC Words

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Vicky-Bowman

Visit my TPT Store for Math & Literacy K-2 Games & Activities!

Vicky Bowman

MIAEYC 2016 Conference Update

The MIAEYC Conference was last weekend and it was AWESOME!

Hundreds of Early Childhood Educators came to attend Workshops, Keynotes, Learning Fairs and make purchases at the Marketplace,'

I had the privilege of meeting and chatting with men & women who attended my sessions and Leaning Fairs. Amy Posey & Kathy Sweet came along to help and share their expertise. I certainly couldn't have managed without their help.

Visit my TpT Store for some great FREE downloads as well as many math & literacy games and activities for Early Childhood.

You man contact me at bowmanvickyl@yahoo.com

Vicky

K-2 Teacher Workshop November 16th

Hello Friends & Colleagues!


I will be hosting a K-2 Teacher Workshop on 11/16/15 from 3:30-4:30 in my classroom RM 8 at Norman Elementary.
Our focus will be Formative Assessment, Conferring, Small Groups and using Data.

Our Agenda is as follows:

Tracy K. shared tidbits from the class she is taking along with this video
http://writestepswriting.com


Watch a video about conferring in Reading Workshop
*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTgk89dhX1g


What a video from Dylan Wiliams discussing Peer Assessment...connecting that with our Writing Workshop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P7VQxPqqTQ

Teacher Share:

Stacy G--Kindergarten
Tracy K--1st Grade
Lauren--1st Grade
Tracy K--2nd Grade

Collecting & Using Data to Drive Instruction: Tidbits from Vicky

Review and Looking Ahead...

Thanks for contributing and attending !
Vicky

Stacy presenting a great idea on how to collect data as she confers with students.

***Here is Lauren's (1st grade student teacher) Video--she shared a great Turkey Math Center Activity that can be used as a formative assessment. Great job Lauren, you are going to make a TERRIFIC Teacher!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=set7doQyLfw


Recommended Books for further exploration on Formative Assessment...

           

 

Pics From K-2 Teacher Workshop

Ronnette sharing Formative Assessment Ideas

Stacy, April C, April M & Tracy trying a hands-on shaving cream activity that they can use in small groups.

1st & 2nd Grade Team participating in hands-on fun.

Kylene & April C., shared a great Jel Bag idea for small group formative assessment. Take 2 cups of hair jel and add a bit of paint for color and using q-tip for writing.

Group discussion & sharing

Thirteen of us spent an hour after school tonight watching videos, participating in hand-on activities and networking (...chocolate & door prizes too!). The group overwhelmingly voted to continue these Workshops through the year so the next one will be held in November.

Until next time...

Vicky