TpT 2 Day Sale

Just wanted to make sure everyone knows that TpT is having a big sale today and tomorrow.  Make sure you enter the code BTS13 at the end to get the additional amount off.  Most stores are participating so happy shopping!

Focus on Alphabet Centers Part 1

This year we are going to start our day in Literacy Centers.  At the beginning of the year that will consist of alphabet centers.  I thought I would share what mine are looking like for now and show you where to find some of them.  Please excuse the pictures; I took them quickly to give you the idea while I was filling them!

Clothespin Uppercase/Lowercase Match

from Growing in PreK

Animated Literacy Uppercase/Lowercase Memory Game

from me (sorry I can't share because of the graphics)

Letter Geoboards

from Making Learning Fun

Highway Letters

from Making Learning Fun

I used these little cars from Dollar Tree because they are so little they require the kids to use their fine motor more than normal sized cars.

Please visit the sites linked to check out the activities.  They have some other great ideas too!

I will show some more of my alphabet centers next time!

Hope you find something you can use!!

Cutest Computer Tables EVER!

So normally the only faces you see on my blog are of my own little ones.  Have I got a treat for you!  My hubby is making his blog debut today!  

I don't know about you but I can never have enough space in my little room.  The one thing that has driven me crazy from last year was my computer table.  I had this big table for three laptops.  It stuck out too far.  It was old and well plain ugly.

After some sweet talking (actually less than I thought it would take), hubby agreed to make me some little tables for my laptops.  I wanted them to sit on pillows on the floor to use them and wanted to be able to move the tables anywhere around the room if needed.  I was thinking something very simple but he had a whole other plan.  Boy am I glad he did.  His were much cuter!!

Lots of sawing....

measuring...

drilling and screwing...

 

and sanding (hey even the kids "helped")

I ended up with this!

And here they are in all of their glory!  I put some shelf liner on top of them to keep the computers from sliding.

Now I do have to admit.  I thought I still had black paint from my great paint in but alas was out so we settled with this gray color left over from my daughters room.  Eventually these will be getting repainted black.

What can I say...I am the luckiest girl ever!

Carson Dellosa Thinking Mats (Review and Giveaway)

Carson Dellosa sent a set of Thinking Mats geared toward Common Core for me to try out.  I don't know about you but I don't get to order very much through school.  And I am beyond picky when it comes to what I spend my money on.

I was pleasantly surprised when these arrived.  The kit consists of 15 different mats and the cards to go with them.  They are all made of a thick, glossy cardstock type paper (no need for laminating!).  The cards are perforated so no cutting involved.  The mats and cards are all conveniently color coded so clean up is easy!

For Counting and Cardinality, the mats work on recognizing numerals, writing numerals, one to one correspondence counting and greater than/less than.  (K.CC.A3, K.CC.B4, K.CC.B5, K.CC.C6)

For Operations and Algebraic Thinking, the mats work on addition, ways to make a number, and subtraction. (K.OA.A1, K.OA.A2, K.OA.A3, K.OA.A5)

For Number and Operations in Base Ten, the mats work on building in ten frames and having extra ones. (K.NBT.A1)

For Measurement and Data, the mats work on measuring with nonstandard units and sorting/classifying. (K.MD.A1, K.MD.B3)

For Geometry, the mats work on positions, sorting by attributes, and 2D/3D shapes.  (K.G.A1, K.G.A2, K.G.B4)

Honestly, my own kids were with me when we came home and found it on the porch.  They were so excited!  Now they ask to "do math" every night.  Trust me that is weird coming out a 3 year olds mouth!

I seriously can't wait to get these into my room with my new kiddos.  They are going to love them!

You can check this kit out over at Carson Dellosa here and watch a video about them here.

Some awesome news...Carson Dellosa is giving one of my reader a set of Thinking Mats!  You can choose the grade level.  This giveaway is only open to US Residents and obviously the winner will need to provide their mailing address.

Good luck!!

*I was given the product in return for an honest review.  The ideas expressed are my own!

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