Monday, July 31, 2017

TPT Gift Card Giveaway for the BTS Sale!

It's that time of year...the big Teachers Pay Teachers Back to School sale!



I'm sharing my excitement with you by giving away at $10.00 TPT gift card.


Enter below to win the gift card. The giveaway will close on Tuesday, Aug. 1st at 11:59pm so that the winner can use it to shop the big sale.  You can also enter to win on my Facebook page: Miss Kate's Desk.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Remember, don't forget to leave feedback on your previous purchases by going to "My Purchases" on TPT.  You can even go to sort and click the option for needs feedback.  Each time you leave feedback for sellers, you get credits.  When you check out you can use those credits to help get more $$$ off your total.

Happy shopping!

Friday, July 14, 2017

White Wood Bundle

Can you believe it is already July?  Where has the summer gone?

Today I want to share with you one a bundle of some the best selling decor in my TPT store this summer.  


The White Wood Bundle has all of my White Wood decor items bundled into one zipped file.


Click here to view the preview I made for this bundle and to see what is included.



Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

25 Things I've Learned During My First 5 Years of Teaching

I just completed my first five years of teaching. I have learned SO many things so far in my short teaching career. I could probably do a list of 50 or even 100...but I figured the highlights are good enough. Plus, who has time to read 100?

25. Teaching is tiring.

24. If you play it in your classroom, you will hum or sing it at the grocery store, in the car, and while making dinner.
23. You will feel lost, but you WILL get the hang of it.
22. Talk and build a relationship with the grade level above and below you. They are your best resources and allies.

21. I won't have a Pinterest worthy classroom and that is OK! There are some beautiful classrooms out there, but do what works for you.  It's important to keep in mind what you and your students like and what your budget allows.  Don't go broke on items that will inevitably be scribbled, glued, and spilled on.
20. The visitors to your room to observe- they are invisible. Do not work yourself up over an observation or walkthrough. They are only seeing a quick snapshot of your day.
19. Communicate with parents. There are so many ways to do this. Do what is best for you and the families in your classroom.
18. Do not compare yourself to other teachers.
17. Grad school while teaching is tough (but doable)!

16. Scholastic Book Clubs can be your best friend. There are so many ways to get cheap (or free books with points).

15. Give students jobs. They love to help! The most coveted job in my classroom is the sweeper vac.
14. Read professional development books, blogs, articles. Who has the time? I know, it is hard. There are great resources out there to help you learn new ideas or improve on your teaching.
13. Things will not go as expected. A lesson may flop, a field trip may be a dud, a behavior plan or chart may not work, and a whole list of other things. Learn from it and keep trying for a solution.
12. Use your time wisely at school. Some days you want to sit on your plan time and recharge and that's okay! When you use your time productively at school, it is less you end up doing at home.

11. Set goals for yourself and your students.
10. Be positive. Things going on in your personal life may want to creep in, but try to leave it at the door and give your students your best.
9. Never underestimate the power of a good book blessing. One of my grad school professors call putting new books into your library or recommending a book to the class as a book blessing. That book will become gold and they will all want to read it. Always make a big deal out of new classroom library books.
8. Limit responding to emails in the evening (set your own time of when this applies). This may seem harsh, but unless it is an emergency...it can wait. You are at home with your family and enjoy that time. The question about if there will be a kindergarten graduation can be answered in the morning.
7. There is no such thing as having TOO MANY books in your classroom. Book fairs/flyers, garage sales, library sales, DAV/Goodwill, or even families are great resources for getting new or gently used books. If you were a student in your classroom, would you want to walk up to your classroom library each day?

6. Students can do more than you think they can. Do not sell them short or hold them back because they can't.
5. Classroom management, classroom management, classroom management. It will make or break you. Always find new ideas and ways of managing your classroom.
4. You cannot fill from an empty bucket. Take care of yourself and do the things you love to destress.
3. Do not be scared to try new things- messy things, fun things, time consuming things.
2. Your kids will always be on your mind. You will wake up at 2:00am sometimes worried about little "Johnny".
1. More years of teaching...bring it!
Getting ready for Open House my first year of teaching. Wow, that window ledge was so bare. 




Sunday, February 5, 2017

Hey everyone!  It's been quite a long time since I have blogged.  I got married in August, grad classes are in full swing, and I feel like I've had a lot on my plate.  I hope to get back into this soon!

I have a giveaway going on at my Facebook page.  You can also enter it below in the Rafflecopter.  You can win a $10.00 TPT gift card!


Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Oriental Trading Teacher Wish List

Did you know that Oriental Trading has a wish list feature for teachers?  

They do!  You can put educational items you want for your classroom on your list and parents or friends/family can purchase these items for your classroom.  How cool is that?  Each year I have a parent, PTO, or a family member or friend who ask what we need in our classroom.  I am excited to be able to share my Oriental Trading Wish List.

To do this, first create an account on Oriental Trading (or use one you already have).  Next, click on the Wish List underneath where it says "Hello, ____ Your Account".


Simply add items to your wish list by clicking "Add to Wish List".  When you're ready to share your list with parents, your principal, family/friends...just click share and you have options on how to share the link.

My box came in last week with some exciting resources to use in my classroom.  Below I'll show you some of the things I had on my teacher wish list.

In kindergarten we do lots of ten frame counting.  I love how the trays can help ten frame practice be hands on and how small objects/counters can fit inside.

My kindergartners can now PLAY at a play center time!  Wahoo for small victories.  I was lacking in building sets and was happy to snag up these snap into place builders.  Many possibilities for building!

This pack comes with LOTS of different community helper books.

These shark counters fit perfectly in my ten frame trays for math small groups.

I love these! Can't wait to read them to my class when I introduce Silent E/Sneaky E to my students.

I did not have any word shape activities.  Students can build the words at our word work station.

I'm so excited for my students to use these new resources in our classroom.  I was in need of some math activities, play center activities, and word practice!  Thanks Oriental Trading.  

Happy wish list shopping everyone!




**These items were given to me by Oriental Trading for a review.  This blog post is my own opinion of the products received.





Sunday, August 28, 2016

My 9 Favorite Back to School Books for Kindergarten

Today I want to share with you my favorite back to school books for kindergarten students.


I read all 9 of these books within the first couple of weeks of school each year.  Below (in no particular order) I'll provide the book and a short blurb about each.  Also in the link of each book title, I provide a cheap place to purchase the book (Amazon or Scholastic).

1. Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by: Laura Murray.  Gingerbread thinks his class abandoned him after they made him.  He goes on a search throughout the entire school to find his class.  This is a great book for introducing to kindergartners about the nurse, principal, library, gym, and other people/locations in your school.

2. Chu's First Day of School by: Neil Gaiman & Adam Rex.  Chu is ready for his first day of school.  All of the other animals have special talents and we have to wait till the end to find out Chu's talent.  Shows students that we all are unique.

3. David Goes to School by: David Shannon.  David is an ornery boy who learns that school comes with rules.  Students will laugh and giggle at David's antics at school.  

4. On the First Day of Kindergarten by: Tish Rabe.  A kindergarten version of the "12 Days of Christmas".  The repetition of the words allow students to help you read and chant along.

5. Manners in Kindergarten by: Carrie Finn.  A must read when teaching students about how to use manners in a school setting.  

6. Monstergarten by: Daniel J. Mahoney.  Patrick the monster is scared to go to school.  This book is great to talk about trying new things and about how sometimes we can be scared.

7. Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes by: Eric Litwin.  Pete the Cat is always a must read in kindergarten.  This book is great because it shows Pete going to different places in his school during the day.  Students will love singing the song with you!

8. The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by: Deborah Diesen. Mr. Fish is scared about going to school and wonders if he can do all the things they do in school.  This story is great to show students that everyone gets nervous sometimes but not to worry because we will learn everything we need to know.

9. The Rainbow Fish by: Marcus Pfister.  Rainbow Fish learns that being kind to others makes other people happy and can also make yourself happy.  That having it all, may not mean you are happy!


I hope you enjoy your first weeks with your students and read some wonderful books together!







Saturday, July 30, 2016

Back to School Giveaway!

Can you believe it?  It is almost August.  This is the time of year where we are all filling up our carts on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Today I'd like to help with that by giving away a $10.00 TPT gift card + 1 Miss Kate's Desk resource of your choice.


It's simple.  Do the things below on the Rafflecopter to enter!  Giveaway ends on 8/2/16 at 12:00am.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!