We started our calendar book this week! I always like to wait until September to start, since we usually only have a few days in August. I use those days to really model the sequence of the calendar, and to get students up and moving and trying out the whiteboard.
I truly thought I would be able to keep up with both the calendar wall and the whiteboard, but I was over-estimating myself!
This is the progression of my calendar wall…
I started off with everything I would need on the wall.
I soon realized that after doing my calendar on my interactive white board for the past 3 years, I wouldn’t be able to switch to using the wall. So, I thinned out my wall a bit…
Quite drastic, huh? I change this out every day at the end of the school day, and we do the rest on my IWB. This is just what works for me because this is how I’ve always done it!
However, the children are still working away on their calendar books!
This is what they look like:
I added colored dots to each binder so the children will be able to easily find their book in the correct basket.
Here is what they look like on this inside:
We always start off calendar with an alphabet song. This one is from the Sounds Like Fun CD from Discovery Toys. The children enjoy it, and I love how they point to the picture and letter as they follow along with the song.
We then sing our September song! Click {HERE} to download a copy of the song.
The children keep their pencil and 4 crayons in a pencil pouch. (I ordered a case of these from The Dollar Tree and split it with a friend!)
Right now, calendar is taking about 15-20 minutes, but I anticipate it will start going faster and faster when the children are more familiar with the activities on each page.
If you are interested in the format I use for calendar book, you can purchase it {here}.
I’ve also uploaded 2 new products to my store…take a peek if you are interested!
Nice! I am glad to hear I am not the only one who is not getting to every thing they had planned! Hope you are enjoying your new kiddos! Tomorrow will be day 5 with all of our kindergartners! The routines are slowly, but surely becoming natural! Have a great week! Thanks as always for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteIt looks FANTASTIC!!
ReplyDeleteI purchased your Calendar book during the Back to School sale on TPT and I'm excited to get started with it! I still need to go out an purchase a bunch of binders though. I am planning to do my Calendar on our interactive board too!!
ReplyDelete❤ -Stephanie
Falling Into First
I LOVE that alphabet song from the Sounds Like Fun CD!!!!! I sing it every day with my class and have been searching for a companion sheet to help guide them. Is the sheet you use included in any of your TPT packets? :)
ReplyDeleteSorry - it's not! I got it from a friend a few years back. I think she used DJ inkers clip art on it. I know there are 2 versions of the song - I believe I have the older one.
DeleteThis looks great!!!! I am very jealous! Every year I say I am going to star using Calendar notebooks and then I chicken out! I am terrified of the thought of passing out 20 to the students on the carpet whole group and trying to manage it. :) I would love love to do them! Right now I have about 15-20 for Calendar and then we have reading groups! I may try to begin after Christmas! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSarah
Kindergarten Korner
Sometimes it is easier to start in January if you've never done it before! That's what I did the first year I did it. Starting at the beginning of the year TERRIFIED me!! Each group is different, but so far, this group is doing great!!
DeleteYou continue to amaze me! LOVE the new September song!! I would add that finding the balance between the how much to start and complete has been a growing cycle for us too! I just staple mine together this year b/c I didnt have binders but I honestly think the binders are easier ....but that is just me!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thanks!!
Sarah
shetrick@gmail.com
I was wondering the same thing about the ABC chart that you use. I have been singing the same version of the song with my kinders and they LOVE it! But I have a really old copy of the chart with hard to see/read clip art. Any chance you or your friend could share the chart or put it up on TPT? :) Let me know! It is super cute and way more kid friendly than the version I have! Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of your calendar binder, too, but it seems like a LOT of copies. In my mind, it's 20 days a month X 20 students X 9 months of the year... Is that right?
ReplyDeleteIf paper budget is an issue for you, you could certainly only have the children fill out a journal page once a week. Many teachers do morning work as well - this could easily be something that the students complete in morning work or centers. We have a print shop that does all of our copies for us, so paper isn't an issue. You could also slip the pages inside of a page protector and use a dry-erase marker. Just a thought! ;)
DeleteThanks! We did use a dry-erase marker with a page protector, but they get so gross! Maybe I'll do a modified weekly calendar sheet. Great idea. :) Thank you!!
DeleteDid you create your calendar for your interactive white board? Is it compatible with Promethean boards. I've been looking for a good one for a while.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your blog and follow you by email. Thanks for sharing!
~nicole
kteacher0708@yahoo.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis blogging is very new to me. I think I might love it. Any way... I am looking for the months of the year calendar worksheets that the kids can trace. Last year they became harder as the year progressed. They came from this site and a friend shared them with me. Thanks and have a great year all!!
ReplyDeleteI do the calendar on a clipboard. The kids love it and feel "important". I have the monthly calendar on one side (taped on) and the hundreds number chart on the other side (taped on). The kids "clip" the new sheet daily to the clipboard that has the number of the day, day of the week, etc. Their pencil is also "clipped" onto the clipboard. We do not use crayons. My students really do love it. I haven't purchased your calendar set yet. For now, this is working for my kinders!! :) Thank you for always staying professional in your blog posts!! Stephanie
ReplyDeleteI LOVE following your blog! I too use that same Discovery Toys song. I LOVE your practice sheet and would LOVE to use it with my kinders. Is there any way you can share it? Thanks so much for all the great ideas and encouragemet on the Calendar binders! My partner and I gae it a shot this year and started in September. So far so good! They are doing great! Thanks!! Melissa
ReplyDeleteLove reading your blog and all of your great ideas. I also have the Discovery Toys Sounds Like Fun cd and we listen to that same alphabet song you mentioned. I really like the page with the letters on it where the kiddos follow along. Would you by any chance share a copy of that with me? I had emailed you awhile back asking about this. My email is pks0221@suddenlink.net Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me what font you used on the September Weather Tracker? I'm specifically looking for the font for the words "Draw the weather symbol"...I LOVE it!!! It's so simple and cute!! Thanks so much!! You can also email me @ JeniferLynMe@Gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI LOVE all of your calendar items (numbers, etc) - fan you tell where you got them?
ReplyDeleteCan I just tell you how much my class LOVED your monthly songs! At the end of my school year they begged me to teach them the July and August songs so they would know them. I thank you and my parents thank you for sharing them!
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