"Kid-Created" Alphabet!

Hey everyone!

I want to share with you one of my favorite activities that I have done so far this year.  I have to start by explaining that I firmly believe in having students create or at least take part in creating most of the things that hang in my classroom.  I am trying to move away from commercially-bought products and focus more on things that we create in class together.  Which leads me to my new alphabet line that I am completely in love with!  I can't take credit for the idea, I saw a student-made alphabet line in one of my amazing colleagues rooms who teaches 3rd grade and I fell in love with the idea!

I had been using this alphabet line (pictured on the right) for the past few years, and it was fine, but the kids didn't have a connection to it.  I feel like anything that is already hanging on the walls when the kids come to you just becomes part of the background to them and they stop noticing it.  That is why I chose not to hang an alphabet strip for Meet the Teacher Night and the first few days of school (gasp, I know!).  They have their own personal alphabet strip on their name tags anyways so I didn't think it was the end of the world, and now I'm definitely glad that I waited.  When they saw their very own alphabet hanging on the wall, they were so excited!

Here are some pictures:

I LOVE how colorful they turned out!  When you walk into my room, it is the first thing that your eyes are drawn to, and the kids are so proud!

If you would like to do this project with your own class, click HERE or the image below to download the alphabet cards for free from my TPT store!  All I ask is that if you download, please follow this blog and my TPT store!

Thanks!  Happy teaching!

GIVEAWAY!!! and Teaching Blog Addict's Open House Week (Monday and Tuesday Edition)!

Hey everyone!  It's Open House Week over at Teaching Blog Addict! I'm getting really excited about all these link up opportunities.  Yesterday I did my first Link Up with Oh' Boy Fourth Grade and I think I'm addicted!

Here is this week's events:

Monday: Meet the Teacher- tell us all about you and your teaching style!
Tuesday: Classroom Photos
Wednesday: Handouts for Parents
Thursday: Bulletin Board Photos
Friday: FREEBIES!

So I'm going to do Monday and Tuesday today, since today is really like a Monday anyways ;)

Monday - Meet Mrs. Keefe

For those of you who don't know me in real life, I am the proud momma of 2 amazing little boys.  They are my pride and joy, the loves of my life, the reason the sun rises, my whole life!!!  They are 4 and 3.  My 3 year old starts preschool tomorrow, and I can hardly stand it!  Where, oh where does the time go?!?!  My husband is a former-middle-school-teacher-turned-second-time-college-student.  He decided that his heart just isn't in teaching middle school, so he is now going back to college for Computer Information Technology.  I'm proud of him for following his dreams!  

Here are my sweet little men.  Mr. Soccer Player is my 4 year old, and Mr. Frozen Yogurt is my 3 year old!  Aren't they sweeeeeeet!

This is my 3rd year at the school I am currently teaching at, and I love it!  I taught a k/1 combo my first year, then 1st grade, and now I'm back with another k/1.  Ya know, I knew what I was getting myself in to when I hesitantly said "yes" to the combo but here I am.  I will say, it's a lot easier this time around!!!  But, I FORGOT about what the beginning of kindergarten is like.  Kindergarten teachers, you are A-Mazing!!!  Thank goodness for the 8 amazingly sweet, hard-working, conscientious 1st graders I have.  They really are my saving grace!  They have taken the sweet little kindergartners under their wings and LOVE showing them the ropes!!!

Tuesday - Classroom Photos

I am so guilty.  I have not taken a single classroom photo since my sweeties started last week.  By the time the end of the day rolls around, I am just too tired to think about anything other than getting ready for the next day and gettin my little self home!!!

Here are some pics from before school starts.  I will DEFINITELY be back with some pics of some of the beginning of the year anchor charts that we have created.  Here's what I have for now:

Back to School Bulletin Board in the hall:

Classroom Library

Word Wall 

Classroom job chart

PBIS Behavior Clipchart

Well, that's all the pictures I have for now.  I'll be back with some anchor chart pictures in the near future!

And now for the giveaway!!!  (dut dut dut daaah!)

If you have come to this blog from Teaching Blog Addict, then I want to give you a treat!  All you have to do is become a follower of my blog, and also a follower of my Teachers Pay Teachers Store and you can have ANY of my TPT products for FREE!!!  Just leave a comment here with your email address and what product you would like and I will email it to you ASAP!!! 

Thanks friends!  Happy Teaching!