A Place Called Kindergarten

Addition Activities for Kindergarten That Build Number Sense

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:38:00 +0000

Addition Activities for Kindergarten That Actually Build Number Sense

If you’ve ever sat down to teach addition and thought, “Why aren’t they getting this?” you’re not alone.

In kindergarten, addition isn’t about memorizing facts. It’s about building understanding, talking through thinking, and making math meaningful. That’s exactly why I created these addition resources, because our youngest learners need hands-on, engaging, and talk-rich experiences to truly understand addition.

SHOP ALL THESE ADDITION RESOURCES HERE:

ADDITION MATH TALKS
MATH & LITERATURE: CAN ONE BALLOON MAKE AN ELEPHANT FLY?
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION MATH STORIES
ADDITION MATH CHART
ADDITION LADYBUG MATH CRAFT

Why Addition Activities in Kindergarten Should Look Different

Before we jump into activities, let’s talk about what really matters. Research shows that when students engage in math talk, they build confidence, develop deeper understanding and learn to explain their thinking. That means worksheets alone won’t cut it.

Kindergarten addition needs:
✔ conversation
✔ visual models
✔ real-world connections
✔ repeated exposure through play

Math Talks For Kindergarten Addition

If you want to transform your math block, start here. Math Talks are short, powerful discussions where students look at a problem, think quietly, share strategies and explain their thinking. This is where addition strategies come alive.

Instead of telling students how to solve, you ask:

“How did you get that?”
“Did anyone solve it a different way?”
“What do you notice?”

These conversations help students see multiple ways to add, which builds number sense and flexibility.

TRY IT HERE: ADDITION MATH TALKS

Math & Literature: Making Addition Meaningful

One of my favorite ways to teach addition is through stories. When you connect math to literature, students understand the why behind addition, stay engaged longer and make real-world connections.

For example, using a story like your Can One Balloon Make An Elephant Fly? unit allows students to:

Act out addition
Visualize combining sets
Talk through what’s happening

This approach helps students understand that addition is about putting amounts together, not just numbers on a page.

EXPLORE IT HERE: MATH & LITERATURE CONNECTION

Kindergarten Math Stories (Story Problems That Make Sense)

If your students struggle with word problems, it’s usually because they don’t understand the story. That’s why Simple Math Stories are so powerful. Instead of jumping straight into numbers, students listen to a story, act it out, draw it and then practice adding. This removes the pressure and builds understanding first and supports students to write their own math stories.

GRAB THIS HERE: KINDERGARTEN MATH STORIES

Addition Anchor Charts That Stick

Let’s be honest… anchor charts can either:
✔ support learning OR
❌ become wall decoration

A strong addition anchor chart should show visuals, include student strategies and be referenced daily.

GET YOUR CHART HERE: ADDITION MATH CHART

Hands-On Addition Practice (That Kids LOVE)

Kindergarteners learn best by doing. That’s where hands-on math centers come in. Your Ladybug Math activities are perfect for small groups, math centers or independent practice. Students can count and combine, use manipulatives and practice addition in a playful way.

TRY IT HERE: ADDITION MATH CRAFT

Building Fluency with Facts to 5 (The RIGHT Way)

Once students understand addition, then we build fluency. This is where Facts To and From Five comes in. Instead of rushing into memorization, students see number relationships, practice composing and decomposing numbers and build automaticity through understanding This is such an important step because fluency should come from meaning—not memorizing random facts.

GET FACTS TO AND FROM FIVE HERE

Teacher tip: Pair this with math talks so students explain how they know their facts—this strengthens both fluency and understanding.

The Goal of Kindergarten Addition

At the end of the day, we don’t want students who can just say: “2 + 3 = 5”

We want students who can say: “I had 2 and I got 3 more… now I have 5.”

Because when students can explain their thinking, they truly understand math.

Ready to Make Addition Click?

If you’re looking for engaging, meaningful addition activities for kindergarten, you can find everything here:

ADDITION MATH TALKS
MATH & LITERATURE: CAN ONE BALLOON MAKE AN ELEPHANT FLY?
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION MATH STORIES
ADDITION MATH CHART
ADDITION LADYBUG MATH CRAFT

Partner Phonics Cards for Kindergarten: Active UFLI Practice with Movement

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Partner Phonics Cards for Kindergarten: Active Practice for UFLI Phonics Skills

Teaching phonics in kindergarten works best when students have many opportunities to practice the skills they are learning. Explicit instruction is essential, but students also need meaningful, engaging ways to apply those skills. partner phonics cards kindergarten

That’s where Phonics Partner Cards For Kindergarten come in.

These simple activities turn phonics practice into interactive, movement-based learning while reinforcing the exact phonics skills students are learning in UFLI.

If you are using UFLI Foundations, these cards are an easy way to provide extra practice without worksheets, while keeping students motivated and engaged.

What Are Partner Phonics Cards?

Partner phonics cards are paired activity cards that students use with a partner to practice phonics skills.

Each pair of students receives:

• a phonics card
• a word or picture prompt
• a task to read, decode, or identify a sound or pattern

Students work together to:

read words
decode sounds
identify phonics patterns
check each other’s answers
practice blending or segmenting

The goal is simple: students talk, move, and practice phonics together.

Instead of completing a worksheet independently, students become active participants in the learning process.

Why Partner Learning Works So Well in Kindergarten

Kindergarten students thrive when learning is social and interactive.

When children say sounds, blend words, and read aloud with a partner, they receive more repetition and immediate feedback than they would working alone.

This kind of practice helps strengthen phonics skills and builds reading confidence.

Movement Matters in Early Learning

Another powerful element of partner phonics cards is movement.

Young learners are not designed to sit still for long periods of time. When phonics practice includes movement, students are more focused and motivated.

Movement in learning helps:

• increase attention and engagement
• strengthen memory and retention
• reduce behavior challenges
• support kinesthetic learners

Instead of completing phonics work at a desk, students are walking, talking, and actively learning.

Practicing UFLI Phonics Skills

If your school uses UFLI, you know that the program provides explicit, systematic phonics instruction designed to build strong reading foundations.

UFLI lessons follow a clear scope and sequence so students systematically learn letter-sound relationships and apply those skills when reading words and texts.

However, students also need additional opportunities to practice those skills throughout the day.

Partner phonics cards are designed to give students exactly that:

• practice blending sounds
• reading decodable words
• identifying phonics patterns
• applying phonics skills learned in UFLI lessons

These partner cards provide extra repetition in a fun format, which helps students build automaticity and confidence.

Seasonal and Academic Partner Phonics Cards

I created two sets of Partner Phonics Cards so teachers can easily integrate them throughout the year.

Seasonal Partner Phonics Cards

Seasonal cards bring excitement and variety into phonics practice.

Students love activities connected to the time of year, and seasonal themes help keep learning fresh and engaging.

You can find the seasonal set HERE

Year-Round Partner Phonics Bundle

The full Partner Cards Bundle includes phonics practice you can use all year long.

Explore the full bundle HERE

Why Teachers Love Partner Phonics Activities

Teachers often tell me they love these cards because they are:

✔ low prep
✔ easy to differentiate
✔ engaging for students
✔ aligned with phonics instruction
✔ perfect for skill review

Most importantly, they allow students to practice phonics skills in a meaningful way.

Try Partner Phonics Cards in Your Classroom

If you're looking for an easy way to add active phonics practice aligned with UFLI, these partner cards are a great place to start.

Seasonal Set: https://bit.ly/APCKpartnerseasonal

Full Bundle: https://bit.ly/APCKpartnerbundle

These activities help kindergarten students move, talk, and practice phonics skills together — exactly what young learners need to grow as readers.

Kindergarten Math Connected to Literature: Meaningful Math Through Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 23:18:00 +0000

Kindergarten Math Connected to Literature: Bringing Math to Life Through Stories

One of the things I’ve always loved about teaching kindergarten is the magic that happens during read-alouds. Stories draw students in, spark conversation, and create meaningful connections.

And that magical read-aloud time also needs to happen during your math lesson!

That belief is exactly what led to my work with Math by the Book: Kindergarten and later inspired my Math Connected to Literature units — classroom-ready extensions designed to help teachers bring math to life through story.

The Heart Behind Math by the Book: Kindergarten

When we wrote Math by the Book: Kindergarten, the goal was simple:

Help teachers see the math that naturally lives inside children’s literature
Provide meaningful math conversations rooted in story
Move beyond worksheets toward thinking, discussion, and problem solving

The book highlights carefully selected mentor texts and shows how they can launch rich mathematical thinking in developmentally appropriate ways. Instead of teaching math in isolation, teachers use stories to introduce ideas, pose problems, and invite exploration.

Teachers often tell me they love the ideas in the book — but they also want ready-to-use activities that continue the thinking after the lesson.

That’s where my Math Connected to Literature units come in.

Math Connected to Literature Units: Extending the Thinking

My Math Connected to Literature units were created as a natural extension of Math by the Book. They take the big ideas from the book and turn them into hands-on classroom experiences teachers can use right away.

Think of these units as:
✔️ A bridge from inspiration to implementation
✔️ Ready-to-use math workshop activities
✔️ Story-based math centers and tasks
✔️ Opportunities for students to explore math through context and play

Most importantly, they help teachers continue the rich mathematical thinking that begins during the read-aloud.

Why Literature Is Such a Powerful Tool for Teaching Math

Using literature to teach math isn’t about adding “cute” activities — it’s about creating meaning.

Stories help students:
• Visualize mathematical situations
• Connect math to real experiences
• Build vocabulary naturally
• Engage in discussion and reasoning
• See math as purposeful and joyful

For young learners, this context makes abstract ideas feel concrete and accessible.

Kindergarten Math Skills Covered in the Units

While students feel like they’re exploring stories, they’re actually building strong math foundations.

Skills include:
• Addition facts to 5
• Representing addition with drawings and manipulatives
• Composing and decomposing teen numbers
• Problem solving and mathematical thinking
• Explaining thinking through drawing and writing

These story-based tasks support standards while keeping learning playful and meaningful.

What Teachers Will Find Inside Each Unit

Each Math Connected to Literature unit includes a variety of activities so teachers can easily integrate them into math workshop, guided math, or centers.

You’ll find:
✔️ Hands-on math tasks
✔️ Recording pages
✔️ Math center activities
✔️ Mini books and problem-solving tasks
✔️ Boom Cards for digital practice
✔️ Opportunities for discussion and math talk

The goal is flexibility — teachers can use pieces throughout the week or build an entire math experience around the story.

How These Units Support Your Math Block

Teachers use these units in so many ways:
• As math workshop centers
• Guided math lessons
• Math talk prompts
• Writing about math activities
• Small-group intervention or enrichment
• Extensions after reading a favorite book

Because the math grows out of the story, students stay engaged and eager to participate.

More Math Connected to Literature Units Are Coming

One of the most exciting parts of this work is that it continues to grow. I’m currently creating additional Math Connected to Literature units so teachers can build a library of story-based math experiences across the school year.

If you love teaching math through stories, these units are designed to keep that momentum going — offering fresh ideas, new activities, and meaningful ways to integrate literacy and math.

Bringing Joy and Meaning to Kindergarten Math

At the heart of all of this is a simple belief:
Math should feel meaningful, engaging, and joyful for young learners.

Stories give us a powerful pathway to make that happen.

Whether you’re using Math by the Book as your inspiration or looking for ready-to-use activities that extend story-based math learning, these units were created to support you and your students.

Explore the Math Connected to Literature Units

You can explore the first set of units here:
Kindergarten Math and Literature Connection Units

And stay tuned — more story-based math ideas and units are on the way!

How to Teach Nonfiction Writing in Kindergarten (Text Features + Writing Workshop Lessons)

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 23:11:00 +0000

Teaching Nonfiction Writing in Kindergarten (And Helping Students See Themselves as Authors)

Kindergarteners LOVE learning facts.

They love learning new vocabulary about penguins, sharks, giraffes, owls, and dolphins.
They love discovering how animals move, what they eat, and where they live.

And they deserve the opportunity to write about those things.

That’s why I created my Kindergarten Nonfiction Writing Unit — a complete writing workshop unit that introduces young learners to informational writing in a way that is structured, supportive, and joyful.

Because nonfiction writing in kindergarten isn’t about perfect spelling.

It’s about helping children think: “I am a writer!”

Introducing Nonfiction Writing the Right Way

In this unit, we begin with a big goal:

To help students write independent nonfiction books.

We start each writing workshop lesson with a mini-lesson built around a nonfiction mentor text. Together, we notice how nonfiction authors teach readers information. We talk. We think. We plan.

One of my favorite planning strategies is using your hand:

Your thumb is your topic.
Each finger is a fact about your topic.

This simple strategy helps kindergarteners organize their thinking before they ever begin writing sentences.

Then we build a nonfiction book together — starting with penguins.

Teaching Nonfiction Text Features in Simple, Meaningful Ways

Text features can feel overwhelming — unless we introduce them one at a time.

In this unit, students learn about nonfiction text features through a focused penguin study. Each lesson highlights one feature:

• Table of Contents
• Facts
• Labels
• Bold Words
• Fun Facts
• Lists
• Maps
• Headings
• Up-close photographs
• Glossary

We read age-appropriate mentor texts and then apply that feature directly to our shared penguin book.

For example:

Students add labels like flipper and webbed feet.
They bold vocabulary words like chick.
They create a simple glossary.
They glue in a map showing where penguins live.
They go back and add page numbers to their Table of Contents.

When kindergarteners see that they can use real author tools in their own books, something shifts.

They don’t just write sentences.

They write like authors.

If you want a simple way to make text features visible and student-driven in your classroom, I also created a Nonfiction Writing Goals Anchor Chart that pairs perfectly with this unit. This anchor chart clearly displays each nonfiction text feature and helps students choose which one they want to add to their writing. Instead of guessing what to include, students can set a writing goal, add the feature intentionally, and celebrate their growth as nonfiction authors. You can see the anchor chart HERE:

When students can see their options and choose their goals, nonfiction writing becomes purposeful — and empowering.

Supporting Sentence Writing Every Single Day

Nonfiction writing is one of the BEST ways to strengthen sentence writing in kindergarten.

Because facts require clear thinking.

Students practice:

Writing complete thoughts
Using capital letters and periods
Stretching out words with phonics
Using sight words to organize information
Adding details to strengthen their writing

This unit includes graphic organizers, sight word cards, sentence supports, and nonfiction writing pages to help students grow at their own level.

And for students who need extra support?

I encourage forming a small “writing club” where struggling writers can reread the mentor text, use support books with sentence starters, and feel successful.

Writing is hard work.

All students deserve to feel accomplished.

Helping Students Become “Expert” Writers

One of my favorite parts of this unit is helping students become experts.

Students draw pictures of topics they want to learn more about.
We find mentor texts.
They gather facts.
They organize ideas.

And then they create their own nonfiction books.

The unit includes support books on topics like:
Penguins, Meerkats, Sea Turtles, Ladybugs, Dolphins, Camels, Monkeys, Sea Stars, Ducks, Spiders, Elephants, Evergreens, Gorillas, Tigers, Wolves, Sharks, Owls, Woodpeckers, Pigs, Lions, Zebras, and Giraffes

Kindergarteners LOVE having choice.

And choice builds ownership.

Ownership builds confidence.

Teaching Students to Reflect and Grow

Nonfiction writing conferences are powerful — especially when students can see their growth.

This unit includes a Nonfiction Writing Rubric aligned to kindergarten standards, including:

Writing informative texts (W.K.2)
Capitalization and punctuation
Phonetic spelling
Spacing between words
Adding details to strengthen writing
APCK Kindergarten Nonfiction Wr…

Students can set goals.
Teachers can guide future writing instruction.
Growth becomes visible.

And when growth is visible, confidence grows too.

Celebrating Young Authors: Books for Breakfast

At the end of our unit, we celebrate.

We host a Books for Breakfast Nonfiction Celebration

Students bring a stuffed animal.
Parents visit.
Children share their nonfiction books.
They write a stuffed animal report.
They read their nonfiction books that they wrote.
They enjoy a snack and celebrate their hard work.

It’s simple.

It’s joyful.

And it sends a powerful message:

Your writing matters.

How This Fits Into My Yearlong Writing Workshop

If you’ve read my post about all of my

WRITING WORKSHOP UNITS,

you know that I build writing step-by-step across the year.

We begin with drawing and labeling.
We move into writing lists and then repeat books.
We introduce nonfiction and how-to writing.
And then we end our year with writing special memories (personal narratives).

Each unit builds on the last.

Nonfiction writing strengthens:
• Sentence writing
• Organization
• Reading-to-writing connections
• Phonics application
• Writer identity

When kindergarteners learn how nonfiction books work as readers, and then apply those same tools as writers, everything clicks.

Why Nonfiction Writing in Kindergarten Matters

Nonfiction writing:

✔ Builds background knowledge
✔ Reinforces nonfiction reading skills
✔ Strengthens sentence structure
✔ Encourages real-world curiosity
✔ Helps students think of themselves as authors

And when we provide daily writing opportunities that are structured and supportive, students don’t just write...

they grow into confident writers.

If you’re ready to introduce nonfiction writing in a way that is intentional, engaging, and developmentally appropriate, you can explore the full

Kindergarten Nonfiction Writing Unit

Because when we teach nonfiction writing…

We aren’t just teaching facts.

We are building authors. 💛

And if you’d like to see how this unit fits into a complete yearlong writing workshop framework, be sure to read my post about all of my Writing Workshop Units and how they work together to build confident kindergarten writers.

Read and Check Phonics Books Kindergarten Decodable Readers Aligned to UFLI

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 02:07:00 +0000

Kindergarten Read and Check Decodable Readers Aligned to UFLI That Actually Work

Teaching kindergarten students to read is one of the most important — and delicate — jobs we do. At the very beginning of reading instruction, children are not yet fluent readers. They are learning how to hear sounds, connect letters to those sounds, and blend them together to read words for the first time.

Yet one of the biggest challenges kindergarten teachers face is this:

Many decodable readers expect students to read full sentences before they are developmentally ready.

This gap between instruction and practice can slow progress, create frustration, and lead students to rely on guessing instead of decoding. That is exactly why Kindergarten Read and Check Decodable were created — to meet students where they are and support true early reading success.

What Are Decodable Readers?

Decodable readers are texts designed to give students practice applying phonics skills they have already learned. Instead of memorizing repetitive patterns or guessing words from pictures, students use letter-sound knowledge to read. I use UFLI Foundations to teach phonics to my students.

High-quality decodable readers help students:

Strengthen phonemic awareness
Practice blending sounds into words
Build accuracy and fluency
Develop confidence as readers

For kindergarten students, decodable readers are most effective when they closely match the phonics skills being taught. My Read and Check Decodables are aligned to the UFLI Foundations program.

Why UFLI Alignment Matters in Kindergarten

The UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) approach to reading instruction is rooted in research-based practices and a clear, systematic progression of phonics skills. UFLI emphasizes:

Explicit phonics instruction
Gradual skill progression
Ongoing assessment
Intentional practice aligned to instruction

When decodable readers are aligned to a UFLI-supported scope and sequence, students are not asked to read skills they have not yet learned. Instead, they practice exactly what has been taught — no guessing required.

This alignment helps ensure that phonics instruction transfers directly into real reading.

The Real Problem with Most Kindergarten Decodable Readers

One of the biggest challenges in kindergarten literacy instruction is that many decodable readers are not designed for students who are just beginning to blend words.

At this stage, kindergarten students are still learning how to:

Blend two- and three-sound words
Hold sounds in working memory
Track print from left to right
Focus on decoding without relying on pictures

However, many “beginner” decodable books jump too quickly into:

Full sentences
Multiple unfamiliar words per page
Sight-word overload
Text that encourages guessing

When students are pushed into sentence reading too early, the cognitive load becomes too heavy. Instead of decoding, students may guess. Instead of gaining confidence, they may feel frustrated or believe they are not good readers.

This is not a student problem.
It is a text design problem.

How Read and Check Decodable Readers Solve This Problem

Kindergarten Read and Check Decodable Readers aligned to UFLI were intentionally designed to follow how reading actually develops in young learners:

These readers:

Begin with simple word-level decoding
Limit phonics patterns to what students have already learned
Reduce visual distractions
Allow students to focus on blending, not guessing

By starting at the word level, students experience success early. That success builds confidence, stamina, and motivation to keep reading.

What Makes Read and Check Decodable Readers Different

These kindergarten decodable readers were created with both teachers and students in mind.

Purposeful Phonics Practice

Each reader aligns to specific phonics skills, making them a perfect companion to systematic phonics instruction such as UFLI.

Built-In Comprehension Checks

After reading, students simply lift the post-it note to “Read and Check” to reinforce meaning without overwhelming them.

Developmentally Appropriate Design

The one word format and phonetically patterned words are carefully controlled to match kindergarten learners.

Flexible Classroom Use

These readers work well for:

Small group instruction
Literacy centers
Independent reading practice
Intervention and support
At-home reading practice

Benefits for Kindergarten Students

When students use UFLI-aligned Read and Check Decodable Readers consistently, they:

Strengthen phonics skills
Improve blending and decoding accuracy
Build reading confidence
Develop early fluency
Transfer phonics skills into real reading

Most importantly, students begin to see themselves as successful readers.

How to Use These Decodable Readers in Your Literacy Block

Here are a few simple ways to integrate these readers into your kindergarten routine:

Use them after phonics lessons for immediate practice
Include them in literacy centers for purposeful independent work
Send them home for reinforcement and family support
Use the “Read and Check” component as a quick comprehension check

Because the readers are aligned to phonics instruction, they fit seamlessly into your existing literacy block.

UFLI-Aligned Decodable Readers You Can Use with Confidence

Finding developmentally appropriate decodable readers for kindergarten can be difficult — especially for students who are just beginning to blend words.

Read and Check Decodable Readers aligned to UFLI bridge that gap by providing carefully designed phonics practice that builds skills step by step.

If you are looking for decodable readers that truly support beginning readers and align with research-based phonics instruction, you can explore the full collection here:

How to Use the Bookworms Reading Curriculum in Kindergarten Without Extra Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 19:52:00 +0000

Using Bookworms Reading Curriculum in Kindergarten

(And How Companion Units Can Save You Time)

If you’re using the Bookworms Reading Curriculum for Kindergarten, you already know why so many teachers love it.

The lessons are thoughtfully designed.
The texts are purposeful and engaging.
The scope and sequence make sense for how young children actually learn to read.

It provides a strong, research-based foundation for early literacy... and the best part? It’s free.

The Real Challenge: Time

While Bookworms does an excellent job with core instruction, most teachers still find themselves asking:

How can I reinforce these lessons without starting from scratch?
What can my students do during our reading block that connects to our read-alouds?
How do I extend comprehension without adding more planning to my day?

Between small groups, assessments, and everything else on your plate, planning meaningful follow-up activities can feel overwhelming.

That’s where Bookworms Book Companion Units come in.

💛 Instead of planning every extension yourself, book companion units give you print-and-go activities already aligned to the books you’re teaching.

Why the Bookworms Reading Curriculum Works So Well for Kindergarten

Bookworms focuses on:

High-quality read-alouds
Vocabulary and comprehension through rich texts
Clear routines that support young learners

💛My book companion units are designed to support these same goals—without changing how you teach Bookworms.

What Are Book Companion Units?

Book companion units are supplemental resources designed to work alongside the curriculum—not replace it.

They are created to:

Extend comprehension skills
Provide print-and-go practice aligned to Bookworms texts
Connect literacy learning to math and language arts
Reinforce skills using familiar stories

💛 You can explore all available kindergarten companion units here:
Kindergarten Book Companion Units – A Place Called Kindergarten

How Companion Units Support Kindergarten Learners

Kindergarten students learn best when lessons feel familiar and predictable.

Companion units help by:

Reinforcing comprehension through drawing, discussion, and simple responses
Supporting vocabulary in kid-friendly ways
Providing meaningful literacy center options
Allowing students to practice skills independently or with guidance

How I Designed My Book Companion Units

I created these units with my kindergarten classrooms in mind. Each unit is:

Easy to prep
Classroom-tested
Designed for whole group, small group, or centers

💛If you want resources that fit naturally into your Bookworms lessons, you can browse the growing collection here: Shop Bookworms Companion Units on TPT

Where to Find Bookworms Kindergarten Companion Units

You can browse all currently available Bookworms Kindergarten companion units in my Teachers Pay Teachers store here:

A PLACE CALLED KINDERGARTEN | BOOK COMPANION UNITS

(This is a growing collection, and new units are added as they’re created.)

You can start using Bookworms companion units in your classroom today by visiting my TPT store here: Browse Bookworms Kindergarten Companion Units

Final Thoughts

If you’re already using the Bookworms Reading Curriculum, you’re giving your students a strong foundation in reading.

Companion units help you:

Reinforce comprehension and vocabulary
Save planning time
Provide meaningful, aligned practice

💛You can start using Bookworms companion units in your classroom today by visiting my TPT store here: Browse Bookworms Kindergarten Companion Units

Teaching kindergarten is a lot of work—if something can make your day just a little easier, it’s worth it.

Start Your Kindergarten Writing Workshop with Drawing and a Free Anchor Chart

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 01:46:00 +0000

Launch your KINDERGARTEN WRITING WORKSHOP with drawing! Learn how to build confident young writers with visual storytelling, a FREE LINES THAT WIGGLE ANCHOR CHART and engaging drawing mini-lessons.

If you're wondering how to kick off your Kindergarten Writing Workshop successfully, the answer is simple: start with drawing.

Before kids write words, they communicate through pictures. That’s why I begin the year with my Drawing Unit for Kindergarten Writers. This foundational unit builds confidence, introduces the writing process, and empowers students to share their stories—even before they know all their letters and sounds.

Why Start with Drawing?

Drawing is critical to writing development. Here's what it helps young writers do:

Build stamina for independent work
Plan and organize stories
Express ideas with detail
Practice using shapes, lines, and forms

When students see themselves as illustrators, they naturally become storytellers.

What’s Included in the Drawing Unit?

Inside this Drawing Unit, you’ll find a carefully sequenced collection of lessons that gently lead students from marks on paper to meaningful storytelling. Each lesson is connected to literature, helping students see themselves as authors and illustrators.

Here’s what you’ll find in the unit:

Drawing Lines to Tell a Story – Lessons begin with exploring different types of lines and how they help us draw. Students learn that every story starts with a line.
Confidence-Building Activities – Scaffolded mini-lessons help students feel successful as they take risks and express themselves visually.
Drawing with Shapes – Children learn to use basic shapes to construct people, animals, and objects—building a strong foundation for detailed illustrations.
Mentor Text Connections – Each lesson is paired with a picture book to show students how real illustrators tell stories through images. Students mirror specific illustration techniques to add emotion, motion, and meaning to their own drawings.
Adding Labels, Words & Titles – As students grow in confidence, they begin to add labels, words, and eventually full sentences to support their illustrations and convey meaning.
Sharing Stories – Students are invited to share their drawings and stories with peers, building a classroom community of storytellers from the very beginning of the year.

Each part of the unit is developmentally appropriate and aligned with early writing standards. It's the perfect foundation to launch your full-year writing workshop with purpose and joy.

It’s designed to be easy to implement—even if you’re new to workshop teaching.

Free Anchor Chart: Different Lines

To support your launch, grab my free Lines That Wiggle Anchor Chart HERE. This visual tool teaches students that lines aren’t just for doodling—they’re the building blocks of their drawings.

This chart supports lessons on:

Drawing with purpose
Adding visual details
Using art as a planning step for writing

Want More Writing Units Information?

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A YEAR OF KINDERGARTEN WRITING

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A YEAR OF KINDERGARTEN WRITING

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 23:41:00 +0000

A YEAR OF KINDERGARTEN WRITING

FROM DRAWING TO CONFIDENT WRITERS

Teaching writing in kindergarten can feel like chasing a moving target. Some students come in writing full sentences. Others are still learning how to hold a pencil. Many teachers ask, “How do I meet every writer’s needs while keeping a consistent routine?”

The answer? A scaffolded, year-long writing plan that supports students step by step—from drawings and letter strings to sentences, nonfiction writing, and opinion pieces. In this post, I’ll show you how I structure my Kindergarten Writing Workshop throughout the year—and how it’s transformed the way my students see themselves as writers.

Whether you’re new to writing workshop or just want to feel more organized and confident this year, this post will give you the tools and timeline to get started.

Why You Need a Year-Long Writing Plan in Kindergarten

Kindergarten writing isn’t just about letters and sounds—it’s about building confidence, routines, and purposeful expression. A solid writing plan should:

Provide structure while allowing for creativity
Support all learners, from emergent to confident writers
Align with developmental stages and the science of reading
Build writing stamina through meaningful, engaging units

If you’ve ever felt like you were piecing together lessons week to week, or unsure how to get your students from pictures to published work—this kind of plan can be a game changer.

The Kindergarten Writing Progression: What to Teach and When

Here’s a look at how I structure writing workshop throughout the year, with each unit carefully designed to build on the one before it:

UNIT 1: DRAWING AS WRITING

We begin with drawing to help students communicate their ideas. At this stage, they learn how to add details, color purposefully, and label parts of their pictures. It builds stamina and sets the tone that everyone is a writer.

Find out more about this drawing unit HERE!

UNIT 2: LIST BOOKS

Next, we introduce phonetic spelling through lists. Kids love writing about their favorite foods, animals, or things in their backpack. These books are accessible and help students transition into writing words and stretching out sounds.

UNIT 3: REPEATING PATTERN BOOKS

Students begin creating simple books with patterned sentences like, “I see a…” or “My friend can…” This supports sentence structure, sight word fluency, and independence. It’s also where students start writing full sentences.

UNIT 4: NONFICTION WRITING

We tie this unit to science and informational reading. Students learn about text features, like labels, headings, and diagrams. They feel empowered to be experts and share what they know.

Find out more about nonfiction writing HERE!

UNIT 5: HOW-TO BOOKS

These books allow students to use sequence and procedural language. “How to Brush Your Teeth” or “How to Make a Snowman” are student favorites. It's a great opportunity to introduce transition words and organization.

Find out more about this how-to writing unit HERE!

UNIT 6: PERSONAL NARRATIVES

Kindergarteners write about special memories using a first, next, then and last that they used in the nonfiction unit. With picture plans, and timelines students learn to turn real-life moments into simple stories they can proudly share.

UNIT 7: OPINIONS

Students learn to share their opinions and support them with a reason. With fun prompts, clear sentence starters, and lots of choice, writers gain confidence expressing their thoughts in writing.

Supporting Struggling Writers with Built-In Scaffolds

Every classroom has a wide range of abilities. Your writing plan must be flexible enough to meet students where they are. That’s why I designed my units to include:

Editable pages for differentiation
Anchor charts and visual tools
Alphabet strips and sound walls
Sentence stems for early writers
Checklist rubrics for tracking growth

Even reluctant writers start to take pride in their work when they see a clear path and celebrate small wins along the way.

A Ready-to-Go Writing Workshop for the Whole Year

If you want a kindergarten writing plan that’s already done for you, I’ve created a KINDERGARTEN WRITING WORKSHOP BUNDLE that includes:

✔️ Six scaffolded writing units (Drawing, Lists, Repeating Books, Nonfiction, How-To, Narratives & Opinions)
✔️ Editable student writing pages
✔️ Whole-group mini-lesson plans
✔️ Anchor charts and mentor text ideas
✔️ Simple pacing guide and unit timeline
✔️ Real-life classroom-tested tools

No more guessing what to teach next. This writing workshop follows a natural progression and helps every child grow as a writer—while saving you time and stress.

Click here to download a free sample of my WRITING UNITS!

Ready to commit to a full year of confident writing instruction? Grab the bundle here.

Let’s Talk Writing: Which Unit Are You Most Excited to Teach?

Are you just starting with drawing and labeling? Or do your students love opinion writing? Share in the comments what part of writing workshop your class connects with most—I’d love to hear from you!

Quick Recap: Writing Workshop, All Year Long

✔️ Start with drawing to build confidence

✔️ Progress through list books and sentence patterns
✔️ Introduce nonfiction, how-tos, and personal writing
✔️ Support every writer with visual tools and scaffolds
✔️ Use a yearlong plan to reduce planning stress and increase growth

Transform Your Math Block with Kindergarten Math Talks

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sat, 31 May 2025 19:40:00 +0000

If you're a kindergarten teacher looking to build strong number sense, encourage mathematical thinking, and foster classroom discussion, KINDERGARTEN MATH TALKS are your secret weapon. These quick, engaging prompts are the perfect way to kick off your math block with purpose and routine.

In this post, we’ll explore why math talks are essential in early childhood classrooms and how to use them effectively.

What Are Kindergarten Math Talks?

Math Talks are short, structured conversations about math that give students the opportunity to share their thinking, reason with numbers, and build mental math strategies. These discussions aren't about getting the right answer fast — they're about exploring multiple ways to solve problems and learning to talk about math.

This Kindergarten Math Talks resource is designed with young learners in mind. It includes:

Daily math prompts focused on number sense, counting, comparing, subitizing, shapes, and more
Visual supports and engaging images to prompt discussion
Prompts that encourage reasoning, pattern recognition, and problem solving
A predictable routine to help students feel confident and ready to share

Why Use Math Talks in Kindergarten?

Builds Confidence: Students feel safe sharing their thinking in a low-stakes setting.
Develops Number Sense: Daily exposure to numbers in multiple contexts helps build deep understanding.
Encourages Mathematical Language: Children learn to express their ideas clearly using math vocabulary.
Fosters Community: Every voice matters during a math talk, creating a strong classroom culture.

How to Use These Math Talks

Daily Warm-Up: Start each math lesson with a quick 5-minute discussion.
Project the Prompt: Use your smartboard or print the prompts for display.
Facilitate, Don’t Lead: Ask guiding questions like “How do you see it?” or “Can you explain your thinking?”
Celebrate All Thinking: Highlight the variety of strategies students use.

These daily math discussion prompts help you establish a consistent math routine that students will look forward to each day.

Ready to give Math Talks a try?

If you're ready to make your math block more meaningful without reinventing the wheel, I’ve got the perfect solution for you—my KINDERGARTEN MATH TALKS resource.

These daily prompts are:

Designed to build number sense
Aligned with kindergarten math skills
Quick to use (just 5 minutes a day!)
Focused on classroom discussion and student voice
Completely no-prep for busy teachers

Whether you're launching your math block, wrapping up morning meeting, or just trying to boost engagement, these math talks are the perfect way to get your kinders thinking and talking like mathematicians.

Grab your copy here: KINDERGARTEN MATH TALKS ON TPT

You’ll have everything you need to build a strong math routine that

supports your students every single day.

BACK TO SCHOOL AUGUST FAVORITES FOR THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 04:27:00 +0000

GET BACK TO SCHOOL READY

Here are 5 ideas for teachers to get ready for back to school:

Organize your classroom: Set up your classroom in a way that is conducive to learning. Make sure your classroom has enough space for students to move around comfortably, and organize your supplies and materials in a way that is easy to access.
Prepare lesson plans: Plan out your lessons in advance so you are well-prepared when the school year begins. Consider the needs of your students and prepare activities that will keep them engaged and interested in learning.
Get to know your students: Take some time to learn about your students and their interests. Consider sending out a survey or questionnaire to learn more about their hobbies, favorite subjects, and learning styles.
Communicate with parents: Establish open lines of communication with parents early on in the school year. Consider holding a back-to-school night or sending out a welcome letter to introduce yourself and provide information about your classroom.
Take care of yourself: Remember to take care of yourself as well. Get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and make time for self-care activities that help you stay energized and focused throughout the school year.

MY AUGUST FAVORITES

Here are 5 ideas for teachers to get ready for back to school:

Classroom Set Up: August is a busy time for teachers as they prepare to welcome their students back to school. Setting up their classroom is an important part of this process. Teachers spend countless hours creating a welcoming and engaging environment that is conducive to learning. Some of my favorite organizational things in my classroom are my Birthday Posters, Book Bins and School Year Timeline. Links to My Classroom Items: Book Bins, Birthday Posters, Timeline, Four Corners Game

Yearlong Activities: Preparing year-long activities for students can be a daunting task for teachers. However, with careful planning and organization, it can be a rewarding experience for both the teachers and the students. It is important for teachers to identify the learning objectives and outcomes they want to achieve throughout the year. This will help them to structure the activities in a way that is cohesive and relevant to the overall curriculum. Additionally, teachers should consider the interests and needs of their students to ensure that the activities are engaging and meaningful. Links to My Yearlong Activities: Calendar, Weekend News, Poetry Book, Charts
Writing Workshop Drawing Unit: Drawing is a fun and important activity for young children, especially in kindergarten. In a kindergarten writing workshop, drawing can be a great way to introduce children to the writing process and to help them develop their writing skills.
One of the benefits of drawing in a kindergarten writing workshop is that it allows children to express themselves creatively and to explore their own ideas. By drawing a picture, children can begin to tell a story or describe a scene, which can then be turned into a written piece. Links to My Writing Workshop Units: Drawing, List Books, Repeat Books, Nonfiction Books, How-To Books, Special Memories
Math Activities: Incorporating hands-on math activities in kindergarten is a great way to help young learners develop a strong foundation in numerical concepts. By providing opportunities for children to physically manipulate objects and engage in kinesthetic learning, you can help them build important skills like counting, sorting, and problem-solving. Links to Math Activities: Math Notebooks, Sorting Buttons, Back To School Boom Cards, 5 & 10 Frames, Math Talk Mats, Show Me Numbers, Free Math Toolbox
Plan Some FUN: Fun art projects in kindergarten are an excellent way to help young children develop their creativity, imagination, and fine motor skills. Art activities engage children in a way that is both fun and educational, and they provide a hands-on approach to learning that can help children retain information more effectively. Links to Fun Back To School Activities: School Tools, Back to School Books

Follow my Instagram to find more
Back To School ideas!

Easy to Use Kindergarten Writing Workshop Units

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 21:19:00 +0000

Kindergarten Writing Workshop Throughout the Kindergarten Year

Kindergarten is a magical year for creating and developing writers. It is the place where students learn about authors and illustrators and throughout the year become authors and illustrators themselves. Kindergarten writing involves taking risks without worrying about making mistakes, spelling or being able to draw.

By the end of the year

Kindergarteners should be able to…

draw illustrations
form letters
phonetically write
write simple sight words correctly
write simple sentences
reread the books that they have written

How can you make this happen...

write every day during Writing Workshop
teach your beginning writers use invented spelling
use mentor texts as writing examples
celebrate their writing development as the year progresses

Drawing Writing Workshop Unit

The first step to a successful Kindergarten Writing Workshop is teaching your students to draw. All of the standards for writing in Kindergarten include drawing as a way for students to share their ideas on paper. Drawing is a critical stage in early writing development and provides the foundation for sharing thoughts and ideas on paper for beginning writers. Drawing supports students’ ability to retell their stories during later writing units.

Learn more about this drawing unit HERE.

Making Lists and List Books Writing Unit

After students become confident drawers it is time to connect words to their drawings. This is accomplished during our Kindergarten List Books Writing Workshop Unit. List books are books that have a title and every page lists something about that title. During this writing workshop unit it is important to introduce and promote invented spelling. At this stage of their writing development Kindergarteners begin to pay attention to letters and the sounds they make as they begin to write words.

Writing Sentences and Repeat Books

After Kindergarten writers become confident with writing words phonetically it is time to put words together to make sentences. Repeat books are books that have a title and every page has a repetitive sentence about that title. During our Repeat Book Writing Workshop Unit students learn about the components of a sentence, practice writing sentences and them use them to write their own books.

Nonfiction Kindergarten Writing Unit

After Kindergarten writers become confident with writing sentences they can use them write about informational texts. Kindergarteners will learn to recall information about a topic after reading or listening to books and write sentences about what they have learned during our Nonfiction Kindergarten Writing Workshop Unit.

Learn more about this nonfiction writing unit HERE.

How-To Kindergarten Writing Unit

Once beginning writers tackle nonfiction writing there is a smooth transition to how-to writing. We make lemonade to kick off our Kindergarten How-To Writing Workshop Unit.

See writing examples from this unit HERE.

Special Memories Writing Unit

Kindergarteners write about an event that has happened to them during our Special Memories Writing Workshop Unit. They come up with a title and write a few sentences sequencing an event they have experienced. There are lots of writing prompts ideas for writing personal narratives included in this unit.

Writing Opinions Writing Unit

Kindergarteners share their opinion or preference about a topic by writing a sentence and drawing a picture during this Kindergarten Writing Opinions Writing Workshop Unit.

Kindergarten Writing Workshop

All of these Kindergarten writing activities provide opportunities for beginning writers to have a shared experience in the writing process that is supported by mentor texts. The printable books included in each unit provide writing prompts for our littlest authors to successfully write every day during the Kindergarten year.

learn more about my

nonfiction writing unit here!

Check out my Writing Workshop Pinterest Board...

5 AAAAAAMAZING BACK TO SCHOOL BOOKS FOR KINDERGARTEN

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 22:31:00 +0000

BACK TO SCHOOL READ ALOUDS FOR

KINDERGARTEN

Check out these 5 Amazing Back to School Read Alouds for Kindergarten! Reading aloud to your class is a great tool to use for calming students' nerves, developing community and making connections during the first few weeks of the school year. There are sooooo many Back To School books to choose from, but these are 5 of my favorites. If you scroll through this post there is a FREEBIE for these books at the end. I tried to pick books that might be new to you so that you can add to your Back To School library of read alouds. You can learn more about these books and other tips on my INSTAGRAM REELS. You can click on any of the book titles or images to link to Amazon.

5 Amazing Back to School Books For Kindergarten

A Place Called Kindergarten

This book is about a boy that visits the farm animals every day, but one day he does not show up. The animals are very worried. Finally Tommy arrives and tells the animals that he has been to a place called Kindergarten. Besides being a favorite Kindergarten read aloud it was also the inspiration for the title for my blog back in 2009. After I read this book to my students we talk about what they are going to tell their families about their first day of Kindergarten.

The Color Monster

Kindergarteners arrive at school with lots of emotions. The color monster has a color for all of his emotions. After reading this story I have my students draw the Color Monster and fill him full of the colors associated with how they are feeling about Kindergarten. Taking about their Kindergarten emotions and knowing that others are feeling the same way is very reassuring during the first few days of Kindergarten.

Alma And How She Got Her Name

Alma thinks that her name is too long and does not fit her until her father tells her about everyone she was named after. After we read this story I ask parents to share the story of their child's name. I was named after my uncle and grandmother and my maiden name, Dempsey, is Irish. What is the story of your name?

Count On Me

This story is about a little girl who is not sure what her passion is until she realizes that she loves math. I love using learning notebooks in my class and this book is a great way to introduce how someone puts their thinking down on paper. My Interactive Math Notebook Labels are a great resource for using learning notebooks.

Max And The Won't Go To Bed Show

Max performs a lot of tricks to avoid going to bed, but his greatest trick is to attempt to get mom to read him 10 bedtime stories! After I read this book to my students we talk about how important it is to read to someone or have someone read to you every night.

I created a FREE resource for all of these amazing books.

5 Amazing Back to School Books Freebie

What are your favorite Back To School Kindergarten Read Alouds?

It is my hope that one of these will become a new favorite for you and your students.

This Pinterest Board is about my favorite way to retell a favorite story...

which is by doing a Reader's Theater

Summer Prep Back to School Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 01:42:00 +0000

5 summer prep back to school ideas...

Organize Your Planner

I started using a Happy Planner and I will never go back. I just use the discs, checklists and dividers of the Happy Planner. I create my lesson plans, guided reading plans and assessment pages on my computer to add to the planner. With a Happy Planner rings and a punch you can put ANYTHING into your planner. If you are tired of paying too much for planners that are still a lot of work to fill in...check out the Happy Planner and how I use it in my Instagram reels to simplify my life. Check out my Amazon Affiliate Shop for my favorite planner accessories.

Read A Professional Book

Besides being a Kindergarten teacher, I am the Math Instructional Leader for my district. I try to read at least one professional math read during the summer. I love to make a cup of tea when I get up on summer mornings and read on my deck until it gets too hot and everyone else wakes up. My all time favorite math read is Putting the Pieces Into Practice by Sue O'Connell. My love of this book led to our district adopting O'Connell's Math In Practice Series which let to me being a co-author on her latest project Math By The Book. This is a book about how to use literature to jumpstart your student's mathematical thinking. Writing this book combined of my love of literature and teaching mathematics to little mathematicians. Check out my other favorite professional reads HERE and below is what I am currently reading.

I also have a math stack that I am going to dive into next.

Organize Your Math Toolboxes

I love using math toolboxes in my classroom! Summer is a great time to reorganize them and make sure they are ready to go for your first math unit. If you want you can also do a little planning of how you are going to use them for each of your units. I have created a Math Toolbox Freebie full of lots of math mats that can be used with

math toolboxes.

Get Reacquainted With The Copier

I don't know about you but I hate making copies and I think the copier knows this because it always jams on me. I keep a file of the things that need to be copied for the upcoming school year. This file includes our calendar, reading logs, sight word poems and sight word word work. I teach in a small district/community and I live 5 minutes away from my school so whenever I stop by school to get something or to meet up with my team I send one of these items through the copier . Then I can walk away and do whatever I am there to do...no waiting...no getting done fast for the next person in line. Here are some of the items that I copy during the summer...

Avoid the Target Dollar Spot

My last summer back to school idea is to avoid the Target Dollar Spot. You do not need one more bookmark, bin, bag or border! Save your money and your time because Dollar Spot purchase usually lead to projects that were never going to be on your Back To School to-do list.

Find more about these back to school ideas in my Instagram Reels.

Check out other Back to School Ideas on my Back To School Pinterest Board...

LET THE PIGEON DRAW WRITING UNIT!

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 14:13:00 +0000

The Secret Tool For Improving Writing Skills

Want to know the secret to introducing your students to and falling in love with writing? It is simple. Teach them how to draw. Drawing has been proven through research to be the foundation of writing. Everyone can learn to draw. It is a teachable skill, just as writing is. Drawing pictures allows children to express their imagination on paper. "Picture writing" is an important first step in the writing process. As writing skills continue to develop, drawing pictures will serve as a planning foundation for their writing.

Getting started with picture writing is easy...

1. have students draw

2. have students talk about their drawings

3. have students "write" about their picture

which includes scribbling, random strings of letters and phonetic spelling

4. celebrate their drawings

My Let The Pigeon Draw Drawing Unit

I love Writing Workshop! The first year that I started doing Writing Workshop in my classroom I found that my students lacked confidence in their drawing and writing skills. There was a lot of "I can't draw that!' "How do you draw a ..." and "I can't write!" heard throughout the room. I decide to make my first Writing Workshop unit a drawing unit to build by students' confidence and support them in their first endeavors of putting their pencils to paper.

Drawing Workshop Lessons

All of the lessons in my drawing unit follow the Writing Workshop Format of a group mini lesson, drawing time, conferencing followed by a time for your little artist to share. Start each drawing lesson by reading a mentor text and having conversations about what they are going to draw that day. This can be accomplished by turning and talking to a partner or with the whole group. Over the years I have scanned or copied student examples to share during the lesson depending on how much support I feel that my students need. After your mini lesson send your artist off to draw in their Book of Drawings. During this time I support students that are having a difficult time by drawing along with them on a whiteboard or talking them through their drawings. I conference with student about their drawings, take anecdotal notes and encourage students to stretch their thinking. At the end of their drawing time we come back together to share our drawings. Sometimes I have partners share, tables share or I pick some students to share their drawings under the document camera.

Why Start Your Year With Drawing

My drawing unit sets the foundation for written expression that will be used throughout the rest of the school year. They will continue to draw to support their writing during writing workshop, draw to show their understanding of math concepts and share their understanding of literature with drawings during guided reading. Say goodbye to hearing "I can't draw that!' "How do you draw a ..." and "I can't write!"

This Unit If Full Of Lots of Extras

My writing unit also includes lots of fun art activities and an end of the unit Mo Willems Hot Dog Party. This part of the unit could be used as a Mo Willems author study if your students love Mo as much as mine do. Find me on social media to see more about my this Drawing Unit and my other Kindergarten Writing Workshop Units.

Check out other drawing ideas on

my Drawing Pinterest Page...

Halloween Kindergarten Boom Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 16:04:00 +0000

Halloween Boom Cards

I love using BOOM CARDS with my students. They are a quick and self checking way for students to practice Kindergarten skills and they can also be used as an assessment to determine if your students have grasped a concept. Whether you use BOOM CARDS to provide some practice during a mini lesson, as individual practice or to keep track of your students' knowledge about a subject, you are going to love the ease and fun factor of these digital task cards. Use of these digital task cards provides a smooth transition from face to face learning to distance learning with two options...fast play that does not require a login and a student login that can be shared with students and parents.

What are Boom Cards?

- digital task cars
- interactive task cards
- engaging task cards
- self-checking task cards

To use Boom Cards you will need:

- a free Boom Learning Account
- any device with internet (tablet, laptop, smartphone, interactive whiteboard)
- link to the website Boom Learning or the Boom Cards App

How do I purchase Boom Cards to use with my students?

Boom Cards can be purchased or found for free on Teachers Pay Teachers or on the Boom Learning Website.
Both purchases load the Boom Cards into your Boom Learning Library.

How do I use Boom Cards in my classroom?

I use Boom Cards on my Interactive Whiteboard during group time to practice a concept that I have introduced to my students
I send Boom Cards to my students with the Fast Pin link to practice a skill without having to log into a device.
I assign my students using Boom Cards to track their progress or assess their learning. If you would like to use this version of these digital task cards it requires a paid subscription to Boom Learning.

Focus on Assessing and Practicing Skills at home or at school with these

Halloween Boom Cards!

Click the images to check out these

Halloween Boom Cards.

There is a link to a preview of each deck in the description on TpT.

Consider grabbing the bundle of these Halloween Boom Cards because I will probably add new cards to this set. I create decks as they are needed for my students. Once you purchase the bundle you will get all future Halloween Boom Cards for free just by re-downloading from the Teachers Pay Teachers website.

Click for more BOOM CARD activities on Pinterest:

St. Patrick's Day Boom Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 17:23:00 +0000

St. Patrick's Day Boom Cards

Check out the various inexpensive options on the Boom Learning site

to use these with your students...

Learn More About BOOM CARDS...

What are Boom Cards?

- digital task cars
- interactive task cards
- engaging task cards
- self-checking task cards

To use Boom Cards you will need:
- a free Boom Learning Account
- any device with internet (tablet, laptop, smartphone, interactive whiteboard)
- link to the website Boom Learning or the Boom Cards App

How do I purchase Boom Cards to use with my students?

Boom Cards can be purchased or found for free on Teachers Pay Teachers or on the Boom Learning Website.
Both purchases load the Boom Cards into your Boom Learning Library.

How do I use Boom Cards in my classroom?

I use Boom Cards on my Interactive Whiteboard during group time to practice a concept that I have introduced to my students
I send Boom Cards to my students with the Fast Pin link to practice a skill without having to log into a device.
I assign my students using Boom Cards to track their progress or assess their learning. If you would like to use this version of these digital task cards it requires a paid subscription to Boom Learning.

Focus on Assessing and Practicing Skills
at home or at school with these
St. Patrick's Day Boom Cards

There is a link to a preview these Boom Cards

in the TpT descriptions.

Consider grabbing the bundle of these St. Patrick's Day Boom Cards because I will probably add new cards to this set. I create decks as they are needed for my students. Once you purchase the bundle you will get all future St. Patrick's Day Boom Cards for free just by re-downloading from the

Teachers Pay Teachers website.

Click for more BOOM CARD activities on Pinterest:

Valentine's Day Digital Kindergarten Boom Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 14:51:00 +0000

Valentine's Day Boom Cards

The other think I love about Boom Cards is that it is inexpensive. When looking for online options there are few that are manageable for teachers to purchase on their own. For as little as $15 a teacher can set up a class and track their progress on the Boom Learning site. Here are the different options available for teachers.

Learn More About BOOM CARDS...

What are Boom Cards?

- digital task cars
- interactive task cards
- engaging task cards
- self-checking task cards

To use Boom Cards you will need:
- a free Boom Learning Account
- any device with internet (tablet, laptop, smartphone, interactive whiteboard)
- link to the website Boom Learning or the Boom Cards App

How do I purchase Boom Cards to use with my students?

Boom Cards can be purchased or found for free on Teachers Pay Teachers or on the Boom Learning Website.
Both purchases load the Boom Cards into your Boom Learning Library.

How do I use Boom Cards in my classroom?

I use Boom Cards on my Interactive Whiteboard during group time to practice a concept that I have introduced to my students
I send Boom Cards to my students with the Fast Pin link to practice a skill without having to log into a device.
I assign my students using Boom Cards to track their progress or assess their learning. If you would like to use this version of these digital task cards it requires a paid subscription to Boom Learning.

Focus on Assessing and Practicing Skills at home or at school with these
Valentine's Day Boom Cards

There is a link to a preview these Boom Cards

in the TpT description.

Consider grabbing the bundle of these Valentine's Day Boom Cards because I will probably add new cards to this set. I create decks as they are needed for my students. Once you purchase the bundle you will get all future Valentine's Day Boom Cards for free just by re-downloading from the Teachers Pay Teachers website.

Click for more BOOM CARD activities on Pinterest:

Welcome to Another New Year In Kindergarten

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:25:00 +0000

Welcome To Another New Year In Kindergarten!!

I love heading back to school after winter break. In Kindergarten you work so hard to establish routines during the first half of the year. The second half of the year is all about learning and getting ready for first grade. As a teacher you put so much work into the fist half of the year that you are ready and deserving of a little break to recharge your battery and get ready for the awesome reading, writing and mathematical thinking that takes place during the second half of the year in Kindergarten.

Who Doesn't Love a Good FREEBIE?????

It is always good to start off the second half of the year with a little New Year celebration. For years I have had my students make a Happy New Year resolution balloon. We read a couple of stories about New Year's and they write a promise that they hope to keep in the New Year. I love that their promises are usually household chores and linked to whatever their parents are constantly asking them to do. Their excitement about putting their clothes away, cleaning their room, feeding their pets and helping with the dishes is very inspiring. Check out this FREEBIE activity in my TpT Store. I would love to hear about your students' resolutions in the comments below or tag me on your social media posts.

In preparation for the New Year I found these other New Year's Day FREEBIES on Teachers Pay Teachers. There is something about a hat that makes a celebration complete, a simple number review is good for little mathematicians, a New Year's poem is a great addition to your students' poetry collection and crafts are always a win. Enjoy welcoming your students to the New Year with these fun activities!

Here's to a great year full of lots of

learning and laughter with your students!

Check out some other fun January ideas on my

A Place Called January Pinterest Board...

Winter Themed Kindergarten Digital Boom Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 06:29:00 +0000

WINTER BOOM CARDS

What are Boom Cards?

How do I purchase Boom Cards to use with my students?

Boom Cards can be purchased or found for free on Teachers Pay Teachers or on the Boom Learning Website.
Both purchases load the Boom Cards into your Boom Learning Library.

How do I use Boom Cards in my classroom?

I use Boom Cards on my Interactive Whiteboard during group time to practice a concept that I have introduced to my students
I send Boom Cards to my students with the Fast Pin link to practice a skill without having to log into a device.
I assign my students using Boom Cards to track their progress or assess their learning. If you would like to use this version of these digital task cards it requires a paid subscription to Boom Learning.

Focus on Assessing and Practicing Skills at home or at school with these Winter Boom Cards!

Click the images to check out these Winter Boom Cards.

There is a link to a preview of each deck in the description on TpT.

Get This Move and Count Deck of Boom Cards for

FREE!!

Consider grabbing the bundle of these Winter Boom Cards because I will probably add new cards to this set. I create decks as they are needed for my students. Once you purchase the bundle you will get all future Winter Boom Cards for free just by re-downloading from the Teachers Pay Teachers website.

Click for more BOOM CARD activities on Pinterest:

Back To School Kindergarten Digital Boom Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 14:43:00 +0000

Be Prepared for Distance Learning with Boom Cards

I love using Boom Cards with my students. They are a quick and self checking way for students to practice Kindergarten skills and they can also be used as an assessment to determine if your students have grasped a concept. Whether you use Boom Cards to provide some practice during a mini lesson, as individual practice or to keep track of your students' knowledge about a subject, you are going to love the ease and fun factor of these digital task cards. Use of these digital task cards provides a smooth transition from face to face learning to distance learning with two options...fast play that does not require a login and a student login that can be shared with students and parents.

What are Boom Cards?

How do I purchase Boom Cards to use with my students?

Boom Cards can be purchased or found for free on Teachers Pay Teachers or on the Boom Learning Website.
Both purchases load the Boom Cards into your Boom Learning Library.

How do I use Boom Cards in my classroom?

I use Boom Cards on my Interactive Whiteboard during group time to practice a concept that I have introduced to my students
I send Boom Cards to my students with the Fast Pin link to practice a skill without having to log into a device.
I assign my students using Boom Cards to track their progress or assess their learning. If you would like to use this version of these digital task cards it requires a paid subscription to Boom Learning.

Grab these FREE Boom Cards...

Check out these Back to School Boom Cards...

You might want to consider grabbing the bundle of these Back To School Boom Cards because I will probably add new cards to this set. I am trying to make as many digital resources as I can before the start of the school year. Once you purchase you will get all future Back to School Boom Cards or free just by re-downloading from

the Teachers Pay Teachers website.

Click for more BACK TO SCHOOL activities on Pinterest:

Amazon Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 00:29:00 +0000

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Amazon! I can think of something that I want for my classroom or for a lesson and like magic it appears at my doorstep within 2 days. I only need to worry about 2 things...1 planning my lesson according to when it will arrive and 2 will my husband, who travels a lot, be in or out of town when it arrives. (#2 it trickier than #1)

I have organized my Amazon purchases into my 5 favorite categories...

Books make up the majority of my Amazon purchases. These books fall into three categories...picture books, professional books and books that I want to read with the majority of these book purchases being picture books.

Here are my recent picture book purchases...

My favorite professional books...

My favorite books for me...

I have read every book written by Liane Moriarty and Emily Giffin.

Follow my Instagram to keep up to date with my favorite book purchases.

My second favorite purchases on Amazon are things for my classroom. I love the elf that I found that I use for our kindness elf during the holidays. I ordered Michigan cornhole bags to use as talk tickets because my school name starts with an M and our school colors are blue and yellow. I use brown paper bags to wrap books for students gifts during the holidays and at the end of the year. (They come in different sizes so measure your books before you order.) I found smiley face tickets that I use for behavior management. I blame the teachers I follow on social media for purchases like the remote control doorbell that I got to get my students' attention.

It makes me happy when things are organized. Amazon is my go to for finding things to organize my classroom. I used the mini clear drawers to organize my math manipulatives. I can pull out the drawers I need and then put them away in seconds. The 4 drawer cart is where I keep my word work activities for my students. I use the big clear tubs to organize my monthly themes and math units and the snap storage bins to organize my writing units.

Amazon is a great place to find manipulatives for your classroom. I've found lots of dice to use in my classroom on Amazon and loved finding Scrabble tiles with lowercase letters instead of uppercase.

The last category is a favorite only because it make me laugh. When things like a beard trimmer, a cat with a sword bag, bicycle handle bar tape and a Timex watch from the 80s show up in my order history I know The Bellboys have been taking advantage of my Amazon Prime account. It is not so funny when it comes with the I accidentally forgot to change the form of payment speech.

Follow A Place Called Kindergarten on Instagram or Facebook

to keep up with my latest Amazon finds.

GET WILD ABOUT BOOKS

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 13:32:00 +0000

K.RL.5 Recognize common types of text.

Inspired by the book Wild About Books by Judy Sierra

we went Wild About Books to study the different types of text that are located in our classroom. My classroom is full of books, but until my students become familiar with them and make connections to them, they are just bins and bins of books. At the beginning of the week I decorate my room with book jackets that my mom sewed together for me and animal print balloons. My students each had an animal print visor and glasses to wear every day of this unit from Oriental Trading.

Every day we went "Wild About Books" and talked about a different genre and where they were located in our classroom. Everyone picked a favorite book from each genre and recorded it in their Wild About Books Book.

Check out the Wild About Books Genre Study for Kindergarten

in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. Click HERE to find it.

At the end of the week we read Hooray for Books! by Brian Won

We reviewed the different genres we discussed during the week and where they could be found in our classroom. I used Scholastic Book Club points to get books from each genre to have a book raffle. Each student shared their favorite kind of book, choose a book from the raffle and put their name in it. I got more books from each genre than I needed so that everyone could pick a book from their favorite. After our raffle, everyone snuggled up and read their book and shared it with their friends. My students organize the leftover books into our classroom library.

We had a blast going Wild About Books!!

Click on these books covers to check them out on Amazon...

Here are some of my favorite books for Kindergarten readers from each genre....

I was provided the products featured in this post

from Oriental Trading for review purposes. All opinions are

mine and based off of the experience I had with the products.

$100 Target Gift Card giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 04:00:00 +0000

It is back to school hunting season. Just when I tell myself that I am not going to spend much on back to school stuff...BAM!!!...the Target Dollar Spot temps me with all the stuff I can't live without. Check out my latest Dollar Spot purchases and enter to win a $100 Target Giftcard to spend $1 at a time at Target.

I grabbed 3 sets of wooden alphabet blocks to use during guided reading groups. These blocks are a fun and interactive way to practice letter identification and sounds. Have students pick a block, identify the letter and or beginning sound and add it to their stack. The last student to have their stack not fall over is the winner. Count the blocks in the winner's stack and have a "Highest Stacker" competition.

I always find a good read aloud or mentor text at Target.

This is a perfect read for the first day of school.

The Target Dollar Spot has LOTS of alphabet goodies that can be

put together to make a letter identification intervention kit.

Enter to win a $100 Target Gift Card!

1. Comment with your grade level

2. Enter a short Rafflecopter: HERE

3. Help spread the word

Check out these Back to School ideas...

Kindergarten how-to writing

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 02:55:00 +0000

We make lemonade to kick off our how-to writing unit. Everyone gets a job...you might be a lemon squeezer, a water adder, a sugar scooper (we add A LOT of sugar)
or a lemonade stirrer.

In the end, they love the lemonade and we use my

How to Make Lemonade anchor chart to organize

the steps we took to make lemonade.

After making the lemonade and organizing our steps,

my students write their first how-to book...

For students that have a hard time organizing their thoughts,

I created visuals...

What happens after we write about how to make lemonade? We write about how to do a lot of other things. I use menor texts and past students' how-to books to inspire my students to write their own how-to books. My ultimate goal in Writing Workshop is for my students to write how-to texts like these...

Although most of my students can achieve this goal, some need support. Writing is hard work and I want all my students to feel successful. My Kindergarten How-To Writing Unit provides support for struggling writers to successfully write how-to texts and feel like accomplished authors.

Click on the images below to purchase my

Kindergarten How-To Writing Unit.

My How-To Unit is also part of my

Kindergarten Writing Workshop Bundle.

Check out my How-To Writing Pinterest Board...

Pumpking Heads

noreply@blogger.com (Jonelle Bell) — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 04:00:00 +0000

Every year I read the story Pumpkin Heads! and we make our own pumpkin heads. You can use orange construction paper to make these pumpkins, but I love how they turn out when we use 12 x 12 orange and yellow scrapbook paper. Grab a copy of this book and make these crazy cute pumpkins that will make you smile all October long.

Check out these other October ideas...