Mrs. Larremore at Chalk Talk: A Kindergarten Blog mentioned her Pete the Cat bundle arriving on her doorstep and I thought I shouldn't miss out on such a great deal. Now I'm anxiously awaiting my bundle, too! There's still time if you haven't gotten your copies.  Just scroll down to the near the bottom of the page to find the set.

There are so many great resources and videos online right now that go with these books. I'm so excited to use them in my room this year! Plus, if anyone purchases this deal from the following link, I will get credit. If I get two referrals before August 25th, I will do my best to order another set as a giveaway.

{Photo Source}

• Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes {Hardcover}
• Pete the Cat: Rocking in my School Shoes {Hardcover}
• 8 Crayola crayons

Offer expires Thursday, August 25th at 11 PM EST. 

Photo Source: Amazon.com

Photo Source: Amazon.com

Photo Source: Amazon.com

I love graphing! I think it's because I'm a visual learner, but there's just something fun about seeing numbers being represented in such an easy to understand way, especially when there are lots of vibrant colors and die cut pictures involved! The first day of school we generally do a boys/girls graph and a How did you get to school? graph. I use the books above, along with a couple of others to help make connections later in the year.

When I was looking for more questions for graphing to use this year, I found lots of great resources and thought you might like them, too. I would like to start incorporating a daily graph or at least graph a couple of times a week. We could keep the graphs/charts out for students to use during math.

Really Good Stuff has two free graphing PDF files.

• Yes/No questions
• Multiple Choice Responses
• Kelly's Kindergarten
• KinderPond
• Mrs. Meacham
• Kristen's Kindergarten
• http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview?LPid=18799
• http://www.education.com/worksheets/kindergarten/graphing-data/ {This site has lots of cute cut-out graphs. They are great for beginners and individual or small group lessons, too.}

Please fill out the form below to share your favorite graphing links.




See responses from the above form here.

I don’t know about you, but this summer I think I’ve started following 50+ new blogs. I love everyone’s buttons, but honestly haven’t felt like I have enough room on my sidebar to show everyone off without my page being extremely long.

So, I searched for a way to add a slideshow for the buttons. I had to play with the code a little bit to get the buttons to be clickable links and to have them open in a new browser window. For now, this is what works for me. 

Obviously, it’s a little more work than just adding the buttons, but it saves a TON of room on your sidebar.

The code is below. Be sure not to change ANYTHING other than the text in red or it might now work for you.

<marquee direction="up">

<center>
<a href=LINK TO THE BLOG  target="_blank"><img src="LINK TO THE BLOG BUTTON IMAGE SOURCE" /></center>

<br />
<center>
<a href=LINK TO THE BLOG  target="_blank"><img src="LINK TO THE BLOG BUTTON IMAGE SOURCE" /></center></a>

</marquee>

I found all the code I needed by copying and pasting code from everyone’s ‘grab my button’ type boxes.

Check out the slideshow in the left sidebar. What do you think?

{By the way, if you don’t have a blog button, you need one! It’s a wonderful way for others to gain free exposure to your blog.}

Next week we are having a parent night to introduce ourselves to the new Kindergarten parents, as well as, help them become familiar with our expectations of them and the expectations of their children. Each teacher has to come up with a fun way to introduce themselves. What would you do?

Graphic: www.scrappindoodles.com

Keep in mind, I am one of those people who fears public speaking worse than dying! :) I have absolutely zero trouble looking ridiculous in front of my students with my bad singing, horrible dancing and hideous drawings but it's just different! I don't feel judged by my students.

We can use props or whatever. Pretty much anything goes. 

Help! I need your creative ideas!