RTI: Number Confusion & Reversal Investigations

I have received so much positive feedback about my recent RTI: Letter Confusion Investigations TPT pack, that I decided to put 
together a NUMBER confusion/reversal packet too!   

Check it out below...

Do you have kiddos who confuse visually similar numbers or constantly write them backwards?  You know, the kiddos that say “2” for “5”... or write “6” for “9.”   Well, I’m happy to tell you that I’ve taken some of my ‘reading specialist’ knowledge and whipped up a little packet that will help those students work out their number confusions!  

Here is the "science" behind WHY this approach works....

If this looks like something one or more of your kinder-kiddos could benefit from, check it out by clicking HERE or on any of the picture links above!  It is my hope that these resources can be as helpful to you as they have been to me!

RTI: Letter Confusion Investigations

Do you have kiddos who confuse visually similar letters?  You know, the kiddos that say “b” for “d”…. or “u” for “n.”   Well, I’m happy to tell you that I’ve taken some of my ‘reading specialist’ knowledge and whipped up a little packet that will help those students work out their letter confusions!  

Here’s the science behind WHY the resources in this packet WILL work…

...And the best part is that I have created this packet to be prep-free!  Just print and go!   Included in this packet are suggestions on how to use these resources in your whole group, small group, or individualized instruction.   Oh...And I have provided a simple RTI documentation form for your use too!  Check it out by clicking HERE or on the packet pic at the top of this post!  Hope someone out there can find this helpful!   This method has never failed me!  It's a simple, easy way to strengthen your kiddos visual discrimination skills and teach them "how to" attend to the visual details which they need in order to work out their letter confusions!

Baby, It's COLD Outside!

Well... The SNOWPOCALYPSE has hit!  I'm up to my waist in snow drifts... and awaiting my 2nd EXTRA day off!  Believe it or not...I'm beginning to get bored!?  Ugh!  I just can NOT stand sitting still... and I'm running out of things to do around the house.  {Ok, I'm running out of things I WANT to do!  LOL} On top of the snow,  it is just plain FREEZING outside!  Freezing as in -45 degree windchill!  BRRR!

With all of this cold stuff swirling around me... I've decided that I need to do something to mentally warm myself up!  What could be more warm and fuzzy than giving away a hot chocolate themed FREEBIE?!

So... Here 'ya go friends!  Click on the picture below to grab this little coin identification game from my TPT store!  Pin it, post it, and pass it on!  

Stay warm out there!

Here Comes the Snow!!!

Well friends, I'm sitting here in northern Indiana waiting for the Blizzard of 2014!  Yep! Forecasts are telling us to expect 12-14" (or more!) of new snow within the next 24 hours.  Dead serious.  They say up to 2" an hour! Looks like an extended break for me! Woo-Hoo!

Well, all this talk about snow reminded me of one the first "freebies" I found on a blog.  (The blog I found it on was CanDoKinders.blogspot.com....but I'm sad to report that the blog author quit blogging over a year ago. But no worries!  I have an active link for you to download this great freebie!)  I use it every year during my "winter/snow" theme week.  The kiddos LOVE. LOVE. LOVE it!  You can use it whole group, or at a center.  So anyways, I just had to share the link with you!

The idea behind it is simple, but fun!  

1. Grab a few bags of mini-marshmallows and put them in a bowl.  (If doing it with your whole class at once, I'd fill regular styrofoam bowls and have partners share the bowl. However, each kiddo still needs his/her own recording sheet.)

2. Provide a large spoon, or a mini-scooper (to each group, pair, or at the center).  I like to use those cheapie clear plastic scoops you find in powdered drink containers.  (Ummm... Yes.  I DO have quite a collection of those scoopers.  Why, you ask?  Well, if you haven't picked up on it yet... I have a sweet tea obsession and when I am a "desperato" I mix up a Countrytime beverage. #gottastop #drinkwater)

Sorry for the diversion!  Moving on....

3. To "play," students basically take turns scooping with the large spoon or mini-scooper.  {Oh! I almost forgot that one time I left my scoopers at home and just used mini Dixie cups!}  For example, Johnny takes a scoop of marshmallows and then COUNTS them.   He then records the number of marshmallows he scooped and counted in the first box on the recording sheet.   

4. Play continues with partners (or group members) taking turns with the above step, but writing in the next empty recording box.  

This activity is hands-on and great for practicing counting the "teen" numbers! (The little scoopers have a capacity of about 19 mini-mallows!)  And the bonus... if you so choose, you may let the kiddos eat the marshmallows when they fill their recording sheet. {Personally, I'm a bit of a germ-a-phob, so if I know I want to let the kiddos eat the marshmallows, I give them their own bowls of marshmallows.}  If you just like the hands-on nature of this activity you can also just tell the kiddos NO EATING... and let the marshmallows sit out for a while and they will get nice and hard.  (Hard marshmallows are a natural deterrent for most sneaky-snackers!)

Click on the image below to download this Scoop and Count freebie!

(You can also click on the following link to see Can Do Kinder's original post on this freebie!

http://candokinders.blogspot.com/2012/01/thank-you-and-something-fun-for-you.html)

Here's to hoping you all are able to enjoy an extra snow day this week too!   But, stay safe!!!  It's COLD out there!  

(Predicted -40 windchills for us in the next few days!)

Resolutions for 2014

Well... It's New Year's Day.  Yep!  The time of year to think about goal setting.  I'm linking up with "A Peach for the Teach" to put my teaching-related resolutions in writing!  Here they are...

As most of you know, I attended the Nashville Blogger Meet-Up last week.  It was AMAZING!  It was so much fun to personally meet so many new bloggers, chat about best practices, and EAT! EAT!  EAT!  {Nashville has some yummy restaurants... and I've got 3 new pounds to prove it! LOL!}  Breakfast at Monell's prompted an "I gotta get in shape" discussion between Greg (Kindergarten Smorgasboard) and me.  Since we both will be going to Vegas this summer for the "I Teach K" conference, we committed to try our hardest to get in the best shape of our lives.  Well, as just a little "back story" on me... I've always been a somewhat "petite" person.  Not very tall... and a decent weight, I guess.  But, I gotta admit...this last year I have seen some body/aging changes that I don't like!  UGH! I'm TIRED, people!  And, my body aches in the morning!  What is up with that?!  I've never needed more than a 4 hours of sleep before... and could pretty much sleep ANYWHERE without a problem.  NOT. ANY. MORE.  Well, this girl has decided she is NOT going to sit on the couch and expand quietly.  :)  I'm going to GET FIT!  My main goal is to FEEL better... but looking acceptable in my Vegas swimsuit is an incentive also! LOL! 

I know myself though... and I need some accountability partners on this one! And, it just-so-happens that as we were FB messaging back and forth about this, several of our blogging buddies asked to join in.  One of our Nashville blogging buds, Kristine Harrison, offered to be our "coach."   Yep!  We officially have a fearless leader!  Thank-the-Lord!  :)  Now let me tell ya just a little bit about Kristine.  First off, she is HILARIOUS!  I mean it.  I could not stop laughing the whole time we were at lunch in Nashville.  This girl is soooo funny and upbeat.   She's a kindergarten teacher...but also a wife and momma of 3 energetic young boys, so she "GETS" what a crazy busy life is really like.  She knows her fitness "stuff" too!  She is an official BEACHBODY coach.  (BEACHBODY is the company that makes the best-selling fitness programs in the world including the P90X series, Insanity, and T25.)  I have no doubt that Kristine will be the kick-in-the-butt I need when I feel lazy, the great encourager when I feel worthless, AND the party animal who leads the Vegas celebration of achieving our goals!!!   

So... How about you?   Are you in?  Do you want to join our little fitness movement??  We have created our own private FB page where we can post our goals, progress and encouragement.  (Oh.. and make our Vegas plans too!)  If you would like to join our "club" just post a comment below with your info and I will fill you in with the deets!  If you want more details/suggestions, or have questions about how to find a good workout program... you can chat with Kristine by finding her on FaceBook (Kristine Nerstad Harrison) or by visiting this link: www.teambeachbody.com/kmharrison.

We are still debating on our fitness team "name".... but here is one of our best options so far:

Happy New Year, friends! I hope you have some great resolutions in mind for 2014... and I hope that you achieve every one of them! "Link-Up" and post your resolutions by clicking on my resolution pic at the top of the page. Blessings!

Nashville Blogger Meet-Up 2013

I took a mini-vaca last weekend to spend some time with one of my blogging "best-ies," Elizabeth from Kickin' It In Kindergarten.  {We met in Vegas at the "I Teach K" Conference, had a GREAT time, and became fast friends!} She and Greg from Kindergarten Smorgasboard were hosting a Nashville Blogger Meet-Up and I just HAD to go!  I hopped in my black Suburban, tossed on the shades, and acted like I was a secret service agent on a mission! Now folks... I live in northern Indiana, so it was quite a drive.  (6 1/2 hours to be precise!)  But soooo worth it!   I mean truly.  I went by myself.  No babbling darling kiddos in the backseat.  No hubby flipping though sporting events on the radio. Just me... Oh, and my 2 friends "peace" and "quiet!"  LOL. But seriously, I mean if you are a momma like me you probably haven't had 6 hours of peace and quiet in years!  Are ya' feeling me on this one?

We started off the weekend by meeting at Nashville's Amerigo's.   Mmm-Mmm! Yummy food and a great atmosphere!   Most importantly... The sweet tea was to die for!  #SweetTeaAddict  #igottaproblem

  

Just look at the amazing group of bloggers...and stalkers!  LOL   Seriously, I always find it amazing when you meet teachers at blog meet-up events.  Every time, the people you meet there are THE best of the BEST!  Teachers who blog are always the strongest in their districts, without fail.  They are the ones seeking to improve themselves.  They are the ones going above and beyond.  They are the ones doing what's RIGHT...not what is easy!  I mean FOR REAL... have you ever met a blogger who is a closed-door, ditto master, non-sharing, out-dated dullster??  I think not!  If you are a blogger yourself, you know blogging is not necessarily "easy."   It takes time.  It takes dedication.  If you are looking to build yourself a support team of the highest caliber... Start by going to a meet-up!

Or better yet... start with these bloggers, who joined us in Nashville:

Elizabeth-Kickin it Kindergarten

Becky-A Flip Flop Kindergarten

Sara-A Rocky Top Teacher

Misty and Kristy-Teaching Times Two

Stacy-Simpson's SuperStars

Dana-Common To The Core

Greg-Kindergarten Smorgasboard

Catherine-The Brown Bag Teacher

And ME!

...And we can't forget our followers (stalkers!) extraordinaire:  Asha, Kristine and Danielle

Saying that Elizabeth and Greg had been busy would be an understatement!  The prizes these two collected and prepared for the meet-up were phenomenal! Just look at all the goodies that were won!

 

After LOTS of chatting (which in my opinion is always the BEST part of these meet-ups!), we broke for some time to digest. {Literally!}  Then, later met for dinner near Opryland.  {You know you are in good company when an hour wait feels like 2 minutes! GREAT conversation and idea sharing!!!}  I was so honored to sit next to Misty & Kristy, the identical twin duo who bring you the Teaching Times 2 blog!

LOVE.THESE.GIRLS!   #puttheminmypocketandtakethemhome  These ladies were not only stunningly beautiful, you know...like angelic, but incredibly smart and filled with Tennessee charm!  I mean, I think I learned more from them that hour at dinner than I do at most PD events!  Smart cookies!  However, I gotta admit... Their sweet Tennessee accents were mesmerizing!  They could have been speaking alien language... and I would have hung on every word!!!  Did I mention that these girlies teach at the same school?  Can you imagine such double-sweetness in one building?!

Onward....   Next we ran (literally) to Opryland Resort for the "ICE!" event.  We suited up in our giant blue parkas and headed in to view 2 million pounds of specially carved and colored ice.  2 MILLION POUNDS.  FOR. REAL.   

Uh. Huh.   Rockin' the parkas.

They even had a quadruple ice slide!  SLICK!  Check out these action shots!  

 

Note:  This place was FREEZING! Like sub-zero.  By this point in the tour my fingers were COMPLETELY numb!   When they say to wear gloves....they mean it! Ouch!  (We looked for gloves briefly at the mall before running over to the event, but couldn't find any quickly.  Had I have known the degree of chill...THIS girl would have bought socks to wear on her hands!  Yep!  Socks on the hands.)

After the "Frosty" section of the ICE tour, they had a very "cool" New York ice display.  I stopped to snap a couple pics of the host and hostess in an ice cab...but I gotta admit, I was trying to high-tail it out of that place.  I was an icicle!  BRRRR!

I HAD to stop to snap a few last photos though as I headed for the door.  

How can a girl, like me, who loves Jesus pass up this photo opportunity???  

Uh-Huh.   The Christmas Nativity in ice.  

Took my breath away... and not just because my lungs were frozen.

A few of our friends had to depart at this point, so we gave lots of hugs and headed back to thaw out and get some sleep.  I don't have pics of this...but all  I can say is Elizabeth makes a mean hot cocoa!  

Secret ingredients:  Bailey's and marshmallows.  Oh yah.  #knowyouarejealous

We wrapped up our weekend meet-up with breakfast at Monell's.  Oh My.  How do I use words to describe this yumminess???  I'm talkin' homestyle, home-cookin' of the finest southern style!  When the sweet waitress said, "Pace yourself,"  she was NOT kidding!  Ugh!  Let's just say that I learned what "meat sweats" were that morning.  LOL!   Let me just authenticate this little description a bit by adding that half of the Vanderbilt football team was eating breakfast right next to us.   #seriousgrub #gained3poundsin30minutes

Whew!  What a weekend.  It was such an incredible experience. TRULY.  A HUGE thank you to Elizabeth and Greg, our hosts for the weekend.  Elizabeth has been one of my blogging-besties for a while...but this was my first opportunity to meet Greg, the man behind the "stache."  Let me just say that this man is such an incredible teacher.  Seriously, one of the most hard-working kinder-teachers I know.  I stand in amazement of all he can accomplish on a daily basis.  He is sincerely one of the most genuine, devoted educators I have met... yet so down-to-earth.  I am so honored to call him my friend.

I guess I will wrap up this post with some 

"What I Learned from my Nashville Blogger Trip" 

bullet points...

* Elizabeth has some SERIOUS car horn skills!  Note: Do NOT cut in front of her in traffic!!!  

{I love you, girl!  You are the BEST!   #pickinguponyourhashtagskills}

  

* If you have mad-style like Dana (CommonToTheCore.com) you can rock polka-dot socks with flats!  That girl is SO stylish... AND smart!  She actually heeded the "socks and gloves" warning, unlike me.  #frostbite #sorrynopicforthisone

*Personally chosen children's books make great and thoughtful gifts!  Thanks for the tip, Catherine (TheBrownBagTeacher).

* If you eat at Monell's ALWAYS wear stretch pants!  (Or a long sweater so you can unbutton the top button!)  YUMMY!

*But MOST importantly..... Life is about RELATIONSHIPS.  Don't pass up opportunities to connect with others.  We can all use more support and encouragement in our lives.   Drive the 6 hour drives.  Save the pennies to fly to Vegas for the summer conference.  You'll never regret it... and that's a promise!

 

Me at the beginning of my trip home....            Now half way home.....                              6 1/2 hours later, in my driveway and dead tired!!! 

So blessed to have made the connections and bonds that I did last weekend!  

Blogging is a blessing!

Teachers of Instagram Linky Party!

I'm teaming up with one of my bloggin' best-ies,

Elizabeth Hall, on her "Blog-iversary" linky party!

 

This linky invites you to post your top 3

Instagram pics of 2013.

Here are MY top Instagram pics! 

 

BTW... my Instagram "name" is @hollyehle

{Follow me!}

 

 #1 Family Pic

 This picture SOOO tells the story of us.  The pic was taken out by our grandpa's old barn here in "Ehleville."  (For about a 3 mile radius out here in the country, every house is an "Ehle" house. After Grandpa quit farming, many of the family members built on the land.  We have our own "Ehle Compound" out here!) "In" the pic is my hubby, me, Hunter & Lexi (the twins), and Colton.  The "photo bomber" is my nephew, Garrett, who lives with us when he is not at college.   #ThatFamily   #DreamLife

 

 

#2 Vegas "I Teach K":  Pool Side

If you've been there...'nuff said!   If you haven't been... GO!  Save your pennies now, people. 

Best personal/professional investment ever! 

 

 

#3 Blogging Buddies

 

 Ahhh!  Couldn't just post one!  I love my Blogging K-Team! 

Ya'll make me a better teacher and challenge me every day! Love U!

 

 

Ok... It's your turn now! 

 

To join in the fun, all you have to do is link up your top 3 favorite Instagram pictures from 2013.

 

The only rules are:

1. That you can’t link up a product (That’s just tacky…).

2. Make sure to check out at least three other linker-uppers (it’s a word).

 Hopefully, this will be a great way for more of us to connect on Instagram! Make sure to link up to your blog but let us know what your Instagram name is so we can follow you! 

Link up by clicking the "Teachers of Instagram" graphic above!

Can't wait to see your Instagram Linky Post!