Reading Comprehension Packet!

I am SOOOOOO excited to have completed my passages packet.  With testing changes this year, I realized how comprehension intense the year was going to be, even for the little kinders!  I watched my students struggle to answer comprehension questions at the beginning of the year and decided I needed to create something for them to practice with.

I began to create short passages.  They are 3-4 sentences each and are about fairly familiar topics.  Each passage has 4 questions to go along with it.  Three of them are multiple choice and then one is "short answer".  For the short answer question, the students just draw a picture and label it.

I have done a few of these passages with my class and they are a hit!  The kids love them and it is very engaging for my class.  I started off doing them whole group.  We read the passage together and then we learned how to reread and find the answers in the story.  After that, we moved to reading the passage together and then they found the answers on their own.  I now have many kids who read the passages and answer the questions all on their own!

Here is a link to the passages in my TpT store:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Comprehension-Passages-1033305

Here are some previews of some of the passages.  The packet contains fiction and nonfiction passages!

The first 3 people to comment on this post will receive a free copy of all the passages!  Happy Holidays & have a grrreat night!

First half of the year

I can not believe that I have completed the first half of the school year already.  I remember the first day of school like it was yesterday.  I still can picture my shy kids timid in the new school, struggling to write their name, unsure of what was going on, and exhausted after the long day of school.  I can't believe that those same little kids are now my outgoing, sometimes wild, eager to learn and read, writing multiple sentences, and counting to 100 kids. 

So. much. has. changed. - but mostly for the better.

• My kids have come so far and I am so proud
• I have revamped my use of the Daily 5 in my classroom, and it now runs much smoother
• Guided Reading is now really taking off
• My kids do not need to be reminded of rules and procedures daily
• I have rearranged my room numerous times and finally found what seems to work best, for now at least.
• I am more familiar with how my school functions and how administration works
• Bonds have been built among our team, which makes things go much smoother
• My kids are coming out of their little shells (which is good - for the most part!)
•  I have grown so much already as a teacher 

I think the biggest change (besides all the great changes that I am seeing in my kids), is the change I am seeing in myself.  When I started teaching at the beginning of the school year, I was brand new at this.  I probably looked like a first year teacher, sounded like a first year teacher, smelled like a first year teacher, and you get the point.  Now, I am so much more confident in myself and my ability to be a teacher.  Yes - there are those parents who realize I am young and may chose to challenge that, but I know what I am doing and I know that I am doing what is best for these children.  I am not perfect in any way, but I take the time to grow and self-reflect and that is going to allow me to become a better teacher each day. 

Looking forward to the second half of the year with my kiddos!

Now entering the world of blogging!

First I became obsessed with Pinterest, then it was Teachers Pay Teachers, now I think it is going to be blogging!

I am so excited to be entering into the world of blogging.  I have been following fabulous bloggers for a while now and figured it was time to start my own.

I am a first year kindergarten teacher and am thrilled to begin sharing my ideas, stories, struggles, and accomplishments with you all!  I am working on some new products for my store, some FREEBIES, and can not wait to see how this will help me to grow as a teacher!