tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36383922157957358772024-03-19T04:28:13.105-04:00Mrs. Ricca's KindergartenFree, fun and useful Kindergarten - 1st Grade, Common Core aligned lesson plans, math games, calendars, behavior charts, materials and more!Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-9025840792305687052018-07-30T13:52:00.002-04:002018-07-30T14:01:12.025-04:00Creating a Classroom Library
Creating a Cozy Library
The classroom library is always a popular spot in my classroom. During choice time, my students love cuddling up against a pillow with a buddy or reading to a stuffed animal friend. To make the library cozy and inviting, I've added a colorful rug, pillows, stuffed reading buddies, lamps, lantern lights, and colorful decorations. The bulletin board above the library Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com328tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-17327130254434004702018-07-28T12:00:00.000-04:002018-07-28T12:23:56.689-04:00Polka Dot Classroom Tour!I'm so excited to share my newest project with you all! Even though it's summer break, I can't seem to get out of teacher mode! I've been busy setting up a homeschool classroom for my daughter. She is 2 1/2 and we love working with her at home. We are so lucky to have this beautiful space in our house. We had been using this room for storage until my husband recently put down new wood flooring. Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com107tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-11581626030360593402018-07-27T08:21:00.001-04:002018-07-27T08:33:58.714-04:00Classroom Setup & FREEBIES!
Hi everyone! I can't believe summer is almost halfway over already! And for some teachers, I know back to school is just around the corner! Wow! So every year, I take tons of beautiful photos of my classroom and then I do absolutely nothing with them. This year, I decided to share some photos of my classroom setup from last year in hopes that you might find some inspiration as you set up for theNicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com301tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-72548388204248463962018-06-03T14:10:00.001-04:002018-06-04T09:23:48.703-04:00PLANTS UNIT AND A FREEBIE!
June is here, and I always love ending the year with a science unit on plants! The activities below are part of my Plants Unit. The unit includes charts, experiments, worksheets, crafts, templates, songs, read aloud suggestions, and a sample outline of lessons.
I like to launch this unit by reading aloud Peter Rabbit.* Then I tell the kids we have received a letter from Mr. Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com63tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-2509423058690044392018-05-14T09:50:00.000-04:002018-06-03T15:08:49.864-04:00Down by the Sea Centers & Freebie!
Wow! It is getting to be that time of year again! The countdown to summer has started and the kids are ready for some summer fun! All of the activities below (and more) are part of my Down by the Sea Centers Pack!
Fishin' Addition
We go fishing with our partner, then we add up both of our catches and record the equations.
Marine Measuring
We use cubes to measure the different seaNicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-74703638449641145442017-09-03T14:47:00.003-04:002017-09-03T14:47:34.944-04:00Labor Day Sale!Hi everyone! I'm throwing a Labor Day Sale! Visit my store today and tomorrow and save 20% on all products! I wish everyone a happy and successful school year! Check back soon for some new content...
Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-30017264347865543082017-04-09T19:40:00.000-04:002017-04-09T20:48:17.993-04:00Easter Fun & Freebies!
Happy spring everyone! Things have been majorly busy around here, but I wanted to "hop" in and share some of the spring fun we've been having! The kids have been having a blast with our Easter centers, crafts, writing activities, and bunny math! Check them out in action! I've also got a new product and lots of freebies for you!
Spring Math Centers
Addition Egg-Spert - We pick two Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com197tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-83879046674102912612016-12-23T19:22:00.000-05:002016-12-23T21:07:33.371-05:00Holiday Fun & Freebie!
I know it's been a million years since I last posted, but I haven't forgotten about this poor little blog! Between teaching and being a mommy, I just don't have much time to spare for anything else! But I really do love blogging and I do want to post updates whenever I can. We have been having so much fun in the classroom, so I thought I'd share some of what we've been doing.
GingerbreadNicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-14481269851747392752016-09-01T14:12:00.003-04:002016-09-05T10:47:06.208-04:005 Steps to Setting Up Your Classroom
It's
that time of year again! The school year is quickly approaching (or has already
begun for many of you)! Setting up a classroom is a lot of work, but I really
do enjoy watching it all come together. Everything is clean and new and neat. I
love to look around my finished room and appreciate all the work that went
into it. It's ready for a new class of kiddies to enjoy for Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-44921554710568757332016-06-24T23:51:00.006-04:002016-06-25T00:00:43.111-04:00End of the Year Fun + a FreebieHi guys! I'm still here! What a crazy year it's been. Life with a new baby is a LOT of work! Don't get me wrong, it's amazing and wonderful, and being a mommy is the best thing that's ever happened to me. But it's exhausting! When I planned my maternity leave, I thought, "Great! Now I'll have lots of time to work on my blog while I'm home with the baby!" Haha. I was lucky to get a shower and eat Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-24336034356836460122016-06-24T23:51:00.005-04:002016-06-24T23:54:14.346-04:00End of the Year Fun + a FreebieHi guys! I'm still here! What a crazy year it's been. Life with a new baby is a LOT of work! Don't get me wrong, it's amazing and wonderful, and being a mommy is the best thing that's ever happened to me. But it's exhausting! When I planned my maternity leave, I thought, "Great! Now I'll have lots of time to work on my blog while I'm home with the baby!" Haha. I was lucky to get a shower and eat Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-9240241084863430832016-05-27T17:07:00.001-04:002016-05-27T17:07:14.561-04:00Memorial Day Sale!
I'm throwing a sale! Stock up on everything you need for the upcoming school year! My entire store will be 20% off Saturday through Monday. Happy Memorial Day!
Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-47156422946925155282016-05-08T15:40:00.002-04:002016-05-08T15:40:29.635-04:00Happy Mother's Day! {Sale}
Hi friends! Wow it's been such a long time since I've blogged! As you may have guessed, my sweet little girl arrived back in November. Since then my blog has taken a back seat as my number one priority is being a new mommy. So, I've been taking a maternity leave from my blog and store to spend time with my girl.
Time is just flying! She will be six months old this week, and we are celebratingNicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-63603311847096056132015-08-31T17:08:00.000-04:002015-08-31T17:10:55.670-04:00Classroom Organization! {FREEBIES}I can't believe the summer is almost over! I'm so anxious to get started on my classroom and get organized, but I still don't even know which room I'm going to be in yet! So I decided to get a bit of a head start and create some projects from home to help me organize quickly and easily once I can get into my room. I hope you find some inspiration and enjoy some of the freebies below!
Supply Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com160tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-50947517837822423732015-08-01T15:20:00.000-04:002015-08-01T19:06:03.137-04:00Reading & Writing Toolkits + Freebies!
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Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-74972934909340718252015-07-25T18:30:00.000-04:002015-07-29T18:50:05.762-04:00I'm back...and I've got BIG news!I'm back! Has it really been five whole months since I've blogged? Wow! This has really been a hectic year. Just a few weeks ago, I finished my first year teaching in the NYC DOE. As many of you know, I helped start up a brand new school this year. There are so many words that could describe this school year...exciting, challenging, fun, educational, exhausting! Mostly, it was just an amazing Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-89497230945840176542015-02-22T23:08:00.003-05:002015-02-22T23:10:17.546-05:00Teen Numbers & SmartBoard Freebie!We've been learning all about teen numbers in kindergarten! Teen numbers can be really tricky for young children. Luckily, I've found lots of fun ways (mostly through Pinterest and other blogs) to teach this concept to my kiddos. Here are some fun ideas and a freebie that I hope you'll find useful :)
Each day, we focus on one teen number. During our whole group exploration, the children build Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-9939422807681506022015-02-22T18:22:00.002-05:002015-02-23T23:19:58.098-05:00February Fun & Freebie!Last week was our winter break...and for the first time, I actually did not work during the entire week! I really needed a vacation. My husband and I went snowboarding and we had such a great time! The only bad part was that it was freezing. Not just cold, but arctic cold. The wind chill was down to 35 BELOW zero at night! We did have a great time though and it was nice to finally relax a bit!
Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-80145688739022615632015-01-11T21:08:00.000-05:002015-01-11T21:08:06.643-05:00Snow Much Fun! Centers & Freebies!Brrr...it's cold outside! The real feel actually dropped BELOW zero last week! We even had some snow! Maybe I'm crazy, but I really don't mind it. I love the snow...and the kids do, too! Check out some of the snowy fun we've been having in kindergarten...
Snowball Sums
We had a snowball fight during math workshop to practice decomposing the number 10. Two students at a time had a "snowball Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-61990620356516593952015-01-01T23:14:00.003-05:002015-01-02T00:12:44.338-05:00Catching Up!
Happy New Year, teachers and friends! I hope you're all enjoying your winter break! I've certainly been enjoying mine! We just got back from Florida, and it was so nice spending time with my family. We also had a blast at Universal Studios (although it was insanely crowded). Still, we made it on all the Harry Potter rides, so I have no complaints :)
I feel the need to apologize to you all, Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-46678462547766012162014-11-11T10:25:00.003-05:002014-11-11T11:05:35.141-05:00Pumpkins and Apples and Leaves! Oh my!
Aah! Fall is here...the leaves are changing, the air is crisp. It's my favorite season! As soon as the first leaf falls, I'm ready for some hot apple cider and pumpkin pie! My kids have really been enjoying the season, too! We've been having a blast studying pumpkins, apples, and leaves in kindergarten!
Pumpkins
We observed the outside and inside of a pumpkin. We wrote words to Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-60435127220511719952014-11-10T21:27:00.002-05:002014-11-10T21:43:50.627-05:00Finally...Classroom Reveal!Hello world! I'm still here! I apologize for completely ignoring my little blog for the past couple of months. This post has been sitting unfinished on my computer for weeks. I have been so busy that I've barely had time to eat or sleep! I guess that's what happens when you take 4 grad classes while teaching full time, conducting your action research, and starting up a new school! But I can't lieNicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com76tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-59694680407062203192014-08-22T20:06:00.001-04:002014-08-22T22:33:31.771-04:00Classroom Sneak Peek!I AM SO EXCITED! After waiting all summer, I finally got into my classroom yesterday! I have been so jealous of all the beautiful classroom photos I've been checking out on Pinterest and my favorite blogs, so I am full of inspiration and ready to go! My husband and I spent the whole day yesterday moving furniture and setting up bulletin boards. We're still waiting on most of the furniture toNicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-65086204225954950872014-08-06T22:42:00.002-04:002014-08-06T23:06:47.910-04:00Milestone Freebie & Read AloudHi guys! I'm so excited to be celebrating another TpT milestone this month! I can't believe I've made
it this far..and it's all thanks to my awesome followers! To thank you
all, I'm giving away my chevron classroom rules for FREE for the next
week! You can download them HERE. You can read about this month's milestone achievements on the TpT blog HERE.
I know it's been a while since I've Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3638392215795735877.post-21007227570228233492014-07-27T23:09:00.000-04:002014-07-27T23:13:34.010-04:00Alphabet Game Freebie!Hey everyone! Just a quick note tonight...I just made my first ever fan freebie on Facebook! Head over to my page to check out my "I Have...Who Has?" ABC Game. This is a great game to play with your whole class early in the year to practice the alphabet. All you have to do is like my Facebook page to get it for free!
Enjoy! I'll be back soon with more goodies and back to school ideas!Nicole Riccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002704611031793343noreply@blogger.com7