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Welcome to Oregon’s Chicka-Boom Room, complete with a menagerie of giraffes and The Whisper Room. You are in for a treat: check out all of the great photo galleries (don't miss Pizza Making Day). Read Diane Bonica's poetic weekly parent newsletter filled with photos of joyful learning and see her new delightful videos of children learning. This website reflects a master teacher whose children can't wait to come to school each day.
Peek inside Isabell's awesome kindergarten! This is just what you'd expect from the co-author of the book “Kid Writing: A Systematic Approach to Phonics, Journals, and Writing Workshops”. See art and writing displays and don't miss the "Kid Writing Wall of Fame." The before and after samples of "kid writing" are equally impressive. This site may inspire you to explore the award-winning book that has had such a powerful impact on kindergarten literacy.
We return again and again to this professional development site from the authors of “The Daily 5 ”. We absolutely love watching the video clips featuring kindergarten teacher, Joan Moser. See Welcome to The Daily CAFE, and all of the free samples. Although most of this site requires a subscription, sometimes resources are of such high caliber, they really are worth it. Our colleagues are powerfully inspired by the insightful work of "The Sisters."
Kim is a master teacher with an awesome and easy-to-use site, great photos, and detailed monthly photo essays documenting art, playfulness, authentic literacy, and meaningful thematic studies! With Jazzy Journals, Crafty Quilts, and Teaching Tips, this “writing-to-read” and literature-rich classroom is a must see.
This former Oregon Reading Recovery® teacher brings her passion for art and science into an all-day kindergarten program and this developing site. Take a look at The Great Butterfly Release and Folktale Unit. Laura’s children are artists, writers, and scientists from the first weeks of kindergarten. We love studying with this master teacher and seeing the changing Images of kindergarten.
Awesome! Vanessa's high expectations join hands with joyful, appropriate practices in this exemplary ELL program. We love her ABC literacy center photos and the "boot camp for new teachers" on organization and classroom management. Don't miss the classroom slide show. This celebrated must-see site is a gift to all preschool and kindergarten educators.
You could spend all day in Karen's beautiful Reggio Emelia-inspired classroom and outstanding website. Notice the aesthetic details and use of natural objects in the block center. Don't miss the science center ideas, documentation panels, class books and thematic classical music ideas! All children deserve authentic art exploration. “Wow! That's about all I can say.”
This gifted teacher-musician from Massachusetts brings her musical passion to kindergarten and this new and developing site. You’ve got to see the video links of America the Beautiful, A You’re Adorable, and De Colores. We were honored to have Wendy fly across the country to study “The Magic of Signing Songs” with us in Oregon. We love how she has added “that signing magic” to her children’s frequent performances.
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Honorary Kindergarten Literacy Awards: We Love These Sites!
We value these next sites so much we have created this honorary Excellence in Kindergarten Literacy Award just for them.
Mentor kindergarten teacher chatboard We encourage everyone to visit this chatboard! Many wise National Board Certified kindergarten teachers, such as Jacque Verrall, Julie Lay a.k.a. “Hedgie Haven”, and “KinderJane” post on this board. You can listen in to topics of interest, or direct questions to these amazing teachers from across the country who generously support each other with teaching tips and thoughtful dialog.
Michigan State University ASL (American Sign Language) Browser
To continue learning American Sign Language, what would we do without this awesome site that features live video clips and descriptions of ASL words from A-Z? Use it in the classroom and learn right along with your children. Research strongly supports integrating American Sign Language into the early literacy curriculum. To practice management signs, start with our favorite “Lineup!” and “Focus.”
Mrs. Pohlmeyer’s Kindergarten
We absolutely love Traci Pohlmeyer’s engaging kindergarten site. Take a look at the learning centers. Scroll down for great photos of actual art/science/literacy connections: penguin themes and bat projects. Traci is no longer keeping this site active. So we are grateful for the archived links.
Mrs. Flanagan's Kindergarten –The Little Giraffes Nora Flanagan, a National Board Certified Teacher, has created this playful and rigorous learning environment with awesome science studies from oviparous animals and dental health to the weather. See the igloo her kindergartners built and hibernation day. These “hands-on” experiences keep wonder alive and build childhood memories. A past recipient of our Literacy Award.
Mrs. Bonthuis' Kindergarten Class
Angie Bonthuis is a National Board Certified Teacher; and her professionalism is evident! A peek into her room shows the Giving Tree, dramatic play center, and many creative uses for pocket charts. See parent information “First Day Fears”. A 2007 Literacy Award Recipient.
Mrs. Buchels' Kindergarten Class
This beautiful site, a 2007 Kindergarten Literacy-Award winner, is no longer up to date, however it is filled with engaging learning photos essays. Check out Recycling Invention Day and Teddy Bears Picnic in her archived pictures.
Tiffany Taylor – Our school family
We love Tiffany Taylor's child-centered philosophy and consider her family literacy resources some of the finest on the internet, especially her take home bags. See photos of her former classroom. (Email Tiffany to request a copy of the monthly newsletter she sends to Orlando kindergarten teachers.) A 2007 Literacy Award Site.
National Kindergarten Alliance
Our National Kindergarten Alliance is a dedicated group of professionals who care about best practices for all young children and president, Liz Blek, has done a great job with this updated NKA website. Check out Professional Practices Grants and Research. Add your voice to preserving kindergarten as a “child’s garden”.
Choice Literacy and The Big Fresh
Just in case you haven't discovered this concise and thoughtful free weekly e-newsletter (The Big Fresh) for K-12 literacy leaders from the Choice Literacy site, you are in for a treat. Brenda Powers, editor, provides weekly literacy support and personal insights that make one smile and ponder. She simply has a wondrous way with words and the heart of a kindergarten teacher. Subscribe today and enjoy!
Nellie Edge Excellence in Kindergarten and Early Literacy
This arts-rich site provides an inspiring look at “excellence” with beautiful photos of children engaged in joyful accelerated literacy. You’ll find a wealth of free resources including over 200 poetry anthology pages, Read and Sing “Little Books”, video clips featuring master kindergarten teachers, and beautiful full-color e-Books. It’s all designed to help you celebrate language and honor childhood.
Our Other Favorite Early Literacy Sites: Engaging Curriculum Resources (updated 2009)
Anne LaBoon's Kindergarten Camp
This lovely site is filled with poetry and thoughtful teaching quotes. See first day celebration photos and Anna LaBoom's extensive kindergarten Parent Handbook A-Z.
Beanie Baby Strategies was the memorable teaching technique that led us to Mrs. Schilb's site.
We also loved the apple science experiments in this first and second grade, multi-age, classroom. Her photo gallery is easy for parents to use and she has a great weekly newsletter.
Calico Cookie Kindergarten See Terry Tunkels Valentines Day themes for teachers and the snowy day art in this language-rich kindergarten. Though this website is in transition, the photo archives reflect a wise and playful teacher who honors childhood. Terry is a past recipient of our literacy award.
Mr. Fontanella's Kindergarten Jack Fontanella's love of teaching a K-1 Loop is evident in his engaging meaning-centered curriculum choices. Enjoy the great outdoor photos. Check out the awesome block building structures, parent connections, and environmental studies. As a past literacy award recipient, we thank Jack for photo albums that show stories of this joyful learning community in Alaska.
Green Gables Kindergarten Martha Shehan has created an attractive site that parents are sure to appreciate and teachers will find useful. Be sure to check out her ongoing math curriculum—celebrations with “zero the hero”, internet projects with traveling buddies, and enjoy her monthly themes.
Hubbard's Cupboard Web mistress Michelle, former kindergarten teacher (now a stay-at-home mom), is keeping this helpful site current. See her monthly family involvement resources; “The Tail of the Kite”. Also check out the great free printable sight word books for emergent readers. (Scroll way down!)
Jacque Verrall's Full-Day Kindergarten We are very excited that this master kindergarten teacher is beginning to develop a website. Jackie Verrall, a National Board Certified Teacher, is one of the wise teacher voices on the mentor kindergarten teacher chat board. We read everything Jacque posts and feature photo essays of her classroom in our e-Books. See her well-written documents and homework guidelines.
Kelly Bear Leah Davies generously shares some excellent articles for parents and teachers. See “Too much violence on TV? What can you do?” and “Emotional Intelligence: An essential component to education”. Thank you Leah!
Kidscount 1234, Shari Sloane This delightful teacher and well-loved national consultant shares a wealth of resources for joyful kindergarten literacy. Don't miss "photos of my classroom", "literacy centers", and "dramatic play centers". (You must use their site navigation to access interior pages.)
Kinder Rock Hounds is the awesome theme that first led us to Jennifer Fealty’s very useful site. See her internet projects, literature units, and PVE Butterfly Garden. The site is in transition currently from a kindergarten to PreK website.
Kinderfriends Jill Davies has created a helpful resource for early childhood educators and families. She is a National Board Certified teacher and a past recipient of our Excellence in Kindergarten Literacy Award. Check out her free resources including rebus nursery rhyme pages and Our Class Photos.
Kindergarten Consultants Joanne Sleightholm, an award-winning kindergarten teacher and trainer from Toronto, has a playfully designed a very useful website. We especially love the ideas section. The accompanying photos make this long scroll of ideas a great resource. We also appreciate her helpful free downloads.
Kindergarten Forum This kindergarten forum was the original website that inspired us to begin hosting “kindergarten living room” gatherings and kindergarten cadre meetings in beautiful and inspiring classrooms. Don’t miss Betty Peck’s inspiring book Kindergarten Education: Freeing Children’s Creative Potential.
Kindergarten Homestead Kelly Beggs is a kindergarten teacher from Illinois with a fun website and great photos. Consider starting with some of our favorite links: bugs unit and ocean unit. Don’t miss her detailed Winter Themes and Space Explorations. This high-tech site has several things that we were unable to access and several sections under construction, however we definitely think this site will be worth returning to. (Be sure to wait for the pictures to upload.)
Kindergarten-lessons.com The goal of kindergarten teacher, Patricia Bentham’s, delightful and informative site is to help teachers make their classrooms a place of exploration, problem solving, and creative thought processes. We especially enjoy exploring Environmental Science, Science Centers, and Show and Tell – a springboard for math and science education.
Kinderteacher.com Linda Critchell is a retired kindergarten teacher, whose joyful site reflects her love of kindergarten and her special passion for integrating curriculum with creative craft projects. The helpful site map makes it easy to navigate her wealth of teaching ideas. Start with the first day of school, treasure boxes and gingerbread man.
Kinder Themes Mrs. Fischer’s Kinder Themes reflects 18 years of teaching kindergarten and first grade in Missouri.
We get to learn about her favorite poems and creative curriculum ideas.
Check out her apples unit and tips for teachers. We also appreciated her helpful collection of children’s literature linked thematically.
Mrs. Jackson's Class Here is a great resource for almost every imaginable theme from A to Z! Don’t miss best of the bats and butterflies.
Mrs. Jones free printable books Wow! Here are up-to-date links to hundreds of free printable emergent reader and leveled books on the internet! This is such a valuable resource. Check out There's a Hole in Your Smile!"
Mrs. Keenan’s Kindergarten Website You’ve got to see these photo stories ! We love this kindergarten blog and the awesome fitness and literacy project exemplified in the photo stories: Kindergartners measured their steps with pedometers to collectively walk 875 miles (from New York to Tennessee) for an imaginative journey—Wow! What a way to teach life fitness skills.
Mr. Kindergarten, Dan Gurney Mr. Kindergarten, teacher Dan Gurney from California, understands how to build a community of learners and nurture emotional intelligence. We enjoy reading his interesting blogs. Meet his puppet Popular Guy and check out his children’s Important Book.
Ms. Lee's Kindergarten Science Experiments We love the great photo essays of wonderful kindergarten science experiments. See Mixing colors and Strength of egg. The photos are priceless!
Mrs. Meacham's Kindergarten Check out the name games on Jessica Meacham’s first grade website and the emergent readers for holidays and themes. (Start with Valentines Day) Also be sure to see her comprehensive Writing Mini Lessons.
Mrs. Mikesell's Classroom This very professional and organized site has helpful teaching strategies. Don’t miss the literacy center ideas and see her advice on building a website for extra income. Consider signing up for her free monthly newsletter.
Mrs. Powell's Kindergarten See story bits from scooter mouse, the imaginary animal who lives in Kelley Powell’s engaging kindergarten classroom. View helpful family resources. Also check out her cast of playful puppets. Kelley Powell is NBPTS certified and it shows!
Mrs. Reber's Kindergarten Mrs. Reber’s kindergarten-2nd grade physical support classroom is one happy and authentic learning environment. Check out the patriot’s store. We love the great school motto: Our purpose…with passion…from love…expecting excellence…All children deserve joyful and meaning-centered learning.
Mrs. Stout's Class Parent's must love these pod casts showing kindergartners in action. (See “our class” activities and enjoy the Halloween Fun slideshow) Don't miss the Our Class/ceramics We Love Clay Rachel Stout the egg creations. Clearly Mrs. Stout loves teaching kindergarten. (We are unable to give direct links, however these items are worth seeing)
Sew What 4 U Corp. Teachers love Sandy's valuable site which combines great products and helpful resources. Scroll down and see August 2007 with ideas for beginning the year and getting off to a good start. Also see Memory book.
Teaching Heart The best way to navigate this mega site is to start with what's new. Check out the mini offices. The bear unit is one example of her wonderful detailed units.
The K Crew Don't miss these literacy centers – especially the drama center – used for children to build projects as a response to literature. See buzz books, ideas for morning messages. These kindergarten teachers embrace a balanced approach to literacy and joyful teaching strategies with clear objectives for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.
The Virtual Vine Cindy has been a special education teacher for 23 years. You will find a long vine of detailed activities, themes, favorite children’s books, and a wealth of literacy ideas for preK to second grade. See Literacy Connections (Under work stations) Book Box Station and use of Pocket Charts.
For the Love of Children’s Literature
Swimming in Literary Soup
Just One More Book!
Peggy Sharp’s New Book News
Best Books for Kids
American Library Association
Professional Resources
AIMS (Activities Integrating Math and Science)
Bureau of Education and Research
California Kindergarten Association
Choice Literacy
Early Childhood: The Professional Resource
Heinemann Publishers
International Reading Association
Kinder Lit
Lakeshore Curriculum
Mind Matters—Pat Wolfe
Mondo Publishing
National Association for the Education of Young Children
National Board of Professional Teaching Standards
National Council of Teachers of English
New Horizons for Learning
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
OAAE (Oregon Alliance for Arts Education)
OAEYC
(Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children)
ORA
(Oregon Reading Association)
Oregon State Department of Education
Reading Recovery® Council
Responsive Classroom
Scholastic
Sign 2 Me
Staff Development Education
Stenhouse Publishers
Susie Haas - Sribbles•n•Dots
The Art Room
The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives
Author Sites
Jan Brett
Eric Carle
Kevin Henkes
Mem Fox
Robert Munsch
Rosemary Wells
Mo Willems
Jane Yolen
Music is Magic in Developing Literacy
Charlotte Diamond
Dr. Jean Feldman
Heidi Songs
Red Grammer
Tom Hunter—Song Growing Company
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