Saturday, December 30, 2017

Happy New Year! Freebies, Deals and Winter Fun!

How is it possible that we are getting ready to ring in 2018?
I honestly feel like we were just welcoming 2017!

I prepped most of my 'New Year' goodies before I left for break, but do have some lesson planning yet to finish...I know what I want to do/will be covering...just have to get it all typed up!

As much as I would have loved to offer you a new New Year freebie, I just didn't get around to it, so if you didn't already grab this freebie I offered last year, here it is:
All the directions and suggestions for use are in the FREE DOWNLOAD!
Students identify what the 'missing number' is and then write it on the recording sheet next to the picture that was in the missing number's place! 

If you are in a paper crunch, or trying to be more environmentally friendly, you can also have them use magnetic numbers to cover the picture...they can then record it on a dry erase board and/or a laminated version of the recording sheet so that it can be re-used! 

After we use this in math center next week, I plan on putting it in one of our morning tubs with magnetic numbers and a dry erase board for them to practice writing the number 
(aka my trick to squeeze in some extra number writing practice!)

You can click the pictures above or HERE to download it for FREE!
(There is ANOTHER FREEBIE at the bottom of this post too!)

If you LOVE the New Year one for Numbers 0-10, be sure to check out my Winter Theme for Numbers 10-20 too:

************************************************************
But that's not the end of the New Year fun!
I have teamed up with 30 other sellers for a 'Magical New Year' promotion!

On Sunday December 31st we are each offering a dollar deal!

It is normally $3, but will be reduced to $1 for ONE DAY ONLY!
Much like the New Year Early Emergent Readers Pack I offered last year for $1, this pack is PERFECT to have ready to go for the BIG winter sporting event starting February 9th!


Much like the Winter Express Readers Pack I've offered before for $1 deals (see post and video here), this pack comes with word cards, word and picture cards and 2 versions of the reader to aid differentiation in the classroom!  
It is also offered in both color and black & white: 

We will be reading and coloring our New Years books the first week back when we discuss 'New Years' and then they will be added to our Readers Workshop book baggies for independent reading, sight word recognition and fluency practice!
(You can read more about the New Years books and see a video showing everything included on THIS POST)

We'll use this Winter Sports version as we approach February and discuss all the types of winter sports we will be seeing on TV!


Be sure to check out all the DOLLAR DEALS for 12/31/17 HERE:


In addition, each author is also offering one of their products for 50% off on 1/1/18!
From me you will find my Penguin Informational Readers for only $5!

It comes with 11 informational readers about different species of penguins! 
Not sure it's going to work for your students?  Try out the Emperor Penguin reader for FREE

You can read more about my penguin books ON THIS POST  and if you are planning on a penguin unit this winter, THIS POST will give you lots of ideas for poems, crafts, books and more! 

Be sure to CLICK HERE to find all of the 50% off deals on January 1st!



AS A SPECIAL HAPPY NEW YEAR GIFT...
Try this New Year Puzzle (for the word 'have') for FREE!

Using them is as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4! 

This video explains how to use them as well:

And if Sight Word Puzzles are something you think your students will benefit from, be sure to check out my New Year post from last year that explains exactly how to use them and what is included!

Searching for more New Years resources?
Just click this picture to be brought to all my paid and free resources!


One of my favorite things to do is have this puzzle on the kids' desks when they come in the first day from break!  It's super easy- they cut, build the new year and color!
(Click the picture to find it in my TpT Store- I edit it each year so you'll always have it!)

We work through these New Year goodies during the week back
The kids each make a pair of monocles (see in picture below) and I take their picture wearing them with a New Years hat and blower in hand!  Then I print the pictures and mount them with their New Years resolution foldable (see above).  It makes a great bulletin board/hallway display!

We also make and read these books:
and watch the ball drop via YouTube!


In addition to the FREEBIES at the beginning and middle of this post, be sure to grab my New Year Countdown FREEBIE in my TpT Store too!

AND DON'T FORGET TO GRAB YOUR:
DOLLAR DEALS- Sun 12/31/17
HALF OFF DEALS- Mon 1/1/18

Wishing you health, happiness, peace and serenity as you head into 2018!

I would like to say that I am resolving to blog more in 2018 but I don't want to break my resolutions TOO quickly this year!  I post a lot of ideas on Instagram and my Facebook page because it is easier and less time consuming, so if you don't already follow me via those social media outlets, I would love to have you join me this year!

Until next post,

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Freaky Friday Week 4- Winter Flip Books!

Time sure flies when you're having fun....
It's hard to believe tomorrow is the FINAL week of Freaky Friday for 2017!

We're all hoping you found lots of great deals each week and will be ghoulishly happy with what we have to offer this week!

If you are new to 'Freaky Friday' here is how it works!
40+ Teacher Authors have teamed up to bring you a dollar deal each Friday in October.
The deal is good for ONE DAY ONLY, so you'll want to set a reminder not to miss out tomorrow!

To find all the deals simply:
1. Click this image:
It will bring you directly the the list of deals being offered on Teachers Pay Teachers!

2. Use the linky at the bottom of this post to find the participating stores.  You can click the first image in the linky to find ALL THE DEALS for the week or click each individual seller's picture to find what they are discounting for the day!

Some sellers are using the hashtag:
on Instagram to link their products, but you won't find them all this way.

So what will you find from me this week?
I polled my Facebook followers to see if they wanted a winter version of the flip books I had posted during Week 1 of Freaky Friday or a Thanksgiving resource....

And the winner is...

There are 13 flip books in this set for the following winter themes:
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years, winter, winter foods, winter clothes, winter sports, Martin Luther King Jr., polar animals, groundhog's day and Valentine's Day!


(If you need any flip books for President's Day they can be found HERE)

This pack of 13 flip books is normally priced at $4.75, but on Friday October 27th you can grab them for just $1!

These flip books are NO PREP, but have the benefit of a 4-page reader!
They help review sight words and build reading fluency and confidence in our youngest readers!

If you happened to grab the Fall set on Friday October 6th, you know all about these books and how they work, but if you missed it, this video will take you through the process:

But if you don't have time to watch the video, here is a pictorial version you can scroll through:

First decide which of the flip books you want your students to to create and simply print and copy:

Then have your students color the pictures:

Then they cut out the pictures by following the dotted lines:

Students stack the pictures in the order they want them (or the order you specify):

The pages are stapled in the box area (you can teach them how to use mini-staplers for more independence!)

To read the book, they simply flip each image up!

OPTIONAL- they can add another picture and label it in the box:

And/or add another sentence to the back:

***I also have my students use the back to writer their names since there isn't a space on the front to do so.***

Use them in centers, for guided reading/small group instruction, reading buddies, independent reading and more!  When we learn about 'pattern books' in Readers Workshop, we use these a lot and keep them in our reading baggies so we can practice how to identify patterns!

***************BUT WAIT!!!*****************
I feel really bad for all the people that voted for a Thanksgiving resource....so I am selecting my super popular Thankful Mat and discounting it 25% off on Friday too!
Normally $3, you can grab it for $2.25 on Friday!

This is updated each year and makes a great keepsake for families!

We add a turkey hand print to the back and laminate them so the kids can use it as their place mat on Thanksgiving and share all the things they are thankful for with their families on the holiday!


Are you ready to find all the deals for the FINAL week of Freaky Friday?


We sure hope you have enjoyed the weekly dollar deals this October!
This group has decided this is an annual event we will host, so please be sure to be on the lookout again next October when Freaky Friday returns for it's 5th year!

Until next post,

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Freaky Friday Week 3- Halloween Sight Word Puzzles!

I hope you have been filling your 'bag of tricks' with tons of great dollar deals the past 2 weeks!
Freaky Friday is BACK for Week 3!

If you are new to 'Freaky Friday,' here is how it works...

There are over 40 sellers participating each week...they choose one item to discount to $1 for ONE DAY ONLY (regularly priced $2-$5).

How do you find all the deals for the week?

1. Click this image:

2. Use the linky at the bottom of this post to find all the participating stores!
You can click the first link to find a list of ALL THE DEALS or click each individual seller to find their discounted deal for the day!

Some of the sellers are using Instagram to highlight their product and are using the hashtag
to link the deals together, but your won't find ALL of the deals that way.

So what will you find from me this week?
A Halloween spin-off of my popular EDITABLE Sight Word Puzzles:

If you have used my Fall, Winter Holidays, Winter, Spring or Generic Sets of puzzles, you know how these work!
If not, you can find them on several of my blog posts HERE or see the pictures below.

Here's a quick video on how to use the puzzles, as well as a quick tutorial on how EASY it is to edit the puzzles to match the words you are working on:
The pack comes with 12 Halloween themed puzzles.  
There are 3 for 2-letter words, 3 for 3-letter words, 3 for 4-letter words and 3 for 5-letter words.  

It is 'ready to go' with puzzles using 12 words from the Pre-Primer Dolch Word List and ALSO has an editable set of puzzles so that you can make additional puzzles using words you are working on, spelling words and/or cvc or cvce word building using the 3 & 4 letter templates!

The directions on how to edit are included in the pack and there are 2 ways you can go about editing!
Here's a quick graphic on how easy it is to edit:

Once you have the word you want students to practice, simply print and copy the puzzles.

Students then cut the pieces on the dotted lines:

And then arrange them to spell the word:

After they check to make sure they are right, they glue the pieces and then practice writing the word:


From there they can color the puzzle:


Students can use the word in a sentence on the back for added practice and enrichment.
They can also build the word using magnetic letters that they match to the puzzle for added support and practice!

The puzzles also come in full color so that you can make puzzles for students to practice building with either before or after they complete their own puzzles!

Here's a breakdown of what you're students will do with the puzzles:
Print, cut, glue, write, color and build!

I do have a few Halloween puzzles in my
but made sure not to use any of the same images as those that are in the Fall set!

All the puzzles only use 1 piece of paper- yet students practice building, writing, reading and using their sight word!
My students use sight word puzzles all year long as one of our 'staple' centers.  

Are you ready to find ALL THE DEALS for Week 3?


Hope you fill your treat bag up with lots of 'sweet' deals!
Don't forget to stop by next week to see what our FINAL week will bring!
Until next post,

Monday, October 16, 2017

17 Easy, Free (or Almost Free) Halloween Center Ideas!

Hi, everyone! I'm Brenda Tejeda from Tejeda's Tots and I'm so excited to guest-blog on Jennifer's blog and share with you some of my fun Halloween and Fall center ideas! 
Fall! It's my favorite season of the year! One of my favorite things to do in the fall is go pumpkin-picking with my family. We have an amazing local farm and they have the BEST pumpkin pie, apple cider donuts, sweet corn.... so yummy!
Another thing I love about the fall is Halloween! Throughout the month, I have themed centers that are fun, meaningful, and easy-to-prep!
AND, most of them are absolutely free! By signing up for my free newsletter, you'll get all the templates you see in this post FREE! Most can be used with classroom supplies you already have, but a few require some extra materials.
I hope you can use some of these ideas. I'd love to hear how they worked out, or any other fun and easy ideas you have!
Let's get started!
LEAF CENTERS
  • Fall leaf rubbings- Kids simply place the veined side of a leaf face-up under a sheet of paper, then rub a paperless crayon on its side over the page. See the veins and leaf shapes come to life! Try with different fall colors too!
  • Leaf sorting- Go on a leaf hunt, then have students sort the leaves by colors, shapes, , edges, sizes, or any other attribute they can think of!
  • Leaf art- Have kids glue a leaf onto a piece of paper, then draw around it to turn it into an object!
WRITING CENTERS
  • Halloween Word Wall- I have some picture word walls in my store (and I have included a FREE one with writing stationery), but you can also create one with your students to make it even more effective! Have them brainstorm words while you write on large chart paper. It takes some time afterwards to add pictures (either drawn or from the web), but I highly recommend this step to help those who need extra support. Once displayed, you can use this for various centers: write about your Halloween, write a riddle about your costume, or...
  • Sticker Story- IN FREEBIE- get some themed stickers from the Dollar Tree and provide stationery. Ask students to take up to 5 stickers to make a scene, then complete by drawing and writing their story.
  • Stamp-a-Story- Same as above, but with themed stamps. I’ve collected a TON of stamps over the years and have them organized by themes/ months.
  • Halloween card- IN FREEBIE- Simply fill out for a ghoulfriend or boofriend!
WORD WORK CENTERS
  • Making Words- HALLOWEEN- IN FREEBIE- two options- Place the letters that spell HALLOWEEN on a cookie sheet or magnetic file cabinet. Have kids manipulate the letters to build words, then write in a notebook. OR, if you don’t have enough letters, or want to use this whole-group, use the enclosed slips and have kids cut apart the letters before using them to build words. They can glue the top of the slip into their notebooks and list their words. Extension: use some to write sentences.
  • Bingo- IN FREEBIE- Use the blank template enclosed and have kids complete it by writing words from your fall/ Halloween Word Wall (see above) in random boxes (make sure to tell them not to write the words in order). Write the words on slips of paper and place into a bag. Pull out a word at a time and kids can use counters, torn paper, or candy corn as bingo markers!
ART & more CENTERS
  • Photo booth- You can buy props, OR you can have students make their own- fun! Have them draw big mouths, eyes, horns, and speech bubbles with monster sayings, cut and glue to popsicle sticks, then pose with them!
  • Standing Jack-o-lanternsee picture- Students cut out 3 pumpkins, color and add a green stem to each, then glue back to back
  • Decorate-a-Cupcake- If you don’t have allergies and your school allows it, kids just LOVE to decorate cookies and cupcakes. Bake or buy plain cupcakes, provide icing, toppings, plastic knives, and plenty of wipes and napkins!
  • Mask and Monster Mash- Have students create a mask, glue onto a large popsicle stick and parade around the room to the song Monster Mash!
  • Joke Time! Display this FREE pun-kins joke chart at your fall party or during the entire month for some fun joke breaks!
  • “Book and Bite” Kid favorite! Read a book (I usually have a parent volunteer at this center) and have students take a bite of their cookie every time the FUN word is said. The student with the largest piece of cookie left at the end of the book is the winner! I use There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bat, or There Was an Old Lady who Wasn't Afraid of Anything, and the fun word is BAT. It’s so cute to watch them to take tiny nibbles for fear they won’t have any left at the end of the book. Here is the 2nd book on youtube: YOUTUBE video of There Was an Old Lady who Wasn't Afraid of Anything
  • Buddy Reading! Simply place themed books in a basket and have them read along with a friend!

I hope you found some of these ideas useful and your kids enjoy them!
Thanks for reading and here is the link to get your freebie :):