New Year Dollar Deals!

I can't believe we are days away from welcoming in 2019! 

I might be dating myself, but it seems nearly impossible that 20 years ago we were entering the last year of the 1900's and fearing (and preparing for) what Y2K would do!

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Before I left for break I prepped what I needed for a smooth return, but still have some lesson planning to complete.  I've been enjoying some relaxing time with my family, organized some closets (and bedrooms), been helping my hubby with a basement gut (I get a crafting room out of it, so no complaints!) and am onto my 3rd book...during the school year reading takes a back seat so it's nice to 'catch up' on my 'want to read' list! 

I sure hope you've found some time to relax and unwind, as well!

BUT...all good things must come to an end, so to make returning to school a bit sweeter, I've teamed up with a group of sellers to offer TWO days of DOLLAR DEALS!

Each seller will offer TWO deals on Sunday December 30th and TWO different deals on Monday December 31st!  

On Sunday December 30th you will find these 2 resources from me:

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL DOLLAR DEALS FOR SUNDAY

Here's a bit more info about both:

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This New Years themed early emergent reader pack was offered as a $1 deal a few years ago, but in case you missed it, I'm offering it again!  Here are some images I took of the pages a few years ago...

(INSERT 2019 GLASSES)

(12/30/18 ONLY)

The other product I am offering for $1 on Sunday 12/30/18 is my Winter Missing Numbers pack:

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This set works very similar to my New Year Missing Numbers FREEBIE but it's for numbers 10-20!  Use it in a center, early finisher basket, small group remediation/enrichment activity, morning tub, etc!

You can laminate the recording sheet to make it a reusable activity too!

On Monday you'll find a whole new list of DOLLAR DEALS!

CLICK TO VIEW ALL THE DOLLAR DEALS FOR MONDAY

The first is one of my more popular winter products!

This is perfect if you are embarking on a 'how to' unit of study and also serves well for sequencing!

It includes 3 different ways to 'write' a book about how to build a snowman!  My students' favorite is the accordion book shown here: 

The snowman pack is part of the larger bundle of all my 'how to' units, so if it works well for your students, be sure to check out he other packs!

Click Here To View The Bundle

The second product is BRAND NEW!  I bought this adorable stamp clip art during the Cyber Monday sale and finally had some time to use it!

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 Students use magnifying glasses to find hidden CVC words 

(There are 3 for each vowel)

Then there are 2 options for recording...they can circle the picture that matches the word:

or write the word on the line:

There are also CVC picture cards that they can use to match the picture to the word they found!

This can be used as a word work center, in small guided groups, as remediation/enrichment, etc!

You can also laminate the recording sheets to make them a reusable activity for morning tubs!

But I'm not the only one offering TWO DOLLAR DEALS each day!

Here are ALL the participating stores and links to the deals for both days: 

An InLinkz Link-up

Wishing you health, happiness, peace and serenity as you head into 2019!

I would like to say that I am resolving to blog more in 2019, 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,

Kinder'garden' Day 2014!

So Long Winter...these Kinder'garden'ers are ready for Spring!

Today was a snow make-up day...a day cut into our Spring Break...so we made it a day full of spring learning and fun!

Our kids were greeted by this huge banner and paper flower as they came in today!  Although my room is the furthest down the hall I was so excited to hear the little shrills and 'WOWs' as they got their first peek!

We are leaving it up until Monday April 21st- National Kindergarten Day!

My students came to find our door all decorated too!

So what did Kinder'garden' Day consist of?

The students rotated between 3 classrooms to learn about spring and signs of spring, that were also aligned with a curricula and/or current topic we were working on!

Room 1: Paint a Mural

The students listened to Planting A Rainbow by Lois Ehlert

They studies the different kinds of flowers in the book and looked at the different ways the flowers were made, colors, shapes, etc.

They then went to work to 'plant a rainbow'!

Each class made their own mural- the halls were lined with paper (we have 7 classes!) and it was amazing to watch as the 'rainbows' appeared down the hall!

Room 2: Study Birds

The children explored several books about birds and 'studied' their features, colors, patterns etc.

They then each made a bird- being sure to include a beak, wings, feet, feathers, etc.

The wings slid into the body, so they were able to make their birds fly!

Feathers were added for a fun effect!

Room 3: Decomposing Number Butterflies

This was my 'station!'  I had so much fun with the kids that came to my room today!

We started with a blank butterfly:

(get your own copy by clicking here)

I had numbers copied and put them in a flower pot (you get the numbers in the butterfly file above too!)

The kids picked a number out of the flower pot and then counted that many counters from the middle of the table.  They started by coloring their butterfly

(as you can see I put a thick dotted line around my butterfly before copying- I suggest you do the same!)

They then placed the counters on the butterfly in different configurations to show how their number could be broken into different parts

From there I had them 'pick it (counter) up, dot, put it (counter) to the side'

Until all the counters had been replaced by dots.

They then had to write their number sentence/show how their number was decomposed on the butterfly's body!

All the butterflies were unique and beautiful!

Once I had my class back, we worked on putting our mural together!

We talked about other items we see/hear in spring and I opened up the paper cabinet and let them take whatever they needed!  They had to tell me what they were making in order to get the paper!

I also gave them sentence strips to write the name of what they created!

And then this is when the magic really began!

We added the birds and butterflies we had made during the rotations..as well as our new creations and labels and our Kinder'garden' magically came to life!

I folded the wings of the butterflies up before gluing them to give it a more realistic/3D effect!

I LOVE this happy sun, adorable ladybug and look at the 'rane'- that particular students was very proud- she said, 'A is saying its name so I put magic e on there!'  

Some chose to have their birds be 'in flight' while others wanted it down on the ground- or eating the worm!

We had rainbows, clouds, spiders, etc!

This was another favorite- we are working on digraphs- this friend said 'I hear /w/- its a digraph!'

Our butterflies looked beautiful fluttering about the 'garden!'

Once everything was on, we hung them up...

And as wonderful as these pictures look, it doesn't even begin to capture how amazing the whole 'Kinder'garden'' hallway looks right now!

But our day was not complete!

Time to incorporate a bit of our 'How To' topic with a fun spring food craft!

The plates are all ready for assembly!

Today we'll be building and eating a bird's nest-complete with eggs and a bird!

We talked about what we could use for the different components and then I modeled how to make the craft.  In order for them to 'give it a try' they had to first help me write the steps!

Step 5 was an add-on...they said 'But Mrs. Drake- we can't eat it unless its in the steps!'  How true!

So...how did we make them...

Step 1:

I had pre-baked the 'nests'- super easy!

Simply purchase sugar cookie 'break and bake'- pop a square into each section of a muffin tin.  Bake according to directions and- wallah- you have a nest!  If you want a more 'pronounced' side- use a mini muffin pan or 2 'breaks' per muffin section, but these worked out just fine!

Step 2: Add the grass (toasted coconut)

Step 3: Add the eggs (jelly beans)

Step 4: Put the bird on the eggs (Peep on the jellybeans!)

And here is a picture of the directions and finished product for those that love to pin ideas!

I can't pick one favorite part of the day- but I do know that Mother Nature kind of gave us this day as a gift.  Had we not had this snow make-up day, we probably would not have planned this day- and now I think it may become an annual event!  

Today was 'real kindergarten' at its finest!

And I know they had fun...a lot said 'this was the best day ever' (which they always seem to say at the end of a fun theme day!) and many said 'you are the best teacher Mrs. Drake' but the real kicker was when one said 'Mrs. Drake, do they have first grade day?' to which I replied 'I don't know if they do, but I do know they have a lot of fun in first grade' to which she said 'Well, if they don't I think I want to stay in kindergarten forever!'

Guess what....so do I!

I'd love to hear about your fun themed days in kindergarten!

We are off the rest of the week for Spring Break- and then its onto the planetarium and Farm Day to round out April!

Until next post,

Leprechaun Fun For Everyone!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

One of the best parts of being an elementary teacher is the wonder, innocence and excitement in little ones eyes...and boy were those 'Irish' eyes smiling today!

I love making magic happen in my classroom....so having a 'magical' creature create havoc and fun is right up my alley!

So what type of fun did we have getting ready for, and celebrating St Patrick's Day....TONS!

We started by making these adorable leprechauns last week!

This really is a simple project to do...

Give each child a 9x12 piece of green and peach (or tan, white, pink, etc) piece of paper.  I show them how to make a 'backwards L' and 'forwards L' to make the hat and a BIG 'U' to make the face, but send them off to do it on their own.  I used to have it pre-traced for them, but I like the look of child created art much better now!

Once the hat and face are assembled, they add the 'details'

and I give them strips of orange paper.  I show them how to curl it around a pencil and tell them they can use them for a beard and/or hair!

Here is the 'girl' version!

When they are all done, so made a pot of gold and taped them up...this was to show the leprechaun that we were leprechaun loving kinders and they should REALLY visit our classroom!

So the next day we get a note and have to roll 2 dice to find out our leprechaun's name....

and we posted it on our door!

Each day he would leave a shamrock in a spot that he had looked for our gold!  It was fun to find his new spot each day!  

So then it came time to build a leprechaun 'house' (you CAN'T say 'TRAP!'...he will hear it and never go near it!)

Each child brought in a box to decorate!  We had shoe, cereal, cracker, mac & cheese, ziploc & more boxes!  I let them go to town with my scrap buckets to create a leprechaun house!

We even talked about making signs to 'lure' him in!

...and gold inside the door to make him want to go in!

we set them all up in our meeting area on Thursday afternoon (they had no school on Friday because of parent/teacher conferences)

So....on Monday...St Patrick's Day...did we catch him???

The door was 'blocked' by this sign

 and he apparently had a REALLY fun time with pattern blocks, connecting cubes and more!

BUT...he knows how to spell!

 ...and he did leave his pot of gold!

BUT wait....look in the door...can you see something sticking out!

Oh Wait!  What is this??!!!

Leprechaun donuts, golden nuggets, Lucky Charms and his lucky hat?!

We hit the jackpot!

So about those leprechaun donuts...

 15 dozen of these gems were made this weekend!

The idea and box template came from Family Fun magazine!

Believe it or not, the boxes were more time consuming than the donuts!

(You can choose to have the 'window' [use junk mail envelope windows] or leave it as the shamrock paper from the template!)

 The donuts themselves are made from Cheerios!

The magazine says to paint the chocolate on...I dipped them and it worked just as well!

The cinnamon sugar ones are dipped in sugar water and then rolled in cinnamon and sugar!

Here they are all ready to be 'delivered' to my boys, nephews, neighbors and kinders!

So did we like the donuts...

I'd say yes!

And look what else we found...his PJs!!!

They were in the trap by the door!  Silly leprechaun!  We don't want him to be cold, so we left them out so he can pick them back up (and they are already safely tucked away for next year's adventures!)!

Thanks to the leprechaun we had Lucky Charms to use for a tasty subtraction lesson today!

We just started working with subtracting last week (and mostly with food!) and can always use a bit more practice to fill our minds..and bellies!

Each child got a pile of cereal and we used them to help us answer the problem.

 As you can see here... 3 cereal take away 2 cereal leaves 1 piece of cereal!

 We had to draw the picture before we got to eat it,

and we also got to make up our own problem on the bottom!

Feel free to download a copy of this worksheet (click the hyperlink) to use in your classroom as well!

Last week we used this set of Shamrock Sums to practice addition during centers.  I put them in the early finishers basket and they were the first to get pulled out today!

In writing we continue to work with 'how to' books...and of course today brought on a 'how to catch a leprechaun' book from a few of my kiddos!

(we talked about how orange was his least favorite color- I guess some took that to heart!)

(gold)

How cute?!!!

We also continued to work with 'magic words!'

They love this new found 'secret' and I have one student that comes in with secret messages for me to reveal everyday!  I love it!

So tomorrow we go back to 'boring' old kindergarten fun!!

But not for tooooo long....Friday we wake our hibernating bear!

I'd love to hear what kind of antics your leprechaun played and havoc s/he caused!

Until next post,