For starters, I am sooo embarrassed that I misspelled "Beachy" in yesterday's post (which I went back and fixed as soon as I noticed it!). I am such a freak about spelling errors and misused homophones...
While I am sitting (hopefully sleeping!) on the plane for hours and hours today, please enjoy this clip of my new favorite show (click on the word Kindergarten and the clip is on the webpage).
KINDERGARTEN airs on HBO family and is a 13 episode documentary about a Kindergarten class in New York. I have watched a few of the episodes and I LOVE it. Even Mr. Sneaker was cracking up and added it to the TIVO list so he can watch it even though I won't be here. I love knowing that whenever he watches, he will be thinking of me and my Kinder Kiddos. I can only hope they are as funny as these cuties!
Our favorite line from the episode we watched today about Valentine's Day was "You have to give everyone a Valentine even if you don't like them." Little kids are so honest!
Beachy Art Projects
I wish I could remember where I across these, but I can't...Both look like fun projects to keep in mind this year. They would both make cute additions to our classroom decor! I am enjoying my last day in Germany and will try to post again on Monday if I have time. I am supposed to meet up with my new principal at the school early Monday morning and I can finally see my room ( I will post pictures!). I have a lot of shopping to do both for school related stuff and some other stuff I will need once I am there like a few household things and a car. My hopes are high that I can at least arrange the room on Monday and figure out what else I may need (like bookshelves etc) and then get my teaching stuff out of storage so that by the end of the week the room will look somewhat put together!
Have a great weekend!
Beachy Ideas!
For once I have actually put together my own classroom ideas! Woot Woot! Well..It's not like I didn't get any help whatsoever from the beloved Internet, but at least the conceptualization was mine and then I found what I needed....
I will make two large beach pails out of construction paper on a background of blue paper, bulletin board trim from Oriental Trading that looks like waves, and yellow/brown paper for sand. Each class will have its own pail and one class will have their names on shells to put in their pail and the other class will have their names on starfish to put in their pail. I usually use little dot magnets on the backs of things like that, but I don't think I will have a large enough magnetic space, so I may use velcro. The buckets will have velcro dots on them and so will the shells and stars. Then the same side of velcro that is on the buckets will also be scattered on the bottom where I drew dots. At the beginning of the day, all of the shells/stars will be along the bottom and when the children arrive they will find the one with their name and put it in their bucket. Magnets would be preferable since then I only need the magnet on the back of the shells/stars, so here's hoping for a good space to do that.
I did some searching on the web for beach themed cutouts (particularly shells and starfish) and I came across these...
Much to my excitement, I was able to just print them out in color! The set came with snails too, but I want each class to have only one image, so I cut those out before I copied the colored images. I will write the kids' names on these cuties, laminate them, and adhere either magnets or velcro to the backs of them.
2 more days in Germany.... I am getting SO sad about leaving Mr. Sneaker
I sketched out what I am picturing for an attendance board.
I will make two large beach pails out of construction paper on a background of blue paper, bulletin board trim from Oriental Trading that looks like waves, and yellow/brown paper for sand. Each class will have its own pail and one class will have their names on shells to put in their pail and the other class will have their names on starfish to put in their pail. I usually use little dot magnets on the backs of things like that, but I don't think I will have a large enough magnetic space, so I may use velcro. The buckets will have velcro dots on them and so will the shells and stars. Then the same side of velcro that is on the buckets will also be scattered on the bottom where I drew dots. At the beginning of the day, all of the shells/stars will be along the bottom and when the children arrive they will find the one with their name and put it in their bucket. Magnets would be preferable since then I only need the magnet on the back of the shells/stars, so here's hoping for a good space to do that.
I did some searching on the web for beach themed cutouts (particularly shells and starfish) and I came across these...
Much to my excitement, I was able to just print them out in color! The set came with snails too, but I want each class to have only one image, so I cut those out before I copied the colored images. I will write the kids' names on these cuties, laminate them, and adhere either magnets or velcro to the backs of them.
I also decided to use Popsicles for my word wall.
I realize after I printed this that the first image on the page is larger than the others, so I fixed it for when I print all of them out. I am currently out of pink ink so the printer is not allowing me to print in color anymore, but thanks to my father-in-law, I have a new HP color printer on its way that will be just for my classroom! He worked for HP for 30 years, so he helped me out with a discount. I never had access to a color printer at my old school in OR, but I did this past year and I used it a lot. I know it still costs money but somehow printing in color seems better and more convenient than paying $1.00 per page for color copies...maybe that's just me! Hopefully I have a good space where I can put up a word wall!
I am excited about these ideas and I am SO tempted to walk over to my old school (which is right down the street) and try to gain access in order to laminate! I won't do it, of course, but I am tempted! The laminating machines we had there used the laminating pouches and I found that the end product was thicker and more sturdy than the big roller laminating machines which is what my district in OR has. Too bad my friend who is still an elementary teacher there is out of town or else I might be able to convince her to do me this favor... In any event I can always pay to laminate these at Lakeshore instead of at school if I really want them to be thicker.
2 more days in Germany.... I am getting SO sad about leaving Mr. Sneaker
::sniff::
Blog love is much appreciated!!
Which Way to the Beach?
Not only do I wish I were at the beach today because it is gray and rainy out in Germany, but I finally decided what my classroom theme will be and the winner is....BEACH THEME! As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I spent a LOT of time yesterday on the internet looking for ideas and making lists of what I need to buy/print/organize/put together next week. I only have three days left in Germany, can you believe that?! I am so ready to hit the ground running and hopefully jet lag will not interfere. Last time I flew to Cali I was totally fine, it was just the return that killed me for about two weeks.
Back to the beach, I have been trying to decide on a classroom theme for awhile now and I started looking in the direction of the zoo which intermingled a lot with wild animal and safari themes. As I was looking, I came across some really cute decorations that sparked my interest in a beach theme. I did some shopping at Oriental Trading since they have fun, cute decorations that are pretty reasonably priced and I found some good stuff.
I am picturing the balloon lanterns hanging above the tables because I like to assign each table group a color and I already have rainbow colored material bins, so I typically use rainbow colors anyway. I am not sure if the janitor will allow that, but I am going to try! I think the beach ball string lights will go along the top of the whiteboard, but I don't think I will actually use them as lights, just decoration. I will find a place for the big sun, probably in the area where I do whole group lessons. I was thinking of incorporating some ocean/fish stuff as well to go with the beach theme (maybe for attendance and/or bulletin boards). I have to see what materials I find at the teacher store when I get back. I also want to use buckets for supplies like in the picture above, but I will get more beachy buckets instead of metal ones.
It could be cute to use something like this Popsicle for attendance. I usually have laminated names with magnets on the back so the kids can move their names to sign up for their lunch choices. My Kinders won't have lunch at school, but I do want them to be in charge of "signing in" daily when they arrive. If the popsicles were on magnets they could move their pops to indicate they are present. I need to do more thinking on that...still not sure where I want to go with it.
The ideas are still coming together, but I am glad that I at least have some semblance of a plan. Also, the bee folders actually still coordinate quite well because there are always bees as the beach! I am excited to get working on arranging and planning out my room. I know I will need restraint to not start decorating right away, but I need to be a planner first once I see the room and think through everything before I start moving stuff. I will definitely post pictures of the room and the progress once I get started! If you have any ideas or have done the beach thing before...I am all ears!!
Back to the beach, I have been trying to decide on a classroom theme for awhile now and I started looking in the direction of the zoo which intermingled a lot with wild animal and safari themes. As I was looking, I came across some really cute decorations that sparked my interest in a beach theme. I did some shopping at Oriental Trading since they have fun, cute decorations that are pretty reasonably priced and I found some good stuff.
I am picturing the balloon lanterns hanging above the tables because I like to assign each table group a color and I already have rainbow colored material bins, so I typically use rainbow colors anyway. I am not sure if the janitor will allow that, but I am going to try! I think the beach ball string lights will go along the top of the whiteboard, but I don't think I will actually use them as lights, just decoration. I will find a place for the big sun, probably in the area where I do whole group lessons. I was thinking of incorporating some ocean/fish stuff as well to go with the beach theme (maybe for attendance and/or bulletin boards). I have to see what materials I find at the teacher store when I get back. I also want to use buckets for supplies like in the picture above, but I will get more beachy buckets instead of metal ones.
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| That's cute! |
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The ideas are still coming together, but I am glad that I at least have some semblance of a plan. Also, the bee folders actually still coordinate quite well because there are always bees as the beach! I am excited to get working on arranging and planning out my room. I know I will need restraint to not start decorating right away, but I need to be a planner first once I see the room and think through everything before I start moving stuff. I will definitely post pictures of the room and the progress once I get started! If you have any ideas or have done the beach thing before...I am all ears!!
Life's a Beach!
P.S. Check out the adorable little friend I found to go with The Kissing Hand! I got him last night and he is made by a German company called Nici. I had to have him (and a little piece of Germany to take to my classroom). I think he will be very good at giving first day of school hugs to anyone who is worried!
Saving Graces
I think one of the reasons that teachers need summer break is because it is so dang time consuming to come up with good ideas, peruse the internet to "borrow" fantastic ideas from others, and then finally to sit down and make/create/color/cut/assemble in order to get ready for a new year! When you teach the same grade level for several consecutive years many items and projects can be reused which definitely cuts down on the in-ordinate amount of time that one can spend perusing, but I am smack in the middle of going through a grade level change and I am amazed at how much time can disappear while I search, read, and research what ideas are out there. Right now I am bowing down to the Gods of Kindergarten and borrowing stealing anything I can find!
I would like to take a moment to offer my enormous appreciation for the internet and amazingly creative and nice teachers out there like Jessica Meacham and Jodi who share their fantastic ideas (even though delving into the depths of their fabulous sites is like entering a black hole of time loss).
I am obsessessed!
I am in love.
I need a nap!
I just spent hours poring over Mrs. Meacham's sections on calendar and word work folders. I began searching through her stuff after Kelly's comment that she uses the calendar folders with her Kindergarten students and I was very pleasantly surprised at what I found. Mrs. Meacham not only posts detailed explanations and photos of her creations, but pdf files that anyone can download as well. (The only aspect of creativity that I credit myself with is keeping all the ideas and files very organized on my computer for easy use when I need them). I was already happy enough with the idea for B.E.E folders, but now Mrs. Meacham has risen to another whole level of fabulocity in my eyes! (yes, she even deserves to have words made up about her!).
Because I plan to use a lot of stations in my Kindergarten classroom, I think incorporating word work folders will be a great way to keep materials organized. I can already tell it is going to be a lot of work upfront, but I did get an offer from my friend Jill to help me get ready, so at least I have a helper! I am having slight heart palpitations about the thought of purchasing and creating all of these folders for around 50 students (since I have the AM/PM split). I do get some money from the district to spend, but I think my mental shopping lists already have that beyond used up!
I would like to take a moment to offer my enormous appreciation for the internet and amazingly creative and nice teachers out there like Jessica Meacham and Jodi who share their fantastic ideas (even though delving into the depths of their fabulous sites is like entering a black hole of time loss).
I am obsessessed!
I am in love.
I need a nap!
I just spent hours poring over Mrs. Meacham's sections on calendar and word work folders. I began searching through her stuff after Kelly's comment that she uses the calendar folders with her Kindergarten students and I was very pleasantly surprised at what I found. Mrs. Meacham not only posts detailed explanations and photos of her creations, but pdf files that anyone can download as well. (The only aspect of creativity that I credit myself with is keeping all the ideas and files very organized on my computer for easy use when I need them). I was already happy enough with the idea for B.E.E folders, but now Mrs. Meacham has risen to another whole level of fabulocity in my eyes! (yes, she even deserves to have words made up about her!).
Because I plan to use a lot of stations in my Kindergarten classroom, I think incorporating word work folders will be a great way to keep materials organized. I can already tell it is going to be a lot of work upfront, but I did get an offer from my friend Jill to help me get ready, so at least I have a helper! I am having slight heart palpitations about the thought of purchasing and creating all of these folders for around 50 students (since I have the AM/PM split). I do get some money from the district to spend, but I think my mental shopping lists already have that beyond used up!
Have you tried out any of Mrs. Meacham's notebook, binder, or folder ideas?
Give me the deets!
I found a good deal on purchasing the baseball card holder pages through Amazon.com (kind of think they should bestow me with the honor of being customer of the year and tack my photo on the wall), but I am a bit worried that this particular brand has plastic that is too thick. I am very tempted by the price (100 sheets for 14.99 works out to be only 15¢ per sheet) and the purchase is eligible for free shipping, but I don't want to get them and then have a problem with 5-year-olds and the fine motor coordination required to remove letter cards from the plastic pockets.
These bad boys are currently chilling in my shopping cart, but I am not ready to pull the trigger and actually purchase yet until I ask you all for your advice! (Thankfully you are some of the smartest, nicest teachers out there who love to talk shop and help a girl out!!)
Then there is the issue of binders. They are so expensive! Any deals you know about? I am thinking of sticking with three prong folders instead of binders (the kind that are plastic and a bit more heavy duty), yet I still have to do some searching. Ideally I would be able to color code for my two different classes and I could get away with two folders per child (in addition to the Nicky's folder that will be used as the B.E.E folder). Regardless of what I buy, I pretty much need to bring a pick up truck in order to transport it all to my classroom. 50 kids is a LOT.
::deep breaths::
Let's get back to how THANKFUL I am that many most of the materials required to assemble these great folders have been handed to me on a silver platter so that all I have to do is kill a gazillion trees print them out. I can't exactly expect her to gift wrap some binders and baseball card protectors now can I?
I <3 the idea of having each child be responsible for daily calendar activities in his/her own calendar folder. When I taught first grade I had one student per day be my helper and towards the end of the year that child would get to be in charge of the entire calendar time. The kids definitely reveled in their chance to be the teacher, yet attention span and participation was not spot on for every child everyday. For some kiddos, calendar time was a post lunch/recess napping opportunity. Needless to say this sounds like a great way to get every kid involved every day.
Have you ever read the story My Teacher Sleeps in School? That just might be me from August 16th-30th! (lots of moral support, Diet Coke, and chocolate will be necessary!)
I don't mean to sound dramatic...I am chomping at the bit to get into my classroom and get started on all of these projects and ideas that I have blatantly stolen borrowed from others. I love the feeling of getting organized and the satisfaction of accomplishment when it's all done (who am I kidding--it's never all done), but you know what I mean. The To Do lists are in full effect and my bank account is currently cringing at the thought of what will be spent next week. I am pretty excited for the back to school madness to ensue!
What back to school projects are on your list?
Which ones are driving you batty?
Unhealthy Obsession?
I think you should all run out and invest in Amazon stock because I am doing my part to keep their business booming!
Thanks for all of the detailed feedback on my question about The First Six Weeks of School. I haven't gotten that many comments on a post in awhile and I love your blog love!! The majority of the comments indicated that this book offers a lot of great stuff and many teachers return to its wisdom year after year for back to school inspiration and help with teaching routines and developing community in the classroom. And, many of you who really like it and find it useful teach Kindergarten, so you sold me on it. When Mr. Halpern and Kelly say it's good...I am willing to bet it will be great for Kindergarten!
::blog hugs to everyone commented and gave me excellent info!::
Back to single-handedly keeping Amazon in business...this purchase gave me a prime opportunity to try out my new Amazon Student account. Anyone who is a student (with an .edu email address) can sign up for this new type of account that Amazon is offering. By registering, you get a free year long trial of Amazon Prime which gives you free 2-day shipping. I always get super pumped and excited to receive my books once I order so I heart 2-day shipping. I have had this benefit for the past year through Amazon.de and it is absolutely glorious to receive stuff so quickly. Why waste gas going to the store with that type of service?
So in the spirit of getting my hands on some motivational/organizational reading for my return to teaching in the US, I ordered both of these...
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I will definitely post my thoughts/opinions once these bad boys are read, highlighted and properly flagged!
I love books more than chocolate....seriously. These beauties will be happily waiting for me upon my arrival on the 15th. Have I mentioned that I am not going to live in the dorm...I have a wonderful friend who has offered up her guest room and I was more than happy to forego walking down the hall to the bathroom that is shared between strangers and living in a box for a much more friendly place that comes with a super fun roomie :0)
If you wrote a book, what would it be about?
It's one of my life goals in addition to running a marathon, making a quilt, and being a super teacher/wife/someday mom
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