Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
2014 is just around the corner!

Last year I shared my New Year's FREEBIE from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.
Just in case you missed it I thought I would shared it again.

Please click on the picture below to get your FREE copy.

See you in January 2014!

Kathy

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

My warmest wishes to you and your family for a very Merry Christmas and a healthy Happy New Year!



Blessings!
Kathy

Favorite Easy December Party Snacks

Here are some of my favorite easy December party snacks.  Great for the classroom.

This one comes from the blog, Play Create Grow.  It's so cute.  The cookie recipe is included, but you can buy ready made cookies and just decorate them like melting snowmen. Please click on the picture to link to their blog.

The next one is a great way to get kids to drink water at a party.  How fun is it to drink a melted snowman? Lots of fun! The labels are on their blog, Come Together Kids, and ready to download and print. Please click on the picture to link to their blog.

Love this one.  String cheese decorated snowmen. There isn't a website to link to it.  Only a picture was available. But it looks easy enough to do just by looking at the picture.

The last one is also fun and easy. Snowman popcorn cups. Everyone enjoys popcorn!
Please click on the picture to link to their blog, Creative Kid Snacks.

Delicious! 

Enjoy!

Kathy

FREE - Christmas Light Template

Merry Christmas!
And Happy Holidays!

If you need a little something to help decorate your classroom for the holidays here is a FREE Large Christmas Light Template for your students to cut out, glue together, and add glitter to make it sparkle.

Please click on the picture below to download your FREE copy.
(Membership to Teachers pay Teachers is FREE)

Enjoy!

Kathy

Cyber Monday & Tuesday Sale

Love, love, love all the sales!
Shopping is so much fun!
Especially when you can shop online from home in your pajamas drinking a delicious cup of tea.

Here's how it works.
This Monday and Tuesday, Dec 2 & 3, is the big cyber sale.
Everything in my Teachers pay Teachers store is 20% off. Plus you get an additional 8% off by using the promo code: CYBER during check out.
That's 28% off! Wow!

Plus, if you use Promo Code: CYBER on any other TPT store purchases you will get 8% off.
So load up your cart and enjoy all the new teaching ideas and products you can use in your classroom.
Your students will love it!

Happy Cyber Shopping!

Kathy

Turkey Trouble

This is one of the best, funniest, turkey picture books around. I really enjoy reading it to kids.

Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

It is available on amazon. Please click on the picture to link.

Synopsis:
Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it's almost Thanksgiving . . . and you're the main course. But Turkey has an idea - what if he doesn't look like a turkey?
What if he looks like another animal instead?
After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever!

EXTENDING THE READING EXPERIENCE
After you have read the book to your students. (At least 50 times! Ha, ha!)
Follow up with an art activity.

I know many teachers send an outline of the turkey home and have their students decorate or disguise the turkey then bring it back to school to share or hang them up in their classrooms. Great idea!

I prefer to put a copy of the turkey at an art station and let the students complete the project of disguising the turkey during class time.

At the art station I put out crayons, markers, wiggly eyes, stickers, scraps of ribbon, scraps of construction paper, buttons, cotton balls, scissors, glue, and anything else I think might be fun to use.

I like listening to the students as they interact with each other and talk about all the possibilities of disguising their turkey.

Below is my sample. I used crayons to color the turkey and foam flower stickers to decorate it.

If you would like to print out a free copy of the turkey paper please click on the picture below.

It will take you to teachers pay teachers where you can download a free copy from Picture Book Reviews With Writing Connections.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kathy

P.S. Please read my post from last year about Turkey Claus, Wendi Silvano's second Turkey book. Please click on the picture.

Free Thanksgiving Clip Art

Looking for some cute FREE Thanksgiving clip art?

Teachers Pay Teachers has wonderful FREE clip art.
Membership is FREE.

Please click on the pictures below to link to the clip art.

Enjoy!

Kathy

Favorite Easy November Party Snacks

Last month I posted my favorite Halloween party snacks.
So for November, here are some of my favorite easy November party snacks.

This one comes from the blog, chickabug. It's cute, easy, healthy, and provides the free printable turkey. Please click on the picture to link with the blog.

The next one comes from the blog, second story window.  Graham cracker turkeys, yum!

Please click on the picture to link to the blog.

The last one comes from the blog, It's written on the wall.  They look delicious, acorn cookies. They are made with Nutter Butter cookies and Hersey kisses. Please click on the picture to link to the blog.

Yum, yum, yummy!

Enjoy!

Kathy

Turkeys in Halloween Out

Ready, set, go!
Before you know it 2013 will be over.

The holidays seem to come and go so quickly.
Next up is Thanksgiving.  Hello turkeys!

I found this cute coffee turkey craft on the blog, A Faithful Attempt.
It looks fun and interesting. I am going to give it a try.
Please click on the picture to link with the blog.

This turkey, on the blog Family Food and Travel, has interesting feathers.

Please click on picture for directions.

I have a turkey craft project available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store called Turkey Gobble Math Spin, Writing Prompts, & Turkey Craft. Please click below to have a look.

Have a wonderful day!

Kathy

Favorite Halloween Party Snacks

There are so many fun Halloween party snacks on Pinterest.

I have decided to post my winner and runner up.

This is my favorite one.
There isn't a link but just this photo.

This is my runner up. Easy and healthy. Please click on the picture to go to the original site.

Have fun!
Kathy

Life Cycle of a Pumpkin

There are lots of wonderful resources to help kids learn about pumpkins.

I think this YouTube video of the life cycle of a pumpkin is well done.  Please click on the picture below to have a look.

Enjoy,
Kathy

Children Make Terrible Pets

This book is so much fun! Love it!
Children Make Terrible Pets
By Peter Brown

Don't miss out on reading this book to your students. They will enjoy listening, giggling, and asking questions about it. (Ex.: Why does the bear have square ears?)

Book Synopsis:
Lucy is a young bear. She finds a critter in the forest.  The critter is a young boy.

She decides to take him home and make him her pet. But Lucy's mother is not happy.

Then Lucy's mom relents under one condition, Lucy takes the responsibility of taking care of this new pet.

Lucy agrees and names the critter, Squeak. They become inseparable and do everything together.

One day Squeak disappears. Lucy is devastated and goes on a hunt to find him.

Lucy finds Squeak but something has changed. Squeak is enjoying a picnic with his family. She realizes that Squeak belongs to his family.  Lucy learns a valuable lesson.

After reading this book a zillion times. (Just kidding. I told a student that I loved this book and he said, "Are you going to read it a zillion times?" "Yes, of course I am," I replied.)

I put together a comprehension, retelling, craft product to go along with the book.
The question and answer sticks are numbered sequentially so that the story questions are used not only to check comprehension but also to retell the story.

They can be used with whole group discussion, partners, or small group instruction.
Also, included is a fun craft. Students can make a Lucy and take her home to remind them of the story and the lesson Lucy learned.

If you are interested in this product, please click on the picture below to visit my TPT store.

Thank you for stopping by!

Kathy

Laugh Out Loud #11

I just love kindergarteners!

Their perspective of the world is so unique.

I was teaching a group of kinders how to write the number 5.

ME:  Draw the stick, draw the tummy, put the hat on. That's how to write the number 5.  Now you try it.

STUDENT:  I'm having trouble.

ME:  Okay. I'll help you. Let's do it together.  Draw the stick, draw the tummy, put the hat on. There, now you try it. Come on, give it a try.

STUDENT:  I'm still having trouble.

ME:  That's alright, just keep practicing. You'll get it.

STUDENT:  Oh brother, this is not high school!


You just gotta love em!
Kathy

Free Paper Plate Scarecrow

Scarecrows are a fun symbol of the harvest season. Children enjoy seeing all the different kinds of scarecrows; silly, scary, funny, and even cute!

This easy paper plate scarecrow art project gives kids the opportunity to show their creativity and have fun creating a scarecrow head. Their delightful scarecrow heads can be displayed in your classroom.

Each student needs one uncoated paper plate. Use the back side of the plate. Have students write their name on the inside of the plate.  Students paint the back side of the plate with yellow watercolor.

Complete directions and patterns are included in the FREE download.
Please click on the picture below to get your copy.

Happy Fall!

Kathy

Pumpkin Project Instead of Jack-O-Lantern

Maybe you have seen this on Pinterest or maybe not. So I am sharing it because I think it is a great project to do in the classroom.

This project comes from the blog, Growing in Pre K.
Please click on the picture below to link to their blog.

I think this can be done as a class project or each child can bring a small pumpkin for themselves.

Help each child cut off the lid of the pumpkin.
Do not scoop anything out of the inside. Throw the top away.
Spray the pumpkin with a mixture of oil of clove and water, inside and outside. Wipe the pumpkin down. This will help to stop mold from growing on the pumpkin.

Add a little soil and mix it with the seeds inside with your hand. Make sure some of the seeds are near the surface of the dirt.  Add just enough water to moisten the soil.

Then watch the seeds grow.  (Usually you can see a sprout in 5-7 days.) You probably won't need to water the plants because most of the moisture comes from inside the pumpkin.  Too much water will cause the pumpkin to mold and soften.

If the pumpkin starts to grow a little mold spray the pumpkin with a mixture of oil of clove and water again. Wipe the pumpkin down.

Once the pumpkin plants have sprouted the students can take them home and plant the entire pumpkin in their yard and then continue to watch it grow.

Students can write about their pumpkin project.

I have pumpkin shaped writing paper in my TPT product called Shape Templates. Write, draw, color, cut out, staple together. Please click below for more information.

If you are interested in a variety of additional templates, please click on the picture below to link to my TPT store.

Also, on the Growing in Pre K blog is a link to FREE life cycle pumpkin sequencing cards at the Montessori website. Please click on the picture below to print your copy.

Thank you to Growing in Pre K for sharing a wonderful, fun idea! You rock!
Kathy

We Will Never Forget 9/11

God Bless America

We will always remember! One nation under God!

Kathy

FREE Scarecrow Art & Writing

Last year I shared my scarecrow art. This year I have added a writing prompt to it, My Scarecrow's Job.
Please click on the picture below to get your FREE copy. Art and writing directions are included in the download.

This art and writing activity can be completed after reading any book that has scarecrows.
Here is a list of books you can read to your students before completing the art and writing.
Please click on the pictures below to link to amazon.com and read about each book.

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Scarecrow Pete by Mark Kimball Moulton

The Lonely Scarecrow by Tim Preston

The Scarecrow's Hat by Ken Brown

The Scarecrow by Gina Thompson

Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant

Fall is on its way!

Kathy

Laugh Out Loud #10

School has started for almost everyone.
Do you need a good laugh or a good cry?

Well, here is some humor that will surely cheer you up or brighten your day.

These teacher memes are from the blog spanishplans. They are soooooo funny. I had to share them with you.

Please click on the pictures below and it will link you to their post.
Read and enjoy. The year has just begun.
Onward ho!

Have a wonderful week!

Kathy

Word Family Center Work

Teaching word families can become quite boring. So I have decided to spruce up my word family center work. Instead of having the usual onset and rime cards, I have changed my word family worksheets to word family picture puzzles.

There are 2 levels, 6 piece puzzle or 9 piece puzzle. You can use whichever meets the needs of your students.
Here's the brain workout.
First students find and read the picture word hat (using the example from above) in the puzzle. Then they write the missing letter on the blank line that spells hat.
They cut out the puzzle pieces and glue them on the recording sheet to make a hat picture. Great eye-hand coordination practice.
Find and read the 10 __at family words. Pick two __at words and write sentences using those words. Color the picture. The last part they find and read a mystery __at word.
Lots of good practice to hear, see, and use word families in reading and writing.

If you would like more information please click below and visit my TPT store.

    

Power Up and Have a Great Day!
Kathy

Fabulous Back to School Sale

Teachers Pay Teachers
Fabulous Back to School Sale!

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to buy wonderful products for your classroom. TPT has thousands of innovative and creative materials that will excite and motive both you and your students.

GET UP TO 28% OFF!

AUGUST 18 - 19

Be sure to use promo code: BTS13

during check out.

Please come by and visit my TPT store.
All my products will be on sale - 28% off!
Come on over and join the fun!

Please click below to visit my TPT store.

Have a great school year!

Kathy

Character Traits - Library Mouse

Last week I posted about Amazing Adjectives.
This week I'm adding my Character Traits chart.

Why study character traits?
Because understanding and making inferences about character traits improves students' comprehension and inferencing skills.

I reduced my character trait anchor chart to a printable size. You can print it out and enlarge it.  Then use it with whole class instruction. Also, you can print it out and use it at centers. Please click on the picture to link to teachers pay teachers where you can download a FREE copy from Picture Book Reviews With Writing Connections.

The sample above is from the book, Library Mouse. Read the book in its entirety. Then read it again and brainstorm the character traits while you read the book and after you read the book.

Library Mouse is a cute book that inspires kids to write. Sam, the library mouse, lives in a small hole in the library. He enjoys reading all kinds of books.

One day he decides to write his own books and shares them with the library visitors. They love his books and want to meet him. But he is shy and hesitant about meeting them.

Sam comes up with a clever way to solve his problem by using a tissue box. He shows the kids that each one of them can become an author.

The book is available on amazon. Please click on the picture to connect to their website.

Happy Reading & Writing,
Kathy