Snow Family Parent Gifts

It's the time of the year where we give to others. Teaching students to give is so much fun. My goal was to create something cute and fun that kids can give to their families. I wanted it to be non-holiday specific, easy, and cheap.  I think they created something their families can treasure for years.

So, my students created these:

They are a snowman family that mirrors theirs. They were easy and fun to make. You can do it too! Here's how I did it.

First I got all my supplies. Some things you will already have. If not, Michaels to the rescue. Don't forget to use your teacher discount!

This year I needed some extra paint and to save myself a trip, I got the pom poms there too, although I just saw them at the Target dollar store.

The only part I need every year, are the following:

Canvas Panels. I get the 5 packs and this year I got 6 x 8. You can size up or down depending on what you want to have your kids make. 

Here is a supply list of everything you need:

pom poms or marshmallows

blue paint

white paint

Smaller amounts of other colors used for hats, faces, buttons, scarves, etc. 

large paint brushes

Q tips

canvas panels

ribbon

hot glue

First, cover the work space with newspaper. You're going to be splattering paint, so be ready.

Then, have the students paint the canvas blue. I like when it's a little streaky but it does look best when the streaks all go the same way. You can add white to your blue to make it the right blue for you. 

Then, using a paint brush, splatter white paint to look like falling snow. 

Some years I use marshmallows (because it's so FUN to paint with marshmallows) and some years I use pom poms. First, have the kids "sponge" on the snowy ground. Then have them "stamp" out their family. Typically I tell them adults are 3 "stamps," kids are 2, and babies are 1. Some kids like to add a pet which always turns out so cute, which is about 1 "stamp."

What you use to "stamp" out the family will depend on what size canvas you get.

Finally, they can use the Q tips to paint other colors to add accessories to their snowmen. 

 

This kid wanted to include his unborn sibling:

 

                                           How cute is that face on the mommy snowman? 😍

Once they are dry, the kids will write their messages, names, and year on the back. I will stick their picture on it and hot glue a ribbon to their masterpiece.

As a final touch, I sprayed an acrylic spray on top to help preserve them through the years. Also, I I had the kids write a note to their parents and attached a photo I took of them wearing a Santa hat. I cut up a white piece of cardstock into fourths and it fits perfectly on the back. It now is a lifetime treasure.


Next week, the kids will wrap these up and take them home. I love seeing how excited the kids are to give something to their families.


 

Happy holidays and happy teaching!

Top 3 Wishlist

It's that time again! Time for a TPT sale! Our entire store will be 20% off Nov. 28-29. You can save an extra 10% by using the code cyber2016.

Every time there is a sale, a little part of me worries I might be missing out on something awesome. To help people find some things that other people think are great, we've joined a linky of the top wish listed items.  Here are our top 3!

The Family History Project is one of my favorite ones to do with my students. It is a project that is done mostly at home and is easily adapted by the families' knowledge. Every kid completes the project feeling proud and like they learned something new and cool about their family. Plus, they look pretty cute when they are completed. 

Ever wanted to get your students engaged? Try a research project about natural disasters. Everyone is hooked. We live in California, so many of the children had little to no frame of reference for these disasters. We have heard from teachers who live where these events occur, that their students are just as engaged. I love when things are fun and trick students into learning don't you? 

In addition to writing a research report, the students in my class create a visual of some kind, and are responsible for teaching the rest of the class about their topic. Here are some kids working on their visual for Blizzards:

Some of the publishing that went on with this unit:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BUNDLE-Natural-Disasters-Weather-Close-Reads-1707594

You can read more about it here: One Year Ago Today

This unit hits so many standards and it does it with FUN! Kids look closely at different 3 Little Pig stories and are guided in comparing and contrasting them. Each book has an activity to go with it along with the compare and contrast activities. 

To conclude the unit, my students wrote some pretty amazing 3 Little Pig fractured fairy tales. These are some examples from my second graders.

Now that you've had a chance to check out our top Wish Listed items, head back to Daisy Designs to see other wish listed items. 

So Thankful

These are just a few of the things we are thankful for:

1. Awesome teacher friendships

2. Students who love to learn

3. Leggings

4. Family

5. Furry friends

6. Beautiful California

7. Donuts

There are so many things to be thankful for. These are just a few. 'Tis the season to remember how great life is.

Happy Resting! (Unless you host a family Thanksgiving party, then Happy Cleaning!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Although I know many teachers and students have this week off, we have 3 days! I plan to use these 3 days to practice our non fiction reading skills. And I'm going to use Thanksgiving to do it! And I am so thankful for easy prep, low maintenance ideas.

I love it because it is meaningful for the children, but also so easy to prep, full of fun, and everybody will be happy.

On Monday, I will be reading a couple of Thanksgiving Books.

These are some of my favorites. I want a diversity of presentations. This will help students have a frame of reference. We will discuss things that we hear most of them mention. We will talk about questions we have and HOPEFULLY this will lead to the students wanting to know more. (I love when they think a project is all their idea.)

Then I will be using these Thanksgiving Close Reads. There are 4 sections. I will assign each section to a group. Their job is to read and research their topic. They will start with the article I give them and will then add to their information, and check it, using the other resources we have. This includes other Thanksgiving books and the internet.

Students will work collaboratively to find a way to present their information. Depending on how they do with the first part, we may create a powerpoint presentation, or we may create a poster.

On Wednesday, students will presents their topics. Each section has a set of questions and an activity with it. After each presentation, all students in the class will complete the questions and activity as a way of proving mastery.

Wishing all of you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Back To School!

If you know E and K, you know we like to have fun while teaching and we like out students to have fun while learning. So, we designed a few things that help us have fun in our classrooms that are perfect for back to school. We bundled it all together to make it a little more fun because who doesn't like a bundle?

All of these things have little to no prep because we know how busy the school year can get. 

Here's what's in the bundle:

Thinking Maps- This is one of our top selling items in our store. So of course we had to include it! Thinking Maps are a great way for your students to organize and show their thinking. This activity practices all the thinking maps to create a book that is all about your students. Each student will have their own book. 

My favorite part of this activity is the final part! The students get to do their first research project about their classmate. They are responsible for reading a classmates book, doing further research with  an interview, and then they create a poster about their findings. They can present this to the class and BAM! Within the first few weeks, you have introduced, and practiced, all of the thinking maps, done research, and an oral report. Bonus, you all know each other a little better now. 

If you have Back to School Night or Meet the Teacher after school starts, this is a perfect thing to put out on student desks and keep parents busy while people are coming in. 

You can repeat this activity at the end of the year and see what changes have happened. 

We have included both the upper and lower grade versions in the bundle. 

Show and Tell: We know that kids love to share! Especially in the beginning of the year. They all have something to tell you and their friends. ALL THE TIME. So let's get it organized. This helps get your kids thinking of themes of their sharing and helps focus what discussions can come out of your sharing time. Bonus, it cuts down on the random, "I brought this from home, can I share it." Because everyone knows their time and their day to share. 

Birthday Book: What do you do to celebrate birthdays in your class? Get it sorted before school even starts! 

This is an easy thing to prep and put in your files. Each birthday, pull out the homework passes (pre-printed) and the pages you need to celebrate. I put each kid in front of the class, we sing happy birthday, and then we talk about them. We ask questions and gather information. Then, students write a quick message to the birthday kid. I give each one a post it and under the post it, they draw a gift they think the child would like. It's fun, gets the kids thinking about others, and best of all, they write!   Every kid walks away with a birthday book that is all about them and is full of kindness. 

I usually use some washi tape to bind it all together. 

Word Book: While we're talking about writing, let's get that ready too. Print out this word book for each student to use as a reference as they are writing. It is organized in ABC order, and has extra space for you to write in things they need spelled that aren't included.  This cuts out a lot of hand raising and questions. That way, while they are writing, you can do more meaningful things than spell words. 

Name Plates: Once you finally get your class list, quickly type their names into these and you'll be set. You can easily change them for kids like Timothy, who wants to be called Matt (seriously?!?). And, when new students come, no problem, just print a new one.

Includes two different versions in there so you can find the one that is right for your students and grade level.  

We hope you all have a fabulous start to your school year and that you have fun! Happy teaching!

Classroom Management

Classroom management can be tricky and it is something you want to establish right away. Routines and clear expectations is what helps the students thrive for the school year. And helps keep you sane!



I have tried a bunch of different ways of addressing misbehavior. I LOVE the idea of positive reinforcement and reteaching. That is my first form of action, however there are times when there are students who continue with "those behaviors."


 I am not a fan of publicly announcing the same child over and over for their misbehavior by having them flip their card, writing their name on the board and then checkmarks, or clipping the child down, down, down. But the clip chart is good for having chances and being able to get back to that behavior we all want. So I made the Personal Behavior Clip Chart that goes on the student's desk.



I have them clip up or down through the day. Other kids do not know and it is on visual to most. Also, you can give it and take it away. Simple as that. It is a good reminder for the kids who need it and it does not need to be your whole system for the whole class (when most don't need it).

Check it out here by clicking on the picture: It is FREE!

Happy Teaching!

Student Birthdays Made Easy!

There is always so much going on in the classroom. Adding birthdays on is not always top priority and is something can be easily missed. I LOVE celebrating birthdays, and when I was in school my birthday was always a summer birthday and I was sad I never got to celebrate in class like all the other kids. So I decided when I was a teacher that I would make sure to celebrate all the kids' birthdays. However, I wanted to make this as EASY as possible.

So... I made a birthday unit that is fun and the kids love it. I prep everything over the summer, so all I have to do is place it on the student's desk when it is their birthday. We even celebrate half birthdays!

On their desk in the morning is a small "prize." I like to use a birthday pencil or a fun eraser and a NO HOMEWORK coupon. :)



The students then get to make a birthday card for the birthday boy or girl. I then turn this into a book when they are all done.

The birthday boy or girl gets to call on kids to ask "birthday" questions. I record these on the board and then the students get to make a card, which is a great thing to teach them to do and so fun! The kids get to write a note and then draw their "gift" under a post it note. Then the "gift" is "wrapped up" and the birthday boy or girl is surprised.

Click HERE to check out the unit.

Happy Teaching!

Birthday Sale!

It is E and K's birthdays this summer and we want to celebrate with you! We have our whole store on sale from June 11-July 9. Come and check it out! New items will be appearing soon!

Happy Summer!!

Do you GoNoodle?

Spring Fever has hit my class hard. It happens every year. Kids forget the rules, they talk nonstop, and they wiggle. But they are also able to do so much....it's simply amazing. So to harness that Spring Fever energy, we use GoNoodle.

For those of you who don't know, GoNoodle is a website that has kid friendly and safe brain breaks. Most are about 2-5 minutes. Some are shorter some are longer. Each video you and your kids do they earn credit toward their Champ. For every ten, the champ changes and get stronger. The kids absolutely love it.


When we GoNoodle:
Transition Time...Switching from Phonics to Writing?

Rewards...Everyone made their goal? We all have really clean desks? You get the picture.

Spring Shower Rainy Days? Indoor recess just got easier? Thanks GoNoodle!

Give it a shot if you haven't yet. Click here to sign up!