Back to school

It's almost that time of year again!  I'm having very mixed feelings about going back after spending all day, every day with my sweet Rae.  A huge part of me just wants to stay at home with her and, not going to lie, homeschooling her through kindergarten has crossed my mind.  I'm so in love with showing her new things, making her nutritious breakfasts and lunches, reading whichever books she hands me, and just watching her grow up in front of me.  This summer has been so rewarding and I don't want it to stop.

But I know that I love teaching kindergarten.  I remember being so thankful for a career that I love and being surrounded with children that I love even more.  I remember the times that I laughed so hard my principal peaked her head in to see what was so funny.  I remember feeling the love from heartfelt "thank you's" from parents and former students.  Teaching really is the most rewarding career I could have chosen and I am forever grateful for the opportunity to touch so many lives.

I decided to take a walk down memory lane today to try to bring all of those great memories to the forefront again.  Trying to help myself prepare for the weeks coming up ever so soon.  These are a few of my favorite moments from my classroom...

This is one of my very favorite back to school activities where the kids listen to No David then write about what David can do in the classroom.  This student thought that David can play and listen to the teacher.  Precious!

These are a beautiful way of teaching the children about community.  Each layer is a different part, starting with "self" and ending with "state".

Experimental play is so crucial in kindergarten!  I like putting magnets out in the beginning of the year.

Real world objects are fun and what can be more fun than comparing and contrasting pumpkins at Halloween!?

I loved watching my students complete my first worksheet that I ever made for Teachers Pay Teachers.

My favorite graph of all time!  I still have this folded up in a cabinet.

 Fostering a love of books is one of my main goals as a teacher of young children.  Here, they are drawing the covers of their favorite books in preparation for book reviews.

This is my all time favorite bulletin board display.  We started off our Spring unit on plants with a reading of the book Tops and Bottoms and made our own garden with descriptions of what each plant is, like "flower", "root", or "stem".

 This was a Pinterest victory!  Sight words scroll by on a digital picture frame. 

 These chick glyphs are so silly, what's not to love?

 I love to listen to students working cooperatively.  Here, they are writing about their favorite part of Bear Snores On.

Our countdown to the last day of school is legendary with a small strip of paper inside each balloon detailing a quick and fun activity for the day.  

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Compliment Snaggers

I've been feeling icky lately and nothing seems to be cheering me up.  However, tomorrow I will be subbing for an elementary class and those little kiddos always seem to know just how to make me smile.  Nothing cheers up your whole day better being told that you're pretty, or how much they like your shirt, or your necklace, or your shoes.  Seriously, those cuties are chock full of compliments.  

This is a note that I received from a former student.  He always had a hard time writing, he could never find the right words and would usually never write much. 

This day, however, he found the right words to bring tears to my eyes.

I'm in a rambling mood tonight, apparently.  I really just wanted to show off some ideas for snagging more compliments.  Colorful items are always winners in elementary schools!  Click the photos to see how to make these for yourself.

Alisa Burke

Blue Cricket

Blue Cricket

No Plain Tees - Etsy

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Valentine craft

This is mostly just a note-to-self kind of post.  I SO want to do this with my own class of kids.  Wouldn't parents just absolutely love receiving this valentine?  I love how simple and relatively easy to clean up this craft is... just be sure to do it right next to a sink for quick hand washing!

Click on the image to see full instructions. Pin It Now!

Fish-in-a-bag Soap

I love this! From Little Birdie Secrets, found via One Pretty Thing.
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Trick or treat

Treats! Oh, treats please!

Ghoulish Petits Fours

Little Devil

Monster Pops

But maybe a little trickery later... I'm going to keep my eyes open for dog and cat masks in the stores. How chic to go to a party as Holly and 'Fred'!

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Wee Green Spot

Now this Green Tea with Lichen is just sickeningly cute....



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Homemade Cards

There are two things that I really love: making pretty things and being thrifty. Ok, maybe I don't love being thrifty... but penny pinching is a must these days. The craft I did today utilizes both concepts. I just love the idea of making something especially for people that I care about.

Here's what you'll need....

Coordinating textured cardstock and scrapbooking paper
A tool to cut straight edges, I love my Cutterpede
Stickers or something decorative
Glue stick
Circular items found around the house
Scissors


Step 1

Cut a piece of cardstock in half to make 2 pieces (6"x12")

Step 3 and 4

Fold into thirds, be sure to keep the texture on the outside of the folds.
With the texture facing the table, center a round object on the middle section of the cardstock.
Trace and cut out with scissors (I find it's easier to make an X in the center with an exacto knife or the blade of the Cutterpede and then use that opening to cut out the hole).


Step 5 and 6

Cut out a piece of scrapbooking paper that is larger than the hole you just cut, leaving enough room to glue onto the cardstock.
Glue onto cardstock.


Step 7

Fold over one side taking into account the location of the cutout, this is where you'll need to make the decision for whether you want your card to open side to side or up and down. The folded over side (with the peek-a-boo hole) will be the front of your card.
Glue folded side onto the back of the peek-a-boo hole to neatly hide it.

Step 8


I like to add a slightly smaller circle of plain white cardstock to make a nameplate. Then decorate it to your
heart's content!

Tip: My larger circle was made with the top of a glass, the smaller circle was made with the bottom end.

Add your own personal inscription.

Ta Da!

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Rubber band pennant stamp

This is one of the neatest ideas I've seen in a long time. So creative and inexpensive too!

I like the idea of using this to honor my future students with a "Great Job" pennant banner.

Get full directions on Just Something I Made.



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Candy Sushi... who woulda' thought

Way too cute for their own good! These little candy sushi rolls are seriously my favorite thing ever, thank you Sage Mommy for finding this idea.



This clever idea came from Mommy Knows. The rolls are made from Rice Krispie treats, filled with gummy candy, and wrapped in Fruit Roll-Ups.
















Check out the Swedish Fish! Pin It Now!