Kindness Elves

Kindness is a social skill that I teach in my classroom.  What does it look like, sound like, and how can we achieve it.  This year my class took part in a Wrinkled Heart lesson.  Take a look at these two sites to learn about it more thoroughly.

Bully prevention

Wrinkled Heart with Chrysanthemum

I did use the story of Chrysanthemum to help my children understand the concept.  This lesson did have a great impact with many of the kiddos.  However, kindness is not something that should just be discussed in one day and then forgotten.  Shortly after this lesson, I purchased 2 locker rugs to use in my classroom.  (It really does baffle me as to why anyone would ever need a rug in his/her locker.  But they definitely work well in my room!)  We designated these our Peace Rugs.  As a class demonstration two students modeled how to use these rugs.  When a child's heart is wrinkled they may ask their friend to chat on the peace rug.  By using I feel statements, they then can share what upset them.  So far, these rugs have really helped some of the kiddos take the initiative to solve their own small problems.  Our next step with these rugs will be determining the appropriate time to use them.  (I have a few kiddos who are so sneaky!  They use the rugs during class time to just chat with their friends.)

In my district, Elf on the Shelf is a tradition in some of the classrooms.  Honestly, he is a super cute idea, but I really feel that he is more of an at home deal.  When I found an idea for a Kindness Elf from The Imagination Tree blog, I knew that this was the type of elf I could incorporate into my classroom.  The one thing missing, however, was a book.  I am a sucker for introducing concepts with a book.  So, I wrote one!  

Teaching in the Tongrass created these adorable kindness elf clip art that I used in my story!  They worked perfectly.  Included with the book (there is a story that features a girl elf, and one that features a boy elf) are task cards that could be left each morning when your students get to school.  Most of them are easy tasks like smiling at others or using manners.  Some of them involve a little more work- baking cookies or drawing a picture.  Take a look at a few of the pictures and then visit my store if you would like more information!

I found my elf from the ornament section in Target.  And, naturally I went all out and purchased a fairy door from Hobby Lobby.  (But, I think I will save painting it for another year.)

Enjoy!

I'm Still Here!

Boy!  It has been a while.  I am sure that those of you who have switched grades know that sometimes it takes a little bit to feel in control again!

I would love to post right now and share all of these wonderful and amazing ideas that I have been incorporating into my class- but, alas, right now I am just figuring things out!  I do know one thing though... I love kindergarten!

Here are my top 5 I just started teaching kindergarten must haves:

1. Dr. Jean's Tootsie Roll attention grabber.  I will be completely honest, that I probably use this one way too much during the day.  But, it is easy to remember and the kiddos are still responding to it!

Click here for Dr. Jean's Tootsie Roll! 


2. The Learning Station's You Tube channel for much needed Brain Breaks.  There are many times we just need to move.  These songs are great!  The children really enjoy them and are 100% percent engaged!  For most of my kiddos, it is just what they need to get back into learning.

Our favorite song so far is the Body Boogie song.  Especially when we get to do the air guitar!

Body Boogie

3. Google Drive.  This has been a lifesaver in sharing lesson plans with my team.  I can access our plans anywhere.  And if you know my organizational skills (ahem. lack there of), you would also know that I can never find my printed version when I need it.  So, thank you Google Drive!

4. The book, Teaching with Love and Logic.  I have read and utilized the strategies in this book before.  But I was overdue for a refresher course.  When I remember this language, my day is much smoother!

5. Puppets.  Let's be real, having a puppet teach math to you is MUCH better than having your teacher teach it.  I don't get it- but, hey, at least we all can now compare numbers!


Thanks for stopping by! 

Classroom Reveal... Finally!

Kindergarten has started!  And, on this beautiful Saturday morning I slept in a little longer than normal. (Well, actually a LOT longer.  9:00 AM.  Oops!) Now, with coffee in hand, I am bound and determined to catch up in the blogging world!  I am absolutely loved my first week as a Kinder teacher.  There are a few challenges I am figuring out in my transition from 3rd grade.  But, I cannot wait to do so!

I promised classroom pictures a few weeks ago.  And, that never happened.  But, better late than never!

My classroom library is my favorite place in our room.  I still need a wider selection of books, but for now we will be ok!  In my third grade room, I had a huge window that overlooked the playground.  My new room no longer has this luxury.  :(  Not wanting to let my curtains go to waste I created a makeshift window.  As the year progresses, I intend to change up the seasons.  Fall is coming up quick, I better get started on making leaves!

I mentioned in an earlier post that creating felt board pieces became a stress reliever in college.  This past summer, I decided that my classroom needed a felt board, too! 

Throughout the year, my students and I create the posters that go on our bulletin boards together.  That is why, so many of my boards are blank.  They will be filled in no time!

I am so thankful that my classroom has a bathroom.  This little turtle helps my students know when it is ok to enter the bathroom.  They just flip the sign to Stop or Go.  

Because I am positive that you see it, ignore the crookedness of my schedule.  I define myself as being a perfectionist, but by the time I got to posting the schedule I needed to let something go.  When I realized it was crooked, I had to force myself to be ok with it.

I have many more pictures to share, but I am going to save a few for later as they could have a whole post to themselves.  Check back soon!

Classroom Sneak Peak

The countdown to the school year has begun.  It has been a busy week!  I have spent a great deal of time in my classroom- working as fast as I can to get it done.  And it is definitely getting closer, but not enough for a big reveal.  I do not think you would want to see it quite yet anyways.  My floor is covered with border, bulletin paper, and random scraps. ;)

However, there is one area I have almost completed: my library!  I always try to make my library the focal point of the room, so I spend quite a bit of time there.  You might notice that my bookshelf looks a little bare.  I wasn't left books for a classroom library; therefore, it is going to be my first priority to buy more books once the room is done.  Hopefully, then, I will be able to put up some labels and better organize the shelves!

Ta da!  Here it is!

My room doesn't have a window this year, but I just COULD NOT let my cute curtains go to waste so I tried to "recreate" outside through a handmade window.  It is very cartoon like, but I think it works.  I am still going to add flowers and cover the brown wood door with paper.

Check back again next week for more reveal pictures!

Kindergarten froggies and Summer craziness!

Oofta!  This summer has just flown by.  And, just like every other teacher, I am getting ready for the start of the new school year.  

Like the past several years, I taught summer school again.  I have to say that I am sure blessed to be able to teach one of the incoming kindergarten classes.  I got to know several kiddos that will be in my class come fall.  It also helped me begin my transition from 3rd grade down to kindergarten.  We all had a blast this summer!

Our three week session was divided into 3 learning adventures: space, ocean, and rainforest.  We sang songs, practiced alphabet and number skills, talked about expectations, made crafts, and more importantly- got to know one another.  During our rainforest study, the favorite song was a cute song video from YouTube.  It is called Walking In the Jungle.  Check it out!  It was a great movement break.

Another favorite craft  were these cute paper plate frogs.  It took 2 days to accomplish this task.  

Day 1 we looked at tree frog pictures and learned some pretty cool facts about them.  Then the kiddos chose a paint color and painted their paper plate.  

Day 2 we added all of the important details: legs, eyes, tongue.  My students needed to match the same color body with the frog's legs.  After that, it was up to them to use crayon to add dots or other fun features that they saw in the rainforest frog images.

They turned out so incredibly cute; I just had to share!

I love the one who turned the tongue into a nose!

I have been super busy getting my classroom ready.  Cross your fingers that I can finish this week because, I bought a house this week!  I want to make sure that I can get things fixed up in there before the start of the school year!

Wish me luck!

Back to School Sale

I'm having a SALE!

All of my products will be 20% off!  Please take a look around and enjoy.  

I also linked up with Blog Hoppin!  Hop on over to their page for many more wonderful products, blogs, and teachers!

Felt characters and Word Wall Heading FREEBIE!

Well, hello!  It has been a long time since I have posted, I guess summer festivities have been getting in the way.  My summer has been busy with tutoring the sweetest girl.  Working with her has been perfect as she has just ended kindergarten and is getting ready for first grade.  Let me tell you, there are some amazing products and ideas for teaching this age group on Teachers Pay Teachers!  I have to use great restraint to not purchase everything I see.

We have had many rainy days and super, intense storms here in my neck of the woods which have led to many days spent indoors.  And, while that is a bummer, it is allowed me to be super productive in getting ready for my first year teaching kindergarten.  But before I show you what I have been working on, take a look at these spectacular clouds left over from one of our last storms.

In college, I relaxed by making felt board characters for retelling stories.  So, these rainy days have allowed me to make many more characters.  I just realized my camera is not working, so I will have to post more pictures of the complete sets- but here you go!  

Pinkalicious

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie

I also am working on a Pete the Cat set.  I am having way too much fun!

In addition to my felt board craftivities, I have also been working on my classroom decorations.  I am absolutely in love with my classroom alphabet posters.  Here is a sneak peak- as they will be available on TPT in the upcoming weeks.

For this project I played with some of my own clip art and borders, as well as using borders, clip art, and font from mycutegraphics.com, Rowdy In Room 300, and Ms. Fultz's Corner.  Check out what they have!

When I am done creating my classroom decoration sets, it will all be available on my TPT store.  It will have pretty much everything you need to get a good start in your classroom!  (Name plates, number cards, the above alphabet posters, etc!)  

But, what I do have for you today is a FREEBIE!  I finished my word wall headings last night and am just too excited about them to wait.  I received quite a bit of help from my boyfriend in figuring out Adobe Illustrator so that I could create my own borders.  You will see them in these headings.  Please note that I did not create the page sized borders.  My borders are the polka dot circle borders that are used for the actual headings!  Click on the picture to get your free download!

Enjoy!

-Heidi