Thinking Ahead...

Although the new school year is still several weeks away... I'm thinking ahead as to how to make some improvements to my kindergarten schedule.   Last year I found myself... well... UNSATISFIED with how the end of each school day went.   I felt like I was missing a good, cohesive way to bring the class together, build community...yet get all of the last minute jobs done!  In previous years, our principal would come on the intercom system and share special announcements and lead the whole school in an end of the day prayer.  (Remember, I teach at a private, Lutheran school.)  Well, last year we welcomed a new principal... and some new procedures as well... so no more all-school closing.  I spent last year trying different things... honestly, most of them a bit randomly... and I just was not satisfied.  {If you know me at all... I work best within a well organized, well planned schedule.}  So, I knew I needed to come up with an effective, organized...yet simple and realistic plan for wrapping up our school day with prayer.   Well if you've spent a year in the kindergarten "trenches" yourself, you already know that just asking for "volunteers" doesn't work well.  You instantly have 23 hands in the air.... usually only about 3 of those kiddos actually have on-topic answers for you... and when you call on ONE child...you have 22 others either pouting, or yelling, "HEY!   You NEVER call on me!"   

So, last night I whipped up this....

Basically, you can type in your kiddos' names on the edit-able name strips, print, trim and laminate for durability.  Print and tape on a "Prayer Friends" label to your favorite container.  Place the name strips inside.   Each day choose one student's name and have that student share who/what he/she would like to pray for that day.  Depending on the age of your students, the child could lead the prayer.... or you could lead the prayer based on his/her requests.  Place the name cards that have been chosen into another container, which has the label "Waiting for my next turn!" on it.  Continue calling names each day until all names have been called and moved over to the "Waiting for my next turn!" container.... then return all names to the "Prayer Friends" container and begin again!   

Just a SIMPLE little way to allow everyone a turn to share-in-prayer...

in an organized, efficient way!

Container Label Examples

" Edit-able" labels which you can type student names upon!

LOTS of fun colors and patterns to mix and match!

Click here to check it out in my TPT store!

Favorite Pins Friday!

I'm linkin' up with the fabulous and beautiful Cara Carroll {First Grade Parade} to bring you my favorite pins from this week!   Oh, how I love PINTEREST.   

**LuV**LuV**  It's like window shopping for the soul.  

So with no further adieu... 

Here are my TOP FIVE FAVs for the week!  

{If you like 'em... Follow me on Pinterest... and then join this "LiNkY" and post your FAVs too!}

#1

Example of W.B.T. (Whole Brain Teaching) in action!  

I've been dabbling in WBT for the last year...but am super excited to "step it up" this year!  I have been reading the new WBT book this summer {have read it twice so far this month} and love that this movement has REALLY caught on!  I look forward to sharing ideas with other great bloggers, like DeeDee Wills on this subject!  If you don't know what I'm talking about...just watch the video.  If you like it...follow the pin!

#2

New Classroom Decor Inspiration!

Found this AWESOME Etsy seamstress this week who I LOVE, love, LoVe!!!

She is super sweet and talking with her she agreed to custom design several new items for my classroom!  I CAN NOT wait to see the new pennant window toppers, bulletin board toppers, table runners, etc!    If you like what you see...follow the pin to see many, many more patterns and designs.  And don't forget...she loves custom orders!

#3

Stylish Family Meal Planner

Take a peek at this little jobbie! <-- I know that is not a "real" word...but I do use it from time to time when I'm excited!  Did ya'll notice that it is CHEVRON?!     :)   Luv!   Luv!

But seriously people, I'm already dreading the "back to school" hectic-ness of evening meal planning.  You should know that  I am NOT a gourmet cook...but I am a fair one.  However, I always seem to get stuck in "ruts"... and when I'm running full steam, I find it more frustrating to DECIDE what to make for dinner...than actually making it.  So... every Sunday this school year, I plan to add this little "jobbie" into our weekly Sunday family meeting.  

#4

Strawberry Lemonade

I made this delightful beverage...and loved every drop!  YUM!

#5

Beautiful Jewelry!!!

Ok... I gotta be honest.  This is MY pin... and these pieces are sitting on my dresser right now!  Not only do I LOVE them... but friends, they were ULTRA INEXPENSIVE!  {I didn't pay more than $8 for any of these SETS and the quality is pretty nice!!!)   If you are a jewelry girl...you gotta take a minute to follow this pin's link!   I will share my "SECRET" supplier!   It will become your FAVORITE!!!

Ok... That's it for tonight!  Can't wait to see what YOUR favorite "pins" are for this week!  
Be sure to "link" up by clicking here... or on the "Favorite Pins Friday" button at the top of this post!

Classroom Decor Ideas!

 I know it's only the first week of July...but if you are like me, you are already thinking about your classroom décor for the upcoming school year.   Personally, I'm in LOvE with CHEVRON!   So, I've been on a mission to find THE BEST chevron accessories out there.  I've seen some cute chevron paper "printables" on TPT.  While they ARE super-cute.... (and I do plan to accessorize my room with some of them)... I was really seeking something more "substantial" to really POP and anchor my new classroom décor theme.  Well... I FOUND IT!

Check out this beautiful, fabric

Chevron Rainbow Pennant!!!

Love! LOVE! Love!

 

Oh... It was love at first sight!   As I spent the evening admiring it's beauty.... AND it's price (only $17.50!!!)... I began envisioning coordinating bulletin board toppers, shelf "runners", and on and on.   So, then I did what every good teacher does in a moment of inspiration.... I messaged that heavenly seamstress and asked her to consider to custom design those dreamy items for my classroom!  :)

 

Well... She doesn't call her Etsy shop "Sweet Delights" for nothing, people!

She happily (and promptly) agreed!   AHHHH!  So excited!

Seriously kinder-peeps... She is the best!   I had many, many special requests for her and she joyfully accommodated them all...at an incredible price!

 

SO..... What I am saying is that ya' all need to get your teacher-selves on over to visit Sweet Delights on Etsy! 

 

(Click on the image below for the link!)

 

 

Check out some of the other décor products below.  The patterns alone will inspire you!  And feel free to ask her to customize an order for you! 

Share your ideas.... I'll bet she can make them come to life!  

 

 

 

 

 

She also makes many other cute items like these:

 

 

 

 

I know you will fall in LoVe...just like I did!

Happy Shopping!

 

 

 

I can't wait until my custom order arrives!  I'll take lots of pics and post them for you all!

Sunday Smorgasbord!

Well... It's Sunday.  You know... the day that "Sunday Night Nervous Belly" usually strikes.  (I've called it that since I went through student teaching.  The "weight on your back" feeling of knowing you have to finish prepping for the instructional week ahead.) But, my dear sweet kinder-blogging friends, it is SUMMER! AHHH!   Don't you just LOVE summer break?  I do!   I love feeling a bit less stressed than usual... and often find my mind pondering multiple, un-related things all at one time.  Like a "Smorgasbord" -- A little bit of this... A dash of that... And a whole bunch of random.  So in celebration of "Sunday Smorgasbord" thinking (compliments of "Fab*u*lous in First") here are some of my random thoughts from today:

Random Thought #1

Only two weeks until I am in sunny Las Vegas with my bloggy friends... filling my brain with new kinder-info!  I'm getting ready to pre-print and bind my session handouts to take with me.  And look-y here!  That wonderful DeeDee Wills has created these (below) snappy little binder/packet covers so that we can all be organized...and classily-cute at the same time!  Click on the pic to get your free download!  (If you are going to Vegas too...be sure to sign up for the "I Teach K" blogger meet-up.  See my post from last week!)

Just click on the image above to be linked to DeeDee's page.  

You can choose what format you would like to download there!

Random Thought #2

I love cute jewelry!!!  What gal doesn't, right?   The only thing that can be better than cute jewelry is INEXPENSIVE, cute jewelry!   Take a look at these super cuties I got this week!! (Pictures aren't the best...I just snapped them off with my iPhone quickly!)

Every set (necklace AND earrings come together) was $8 or less!!! Shut the front door, right?!  My super secret jewelry supplier can be found at www.sammoon.com.   Girls, give me an OH YEAH!!!  (If anyone places an order, be sure to send me pics of your favorite finds!  They have purses too!!!)

What are your random thoughts for today?  

Share them with us!  Link up by clicking on the Sunday Smorgasbord Button at the top of this post! 

Add a Little Art Enrichment!

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My school was one of the very last in the state to end this year, so I am just now enjoying my second week of summer break.   May was crazy.  You know how it is... crazy-in-a-good-way.   I did my best to focus all my energy on making every last day with my kinder-babies count!  One of my favorite end-of-the-year activities is our...

 If you have been following my blog for a while, you probably already know that over that past few years I have worked to create my own type of "art enrichment" program called "Artist of the Month."  Every month we devote one half-day to learn about a specific master artist, his/her unique style of art, his/her master works, and special techniques.  This program originated in my heart....as I truly do love art... both creating art and simply appreciating the great art works of others.   With the help of my best friend (who is also one of my instructional assistants -- I know! Right?! How blessed am I?!),  we have developed what we believe to be a pretty outstanding program.  (And one of the best parts is that it's actually a realistically "do-able" program for ultra busy teachers too!)   Each month, we begin our "Artist of the Month" time with a multi-media SmartBoard presentation which introduces the kiddos to the focus master artist, his/her background, famous works, special techniques and mediums, etc.  (All age-appropriate of course! For example, we do study Vincent VanGogh.  We do NOT discuss how he cut off his ear at the K level!)

These are some pics from our Vincent VanGogh introduction.   Note that we like to keep our introductions engaging!  On this day, our principal agreed to dress up like VanGogh!  Notice his palette and straw hat with lit candles (Ok, ours are battery-powered!).

(These pictures are from our Mondrian day.  We brought yellow, red and blue to life, didn't we!  Hee!  Don't I look good in a blue wig?!  Ack!  We extended the lesson with Mondrian inspired cookies before diving into creating our own Mondrian styled works!)

 After that, we are fully inspired to create our own works of art using the style and techniques we just learned about.  We spend the next hour with our sleeves up... creating our own breathtaking masterpieces!  I can not express how much THE KIDS love this program.   (To my surprise it is often the sport-minded boys who most often ask, "Can we have Artist of the Month today?")  Every month I post the kiddos' masterpieces in my classroom "Kinder-Gallery" (an area above the lockers in my room).

When we switch out the gallery displays and take down the prior month's art, I do NOT let the kids take home their art.  I keep it until the end of the year because we hold our big "Kinder-Gallery Art Show."    This is THE BEST!   Not only do we take over the gym and turn it into a realistic art gallery; art matted and hung everywhere, clothed tables with fancy "champagne" glasses full of grape juice and "artsy" foods like grapes and cheese & crackers, and classical music filling the air.... but we also do something else that is extra-"techy"-special!   In May, we break the kiddos into small groups based on their favorite artists and each group makes their own artist mini-movie on one of our iPads.   The day of the show, we invite friends and family to our room (it's wall to wall, standing room only folks!) where we show the mini-movies...and then invite everyone to see our own master artist inspired art works at the show.  The movies are AWESOME!  I can not post them online, due to privacy issues.  But it you are interested, email me and I will give you access to view them!  :)  I can walk you though what you need to know to create your own.  You'll be amazed!


We began implementing this program during the 2011-2012 school year, just in my class.   The first grade teacher saw how much the kids and parents LOVED the program...and we expanded it to include both kindergarten and first grade this past year.   After seeing it in action, the third, forth, fifth and seventh grade teachers at my school have asked us to help create and implement the program in their rooms!   I'm so excited!!!  And actually.... SO blessed that my friend/assistant loves art as much as I do and is now spear-heading the program!

If you are interested to learning more about how to add a little art enrichment into your kinder-schedule, be sure to post a comment or email me!  I would be happy to share our ideas, and resources with you!  Below you will find a few pics from our Kinder-Gallery Show.  Enjoy!

Piet Mondrian Inspired Art

Art inspired by Freida Kahlo.  Can you believe how well 5 year olds can draw birds!? Crazy good!

Check out these Georgia O'Keefe kindergarten works!   :)

Water lilly inspired works.  Thank you Claude Monet!

POP ART inspired by Andy Warhol!  These were a little freaky...but this kids LOVED them!  They were SO different than anything else they had ever created before!

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You Gotta' Join Us!!!

Psst...   

  Yes, YOU!  Did you know I have the secret of how to RE-CHARGE your teaching?    It's true!  If you are looking to invest in becoming the BEST teacher you can be.... You have to join me and the BEST KINDER-TEACHERS in the country for the SDE "I-Teach K" conference in Vegas!    Are you planning to go?   Or... are you daring enough to get in on planning a last minute summer get-away that will change you as a teacher FOREVER?!
  Just do it!  

And then be sure to join us for an awesome K blogger meet-up!  Check it out!

Thank you to The Teacher Wife for the cute button!

 

 

Don't forget to RSVP for this meet-up {here}

See you there!