New Valentine Pack for 20171

My new Valentine Fun Pack is now available on TPT.  It contains 7 items from my old Valentine Fun Pack Freebie Pack (that's no longer available) PLUS 13 new activities!!  You students will have lots of fun and engaging activities for Valentine's Day.  I hope you'll check it out!!

Click on the link to purchase on TeachersPayTeachers!

SWEET Ideas for Valentine's Day!

If you haven't gotten this Valentine Fun Pack FREEBIE, it's worth it!  This pack has 4 Language Arts and 3 Math activities (minimal prep) for your students.  This is a great resource if you need something quick and easy to print.  

These students are working on the VALENTINES rhyming book from my Valentine Fun Pack FREEBIE.  This book has sight word recognition, along with handwriting practice… which is something we work on daily in my class in some shape or form!  The kids get to color the book too.  :)

VALENTINES Rhyming Book

Working on Number Addiction in class!  This is one of the Math activities in the Valentine Fun Pack FREEBIE!  

Just print the little people cards on card stock and laminate. Cut them out and place them at a Math Center to use with the Number Addiction recording sheet.

Number Addiction Math Activity

These other pictures below are activities they my students do each year in my classroom…

  Children can practice sequencing by gluing different size and colored hearts in order from largest to smallest.

Valentine Sequencing

We made pattern placemats for our Valentine party!  This is something I do in my classroom every year…. and for most holiday parties.  To make a Valentine placemat, the kids just glue little hearts around the edge of a 9x12 piece of construction paper.  My UT intern cut larger hearts but I've used the Elison die-cut machine to cut mini hearts, too!  Any small size will work just fine.

Valentine Placemats

My kids ABSOLUTELY love this next Valentine activity…. and parents love it MORE!  The kids make a scrap box paper self-portrait called "I Have a Heart of Gold!"  This is actually a creativity that goes with an "Opinion Writing" piece that my students write.  The children make a picture and then get to add a real "glitter" gold heart (glitter foam cut into a heart shape) on their picture (naturally, on the left side of their shirt)!!  I have a story starter on my ActiveBoard that my kids can copy if they want.  It says. "I think I have a heart of gold because…..". However, I have several students that are very independent writers and come up with the first sentence by themselves.  I encourage my kindergartners to write at least 2 sentences.  But, as you can see, I have some over-achievers!! 

"I Have a Heart of Gold!" Writing Activity (Opinion Writing)

I hope you've got some good ideas that you can incorporate into your classroom!  

Thanks for stopping by and please FOLLOW ME!!

Happy Almost Valentine's Day!

We've already started our Valentine's Day activities in my kindergarten class!  We're anticipating some "dreaded" snow days next week, so I wanted to get a jump start on all my activities.  I have just finished my newest Valentine Fun Pack FREEBIE on TPT and I will post pictures soon of all the activities!  It includes 4 ELA and 3 Math activities that are appropriate for K-2 grade.

Click on the link below to go to TPT for this FREEBIE! 

Click HERE to download on TPT.

Day 100 Writing Activity!!

Hi Everyone!

The 100th Day of School is approaching fast!  Here's a cute little writing activity that you can use in your classroom.  This writing activity is a great compare and contrast practice sheet.  Just click on the link to this FREEBIE below:



Click here for your free download!

GONOODLE for GREAT Brain-breaks!!!!!

Oh my goodness!  If you haven't jumped on the GoNoOdle bandwagon…… you need to jump on it fast!  This website has all I need to give my kindergartners (and myself!) a brain-break during the day.  This website is also great to use as a transition from one activity to another.  GoNoOdle  has Zumba, skits, songs, indoor recess activities, and MORE!  The activities range from about 2 - 14 minutes, depending on what you pick…. But, the best part is watching your class avatar transform as you gain points from completing the activities!

Click HERE to go to GoNoOdle!

Santa Shapes

Ohhhhhhhhhh, 
You'd better watch out,
You'd better not cry,
You'd better not pout,
I'm telling you why….. Santa Claus is coming to town!

Let your kindergartners make this cute little "SHAPE SANTA" for the holidays.  I just cut triangles, rectangles, and circles out of construction paper.  I placed the shapes at a table and the kids went to town!!! 
(no pun intended.. LOL!)

Ho! Ho! Ho!  Get festive!!!!  :)

Left and Right

How on earth do you teach "left and right" so that the kids will stay engaged during a lesson?  I did a couple activities that worked really well….. and I was AMAZED how great my students did!

1. Play the "Hokey-Pokey" song
We sang the Hokey-Pokey and acted out the actions….. the kids loved it!!!

2. I made up a left right story called "Lucy Left and Randy Right."  I sat the kids in a circle (where I joined them) and began the story……. as the word "left" or "right" was said, the kids had to pass the bag to the corresponding words (left and right).  At the end of the story, the person holding the bag, got to pass out the treat that was inside the bag!  I put rings for their "right hand."  The kids lovvvvvvvved it!  :)

3. Left and Right bracelets were a BIG hit!  I gathered plastic and foam beads, pipe cleaners (chenille stems) and sat them at each table.  The kids made 2 bracelets….. a left and right bracelet!!!  It's just the little things…… they thought it was FUN!

Comparing Numbers

Finding anything useful to use in my classroom for comparing numbers was not going so well.  I was looking for a "hook" to introduce this concept.  I came across Jack Hartman's song called "Mr. Alligator Can Chomp" and it was perfect…… I just needed something to incorporate into my flip chart.  Sooooooo, with the help of my 13 year old son, I made my very first YouTube video to go along with the song!  I hope you enjoy it and can incorporate it into your "comparing numbers" lesson plan!!  :)

Just click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2Dvrdombiw

POW + TIDE Writing

Hi All,

One of the hardest things to teach my kindergarten students, undoubtedly, is writing.  It's just a hard concept to teach. It's especially hard for the littles that can't write their names…. geeeeeesh!  But, I do agree that to get your kids writing, you have to start early and practice it often!!

I was introduced to the POW+Tide model this summer at a Common Core training that I attended in here in Tennessee.  Although it is NOT the only way to teach your students to write, it's a viable resource for writing.  It was taken from SRSD which was developed by Karen Harris.  POW is a simple acronym….  P- Pick an idea (pull apart the prompt and pre-write), O- Organize your thoughts (use the TIDE graphic organizer), and W- Write (and say more).  The TIDE acronym is used for the  expository genre of writing... T- Topic sentence, ID- Important Details, and E- Ending.  After attending the conference I searched on the web to find something more that I could use with my students.  Well, guess what? There wasn't anything much at all!!!

Sooooooo, I went straight to work on a TPT packet!  I am so excited to offer this packet that contains 10 printable POW+Tide posters that you can post in your writing center or import into flipcharts to use on an active board!  It also contains 10 friendly graphic organizers that your students can use, student  bookmarks, a student checklist, and a 36x48 inch printable poster.

Contacting Parents Via Texting!

Need to let parents know about an upcoming PTA meeting? School pictures? Need to remind parents about an upcoming field trip?? 

This is a great way to keep in touch with your parents and/or students via texting during the school year! The best part is that this site does not give out your personal information (cell phone number) to parents and/or students…. it gives a "dummy" number instead. Check it out!!! 

Day 100 Scrapbox Paper Portraits

Hi All,

Even though our 100th Day of School has passed, I wanted to post a picture of a few of my kid's Day 100 portraits.  They used scrapbooking paper and construction paper scraps to make their picture.  They REALLY turned out cute!  I hung them with a sign underneath each one that says, "100 years later...... (student name).

Day 100 Scrapbox Paper Portraits

If you haven't celebrated your Day 100, please be sure to check out my Day 100 Party Pack with Kim Adsit.... it's on TPT!

The 100th Day of School Activities

Hi Friends,

Oh my goodness!  We had such an amazing day celebrating the "100th Day of School!"  We had activities and games going on all day long.... which made it extra fun for the kids.  First of all, the kids came dressed up as 100 years old.  Some children brought in a collection of 100 objects.  We made hats, necklaces, a Day 100 Snack, and a stamp book.  We also had a scavenger hunt and ate a cookie cake from the Great American Cookie Company!  The jumped for 100 seconds and walked 100 steps.  Needless to say, I was POOPED by the end of the day.  In fact, I'm soaking my feet right now!  LOL

Below are pictures of activities that we did throughout the day.  I hope you get some great ideas to use in your own classroom!


I decorated my door - My kids dressed up as 100 year olds - My team wore matching T-shirts!
 

We made hats!

We wrote numbers to 100!

We had a Scavenger Hunt!

My sweet Room Mothers are ready to help make Fruit Loop necklaces!

Day 100 was AWESOME!!!!!



Thanksgiving Math Activities

We made some super cute turkeys for Thanksgiving!  I incorporated these activities during Math Work Stations/Centers and the kids loved them. 


Pattern Block Turkeys...

 

The kids used pattern blocks pieces (cut from construction paper) to make a turkey.  Each and everyone turned out totally different and unique.  The kids made these by gluing the pattern block pieces in a circular or snowflake type shape.  Then the kids glued on a turkey neck, beak, waddle, eyes, and feet.  However, once their picture was complete, the kids had to go back and count how many of each shape was used on their turkey (how many hexagons, triangles, squares, diamonds, etc.....).  This is a wonderful way to reinforce counting, number recognition, and numeral writing.

 

 

 Turkey Feathers Number Combinations...

 

The kids had to use two different colors of feathers (red and yellow) to make a total of eight.  I made a cute little rhyming recording sheet.  Click on this link for the poem.

 

 

Pattern Indian Vests and Headbands...

 

 

We used pattern block pieces to make Indian vests and headbands.  The vests are made from paper grocery sacks.  The headbands were made with strips of brown construction paper (3 x 18 inch strips).

Indian Necklaces....

These were made with Rigatoni noodles that were dyed with food coloring.  The kids strung noodles in a pattern to make the necklace.

Needless to say, there were patterns ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!!!

SDE Tennessee Kindergarten Conference

I had a wonderful time presenting at the Tennessee Kindergarten Conference in Nashville back in November.  It was my first presentation for SDE in about 11 years.... Wow!  How time flies!!!  I presented four different workshops for teachers:  Science and Social Studies Non-Fiction Discovery, Outrageous and Contagious Common Core Language Arts, CCSS Math Fun: Super Cool Math Centers & More, and Step Up Your Teaching with Guided Reading.

I got to see my long time friend Kim Adsit of KinderGals.  Kim and I started presenting workshops years ago together. It was great seeing her.  I also spoke with Deanna Jump... she told me that she remembered Kim and I presenting together when I was pregnant!!!  LOL

 

 

 

Halloween - Miss Nelson is Missing Wanted Posters

I've been meaning to post a couple of pictures of things that my Kindergarteners did at school.  It's a little late for Halloween... but this idea is for the next time you read "Miss Nelson is Missing."  I read the story to my class and hid the book.  I told them that Miss Viola Swamp is STILL ON THE LOOSE! 
We discussed ways that we could try and catch her.... of course the best way to catch someone, when you're wanting your kids to write, is to make WANTED posters.  Soooooo.... that's what we did!  These turned out super cute....  we incorporated Math (patterns) into the Wanted posters too (see the edges).  The kids drew a picture of Viola Swamp....most are hysterical!  hee hee!  Then they wrote sentences to describe what she looked like. 

Back to School Pack for Kindergarten and 1st Grade

My Back to School Pack is ready and now on TPT!!!!  This pack has 60+ pages of activities, games, and centers for your students!  Only $5.00.

Bingo game
Graphing
Making Little Words
Parent gift
Addition
Beginning letter sounds
Rhyming words
First Day survey
Storytelling snack
...... and so much MORE!!!!!!!

Click HERE to purchase!

Back to School Pack

My new "Back to School" pack will be available tomorrow (Monday, July 29th) on TPT.....  I think it's my best one yet!!!!!!!

Wizard of Oz Fun Freebie - Time

I promised this Fun Freebie to my ETSU Conference friends...... so click the link below to download the "Munchkin Time Math" activity.

  To make this activity you will need to......

1. Print the Munchkins on 9 different colors of copy paper (or cardstock)

2. Print the digital times on white copy paper and cut them out.

3. Glue the times on each of the colored Munchkins.

4. Laminate and cut out each Munchkin.

5.  Copy enough "Munchkin Time Math" recording sheets for each of your students.

6.  Place Munchkins and the recording sheets at a Center.

7.  Children will pick a Munchkin and draw the correct time on the recording sheet clock.  Also, color the Munchkin on the recording sheet the same color as the Munchkin time card.

Click HERE for the FUN FREEBIE!

Have fun!

ETSU Conference Part II

Oh My Goodness!!

I had such an amazing time in Johnson City, Tennessee at the ETSU Early Childhood Conference!  The teachers were absolutely wonderful and we had so much fun!  They got to watch me act like a "nut" and hopefully, they got some great ideas for their classroom too!  I presented "Fun Galore with Common Core"... and gave teachers ideas to engage student learning in their classrooms.... with songs, interactive charts, games, activities, and more!  Most of the attendees were Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers from all over the state of Tennessee.

 

If you attended my workshop, please follow me on my blog and "Like" my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OutrageousFun321.  You can also click on the TPT link above to check out my items on Teachers Pay Teachers.  The "Back to School"  pack will be available tomorrow night!!!!

Lots of goodies at ETSU!

Great Math ideas...

This the room with most of my stuff!

Storytelling aprons....

Lauren and the Five Little Chicks!

We had a BLAST!!!

I can't wait until next year!!

ETSU Conference

Hi Friends!

I had such an amazing time at the ETSU Conference today!  Things ran really smoothly, considering it's been about 10+ years since my last workshop presentation!  I hope you all had as much fun as I did.  Hopefully, in tomorrow's session, I can get everything in..... I've just got so much to share!  :)  I wanted to remind you that the Back to School Pack will be put on TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers) this weekend.... and I think it's one of my best packs yet!!!! 

Also, I know someone asked me about a copy of one of the activities I did today.... which I said I would put on my blog as a FREEBIE!!!!  However, I can't remember which one it was... this is what happens when your reach "middle age."  LOL!  Please send me an email and remind me which activity it was.... I talked to sooooooo many people, about so many different things.  :)  I will be glad to upload it here on my blog for FREE!

Thanks again teachers.... I had a BLAST!