Pete The Cat!

I am absolutely obsessed with this now after reading many of your blogs.  I am not one to sit idle so I started stalking the internet to learn all about Pete!  "Oh my goodness" as Pete would say, I am totally in love with this Blue cat now!  I have found a great website by the publisher of the book and you can download the author of the book reading and singing the book.  I have downloaded them and my mind is now racing with so many things that I can do with these two stories.  I am so excited to use this with my class in September I can hardly contain myself.  (I do have to admit, I made my 20 year old son and his girlfriend sit and listen to it with me, YES, both songs and YES, from beginning to end!)  They thought it was so funny!  Here is the link for now... back to the internet to find more ideas!!

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/feature/petethecat/

TEST

http://www.box.net/shared/fctx7vn57ctzjpfvd46n

Little Miss Kindergarten Give away Post!

Monday, July 25, 2011

The Creative Teacher Giveaway!

GO TO: littlemisskindergarten.blogspot.com


I am so super excited to share this with you! I have teamed up with Artskills to offer a fantastic giveaway! We are going to get you geared up for the coming school year with The Creative Teacher Giveaway! If you are the BIG winner of the giveaway, you will get $50 of free Creative Teacher Bulletin Board Products from my favorite line... ARTSKILLS! The best part is this... Once you get your Creative Teacher Bulletin Board products you can instantly get started planning your fabulous bulletin boards and enter the upcoming Bulletin Board contest that ARTSKILLS will launch this fall. And wouldn't it be fun to have your bulletin board featured and grab the prize winning button for your blog? There will also be other fun buttons to grab. If you do not have a blog you can still enter and participate and WIN too! So this invitation goes out to everyone and I mean everyone! Come on friends, show your Creative Teacher Spirit and let's get down to a little crafty fun.
Here are the rules!
1. "Like" Artskills on their Facebook page AND Follow the Little Miss Kindergarten Blog! But you have to do both AND leave your comment here on my blog.
2. Blog about this giveaway and comment here on my blog!
3. BONUS leave a comment on your favorite Artskills product and how you plan to use it! You can do that on the Artskills Facebook page while you are there!
I want you to know everybody is welcome to join in and participate! I really can't wait to hear your ideas and meet new friends!
And if you find the Amazing Artist Interactive Bulletin Board set you better send me a line!

It's Getting Dicey Linky Party

After reading Little Miss Kindergarten's "It's Getting Dicey Linky" party ideas, I was instantly "on the roll" to come up with a dice mat to use for my Kinder's.  During the month of October, my lesson plan includes a trip to the Pumpkin patch/Farm and I do a Farm theme along with my Pumpkin theme so I came up with this "Farming For Numbers" mat.  My kiddo's need constant number recognition reinforcement  AND I TOO LOVE to use DICE.  So do my students.  I will be making several of these mats, laminating them and putting them at my Math Center. I will give the students 1 die first to roll up to 6 and will have a bucket of Farm animals in front of them that they will have to place on the number they roll.  You could use any type of counters though.  When we get to the 2nd mat with numbers 5-10, I will give them 2 dice to roll.  So not only number recognition but counting as well. *(Graphics by ScrappinDoodle).

Bounty Teacher Wish List

http://www.teacherwishlist.com/share

Just found this website to win a Teacher's Classroom Wish List! Thought I would share with you all! Fingers crossed and hope we all WIN!!!! Good Luck!!!

Busy Bee Wish List

My friend and fellow teacher needed a quick wish list to enter the bounty teacher give away so I came up with this for her in just a few short minutes. Thought it turned out kinda cute so wanted to share. I think I will be making one for myself... with Monkeys of course!

I am all about classroom management in my room and I try to be as patient as ever but there are times when our instruction time is disrupted with "tattling." How many of us are in the middle of circle time and you are asking for an answer and a student raises their hand and you get this great big smile on your face and say to yourself,"Yay, David knows the answer" only to call on him and out comes "Bobby is touching me." The conversation bubble in my head is popped and I lose my place in circle time only to re-direct a behavior once again. While looking through my "Really Good Stuff" catalog, I came across the "Tattling Turtle." I LOVE this idea and just had to have it so I made one for myself. I made the sign like theirs but typed my name in and laminated it with my handy dandy Scotch Laminating machine (which I love and have 2 of them!). I bought a container at Target for $1, added some post it notes, a marker and a little stuffed turtle that I had. I cannot wait to use it this year. Go to: www.reallygoodstuff.com to see the original Tattling Turtle kit. Here is a copy of my version to share....

A New Adventure

If you are like me as a teacher, we are always carrying our "goodies" to and from school to the house, back to school and we never have enough pockets to put things UNTIL I found this WONDERFUL tote by ThirtyOne. I loved it so much, I joined the company because they offer so MANY wonderful products that us teachers can use and at very affordable prices.  They are so cute, you will want to carry them all the time!  Please check out my website and tell me what you think!  If you want to order any items, PLEASE DO!  :-)  Want to earn them for free?  Have a catalog show with all your friends, fellow teachers, nurses, and moms....

www.mythirtyone.com/73174/

My version of the BEE Binder.. It's called the MONKEY Binder

I have seen many different names for the Bee Binder, Moose book, Daisy Binder... etc... But, I love the MONKEY binder because we are the Marvelous Monkeys class. My Organization Notebook Keeps Everything Yearlong! Here is how I have set mine up. On the first page (I have used pocket plastic folders to keep each paper in) is the students name, our classroom and my name. On the second and third page is a letter to the parents, 4th page is for weekly homework, 5th page is our class schedule and contact info, 6th page is the district school calendar, 7th page is our monthly lunch menu and the 8th page is a class list. On the front pocket I have made a tag that says. "Return to School" and the back pocket says, "Keep at Home." Just thought I would share! :-)

A true blogger Angel!

I just want everyone to know out there in Blog World that I have encountered the most wonderful person on this blog forum. She took time out of her busy schedule to teach me how to attach a document to my blog. What a wonderful TEACHER, MENTOR and hopefully new friend! I cannot thank her enough! Marlana from lilcountrykindergarten.blogspot.com/ is the absolute BEST. Thank you so much for all your help. You truly ROCK!!!

Jeannie

Password Sign

I saw an example of this on another blog site and for the life of me cannot remember whose blog it was on so if you are the original creator, please let me know so I may give you full credit! I have been such a blog stalker these past 2 weeks, I cannot remember whose I saw and what I downloaded. However, the design is mine. Since my class is the Marvelous Monkeys I wanted to make one with school monkeys all over it (Graphics by ScrappinDoodle). The idea behind the password sign is to post it on your door and put the "word for the day" (I will be using the alphabet as I have special ed kinders) and every time the walk through they door, they have to tell me which letter it is and what sound it makes! Such a cute way to use letter/sound recognition.

Here is a copy of mine if anyone would like to use it!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar at Pottery Barn

Have you seen these yet?  Oh my gravy, I have to have me some!  I LOVE the pictures.  Wondering if I can just paint them on some canvas myself?  Should I attempt it?  If so, I will post when I do!!!

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/pkimgs/rk/images/dp/wcm/201128/0015/img81m.jpg

Frustrated beyond means....

I am a "self-taught" blogger as I love to learn and try new things.  I have been pretty successful so far on designing and adding information to my blog!  Score one for me!  BUT...... I cannot, and I repeat, CANNOT for the life of me figure out how to download my documents to share with everyone (oh wait, I mean the 6 wonderful, "I feel sorry for this blogger, so I will follower her" followers! :-)  So Score big for the blog site!  I am begging anyone who stumbles past my blog, did I say begging?  I mean down on my knees, kissing your feet begging, for any advice on how to download my documents.  I have gone on to blog help, searched the web and have tried every suggestion that is posted and cannot get it to work.  Any advice?  Would be FOREVER in your debt!

Kool Aid colored rice bottles

I couldn't wait to make these after I saw them on Childcareland.com.  They are so simple to make and you can use them in so many ways.  I will be using them with my students to help identify the alphabet (upper and lowercase). As the year goes on, I plan on using them to help with sight words.  I have printed off the alphabet on card stock and will be laminating them, and after cutting them, I will place them in the bottle.  Then I am going to make and print up letter stamp sheets.  The students will have to correctly identify the letter they see in the rice bottle and stamp it on the sheet (not all letters on the sheet will be in the bottle).  I know my kiddo's will have a blast playing with these rice bottles.

I made strawberry, lemon-lime and grape.

Directions:
1 package of Kool-Aid (do not add the sugar)
1/4 cup hot water
2 cups of white rice
baggie
wax paper
dry water bottle

Mix the Kool-Aid in a the measuring cup with the 1/4 cup of hot water.  Stir well.  Put the rice in the baggie.  Add Kool-Aid mixture to rice, secure bag and knead rice until all the Kool-Aid has evenly colored the rice.  Dump rice on wax paper and spread with spoon.  Let dry.  After it is dry, place in plastic water bottle and add your goodies as desired.

SO MUCH FUN!!!  I like to incorporate as much sensory items into my classroom as I can as I teach special education but these can be used for any classroom environment!

Blogging about a fantastic give away from Tara at 4th Grade Frolics! Go check it out!

A Giveaway You Don't Want to Miss!!!!!

I am sooooooooooo excited I can't stand it!  First of all, I am so excited that I am almost to 250 followers!!!  Are you kidding me?  I can't believe it.  I absolutely love blogging and "stalking" other blogs and have gotten so much info., inspiration, encouragement, and ideas from all my bloggy buds, I wanted to do something special for my giveaway.

Here's the second reason I'm so excited.  I recently came across a blog (I don't remember who it belonged to....if it's you, please let me know so I can give you credit:) ) that talked about these wonderful bracelets so I thought I would give it a look.

Are these the cutest bracelets ever?!?!?!  Every teacher should have one of these.  They are the adorable creations of Sophie of Sophies Beads.  Please go check her Etsy store out.  She does all kinds of book themed bracelets.  The BEST news is that the winner of my giveaway gets this oh so awesome Seussy bracelet!!!!!  So, here's what you have to do to enter:

1)  Follow my blog and leave a comment - 1 entry

2)  Grab my button, put it on your blog and leave a comment - 1 entry

3)  Blog about my giveaway on your blog and leave a comment - 1 entry

4) Go to Sophie's Beads Etsy store and come back and tell me one thing you liked - 1 entry

5) Save Sophie's Beads in your Faves - 1 entry

6) Put my blog on your blog roll list - 1 entry

Get your entries in and spread the word, giveaway will end July 27th.

Dr. Seuss Theme Ideas

I found this wonderful blogspot that had these Dr. Seuss party themes.  I LOVE to use Dr. Seuss in my classroom and celebrate his birthday so I will be using some of these very cute and creative ideas!  Just thought I would share.  Originally from: stemparties.blogspot.com

Monkey Munchers

I adapted this idea from Krazy for Kindergarten because my room theme is the Marvelous Monkeys and I had purchased the Monkey mini trash can from my "Target Finds" several months ago. Used them for scrap paper at the work centers but saw this and thought what another great way to use my Monkey Mini cans! Thanks Krazy for Kindergarten! (Now I am trying to figure out how to download my document).



*Graphic by ScappinDoodles

Another blog give away!

I woke up this morning and to my surprise had reached 100 followers.  Yay!  I can't believe in such a short time, I have connected with that many awesome people.  Thank you to all who already follow me and I'm looking forward to sharing so much more as the school year is about to begin.  To celebrate, I am having a GIVEAWAY!  It really does feel like Christmas in July! My good friend and blogging buddy Dee Dee Wills is helping me out with this giveaway.  If you win, you may choose any item from her TpT Store.  She has so many great items to choose from.  She has assessment packs, sight word games, {I love her rocket letter and numbers}, back to school items and tons of other literacy and math games.  But WAIT ~ that's not all!  The winner will also receive a $25 gift card from Target.

  Have you been to their dollar section lately?  TONS of goodies!

So here are the details to enter:

1.  Follow my blog and post a comment that you would like to enter.

2.  Follow Mrs. Will's Kindergarten and post a comment that you follow her.

3.  Blog about this giveaway and copy/paste your blog post link when you comment.

You have until July 22nd to enter.  I will announce the winner on Saturday, July 23rd!  Good Luck!!

My version of crayon pop art

I saw this on another site and absolutely loved it so I made one for my classroom today.  Thought it turned out pretty cute!  Can't wait to hang it above my desk in my classroom.

Walmart and Michael's finds!

I just had to share with anyone who would be interested.  I found these great little 3 divided bins at Michael's for $3.50 but right now they are 40% off PLUS if you go online and download their additional 25% OFF coupon, you can get them for $1.57.  I added colored plastic cups that I had here at home which I will put the crayons in (which I got at Kmart for .25 cents for a box of 24 Crayola brand.  At Walmart, I got the 12 pack of colored pencils and 10 pack of markers for .97 cents each!  I am so excited to use these for my centers.  That way I don't have to keep moving all my supplies around!  I chose 3 different colors so I know which one will go in what center.  Also at Michael's I found the puzzles.  They were in the $1 bin and after the 40% off and the additional 25% off, they cost .47 cents.  I will be using these on my first day to make a hand print of the students on and we are going to put a heart in the middle of the hand to go along with "The Kissing Hand"

End of year Ocean theme.

We hold our "Open House" at our school at the end of May and I like to  use the Ocean theme for open house as we are soon approaching summer.  I just wanted to share a few pictures of our sea creatures that we learned about and how I posted them on a Bulletin board to share with the parent's when they toured our room for open house.  I also made a "Guess Who" wall portrait that the students decorated and we wrote clues about who we were to see if Mom's and Dad's could guess their child.  The student's LOVED making these and were so excited so show their families!

        Computer screen saver I made for open house.

      This was our table of favorite books.

 Surfer's that the students decorated at home with Mom's and Dad's.  So cute!!

   Scuba Divers (not are real good picture :-(

The kids loved adding to this all week.  I mixed brown paint with cornmeal to give the ocean floor a texture    of sand look.  The Starfish were made with cornmeal and glue.  When dried, they really felt like Starfish!

 Cheerio Octopus, Mr. Seahorse, and a paper plate Orca.

         Guess who?

     "Gilbert the Great" paper bag whales.

Changed the name

When naming my blog, I just now realized that I forgot to add "special" in my blog name.  Since I teach special education kindergartners, I thought it would be more appropriate because my students truly are "special" to my heart!

Another give away to blog about!

Education Journey is having a give away!  

http://ashleigh-educationjourney.blogspot.com

When I first started my little blog, I really didn't expect to have that many people read, much less follow, my random ramblings, so it was such a treat when I reached 50 followers in the spring.  I was amazed at how quickly we reach the 100 follower milestone, and now we've hit 150 followers!  I think it's time to celebrate with a little contest!  

For the contest, I'm going to give away 3 different prizes to 3 winners!

1st Place-$25 gift card to Lakeshore Learning

  2nd Place-$10 gift certificate to Teachers Pay Teachers

3rd Place-Pick any 3 items from my TpT store


There are 3 ways to enter your name for the drawing, so you have 3 chances to win:
1.  Be or become a follower on my blog and leave comment
2.  Blog about this giveaway and add a new comment
3.  Grab my button and leave a new comment

The contest will end on Sunday at 10 P.M.

Great Give away from Dreamlike Magic!!!

Woo Hoo! I have 150 followers and it's time for a GREAT give away!

Well, I am teaming with Dreamlike Magic and we are having a great give away for a new blog design! The winner may choose a pre-made blog design from her ETSY shop! WOW! She designed my blog and I love it! There is a link to Alicia's ETSY shop on her blog! 


All you need to do is:
1. Follow my blog
2. Follow Dreamlike Magic's Blog
3. POST ABOUT THE GIVE AWAY ON YOUR BLOG! If you don't have a blog, then post on your Facebook page. If you don't have a Facebook page, then tell your friends :-) MOST IMPORTANT!!
4. "Like" Dreamlike Magic's Facebook Page
5. "Like" Live Love Laugh Everyday In Kindergarten's Facebook Page

You don't have to comment for each item. You only need to do all of these things and leave one comment on my blog! Contest starts NOW and will end on Friday, July 15th at 12:00 AM. We will announce the winner on Friday! Alicia is adding a few new premade blog designs to her ETSY shop!! 

Ready, set....GO!!

Displaying class work

I have been asked by several teachers how I display the students work.  I use a bulletin board, decorate however you like then gird off  with string however many students you have (I am fortunate and only have 10) but you can modify this idea to fit your needs.  After the grids are made, I used a Lakeshore Learning write on magnet clip but you could use clips from the dollar store, I write the students name on the clip and whenever they do a project I clip it to their name.  Makes for a great display area and doubles as a drying rack!  I put above it on the wall, "Look What We Did"  I have had so many compliments on this by other teachers and parents as well.

My First Blog EVER!

I am entering the world of blogging.  I have admired all the blogspots that I have visited on a daily basis and decided it was time for me to enter the world of "Kindergarten Blogging"  As I learn more about this process, hopefully my blog will be more appealing.  But for now, I am in the learning stages so please be patient with me!  For any of those "seasoned" bloggers out there, PLEASE feel free to give me tips, advice, this is how you do this, this is how you do that, etc... I love collaborating new ideas, suggestions or  the tried and true!