Treasures for My Classroom

It is official!  I've started moving all my wonderful "treasures" back into my classroom.  My husband can almost see the floor in our downstair's den.  It took me two days to unload and find room for all of my "treasures" at school, but I've done it!  Want to see what I have?  Let's sort it out . . .

First, there is my fabulous assortment of paint chips!

Aren't they wonderful!  We are going to use them in several games, cutting and sorting activities.  We will have so much fun with them.

I also got a little carried away with collecting bottle caps.

We will be sorting and learning with these as well.  I have an amazing reading game planned.  You will want to check back soon and see this!

Of course there are the obvious "treasures", such as cardboard tubes

 and cardboard boxes.  Please notice the Wii game box (my birthday present!).

But now, let me show you some of my greatest "treasures" . . . 

Plastic fishing worms!  Perfect for "W" week!

Feathers!!!  I even have a hawk feather!  Perfect for our study of not only birds but during "Q" week we can actually write with a QUILL!

But, I've saved the best until last . . . 

I found this in a field at our lake house!  I think it was used during a 4th of July celebration  to shot off rockets.  BUT LOOK AT IT!  It is a ROUND CYLINDER and it has a SQUARE base!  Can't you just see us dipping the square base in paint and smashing it onto some paper????  Oh, I'm getting chills!

I guess I better finish printing off some more notes to my parents, especially the one that says "WE GET MESSY!"  I hope you stop by again in a couple of days.  I hope to have pictures of my classroom up.  We start school on September 1st!!  YIPPPPEEEEE!

A New Year

I'm heading to school today!  I've been thinking, talking and typing about this all summer and the day is finally here!  It is just the beginning of our teacher workdays, but still you would think that I would be excited.  Not really.  And it isn't just because I will be sitting all day in a classroom listing to a CPR/First Aid trainer for the 10th time.  No, it is because one of my son's fellow police officers in Anniston, Alabama was shot while on duty yesterday. ( Anniston Star )  Even as I re-read the last sentence, it is almost impossible for me to believe.  (As I type he is still on life-support.)  How can this be?  How can one human being care so little about another that they shoot them?  I somehow try and justify a shooting in my mind when there is some sort of (sick) reason; a robbery, a fight, etc.  But to shoot a police officer who was just doing his job.  REALLY?  My mind cannot and will not come to terms with this tragedy.  So today, instead of being my usual happy, excited and bouncing off the wall self, I will say yet another prayer for Justin Sollohob, his family, friends and fellow officers and head out the door.  TELL and SHOW the people you love and care how you feel, you never know.

Pinterest Link Party!

Love Pinterest? Have a teacher blog or love reading teacher blogs? Well, what are you waiting for? Head on over to Michelle's Math in the Middle Blog to link up and see all the other great teacher blogs who have linked up!  Oh, and be sure to check out my favorite School Pins at http://pinterest.com/keh9/school-ideas/

The ABC's for a Successful School year

I finally get to get back in my classroom next week so I have been running all over the house this morning trying to get all my ducks in a roll.  I noticed that my sweet hubby and dogs were very quiet, they have fallen asleep.  So not wanting to wake them I begin searching the internet for school ideas (REALLY?  I NEED MORE IDEAS???  I don't think my brain is big enough to hold many more!)  Well, I found this lovely little poem from a new blog favorite of mine http://mrsjacksonsclasswebsiteblog.blogspot.com/  I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did!

The ABC's of a Successful Year For Parents

Ask your child about the school day. Begin your child's day with a nourishing breakfast. Congratulate your child for doing well. Discuss homework with your child. Encourage your child to read. Find a quiet place for your child to study. Give your child responsibility. Hug your child to build self worth. Include your child in making simple family decisions. Join a library with your child. Keep your child on a schedule that includes exercise and sleep. Limit TV viewing/video game playing by selecting programs with your child. Make the time you spend with your child special.

Notice and discuss changes in your child's behavior. Offer to help your child organize school papers. Provide your child with good role models. Question the activities your child shares with friends. Respect your child's right to have opinions different from yours. Share an interest or a hobby with your child. Take time to listen to your child. Urge your child to get involved with school and extra curricular activities. Visit places of interest with your child. Work with your child to set up rules of behavior. Xerox and save records or articles that benefit your child. Yield results by encouraging your child to do better. Zoom through these ABC's again and again! -- author unknown --

A Teacher's Prayer

I saw this on one of my favorite blogs  Teaching with TLC today and I just had to share it.

Teacher’s Prayer

I want to teach my children how

To live this life on earth,

To face its struggles and its strife

And to improve their worth.

Not just the lesson in a book

Or how the rivers flow,

But how to choose the proper path

Wherever they may go.

To understand eternal truth

And know right from wrong,

And gather all the beauty of

A flower and a song.

For if I help the world to grow

In wisdom and in grace,

Then I shall feel that I have won

And I have filled my place.

And so I ask Your guidance, God,

That I may do my part,

For character and confidence

And happiness of heart.

 ~James J. Metcalf

That pretty much sums up my feelings.  Have a great day!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like School!

I am pretty sure I am more excited than ever for school to start.  I have been working over the last two months collecting items, doing research, working on new lesson plans and making new things for my classroom.  I'M READY FOR SCHOOL.  But, we have a few more weeks.  Sigh . . . what is a girl to do?  Well, in my case HAVE A MEETING!  We had a pre-preschool meeting today!  OH YES WE DID!  I got together with three of my fellow three-year old teachers today and started discussing new ideas.  It was so fun!  We will have two new teachers in our group this year so my buddy, Mrs. Christi and I met with them to answer a few of their questions.  It was just plain great!  I had way tooooooooo many new ideas to share and I tried (really I did!) to be calm and listen to their questions.  I hope I eased their fears a little.  To be honest, all the meeting did was FIRE ME UP and get me all excited about the coming year.  I'm not real sure August 25th can get here soon enough.  But, until then . . . I've got more stuff to get ready!!!! :)

Recycling for School

It is official! ONE month from today I will be back in my classroom!!! I'm not sure who is more excited me or my sweet husband. It may actually be my Bill, because I will be taking all my wonderful "treasures" out of our downstairs den. It seems I can't resist saving things for school. Here is a sampling of the items I am currently saving and the reasons I give my husband for putting up with the mess . . . .

• Bottle caps - I must have at least 100 different types of plastic bottle caps. We will use them for color matching games, counting games and crafts. I never expected my class to have fun with milk caps, but they do.


• Sunday comics - I love to use the Sunday comics to lay out on our tables for art time. They are colorful and happy. I feel they represent our classroom.


• Toy Store Newspaper advertisements - My class has always loved "reading the newspaper"! That's what they call it when they sit down and look through the toy ads. One little boy actually took it into the bathroom, "just like Dad"!


• Paint Chips - I have a box of paint chips. We will use them not only for crafts but also for a very fun color game (details to come).


• Cardboard Boxes - I have several small cardboard boxes that will be just perfect to store small games and game pieces in. A little leftover scrapbook paper and they look better than store-bought.


• Feathers - It seems summer is the best time to find fun bird feathers. We have a hawk that lives in a tree near our house and he/she has lost several LARGE feathers in our yard. I am always finding duck and goose feathers at the lake. (I put the feather in a Ziploc bag and pop it in the freezer overnight, just in case there were tiny bugs on it.) We will use the feathers for art projects and during "Q" week we use them as quills!


• Allergy Syringes - Now that sounds scary doesn't it??? I have a severe allergy and must take weekly allergy shots. I pull out the needle and wash them out. We use the syringes to squirt paint for art projects. REALLY FUN!


• Cardboard Tubes - LOVE THESE! I keep all types of cardboard tubes. There are tons of great art projects that can be done with paper towel and toilet paper tubes. Also, it has been wedding season around here so I even have the large wrapping paper tubes. These are so fun during "T" week. We make giant tube and tape towers.


• Old Markers - I went through all my scrapbooking supplies and found some old dried up markers. When I dipped them in water they suddenly had a little life let in them. I think they will be wonderful for a special impromptu art time.


• Scrapbook Paper - Speaking of scrapbooking, I found all sizes and types of scrapbook paper from left over projects. Most of it is small pieces but they will be wonderful when it comes to making a color collage or other art projects.


• Styrofoam and Plastic Containers - My husband and I don't eat that often but luckily my Mom and neighbors do! Those take-out containers may not be good for the environment but they are great for pre-school. You can use them to hold glue or mix up paint in. If you are lucky enough to have the lids, you can store paint or other items in them. No need to wash them out - throw them away when you are done. Saves money and time!!


• Old 3-Ring Binders - They are a little rough around the edges but they will be perfect to use at school. I will add some writing paper in them and my class will have a wonderful addition to our writing center.


• Diapers - I know I have no need for baby diapers and/or Pullups! BUT, I received them free in the mail. I am a huge fan of "free" stuff off the internet and I will sign up for just about anything. Diapers and Pull-ups were free so they will be making the journey to school with me. Someone will need them I am sure.

So, here is a sampling of what I am saving. What are you saving???