Exploration Trays

We could not go to the beach with the children since it is a long ride (3 1/2 hours) we brought what we could of the beach to them.  

We placed beach sand, small pieces of drift wood, shells and sea glass.  Each try also had a magnifying glass.

Thank you Inez for always being the bag lady where ever you go.  (she cannot go anywhere without picking up stuff bring to school)

Remember that you can vote once a day for the top 25 Teacher Mom bloggers.

Hoot of a Giveaway

 Hoot of a Giveaway is one hot giveaway for Back to School.  School is on it's way... Ready or Not!!  If you are ready of if you're not ready this giveaway is for you.  I have found some amazing people who are donating to this Hooting Hot Giveaway, DRUM ROLL...

My Binding brings you one of my top 5 must have products for the classroom a pouch laminator.

GBC New Heat Seal Creative Laminator

The all new GBC HeatSeal Creative 9" Laminator is ideal for home, school, or small office use. Designed to work perfectly with crafts, letter sized documents, photos, and much more, the GBC HeatSeal 9" Creative Laminator easily uses 3mil or 5mil laminating pouches. The GBC HeatSeal 9" Creative laminator is capable of using standard laminating pouches, as well as GBC Premium laminating pouches to ensure your documents and projects have the highest quality lamination available. This economically priced GBC HeatSeal 9" Creative Laminator makes a great addition for craft projects, signs, bookmarks, placements, luggage tags, ID badges, stickers, and much more. 

and my generous neighbor OBIE has given me a Count with Me! CD.  I must say that I use this CD in my classroom everyday and the children just love it!  It is another must have for me with a great Days of the Week song and the children's favorite Speed Counting.   Go to his Sing to Learn Store where you can find more amazing Cd's that go with all leaning standers.

Count With Me!  Kindergarten CD

Written with kids in mind, Count With Me! Kindergarten features "Moose," a mouse who loves to sing and count.  "Moose" definitely livens things up for the kids, but also helps educationally through call and response and repetition.  These songs are based on the California math content standards for kindergarten.  Topics covered include counting, estimating, problem solving, measuring, and statistics.  The beautiful things is that kids don't realize they are learning -- they are just singing about jelly beans, a pizza party, and sorting leaves. 

 I will be throwing in my back to school CD unit pack to get you up and going for the new school year.

 Back to School CD Unit Pack

Have everything at your finger tips to make your back to school time run smooth and stress free.  This CD has everything you will need to get your first few months of school up and running.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Top 5 Must have for the Classroom

Pouch Laminator

 I do not know what I would do without this handy little laminator.  I use this for all of my name tags, write and wipe activities and much more.  When using the pouch laminator items last a lot longer than when using the tradition laminating machines.   

I Pod and Docking Stereo 

 If I have to say what is my top have to have for my classroom it would by my I Pod and the docking stereo with a CD Player.  I love how I can make my play list based on themes or for my ABC circle or Math Circle play list.  I have 25 years worth of Cd's stored on my one I Pod.  (Could not live without it now)

Digital Camera

 I use my digital camera daily.  It is used for class books, classroom labeling, parent information board, observations for portfolio and more.

Epson PictureMate Snap 4x6 Photo Printer

 Since I use my digital camera so much it is nice to have a photo printer.  I can download and print right then and there.  It saves me time and cost the same per picture as if I went and had them printed.  

What are your top 5 must have for your classroom?

 Keep checking back I will be giving one of these produces away next week!

Merry Christmas in July

 We are celebrating Christmas in July On Blog Hoppin!  On July 25th I will be celebrating Christmas by having a 20% off sale on all of my Holiday TPT items. I will also be asking Santa for some cooler weather I hope he is listening. 

Go the Blog Hoppin the find all of the fabulous teachers that are having a Merry Christmas in July Sale.

Here are some of the items you will find.

And more.

Communication Folders

Down Load Folder Making Kit

Communication folders are an important part of my parent communication and involvement.  These folders help to ensure that any notes and homework sent home are seen by parents.  They keep my parents well informed about what is happening in the day to day classroom as well as what is up and coming.  Parents are also able to send me notes so that I am aware of what is happening at home or of any needs or concerns that the parents might have.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you send out the folders?

I place a  bucket of folders by the Sign In/Out area.  Each child has a folder in the bucket, parents and children look through the bucket until they find their folder.  At the end of the week the parents or child place their folder back in the bucket.

What do you put in the folders for Homework that is age appropriate?

I have a mixed age group of children, each folder has the same information and homework in it.  I have a connect four activity sheet that is designed for all ages of children.  It has activities that will build on children's fine motor skills to activities that build  vocabulary, math and language skills.  All activities are fun and hands on learning experiences.  I also include activity sheets that will build on their school readiness skills in fun way.

Click to view Sample

What do your folders look like?

I use the two pocket paper folders.  On the outside of the folder is a cover page with child's name.

On the inside of the folder I tape numbers and color shapes

On the back cover I tape a picture ABC chart.  This information helps with the activities provided each week.

You can get monthly communication folder packets for $2.00 from Teachers Pay Teachers or Teachers Notebook. 

Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Notebook

Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Notebook

Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Notebook

Coming Soon November and December Communication Folders

Top 25 Teacher Moms

Thank you to whoever nominated me for the top 25 teacher blogs.  It is a honor!

You can vote for me here on Top 25 Teacher Moms.  You can vote once a day.  Thank you for taking the time to vote for me.

My New Little Classroom Friend

Awhile back on my door step I found a box that contained a little friend for me and my classroom.  When I opened it I found my own Plastic Comp Binding Machine and supplies.  I knew right away that this little guy was going to come in real handy in the classroom.  

This little machine is light weight and  compact, which makes it really easy to store.

 It fights nicely right under my teacher workstation, where it is handy for all of those classroom project I have in mind for it.

 Not only is it light weight and compact, but it also has suction cups on the bottom of it so that you can place it on any surface to use it.

My first project was to finish off our planning calendars for the year.  When all of the teacher head on back they will be gifted with this planning calendar.  (This is something that has been on all of our wish list to be provided for us by our administration)

If you are looking for some products for your classroom that will make your life a little bit simpler head on over to My Binding.  You will find a wide variety of materials that will help keep your classroom running smooth.

Brown Bear Freebie

Introducing my Brown Bear Color Mini Unit with a freebie.  Brown Bear Color Bingo Game.

 Start the school year off with a unit on color using the Brown Bear what do you see Book

 You can get the whole Brown Bear Color Mini Unit on Teachers Pay Teachers or Teachers Notebook.

Brown Bear Mini Color Unit is 58 pages.  Your students will be recognizing their colors before you know it with these fun hands on learning activities.

Includes:

Brown Bear Color Pocket Chart Story

Color Wall Cards

Color Word Wall Cards

Brown Bear Color Bingo Game

Color Matching Mats

Brown Bear Go Fish Card Game

Brown Bear Roll and Graph

Making Color Words Mats

Brown Bear Write and Wipe Cards

Brown Bear Color Race Game

$5.75

or You can Download it by clicking on the Add to Cart Button

         

-->

Dog Days of Summer Giveaway

Jennie at JD's Rockin Readers is having a Dog Day of Summer Giveaway.  She has teamed up with some fellow teacher blogs and they will all be giving away a TPT product of winners choice.  So if you are looking for some new a fresh ideas for back  to school head on over and enter the giveaway.

Beating the Heat

We have some hot! hot! days and the only way to beat it was to...

Get WET!!