Big Giveaway

I am teaming up with some very talented preschool teacher bloggers who also have some amazing Teacher Pay Teacher products for a huge giveaway.  Wouldn’t you love to have all your planning done for free?!  Enter and it could be you.

Here is what we are giving away…     

Julia from Loving and Learning in Pre-K is giving away her Valentine’s Day Activities-Math and Literacy

I'm giving away my Celebrating Valentine’s Day Multidisciplinary Thematic Unit

Erin from Creating and Teaching is giving away her brand new Dental Health Mini Unit

Tami from Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers is giving away Math and Literacy Fun with Hearts

The rules are simple and easy and you can enter four ways--enter once or enter all four times, it's up to you!

• One entry for following all of our blogs. (Mandatory) Leave your comment on (Tami’s blog)   Your comment would look like this: "I now follow all blogs" or “I already follow all your blogs”
• One entry for following our TpT stores.   Leave your comment on (Tami’s blog)  Your comment would look like this: "I follow all your TpT stores."
• One entry for sharing this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc. and leave a comment saying that you do.  Leave your comment on (Tami’s blog)
• One entry Tell us what you plan to do with your kids for February.  We all love to hear about new ideas!  Leave your comment on (Tami’s blog)
  This giveaway will end on February 3rd at 9pm Pacific time. One follower will win all 4 PRIZES.  The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Saturday, February 4th, 2012!!!!

If you would like to enter this fabulous giveaway head on over to Tami’s blog Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers and leave your comments.

Have fun!

What a week!

Ladies, allow me to introduce Brandy...

She is the most precious thing ever!  She's a shih-poo, and she's like my baby.  Literally.
Last Saturday, she ran into the street (which is something she never does) and was hit by a car.  Not just hit, but ran over.  Our whole family was terrified.  My husband saw it happen and brought her inside.  From the way she was acting, we just knew we were going to lose her.

My son and I took her to the vet, where she stayed the night.  God really took care of her--she came away with three fractures in her pelvis, a cut on her leg, a bruised belly, and a black eye.  All this week we've nursed her back to health, and she's making a tremendous recovery!  She's walking well and starting to get that "pep" back in her step.  It will be a while before she's back to normal, but we are so thankful to still have her with us.

Almost losing her really showed us how important she is to us.  She is truly a part of our family, not "just a dog."

Do you play?

I wanted to share a great book with you titled Play by Dr. Stuart Brown.  It's an amazing eye-opener regarding play and how it effects not only children but adults as well.

So many times I've seen play taken out of early childhood classrooms, and this is heartbreaking.  Strict standards have made it difficult to keep what I call "fun centers" and recess in the school day.  Has this happened to you?  I'd love to hear how you incorporate play in your students' day.

Now, do YOU play?  Not only is it important for children to have that precious downtime, but adults need it as well.  Do you have a hobby that rejuvenates you?  I love to read, watch movies with my family, and play around on the Wii.  What do you?

Thank you for sharing!

Dr.Seuss Fun

Look out for Thing 1 and Thing 2!

I had tons of fun creating these two!  So will you and  your students!  You can get the glyph pack by clicking here.  I also developed a huge Celebrating Dr. Seuss thematic unit that contains activities from eight Dr. Seuss books.  You can check it out here.
Have fun!
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Dental Health Fun

I love teaching about health-related topics, and dental health is extra-fun because it relates to everyone.  Little ones enjoy learning about how they can be responsible and take care of their teeth. 

In honor of Dental Health Month, which is coming up in February, I have developed a great thematic  unit that is packed with activities that span the curriculum.  You can check it out here.

To go along with the unit, I've created this adorable tooth glyph:

Your students will love creating a Master or Miss Molar while they learn all about dental health!  The glyph is included in the thematic unit, or you can purchase it seperately here.

Have fun!
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100th Day Fun

Okay, if you haven't figured it out yet, I love glyphs!  Here's a cutie to help you celebrate the 100th day of school:

There's also a boy, and it comes with the writing prompt "I wish I had 100... I would...." You can the glyph pack here or the entire "Celebrating the 100th Day of School" multidisciplinary thematic unit here.
Have fun!
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Rainbow Hearts Valentine Fun

This is a great pocket chart activity that focuses on several skills--tracing, cutting, size sequencing, and even literacy--not to mention the results are adorable!

The word cards, heart patterns, and directions are available in my "Celebrating Valentine's Day" multidisciplinary thematic unit.  This unit is packed with lots of other cross-curricular activities.  You can check it out by clicking here.

Have fun!
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January Book Picks Linky Party

I love books, and I love a Linky Party!  Thank you Mrs. Parker at Learning with Mrs. Parker for hosting!
Here's my absolute favorite for January:

Snow Dude has always been a favorite with my little ones!  It's a must-read!
What's even better?  It will inspire you and your students to make your own "snow dudes!"  Take a look at these cuties:

Aren't they adorable?!  Check out The Purple Pug for a complete sock snow dude tutorial. Have fun!

Valentine Fun

Here's a Cupid Cutie Valentie Glyph to add some fun to your Valentine activities!

He comes complete with an adorable glyph key printable, instructions, materials list, and full-size patterns.  You can snatch him up from my TpT store by clicking here. This and many more engaging Valentine activities are available in my multidisciplinary thematic unit "Celebrating Valentine's Day," which can be purchased here.
Have fun!
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Student Teaching 411

First of all, the most important advice I can give you is to teach from the heart.  You and  your students will get so much more from this wonderful experience if your heart is in it.  If this is difficult for you, you may want to reconsider why you are becoming a teacher.

With that said, welcome to one of the most challenging and REWARDING experiences of your training.  It can be overwhelming, but with proper planning and time management it can go smoothly.  It is imperative that you DO NOT procrastinate during this time.  Let your family and friends know now that for the next sixty days your time is not your own.  Take care of your body and get plenty of rest.  Once you are in the classroom, dress for success and have confidence in yourself.  YOU ARE READY FOR THIS!

I have provided some helpful templates (and examples) of ways you can get organized.  Ultimately, your supervising teacher will have to approve your lessons.  I was blessed to have "free reign," so to speak.  Don't be afraid to try new things (with teacher approval).  Don't be afraid to ask your teacher questions.  That's what they're there for!

For starters, get a calendar.  I printed monthly calendars from the internet so that I could fill in deadlines and pre-planned  units of study.  Think "big picture" and zoom in from there.  You can download free calendar templates here.

Now to "zoom in."  I have created a weekly planning guide and daily planning guide that were extremely helpful to me.  You can access them by clicking on the document titles below.  You will also find a gradual assumption of duties planning template and lesson plan template there, as well as completed examples.  There is also a student information sheet that will be helpful for data collection.

Center/Work Station Observational Checklist
Full Assumption Daily Plans Example
Full Assumption Daily Plans Template
Lesson Plan Example
Lesson Plan Template
Overview of Weekly Gradual Assumption of Duties Example
Overview of Weekly Gradual Assumption of Duties Template
Weekly Planning Guide Example
Weekly Planning Guide Template
Student Information Sheet

I am ALWAYS available to answer questions and offer help.  You can click on my Pinterest button to see TONS of ideas for the classroom.  Just go to my pinboard "It's all about teaching..."  I have lots of resources available on Teachers Pay Teachers.  You can click on my TpT button to check those out.  Be sure to visit some of the other websites and blogs I have listed.  You are sure to be inspired!

Versatile Blogger Award!

How exciting is THIS?!  Thank you Laura at Kinder Kraziness for giving me the Versatile Blogger Award!

Okay, seven things about me:

• I subbed today in first grade--my first teaching gig as a CERTIFIED teacher... it was wonderful!
• I love being creative and making things!  I love sewing, paper crafts, floral design... you name it.
• I am turning 40 at the end of the month--YIKES!
• I am terrified of snakes.  Absolutely.  Terrified.
• I am addicted to Pinterest.  What can I say?
• I love music, especially classic rock and hair bands.  Blame it on the 80s.
• I am an avid reader.  I love paranormal romance and anything scary.

Now, ten newly discovered blogs to share the love with:

ABCs of Reading

Primary Perspective

Keen on Kindergarten

Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers

Kinderglynn

Live, Love, Laugh Everyday in Kindergarten

Ladybug's Teacher Files

Peace, Love, and Kindergarten

Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten

Kindergarten Hoppenings

Have fun!

Target Dollar Deals

Target has some amazing finds for the classroom!  Check these out:

The big pencil and schoolbus at the front are hangable dry erase boards!  They have lots of Valentine items--pictured here are heart erasers (I plan on using for math manipulatives), foam heart cut-outs, and Valentine ribbon.

Have fun!
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