Alphabet Printing Practice

Today two strange things are happening....

1. I'm blogging

and

2. I posted a new product on TpT

What is going on?

I haven't been around here as often and I apologize. But I wanted to make sure I shared with you my new little product.

Nothing earth shattering, but still a very useful tool....alphabet printing practice.

Each of these pages asks students to practice both the upper and lower case version of the letter. I purposely put a traced letter half way across the row. As in they trace two times....on their own three times... then TRACE AGAIN, followed by three more on their own....

Why?

Because research shows that little ones rarely look ALL the way back to the beginning of a row to reference what the letter SHOULD look like- they just look at the last letter they wrote. So as they progress from left to right their letters get messier and messier as they go...... sound familiar?

So I like a little mid-line refresher to get them back on track.

I also have included 2 or 3 pictures on each page of an item that starts with the letter. I know some people separate their phonics instruction from their handwriting instruction and for that reason I haven't asked the students to identify which items start with each sound - just in case that isn't your focus.  So ALL of the pictures are just a reinforcement...or maybe an introduction....to that letter sound.

As you can see above, I like to bind mine into a book and then I am set for the year....or a few months... but better than making 26 trips to the copier! A cover is included in the set if you want to do the same.

This is one of the few things I do as a whole group - because let's be honest...we can't be in small groups all day... I WISH we could. So this is something that we can tackle as a class. And I love that once the kiddos learn the pattern of the steps required of this book they are set to go.

They even know to put their writing fingers in the air as soon as we open these puppies up. The first thing we do is "air write" the letters every time. I love seeing their fingers ready to go.

I hope to be back around here soon...and I super appreciate YOU are here reading :)

Weekend Warriors: March Stress LESS

My Weekend Warrior friends and I are coming at you with tips and tricks to help life be "stress free."

If I could plop you down on a beautiful beach on your own private island well, that may just do the trick to get rid of that stress...

BUT I guess we will come back to reality.

Before I embark on my sharing what works for me let me tell your this:

I have been teaching for 16 years. When I started I was at school until 6pm every single night...maybe later. Despite the long hours, I still brought work home with me.

I took myself a bit too seriously. I was stressed every day. I worried about each and every lesson.

I was 22 years old when I landed my own class and I wanted it all to be perfect. I doubt it was, but I do think it was good and I was worrying too much.  I was too critical of myself.

And now flash forward to today.

I still get stressed.... I still spend more money than I should on my little ones. I still request the help of my family to prep with me {especially cut out lamination} and I still stay late, but only two days a week.

I have found BALANCE.

I am not a pro at it by any means. But I try... I try to remember to think about ME. I think that if I look after myself that in the end that makes me a better teacher than worrying, stressing, color coding, over planning and freaking everyone else out around me.

I try to prioritize all the things that can potentially cause stress. I *try* to make a list and stick with it. I'm still really good at procrastinating especially when super stressful things are on the horizon {for example: report cards}

I also try to make a SCHEDULE and stick with it. So my plan is that I will stay late two days per week. But on the other days I aim to leave by 4:30 so that I can go to the gym or do the things I like to do. This is hard for me because I am queen of last minute and I still like to operate that way in certain areas of life.

I think another important piece is FRIENDS! The older we get the less we have time to catch up with an old friend or to just hang out. We're too busy- demands of your family, work and just life. But I think finding that time to talk with friends allows you to relax and maybe vent and just helps! If we just eat, sleep, work.... well, that just allows the stress to keep growing.

I also just put it all in PERSPECTIVE.

I remember when we found a few years ago we were going to have 29 kids in each kindergarten class. Talk about the stress-o-meter going up. People were complaining. People were scared. People were mad.

But I just thought- at least I have a job....believe me, I wasn't thrilled, but A. I can't change it and B. it's better than having no job........  When my school district went from 20 kids in all K-3 classes to 24..... many teachers lost their jobs. And again, when we went from 24 to 29 another big group of talented people were let go. So I had to find the POSITIVE side.

I'm going to skip the exercise tip. We all know that exercise combats stress and we should do it- I go in spurts with exercise and have no business sharing that as a tip that works for me.

I think I will also skip the get sleep tip... it's one I don't follow. I am up late stalking blogs and rewriting my lesson plans for the next day because I just read the best new idea....and I am okay with keeping those habits for now. Because that is what keeps me fresh and having fun in my classroom. Others would find last minute lesson plan changes stressful- then don't go that. And that leads me my very last tip: Do WHAT WORKS FOR YOU. And if you aren't sure what works for you then invest in you and take the time to dabble with different things to see what helps you regulate stress and keep you calm.

You are awesome! Don't forget that....having a good feeling about yourself also curbs that stress.

So ENJOY your weekend. Do at least one thing that isn't work related no matter how much is on your to-do list.

Primarily Speaking	A Sunny Day In First Grade	Creative Lesson Cafe	Crayons and Whimsy
The Tutu Teacher	A Burst of First

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March Currently

And so a new month begins...already? I haven't done a Currently Post in a while. Not sure why... I just haven't! But I am happy to be joining this linky for all the March fun.

Listening: I can hear the wind outside. It means rain is on the way..... and although I am not a big fan of drops coming down from the sky....
A. We need it here in Southern California and
B. After I hear about the winter so many others are having, I need to not complain about a little precipitation going on.

Loving: I am head over heels in love with the Target app Cartwheel. Now if you have known about this for a long time why didn't you tell me? I just learned about it.... and it's basically just an app full of great coupons for Target. You load them up and then just scan a barcode when you check out.

Apparently each week something will be 25% off- but otherwise they range from 5% to 20%. But you could just be checking the app as you pop things in your cart. I am not good about carrying coupons, cutting them or remembering I have them, but I am hoping I remember to use this.

Thinking: I know I should be starting my report cards so I can't stop thinking about them. I also can't seem to actually motivate and START them!

Wanting: Every single new wrap design in the new Jamberry catalog. TODAY is the big day...the release of the new Spring/Summer Collection. I just got my hands on a new catalog and I am dying.

Makes me wish I had more than ten fingers and ten toes! Because in case you didn't know, Jamberry are vinyl, heat activated nail wraps that replace or are used with polish.

If you want me to send you a new catalog AND a free sample I would be happy to just email me at christyann@gmail.com. I am addicted to these little nail wraps {as silly as that sounds} and as a consultant I love to spread a little Jam love.

These blue and black wraps are some of my new favorites.....

Um, Farley.... if you read this have you seen THIS DESIGN? It just came out today.... Were these made just for you? Let's talk...because I would love to get these for you!

And can we back up and talk about this blue/black vs gold/white thing....I know....it's over played. People are sick of it..... But really, it is so weird that I am still thinking about it....maybe I need to edit my "Thinking" answer above!

Needing: Coffee with caffeine in it.  I gave up caffeine for a bit..... for a couple of reasons. I'm still treating myself to decaf, but it isn't making the cut! And right now- I NEED a venti, if not bigger, extra shot, bring on the caffeine latte. {however, I will not actually be getting it!}

Spring Break Plans: Who knows? My break isn't until April and well, if you know me, you know that I am on the last minute side. Maybe I'll stay home and get stuff done...or maybe a trip is on the horizon!

Hop on over to Farley's blog to read other Currently Posts!

Weekend Warriors: February Favorite Books

My Weekend Warrior Friends and I are here again..... and this time we are having a giveaway, too!

Favorite books is a HARD thing to do just one post about, right? I mean we are all teachers and we all have a MILLION favorites right?


First up, is  One by Kathryn Otoshi. Here you can see my principal reading it to our school last spring. As she read the story I just sat there and fell in love with everything about it.

Have you heard of it?

It is about friendship and bullying and let me just share the final sentence, "Sometimes it just takes one."

Next up...........

Who doesn't love Mo Willems? You may be thinking....um, Christy, haven't you shared this one before. Yes, I did... but I can't help it... LOVE it.

So this book "That is NOT a Good Idea!" is hilarious.

I love how it is set up as a silent movie... and see those cute little goslings? They are the audience watching the interaction between the sneaky, but dapper, fox and the goose.

It seems to be a lesser known title in Mo's repertoire {or is that just me?}... but you know who he is... with his famous pigeon stories!  My favorite of his may be Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs.

This isn't a long story....in fact it is pretty short,  but is very entertaining. I won't give away the ending because, well, That is NOT a Good Idea!

I will say I heard someone say this book seems a little "violent" Um, okay I guess I can see that, but have you read The Gingerbread Man, Hansel and Gretel or a million other children's classics that have a slightly disturbing plot when you think about it?

Mo Willems does a great job of playing off  the typical old fashioned children's story {some of which I just listed above} ..... And what a great chat you can have about prior knowledge.

And it may be a lot of fun to take predictions of what the ending will be just before flipping to that last page!

This is what one of my little ones wrote after reading it... I don't think I would be giving away much, but I covered up some of her words that give away the ending.... although I guess the picture is somewhat telling!

In case you don't read kindergarten it says, "My whole entire class thought that the fox was going to eat the goose." And true that.... they did.

Now moving on to the good stuff!

Would you like to win $10 to TpT? Just enter below and then hop around to the other Weekend Warriors because we are ALL doing a giveaway.........


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oh and before you go..... I just want to show you these fabulous and exclusive Jamberry nail wraps my friend Jen at Teaching in the Tongass created..... we are placing the order this weekend.... so if you would like some or want to know more about it just email me or comment below {email: christyann@gmail.com}

Time to see the other WW posts....

The Tutu Teacher	Bright Concepts 4 Teachers	A Burst of First	Sailing Into Second
Lucky To Be In First	Crayons and Whimsy	Creative Lesson Cafe	Second Grade Perks
First Grade Smiles	A Sunny Day In First Grade

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Classroom Loves Linky

I'm linking up with my fellow heroes at Primary Powers today to bring you our classroom loves.

First up....One thing I love.

It's hard to pick just one..... But I'm going with coffee. It may not be something I love... perhaps "need" would be a better word. But when I get to my classroom in the morning, which is arctic because of the huge windows...which I love having and yes I am in Southern California so you may think "arctic" is a bit extreme....

point is...

it's cold in there.

Anyway..... It is my ritual to get that heater going and sip my coffee as I warm up and prepare for the little ones to arrive.

{Other classroom loves are cute fonts, adorable crafts and my Jamberry nails which can hold up in a kinder classroom.... just to name a few.... but I am trying to follow the rules and just tell you one!}

Next up....something WE all love.....

First of all.... "anything alive" can also include each other.... and I think that my kiddos and I all are happy to be together all day.

But more specifically... I love the time of year that creatures of some sort get to join us in our learning... and the only people who like it more than me are the kids.

I've had silkworms, butterflies, ants, ladybugs, chicks and ducklings. I actually even worked at a school that had a full farm on the kindergarten playground. Now that experience may not fit in this love linky.... that was a lot of work and cleaning year round.... we are talking several chickens, a rooster, geese and more.... ALL. YEAR. LONG.

But currently I usually have butterflies, silkworms and chicks each year for about a month - which is about how long each unit will last for.... perfect timing! And those chicks are in their eggs for 21 days of their visit.

The above picture I pulled from my Instagram and was taken the 2013 school year when we got a bunch of eggs from a nearby farm and it wasn't until they hatched that we learned some were ducklings!

I can't tell you how much the kids LOVE having guest animals in class. LOVE!

It shows in their writing and their attention span when we are learning about them. Never mind the sheer joy on their faces.

And last up.....

I know this isn't rocket science.... 5 year olds love recess... imagine that?

I know that recess is a word that some schools can't even use anymore and I know that recess times and even inside play times are getting to be shorter and shorter.

The kids love recess and I think the social development piece is sometimes forgotten. They love it and it is important for them.

That's it my friends! Thank you for stopping by.... Head on over to Primary Powers to see who else has linked up and is sharing some love!

Abraham's Hat.... in Pattern Blocks

If you follow my blog you may know that creating pattern block activities is something I love to do.

So I decided to add Lincoln's hat to my Abraham Lincoln Mini Unit.

The hat comes in two versions - both are shown above {and also available in black and white}...... Plus a recording sheet which also comes in 2 versions.... a total of 6 pages of pattern block related items have been added to the product.

So if you already own this then just go re-download it!

Speaking of Abraham's hat.... do you think it is true that he kept notes and reminders in his hat? For some reason I'd like to believe it is.

Here is a preview of the whole unit:

And before you go....if you like doing directed drawing...

and I bet you do because the results are amazing and not only is it great for teaching drawing skills....it's good for following directions!

Go to THIS POST from last year to snag a great Lincoln Directed Drawing Activity for FREE.

Weekend Warriors: I {Heart} January

This month my Weekend Warrior friends and I decided to share our favorite Valentine ideas. Can you believe that it will already be February tomorrow!?! Crazy!

And I will admit I did share this idea one other time... but it's my favorite Valentine project... and a favorite of the kids and their families....so I just couldn't help but to tell you about it once more.

There you have it.... it's them! The kids!

It is those cute faces that I can't show you.... but believe me they're cute.... dressed up as the actual Valentine!

It is a vest/ sandwich board/ poncho style valentine!

In the middle is this poem:

I'm giving you a Valentine
Don't put it on a shelf!
It's one that you can hold and love,
I'm giving you myself!

Just click on the image below for your FREE copy:

For the "vest meets poncho" thing you need to draw a giant heart template. I used to cut two hearts out separate and tie them with yarn at the top.... more like a sandwich board.

I have more recently stream lined the process so that the hearts are connected as one....faster and easier!

Since the hearts are so large {I don't have the exact size, but they cover most of the child from the waist up} I use butcher paper. The kind on a big heavy roll {that I am lucky to have access to at my school.... hope you do too!}

Then I fold the pieces and trace.... sorry that I can't just let you borrow my tracer.... it's just a bit too big for that.

I pre-cut them.... it's too big for the kids to cut!

And now is the fun part.... decoration time!

This year we are doing a sponge paint - string paint combination.

Sponge painting you saw above and let me just tell you... I don't buy heart shaped sponges.... they are out there, yes, I know... but ain't nobody got money for that... it's called...buy sponges at the 99 cent store and cut them yourself.  Super ghetto... but they work just fine!

We started the string painting side today. They L-O-V-E it! I feel it is one of those old school kindergarten activities that you don't see all the time, but it is great for fine motor skills, plus it is FUN! {It does take a while since they have to do it one or two at a time.... but worth it!}

Here's an action shot:

Here's a finished one {minus the poem}... which may go on the other side with the sponge paint...

If you are new to string painting.... I think the trick is to have "handles" on the string that can't go in the paint.... although let's be real... they do {I end up changing the string every 3 or 4 kids} And to have a paint brush that can help get the string covered in paint....

Need more Valentine's Day fun? Check out my Valentine Mini Unit on TpT!

And P.S. It's on sale right now... in fact my entire store is on sale through Monday.

And of course stop by and see what all the other Weekend Warriors have in store for you!

Sailing Into Second	Bright Concepts 4 Teachers	Crayons and Whimsy	Primarily Speaking
The Tutu Teacher	Creative Lesson Cafe	Saddle Up Second Grade	Second Grade Perks
Lucky To Be In First	A Burst of First	A Sunny Day In First Grade	First Grade Smiles
Hippo Hooray for Second Grade

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