Holiday Push Pin Activity

Just sharing a center that I made for the students to practice a few holiday words.  It's a fast and easy center to make.  

Staple the template paper to a piece of colored construction paper and add enough jumbo push-pins for a small group of students...and the center is done! 

This is a great fine motor activity to use for the holidays.

Click on the image to download the file.  Happy Holidays!:)

December Currently & Freebie

Wow, where did November go...feels like with just a blink of an eye we jumped right into my most favorite month of all...December!:)

Listening: I'm listening to iTunes Top 100 Dance and this song (Five Hours - Deorro) just so happened to be playing as I was doing my December Currently...feels like its just about right, have I been on the computer for 5 hours??!!

Loving:  I just love, love, love knowing that I can now take my Christmas decorations and decorate my house...did I mention 'LOVE.'  It took me the whole afternoon, but now my home looks very festive for the holidays.  It just brings me a smile to my face.

Thinking:  I've been eating tons of fatty food!!  I think I ate the last piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream yesterday, yikes!  Today, I felt like eating some S'mores and I lost count.  What can I say, I love desserts and the holidays!;)

Wanting:  Now, I am craving some tamales...I'm pumping myself up to make some next week.  I was having a conversation with my youngest brother just a few minutes ago about it, and he asked me how many calories they have since he is watching what he eats.  I couldn't really respond back, my facial expression said it all...'You don't want to know?!'  I feel like I'm turning into my grandmother...don't worry about the calorie count, it's food and it's good for you! LOL;)

Needing:  Can't think of anything that I need at the moment...just feeling super thankful for what I have.

Giving:  What a wonderful way to start off the month by giving something back!  I am sharing some number puzzles.  These are a great way for students to practice counting by 5's and 10's. 

Click here to download the file. Happy Holidays!

I Spy Addition Facts

Hi Everyone,

Just sharing a simple 'I Spy Addition Facts' center game that I made for students to practice their math facts.  All they need a a magnifying glass and watch the fun begin! 

Please click on the image to download the file.  Wishing all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!:)

 

Beginning Sounds (Trace, Write, Cut, & Paste)

Good morning!  Good morning!  I have been busy creating a new file that I can't wait to share and use next school year.  It's called 'Beginning Sounds - Trace, Write, Cut, & Paste.'  

I have been wanting to make this packet for quite some time and finally finished it this week.  It's a simple file where they cut and glue the same beginning sound pictures and also practice writing the uppercase and lowercase letter.

The letter 'X' is the only one that does not have pictures that begin with its beginning sound.  Overall, I'm happy with how it looks and I have posted the packet on my TpT store if you'd like a set of your own. I have included the letter 'Ww' as a freebie, just to say thank you for being a follower.:)  

Click here to download the file.  

Happy Hump Day!:)

November Currently

Omg...I can't remember the last time that I did a currently...but hey, its better now than never, right!?  So here, I am linking up with Farley's November Currently.

Listening:  We just finished going for a long walk around the neighborhood and he still has energy to play with his favorite toy...if you hear Squeakers the Duck, it's his signal saying 'Hey, it's time to play.'  And if that doesn't work he will stare me down with those big puppy eyes and try to communicate with me by making some interesting sounds...it's not a bark, or a growl...more like a high pitch sound (hard to explain).  After doing this wonderful November currently, I will get off the computer and give him all my attention.;)

Here is a picture of us going on our daily walks.

Loving:  Finally, the weather is starting to change...it's taking forever though for it to get cold over here in Vegas...but I'm loving the chilly weather at night.  It's awesome!

Thinking:  I think I may put Squeakers the Duck (toy) somewhere where we can all find some quiet time.

Here is a picture of him with 'Squeakers.':)

Wanting:  You don't understand, it's November and its still warm outside...I'm ready for the weather to be cooler.  I love wearing sweaters, scarfs, jackets, and boots!

Needing:  I'm craving hot chocolate...hmmm, that sound good to have right now.  I will make some when I am done giving my dog some attention and then sip on some hot chocolate on my mustache mug, lol.

Reading:  I don't know if this counts as in reading...but it's what I am doing right now.;)  I'd love to hear any great books that you may recommend for me to read.:)

Have a great night!

Nevada Day

Wow, Nevada Day is celebrating it's big 150th birthday this year!  To celebrate the state's holiday, I have always enjoyed having my kiddos decorate an outline of Nevada using contact paper and tissue paper.  It's easy, the kids love it, and it's a fun way for them to remember our state 'Nevada.';)

We also work on a simple Nevada Day booklet that I made to go over the state symbols.  

In kindergarten we use the pages where we can trace the words in each page.

Yet I also made the pages where they could write on their own.

I also came up with a cute craft where we would make our state animal...OMG, the idea of making a Bighorn Sheep came out when I joined a yahoo mailing group where each person would have their class write about their state and send a craft to go with it.  What fun!

They alway turn out really cute and the kids remember our state animal.  Here is one that one of my kiddos made last year...isn't it adorable!

To end this post, I've included a freebie to use if you live in Nevada.  Click on the pictures to download the file.

Happy Nevada Day!

Halloween Syllable Write the Room Freebie

I'm always looking for activities to add to my literacy centers and 'syllables' was the first thing I came to my mind...what could I do that would make them be more engaged....that's when I thought, 'Hey why not make a syllable write the room center!' 

Basically it works the same way as if they were doing a 'write the room' center, except instead of writing words, are walking around and looking for how many syllables are in each picture.  The students can use crayons or bingo paint dabbers.  Click here or the image below to download the file.

Enjoy!;)

Quietest 'Large' Hole Sharpener Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway!  

Congratulations Sadie B!!  You are the winners of a large hole pencil sharpener!  Please make sure to check your email in regards to the giveaway and respond within 24 hours.  Have a great day!:) 
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The Quietest Pencil Sharpener Review & Giveaway

Hi everyone! I've been in search for a new pencil sharpener, yup that's right the Bostitch Quiet Sharp 6 that I got in October was already starting to sharpen my pencil pretty dull.  

That means that in less than a year it didn't do what it was made for...to sharpen pencils!  I'll be quite honest, I was pretty disappointed...why is it so hard to find a really good pencil sharpener, like seriously!?  So, I began to search for a new pencil sharpener in August.  I remember reading a few blog posts about the Classroom Friendly Supplies 'Quietest Pencil Sharpener.'  After going thru 3 electric pencil sharpeners...I wondered if it really did sharpen pencils better than an electric sharpener.  Plus, I was looking for a pencil sharpener that sharpen the big primary pencils.  I use a lot these in kindergarten.  

As I browsed I saw one that caught my eye and it said *New* Large Hole Sharpener.  It turned out that it was made just for the larger pencils!!  I couldn't believe it, I was just thrilled to know that they made one just for big pencils. I received the Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener a few days before school started and I never felt so excited to sharpen pencils, lol.  I feel so lucky to be here right now doing a review for the 'Large Hold Sharpener.'  

I quickly opened the box to find the sharpener in a cute clear box.  

It was actually pretty simple and easy to use!  I decided to skip the clamping part and just held the pencil sharpener with my hand as I sharpened the pencils.

I was able to sharpen 30 pencils in less than a few minutes.

I was really impressed at how sharp the tips were for each pencil and none of them broke while I sharpened them.  

All I can say is 'WOW!'  This is truly a great pencil sharpener and if you're looking into getting one...I have some great news!  Classroom Friendly Supplies will be giving one of the *New* Large Hole Sharpener away to one lucky winner.  Can you say, 'AWESOME!!'  

Here are some simple rules for the giveaway:

• This giveaway is not open to international residents, US residents only (so sorry).
• You must 'Like' Classroom Friendly Supplies on Facebook

Make sure to enter using the rafflecopter and leave a comment with an email address so that I may contact the winner.   Good luck!:)
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Our Kindergarten Memory Books and Freebie

It's always fun to make memory books and then look back at all the things we did for the whole school year.  This year we used binders and clear sheet protectors to make all 28 memory books.  We didn't get to do the handprints this year, since we did the fingerprint calendars as a parent gift for Christmas.  You can click here to go to my previous post about our memory books if you'd like to see how the handprints look.  

We shared and wrote about what we enjoyed for each month on the writing template that I quickly made for our memory books (I made these at the last minute...so I have fix them up again for next year).  I also added a few crafts that we made each month to their memory books. 

The binder was packed with just about everything that we did that year, and for a minute I was worried that we put too much.  Yet I think that no matter how a memory book is made, it will always come out looking good...or so my kiddos and their parents thought they did.  At the end of each memory book, I added their kinder diploma and certificates that they received in kindergarten.  If you would like your own copy of the memory book (portfolio), you can find it at my TpT store.  

Thank you for stopping by, click on the image to download the kinder and first grade memory book cover.  

Happy Sunday!:)