Quick, quick... SMART?!?!

KIDS,

BASEBALL, SOCCER, BASKETBALL, SWIMMING, ETC

HOMEWORK

APPOINTMENTS

AND NOW... SUBBING!

Life is very full, and there are times that things must happen quickly around here. One of our go-to-meals is tacos/burritos. Everyone loves them and I can use left-over meat, (and such) to prepare them.

On this particular night I had left over pork... I chopped it, added taco seasoning and let it simmer.

I discovered I was out of refried beans (the kids favorite)... but I had left-over rice and a can of black beans... I mixed them together and simmered.

It was a great taco/burrito night (I try to always have both kinds of shells on hand.) We like to add cheese, olives. avocado, salsa (My kids don't like fresh tomatoes... I do so I add them to mine if I have them, but they will eat salsa.), etc...

What happens next?

I used to wrap everything up individually and store it in the refrigerator for left-overs... not any more!

With the remaining shells, meat, beans and cheese I roll burritos. I can then either freeze them for future use or I put them in the refrigerator for snacks.

1. Roll out cling-wrap.
2. Place shell on cling wrap.
3. Add meat, beans and cheese.

4. Roll burrito and then wrap snugly in cling-wrap.

5. Place rolled burritos in zip-lock bag... on this night I decided that the tortilla bag that was headed for the garbage can would be perfect to store the wrapped burritos in.


Wam, Bam ... quick snacks or lunch... I love doing this as it cuts down on messes in the kitchen and it gives my kids a great snack option!

Also, with subbing, I'm leaving the house early which makes for a hectic morning. I'm trying to cut-down on the things I have to do each morning and making lunches was the first thing to go. After all basketball practices were over I assembled lunches... Baby Girl offered to help. She took orders from everyone (hot lunch or cold lunch... ya know, does mom even need to make you a lunch) (pbj or bagels or sliced salami and cheese) (chips or crackers), etc.

We got everything assembled in the lunch boxes and stacked them in the refrigerator... now the kids just need to grab them in the morning. (I did leave the crackers and chips on the counter... it just didn't seem right to refrigerate them. The kids will add them to their lunches in the morning.)

Whew... one less thing on my hefty morning list... now, what to wear to work?

V-day

I was at the preschool this week... subbing.

I headed off to find a book to read and I stumbled across the box of Valentine books. I love this book... it was a find a couple of years ago and I read it to my class as a cold read. As I read several ideas came to me and I scrapped my entire planned day and we worked on projects surrounding this book.

Mice made out of hearts....

Huge valentines...

Sparkly, fluffy, lacy valentines...

Writing notes to friends...

Loving our families...

etc.Enjoy... you can find it here.

Last Day...

This morning my heart is full... full of happy, sadness, excitement and nerves. Today is my last day teaching preK, my last day as a staff member, my last day for everything I've 'known' for the last 7 years. I can't believe I've been there for 7 years... as a parent and as a teacher.

It will be hard to say goodbye to my students today, hard to wish them well tonight, hard to say goodbye to all of the wonderful families, hard to say goodbye to the staff that has watched me flounder (in every way), grow and learn.

But, it is time to jump out of 'comfort' and press forward. I've worked hard to attain my goals and at some point you just have to go for it.

So, here I go... scared, nervous and excited.

Teacher Life :: 100th Day of School!

Today was the 100th day of school!

It is a day filled with excitement... we also declared it polka-dot day (all the kids came dressed in polka dots).

Fun Activities:

1. Sharing our 100 day collections
bubble wrap, cheerios, shells, pennies (x2), legos, fuse beads, dog treats, mini m&m's, peanut m&m's and buttons (from the teacher).

We discussed whose bag had the most and least (volume wise), whose bag was the heaviest and lightest. The bags were left out for the day so that the kids could get a closer look.

2. Letter Zz page -- Zero the Hero
Every time there is a zero in our days of counting Zero the Hero makes an appearance and brings a special surprise. Today he visited the class and brought 2 surprises... because there are 2 zero's in 100! They each got a blow horn (yikes!) and a 100 sticker. We celebrated Zero the Hero by drawing him on our letter Zz page.

3. 100 Day Painting
I have a large picture that has 100 on it and in the numbers are 100 boxes... the kids watercolor painted it.

4. 100 Day Collage
Each child had 6x8 piece of construction paper. They made a collage by choosing 10 items to glue on their paper... feathers, eye stickers, yarn, pom poms, tape, etc.

We (my awesome parent helper) taped all of their collages on a poster board and I labeled it for 100 day... (10 collage papers with 10 items on each one = 100!)

5. 100 Snack
Again, awesome parent helper) brought in a granola bar for each child which represented the 1 in 100. She also brought 2 zeros for each child that she had cut into zero shapes. It was a very cute 100. And, just because each child got 100 mini m&m's -- which totally represented polka dot day! Very cute, fun and filling.

Happy 100 Day of School!

Teacher Time: Valentine Book/Project

We read this book in class (you can find it here) in class during snack this week. It is a fun book to read and it lends itself to creating a great project.

Earlier in the week (Monday with Miss Sarah) my preK kids finger painted with purple, red and white finger paing. Their job was to cover their entire paper AND they did (wish I had a picture for you). After the paper dried, I used our die-cut machine and cut four different sizes of hearts out of their papers. The hearts were beautiful. (We even used them to send a special former student a Valentine.) Anyway...

At the end of the book, the two boys create a Valentine together for their teacher Mrs. Mouse. It is the biggest Valentine and it is a mouse created out of hearts. We used our finger painted hearts to create "I Love You" mice. So cute.

Guess what -- no pictures!

Go get the book, read it and create your own Mrs. Mouse.

Teacher Time:: Journals

We started journals in PreK -- the excitement is awesome!

In the past I have stapled paper together with a construction paper cover and a name card. This year I wanted something different, something more substantial, something they would cherish. I ended up at an office supply store and found composition books. The best part was that they were 'buy 1 get 1 free' -- so, for $5 my students get a special journal book.



We write in our journals everyday together (which was new for the kids -- we often do activities in small groups).We practice writing the date (just the number) at the top of the page each day. This is a great time to practice following directions -- open your journal to the first blank page, point to the big white space at the top, in that space write number 21 (the date for the day). The kids feel sooo important.

Students draw a picture -- any picture. If they can't think of anything to draw then I will help them brainstorm a list of ideas. Sometimes our ideas come from our weekly theme and sometimes I will give them a number (1-10) and have them draw that many items on their page (8 balloons, 2 friends, etc).

When their picture is complete, they try to write down the first sound they hear in the word. I've seen V for volcano, B for butterfly, C for car, L for lego, etc. In a couple more weeks, I will encourage a few of my students to write the next sound they hear. (phonetic spelling)

The journal is a powerful tool. They must keep them at school, but they may show their parents their work before or after class.

Try it -- it's fun!

Teacher Life:: Snowmen Names

After Christmas break, I introduce my students to their last names. Some students are surprised, some are shocked and some think that I am crazy... of course they have a last name!



Everything gets a tidy make-over... carpet squares, name tags and the job chart.



We even make snowmen.





Directions:

1. Each child gets one small circle for the head -- decorate it.

2. I pre-write each child's last name on a set of larger circles. The children glue their circles together, putting the letters in the right order to spell their last name.

3. Add a hat and arms to complete the snowman.

The snowmen are absolutely adorable hanging in the hallway outside of the bathroom area. When we wash up for snack time we spend time looking at everyone's last name -- Shortest name, longest name, double letters, etc.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk!

just laugh!

How many times have I told my kids not to cry over trivial things, yet, then I turn around and get to frustrated with something so trivial... like spilled milk.


Well, today it was my turn. I had my favorite green St*rbucks coffee mug filled with coffee. (I received my green mug my first year teaching, from a student. It's been through classrooms, teacher lounges, car rides, etc... goodbye green mug. I will miss you.) I had taken one sip when baby girl asked me to help her with her breakfast. I set my cup down on the table, poured a gourmet bowl of cold cereal (trying to make myself sound like a better mama) and turned and picked up my cup... all of the sudden it just slipped out of my hand.... CRASH!


I looked down to see my cup destroyed and a HUGE puddle of coffee all over the hardwood floors. I looked up at Joe... who had watched the whole episode and just started laughing. What could I do... I dropped my cup, I made the huge mess and it was up to me to handle it responsibly. I cleaned up the mess, got down a new cup and poured another cup.



What a morning!

Self Portraits

During nutrition week (where we talk about good food for our bodies as well as how we feel about ourselves), we made self portraits. I wanted something hands-on and reusable. I'm sure I saw this idea somewhere on the www and I loved it. The kids did too!



I put out many different shapes of pasta for the kids to use to create themselves. They loved using the egg noodles for curly hair and long spaghetti for long hair. Easy to prep and fun to do!

Tie Dying with PreK kids

For the second year, to celebrate Rainbow week, I have tie dyed shirts with my preK kids. It is a lot of fun and makes the parents nervous every year. They kind of give me a funny look -- tie dye... with kids?!?!??!

Funny enough, the process doesn't stress me out. I like to be in control (stop laughing), so I keep the process simple.

1. All children bring a cotton shirt from home (new or used, doesn't matter). Make sure everyone's shirt is labeled with their name in permanent ink.

2. The night before we tie dye, I bring all of the shirts home and twist and rubberband them (note... next year I should do this the day before in class with the kids. I think they can handle it.)

3. The morning of tie dyeing mix up all tie dye. I mix up three colors: red, yellow and blue. I like to use the die in squeeze bottles. Fill up tub to soak shirts.

4. Students come to the tie dye table one at a time. They wear an apron! They place their shirt on their tray and we talk about getting color all over their shirt. (Shirts should be in a ball, so that the ink can run through them, but so that the dye soaks into the shirt. I don't like the die running all of the tray... it makes a mess and is wasteful.)

I love to watch their faces when the see the colors mix together to make orange, green and purple. It is a real aha moment!

5. Place each child's shirt in a ziploc bag and seal. Let them sit.

6. When I finally get home (it always seems like I pick the busiest day to do this project. This year we had soccer practice, soccer party and the church carnival) I rinse out each shirt individually. I then run them through my washing machine on a quick cycle -- no soap -- and dry them. It is like opening a gift with each shirt I rinse. I love to lay them out and see all of the different designs.

7. I like to give my students their shirts the next day... they are so excited to receive them. We have a Noah's Ark party (instead of Halloween party) and I give them their shirts at the end of our reenactment of the story of Noah. Many children choose to put their shirts on and some give their away to their sister. All scenarios are acceptable. It is so much fun to see them wear their shirts to school throughout the year.

I can't find the pictures of the final shirts... I know I have them... I think I have to get on my other computer... They'll be here soon...

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

It's green week at school; which means trees and nature... which is filled with many fun explorations and adventures... I love it!

A couple of years ago, I also made this week our Chicka Chicka Boom Boom week.

The kids love it, I love it... it gives us another spin on trees and really allows me to introduce and play with the entire alphabet with the kids. Later in the week, the kids will create a coconut tree that we will use as a mat for letter work... I'll have to post that photo later.

Don't forget to check out Chicka Chicka 123... a fabulous introduction to numbers. With my preK kids this book allows kids just learning their numbers to find success as well as kids who are ready for bigger numbers to feel challenged.

First Day, again

This time it was my first day of school. I am a teacher and I am starting my 4th year teaching preK! I love it. I met all of my students quickly on Friday during our class visits, but I am always a tad nervous as I open the door on the first day... will I handle myself well, will I connect with my students, will I connect with my families, will they cry, will I cry?

The day was beautiful... it was a short day and many parents stayed with helps to ease the transition to school... was it just a "honeymoon" period, or are they angels? Only time will tell, but I like to think they are angels.

This year is bitter sweet... I'm in the last year of my masters program and I get to do some research and use my students; which is very exciting. This is also my last year teaching at the preschool; which is hard. It will be time in my life and the life of my family to move forward. My goal... to make this the best preK year EVER.

Today I get my students BY MYSELF! Should prove to be fun, hectic and I predict... rewarding.