That being said let's take a look at learning the letters of the alphabet and a bit more
Why is Learning the Alphabet Important for Early Literacy Development?
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
A Wintery Mix of Snow-Themed Ideas and Activities for Home and School
Saturday, January 30, 2021With a Wintery Mix Coming Our Way, I'm ready to talk SNOW!
So...Let's Talk SNOW...snow resources and activities to ignite that learning.
⛄ Here's a Wintery Mix of Snow-Themed Ideas and Activities:
⛄ Any Story written by Caralyn Buehner; especially her snowman series is worth reading to ignite your students' imagination and creativity! My all time favorite is Snowmen at Night.
⛄3 different sized circles to trace and cut to make a snowman. These can be used as tracers or simply run them off onto card stock, cut and glue.
⛄Various templates for hats, shirts, a tie, and bow
⛄2 easy writing frames.
⛄1 longer writing frame for stronger writers with handwriting lines.
⛄1 longer writing frame for stronger writers with only lines for writing.
⛄1 planning sheet for jotting down ideas.
⛄ 2 Beginning Middle and End frames for easier writing or just simply writing what the snowman may do for a rough draft and then writing a good copy to display.
⛄I then add lots of beads, scraps, tissue, shape stickers, and all kinds of craft media materials to assist creativity.
⛄An idea with an outline of directions for a lesson.
⛄Sample craft.
⛄ Have Some Fun with Snow Dough!
If they have ever played in snow, they will remember the cold icy feeling of making a snowman, snow angel or snowball.
⛄Have you tried writing sight words in the SNOW?
⛄What about Some Fun and Easy Science Experiments for Home or School?
⛄ Snowy Winter Station and Center Activities are Always a Great Idea

100th Day of School Ideas for Home and School
Saturday, January 16, 2021I remember it so clearly...all the classes would line up in the hallway anticipating what was yet to come...jumping with excitement, whispering and bouncing and waiting impatiently for the Kindergarten 100th Day Celebration.
My first graders would fall into a trance and chit chat about when they, too, had marched the halls to celebrate the 100th Day of School...and then...my firsties would hear a faint beat and slight echo of the music filling the halls...there would be more tapping feet, small jumps, giggles and excitement and they knew the parade was about to emerge at the end of OUR hallway!
They stared intensely at the end of the hall and their whispers were focused on reminiscing about their 100th Day projects and what they did and how excited they felt!
Now, they were big first graders and although we celebrated the 100th Day of School in first grade, somehow it was not the same...definitely not the same as Kindergarten, but tons of fun none the less!
YES...it was always a day to remember in the halls of our school!
I am thinking no mater what grade you teach, children love to celebrate the 100th Day of School.
So, I thought it might be fun to share some tried and true ideas and activities to have a "FUN"tastic 100th Day of School with your kiddos. Now...most of these ideas and activities were used in first and second grade, but I know how creative teachers are!
I know you can adapt these ideas for other primary or even upper elementary!
🌟 Dress up for the Occasion:
On the 100th Dy of school it is a fun idea to dress up and act 100 years old...however you perceive that to be. You can also have your students dress for the occasion. I can tell you from experience that your class will LOVE it!The last year of my career, we performed our roles so realistically that we appeared at a staff coffee in out costumes and spoke like we were at least 100 years old...asking our colleagues to repeat phrases etc. that we had everyone in an uproar...even our administration came to join in on the fun! It was one of those great moments!
🌟 Use some Resources Created for the 100th Day of School:
I am sure you are already aware that Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) has a tremendous amount of resources that can be used to celebrate this special day!
Free 100th Day Crown and Certificate will ensure your kiddos know that they are 100 Days Smarter!
Another quick and easy resource is Let's Celebrate the 100th Day of School

★ 100th Day Fun Mystery message Sheet.
★ What Can you do in 100 Seconds Worksheet, which includes estimating and predicting.
★ 3 Writing Frames….If I had $100: I would love 100…and When I am 100 years Old I will…Plus another describing what it will be like to be 100 years old and a picture.
★ I can Write 100 Words.
★ I can read 100 Words based on the first 100 Fry Sight Words.
★ A worksheet to circle names for 100 and answer sheet.
★ An Award to give out for the day that states: You are 100 Days Smarter.
Simply search 100th Day of School on Tpt and you will find a plethora of resources available for your grade level.
🌟 Assign fun 100th Day Activities for Homework to Share in School:
🌟 Create Some Fun Edtitable Snacks to Celebrate:
There are so many sweet snacks out there, but I know my school district and others are trying to promote more healthy options...so ...with that in mind, I really like these snack ideas to celebrate!!🌟 Use a Fun "Old Age" app on your phone to make everyone look 100 Years old!
I would always take a photo of each student, print them out, let them chat about how funny they look and then have them write about what it would be like to be 100 years old using this page from my resource above. Add the photo to the writing and use this as a bulletin board or hang outside the classroom.Here is a photo taken using the "Old Age" app on my iphone:
UMMMMMM...I am not sure I want to post this...I think I better get a Botox treatment or maybe a few 100!
I always enjoyed reading these frames.
One child one year filled it in like this:
My name is Grandpa Clark.
I am 100 years old. I have chipped, yellow teeth and white hair. I feel tired because I take naps all day long.
I remember when I was a child I used to love to run.
Now I just sit.
I hope you have a great time celebrating 100th Day of School and perhaps you might be able to incorporate some of these ideas!!

7 Ways to Create a Relaxed Classroom Enviroinment
Wednesday, December 2, 2020In today"s Pandemic filled life, it is harder than ever to keep our home life calm. and "normal"...so just imagine how teachers must feel with all the uncertainty surrounding getting kids back in school. Can you imagine teaching in school with some of your students while others are synchronously learning at home and then switching so that other half is in your classroom or maybe you are teaching virtually and don't have that scenario ,but rather other difficulties and a bit of anxiety to face... I am feeling stressed just thinking about it and I am a retired teacher!
Now...just imagine that these students have not been in a classroom environment for about 6 months!!! Now...well...let's just say many students may have forgotten many or ALL of the classroom routines and have been away from the classroom structure for a long time...longer than anyone expected!.
So where am I going with this? Well, as teachers, we must realize what our families and little ones are up against in this fast-paced world so that when they come to school or even if you are teaching virtually, they feel safe, calm and can feel like they are in a world that is nurturing and relaxed. A world were they do not have to feel stressed or overwhelmed, but can be their best selves.
So here are a few tips that you can put into place immediately that will give your kiddos a relaxed haven.
So, try some of these tips...oh and did I mention that these are tried and true...I have used these for over 25+ years in my classroom.
As Students come into the classroom, greet them at the door to make them feel special and
relaxed. If children feel good about themselves, they will be calmer and ready to learn.
2. Play soft classical music. You will be surprised at the calmness it brings and how parents
notice this calming music, which they always had a positive comment to share about the music
playing as the children entered the classroom. I always enjoyed hearing children humming the
music as they unpacked and got ready for the day! They were relaxed and learning about music
and what feelings it evoked.Some classical musicians who have calming genres are:
Brahms, Wagner, Pachelbel, Handel, Chopin and Bach to name a few, but I would suggest
listening to the works before just hitting "play." Here is a site that has some calming classical
pieces you can check out! Relaxing Music for your Classroom This is a sample of music that
promotes calm. It plays a medley of different classical composers and can be set on your
computer.
3. Many teachers give their students morning work to complete, which is fine. However what I have
done over the years is given students a "soft landing" time. During this time, the kiddos can chat
calmly, buddy read, read to self, work on an activity that needs to be finished, pick a morning
work sheet to complete, buddy write or complete their classroom job, which are jobs that helped
our classroom be organized (attendance, calendar, lunch count etc.).
4. Our schedule was not very conducive to calmness as within 15 minutes of arrival time,
our special teachers were in our classrooms ready to start their lesson.
As a result, we had to have our Morning Meeting after special time. In order to address this issue and create a calmness before the kiddos jumped into working with the special teachers, we would gather on the rug and "Pass a Smile." This only took a few minutes and supported a calm feeling
before the children got to work.
5. Add a daily "Quiet Time" to your schedule. Schedule 5-10 minutes after your recess or at a time
you notice your class seems to need a break. During this time the children listen to calm music
and can do any activity within your rule expectations independently and alone. Some ideas are: Relax and listen to the music, read, color, draw, write, catch up on work, anything that is quiet
and can be completed alone. This time is a time to relax and refocus for the rest of the day
6. Add brain breaks into your day to support children to refocus and be relaxed and ready to move on with their day. Some ideas for Brain Breaks can be found at:
Brain Breaks TpT .The ideas in this resource are ones I have used through the years before the buzzword Brain Breaks was popular!
Here are a few Brain Break Quickies that are not in the above link and can be found below:
1. Come to circle and share what you liked about the day so far.
2. Share which station or center you felt was the hardest easiest and why.(these can be done whole group or turn and share etc).
3. Share your plan for tomorrow when you are working: what would you do differently, what worked, what didn’t work, what will you change? etc.
4. Who did you work with today and what did you do?
5. What is your high point of the day so far. Do you have any low points? Explain your thinking.
6. Sky writing words in the sky is always a good break.
7. Snack and a drink will work, too.
8. Partner write or draw on your partners back and see if you can guess what your partner drew.
9. Run, skip, hop in place.
10. Turn and talk to your partner about the day in a silly voice or the teacher can dictate the voice…mouse voice, baby voice, monster voice etc.
11. Dance Party to favorite music…everybody dance!
Just had to add one more... Kids Yoga: ABC's of Yoga with Theresa Power: This video is great because Theresa introduces yoga through easy standing poses which can easily be completed at home or school. She has a soothing voice and it is only a 5 minute video!
I hope you find these ideas helpful They are ALL tried and true and have helped hundreds of children stay calm in our hectic world.
I will leave you with this one thought: During those calm and quiet moments we give ourselves time to think and understand; come up with ideas to inspire others; become our best selves and are ready to learn what the world has to offer.
Enjoy the rest of your year!

Fun Days to Celebrate in October at Home and in School
Sunday, September 27, 2020Sooooooo what days can be celebrated in school or at home during October?
Here are some ideas and activities for Special days to celebrate in October and still have a bit of fun learning in your classroom:
🎃 World Smile Day is October 2nd!
🎃 Name your Car Day, Too...Say What?
🎃 Did you know that October 4th is Taco Day?
Here is a cute book to celebrate tasty taco treats.
- Before reading the story, you can access prior knowledge to find out what your students know about tacos, what their favorite taco is and maybe where they like to buy or eat their tacos.
- During reading stop every so often to have your students think, pair, share as you ask questions, have students make predictions or inferences as well as answer some questions about the text. Here is a fun interactive Reading Resource with ideas for use that you might want to use for shared reading for this text or any text!
🎃How about Cake Decorating DAY?
🎃 We all know That Columbus Day has led to some controversy surrounding it and about celebrating this day, but this craft can simply focus on Exploration and if you were an explorer what would you want to explore
Here are a few Ideas to Celebrate Exploration:
Here is a way to bring out the Explorer in your students.
What would you explore and why? Then...turn them into explorers.
Be an Explorer🎃 Another Fun Day to celebrate is PUMPKIN DAY.
Did you know that National Pumpkin Day is October 26th?
Let's take a look at a few ideas for Pumpkin Day which is celebrated right before Halloween...perfect Timing!
This pumpkin resource includes everything you need to celebrate pumpkins from facts to opinions, measuring, graphing and more. check it out Right here
Need some Great Books to go along with Pumpkins?
here are 4 of my faves:
1. How Many Seeds in a Pumpkins works fabulous with Pumpkin "Fun"tivities. Read it before you do the measuring activities. it is super for making predictions and works great with the interavtive props and ideas!
3. The Biggest Pumpkin Ever is another great story that is fun to use as a shared reading and the kiddos LOVE it!
4. My all time favorite book is the The Little Woman who wasn't Afraid of Anything.
I used this as an interactive shared reading with props and you could hear a pin drop as we shared the story and acted out the parts with real items!
Here is a link for Ideas to go along with this book!
Let's Get Interactive!
🎃 If you Don't Like Pumpkins, you Can Always Celebrate Cupcake Day on the 26th or Both Days and Make Pumpkin Cupcakes!
🎃 And Let's Not Forget Halloween
Here are some tried and true Halloween Resources
