The Mother's Day gifts were completed this morning with my daughter's Kinders! I LOVE how they turned out! They are soooooo adorable. You should have seen how proud each child was when they completed the project. A few just kept walking up to the display with a huge toothless smile and could not stop staring at them. We had to place them on the windowsill for ALL to see! So, here are the details and directions on how to create the cutest Mother's Day Gift ever...Oh did I tell you how proud the kiddos were and how cute it is? #canthelpmyselftoodarncute! I apologize for getting this to you late,but it is quick and easy if you have all the materials ready. Sooooo #sorry #notsorry I had to share. I mean who can wait until next Mother's Day? Just save the post and use it then or maybe for some other special occasion with your own children like Aunt Katie's birthday, or Great Aunt Mary's or maybe Mimi's #hinthint (If my daughters are reading this, did you get that last part???)

 So Here it is the Grand Revealing of this amazing, dazzling, sweet, not too sparkly cutest Mother's Day Gift EVER!!!!!



Materials Needed:

1.  5X7 Thin Canvases or white/colored construction drawing paper.
2.  Various Colors of acrylic paints.
3. Heart stencil (I cut one from card stock)
4. Kiddos thumbprints
5. A poem for the back, which you can copy the one I wrote or make up your own.
6. Frames from the dollar store (optional).

Directions:


1.  Tape stencil onto the canvas/paper.

2.  Use paint and have each child dot their thumbprints inside the heart shape.


3.  It might look like this...PERFECT or not, but that is okay...it looks cute no matter what!


4. Take the stencil off and here is what you have!!!
5. Have the students, if they can, use a Sharpie of their choice and write Happy Mother's Day Across 
    the top and then the year.  Write Love, at the bottom and then they can sign their name OR you can
    write the top and love at the bottom. and have them select a sharpie and write their name.
    This all depends on the OT needs of each child.


6.  Put the canvases/papers in a frame and glue the poem above to the back of the frame!

And there you have it...the cutest Mother's Day Gift EVER!!


 Happy Mother's Day...May this Mother's Day be the Best Ever!!!
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I wasn't planning to write a post about Mother's Day, but then I had this really cute idea that I can't even actually show you because I have not exactly completed it yet! I know that is not exactly how you are supposed to do things in the #teachepreneur world, but I was just so super excited about the idea that I could not contain myself and I just had to share it with ya'll...okay that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the idea...at least I hope you understand and forgive me for sharing before the actual product is not completed!  I am hoping you will thank me for showing you this adorable, cute, priceless, tear inducing, wonderful, heart-warming Mother's Day idea that I am helping my daughter create with her Kinders. (if you know any of the Moms from her class, please don't share #kidding #notkidding).

So here is the project that we did for an auction for my granddaughter's preschool to raise money for the school.  I LOVE it SO MUCH that if my bid doesn't win, which probably won't, I am making another using my grandkid's thumbprints!


So here is what we did with the preschool class...not for Mother's Day.  Hold tight...my idea will be shared in a minute.

Supplies:
* Brown paper bag to make heart-shaped stencil
* Paper plates to squeeze paint onto
* Acrylic Paints in various colors
* Kiddos
* Patience
* Wipes to clean up the mess

Directions:
1. Make a heart stencil out of a brown paper grocery bag and tape the cut out part of the heart to a 16x20 in canvas so only a white heart-shaped canvas is visible...no messy spotted canvas if a child misplaces his/her thumbprint.  If you would like, you can pain the canvas a color and let it dry before creating the heart!

2. As each child comes up, have them choose a color for their thumbprint.

3.  First have them place their thumbprint by their name on the Key, which will be glued to the back of the canvas to show which color belongs to each child.

4.  Each child then stamps their print many times onto the white part of the canvas within the heart shape.

5. Continue in this manner until all children have participated.

6.  Paint or stencil a saying or phrase across the top and bottom of the canvas.

7. Voila! A beautiful wall hanging! Colors can be changed to your liking!

Are you following me here?  Can you guess what I am thinking for the Mother's Day gift?
That's RIGHT...you guess it! Individual 5x7 in canvases for each child...smaller heart stencils...colors of choice and Happy Mothers Day printed across the top and the date at the bottom!

Like I said, crazy idea or not, we are doing it this week!!  I will post some picks when they are completed!

Here is an idea of what it might look like:
This was created on the computer!

Here are some other ideas for Mother's Day that can be found on my TpT shop!

                                                             Quick Mother's Day Freebie




Happy Mother's Day Writing Activity and More




Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!!


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Find something positive in what life's journey brings everyday. Even a negative situation can have a positive twist.
About a year ago as I strolled around town stopping at various places: the Post Office, a local health food store, a grocery store, the high school to drop of a letter of recommendation, the bank and a few other local spots, I began to look at people's expressions...no smiles, no upbeat prancing, no laughing, giggling, singing, humming or happiness or if they were happy no one was showing it except for one man who smiled and said,"Hi, how are you doin' today?" I thought to myself; Where's that happy to be alive attitude, time to smell the flowers wisdom, dance like no one is watching attitude...where was it? It was buried deep down in the hecticness of life. I am a firm believer that the diamonds you look for are usually right in your own backyard (Russell Conwell Acres of Diamonds) Everything you need to be positive and happy is in your own mind or right in your own life.  When a door seems closed, usually another opens when you least expect it.

So, after the crazy hectic day I had yesterday...a bank overdraft...not one, but two, and an encounter with a crazy person, where I became the example for everyone, a computer brain lapse, where I could not remember how to use a PC because I am so accustomed to MAC, my grandson going to the ER for a knee injury and all the other everyday dilemmas that occur in one's life...BTW I am retired and life is supposed to be all relaxation, calmness, bliss, daydreaming, ahhhh the retired life...NOT YESTERDAY!!

 Ok so...I am going to share just one short story from yesterday...just so you see where I am going with this crazy day thing!  I went to the bank quickly before I was helping a friend give a workshop to the district from which I retired, and the teller stated that my account was overdrawn..."What I replied...wait Say what?" He repeated your account is overdrawn and again I am like..."Wait there was money in there yesterday!" Now you have to understand that this account is a small account that has been compromised at least 5 times...no exaggeration...at least 5 times in the past 3 years...I mean the teller at the bank sees me waiting in a chair to chat to someone laughs and says "Oh no not again!" So, as a result, I don't keep a lot of money in this account for that reason.  So, I was shocked because I knew exactly how much money was there and exactly what I had spent.  So I smiled calmly, made a joke of it and said...okay...let's see what happened this time!! As he checked through my transactions, he said, Did you go to yadda yadda  restaurant the other day?" I replied, "Yes, it was $21.00 including the tip...$17.00 plus a $4.00 tip!" He smiled calmly and said, "Well, according to this statement you spent $417.00 there and you have $70.00 worth of overdraft fees!" "Whaaaaaat? OMG are you kidding me?"  Long story short...we transferred money from one account to another and all was fine with the bank...this time round.  However, I still needed to get my money back so I took a chance at calling the restaurant explaining my dilemma and the owner looked back into his transactions, explained that they put the tips and transactions into the credit card companies by hand and accidentally added too many zeros on the tip!!!  So instead of a $4.00 tip...The sweet waitress gave herself a $400.00 tip...by mistake...??? I stayed calm, positive laughing here and there fuming on the inside, panic attack mode, ready to explode...but I stayed in control...things could be worse....it is not a life or death situation....it is only money...NBD (no big deal). The owner explained he would refund all my money including my lunch and he would also take care of my next meal at his establishment. ( I never went back and if I do I am paying CASH!!)  Okay money problem solved...but I still had to explain this whole bizarre situation to my husband...OH NO!  That is another story for another time.

So, here is what I needed to remember and felt it was worth repeating in my post... I call it Mimi's Mini List of Ways to Stay Positive Everyday.

1. Count your blessings and there are many. Everyday before you go to work or get your day going, think of 4 things you are happy about. It can be a small as I woke up this morning and am able to enjoy this beautiful day! Maybe for me it might be my bank account has some money in it and no one stole my bank card number!

2. Look for the positive in everyone you encounter and give them a smile and a kind word. A smile and a kind word can go a long way and you never know just how important that smile may be to the person who noticed it...show those pearly whites!

3. Find something positive in what life's journey brings everyday. Even a negative situation can have a positive twist. My dad was an extremely fast paced type "A" personality kind of guy. He never stayed in the same spot for more than 5 minutes and in fact, if he had something to deliver to my house, he would beep the horn and toss it on the lawn...no joke! At age 66 he had a stroke, this negative situation was turned quickly into a positive. He was not able to pick up and move around too much after this unfortunate situation, but I got to know him better than ever because he could only sit in his wheelchair and talk. Sitting and chatting in his living room created some the fondest memories I have of him. He expressed his feelings and I really began to develop a friendship with my dad that may not have happened if it were not for this illness.

4. Don't take anything personal. If someone snaps at you and you respond in a negative way then you will feel that negativity long after the incident, but if you respond with a smile and kind words...you will spread positiveness and maybe even make a friend.

I know these ideas seem simplistic, but....why not give it a try? You may just change the way you think and...According to Aristotle: Happiness depends upon ourselves. Be positive...think positive...stay positive...you have nothing to lose!

So, today I look back on yesterday smile in the mirror and say,"Today is a new day...a chance to turn negative situations into positive memories that I will laugh about, tell stories about and smile about later!" ENJOY your day and share your story in the comments if you would like!

I just found this article today that piggybacks off of my post...It is definitely worth reading!
Want to be Happier?   ENJOY and think one positive thought everyday!

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Peeps were created in 1953 and as I was growing up, they were the biggest CRAZE...and of course like every other kid on my block, they were as popular as Shopkins and I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED them!!! These sweet treats are sweeter than sweet and now I just look at them because all i can think about is how many inches or pounds will I gain by eating a few and then of course I DON'T have any willpower so...#peepsnopeeps.

Now if I do serve them, I make fruit kabobs and place them in the middle and top of the kabob with strawberries, pineapple chunks, banana pieces and melon balls placed in between or should I say Peeps placed in between #peepswithfruit or #fruitwithpeeps ... your choice.  Actually these are really a yummy treat! Maybe I will be making these tomorrow or not!!

So...how do you eat your PEEPS? 

Here is an interesting article about...yes...you guessed it PEEPS!! 6 Things You Did Not Know about Peeps!!!
These are the original PEEPS!!



Here is another idea that was sent to me from a former colleague and friend, Lindsay.  This is her sunflower brownie Peep she made for the Easter Holiday and of course it was found on none other than Pinterest!!! Doesn't it look scrumptious?????



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Hot Topic: Homework...too much...too little...sweet or sour...How do you see it as a parent or as a teacher?  This seems to be the buzz these days...well actually...it has been a controversial subject during my entire teaching career, which spanned over 30 years. As a parent I despised doing homework as it seemed that I was never right on how I was modeling my son or daughters' concepts or it was a continuous nightly argument or meltdown during their early years of homework...I would think to myself,"Why are we doing page 68 odd numbered problems tonight...really...come on...flashcards, are you kidding me...sight words OH no!"  "Okay, so how do I fit in homework tonight in between football practice, dance lessons and family dinner?" Family dinner was the first activity that was thrown to the roadside as we drove through a fast food restaurant and ate in the car on the way to whatever activity was happening that night.

Then a few years later I started teaching full time...#SWEET/NOT SWEET...I had the painstaking job of assigning my first graders the H word...yes, you guessed it HOMEWORK! Now the tables were turned. What was going to be my homework policy...what was my school's homework policy????? I recognized from my earlier years of parenting that homework can be difficult especially if you have more than one child attending to homework at the same time!!! So, what was I going to do? 
Everyone always said, including myself, even if the task was hard that Homework is an important way to be involved with your child's learning.  Please support your child with doing the work, but don't do it for them. You can remind your child where or how to find the answer, but try not to jump in and give the answer...Okay admit who is guilty of this scenario:  "Come on Johnny it is almost time to leave...what you only have one problem completed....come on let me help you..." Come on admit it! YOU HAVE done this before...no time for the weary....no time....no balance...UGH!!!!

So, as a teacher, I tried to make it easier on parents...I tried to make homework a family time. I added choice to homework in that the students and parents could choose the books they read every night and they could choose the way in which they practiced their sight words, but Math homework was....well math homework and simply assigned, but at times I tried to make  that a bit more fun like counting how many pairs of shoes you have in the house. I also assigned adaptive homework to meet individual needs.  I started a homework club in my district to support those who may have had English as a second Language or just were in situations where parents or caregivers were not able to support the call for homework. In fact, this club worked and we did see social, emotional and academic growth for those who attended the after school program 3 days per week. 

I KNOW there are many pros and cons about homework and technically there is a 10 minute rule that some districts abide by, which speaks to 10 minutes for each grade level...10 minutes for 1st grade, 20 for 2nd grade and so on.  I also know that in these days of technology "play" outside activity is ever so important for kids to become a part of an active sports team, or simply play active games in order to support not only physical, but also social and emotional growth.  I am not so sure if I am pro or con homework, but I can see both sides of the coin, so to speak. I guess if we can be assured that parents are sharing stories or reading with their children every night and giving them positive activities that support them emotionally, socially and academically, then educators might not worry so much about homework.  

This is a hot topic and I could probably write pages and pages about this giving you every pro and con I can think of or that has been researched and it would probably still be a HOT topic without a real solution...only time will tell!

So, that being said, here are four important ideas to think about when assigning homework or maybe even completing it:

1. I believe that the school district should create, with teachers, a Homework Policy that everyone agrees to and by which all teachers should abide by simply due to the fact that if you have siblings and or twins, they will have a consistent amount of work per grade level.

2.  I also believe that reading should be fun and a family time. With that in mind, let's consider choice in reading materials depending on grade level and encourage an amount of time for reading that is consistent with age appropriateness.  Maybe even suggest everyone STOP and read at home at a certain time each night or entertain a family read aloud on some nights.

3.  Be mindful of after school activities that your students or children attend and make sure the assigned homework is not going to take an entire evening or give long term types of assignments that can be done in small chunks and completed by the end of the week or two weeks so families can gauge their own timeframe. Maybe parents can complete the homework in chunks: some before an activity and some after if this helps.

4.  Be creative with ways to practice sight words and or math facts or concepts.  Send a sheet home with all kinds of choices to practice sight words or spelling instead of memorization and or tedious activities. Parents can then jot down what they did...like while in the car, we wrote the sight words on the windows with wipe off crayons or on our i-pads or wipe off boards while going to soccer.

The bottom line is that if a teacher does assign homework, the student does need to complete it and should be held accountable for it. Let's be creative together and work as partners between home and school to solve the "homework hassle"!

So... What are your thoughts???? I WOULD LOVE TO hear them!!! 

A great video that addresses this topic!!!



  




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