Val's Friday Favorites {09-12-14}

1.

Book Orders

I LOVE Scholastic Book Orders!!  As a teacher, I loved buying up books for my classroom and for my nieces and nephews on their birthdays.  Now that I am a mommy, I get just as excited as my kids when their teacher sends home a book order!!  Seriously!  It's like Christmas every month.  We peruse the books and I usually let the kids pick out two books every other month or one book every month.  Not all teachers do book orders, however, if your child's teacher doesn't do them and you would like to order books, you can ask the school principal or teacher if there is someone else in the school that does the order and you can add your books to their list.  Believe me when I say that you will not find books cheaper than through the book order!  You can find books for a dollar and usually they are around 3-5 dollars.  Look for sets of books where you can get well read author's books for about 2 dollars a piece.  Nowadays you can order your books online and they will be sent to your teacher using a teacher code.  So easy!  Just do it!  Reading is so important and if the kids get to pick out their own books...well then.  

P.S.  Think about Christmas gifts.  Just make sure to tell the teacher that it's a gift, so they don't just hand it over to your student.  :)

 

2.

These File Folder Games

What's more compact than a file folder?  I used file folder games in my classroom for children that completed work quickly, needed a refresher on a concept, or for rainy day recess(indoors).  The kids always LOVED them and happily went about learning without even realizing that's what they were doing.  I have used these games with my kids at home as well.  This website also has file folder games for church.  SCORE!

Other links to file folder games, here, here, here, and here.

3.

These Jars

I just got finished canning?  jarring? my tomatoes for the year.  I used all of my fresh tomatoes from the garden and turned them into cans of diced tomatoes to use in my recipes throughout the winter months.  It is a long process and messy too, however, once it's done for the year I am so grateful that I have done this for myself.  I love the pint jars for preserving tomatoes, salsa, and jellies.  They are the perfect size and I always have lots of them on hand.  Plus, a bonus...these are so HOT for decorating right now.  I have used these pint jars to hold silverware, flowers, and candy at parties!

4.

This Saying

Shannon over at Technology Rocks. Seriously. has some way cute posters for your classroom or your child's playroom.  I especially LOVED this one!  I love the colors and the message.  The amazing thing about kids, to me, is their ability to change their attitude completely.  As an adult, even when I know I should change my attitude I am at times reluctant to do so.  Kids are told to change their attitude and they usually will change it within a few minutes.  Some kids are more stubborn, however, most children are more interested in making things better for themselves and if they change their attitude they know they will be happier.

5.

This Blog Post

When I first read this post, I kept nodding my head and smiling to myself.  'At the risk of sounding like THAT mom.'  haha  It made me realize that all parents must feel like this to a point.  Now, being a former teacher I instantly feel a connection with my children's teachers...though they don't know I used to teach.  All they know is that I'm 'that' mom.  That crazy mom that is super involved.  Gifts santizing wipes to the class each month, and goes overboard with homework.  Eventually, sometime in the year, one of the teachers will say something about knowing what they need or ask how I know all the kid's names in their class even though I only volunteer once a month.  That's when I give them the, well, I used to be a teacher.  Then I give the nervous giggle.  Most teachers really don't care if I used to be a teacher.  It's weird information.  They then wonder why, if I LOVE teaching so much, I'm at home now.  My answer is that I'm being 'that' mom.  The one that will do anything for their kids.  Even if that means looking crazy in front of other grown-ups.

I especially loved what she actually ended up telling her child's teacher.  It's at the end of the post and it's exactly what I need to start saying to my child's teachers as well.  :)

Extending Learning {Patriot Day}

Tomorrow we will remember a tragedy that affected our lives, nation, and the world 13 years ago.  {09/11/01}  A day in history that so many of us experienced.  I remember when I was student teaching in 2nd grade and writing September 11th as the date on the board.  Before my students came into the classroom, I realized that they were not alive on that terrible day.  It amazed my young teacher mind. From that day on I found such passion for teaching this piece of history that I actually lived through.  I could tell them my personal experience of hearing about the attacks on the radio as I rode to school, having my junior high teachers give updates throughout the day, and running home to see the video footage of something so terrifying.  I could also tell them how the nation truly came together, how US flags flew absolutely everywhere, and how we respected all those that had died and helped.

Every time I teach about 9/11 I always make sure I'm doing it in an age appropriate way.  Young minds cannot understand terrorism...but they can understand loss and sadness.  It's never my goal to make my students feel sad, but to feel some degree of empathy for the victims and our nation while instilling hope to make a better world.

That said, here are a few ideas of what you can do at home with your child(ren) tomorrow or sometime this week.  Teachers!  If you don't know what to do with your students tomorrow please take some ideas...better to do something rather than nothing to commemorate this day.

Videos

I find that videos can be a great anticipatory set {a.k.a attention getter}.  Here are two videos you can watch with your children to start a conversation about the events of 9/11.

K-6

The Man Who Walked Between the Towers  This video is based on the picture book of the same name written by Mordicai Gerstein.  You can find it on Netflix if you search "Scholastic:  Tall Tales". The only reference to 9/11 is at the end when it says that the towers are no longer there.  This helps give children some background knowledge about these buildings and then opens up discussion.  Most students that don't know anything about 9/11 will ask, "Why aren't the towers there anymore?"  Be ready to explain what happened in a simple way.  I used this video in my 4th grade classroom but I think it would be applicable throughout the elementary grade ages.

7-12

*Watch this before sharing with your child(ren) so you know if they will be able to understand the events shown.*

9/11 Stories in Fragments  This can also be found on Netflix.  This video is longer and definitely intended for an older audience.  There are scenes of actual footage from that day  and descriptions by firefighters, families of victims, and more that may cause strong emotion.  In my professional opinion, this video does a great job of explaining the course of events and showing the humanity involved.

Writing

These are a few ideas that I have tried and they work well for students to internalize their feelings and express questions in an easy way.

Concrete Poem

Your child can create a poem that looks like something that  makes them think of Patriot Day {i.e. a flag, the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, firefighter hat, etc.}.  It's really up to them what it looks like and what the poem says.

Dear Survivor...

Print template here!

Anyone that learns about the events of 9/11 will have questions.  You can have your child write a letter to a survivor from that day.  They can imagine anyone that may have survived from the attacks. They can ask questions, share sympathy, and express gratitude for their bravery.

Free Write

Have each member of your family write a paragraph or more about thoughts, feelings, and questions in regard to 9/11.  Anything and everything is acceptable in a free write.  Then you can share them together if you wish.

Activities

Create a picture of the US Flag and hang it up in your house.  This can help your child feel connected to the rest of the nation and teach them how to display pride in their country.  Use paint, crayons, colored pencils, stickers, scrapbook paper, or whatever you want!

Create a Chain of Hope.  Write down ideas of how we can make our nation better on strips of paper.  While stapling the strips together as a chain discuss how actually doing these ideas brings hope and happiness to your family, neighborhood, and our country.

Join the "9/11 Day Observance".  Watch the video here and have each family member choose a good deed to do in observing Patriot Day.

Remember to be patient and sensitive while teaching children about this and any piece of history with so much sadness.  You know your child best and what he/she can process into meaningful understanding.

JNatalie

Extending Learning {Apples Pt.1}

This month we celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day.

Now, listen.  No holiday is insignificant when you are teaching school.  If you see a holiday approaching, you start pulling out all of your books and files pertaining to that holiday and you insert learning and fun into your schedule.  Some of these holidays I really didn't even remember existing until I started teaching school.

So now you know, Johnny Appleseed Day is this month...the 26th to be exact.

To help you extend the learning this month, we will be focusing on apples.  A common fruit that is in abundance during the fall.  Today we will be focusing on Language Arts and some yummy Recipes.

Reading

Here is a list of books to possibly check out for reading practice and applied learning pertaining to apples.  Some of these books have links to sites with lesson plans and activities to go along with them.  Don't feel you need to do all of these books.  Pick one for the month.  Or if you are overly ambitious maybe two or three.

These are divided by grade, however, you may find that some books would work great for all ages and others may not hold the attention of a 6th grader.  Each child is different.  If none of these will work, go to your local library and do a keyword search for 'apples' or 'johnny appleseed'.

K-2

Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg link

Apples by Gail Gibbons

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall  link

Ten Apples Up On Top by Dr. Suess link

Apples A to Z by Margaret McNamara link

Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie by Herman Parish link

The Season's of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons  link link

How do Apples Grow? by Betsy Maestro link

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein link

Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell link

Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer

 3-6

The Apple and the Arrow by Mary and Conrad Buff  link

Johnny Appleseed by Eva Moore

The Life and Times of the Apples by Charles Micucci  link

Apples to Oregon by Deborah Hopkinson link

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar  link

7-12 

D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar D'Aulaire (look for 'The Apples of Love and the Apples of Discord' and 'Hera')

You could also read The Little Red House to your child and see if they can guess what the little red house actually is.  The story is below.

 
Writing

Here are some ideas for practicing writing at home or school.

Write an Apple Tale
  Have younger students work together to make up their own apple tale (with golden apples or magic apples in it).  Ask older students to write individual apple stories.  They might like to rewrite a well-known fairy tale and add a magic apple as part of the plot.

Write Apple Stories
     -About a mean teacher. Like in Mrs. Gorf by Louis Sachar's Sideways Stories from Wayside School.  Your student will enjoy this funny story about a mean teacher who turns her students into apples.  Younger students can make up a story together with a parent and draw the illustrations.
    -About the star in the apple.  Cut an apple in half crosswise )midway between the stem end and the blossom end), so that your student can see the star made by the seeds.  Ask them to write an imaginary story to explain the presence of the star in the apple.  Let younger children work with an adult to make up their stories and illustrate them; then have your student share their story.
   -About worms.  Ask your student to write a story about a family of worms that lives in an apple.  What adventures do the worms have?  What if a bird, an animal, or a person wanted to eat the apple?  Ask your student to draw a picture of the apple house.

Write an Apple Poem
  Have your student write an acrostic poem or apple cinquain.  Or they can make up their own apple poetry.

here

here

Use this free printable for your student to write their apple story or poem.

 Word Work

Do an apple word sort.  For those that don't know about a word sort, it is a collection of word cards that can be sorted by their attributes.  For example, some of the words in the collection would have a short a sound, while others would have a long a sound.

Practice spelling using games with apple cups.

Now, we are finally onto recipes for apples.  I love using apples in recipes.  It helps me feel like I'm eating healthy even when I'm not.  :)

Kids LOVE helping in the kitchen.  It's a fun way to learn to read a recipe, measure ingredients correctly, clean up, and enjoy something they have made themselves.  My kids have been helping me in the kitchen since they were old enough to sit in the Bumbo on the counter (shhhhh, don't tell anyone that I did that...it's NOT safe).   Nowadays, my kids come running to the kitchen at dinner time or when we are making a special snack.

These are recipes that I have tried and tested on myself and my family and friends.  They are winners in my book.

Flat Apple Pie by Ree Drummond

Apple Cinnamon Streusel Dessert Pizza by Mel's Cafe

Butterfinger Apple Nachos by A Pumpkin and a Princess

Apple Pie Cookies by Oh, Bite It!

Freezer Apple Pie Filling by Ball

Chocolate Dipped Apple Slices by Kidspot Kitchen

Homemade Sparkling Apple Juice by One Good Thing by Jillee

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Apple Bites  by The Comfort of Cooking

Autumn Apple Salad by Home Based Mom

Crunchy Apple and Grape Salad by Tasty Kitchen

Homemade Applesauce by Kids a Cookin'

Remember to have fun with your kids while learning a bit more about apples.  Check back next week for ideas to extend the learning through Math and Science with apples!

Natalie's Friday Favorites {09-05-14}

1.

Bath and Body Works Wallflowers

A couple years ago my sweet Momma gave one of these to me and I've kept up my supply because I LOVE them.  I have always loved {most of} the smells that waft out of the Bath and Body Works stores and these are a nice way to have them in your home in a nice and not overpowering way.  Even better is that they've come out with their line of fall smells which just make me happy!  And even BETTER is that they're having a sale!  Who knows how long it will go on so get over and get your Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, Leaves, and Cranberry Woods scents now!

2.

A song that makes me feel beautiful

3.

In A Pikle Bag

One of my sisters-in-law started a company that creates these SUPER cute bags to help girls and guys on the go when little emergencies happen...aka being in a pickle!  They really are handy and cute.  They make great gifts, conversation starters, and life savers.  No need to scramble when you find some food in your teeth, your little one scrapes a knee, or your husband's shirt button needs to be sewn back on.  They have a lot of different options for the outside look and inside contents, check them out!

4.
Celebrate Magazine

Another gift from my awesome Momma!  I love this magazine for two main reasons: 1 - Really fun and cute ideas that I could easily recreate.  2 - It's so fun to look through!  It's kind of like a picture book for women who like food and parties.  I've tried {by my own hand or the hands of others} many recipes from this magazine and most if not all have been delicious!  I'm also taking one of their ideas for fall decorating and doing it this year!

5.
Contact Paper

I learned the beauty of contact paper in the classroom from a Kindergarten teacher I worked with for a short period of time.  She used contact paper to keep students' name tags on their desks.  I copied this idea and then went CRAZY!  I used contact paper to attach cute number tags to their coat/backpack hooks, to attach similar cute numbers to their mailboxes, to attach labels to their various notebooks so they could easily remember which one belonged to which subject, and more!  I can only imagine how else I'll use it at home.  I recently used contact paper in a demo for a fun reward for all children.

JNatalie

How to Use Your Child's Class Newsletter

Now that we have been in school for a few weeks, most of you have probably already gotten a newsletter from your child's teacher.  I LOVE getting my child's newsletter.  I think it's probably the teacher in me, however, I really enjoy seeing what they will be learning for the month.  It helps me to prepare extension activities for them on an individual level.  It also provides a baseline assessment for me as a parent.  If my child is supposed to learn the letters A and B by the end of the month and they haven't, then I know they need more one on one time at home and school.

So, here's what to look for in your child's classroom newsletter.

1.  Month {You may think I'm crazy, however, around January you will be wondering what month this newsletter is for, that is if they all look the same.}

2.  Class {If you have more than one child going to school, you will be receiving more than one class newsletter.  It's important to know which child the newsletter belongs to.}

3.  Important News {Many teachers use the newsletter to communicate with parents as a collective group about upcoming events and happenings in the classroom.}

4.  Birthdays {Are you wondering when your child's friends birthday is?  Well, okay, maybe we don't have time to worry about that.  However, when it's your child's birthday month, they will be searching for their name on the newsletter.}

5.  What We're Learning {So this is by far the most important part of the newsletter for me as a parent.  I use the information from this section to help my child with enriching activities and to see if they are on schedule for learning those things listed.}

6.  Calendar {I look at my child's newsletter calendar and make sure to transfer important dates and information into our family calendar.  Then you can use the calendar to tape up to your child's wall.  They can use it to count down the month, see when assignments will be due, when pictures will be taken, and when they have P.E. for the month.}

 Here is another example of a newsletter.  Most teachers will have one, but rarely do you get two teachers who do their newsletter in the exact same way.  If you ever have a question about the newsletter, calendar, or anything else, make sure you email or call your child's teacher to get clarification.

You notice in this newsletter that the teacher is providing parents with the same usage of words for teaching writing that they will be using in class.  This way, when the kids are at school and home they are being taught with the same words 'up and around, and stop'.  This limits confusion in a child's learning.

So, don't just throw out the newsletter without using it first.  You'll see that your child's homework will coincide right along with the What We're Learning section of the newsletter.  Then if you search online for activities pertaining to those things, you will be able to enrich and extend your child's learning at home.

When the month is over, recycle that newsletter and everyone wins!  Some teachers even email the newsletter or post it on their website.  If so, make sure you visit the site monthly to get all the information you need.

Valerie

Sending School Notes {Plus, a PRINTABLE!}

All mommies are going to need to send a note to their child's teacher at least once a year.

Dentist appointments, illness, and vacations are all reasons to send in a note.

Really, any time that your child is going to be absent, late, picked up early, or for any other concerns you might have, you will want to send in a note.

I have put together this Notes for School printable.

For some reason this is showing a reddish background.  When you download it should have a white background.  Click here for download.

Aside from the usual things, there is a money section.  In case you need to send in money to school.  Just fold this up with the money and slip it into an envelope, or staple it to the front of the envelope.

Also, teachers, if you like the layout of this note, send a link to all of your student's parents.  That way, everyone will be using the same format for notes to the classroom.  :)

Communication between parents and teachers is one of the key factors in your child's education.  These notes will help when you need to make your child's teacher aware of something.  Print a few sheets off, cut them in half, and have them ready to be filled out at a moment's notice.  Just this morning I sent a note with my daughter explaining to her teacher that she is suffering from hayfever(allergies) and to call me if she is too miserable.  Without the note, the teacher may have assumed she came to school sick or with lack of sleep.  This way, everyone knows and there is no confusion. 

Valerie