Groundhog Love

I am obsessed with Punxsutawney Phil! I love this groundhog!

If I had a bucket list, meeting him would be on it! =)

So, I am totally bummed this year that Groundhog's Day is on a Saturday. We are also having Art Day on our campus this Friday. I am not sure when I am going to squeeze in all of our Groundhog's Day Fun but I WILL!!!!!!

Last year, Phil sent us a package that we had to open on February 1st. We read this non-fiction book about groundhogs.

Check out this book here.

I was able to grab this book several years ago for $5. =)

In the package, we also had groundhog riddle puzzles, materials for our prediction craftivity, goodies for a groundhog snack, and many, many more things.

Here are some songs and videos we will be checking out this week. =)

Here is a prediction chart we will make.

source

a cute poem and craft

source

Here are some groundhog math *freebies* from me. =)

If you already grabbed this, download it again. There was a boo boo! =)

And nothing makes learning more fun than a snack! =)

source

Good Golly Groundhogs...I am so excited!!! =)

If you have time, I would love for you to leave me a heart note. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Tally Dem Bat Bones

Wahoo for Friday! 9 weeks of school are officially completed and I am wondering how time flies by so quickly???!!!????

It is finally starting to feel like fall here in Texas. Several days this week it was in the upper 80's and tonight it will get down in the 30's! You have to love Texas weather. I know to leave the short sleeves in my closest still because on Thanksgiving it could be back in the 80's....because here in Texas we do our own thing! =)

Here is a quick and easy math center for next week that some of my kiddos practiced today. We have a pumpkin die-cut at school. I whipped out some pumpkins, pulled out the pumpkin seeds that are reeeaaalllllyyyy old and let my kiddos use the bottle glue...and that might have been THE best part of this activity!!! =)

Here is a peek at their pumpkin patches. =)

Click on the picture below to grab your pumpkin patch label. 

Isn't that font the cutest??!!!???

On Monday, we will have a delivery...BAT BONES. Shhhhh, they are really pretzel sticks I dipped in white chocolate!

We will use the bat bones to practice using tally marks. Here is a picture from last year. The kiddos LOVED this...and they of course believed they were REAL bat bones!!! =)

Sorry for the bad iphone picture. =(

We also learned this Bat Bones poem.

Click here to grab your copy.

Click here to get your bone tally activities.

I would love to hear what you think about these. When I shared them last year, I still had less than 100 followers....it is hard to believe I am still blogging! I still get nervous and scared sharing my thoughts and activities....but your sweet hearts notes always make my heart smile. =)

I hope you each have a wonderful and relaxing weekend. I am going to procrastinate grading a little bit longer. Grades are due by midnight on Monday but right now I am ready for some spiced tea, my book, and cuddling with my kitty and my bunny. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Shining Our Pumpkin Lights

This past week seemed to go by sooooooo slowllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy....and I was even out of the classroom for 2 days for Engineering training and  for writing Science curriculum. I think having a sub for 2 days in a row erased some of the things we had been working so hard to learn. Does that happen to your class when you have had a sub????!!!????

At one of the meetings we talked about how the time period from mid-October to the middle of December is so hard for teachers but especially for our kiddos. It is a time for meetings, programs, crafts, fun activities, holiday celebrations, Red Ribbon week, bright intense colors like red and orange, and then the stress that our kiddos might be feeling at home as their parents prepare for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. For many of our kiddos and their families, the holidays that we LOVE are stressful for them as they try and find the means to buy Thanksgiving dinner stuff and Christmas gifts. Meanwhile, any routine in our classrooms is starting to be disrupted by all of the fun activities and programs of this time of year.

This helps to explain why our kiddos start going a little nutty and by Christmas Break we are ready to be the Nutcrackers and find ourselves telling the kiddos we are in contact with Santa and have been telling him all of the things going on in our classrooms.

Thursday some of my kiddos we definitely a little squirrelly and I had to stop myself from going a little nutty too!

What popped into my head was the poem about God picking pumpkins.

It seems to be that "yucky stuff" that we let get in the way of so many things we do. I let it get in the way of remembering to be patient and even at times from stopping and looking at all of the blessings in my life. It is easy to get caught up in the negative "yucky stuff". 

I think I need to try and remember to scoop out all of that "yucky stuff" before I even get out of the car each morning. Part of our job is to keep the light inside of each pumpkin God puts in our classroom burning. I think of each year when we put "Jack" our jack-o-lantern in a jar. For the rest of the year, we watch him decompose. It is nasty. Last year to my horror Jack almost was knocked off of where he was sitting...I would have died if all of his nasty, smelly smithereens were splattered on our already nasty carpet.

I think we sometimes feel if some of our little pumpkins might already be rotting. We might not take the time to even see why their light might not be burning very brightly.

When I went to find the pumpkin poem, I also came across this one.

source: http://happyhomefairy.com/tag/christian-pumpkin-poem/

I am a Jack O’ Lantern

My lights will shine so bright

For I’m a Christian pumpkin

My symbols tell what’s right

My nose is like the cross

On which our Savior died

To set us free from sin

We need no longer hide

My mouth is like a fish

The whole wide world to show

That Christians live in this house

And love their Savior so!

The story starts at Christmas

My eyes are like the star

That shone on Baby Jesus

And wise men saw from far

My color, it is orange

Just like the big bright sun

That rose on Easter Day

Along with God’s own Son

I just love this! What a great way to let your love for the Lord shine out to others this month.

Since pumpkins have been on my mind, here is a little *freebie* that I hope you enjoy. The kiddos roll a dice and add 10. The first player to cover 5 in a row wins. This is to help with place value and those tricky teens. =)

graphics by Scrappin' Doodles

As you get ready for a new week, remember to look for the light in each one of your little pumpkins. Be sure and keep the light going with your love and patience...and you'll see it shining through their little jack-o-lantern smiles. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Spooky Cover-Up

Stretchy Snake is in the house and my kiddos L-O-V-E him. One little friend was a bit concerned that Eagle Eyes might want to eat Stretchy Snake but then it was decided that since they are both part of Our School Family now that everything was groovy! Hearing this conversation was TOO, TOO CUTE!

I am finishing up the Stretchy Snake *freebies* and I am excited to share them with you later this week.

One little kiddo remembered to use Stretchy Snake to help decode a word during a reading group. He then asked permission to leave the reading group for a minute. He goes up to Stretchy Snake to thank him for helping him be a better reader. Very sweet but I am concerned at times that the children in my class will need therapy as they get older due to believing everything I tell them!!!

Here is a quick ten frame *freebie*. My kiddos love cover-up games and they can always use more practice adding....plus, they can practice subitizing! Do you know what that means????

I am working on some October math work stations that I will share when I am finished. What kind of games would you like to see the most: place value, money or number lines?

I feel like it should already be Thursday tomorrow. It seems like I am always having to go to meetings and most of the time the meetings just remind me how behind I am in everything that I am supposed to be doing. So my question of the day is this:

How often do you have meetings? Do you find them beneficial?

If you grab the *freebie*, please take a minute to leave me a heart note. Each note is always so encouraging and they are such motivation for me to create and share more *freebies*!!!! =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Remember to F.R.O.G. and some *freebies*

My classroom has been invaded by frogs. They are everywhere. My chickadees (my nieces) love to count them when they come help me in my classroom. I have frog lamps, wind chimes and even an adorable frog mailbox. The frogs each help to remind me to F.R.O.G.

Fully
Rely
On
God

I would not make it a day in the classroom if God had not called me to be there.

Our job is full of so many challenges. Curriculum, standards, and testing seem to be all that matters. "They" (whoever the heck all of "those" people are) seem to not realize I have been entrusted with the hearts of 18 little ones. I am not supposed to take in consideration that I have kiddos who get their only meals at school. The fact a parent is in jail or they don' have running water or they wake up grumpy because they were yelled at should not matter when they get to school because "they" think we teach a curriculum....but we all know that it does matter because we teach the child.

During my first 2 years of teaching, I cried almost everyday on the way home. I wanted to "fix" their burdens or carry them for my little ones.

I have realized how much I need to rely on God and trust Him to take care of my little ones when I am not there.

I can be there to love, hug, and listen to them. I can remember to have a Heart of Patience.

When I heard this song, I realized this is what we can do for our children and each other.

I never would have thought when I started blogging that I would be so encouraged and blessed by each one of you. Each one of you is a treasure in my heart. When I pray for God to use us to make a difference, I think of each one of you.

So, this poem is for each of you. When you see the frog, know that frog is a reminder that I am praying and thinking about YOU. I hope the frog also reminds you to F.R.O.G. The frog can also be a reminder to stop and take a few seconds to pray for the little ones in your classroom.

I hope you find a special place to put this. =)

Time to hop to the ***freebies***

I created these games for my kiddos to work on during the first few weeks of math work stations. I wanted something that would be fairly easy for them to work on independently....of course you are never sure until you meet your GROUP. Did your heart just skip a few beats??!!!?? Have you heard rumors or reports about the GROUP headed your way???

You can hop over to my TpT store here to go grab this **freebie** fun.

FYI: Followers of my store will be notified of secret *freebies* that I won't tell you about on my blog. =)

Here are the games you'll find:

This game is for my sweet little ones who will need help identifying numbers from 1 to 6.

Yes, I will have Firsties who will not be able to recognize numbers to 5. =(

This game will also work on color words. =)

Pete and Chester will compare who has more apples using ten frames.

building and coloring patterns with cubes

adding or subtracting dice to reach 50

ordering numbers to 20

adding sums to 12

I hope you can use these with your kiddos this year. 

Please take a few minutes to leave me a heart note. Each one is a blessing to me and leaves me with a smile. I would also big {{PUFFY}} heart LOVE for you to leave me a little note at my TpT store. =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Monster Snack Attack

I am stopping myself right now to post this before it gets out of hand. I am already thinking of Monster Snack Attack 2. Monsters snacking on letters and numbers have my brain pop, pop, POPPING! =)

Do you think I need an intervention when my dreams are about making things with clip art??!!???? I seriously had a dream about a mini-lesson with one of these activities. I am even thinking of a shirt idea to tell my friend Carla at Sewing Sassy...I am thankful that she knows about me and my brain pops. She almost always has a similar one too!

I am in LOVE with this clip art and have about a gazillion ideas of how to use it! =)

Does this clip art make you happy too?

Maybe these cute monsters will help my cute monsters kiddos learn how to rhyme. =)

sorting real and non-sense words

sorting letters and numbers

50 chips- a great counting game

ordering numbers from least to greatest

adding and handwriting practice =)

Did you say to yourself at least once Those are so stinkin' cute?

Well, guess what???

If you did, you get all of these games as ***FREEBIES*** here!!!!

And if you didn't say they were cute....oh, well- you can grab them too!

I started looking again at everything in Chapter 1 of the CD book and felt VERY overwhelmed. There is so much information in there that my hair starts to hurt and my eyes start spinning in different directions!

I am going to think about the best way to give you that information without overwhelming you too! Please, please, please share with me your doubts and hesitations about Conscious Discipline...I probably had them too! =)

I would love for you to take a moment and leave me a heart note if you grab these *freebies*. I really cannot even find the words to let you know how much each one means to me.

From My Heart to Yours,

Teachers of the Heart

As the end of school gets closer and closer, EVERYONE gets excited and a little less patient. For many kiddos, summer is fun with family and friends and NO SCHOOL. However, some kiddos are going to miss the structure school gives them because their little lives are so chaotic. Many kiddos get their only meals at school and get their only hugs and love from us. We often have no idea what our little ones go home to face each day...and this is not just our children of poverty. Every kiddo deserves our best until they get in their car or on the bus the very last day of school.

I need to remind myself that even though they have heard us saying the same thing for over 150+ days, they will need to be hearing it again and again and again....even though I am about to go batty, up the wall, cray cray saying it! =) I need to remember to have a Heart of Patience.

One of the most powerful chapters in Conscious Discipline is the chapter on Positive Intent. This chapter helps you realize that children are either extending love or calling for love (help). It is easy to let a behavior "label" a child. I am guilty of that at times and have referred to kiddos as stinkers or toots (never to their face). Just because I might be calling them that when I vent to a teacher friend I am hopefully not let my frustrations with that kiddo out on them...although, there are times my heart of patience is not there.

 I think when I am frustrated it is because I care about that kiddo and don't know how to help them or I don't know how to help them realize how hurtful their behavior is. But the BIG brain pop for me was that is the same thing with the kiddos....they don't know what to do(or they do but aren't doing it) and their behavior is crying out for our love and help.

I think of the poem I shared called  "Eyes of the Heart". Until I start looking at others with my heart, I won't be able to help them. The big idea of the chapter on Positive Intent is children cannot behave differently until they are seen differently. What we offer to others we strengthen within ourselves. page 159

Remember, what we focus on we get more of.

As I get ready to start this week, I know my kiddos at times will be cray cray. I can only change myself. I will pray for a heart of patience that looks at others with eyes of the heart.

Here are 2 songs I want to share with you.

*Freebie* time!!! I am sorry for not sharing any *freebies* lately because I love to do so. I have been a wee bit obsessed with butterflies this past week because of some ADORABLE butterfly bowls I found. I will be sharing the picture of them this week and there might be a giveaway too!

I hope you can use these math *freebies*! =)

graphics by Scrappin Doodles

frame by The 3am Teacher

As you get ready to start the week, know you are a blessing to your kiddos. Thank you for also being a blessing to me. I pray God helps us be Teachers of the Heart.

Fever, *Freebies*, and a Poem

I am sick...cough, cough-I might even have a fever.

Un momento while I go check...............................................................................................

Yeppers! I do!

Spring Fever!!!

It is gorgeous outside. The temperature is perfect. Dogwoods, azaleas, tulip trees, bluebonnets, and tons of other Spring flowers are blooming. Yes, we just had Spring Break but I am ready for one more! Sitting outside by my sister's pool with a book is the prescription.

The last time I had an actual sick day was 9 years ago. Rub your eyes but you read that correctly! If getting ready for a sub wasn't such a pain, I might be tempted. But then I think of all I still need to teach and I start to panic, stress, and worry! HOLY MOLY! HOLY MOLY!!!!

Then, I stopped myself today. I thought of  how God  uses the sparrow and the eagle in Bible.

Isaiah 40:31:
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.


Luke 12:7
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.


Because of grace, I can come before God and ask His forgiveness and through His love He finds beauty in me.

I think of my kiddos and how I can see all of the things they still need to learn and how much further some of them still need to go. Or I can look at them and see how far they have come. I can see the strength and resilience that many of them have. I can remember to have a Heart of Patience. I need to remind myself daily that I must touch their heart first and love them with all of my heart even when they may not deserve it or be acting in a manner where we want to freely give it.

I thought I would share this poem. This just reminds me that God is our teacher who loved us first.

Now to some *freebies*! =)

My kiddos love dice games and went nuts over Race to the Rainbow. So, here is an Easter dice game-Hop to the Top!

This is a measurement activity using the small plastic Easter eggs and the big, jumbo ones.

I hope your kiddos have fun with these *freebies*! =)

I would love for you to leave me a heart note if you grab them or the poem.

Thank you for touching my heart each day and blessing me in some many ways. =)