Birthday and Winner!

Today is my birthday!!!

To celebrate, I am having a sale in my TpT store!

And, I am announcing the winner of

Too Much Glue

 

 Thank you to everyone for leaving some great tips, tricks and ideas on my post! 

I can't wait to try them!

Enjoy your day....

My besties are taking me to lunch!

My husband and kids have plans for us to eat out!

 I am already having the best day!

 

Glue... Dot, Dot, Not a Lot!

Glue.... For most teachers, they either love it or hate it.  

I love it!  I love having my class make things to go with what they are learning. Glue is a great way to put it all together!

In Kindergarten, the beginning of the year is all about teaching rules, routines, and how-to's.... {You know, how to use the restroom as a group; how to wash your hands at the group sink; how to cut; how to hold your pencil correctly and write your name; and.... Well, if you teach kindergarten, you know the long list}

Every year, at the first of school, I teach my new Kindergartners how to use a glue bottle.

Last year I used Mrs. Miner's glue tips {you can find her free Top Secret Gluing Techniques and her License to Glue at her TpT store} and they worked brilliantly! 

And I started the year singing her song or telling my class "A little dab will do ya!"  It worked so perfectly!  But, next thing I knew, I had one of my sweeties coming to school and telling me her mom says "Dot, Dot, Not a Lot" - so for the rest of the school year I would tell my sweeties "Dot, Dot, Not a Lot".  They loved it and it worked great!

But, this year, I wanted some more tips to help me teach my new little Kindergartners glue techniques.  I began searching blogs.  

Shuna, of Pocket Full of Kinders, recently had some great tips!!!    {and she has some great freebies to help practice with your kiddos!}  I loved all her tips!  And I really love her tip about the glue sponges!

I also found some cute tips and freebies from Little Miss Kindergarten {visit her here and here and here}   and  Kindergarten Smiles  {see her cute pics here and here}

I am so excited by all these tips!  My Kinders did awesome last year and I know my class this year are going to be experts! I can't wait to use all these adorable tips and freebies!

I like to always start a lesson in my classroom with a book. It's the best way to get my class focused in on what they are about to learn.  I was beyond excited when I found out about Too Much Glue! 

What a great way to introduce my class about using glue with this adorable story!

The story is about a little boy named Matty who loves glue!  His Dad and Mom make all kinds of things with him at home with glue!  So, when he goes to school, he can't wait to use the white stuff to make his newest creation in art class! Matty gets himself in a super sticky situation, even though his teacher warned him. You will love how the book ends! 

This book is so much fun!  I know my kinders will adore it! 

Flashlight Press was so sweet to give me one of these adorable books to send to one of my lucky followers!  

Would you like to win a copy of Too Much Glue?  

Just leave me a comment with a great glue tip or back to school tip and your email!  I will pick a random comment to win on Wednesday, July 31st! 
{Note: I am mailing this book to you, so I have to limit the contest to U.S. addresses only, sorry!}

Shabby Apple Winner!

I am so excited to announce the winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats Maria!!

I look forward to hearing from you!
I can't wait to see which item you pick!
   

Shabby Apple Vintage Clothing Giveaway!

 

Shabby Apple contacted me about giving away one of their beautiful dresses to one of my fabulous readers!  I was so excited! {I would love to keep it for myself ~ I mean, aren't they beautiful?!} 

 

Because I adore all of you, I am giving you the chance to win a Vintage Clothing item!  

{click the picture to see more Vintage Clothing}

 Do you want to win a Vintage Clothing item?

I am making it easy for you!

 All you have to do is enter on the Rafflecopter below!

This giveaway will end on Sunday evening {midnight CST}

I will pick a winner on Monday!

If you win, Shabby Apple has a list of Vintage Clothing items for you to pick from!

(Note:   Shabby Apple only ships within the U.S.A)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Guest Post at Kreative in Kinder ~ Birthdays!

So glad you are visiting me today! 

If you are joining me from Kreative in Kinder, thank you for visiting! I  hope you will follow me!

For my awesome blog followers, I am guest posting at Kreative in Kinder today!

Last year, to help my students celebrate, I gave each student a birthday crown that was purchased from Oriental Trading.  To make the crowns even cuter, I attached these stars from Laura from Kinder Kraziness   {Note:  I did copy them larger than normal onto yellow construction paper, so the stars would be bigger and stand out more}

 

{click on the picture to find this freebie in her store

and, if you love them as much as I do, leave her some feedback!}

But, I also LOVE cupcakes! So, I made this little freebie for everyone today to help you celebrate birthdays!   I made them in color and in black and white {you can have your students color them, or you can copy onto different colored construction paper}.

{Note: I always like to write their names and how old they are using a Sharpie on to the star and will probably do the same on the cupcakes.}

I will let my students decide which one they want on their crown {the cupcakes or the stars}.

These would also be great attached to a silly straw, pixie stick, bag of goodies, pencil or just pinned to their shirt!

If you love it, please leave me a note and let me know how you plan to use it! :)


Just click {here} or on the picture above.



And, if today is your birthday,  

Happy Birthday!

Winners of MPM School Supplies!

And the winner is.....

a Rafflecopter giveaway'

Congrats to Julie M. and Cindy E.! 

If you still need to do some back to school shopping, MPM School Supplies has a unique code for my blog followers!  Just click here or on the picture below to receive a 10% discount! This code expires in one week {July 19th}, so please act fast!

And keep following me!  I am working on another giveaway you won't want to miss!!!! :)

MPM School Supplies Giveaway!

I have the best followers!

And, because I love y'all so, I am so excited to give away not one, but TWO $25 gift cards to MPM School Supplies!

Just follow the steps in Rafflecopter {below}. The giveaway starts tonight and ends on July 12th at Midnight. Two lucky people will be contacted via email and will receive a gift card code so they can shop for back to school!  {Remember to leave your email in the Rafflecopter or in a comment so I can contact you!}

Please check back, because I will be sharing a special discount code if you didn't win, so you can shop at a discount!

 Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

Currently ~ July ~ and Sale!

I know this is my second post today, but I am sooo excited to link up with Farley for Currently!

Listening: My son had his birthday on Friday and received lots of Legos!  He is in heaven!!!! {and, of course, SpongeBob is on! It's Saturday!}

Loving: Summer!  After a long school year, there is nothing I love more than Summer! Sleeping in, getting to spend more time with my own kids, catching up on my reading, swimming with my kids at the local pool ~ there is nothing more relaxing! I love teaching, but after a long year, I love getting to relax! {My kids love it too!}

Thinking: My feet are in desperate need of a pedicure!  I may have to head over and get that done today!

Wanting: Some new Summer clothes!  I need more shorts! I always buy new clothes for my kids, but seem to forget to get some for me!

Needing: To clean house!  We have been so busy, I haven't had time!

Tips, Tricks or Hints: Remember to take the time to Pray! When you are worried or concerned about something, Pray!  I have been trying to do this more this Summer, and it is amazing how more relaxed I am! {Now, if I can remember my own advice during the school year!}

Now, it's your turn!  Go link up with Farley!


and Don't forget ~ Tomorrow I am having a Sale! Read more Here!

and I am having a Giveaway! Read more Here! 

Happy July 4th!!!

Sale!

In honor of my two children's birthday this month, I decided to put everything in my store on sale!

Just click the Kinderland picture to head over to my store!

And, here are some other Awesome Kinderland bloggers that have put their stores on sale! :)

Subitizing {and a Great App!}

Do you know what Subitizing is?  

Subitizing is seeing how many all at once.  So, if a child looks at a bunch of dots, they know the number without having to count.

For some students, this is a very difficult concept.

I liked to play games to get the students to pick up this concept. 

I love "Around the World" - ever heard of it?  

Two children stand at their desks and I hold up a flashcard. The first one to say the answer wins and moves on to the next desk. If they can get all the way around the room, they win. My classes have always loved this game!

But kids are becoming more and more computer oriented. Sometimes I think I need more to keep their attention.

I was recently contacted to look at an app that helps kids learn this concept.

"Counting Together" is awesome!  Check out the creators website {here} and you can check out the free app {here}

 

 and they have a tutorial {click here}

The app teaches subitizing and also addition. 

It is great for multi-players too! If you play on an iPad, each player has a side of the iPad! {This would be an awesome center rotation!}

If you are looking for more subitizing ideas:




I love this Rock, Paper, Scissors pack from Mrs. Lirette.

 
Little Miss Kindergarten has some Number Talking Packs! {click the pictures to see more!}

 

And if you need more Subitizing activities:
* There is a board on Pinterest;  
* Pre-K Pages has a post about subitizing; 
* Math Coach's Corner has a few posts about it; 
* There are some SmartBoard links; 
and if you Google it you will find even more ideas!

Leave me a note and let me know if you have any other Subitizing ideas! I would love to hear them!

Throwback Thursday ~ Bulletin Boards

Have you thought about your next year's classroom yet?  I am 3 weeks into Summer, {only 7 weeks left ~ Whoa! ~ It is flying!}, and already trying to figure out my theme and what I need!

Do you have bulletin board you want to decorate?

I am linking up with Cara of The First Grade Parade for her Throwback Thursday!  Hopefully this will help give you some ideas!  

 

There is also a Pinterest Board you can follow that is all Bulletin Boards & Doors! {click here}.

Happy Thursday!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From July 2012

If you have decided your theme for this year, have you decided what your bulletin board will look like? I thought I would share two from my previous years to give you some ideas:

Back to School - Garden Theme Bulletin Board



Back to School - Safari Theme Bulletin Board



I hope these inspire you!

I am linking up with Fifth Grade Dugout: Back to School Bulletin Board Linky Party. Go visit her and see her cute bulletin board!

This year I will be in a portable building and so I won't get to do a bulletin board. Although some friends of mine were telling me I should be excited, this was one of my favorite things to do each year. I am really very sad! At least I have my pictures! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Update:  This year I had a small bulletin board in my classroom and I changed it out with the student's art work! It wasn't exactly the same, but I had the same fun changing it out! :) Yay!!!  :)
Happy Thursday!

And don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin' and enter my Giveaway! {click here} 

Bloglovin Giveaway!

Do you love giveaways?

I know I do! They are so much fun!  

Have you signed up for BlogLovin' yet?  

Want to enter a giveaway after you sign up? 

Third Grade Tidbits has started a giveaway linky! Love it!!!!

Ok, ready for my giveaway?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So glad you entered! Now, want to enter some more giveaways? Check out this Linky!

 

BlogLovin

 

So, have you heard????  After July 1, 2013, you will no longer be able to follow me through Google Reader.  {I would love for you to follow me through Bloglovin'!}  

I know, it sounds a little scary! Some have said Google Friend Connect is eventually going away. So sad! I will miss that cute little button on the side!

Have you made the switch yet?

If you have not jumped into Bloglovin' yet, there are some wonderful tutorials:

The Brown Bag Teacher
She will teach you how easy it is to get started, import your current blogs ~ she makes it super easy for you! 

Kickin' it in Kindergarten 
She will teach you how to claim your blog!

 Maggie's Kinder Corner

She will teach you how to add a cute Bloglovin button to your blog!





I would love for you to follow me! Please click the little button so we can stay connected! Happy Lovin!

Throwback Thursday ~ Gift idea revisited!

I am linking up with Cara from The First Grade Parade for Throwback Thursday!

She is looking back at some of her old posts and I thought it would be fun to look back at the teacher appreciation gift I gave my son's teacher!  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Post from May 2012

Thursday I made my son's teacher her end of the year gift - I was so excited about it that I went ahead and had my son give it to her and I forgot to take a picture - Cracker Jacks! I was so mad at myself - I wanted to rush to her room and ask for it back so I could take a picture, but was afraid she might think I was weird and decided against it!

Well, I got the idea from Teacher Tipster on his Facebook page - (here). I made some labels using Graphics From the Pond Rainbow Days Paper Border. I made them in Word and printed them on Avery Labels 5163 (Shipping Labels). I put M&M's in a cute jar I bought for $2.95 at Wally World. Put the cute poem label on one side and the jar and the You are an M&M Teacher! label on the other side of the jar and a cute ribbon around the lid and Voila! A cute end of the year Teacher Gift! 

My little one loves his teacher so much and is asking to give her another present, so I may make a cute cup for her (check it out here).

If you would like the labels you can download the labels from my TpT store!

What do you do for your child's teacher? :)
Leave me some ideas! or Just leave me some love! :)
(Been needing it lately... But that post is for another day!)

Enjoy! :)

May 2013 Update:  
{you can click here to read this post}

Here is are pictures from the M&M jar I made this year: 

We got to Skype with Debbie Clement!

Do you know Debbie Clement of Rainbows Within Reach? She is an awesome singer and author! She has written some amazing songs and books!

So, this little teacher from a small town was asked by this big name singer to Skype with her!!! Of course, after I stopped jumping up and down, said YES!!!

I was beyond excited, but had never Skyped before! Ah, time for this teacher to get with the real world and learn something new!!!

I set up my account and then asked my principal. She was, of course, hesitant, but after lots of reassurances, she agreed!

Our Tech Guru helped me set up the school program room to Skype! Yay for Help!!!

I asked a few of my teacher friends to join us {our program room is tiny, so only a few classes could join us - but we had approximately 80 students, 4 teachers and a Counselor in on our Skype session}.

Let me say, she is beyond amazing!!!  All 80 students were mesmerized by her talent!  She kept them entertained for 40 solid minutes!  My class normally can not sit still for 40 straight minutes, but with Debbie, they did not have to! She has them moving and grooving!  So awesome!!! 

We had so much fun singing and dancing!  Then they got to ask her questions!  Needless to say they kept asking me for her songs to sing days later! 

I love her blog and her music!    We had sooo much fun!!! Thank you Debbie for Skyping with my students! We  ♥ You! 

Right now, she is giving away a registration to the I Teach K! conference!!! Hurry and go enter!  {Click here or on the picture below}