We have been experimenting a lot with watercolors lately. Something about seeing the colors mix and blend together is incredibly satisfying! I also love that there are so many watercolor painting ideas for kids out there that are easy and also look stunning. That's a win-win! If you have a little artist on your hands,

I'm linking up with Jivey for this week's Workshop Wednesday: Response to Literature! When I take reading groups, we spend a lot of time discussing the story (as much discussing a first grader can handle anyway!). I always remind them what good readers do and I model it for them. For example, I'll say a good reader thinks about what the author wanted us to learn by reading this story. Then I'll pick a story we've previously read and have say I think so and so wanted us to learn blah, blah. After, I ask the kids to think back and see what the story we're working on is about. I do this for setting, main idea, pretty much everything! I also have a little graphic organizer flip chart that I use in my groups. It's part of our Reading Street reading program and can be written on with Expo markers. It has a page for character, plot, beginning, middle and end of a story, and lots more. Many times, I will use these for the kids to show their understanding of the characters, setting, and the stories problem. They especially love the part where they have to answer how they would solve the problem in the story. :) My kids do a lot of written responses in their writing journals as well. Often times, I'll give them a sentence or question to get the started. For example, our first unit is about pets, so their journal prompts may be about how they would take care of a pet, their favorite type of pet, or if they could have any pet, what would it be....things that activate prior knowledge or make them think a little more about the topics we are reading about. :) How do your kids respond to literature? :) One more thing before I take a break for dinner!! Here's a little something special I made for my classroom this weekend! I found the idea on Pinterest (surprise, surprise!). I think it came out pretty good!! I brought it to school on Monday and my kids absolutely LOVED it!! Lately they've been feeling sad because I've been doing special "second grade" things with them and they don't want to leave first grade. I don't want them to go either! But I told them whenever they're feeling sad, they can look at this and remember what a super bunch of friends they have! :) Happy Wednesday!

I have a simple cut and past number matching activity that is perfect for preschool and kindergarten early number lessons - find it at the bottom of this post. But first... I wanted to share with you some additions to some of our growing bundles. Today I added a zoo themed reader and write the room. I also made a zoo themed 'Let's Write' writing prompt. These are all available individually, however if you have the bundles - you can access them in your existing download link! I am thrilled to finally scratch 'update plant log' from my to-do list. I have been wanting to do this for about a year and am so pleased with how the freshen-up panned out. Your students can participate in an in-class science experiment to watch their own seed grow. I suggest planting them on cotton in a clear plastic cup so they can observe and record the development of the plant. Their observational recording book is shaped like a cup - they will draw in exactly what they see each day! And speaking of plants growing - let's talk ice-cream building. Because they're related. I finished a fun new resource this week that has been brewing for a little while. My first graders LOVE changing one letter in a word to make a new one. We start off with one word and write a big long chain of words on the board as they all suggest ideas. It tends to keep going. And going. And going. Even hours later, they are still suggesting a word that will go next. It's the small things. 'Build It Up: cvc Ice Creams' will help your students record such learning. This packet covers cvc words, and I have started another for more challenging words. Students trace each word, snip the scoops and then glue them in place. Too easy. And kinda cute. Speaking of glue. I know - too true...... It's 'Cut and Glue Hullabaloo'! This new packet has been in the works for a few months. I have added a page or two each day. It is a nice simple resource full of practical cut-and-paste reversion worksheets. I like activities like these for fast finishers and table work. The procedure for completing them is very straight-forward and students will not get into a pickle working on them independently. This first edition covers a range of basic kindergarten skills in a 'matching' format. You can try one for free today! Find it in Google Drive: Addition Cat paste Worksheet Thank you so much for stopping by - have a wonderful day!

Sometimes carpet can get a bit stinky, but you don't need harsh chemicals to freshen it up. Here is my method for how to freshen carpet - Naturally!

Multiplication can be challenging for kids to learn and for teachers to teach! Here are a few tips to make teaching multiplication easier.

Have you ever had a class that just tried your patience day after day? Have you ever felt like you could walk away from teaching forever tom...

This post contains affiliate links to products I recommend. Read my full disclosure statement. Learning to add money, make change, and compare money amounts are skills that are coming up in our money unit. I've been working on putting together lots of fun games and engaging opportunities to practice. Here are some money activities for second grade

This fun children's Hooded Cardigan pattern features a button-up design & minimal seaming. Video tutorial included!

Felt boards are great learning tools with many benefits for children - this easy to follow tutorial will show you step by step how to make a DIY felt board.

At the beginning of the year, lining up in Kindergarten can feel a bit like herding cats. How to I teach my kindergarteners to line up without running, pushing, or complaining about where they are in line? Well, believe it or not, it doesn’t have to be complicated. There is one classroom management trick that […]

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR NAME It is so exciting when children become curious about how to write their name. I believe teaching them to write their name should be the first word they learn how to spell . It is personal, concrete and helps them realize that putting letters together in writing has me

Rainbow Unicorn Grid Coloring Page

Learn about famous art and create your own sculpture with this fun lesson about Giacometti.

Learn how to make quesadilla sauce following this easy recipe for the best sauce for quesadillas! Ready in minutes.

Hello! 🐸 Froggie Outfit For Toddlers! ∙ Base Game Compatible ∙ 5 colors (Want to be a pink froggie? You can!) ∙ Comes with a Hoodie, Shorts in 2 versions (with and without little frog feet), Boot…

¡Hoy les compartimos este excelente cuadernillo de trabajo con actividades y ejercicios divertidos para aprender y trabajar con el área de inglés con los pequeños. CUADERNO DE INGLES TOMO II CUADERNO DE TRABAJO INGLES 1° TOMO II GRADO PRIMARIA. DOCUMENTOS COMPLETO EN PDF. Descargar final del POST. Cuaderno con actividades y ejercicios divertidos para aprender […]

In this project we take the larger Dragonfly and attach to a background for a nice portrait. I'm going to show you a few options for backgrounds ranging from canvas to paper. MATERIALS REQUIRED: For Dragonfly: - paper, pencil, eraser - DRAGONFLY TEMPLATE or you can make your own - thin cardboard (cereal box), chipboard, manila tag or posterboard - white paint or gesso, optional - acrylic or tempera paint - sharpie - old book pages, text - Mod podge - clear glass gems from the Dollar store For Backgrounds: - primed canvas, heavy cardboard, posterboard, or paper I'll go thru each background in the tutorial including the materials you need. PROCEDURE: You need to trace your template onto your thin cardboard, chipboard, posterboard, or manila tag. Cut out. I was using a cereal box so I primed mine. This makes painting in the colors easier. If you are using posterboard or manila tag you can skip this step. Paint in the body of the dragonfly. I've left my wings white. At school I know depending on the grade that this might not be possible so you have options: - you can cover them with text like in the previous post - you can go back over them with a coat of white - you can glue a white paper wing on top Because the wings are large you can pair this project up with a poetry or writing exercise. Here I've cut out words in old book pages to compose a little poem on the wings. You could also print it directly on with sharpie or print the text off the computer and add it to the wings. Other wing options are making it look realistic by adding fine lines with a fine tipped sharpie. Another nice option is to add some watered down paint to the wings and then while still wet place a piece of plastic wrap on top and smunch it up a little bit. Leave the plastic wrap on while the paint dries. For all wing types I added some glitter glue for that sparkle. For the eyes I took some glass gems and painted on some Mod podge where I wanted the eyes to go and then stuck the gems on. Now you could just use glue but I like Mod podge as it dries fully. In fact it leaves a real nice texture under the gem. You can seal the entire dragonfly with a coat of podge at this time as well if you wish. BACKGROUND OPTIONS: The background at the beginning of this post was a primed canvas. I wanted some texture on it so I used one of my favorite products, Drywall compound or filler. I use my spatula to spread it on the canvas and then I use my finger to add some detail. I also used a coffee stir stick to add some fine lines into the drywall. Leave to dry, about 6 hrs. Now if you do not have a primed canvas you can do the same technique on corrugated cardboard. This is cardboard that I primed with some gesso/white paint. I usually prime any cardboard as I find if I leave it plain it tends to darken my paint colors. Once the drywall is dry paint your background/substrate with acrylic or tempera paint. Start with the sky as it is furthest back, then the reeds. Glue your Dragonfly onto the background. This is primed canvas. This is cardboard.  Another background option is posterboard. Here I'm using blue posterboard and then taking a variety of painted papers, scrapbooking papers, and whatever was in my stash I cut reed shapes and glued them down.  Add your Dragonfly. Here is another option. I painted a background on some paper. Let dry and then using just construction paper and kraft paper I cut out some reeds and glued then down.  Attach your Dragonflies and you have a great project. If you have each child make 2 large Dragonflies you can send a portrait home and use the extra one in a large bulletin board display. See you next time. 

Have fun reviewing your ABC's by connecting the dots from A to Z, then help spiff up Mr. Cat by adding a bit of color!

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Homeschooling multiple ages can be a bit tricky, but using unit studies has helped me keep things both simple and individualized for my children.

Voici un projet parfait pour les jours de pluie ! Vos élèves auront beaucoup de plaisir à découvrir cette technique originale: le ''dripping''. Tout en travaillant à la manière de Marc Allante, ce projet vous permettra de faire une révision des catégories de couleurs.(Chaudes, froides, primaires, se...

If your child doesn’t have home economics, you should consider teaching your child how to sew on a sewing machine at home instead.

Rhyming is one component of phonemic awareness and a skill that many children seem to pick up with little explicit teaching. But not everyone! If you are working with children with phonological processing disorder or straight articulation errors, you might find that rhyming is not a natural skill. Not even a little bit. The question […]

Discover the magic of crafting with our 29 Bluey Crochet Pattern guide! Perfect your skills and create adorable Bluey characters. Click to start your crochet journey now!

Homeschooling with Little Ones Underfoot and Keeping Your Sanity is not easy, but it can be done! Here are a few tips.