Meet Modge Podge - My New Friend...

Here he is...  My new friend, Mr, Modge Podge.  I love saying those two words for some reason...  Modge Podge!  I first noticed this little guy at Skip to My Lou on this post.   She takes a plain boring clipboard and with some scrapbook paper and some modge podge, she creates....

So pretty...  Wouldn't these be great end of the year gifts for your students?  Attach a fancy pen and they can keep writing all summer!  The small clipboards are found at the dollar store!  So your end of the year gift would cost you around $1.25 a child. 

My son and daughter love using clipbaords.  They are handy in the car for travel.  I will tear out a coloring page and my daughter can color while I drive.  They are handy for taking a practice spelling test while waiting at the Doctors office or while your other kids play sports.  Kids love them...  You need to get some and some Modge Podge and make them all pretty.

I decided to try Modge Podge for the first time and made clipboards as party favors.  My daughter had a Princess Party and the girls went on a scavenger hunt through the house looking for Princesses....  So of course they needed a little clipboard to mark their princess findings off on. 

I needed to make 12 rather quickly... so I learned lots and will be ready to make some for my home organization system (coming soon).  These ones I kinda slopped together, but they looked cute.  I used pink spray paint to coat the top.  Most people measure the paper, I just eye balled it and cut.  I also personalized it by printing out the girls pictures and names for their boards. I tired a ribbon to the top. 

My daughter has gotten some good use out of hers already.  And it was fun to use "my new friend" for the first time and begin to think of all the cool things you can do with Mr. Modge Podge.

Speaking of Mr. Modge Podge, you have to see Just Between Friends.  At this blog she used scrapbook paper and Modge Podge to make a back splash in her kitchen.  I am in total amazement over how it turned out.  Go check it out!!!

Free St. Patrick' Day Printables

Here are a few free printables to help get you ready for St. Patrick's Day!!!  If you like our printables, check out our products by clicking here.  Teaching Heart has been selling products for over eight years to 1,000's of Happy Teachers!!! 

Here are some free downloads...

Graphing the St. Patrick's Way (click to print)- (1-2)
Your students cut out various St. Patrick's Day Pictures. They then place those pictures on their graph. After the pictures are on the graph, they answer questions about the graph.

A Little Color Green Book (click to print) (k-2) (Click to download for free) A fill in the blank book for your students to complete.

Leprechaun Ordinal Numbers Activity or Review (click to print) (1-3)
Supply students with a sentence strip. They glue their leprechauns in ordinal order. Then they read to find out each leprechauns name!

St. Patty Day Dice Game -  you will need the printable game board and you can see a video of how to play here.

For more free and fun St. Patrick's Day Ideas, please visit...http://www.teachingheart.net/stpattyday.html

Happy President's Day One Day Sale!!!

Happy President's Day!  Enjoy 30% off your total order of Teaching Heart Instant Downloads from http://teachingheart.cerizmo.com/
Use discount code pres30 at checkout!!!  Today ONLY!  Check out the improved St. Patrick's Day Packet http://www.teachingheart.net/stpatpacket.html
and get your Patty Day Planning Done and save, save, save today ONLY!!!  

Have a Wonderful Day!  Colleen

Stylish Blogger Award

 I’ve been awarded with a Stylish Blogger Award from Mrs. Kilburn's Kiddos and Fab in First!!

Thanks Ladies for thinking of me!  Both blogs are on my blog list and I love reading your posts!  Thank you! 

Please visit Mrs. Kilburn's Kiddos and Fab in First!!   You will be glad you did!

Here are the rules for receiving this award:
1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award some  recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

So here we go, here are 7 totally random things that you always wanted to know about me…

1.) Before I met my husband a physic told me the man I would marry would work in the water.  My husbands first job was as an Naval Officer on a Nuclear Submarine.  The physic also told me I would be a teacher, mother of two, and author.  I remember her telling me the author part and I was so confused... until about 10 years later when we filled our taxes and I saw that my husband had listed my job title as Self Employed Teacher Resource Author...  Then I started worrying about her other prediction that I would die old but in a tragic accident.  I like the old part and think I will start getting really nervous and paranoid around age 85.    UGH! 

2.) I love God, my kids, husband, family, and friends...  I am so blessed with such great people in my life given to me by God!

3.) I've Bungee Jumped Backwards like the girl in the Aerosmith Video.

4.) In high school I was voted "Cheesiest" classmate and actually take that title on with pride. 

5.) I wanted to be the next Barbra Walters and started out in college in Broadcast Journalism.  I had a 3AM radio show.  Once I realized I probably would never get a job after I graduated, I changed my major to Elementary and Special Education.

6.) About 10 years ago I won a 1,000 dollar shopping spree on Amazon.com.  At that time DVD players were new and I used half of the 1,000 to buy a DVD player.  I kick myself every time I see a DVD player for $40.00 bucks in the stores.  We still have the same $500.00 DVD player. 

7.) I love Reality TV, Wine, Technology, Just Dance 2, Running, Making Teaching Resources, and watching my kids grow.

 And here are my choices of  blogs to award this award to...  Check them out.  So much fun!

My Little Corner of the World
http://catholicmomof2.blogspot.com/

Learning and Teaching With Preschoolers
http://learningandteachingwithpreschoolers.blogspot.com/

Learning and Laughing In Kindergarten
http://learningandlaughing.blogspot.com/

Spell Out Loud
http://www.spelloutloud.com/

Preschool Playbook
http://www.preschoolplaybook.com/

Confessions of a Homeschooler
http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/

Pattons Patch
http://pattonspatch.blogspot.com/

Teachers - Blogging the Nice Way?

Just read this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110216/ap_on_hi_te/us_teacher_suspended_blog 
which is about  "A high school English teacher in suburban Philadelphia who was suspended for a profanity-laced blog in which she called her young charges "disengaged, lazy whiners" and some."

I feel that this teacher made a big mistake even if it was legally an okay thing to do.  I think as teachers we take on an unspoken oath somewhat like a Doctor or Lawyer may take.  You just don't talk (blog) about the kids in your classes even if you do not use their names.  As a teacher we must keep grades confidential and we really aren't suppose to discuss students with others.  Although I have seen discussions happen in teacher lounges that really should not happen and I may be guilty of "venting" too...  but blogging about it for the world to read is just ignorant because you know that anyone can read what you put out there. 

As teachers don't we have a moral obligation to be role models to our students?  The teacher in this article uses some profane language and is downright a "bucket dipper"!!!  She sure is not modeling the behavior she wants to see out of her students.

What about Teacher Expectations???  I am a big believer that if our expectations are low our results will be low too.  Overall it appears that the majority of research supports the notion that teacher expectancies, whether they are high or low, have a significant impact on overall student achievement.  So the students who were reading this blog, do you think they thought their teachers expectations were high or low???  hmmmm...

So many teachers have websites and blogs today.  Most that I read do not blog about their kids in their classroom.  They blog about things they are doing to help their students learn.  I think that is as far as it should go...  As a teacher if you have a problem with a student; talk to their parents.  Deal with it offline.  Use the internet as a resource and not for selfish reasons. 

I am not saying that I do not agree with some of the points she made that were not downright hurtful to her students. In fact, some of her statements I agree with.   I just feel as a teacher you need to be more careful about your comments and if you have a blog, it should be written more to help your students.

I am pretty sure that this teacher is legally okay and is enjoying some paid vacation while she is suspended.  Hopefully, when she returns she will raise her expectations of her students and start thinking of ways she can help her students rather than blog about their faults.  Maybe she will use her online time to search for solutions to her problems and ways to create fun lessons versus spending her time moaning and groaning for the blogging world to read.  Two words for this teacher....  THINK POSITIVE!!!

How do you feel about this?

Scratch V-Day Cards

Drum roll....  Our 2011 V-day card. I love the scratch stickers.  Have you seen them?  They are just like the lotto scratch ones.  All you do is place the sticker on something.  Then scratch to reveal!  I have used these when I present as door prizes, I use them at showers for the game; Guess who the bride will see at the altar.  (more on that in June)... 

You can buy them on amazon.  500 Round Scratch Off Labels Stickers with Scratch Here  They are cheap and come in lots.  This year, I used them on the kids V-day cards.  They are heart shaped!  My son and daughter are thrilled. 

First up is the princess Valentine card with Princess Fruit snacks attached and under that scratch heart is a picture of my daughter.  It says, "Scratch to see who thinks you are special!"

Second up is the Mario Valentine.  Mario is throwing a Valentine Treat at you!  Scratch to see who it is from! 

Creative Valentines Catch my Eye...

O, how I love creative Valentine's.  Throw away those boxes people and get creative with your kids.  This year we are going with fruit snacks as the treat with a Princess and Mario Theme.  They will also include a scratch to see who thinks you are special spot...  Hope to post before V-day!  Till then, below are some that have caught my eye on other sites!

First up is from a personal friend!  Rebecca made this icandy with her kids.  My son and daughter both got one.  My daughter had hers eaten before we even made it home from my friends house.  My son has been hanging on to his and pretending it is a real ipod.  Today he broke down and ate a Hershey Kiss Earphone and then continued to pretend with it saying, "It still works, I only ate one earphone!"  LOL!

Here's a V-day Treat For the Hubs shared at Love Actually!  Click here to learn more!

Here is a cute one from Chalk Talk!

First Grade Teaching Combines Dental Health with Valentine's Day

How about giving fruit this year.  You can even download cute stickers to stick on your fruit!!!  Click here to visit Twig and Thistle.

My Digital Creations shares a tag to attach to the dollar spot socks.  I love me themed socks and I may steal this free printable!!!

Below is a candy bar wrapper from the Teaching Heart V-day packet found here.  http://teachingheart.net/vdaypack.html

Click Here, you may have missed these goodies posted in the past!

Now, if you aren't ready to throw out those boring boxes of v-days, I give up...  go ahead be boring!!!  ;) 

 

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

A few years ago when my son was in Kindergarten, his teacher asked me to create some files to match the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? .  As a result I created three printables that I finally had a chance to upload to Teaching Heart to share with you all.  You can print them for free now.  Click here to view the printables I created and some other goodies about this awesome book.  Enjoy!   

 

Presidents Day Printable Game!

For Lincoln's Birthday, make a graph with 2 columns, heads and tails. Give each child a penny and let them toss it. they will record by coloring a square each time the penny lands on a tails or a heads. the first column that fills up is the winner. The child can even make a prediction as to which column will fill up first.

**Click Here to Print the Graph To Use With This Activity**

Enjoy this Printable? Click Here For More Free Printables and to Learn About our CDROMS

For more fun president's day ideas, click here!!!

Like Teaching Heart on Facebook and Win!

In hopes of getting the Teaching Heart Facebook fan up to where the Teaching Heart Yahoo Groups are in numbers (7,800+), Teaching Heart is always giving away treats in the form of Facebook contests!!!  You need to be a Facebook Fan to play.  There is one going on now till Sunday.  You should check it out!!!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Teaching-Heart-wwwteachingheartnet/111345987534

Teaching Heart Hands Out Awards - DID YOU WIN???

Back on Teaching Heart I just posted three blogs that get this award...

They are...

Fabulous in First Grade!

Mrs. Kilburn's Kiddos

Kinderpond!

Go Check them out!  They are great!!!!  They will be posted on http://www.teachingheart.net/ until I find other worthy sites!!! 

Silverlicious - Teaching Heart Review

We are big fans of Pinkalicious: The Perfectly Pink Collection! We love all the books in this series!

Grab your Madame Alexander, 18" Goldilicious Cloth Doll, Pinkalicious and Storyland Collection, this new book (Silverlicious), and your favorite little princess and settle in for another great read!!! Children make a text to text connection with Pinkalicious and her loose tooth and her love of sweets. They get into the sweet story because they can relate to Pinkalicious and can't imagine how it must feel to think candy is no longer sweet. Pinkalicious turns to the tooth fairy for help when she loses that sweet tooth. She writes her a letter asking her for something sweet and lays awake in hopes to catch a glimpse of the fairy. But like most kiddos, she finally falls asleep and awakes to an unusual surprise... It looks like someone else with wings came to visit and it probably wasn't the tooth fairy. Thus, starts a marvelous journey through a few yummy holidays with Pinkalicious as she tries to get her sweet tooth back. This story ends with a message reminding Pinkalicious and the reader that Sweetness comes from the inside! Once Pinkalicious is Sweet to her brother things begin to change.

This book would make a great treat for the tooth fairy to stick under a child's pillow in place of a tooth. It is darling and will be well loved by my princess for years to come.

Head over to Homemaking Fun and check out this Pinkalicious Playdate she had...  My wheels are turning!!!

Find coloring pages to match this story, here!

My Favorite Pink Song:

P-I-N-K
(Sung to: "jingle bells")
Cotton candy, fat pink pigs
girls with socks and bows
P-I-N-K P-I-N-K
That is how it goes
Bubble gum, valentines
these are all pink tooPink icing and pink balloons
We can spell can you? YES!

Click Here for Purplicious Lesson Plan!!

 

Whine??? No... Wine? Yes!!!!

When my son was little, little -- around age two he did not talk much at all!  We had him tested and he received speech therapy for a few years.  Those few years when he did not talk as well as his peers was really hard on me  Hell on me...  Not to mention his need to use his body instead of his words made playdates a nightmare...  Thank God for Wine!  Not that I am promoting alcoholism...  Just a glass to settle the nerves.  Great medicine (if you are over 21)!!  Don't judge me, LOL!

Fast forward to age 8 and my drive home tonight  with him from his Piano lesson.  I found myself  listening to him talk whine about how it was unfair that he had to go straight to piano, come home do homework, and then go again to Basketball...  Him whining...  "What, mom I haven't played the Wii in three days.  Can I please play it when we get home?"  Me, "No, because your homework will not get done!"  Repeat about three times until mom starts yelling and wishing said child could not talk...  I have to remind myself of the time he was 2, 3, and 4 years old and how dealing with his lack of any type of speech was so hard.  Back then I wished he would whine.  Any kind of conversation would have been nice.  Now, thank God he talks like a typical 8-year old boy.  I just need a glass of wine to deal with the whining now. 

I declare today...  Wine Day!!!  Join me for a virtual glass, would you?  Here are the choices...

So what should I choose???  I have tried three of these in the past.  I buy wine based on the cute name of it or if the label is cute.  I have found some great wines with this little rule.  What's your favorite wine?  Are you a wine snob or will any do?

Cheers bloggy friends!!! 

Mr. Ground Hog is Coming...

Ground Hog Day in Pittsburgh...

 

Of course he is a Steelers Fan, he is from PA!

Click here for Ground Hog Day Lesson Ideas!!!!

What day is Wed.?

Over breakfast one morning, a woman said to her husband, "I’ll bet you don't know what day this is."

"Of course I do," he answered as if he was offended, and left for the office.

At 10:00 a.m., the doorbell rang and when the woman opened the door, she was handed a box of a dozen long stemmed red roses. At 1:00 p.m., a foil-wrapped, two-pound box of her favorite chocolates was delivered. Later, a boutique delivered a designer dress.

The woman couldn't wait for her husband to come home.

"First the flowers, then the chocolates and then the dress!" she exclaimed.

"I've never had a more wonderful Groundhog Day in my life!