Pink Activities for Pinkalicious Fans!!!

If your child is A Pinkalicious Fan and has read a few of the books with Pinkalicious in them, then they will love to be creative with this Pinkalicious workbook of fun (Pinkadoodles).  Over 100 pages of fun Pinkalicious activities.  This isn't your average workbook.  It's a pink book of creativity.  The first activity asks you to THINK PINK (child traces the letters) and then to fill in the blanks...  My favorite color is______!  My Birthday is_____.  My favorite doll is names _______.  Another page shows a pink heart and tell the reader to draw something pinkerrific in the heart.  Keep turning the pages and you will come to a page that asks you to draw your family.  Another page asks you to list your favorite colors.  Keep turning and you will find a page with Pinkalicious and Peter on it for you to color and to fill in their talking bubbles.  Other pages have the child decorate Pinkalicious room, draw yourself jumping with Pinkalicious, put the missing vowels in a sentence to make a word, finish the picture of Pinkalicious and make her angry...  There are Pinkalicious mazes, connect the dots, and a few blank pink pages to do whatever you want with.  Some of the pages ask the child to finish a sentence with a word; thus I would suggest that a child in first grade could work on this independently.  I have helped my Pre-K child work through some of the pages with assistance.  Some she can do on her own after I read the directions.  Some pages she needs assistance with.  A Pre-k to K child would need some assistance to work through this book.  First and second graders should be able to do these pages independently.  Have a Pinkalicious time thinking outside the lines with this fun activity book! 

 

Lee Greenwood: God Bless The USA Music Video

Seven “Good to Know” Sight Words for Pre-K!

Seven “Good to Know” Sight Words for Pre-K!

School districts do not expect kids entering Kindergarten to know any sight words.  However, if your child knows how to write their name, knows all the sounds letters makes, and can sound out simple three letter words with or without assistance; I feel that they are ready to learn a few sight words over the summer.

Sight words are words that appear frequently in most of the text kids read, but can't easily be sounded out.  Sight words appear in 50% of text.  Students who instantly recognize sight words have an easier time reading.   Learning them helps children become more confident readers. 

You can view the complete Pre-Primer list here http://www.kidzone.ws/dolch/preschool.htm.  Most Pre-K kids may become frustrated trying to learn all of these words.  I suggest you focus on mastery of seven words.  I have seven favorites that I always teach first.  My magic seven are:   I, like, am, she (or he), on, the, is.  The reason why I choose these seven words is because they are most often seen in early readers.  Plus these seven words can easily be strung together to form a sentence.   

I am 5.

I like her.

I like ______.  (children draw the last word.)

She is L !

The cat is big.

I am on.

She is on the bug.

Once the words are mastered and memorized you can write sentences and allow your kiddos to read them.    You can also write a sentence and have your child illustrate the sentence.  Furthermore, you may wish to have your child practice writing sentences and these words make a great start to sentence writing. 

I would start with three of the seven words…  Write them on pieces of paper and stick them to your fridge and have FUN with them…

Play coin toss - words on floor - children take turns to toss a coin onto a word and say that word.

Flashlight words turn off lights flash a light on words on display.  Have child say the word that they have put the light on.

Sidewalk Chalk – write the words on a sidewalk and have the child jump on the word and say it when they land on it.

Beach Ball – Write the words on a beach ball and when they catch the ball, have them tell you what word their hand is on.

Play Dough – Make the words with it.

Make words using alphabet stamps.

Once your child has mastered three, add another word and repeat activities. 

Knowing these seven words before entering Kindergarten will give your child a little boost and get them ready to read! 

Pre-K Pages shares some tips of working with Pre-K students on sight words.http://www.pre-kpages.com/sight_words/

Mrs. Kilburn’s Kiddos shares some ideas and printables to help.http://mrskilburnkiddos.wordpress.com/reading/sight-words/

Check out Mom’s Town for a very creative way to teach sight words…http://momstown-artsandcrafts.momstown.ca/node/266

Japan Unit Ideas

My son had a Japan Festival for his grade put on by the school PTA!  I must say it was very creative.  I did a Japan unit when I taught grade 2, but we never had such a fun ending to our unit!  Here are some highlights from the day!  I can't take any credit for them, I was just there to help.  Still, they may be helpful to those who are planning a similar day...

Each class rotated and the PTA provided a meal of Rice, Vegetables, Sushi (the candy kind), fruit cup, and tea.

The kids came dressed in Japanese like clothing.  Here is the back of my son's shirt.  It means school child.  I used my favorite Avery Iron on Computer paper to make the shirt. 

The kids ate with chopsticks and enjoyed a little taste! 

I thought the Candy Sushi was so cute.  Prepackaged Rice Krispie Treats that were cut in small squares.  They were then wrapped with fruit roll ups and a swedish fish was placed on the top.  I had one and they tasted pretty yummy!  Mom Knows shares how to make candy Sushi on her blog. 

Also, a nice touch was the cherry blossom trees.  My creative neighbor made these and I thought they were great....  had to share!

 

DLTK shares some great printables for a Japan Unit!

Download Paper Dolls here !

  

Free First Communion Banner & Communion Talk...

I am so excited; my son will make his First Holy Communion in a few days!  It's a bittersweet moment.  It amazes me that he is old enough to take part in the Eucharist.  He's getting so big...  Before I know it Confirmation will be here. 

We are just doing a family party.  About 4 kids and 16 adults.  My husband’s family is coming in from VT, Virginia, and Maryland.  My Aunt and Uncle (my son's Godparents) are flying in from Florida.  This is a special surprise for me son...  He does not know his Godparents are coming!!!!  He will be thrilled to see them here!   I hope he feels special knowing so many people came from all over to see him.  He is very blessed!!!

So thus, I prepare to give him some memories of this special time in his life.  Cross cookies to make.  Oreo balls to make (those I cannot make till the night before, because as hard as I try I find myself eating them and they have to be at least 300 calories a pop!).  I ordered the cake from Bethel Bakery.  I had decided on the menu.  Since he will be doing his First Communion at the five o' clock mass we will have dinner following via crock pot.  Meatball Sandwiches (my homemade meatballs), pulled pork sandwiches, salads, and cheesy potatoes. 

Some party fun:  I purchased Easter Eggs on sale at KMart.  They were filled and were like $1.00 for 50.  I am making a game for the kids with the eggs.  Inside a few of the eggs will be a first communion cross.  The person that get those gets a special prize.  I even have favor bags for the four kids.  Dollar store has stained glass Jesus crafts.  They also had religious coloring books.  Sometime back I got Sarris crosses on sale and those will go in the bags.  Plus a few springtime things!  Should be fun!!!

I just finished making a banner I will hang.  Click here to download and use too!  When printed and strung together it will say God Bless!!!

I have been online trying to see ideas and will list some of the good sites I found below that give Communionn ideas. 

A Diary of a Sower shares some First Communion Decorations as well as a favor idea:

I love these lamb pops from Bakerella...http://www.bakerella.com/i-have-a-problem/  If only I had the time!!!

First Communion File Folder Game is free to print at The Catholic Toolbox! Als, Find Holy Eucharist Bingo!

My son is getting a  lego rosary from Memento Moose. You push the legos together before praying and pull them apart as you pray.  I ordered his in green and blue!!!

  

Dress Up Plates...

One of my favorite things is my dress me up plates from Southern Living...

I have the round one...  Looks boring over there, but you can write on it and add ribbon to it and it becomes awesome...

I have the tiered one...  You can do so much with it...  on the tier or off!

or all Goddy... like this...

TJMax had some dress up plates.  I think I bought them all...  They ranged in price from $3-$7 bucks.  That beat the Southern Living price range of $75 - $100...  And look at how pretty!!

I used them for a Bridal Shower and had plans to resell them... but they are so cool and become so many different things, I am keeping them!!!

They look perfect on a table...  They just dress it up!

   

Top 10 Kindergarten Teacher Websites and Why

Surf on over to Bright Hub and see what they think are the top 10 Websites for Kindergarten teachers.   

Teaching Heart has been around for 12 years now and has been on many top 10 lists; but it still makes me smile when someone new picks it as their fave!  Most of the time I find out about Teaching Heart being listed from other readers.  I appreciate it when you send me details of where you see Teaching Heart.  If it wasn't for you all letting me know; I would have never known that Teaching Heart was featured in Scholastic Magazine or K-9 Teaching Magazine.  One teacher even recorded her local news where Teaching Heart was mentioned and sent me the VHS tape of the show.  Thanks guys!  Have a blessed day!

Teaching Heart Sale!!!

Teaching Heart Happy Teacher Appreciation Sale till Sunday...

Save 20% on order totals from http://teachingheart.cerizmo.com/
use discount code LOVETEACHERS20

Get that Emd of The Year Packet now while you can save!!!

Expresso My Thanks - Teacher Appreciation!

Here is a fun treat to thank a teacher with...  All you need is Chocolate Covered Expresso Beans and this tag (click to print). 

The tag reads...
For a teacher you are one cool "bean". 
I would like to "Expresso" my thanks for all you do!!!

This is sure to get a favorite teachers days of to a good start!

For more ideas to celebrate a great teacher follow th link below...
http://www.teachingheart.net/teacherappreciation.html

A Perfect Blend Bridal Shower (Coffee Themed)

What a fun weekend!  Making a best friend smile from ear to ear on her bridal shower day is priceless!

 

 My girlfriends bridesmaids and I have been working for months on putting this together.  From the favors...

The Oreo Balls

The Coffee Themed Centerpieces

to the cake...

The shower was a Perfect Blend... 

To see more follow this link for all the details...

http://www.teachingheart.net/bridalshower.html