Five For Friday!



Happy New Year Science Friends,

I have snow on my mind. I am wishing for just one dusting of snow this year! I think snow is the best part of winter because it makes everything look so magical. I have been busy working on all things snow as the weather gets colder and we expect a little freeze. So while I am stuck inside working, I decided to link up for a little Five for Friday fun with Doodle Bugs!

 So, lets get started with a little Five for Friday and a few freebies too!

Number 5

As I settled in to get a little work done, a nice cup of hot chocolate made it a little easier. I am in love with salted caramel hot chocolate this year.

And when you run out of marshmallows because of this...

You just have to improvise and problem solve and run for the whipped cream!

Number 4

Getting your work done on a super new Surface Pro 3 makes life a whole lot easier when you are on the go. And I am wishing I was on the go right about now...

Sipping my hot chocolate just dreaming of a beautiful sunny summer sky and white puffy clouds...my favorite kind of weather! And as I travel to the next new adventure, I am sure I will be carrying along my new Surface Pro 3 and having a ball snapping pictures and blogging about it. I think I am ready to hit the road now!

Number 3

When we get back to school we will have a little fun with one of my all time favorites...The Mitten. It's a classic favorite this time of year. And I love all of the animals. For more information on this product in my store just click on the image above.

Number 2

Here is a little freebie for you to use as you are talking about winter weather. Just click on the picture above to take you to the freebies you see here.

Number 1

I could not leave a post about snow without my all time favorite kind of snowballs. If you were here I would serve you some because these make a perfect snack for those long winter days. If you need the recipe just visit me HERE!

Happy New Year Science Friends! 

 



The Scent Of The Season!

Hey Science Friends,

Now is the time that we all are thinking about the sights, sounds and scents of the season. So many different ways to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year. One of my favorite scents this time of year is peppermint. It is clean and crisp. It just smells like the holidays. Each time this year I make sure I have plenty of peppermint extract on hand to add to paint and play dough. It is clear and won't stain and it is pretty easy to find. You know, just right there by the vanilla extract in your local grocery store.

Just a few drops will transform some dough into a sensory experience sure to get anyone ready to start talking about this fun experience. What I love is that this time of year you could use any color of dough. I have a stockpile of dough that I am ready to use now and toss when we are finished! And what a great way to set the stage for describing properties of objects?

 Who knew Science could be seasonal and fun?

This is such an easy way to grab a quick checklist, engage in a little sensory language and check those items off the assessment list. Can you imagine the words used to describe the dough? What will the scent remind us of? What about the opportunities for comparative language? It's not so hard to think of a little twist to make Science a little seasonal and get our goals accomplished too!  

               If you need a little help with describing properties click here for a freebie!

Have fun investigating!



Science Newsletter Template!

Hey Science Friends,

I have been working on newsletter templates since the summer and have been using them for a lot of different reasons for parent communication this year already. I did not know how much time it would really save me by having a template to organize my thoughts but it really has.

These have been a huge time saver for me.

The biggest reason they have saved time for me is because before I had a simple template, I would spend a lot of time formatting and decorating the newsletter. Now my time is spent on the content of the newsletter. Another reason this has been so helpful for me is because the space it limited and because of that my message is more focused on the content rather than the fluff.

Until now, I have not had a reason to use page two of the newsletter. That is simply because I have not sent any Science news home this year and I had a little more to say. I can easily print this and copy on the back of page one for a two sided letter. If I want to send these as attachments I can send both of them as well. What my experience has taught me is that if I need more space than a front and back newsletter provides, then I need to probably communicate...more often.

I want the message short, simple and to the point because I want the reader to read it and act on it!

The editable weekly newsletter templates are each the same format and have been changed using seasonal graphics because I didn't want to get lost in learning what I could and could not do within multiple different templates because that would defeat the purpose. The purpose is direct and to the point, frequent communication with the families that I serve. When I was goal setting this summer, more frequent and relevant parent communication was on the top of my goal list. And the main reason I didn't do enough of it last year was largely due to feeling like I did not have enough...time. I had to simplify the process so that communicating with parents was less time consuming for me and the template did just that. The seasonal graphics just made me want to send newsletters...more. All in all, this has helped me work towards reaching my goal of more frequent communication and bought me some time to focus on something else!

So, if you are like me and need to take a bite out of parent communication just click on the images above. Until then, have fun investigating!



Last Call!



Hey Kinder Friends,
THE FINAL HOURS!
Don't let a chance pass you by!

Let's talk shopping! This time of year we are all doing a lot of shopping for the Back to School season. So if Back to School shopping has you frazzled, me and my friends at Freebielicious have you covered! To help with your last minute shopping, I am so excited to be giving away a $25 gift card to my favorite online store...AMAZON!

I am thrilled to be able to help you complete your last minute shopping list with Amazon. For me Amazon is the biggest time and life saver throughout the year. I am an Amazon Prime fan for sure. One of my favorite ways to use Amazon for the classroom when I am lesson planning. When I am at the computer the week before my lesson plan is due, I look at my plans and order any books and small supplies I might need from Amazon. I love Amazon Prime and their two day-no limit super fast shipping. With a click of a few buttons I am ready to go straight to the classroom...prepared! No more running around to different stores just for those small items or books. Amazon has given me time back to spend in other areas! All you have to do is enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win the Amazon gift card so you too can just click away and be ready for your favorite lesson!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

But wait, it gets better. If you hop over to Freebielicious, you have more chances to win a $300 Visa gift card and lots of other great gift cards from my friends at Freebielicious! Seriously, these girls have you covered for some fabulous and fun Back to School shopping so check it out!

Have a great school year kinder friends!





Crisscross Applesauce!



Hey Science Friends,

Happy B2S sale shopping! I just love this time each and every year. And after all the sales are final and you are in our room the serious work begins...teaching. So many things to think about and consider before you dive right in and teach. And you know no matter the subject, listening is crucial. It has to be taught and expectations have to be set for the year ahead. It doesn't have to be hard or difficult but it as to be taught.

I found this book to go along with my discussion on listening. I put this to good use a time or two last year. With a lot of modeling and role playing, it helped to set the stage for our discussions and provided an atmosphere where we could learn, participate and respect each other. I made some printable posters that I could hang in the area where we have our discussions and that is where it stays for the entire year. When needed, I simply point to he poster as a reminder. If I need to use it for a lesson when new students arrive, I can. If you are interested in your own printables jut click on the image below!