I have moved the blog over to my website: Prekinders.com
Please visit that link to see newer blog updates.
Subscription Info: If you subscribed to the blog using the Feedburner links, you do not need to re-subscribe. You will already have received the updates. If you subscribed without using a Feedburner link, you will need to subscribe again by visiting the new blog location.
~ Here are some of my favorite links for Halloween ~
http://www.pre-kpages.com/halloween.html
http://www.thevirtualvine.com/halloween.html
http://www.kinderthemes.com/halloween2.html
http://www.littlegiraffes.com/october.html
http://www.teachingheart.net/halloweenindex.html
http://www.preschoolbystormie.com/ohalloween.html
http://www.kinderteacher.com/HalloweenArt.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/halloween/
http://www.prekinders.com/halloween.htm
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/HalloweenPrintables.htm
http://www.prekfun.com/G-M/Halloween/Halloween_Printables.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jojoebi/sets/72157608090688912/
http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/assets/PDF/Life_Cycle_of_a_Pumpkin.pdf
http://play2learnprintables.com/halloween.htm
http://www.supersimplesongs.com/halloween/songs.html
(These are YouTube videos I plan to play on the computer projector.)
http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/nursery/muffet.html
http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/nursery/spider.html
(Both of these have sound – turn up the volume!)
http://www.meddybemps.com/halloweenpage.html
http://www.sabine.k12.la.us/zes/halloween/default.htm
If you have any favorite Halloween links, please post them in the comments section!
{ Graphic by DJInkers.com }
Here is a printable you can use for Dr. Jean’s Gummy Bear Song. My class loves this song. I printed these on cardstock, laminated them, and cut them out. We place the bears in a pocket chart & the children remove them when they hear their name. If you don’t have this song, it can be purchased at Dr. Jean’s website for $0.99 at this link.
Here’s a little something for Grandparents Day: a printable Happy Grandparents Day card.
I tend to like projects that are simple & something the children can do entirely on their own. I don’t like to micromanage the children’s artwork. I don’t tell the children exactly where each dot of glue & each pre-cut piece should be placed. For grandparents day, I made this card, printed them on cardstock, and folded them in half. Each child made two. I gave them crayons, markers, glue, sequins, and butterfly paper punches. I only put a heart on it because children are always asking me to draw a heart for them when they make something for someone they love. I let them choose what they wanted to do with the card & what materials they used. The end result showed each child’s individuality.
Grandparents Day Card
{ If you like this blog, you can get updates by signing up for Email Updates or RSS Updates }
Friend Bingo is an idea I got from a workshop I attended once and it’s a great activity for the beginning of the year. It helps children learn the names of their new friends and teachers. It also serves as a kind of observational assessment because it helps me see which children have not learned any or very few names. Maybe that child needs some guidance making friends.
Most importantly, children love to play Friend Bingo!
How to make the game:
Create a table with 2 rows, 4 columns in a Word document. Adjust the table cells to the size you want. A little tip: Highlight your entire table, click Layout, Auto Fit, & Fixed Column Width (Word version 2007)– that will keep the images you insert the size you want them. Then insert photos of your students into the cells, print the bingo cards on cardstock, and laminate. Also make a set of “calling cards” — photo cards that the “caller” (you or the children) can use to call out names during the game. We used Unifix cubes as our bingo markers. Also, to save yourself some work, you can use this template if it is compatible with your computer: Friend Bingo Template
{ If you like this blog, you can get updates by signing up for Email Updates or RSS Updates }
The new Fine Motor Skills page is now online, & here are a few new fine motor skill ideas.
Beads in a Paint Palette: A clear cup of multicolored faceted plastic beads was placed in the middle of the tray. The children use their thumb and forefinger to grasp each bead and place it in one of the bowls of the paint palette tray. The children sorted the beads into the tray by color. Each bowl of the tray holds about 4 beads. A muffin tin could also be used for this activity, but I prefer the paint palette tray because each bowl is smaller and the children have to be more precise about placing the bead into the bowl. The beads and paint palette trays were purchased in a craft store.
Pom Poms with Tweezers: Children use their finger muscles to squeeze the tweezers in order to pick up each pom pom and place it in the ice cube tray. These colored pom poms can be purchased in craft stores. I found the ice tray at a kitchen outlet store.
Pom Poms with Tongs: Children use their hand muscles to squeeze the tongs in order to pick up each pom pom and place it in the bottle.
Spooning Flat Marbles: This tray has two bowls and a spoon. Only one bowl has flat floral marbles in it. Children use the spoon to move the marbles from the left bowl to the right bowl. I put this one out the first week of school & they love it. It’s probably our most popular activity.
We’re getting ready to learn about bugs in my class because everywhere we look lately, there are bugs of all kinds! We have a caterpillar in a jar in our room who has been munching on basil leaves & we are watching, waiting, & hoping he will make a cocoon.
In preparation for our bug studies, I have made some new Butterfly Matching Cards. Print out 2 copies onto cardstock, laminate, & cut out. I found so many beautiful butterfly pictures that I went a little overboard. Depending on the skill level of your students, you may or may not want to use all of these cards.
Butterfly Matching Cards
{ More Bug Ideas & Printables }
********************************************************
Also… don’t miss these adorable Puppy Matching Cards from Filefolderfun.com!
Puppy Matching Cards
{ If you like this blog, you can get updates by signing up for Email Updates or RSS Updates }
One of the things on my Back to School To Do List was our “Pick an Apple” Wish List. The idea: write supplies you wish for on apples and put them on a bulletin board. Parents who want to donate extra supplies can choose an apple, take it with them, & send the item to school. Most teachers know about this idea already, but I thought I’d post what’s on my wish list.
The clipart used here comes from DJ Inkers. I also attach a picture of the item I want if I think it may be necessary. I’ve learned to be extremely specific about what I want. Even though I ask for paper plates, I almost always end up with anything but paper plates (styrofoam, plastic, wax coated, you name it).
What I ask for on the Wish List …
(I don’t ask for all of these every year– these are things I have asked for over the years):
What’s on your wish list?
We’ve been in school for 3 days now, things are going well, & now I can sit back & take a breath. I’ve been reading the blog “My Montessori Journey” (link at right) & got the idea to write a few blog posts about back to school. Every year, I always, always forget just how much work it is getting ready for school. I have my “Back to School To Do List” & everything, but I still underestimate how much time & work is involved.
Here are some of my back to school pics…
Our cubbies, labeled & ready… I print out name tags from Environments Label Maker (free) & each child has their own picture (for those who can’t yet identify their name).
Our classroom door decorated with a welcome sign & the teachers’ and children’s names… I printed these from a DJ Inkers set.
Our Daily Folders ready to go for Orientation Day. These have a welcome letter, Pre-K handbook, & any other information that needs to go home. Parents take the folder home at orientation & return it each day. The orange sheets are sign up sheets for parent volunteers on special occasions. The white slips beside that are for each parent to fill out & give to me right away– it tells me if their child is half or full day, how they dismiss from school (car, extended day, etc), and emergency phone number.
Here’s the rest of my Beginning of the Year Checklist:
I have added some new printables for the Community Helpers theme. I had made the illustrated versions before I realized I could find all the people in photographic clipart. That’s why I have both. I figured people can choose the ones they prefer.
Community Helper Cards
Community Helper Bingo Game (for 4 players*)
*If cards for more than 4 players are needed, print extra of these pictures, cut them out, & glue in a different order.
{ If you like this blog, you can get updates by signing up for Email Updates or RSS Updates }
