Centers and How I do them + some other ideas!

Well since I'm sitting at home enjoying multiple snow days, I thought I'd write another blog. ;)



When I moved to K, I knew that centers would be an important part of our day. I looked through many books and web sites, but didn't find a way to manage centers that I truly like until this year. Dr. Jean to the rescue again! Her book "Wonderful Rooms Where Children Can Bloom", had an idea that I tweaked for my own use.

I used a canvas and cut out multi colored triangles on the cricut. Then I put sticky hooks on it and used the center tags from the book I got at a Dr. Jean conference. Each day I change them.



The kids stay in the same groups for many weeks or I change them if there is a problem. ;) They are getting responsible and are able to "read" for themselves which center they are going to that day. We do 4 days of centers, so they usually get to all. If not, I carry them over into the next week. It's made my life much easier and it gives the kiddos ownership of what they are doing. I'm all about giving them responsibility!!

I don't know about you, but boy, Kindergarten takes a lot of stuff!! I found some other great ways to organize on Dr. Jean's website and in her conference book. I'll put in a plug here, if you've never been to one of her conferences you must try to go!! They are wonderful! :)

I use clothes hangers to hang songs and poems on a hook. Then I hang them on a wreath hanger in the closet. Keeps them nice and neat!!

Another idea from Dr. Jean, a days of the week tub which I turned into drawers with labels for each day. You could even put teaching materials in it. We have another one for weekly crafts.

Every little bit helps when you have TONS of stuff!! :)



Well, Happy Groundhog Day to all! Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, so I guess spring is on the way! Since we weren't in school on Groundhog day, we'll do some things when we get back. On Dr. Jean's c.d., "Happy Everything" there is a fun Groundhog's day song! Looking forward to teaching it to the kiddos!

Next time I'll update Valentine's day things.

Have a happy heart!

100th day coming~ postponed due to snow for the 2nd year in a row!

CRAZY! This is the 2nd year we've had to postpone our 100th day celebration due to a snow storm. It was going to be Friday, Feb. 4, but now we have to wait and see how long we'll be out. That makes for some sad kinder kids! :(



Here is our 100 day plan, when we have it!

~ Have a 100 day treat! A waffer cookie with two donut holes to make a 100. :)



~ Wear 100 things

My jean jacket that I bedazzled with 100 jewels! ;)


My sweet niece, last year. Her Nonna put 100 flowers on her hat and her Mama did the 100 on her top!


~ Make 100 day snack mix



I made the sign and glued the actual food with the number of things next to it. The kids had a lunch sized sack to put their things it. Really the sack was too big, so this year we are doing a sandwhich sized zip lock baggie.

~ Make a 100 day necklace out of Frootie Tooties



~ Put 100 pieces of pasta on a large 100 (made out of 2 paper plates and a large 1)




~ Draw a picture of yourself as a 100 year old

~ Put 100 stickers on a 100 counting page

My co-teacher thought up a great way last year to help the kiddos count 100 of all their things. ;) They put 10 of each thing in a 10 circle to count to 100. It was a great help to the kiddos!!



It's always a fun and exciting day to celebrate. I found a very cute 100 day bulletin board set 1/2 off last year. I also found some cute 100 cut outs that we are going to glue a craft stick to for some "glasses". I'll post pics of this year once we have it!

Stay warm wherever you are!

BEACH DAY!!

Beach day is here!! We have a lot of fun things planned for our special day.

Here are some of the things we do to make this day special for the kiddos and brighten up a dreary winter day!

Have some beach boy music playing as the kids enter the room. We decorate our room with some beach things I borrow from a friend who did a beach themed Bible school at her church. Check out the styrofoam surf board!! We also hang blue crepe paper from the ceiling tiles to give the illusion of under the sea!





Next, here is our day at a glance.
1. Dancing and using bean bags to beach type music.
2. Putting beach balls in the middle of a parachute and doing some parachute play.




3. Having a relay race with flippers, goggles, and a snorkle.




4. Eating octopus, hot dog cut in 1/2 with legs.







5. Making an edible beach~ vanilla pudding cups, crushed vanilla oreos on top, beach umbrella, and fun strips gum.



6. Painting an ocean picture.
7. Sink and Float center~ large tub filled with water and objects that sink and float.





8. Finishing our hand and foot lobster.







9. Having tons of fun!!!

Beach day is always fun in the winter. We just had a snow day, so sort of fun to think about wearing our shorts and flip flops on a cold winter day!

Frosty the Indoor Snowman!

No snow, no problem! ;) Here is Frosty the indoor snowman!!



You'll need polar fleece or felt. I bought 1and 1/2 yards of 60 inch wide Polar Fleece, it was on sale. ;) Then cut 3 circles. A friend of mine gave me a snowman kit. The nose is the pointy part of a turkey baster painted orange. Then glass globs for the eyes and mouth and buttons for the front. He has a polar fleece scarf and mittens. His pipe is a kazoo. ;) You could also use sticks for the arms. At school we have lots of fun dress up things, so we are going to put various things in a large chest for the kiddos to create!


Another snow idea~ use packing peanuts as pretend snow. My coteacher had a lot of these from some packages. So, another cute indoor snowman as a craft! :0) We are going to put out the extra "snow" in a center. :)

Baby it's cold outside!!

Well, not too cold here yet, but we are in for some much colder weather soon, so it's time for some fun indoors!! :) This month our center theme is beach and winter. Wishful thinking, huh?! ;)

Our sand table is filled with seashells. We numbered them 1-50 and the kiddos search for them and put them in order.




Our dress up center is filled with winter hats, mittens, and scarves AND leis! Had to throw some beachy stuff in there too. Table toys are really floor toys, giant ocean puzzles and sea shell sorting. We are going to be introducing some new"special" centers each week.

One special center is going to be an indoor snowman. I got a build a snowman kit from a friend for Christmas. We haven't had any real snow, so I thought why not make one inside!! I'm going to buy felt at Hancocks or Hobby Lobby and cut out some large circles. Then they can use the build a snowman stuff to decorate their snowman. :) I thought about using styrofoam balls, but I was afraid that would get torn up quickly.

Another special weekly center is going to be fishing. We had a ton of plush fish donated to our school. They are little coin purses with a zipper and pouch. We are going to put a blend in the fish and let the kids fish them out of a swimming pool, if I can find one now, and make a word. A magnet on the end of the fishing line will attach to the zipper on the fish. Really hope the little blow up pools are out now!!

On Fridays, we have Fabulous Fridays with all centers. The first Friday of the month we are going to make sweet starfish. We made these last year for our Open House, in Jan., and Beach day celebration. You mix water and sugar with food coloring. Making a sticky paste, you paint on the mixture to a star fish. They turned out cute last year! We are also going to do a following directions page to make an eel.

The second Friday, we are going to get brave! We are going to make Lobsters and crab t-shirts. We made the crab t-shirts last year and they were DARLING!





The Lobster is new. I found it at teachingheart.net. :) Cute site! It's made with hands and feet!!




Yes, we are getting brave because we'll be painting hands and feet.:) We are doing it all together so we can knock out the mess in one day! Check out the Lobster on the website and I'll post pictures when we are done. :)

Beach day is quickly approaching!! I'll post more details and pics soon!!

New Post in the New Year!!

All to soon Christmas break will be over! January is going to be a busy month in K! Along with winter things, we'll be learning about the beach and oceans to prepare for our Beach Day! I've posted some pics from last year's Beach day for you to enjoy!

See you in 2011!!

We caught our Gingerbread men!!

Here they are getting ready for the oven!


Mmmm... Crispy Chewy Gingerbreadmen!

Oh no! They are gone!!!

Found them in our room!!

What fun!!

Yummy!!