Happy September! I don’t know about you, but one of my big themes this month is APPLES so here are a few fun recipes that I think “KIDS in your KITCHEN” will enjoy! Have fun.

 Apple Jell-O/Pudding Cut Outs:

Ingredients & Directions:

My room-helper Cheryl made these for my Y5’s. They LOVED them!

• 2 large RED boxes of Jell-O
• 2 ½ Cups boiling water
• Mix well
• Let set on counter 30 minutes.
• 1 Large INSTANT Vanilla pudding
• 1 Cup milk
• Whisk until blended.
• Pour into Jell-O
• Beat or Mix well.
• Pour into 9x13 greased pan.
• Let set.
• Cut into squares or with apple cookie cutter.

Apple Parfaits: Core, slice, and peel an apple. Let your child use a plastic knife to cut the apple slices into small pieces. Help them make Apple Parfaits by layering vanilla yogurt, the apple pieces, and granola in clear-plastic cups.

Apple Smiles: Cut apples into quarters. Let your child “frost” them with peanut butter and then push mini marshmallows into the peanut butter so that they look like “teeth”.

Cinnamon Applesauce:

Core, slice, and peel 3-4 sweet apples. Let your child place the apple slices and ½ cup water in a sauce pan. Cover and simmer on low heat until the apples are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. When the apples are cool, let them use a potato masher to mash the cooked apples into applesauce. Stir in sugar and cinnamon to taste.

Cider Splash: Add a scoop of cinnamon ice cream to some hot apple cider and stir with a stick candy.

Apple Gelatin Cups: Mix one packet of unsweetened gelatin with one cup of hot water. Let your child stir the mixture until the gelatin dissolves. Then have your child add one cup of apple juice concentrate and continue stirring. Pour gelatin into small cups and chill.

Apple Rings: Remove the core from an apple. Fill the hole with peanut butter. Chill, then slice the apple horizontally into rings.

(Craft Idea) Apple Crayons:

You will need:

• Broken RED, GREEN, YELLOW crayons
• Apple candy mold
• Heavy-Duty Paper Cups
• Pot holder

Directions:

• Remove paper from crayons
• Put into a heavy paper cup
• Place one cup of crayons in a microwave oven for 30 seconds or more.
• Microwaves vary so start out with the seconds and go from there. 
• Cover with a piece of paper towel.
• Using a pot holder carefully pour the melted wax into the apple candy mold.
• Place the candy mold in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the wax is hard.
• Pop the crayons out and let dry from condensation on a piece of paper towel.
• Since I teach my students that apples come in 3 different colors, you can make red, green and yellow crayon apples.
• Only melt ONE cup at a time. Make sure the glass tray in your microwave is cool before you melt another batch. Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot wax. Make sure your heavy paper cups are microwave safe.

These next yummy 3 1/2 to 4 1/2  STAR ranked recipes are from the site Eating Well . They advertise "Good Taste Meets Good Health."

Click here for a yummy Apple Muffin recipe.

Click here for an Apple Cupcake with Cinnamon Marshmallow Frosting recipe.

Click here for Baked Apple Cinnamon French Toast

Click here for Maple Cinnamon Applesauce.

This is a fun time to make CARAMELED Apples with your little one.  Click on the link for a good recipe.

Or…

Make a batch of RED, GREEN, & YELLOW Play-Dough so they can make their own pretend apples and apple cookies. Here's how:

(Craft Idea) Dough Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Flour
• 1 Cup salt
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 red teaspoon food coloring
• ½  teaspoon alcohol
• 2 cups water

Directions:

• Mix ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir continuously, until the dough leaves the sides of the pan.
• Take out of pan.
• When cool to the touch, knead for a few minutes.

Welcome to my BLOG’s Writing Prompt’s section.

I LOVE writing, but let’s face it, most of our young students don’t . I believe that’s because they think they can’t. The more they write the better they get! It’s up to us to give them that practice and encouragement, and make them feel like AUTHORS!

I think the second reason is that they aren’t stimulated. They need to be excited to WANT to write, just like they are excited to share information with their friends verbally.  Hopefully, these ideas will help turn your students on!

If you have some fun writing ideas please care & share with us. I gear my ideas according to the themes that most teachers do during the month as well as what holidays and National “whatever’s” are going on.

I have many sites that I check when I'm working on my writing prompts to see what's being celebrated.  Here are two of my favorites: Link One and Link Two.  

As your students are getting ready to sharpen their pencils, you may want to share these incredible carved pencil pix with them! Just click here to view them, and prepare to be amazed! All I can say is WOW!

Here's my paper that I send home to show parents the proper grip for holding a pencil.

It’s National HONEY Month. Here’s the scenario choose one:

• You and some friends are visiting a bee farm. While you are learning how to collect the honey, your friend gets stung by a bee. He/she tells you that they are allergic to bee stings and they start to panic. What do you do?
• You have blended several kinds of spices to come up with a superb tasting honey. It’s a national best seller. What do you call it? How do you promote it? What will you do with the money?
• While on a fieldtrip to a bee farm one of the kids knocks over a hive. Angry bees are swarming everywhere. Tell me what happens in the chaos and who saves the day.

 It’s National COLLEGE SAVINGS Month.

• Do you want to go to college? Why or why not? What will you study to be if you do decide to go or what will you do if you don’t go?

 It’s National One-On-One Month.

• Who would you like some one-on-one time with and why and what would you do during that time?

 It’s National COUPON Month.

• You have the ability to write out 3 coupons to whomever you wish for whatever you want. What will you write them out for and who will you give them to and why?

 It’s National SELF-IMPROVEMENT Month.

• What do you feel you need to improve on? How do you plan to go about doing that?

 September 1-8^th is National ENTHUSIASM week.

• What are you really enthusiastic about? Why? Why is it important to be enthusiastic? How can you help others become more enthusiastic?

 September 13^th -17^th is Substitute Teacher Appreciation Week.

• Your teacher’s put you in charge of the class today. What kinds of educational activities have you planned? Tell me about your day as the substitute.

 September 19^th-24^th is TURN OFF your TV WEEK.

• Why do you think that is important? Why do you think it’s so hard for people to turn off the TV?
• Write a paragraph about your favorite TV program, including WHY it’s your favorite, then tell me if you could turn off the TV for an entire week. Let’s say you HAD to-the electricity went off. What would you do for entertainment?

 It’s National GOOD NEIGHBOR Day the 26^th.

• Do you know your neighbors? Tell me about them.
• What would be your favorite kind of neighbor if you could have a “dream” neighbor.
• Like the creepy movie that was just out awhile ago, a person sees what they think is a murder taking place in the house across the street. Let’s say that’s exactly what YOU see.
• Tell me what happens next. YOU are in the boonies, NO cell phone…

 The 18^th of September is National RESPECT Day.

• Tell me who you respect the most and why.
• Do you think people respect you? Why or why not?
• How do you get people to respect you?

 September 18^th is also National Big Whopper LIAR Day.

• What’s the biggest lie you ever told. Were you discovered.
• Do you think lying is bad?  Why or why not?

 It’s “Talk Like A PIRATE Day” on the 19^th.

• Would you like to be a pirate? Why or why not?

 It’s National Keep Kids Creative Week starting the 26^th.

• What is the most creative thing you’ve ever done?

 Today’s the 26^th and it’s Johnny Appleseed Day!

• If you could travel on foot anywhere in the world where would you go and what would you be doing? How would you earn money along the way?
• Apples - apples everywhere! This is the month for studying apples. Do you like apples? If you had to eat fruit everyday for an entire week, what fruit would you choose? How many ways can you think of to prepare it?

The big theme this month is obviously BACK-TO-SCHOOL.

• How do you feel about going back to school? Are you excited, a little scared or nervous? What are your favorite subjects? What do you hope to learn? Compare last year to this year. What are the biggest differences?

       Happy September! Keep on WRITING!

For more writing prompts, click on the link.  I've made a booklet that contains some for each month on a variety of topics!

Also click on the link for 80 writing prompts. This site also lists another 50.  I have my college students use this site to jump start their brains when they write in their journals.

Make sure you go over it so that you can develop your own appropriate list from it.

Do not just send your elementary students here to pick one.  Although most of the prompts are excellent, a few of these topics are not appropriate for younger students.

This person has their list copyrighted so please respect that as well.

• When you're 5-year's old that's something to celebrate.
• When you're little you can't wait to be the next age: "I'm almost 5!" How exciting is that? It's so great to be young you even celebrate the getting to the next level. "I'm 6 and 1/2" Later you pick up speed. "I'm almost 7!"
•  So in young fives we celebrate life with exuberance and especially birthdays.
  
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• Here's what I do:
 
• I cut out a paper balloon and tie a curling ribbon on the end and put that on the child's locker.
• I buy happy birthday paper plates at the Dollar Store and write their name on one and put that on the locker too. I think it's fun decorating  lockers. I think it must come from when I was a pom pom girl and we used to decorate the football team's lockers before a big game. The 1st thing the birthday boy or girl sees is their locker and right away they feel special and all smiles and that makes me feel good too.
• I also have one of those mini Happy Birthday "Yard Banners" and whenever it's someone's birthday I hang it outside our door on the dowel. Just get two peel and stick hooks, put them twelve inches apart, stick them to the wall, and lay a dowel on top of them. Have a "Welcome to school" banner hanging on it for the rest of the time, and then change it when it's someone's birthday. I like to change it monthly for the seasons as well. It's a cute hallway decoration.
•  I announce to the rest of the children that it is Kelli's birthday and she will be the Special Helper of the day, so she is the Line Leader etc. This is a coveted position and I make sure everyone gets a turrn.

Birthday Crowns: 

I used to buy birthday crowns 'til they went up to almost $10. Now I use birthday bulletin board border and put a star, or cake, or whatever suits my fancy, die cut in the middle with the child's name on it. TIP: When you're putting crowns on children, make sure the staples are on the OUTSIDE so that you do not scratch their foreheads or get their hair caught in them.

• The Dollar Store currently has visors 3 in a pack for $1. They would be a nice substitute for a birthday crown. I 'm thinking of simply writing the child's name on the visor, and giving them a little baggie filled with foam peel and stick stickers for them to decorate it with. Just for the day, I'd put an "It's my birthday sticker on it.
• Oriental Trading also sells visors. It's one of my favorite places to buy little kids trinkets. And Hobby Lobby usually has them on sale in August 60% off because they stocked them for their Vacation Bible School crafts.
• You can also make visors out of paper plates. They are fun to make to wear on fieldtrips.
• Cut the plates in half, punch a hole in either end, let the children decortate them, then tie them on with a piece of yarn.
• Birthday ones could be extra special with their name written in glitter glue.

Birthday Gift and Card: 

Because this is my 11th year of teaching Y5's and buying books is my nemesis, I have a nice selection of Scholastic Bonus Books that I give to my students as a birthday gift.

• I also go to the Scholastic 50% off teacher book sale that they run several times a year. Check out their site periodically and make it a point to go. I know they always run one in December. Just sign up for their newsletter and you should be on the list. This is how I really added to my personal library.
• I run off labels that say Happy Birthday from Mrs. Henderson that I stick on the front of the book so that parents know that it's from me, + I write a  short note in the inside cover with the date.
• I also have a basket of birthday books that I let the birthday child pick from for one of our stories we'll read during Story Time.
• I buy birthday cards at the Dollar Store and sit one night during the summer to sign, stuff stickers and seal all of those.
• I buy birthday treat bags at the Dollar Store and fill them with a McDonald toy, pencil, and lollipop.
• On the first day of school I have everyone sign the MASTER birthday card and then I run it off, so that I have a card that all of their friends signed that I tuck in the book along with my card and a line tracing birthday cake. Click on the links for copies. 
• I also include a birthday certificate.
• I know this might sound like "over kill" to many of you, but I've been called "over the top" and an  "over achiever" all my life. My own kids tell me that my 50% is often everyone elses 100%. They should know. They often helped me stuff-stuff! So do what you want. I figure the little effort I put in is worth it when I see my students like up like a Christmas tree for something as simple as these things.

Keeping it organized:

• I keep all the birthday stuff in my 2-drawer- birthday filing cabinet. The treat bags I keep in a cute childish birthday bag. 
• In the past I've done other things. When I taught first grade I decorated a sturdy box with balloon birthday wrapping paper. I wrapped the cover separately. I kept all kinds of treasures inside. When it was your birthday, besides the book, you got to choose a treasure from the birthday box as well. If you wanted you could make candy treat bags and simply keep them in there and have them reach in and take one, then store the box else where. Just adds to the fun.
• Everyone's name and birth date is on my  birthday poster. See pix below.

The calendar:

• On our calendar I put a happy birthday cupcake in the number pocket to remind me that we are celebrating a birthday that day.
• This year I'm going to copy an idea that I just love that I found online. This teacher has a little decorated bag for each month. In the bag she has a tongue depressor with the child's name on it. At the beginning of the month, she takes the bag down and takes the sticks out and puts them in the appropriate numbered pocket on the calendar.  Isn't that a terrific idea? I can't have my Y5's put their sticks in the pocket because we don't meet every day, so I'll be putting their stick in the day that we'll be celebrating their birthday, but I LOVE this idea.
• Click here to go to her nice site to see this cute idea. Scroll down 'til you come to birthday bags.  
• I went looking for bags today and I ended up at Hobby Lobby. They have white and brown small bags that are 7 1/2 by 4  1/2 . They are 3 for a $1. But no tiny ones with handles.
• You could still display them across the board, but they would take up quite a bit of  room. Which got me thinking that you could simply display the current month. Then I thought, what would be even less work, would be to have one birthday bag hanging on a thumb tack on your calendar board. Have that be "This Month's Birthday Candles."
• Put the Popsicle sticks in the bag for just the current month.
• I'm going to call them "candles."
• Write each student's name on one with their birth date on it.
• I've made a PDF for you in case you want to make your own bag click here.
• I drew a little flame at the top so it would look like a candle. When I got the yellow done, I couldn't really see it, so I outlined it with orange, and then I thought this sort of looks like a finger nail and I'm not sure I like it,  so you decide what you want to do.
• I plan on leaving the candles in the little bag, hanging on the calendar, and then with great ceremony, take them out and have the children identify whose names are on the "candles".
• Then, we'll put them in the calendar pockets on the days that we'll be celebrating.
• Once that day arrives, I'll give the child their candle to use as a bookmark, with a reminder never to play with matches or candles.
• Or if you still really like displaying all the little bags, Hobby Lobby does sell a pack of 25 miniature brown bags that don't have any handles for $2.99. Go online and see if they have a 40% off one item coupon for the week in their ad. Just click the link. 
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• Coloring pages:
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• For some cute birthday coloring pix  click on the link.
• You can also use any coloring pages to make your own cards for children to sign.
• TIP: I buy coloring books and turn them into  number and ABC dot-to-dots by simply cutting 1/ 2 of the picture off and replacing it with numbered dots or the alphabet. If I need a few more lines or details, I put the coloring page under my master and trace them on.
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• Making them feel special:
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• My students come into the classroom and we sit on our Circle of Friends carpet and our Birthday Child gets to sit in the Birthday Chair. Its an antique piano chair that I painted and stenciled.
• I put on their crown. And paste a birthday sticker to their shirt.
• My favortie place to buy stickers is Really Good Stuff. Click on the link to check out their site. Their quality is awesome and their prices are great. Here's a pix of the adorable dinosaur birthday stickers. 
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• Then, Birthday Bear gives them a "sandwich hug". (The bear is between me and the child.) They think that's neat.
• I plug the birthday present light in, and birthday bear sits by it through out the day.
• I give the child their birthday treats, they sit in the birthday chair and we sign happy birthday to them. Happy (You make your hand scoop towards you twice) Birth (Hold your left arm out straight and slide your right hand under it, like it's going down a slide), Day (Put your left arm across your chest, rest your right elbow on your finger tips with your index finger of your right hand pointing upward, have your right arm fall down on top of your left. The sun is going down, signalling the end of the day.)
• I like to teach my students sign language and they LOVE learning it. I will have a separate article on this later.
• We also say happy birthday to them in Spanish. Feliz cumpleaños! I teach a little Spanish to my students because we have quite a few Hispanic students. I usually have at least one child who doesn't speak English each year. One year I had 6 that didn't speak any English and I am NOT fluent. It was pretty crazy . 
• One of my friends gave me this goofy box. When you open it, it sings Happy Birthday. She also gave me a cake magnet. When you press it, it also sings. I ask the child would he like the box or cake to sing with us. They choose and we have a musical accompaniment.

• When we  sing Happy Birthday, followed by "are ya 1, are ya 2? and the child stops us at 5. I spin them around in the chair 2 times, and we all clap
• I'm sure you can find some musical thing at Spencer's Gifts or a Hallmark store. .
• I have a "magic candle" that lights up and they blow it out. Everyone makes a wish for them. It gives me a chance to remind my students to NEVER play with matches, candles, lighters, fire etc. and I make them PROMISE me. I figure they can't hear it too often. 
• In December the Dollar Store has these battery operated candle lights. When the child blows on the candle just unscrew the bottom a bit and the light will go out. Sometimes just to be silly I let them keep blowing.
• They take their things to their locker and about that time the annoucements come on.
• I made the lit up birthday present light  out of one of those glass blocks. It's a quick and easy craft project that takes about 15 minutes. They are already pre-drilled. Just shove a short 100 white light set inside the hole, hot glue a length of pretty ribbon around the side, and finish off with a big pom pom bow. Instant birthday present light.
• Click here to see my cute birthday calendar cakes for only .99¢ There are 27 pages. 12 full-color adorable cakes + 12 matching black and white ones to give to the birthday child to color and a card for their classmates to sign. You cut out construction paper candles, write your student's names on them and put them on top of the monthly cakes. Makes a cute border to put up around your room, or simply put one up on your calenddar.
•                                                                                                                                                Birthday Bear
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• Picture Taking
• If you've taken a first day picture of your students, you can make double prints. I have a little sign that says: "Whose Birthday Is It Today?" I also have an oval mat that I post on the wall. I slide the extra picture under that, and feature the birthday child's pix in it.
  
• In the past, I've also taken a picture of the child on their birthday to include in the Keepsake Calendar book.
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• My Special Birthday Wall:
• This is a picture of my Birtday Bulletin Board. The September birthday cake is up. It doesn't have any candles on it yet.
• The oval mat is under and to the right of it, with the little poster signage under it that says: Whose birthday is it today?  I also have a magnet on our white board that says: Celebrate! Under the magnet I write the child's name who we are celebrating that day.
• I write the children's names and birthday dates on the appropriate montly shape.
• Birhtday bear and his present light sits on the table.  I keep my birthday bag of treats under the table when they're not in use. 
• So that I don't forget it's a child's birthday, before I go home, I put the birthday chair in the middle of the Circle Of Friends Carpet, and lay the birthday "goodies" on the chair, then go decorate their locker.
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• Snack Time:
• When I'm doing my Snack Calendar for the month I make sure that any children who are celebrating birthdays, are also the children bringing snack on that day. Some parents like to make snack day extra special then. I don't allow cake or cupcakes, as I don't feel that's a nutricious snack for the children. I find that when parents bring in gooey cupcakes a Y5 will generally lick off the frosting and not eat the cupcake at all. They often get the frosting up their nose, and if they do take a bit or two, I have crumbs everywhere.
• Some parents bring in special cups and plates, and even make treat bags for the children. I let parents know that's perfectly fine, and welcome them to come share the day with us if they want to. I have a note about all of this in my Student Handbook if you want to check it out.   Just click on the link. Some teachers are now doing a "You are special!"-red plate program in their class, which would include a child eating off a red plate on their birthday. Check out my Main Blog for September to read this article.
  

• Balloons:
• Parents always have questions so it's good to have a policy about birthdays.
• We have a latex free school zone so there are no balloons allowed. So if that's true in your school put it in your handbook. One year I had a mom bring in balloons for all of the children.
• I do put them in their treat bags, just because they are inexpensive, but I tell my students not to open the bag 'til they get home.
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• Seat of honor:
• When the child comes back from putting their treats in the locker they get to sit anywhere they want.
• A new thing I'm going to do is a seat cover. Somewhere floating through cyberspace or a magazine I had seen a birthday cake made out of felt. I thought: "Oh I can do that!" and filed it away in the back of my brain of never accomplished tasts, because I ran out of summer.
• I think this would be an added way to make children feel extra special.
• Then I was surfing the net for more b. day ideas for you and came upon this link of other teacher's b.day ideas from A to Z Teacher Stuff, and one teacher mentioned that when she was a child her teacher put something on her chair and she still remembers it from 16 years ago! Well if it's that memorable I'm getting right on it,. Hmmmm. 
• It has to be EASY, CHEAP, FUN, FAST and DURABLE
• Here's what I came up with:
• Buy two large sheets of flat foam Lots of color choices at Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart and Michaels's Crafts, but I chose WHITE  because I wanted to decorate it with multi-colors and then with a white background they'd all show up.
• I have little chairs so I CUT exactly 2  1/4 inches off the side and it fit great.
• Just to make sure, test it on your own chairs BEFORE you cut.
• If you have 1st graders, and they sit at a desk, you won't want to cut anything off. 
• STAPLE both sides and the top. Leave the bottom open so that you can slip it over the chair. 
• Press hard on the stapler, but you don't need to use the heavy duty kind that staples 20+ sheets, a regular one works just fine as long as your foam sheets aren't "extra thick".
• Try and stay on a straight line. I covered the staples with puffy paint later.
• Now it's time to DECORATE.
• I used stencils because I own a zillion and my fat foam stamps are at school and I wanted to "play" this minute. My husband secretly thinks I have ADHD. He came home, and I'm sprawled all over the kitchen, paint bottles, and supplies everywhere.  "What are we making today Diane?"  I'm gratefully married to a saint who doesn't mind walking through my creative messes. You could also free hand paint a birthday cake on it if you're artistic.
• TIP: This was so fun I made a STAR STUDENT one too. Click on the link to see the pix. You could make one for your Author Chair too.

SUMMER Birthdays:

• When I was in elementary school I always felt left out of the "birthday loop." I don't know what was the matter with teachers back then, but I NEVER got to celebrate a single birthday because I ws born in the summer in July.
• I vowed that when I became a teacher, those little ones would also celebrate.
• Winnie the Pooh celebrates "very un-birthdays" and I liked that concept. Some teachers celebrate 1/2 birthdays during the "middle" of the year. Whatever you do - CELEBRATE! Young children are all about fairness.
• Any of my little peanuts born in June, July and August get a special day in June when we celebrate their "pretend summer b. day."  If I have a lot, then I start at the end of May. Since Michigan starts the day after Labor Day, I celebrate any September birthdays that happened prior to the start of school in September, so I don't get confused.

More helpful information on birthdays:

• I'm sharing this site where a mom asks other moms for ideas of how she could celebrate her son's 5-year-old birthday party at school.  Be prepared for this question, and hopefully your parents will ask. I was very happy that almost all of the mommies advised her to ask his teacher first. That's why it's so important to be specific in your handbook, and to let parents know that you have your own special celebration for their child, and just what it entails so that they WILL feel special through out the day.
• Click here for some cute party games. I like Monkey See Monkey Do. 
• Click here for some bulletin board ideas for birthdays. Don't forget to click on her sidebar for more birthday day bulletin boards for September birthdays, birthday displays, and birthday bulletin boards for teachers!.
• Here's another awesome website: KinderKorner.com.  Click on the word birthday for some terrifice birthday songs, poems, ideas, and birthday book selections.
• One of my favorite magazines is Family Fun. They have lots of kid tips, recipes, craft, deocorating, and party ideas. Check out their website at Family Fun.
• And if you're a parent and just looking for an interesting site that has some fun birthday party ideas  for your own little one.click on the link.
• Click here for two favorite birthday treat recipes from a teacher/parent.
• Click here for a list of 17 party games. From there you can click on that game for directions.
• Click here for 5 Birthday Mazes.
• Click her e to make your own Birthday Storybook. 

"Birthday Buddy Book Bags" to get your students reading and writing!

• When I taught 1st grade I had all sorts of "Reading Buddy Bags" for my students to take home. They couldn't wait for their turn to check out a bag. The Birthday Bag was one of them. Inside were two of my birthday books, a birthday notebook, an envelope of birthday stickers, and an envelope of birthday bookmarks with a laminated letter home to parents explaining the book bag. Beanie Babies were really popular 11 years ago so there was always one in the bag for them to "read to".  I had a regular small bear tucked in the zipper of the backpack for the Birthday Bag.. He also had an autograph book because I wanted the children to work on writing their first and last names.
• Parents helped their children write a brief description of what they did on their birthday, then helped them read one or both of the birthday books. They got to choose a sticker and bookmark when they were done, and returned the bag the next day.
• I had laminated library pockets with names on index cards, so I knew who had what bags.
• Click here if you'd like to print a copy of the letter so you can make your own Birthday Bag as well as the cover of the writing journal.
• I made a new one for you, because I simply put a piece of laminate over some birthday stationery.
• In my note I also told them to sign the autograph book and included this note:  "Child psychologists say that it's important to tell children about pleasant things in their past that they don't remember. My own children never tired listening about the funny things they did as a baby or toddler. It became a tradition on their birthday to haul out theri photo albums and reminisce about the day they were born and past birthdays." 
• Pictured below is the folder that I kept the notes, journal, and authograph book in. I had 2 backpacks in case I had 2 birthdays on the same day or twins.
•  I let them choose the books they'd like to take home from the birthday basket.

Birtday Songs:

• Need a new birthday song? Click on the link to go to Jean Warren's
• Pre-School Express site's new birthday songs.
• Well that's it for my tips on celebrating birthdays in my classroom.
• If you have some you'd like to share,  I'd love to hear from you!
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Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Teachers have opposing veiws on nametags. With all the things we have to write a young child's name on, why spend another 1/2 hour making name tags and writing on them too? Here's why I do it.

• One of our report card standards is: "TLW recognize their name in print." I figure if the child sees it enough this will help. What better way than to have it plastered on their body as a constant reminder.
• Other students will also see their name and begin to be able to read them as well.
• It's also a "little cheat-sheet" for when they have to find it elsewhere. One has only to glance at their tag to then locate a mailbox, locker, paper, tubbie etc.
•  I tell them not to look at their tag and try and find these things without the help of their tag, and then to check their tag to make sure they are at the correct place.
• For the first two weeks of school tags are for my sanity. I have stickers on them  for walkers (feet), pick ups (cars) and bus riders (busses) I know at a glance who goes where and so does the child. "OK! All the children who have a bus sticker please line up over here in the bus line. Thank you." "Now I need all my children who have a car sticker; please stand over here." etc.
• I have my "going home list" on a clipboard. When the office sends down a note of a child's change of venue, I immediately stick it to the clipboard so that I can pull a car, foot or bus out of one line and put them into another.
• These name tags are also for their protection. Often times little ones get lost in our big building as they are dropped off out front.
• All staff members know to watch out for Mrs. Henderson's big purple tags because they are Y5's. 
• My September tags not only have the child's name on them, but they have the address of where the bus will be dropping them off, their bus number and their teacher's name.
• The Y5's and the Kindergarten teachers all have this kind of info. Each one of us has a different color, so we can tell at a glance who belongs to whom, and who should be in what class.
• This is very much appreciated by office staff, cafeteria people, and especially the bus drivers who have caught a few "oops!" before they have driven away.
• I laminate these tags and slip them into a plastic sleeve that has a metal clip on them. That way if the child gets water down the sleeve, the tag inside will still be protected.
• In the past I have simply laminated the construction paper and put double reinforcement holes on the front and back and used safety pins. These worked fairly well, but they were pretty dog-eared after 2 weeks.
• I send a note home to parents to please wear the tags daily and to take them off as soon as the child gets home and attach it to their backpack. That way, if they forget to put it back on in the morning, at least I will have access to it.
• Anyone wearing their name tag the next day of school gets a sticker on the back.
• I do this because my students LOVE stickers and it gives them a little incentive to help them remind their parents to remember to put their name tag on. This is a great way to teach responsibility.
• I always laminate 10 extra  blank ones to use when children do forget. 
• I feel wearing name tags also builds a child's self-esteem and makes them feel special. All kinds of staff members greet these children throughout the day:  "Hi Kelli!" They are little people. They have no idea that these adults are reading a name tag. They think everyone knows them! That makes them feel wonderful!
• My children don't stay with me all day. They have exploratory with other teachers. Those teachers have over 200 children. They don't have seating charts to depend on. Name tags are important for discipline, behavior modification, and building rapport with students they only have once a week.
• Young children tend to speak in whisper-soft voices when asked their name by cafeteria staff. This makes for a long line of impatient hungry children. Seeing a name tag and hearing a name helps the line move right along.
• After the two weeks,  I switch to a foam name tag.
• Hobby Lobby and Michaels Craft Stores are two of my favorite places for crafts. The Dollar Tree store has also started to carry some craft supplies and ours has packs of small foam.
• Cut an index-size piece of foam in 1/2
• Snip the sides off so that it looks like a tag.
• Punch a hole in the middle of one end.
• Make sure that you are as far in as the hole punch allows. Children pull on name tags and this will keep it from ripping from the safety pin.
• Put double reinforcent holes on both sides. 
• Buy a bag of self-stick die-cut shapes.
• I buy stars and tell my students that they are all shining stars that have star power, and that as their teacher I'm going to help them shine their brightest. 
• Peel and stick the star on the right end of the tag.
• Write names in permanent black marker.
• Attach  a safety pin.
• Attaching name tags is also a great fine motor skill. 
• My students put these tags on in the morning and wear them to special, then to lunch and then they take them off.
• I also give them a little star certificate.  I have them write their name on it then cut it out.  Click on the star to make some for your students.
•  Simply run them off on yellow construction paper.  I did not make up the little verse,  I found it online a few years ago. Little Giraffes also does this poem.
• I make it a point to learn my students' names by the end of the 1st day of school
• On library day I have them put their name tags on again so the librarian feels more comfortable reading to my little ones.
• Things get crazy in my world, so I tell the children to help remind me to take name tags off. The first one who does that gets a Smartie Coin, sticker, M&M, or Skittle; their choice. Or I may give the little basket I keep the tags in, to the Helper of The Day.
• It's amazing how children remember things when you ask them, and it helps teach responsibility,and  build self- esteem as they enjoy the praise later.
• I make an extra set of tags and keep them in a baggie in my substitute folder.
• My foam tags last all year.
• I put my students' names on borders for their birthday crowns. They LOVE them, and seem to keep these on all day. They are easily seen, and don't get wet.
• I'm toying with the idea of making laminated crowns for name tags some year. I'm not sure if tossing them in a basket every day would damage them tho'.
• Any thoughts? What does everyone else do? 

The things that I require my students to bring for Y5's:

• When I started 10 years ago, our school used to provide all supplies for our students.
• Because of budget cuts our students now have to bring their own.
• Here's my list.
• 24 count box of Crayola crayons,
• yellow-pen-size highlighter,
• 4 large  Elmet's Glue sticks,
• 2 small size Elmer's Glue sticks.
• I also add if they'd like to donate a box of Kleenex and a box of large or small Baggies that would be appreciated.
• I include this list in my summer welcome letter.
  
• Because I've always been able to get folders and notebooks for .10¢  or .15¢  I buy them so that I can add stickers and names in August, so I can get them done ahead of time.
• They are all also the same color and size. Even when I told parents to bring one blue and one yellow folder they still came with a Dora folder or one that was hot pink. I'm sure that was because they were dealing with a screaming 4-year-old.
• Currently there are only two of us teaching Y5's at our school. My co-teacher agrees with my list.
• The K's get together and compile their list which includes markers, and colored pencils + the above.
• I wanted to see what the other schools around here were asking for, so I checked the various lists at the office supply stores.
• Were you aware that if your school faxes them a list, they'll make copies and put it in their displayer? Nice marketing strategy, and very helpful for parents!

• If you're a first year teacher and wanted to add some things of your own, some of the new things I saw on lists were: a paint shirt, a plain white T-shirt, money, ( any where from a $1 and $5 all the way up to $20 to be used for additional supplies, snacks  and fieldtrips through out the year) bandaids, snacks, paper towels, napkins, dixie cups, hand discenfectant, didey wipes, box of watercolors,  2 jars of Play-Doh, and the standard box of Kleenex and various sizes of Ziploc Baggies. Lots of them also had in bold print, LABEL all your child's things, or don't
•  label them because they will be shared as a community,  Everyone stated that they needed a LARGE backpack, and I go through this every year with my parents sending too small of a backpack that doesn't fit snowpants, and large library books, and children's art projects in, so make sure you specify that. Lots of lists had a pair of tennis shoes on them, and they stated that they would be left at school for gym class. I too had this problem with girls wearing flip flops and not being able to run when it came time for gym. Many listed dry erase markers, and anywhere from 4 up to 10 large glue sticks. And if you teach little ones you WILL go through a lot! So if this is your 1st year, and you get to create your own list, keep that in mind.

• Plan Ahead and Save Time:
• 
  
• I ask that supplies be put in a Ziplock baggie with their child's name on it and that they can bring the supplies to Open House if they'd like.
• I started doing that the 2nd year I taught Y5's because it took a few hours to un-do all the baggies and put the items into community tubs.
• At 1st I thought I'd teach responsibility to the children and keep their own items in their own baggies. This did NOT work. It made more work for me to match name tags to baggies when I passed them out ahead of time and had things on the tables in the morning.  When I wanted children to get their own baggie some of them couldn't recognize their name, and took someone elses baggie and it wasted too much time, and finally once the things were out of the baggie, getting them all back in to the correct baggie was a nightmare. He took my crayon, she has my highlighter etc.
• Now I have 4 tables. Each table has a clear plastic-shoebox size tub of crayons on it. I keep the same kind of tub filled with scissors, glue sticks, markers, colored pencils, and highlighters. The only tub that's on their table is the crayons. I pass out scissors, high lighters and glue sticks and when the children are done with them they put them in the appropriate tub on the supply table. We don't use pencils and markers everyday  so the children go and get their color choices when needed.
• I love this system. Things stay neat and organized and clean up is a breeze.
• When I need the tables for something else I just have children pick up the 4 tubs of crayons and stack them on the supply table.
• I know who hasn't put their supplies away because their name card is on the table.
• You need to TRAIN your little ones how to do this includig pushing in their chair.
• I also explain to them that "Taking care of their belongings." and "Cleaning up as directed." are report card standards.
• Even at this young age if they know what is expected of them, and what they do is important and has relevance, they are more likely to do it. I positively reinforce the behavior I want, and point it out to the children. "Thank you Kelli for cleaning up all your supplies. You were the 1st one to do that. Here's a sticker for your paper. I'm giving stickers today for everyone who does that and remembers to push in their chair!"
  
• I also believe that some of my students are very used to parents cleaning up for them at home, especially if they don't do it the 1st time they are told. I often hear. "If I've told them once, I told them a 100 times." That's the 1st mistake.
• I tell my students that I will tell them only TWICE to do something. After that there will be a consequence. Then I am CONSISTANT, and follow through with a consequence. 
• They are not only learning in my class, they are having to un-learn poor behavior at home. This is hard for little ones because adults are sending mixed messages, because they don't follow through.

• I have a big clear plastic tub at home that I keep in the entry as I go down the basement. I throw school supplies in there all year long that I see on clearance, or pick up at garage sales. I also buy extras during the month of August, because you won't see these super-sales any other month.
• I tap into this treasure trove through out the school year to restock my tubs especially in January when things are gone, and crayons are broken.
• After Christmas break they come to everything all "brand new" like their 1st day of school and they think that's "way cool!"
• Then in the afternoon I haul out the big tub of old crayons. We dump it out on brown buther block paper. Everyone fills up a bowl and they go and sort the broken crayons from the pointy crayons, and the sort of OK crayons. We put the pointy crayons back in the new tubs. I have them each peel 5 of the OK crayons, and then break them so that I have a head start on my crayon cakes for next yea'rs kids.
• They really have fun with this.
• Do you have some tips you can share with us of how you keep your things organized? Please comment!

Back To School Ideas

Seeing little ones all dressed up in their brand new clothes, wearing their brand new backpacks, all excited and filled with the anticipation of the first day of school, don't ya just LOVE it?  I do!  I catch the bug about August 1st when the stores are decorated to the hilt with their displays of supplies. Some people are groaning.

I'm in the ready-get-set-GO! mode. I have to be. I teach Y5's and there's a zillion things I HAVE to do, and ya know what? If you do a few a day, it's FUN, at least it is for me.

In this blog article I'll give you a few tips that I hope will help you have some fun while you get ready to go back.. Next year I'll  start earlier, for I know some of you have already started, and I wish you all the best!

Name Tags:

 Little Giraffes is another of my favorite teaching sites. She has an entire theme for back-to-school. I especially love her "Magic Playdough" idea and plan to do this activity with my Y5's. I also want to try melting a red Solo cup to make an adorable apple name tag! Check out these cute ideas by clicking on the link.

     Teaching The 5 Senses Teddy Bear:

If you teach the 5 sesnses as we do at the kindergarten and Y5 level, you'll want to make this adorable tactile bear. Click on the teddy bear link to check him out. What a wonderful idea!

I plan to make him with these changes: Cut a pair of bib overhauls out of an old pair of blue jeans. and glue him to your sandpaper bear. Hot glue the pocket of the jeans to the middle of the bear. Hot glue two brightly colored big buttons to each strap.

Hobby Lobby and most craft stores sell those mini ziplock bags that are only 3 inches tall.  You'll need 3.

Soak a cotton ball in tangerine oil, or another fragrance you think your students will like, and zip it up in the little baggie, put a medium size jingle bell with a yarn string on it, so that you can jingle it, in the 2nd baggie, put a gummi bear in the 3rd. Place them in the big pocket.

I'm also going to hot glue another pocket on the back of my bear where I'll keep a medium size baggie filled with enough gummi's for all of my students to have a taste. 

I plan to read the story Will I Have A Friend? by Miriam Cohen and then introduce them to one of my stuffed bears and tell them: "Here is one of your very 1st kindergarten friends." Then  I'll say: "Give Me 5!"  and choose a child who is modeling that. (EYES looking at me, EARS listening, MOUTH shut, HANDS folded in lap, FEET on the floor, or criss-cross applesauce.) I'll hand them the bear and a gummi. I've just reviewed the 5 senses!

She'll say: "Hi I'm Kelli and I'm your new friend." She'll give the bear a hug and pass him to the child next to her, and I'll give them a gummi and away we go!

At the conclusion we can review where the bear's 5 senses are, and everyone can take a turn touching the sandpaper.

If this is one of your science units having each one of your students make their own bear would be an easy and inexpensive thing to do!

I'd pre-cut the bears for them using a Dollar Store scissors, because it will be dull by the time you get done cutting out 30 bears!

Want to make a few cute gifts for your teacher friends or the secretary? I could never do her job! I so appreciate our Sandy! Click here.

My favorite is the Orange. I say that to my students during October when we have that as the color of the month. I make it a knock-knock joke and then give them each an orange slice. "Knock-Knock...Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad you're in my class?"

 Writing Prompts:

Do you need some writing prompts click here for a months worth?  I have an entire year of fun FREE writing prompts for you too.

 Back-To School Check List:

Do you feel a bit frantic when August rolls around, and a little worried if you'll have enough time to get everything done? Or that nagging feeling of "I know I'm forgetting something!" I did after my first year and I said I HATE feeling like this! It robs me of the joy and excitement that I so enjoy.

So I decided to sit down and make a back-to-school check list of everything I needed to do. Click here for a copy of mine. Then cross off things and add some to make it your own, and you'll have one that's perfect for you to use year after year. It truly will bring you peace of mind. Then, stick it on a clipboard, do things a few at a time-daily and have FUN doing them.

I've learned the JOY should not come at getting the list DONE, but in DOING the list! Life is so much better that way!  I try to finish EVERTHING at least 3 to 4 days before school starts so I don’t feel like I just ran a marathon.

It’s nice if you can treat yourself to a manicure or pedicure or simply a bubble bath and do those things for yourself. I also like to go through my wardrobe and figure out what I’m going to wear for the 1^st week of school and put those outfits in one section of my closet.

I like to cut some flowers from my garden or pick up a few plants from the store and put them in my room. It just perks me up. Whatever your list, you need to enjoy the journey through it. The more time you allow yourself the more fun you’ll have.

 Have last year's kids help you get ready for next year's students!

Try to accomplish a few things BEFORE you leave school and enlist the help of  your students.

I let mine have one last fling with playing with shaving cream to get the “gunk” off the desks. If you haven't tried shaving cream for "instant writing boards" you need to hop aboard! Simply squirt a blob in front of a student on their desk/table. Let them flatten it out to make a "white board". They then write on it with their index finger making shapes, letters, numbers etc. The shaving cream softens their hands, makes the room smell great, and gets ink, crayon marks, and glue gunk off the surface. Plus kids LOVE it!

Anyway... Afterwards my kids wash down all of the tables and chairs. They enjoy splashing away with a rag.   I don’t clean anything else, because over the summer it just gets dusty all over again and was a waste of time.

Instead the children help SORT all of the tubbies so that everything is neat and organized for the children in the fall. This would have been a huge job for me alone, and with a team of 20 kids it’s a breeze and reviews a report card standard for them.     

      They make my "Welcome Back To School" bulletin boards!

I also have them create the two in-class bulletin boards. I then have “Kid-Art” up and I didn’t have to do anything. My current Y5’s think it''s “way cool” that they were getting to make a b. board for the in-coming kids,  and the new kids think it's exciting to look around the cafeteria to see if they can find a kindergarten friend! And…I didn’t have to dream up and make 2 in-class b. boards. What a wonderful win-win! 

 During the first week of school they get to make an apple that replaces this bulletin board. As soon as they finish their apple project they go pick an apple off the board and that is their new kindergarten friend that they look for in the cafeteria.

 I have parent helpers help me with this activity and I make sure that these children are still here and that everyone will have a new buddy. This works out perfect because the K's and the Y5's have the same lunch and recess.

The K's feel proud because they "know the ropes" and can show them around and share their experiences with them that they had as a Y5.

My other bulletin board is"We Wish You A Dino-mite Year!" I have searched hi & lo for this pix and could only find my sample. They have to find the matching photo to their apple. They enjoy taking two friend "cards" home.

Should it ever happen that I don't have enough K's for my kids, I'd make some apples/dinosaurs and use pix from our year book from K's that I knew from last year, then call them and ask if they'd like to be a friend to a new Y5.  I'm sure they'd be thrilled.

Great site for templates:

If you're looking for some templates to make everything from name tags and newsletters to assessments and certificates look no further. Click here for one of my favorite teacher sites.

 Do you have an Info Sheet?

I have an Emergency Contact Information Sheet that I like to have my parents fill out for me. I explain to them that I know they've already filled out all sorts of forms for the office, but I like to have my own forms handy. They are kind enough to oblige. Click here for a copy.

If you'd like a copy of my "Getting to Know Your Child" handout  click on the link. I like a "head's up" about my students. This sheet gives me valuable information so that I can engage my Y5's in conversation and show them that I'm interested in their world and care about them.

 More Helpful Stuff:

Click here for a Back-To-School WORD SEARCH  If you're look for decorating tips click tips and here.

I've also got some cute ideas in SEPTEMBER I, and there's 89 pages of ideas where I post all of my handbooks at SEPTEMBER II stuff. Just click on the links and read or print away.

To wish you a HAPPY back-to-school year, I designed a little door knobber that you can print off and laminate. Hang it on your doorknob. Take a minute to  have your Helper of the Day move a large paperclip down the side to where you're going,. It's my way of saying "Thanks much for stopping! I appreciate you, and I wish you a WONDERFUL year!" Click on the link to print one. :

I run my Open House as a Treasure Hunt which I mentioned in the Welcome Blog, but if you need an invitation, I've made you one here. Just click on the link. Well that's it. I hope this helped.

I will see you in September with lots more EXCITING things for you to do with your students! It's going to be a supercalafragalisticexpialadocious year for all of us! Gotta run, I'm still not done with my list, but....

Let the adventure begin!

• Here's a tip: Make it a point to check out all the SALES that the office supply stores have during the month of August.
• You owe it to yourself to do this. You know you'll kick yourself later when a teacher tells you that they got THEIR folders for only a penny!
• If you're a first year teacher and haven't heard, here's the news: Office Depot, Office Max, and Staples all have wonderful "loss leaders" during August to launch their back-to-school push. A "loss leader" is something that they stock up on, then offer at a huge discount, to get people to come into their stores. They know that once a tired mom, hauling 5 kids around gets in their store, she'll probably buy everything else she needs. A savvy shopper will not.  YOU be that savvy shopper.
• 
• Click on any of the links to check them out now.
• Today I ran around for you. So if you live in MICHIGAN and you're reading this the week of Monday, August 16th before Saturday at 9 p.m. the sale prices are good for the week. 
• If you live elsewhere, the above stores all told me that although they are everywhere throughout the US, their sale items and promotions are all different. The best thing to do is to go online and check out their ad specials. Even if you're reading this after the 22nd, Simply click on any of the store names and you can check out their ads to see what is currently on sale.
•  One thing I like about Staples is their PENNY sales! Where else can you buy folders and a pack of 20 pencils for a penny?  The penny sales do require a $5 minimum purchase, which is not hard to meet because of their $1 specials.
• If there's a 'limit" on a featured item, teachers ALWAYS get a "special limit" of 25! THANK YOU Staples.
• Their "Teacher Appreciation Day" this year in MI is this Saturday 'til 2
•  They have a teacher rewards card where you gather points and get a certificate in the mail for a dollar amount off.
• They do have an expiration so don't carry them around in your purse or wallet forever.
• In Grand Rapids, MI this week the "extreme deal" for a  penny are spiral notebooks. Copy paper is also 1¢ after the rebate.
• The dollar deals that were perfect for me were the Crayola 10 - pack bright color markers, the 5 -  pack black Sharpie markers,  and the Crayola colored pencils.
• Again, stores vary state wide. All managers told me to check online first, and if you have to drive a distance, give them a jingle on the phone to make sure they have things in stock.
• Click on the box that says "Weekly add" to see what their specials are in your area.
•  Both Office Depot and Office Max have teacher Appreciation Days and offer some great loss leaders.
• Office Max will double a limit for teachers, however limits are often 3's. You can always ask a manager, but the one I talked with today said the limit came from the corporate office. Office Depot doesn't give a special limit to teachers, but they do a percentage off if you have a teacher's rewards card. Again, it doesn't hurt to ask.
• Office Depot has a Teacher Appreciation breakfast on their Teacher Appreciation Day as well as specials.

• Super Deals at Office Depot this week, clear plastic pencil pouches reg. $1.99 only .5¢ (wow!) limit 3,   Children's Fiskars scissors with a matching colored eraser $1.00 Great color selection.
• Office Depot's Teacher Appreciation Day is August 28th
• When you go Online click their weekly add, you'll get a window to type in your zipcode.
  
• Office Max had their Teacher Appreciation Day yesterday. Sorry.  Sometimes you can go in and ask if they have any left. They were kind enough to give me one today. It was a circle zippered pouch with a bag inside. 
• Super Deals this week at Office Max are:  24 count Crayola crayons for .25¢ limit 3 (teachers can get 6) wooden rulers .5¢ same limits, black or blue 10 - count Bic pens .10 ¢ same limits. They also have some "Buy 2 get one FREE" items going on as well.
• When you go online, there's a place to enter your zipcode to get the specifics for your area.

• The Dollar Tree Store is one of my favorite places to shop! It has more "teachery" things than usual including the durable bags that all sorts of stores are selling now as we "Go Green". These had cute school designs on them including one that said Project Bag.
• When I taught 1st grade I sent Busy Bags home with my students. They couldn't wait for their turn to take home the Guess-ti-mate Jar bag, the Bear bag, the Pattern bag, etc. I'll write more about Busy Bags in another Blog.
• I know stores vary, but ours had a plethora of brightly colored tubs and square boxes that are perfect for table caddies for supplies. They had borders, posters, die cuts, journals, certificates, stickers, stamps, art  supplies, K & 1st grade workbooks, to name just a few items. 
• Our store also has little aprons. I bought a few. Not just for the dress up box, but for my Class Helper of the Day.
• I don't mess with a calendar filled with Helpers of the Day. I stopped that after my 1st year of teaching. I just didn't like all the work that entailed. Trying to remember who had done what job, remembering to change it before I went home, when I was half brain dead.
•  Now I have one special person of the day who gets to do all of the jobs. I have a Mystery Envelope that I laminate. Each child has a name card like the ones that I have on their tables.  I slowly slide the child's name out letter-by-letter 'til someone finally recognizes it is them.
• The only job that they don't get to do is Snack Helper. The person who brought the snack is the helper for that and they get to choose a friend.
• So if you haven't visited a Dollar Store lately, as Shakespeare would have said: "Hi thee hence! And get thee to a Dollar Store" You'll have fun.
• Toys R Us has some cute and unusual supplies, but no super dollar deals. If you  are buying a backpack for your own children they have a nice selection of popular characters and you get a lunch box /bag free with a purchase of one. .
• Target has the small Elmer's Squeeze Bottle School Glue for .25¢ a bottle, Glue Sticks 3 for only .25¢ the clerk told me there was no minimum as she said a customer the day before bought over 100!
• They also have Crayola Crayons 24 count for .25¢ no minimum for them either.
• I always find some cool things in their Dollar Deal bins too.
• Meijers is also a big regional chain store. Their loss leaders this week are .15¢ pocket folders and  .15¢ spiral notebooks. In the past when I've told them that I was a teacher and needed 25 of something they graciously let me have a higher minimum.
• Wal-Mart has the plastic pencil boxes that I use for my treasure boxes for .60¢ and Elmer's Squeeze Bottle School Glue for .25¢ a bottle.
• All of these stores are my "favorite haunts" along with Hobby Lobby,  Michaels Crafts,  JoAnn Fabrics, Schuler Books, & Barnes and Noble. The last 3 give discounts to teachers.  Simply ask to fill out a form.  You need to show a canceled payroll check &/or some other school ID. The 1st two usually have a 40% to 50% off  one  regularly priced item coupon in their weekly online ad.
• I hope you found this info valuable. It will be archived so you can check links quickly.

     Wasn’t it great being healthy all summer? Ever wonder why that is? Well it’s time for back-to-school and I have some thoughts on STAYING HEALTHY, especially if you are a beginning teacher.  Classrooms are breeding grounds for germs. Here are some tips for avoiding the dreaded “bug”.

• I wasn’t too sure about getting a Flu Shot until the year I tried it and didn’t get sick! Now I get both “kinds” each year.
• I take a multi-vitamin. It’s important to read the labels. There’s a zillion kinds out there. So take an age-specific one. I like Centrum Silver or One-A-Day for the older woman because I really do feel they help me feel better. I’ve added Gingko Biloba to help me stay focused too. Someone told me that it’s the only herb that the Alzheimer’s Association recommends. This too, is because I’m getting older and have more often asked myself why I went into this room! Some friends also swear by B12 and vitamin C during the winter months.
• I use the spray disinfectant that our school gives us, on all my tables in the classroom everyday before I go home, and if my students are extra sneezy and coughing I use Lysol. I also wipe the doorknobs, my telephone, and the computer keyboards.
• I use my own Kleenex box that I keep at the back of my desk, out of reach of students. It’s that anti-viral kind that they came out with.
• I have Kleenex boxes in all 4 corners of the classroom, and ask students to please bring a box in along with their school supplies at the beginning of the school year.
• It’s important to get the kids on board. So educate them.
• The minute one child is caught sneezing or coughing, I take that opportunity to STOP everything and teach them all how to sneeze and cough in their elbow. We practice together, and then I positively reinforce that behavior when I see it being done with a candy Smartee. I know some people are against candy, but this is a tiny-quick melting treat that really motivates the behavior I want.
• I tell them how important it is to wash their hands, that germs are on them and that if they don’t wash they can become sick.
• To demonstrate this I put baby powder on my hands and then I go around and touch theirs. We go into our huge supply closet. I turn on my battery-operated black light bar which they think is “way cool”, then I turn off the lights. I tell them to look at all of the germs that are on their hands! The talcum powder just glows! My point is made! Seeing is believing.
• You also have to SHOW them how to properly wash their hands. Don’t take for granted that parents do this.
• Also CHECK children as they come out of the bathroom, don’t just ask them if they’ve washed. If their hands aren’t damp you know they didn’t wash. My Y5’s are always amazed that I know they are “lying”  when I say “ I don’t think so, now get back in there and drown those germs!”
• I tell them to sing the ABC song while they wash. I read somewhere, that one chorus is sufficient to kill all the germs.
  
• Our school installed antiseptic gel dispensers in every room when they read the studies that showed they helped cut illness as much as 50%  I think it was a school nurse that launched this campaign, back when a school could afford one.
• I have my students use them after they use the bathrooms even though I make sure that they have washed their hands. I also have them use them when I see them picking their nose. What is it with that “favorite” habit of every child I’ve ever had! YUK! We also use the “magic soap” before we go to the cafeteria and before we eat our snack.
• If you make sure your students are germ-free you stand a better chance of staying well. I love the foam magic soap that Bath and Body sells. I keep that in my pocket for “special” times and for me to use through out the day. Gold Bond has come out with a cream that’s germ killing which I also love because sometimes all the “alcohol” in the other stuff can dry out your hands.
• Use your own crayons, scissors, pencils etc. This was a hard habit for me to break as I was always sitting down with my students either helping them one-on-one or working with a group. Their supplies were handy and I’d have to get up to get mine. Opt to wear an apron to not only keep your clothes clean, but keep supplies in your pockets.
• This next one is hard too, but probably the most important" DON’T". Try not to touch your face at all, especially your eyes, nose or mouth and especially if you haven’t washed your hands.
• Drink plenty of water. You need to stay hydrated for a variety of reasons. I have a little fridge in my classroom that I keep the children’s’ snacks in as well as my lunch and lots of bottled water. I try and make sure I drink at least 2 bottles each day. Some say you should have 3. On hot days that’s no problem. Taking the time to take a few sips is the problem. I try to keep my students hydrated too by including drink AND potty breaks.
• During the beginning of the school year and in June when it’s hot in Michigan I buy a case of the mini water bottles for my students and let them keep them at their desk. I write their name on the bottom with a permanent marker. They enjoy re-filling them at the water fountain and they think it’s cool to have a water bottle at their desk. It’s also a great fine motor skill to screw and unscrew the caps so we don’t have spilled messes.
• I educate my parents via newsletters to keep their children home when they are sick. That although school is important, this is Y5’s and they are not going to miss anything that I can’t catch them up on. If they’d like to come in and pick up a packet of lessons that we are doing that day,  that is just fine with me. Or if they give me a call, I can send it home with an older sibling.
• I’m also very aware of who is looking pale, and feeling hot, and don’t hesitate to send them to the office to get their temperature taken. My gut feelings are 90% correct and that sick child is then sent home.
• I don’t know about you, but I can’t function without 8 hours of sleep. To stay healthy you need your rest. I also send a note home to parents that their child needs at least 8 if not 10.
• It was very hard for me to leave my room, and not take anything home. Even when I was an aide I’d bring a bag of “stuff” home to do. I remember Mr. W saying: “What are you doing Diane? All I have in my hands are my car keys!” For your health’s sake you have to take your teacher hat off and leave it at school.  and put your mom, wife, or simply your you hat on and go home and RELAX. You need down time to de-stress so that you can recharge for tomorrow.
• I have invested in a nice selection of soothing music that peels me off the ceiling and quiets my jangled nerves and I start playing it right away in the car. Whether it’s a nice hot bubble bath, or a walk in the crisp fall air crunching leaves an breathing in fresh air you owe it to yourself to rejuvenate your mind and body. And you will be healthier and happier for it.
• When you get home change your clothes even if it was casual Friday and you got to wear jeans to school. Who knows what little germies took a ride home on your sweater. Then go wash your hands up to your elbows like the surgeons do, and sing the alphabet song yourself.  Washing your hands under hot water also opens up those little capillaries. More oxygen gets into your bloodstream, and on to your brain and that helps eliminate your aching head too!
• Before you go to bed is not the time to haul out Mailbox Magazine, Idiot Books for computers or anything else that will get you revved up and wide awake. Put on a CD of waves crashing against the shore, spritz some lavender on your pillow, put a hot or cold compress on your eyes, do something that will help you further relax and fall asleep. I try to get ready for bed a ½ hour before I need to fall asleep because I’m usually wired.
• Lay your things out for the morning so that you can remain stress-free. Choosing my outfit and accessories for the next day was a nice “down-time” thing for me to do too. I think I sleep better too knowing that I’m organized.
• If you do get sick, STAY home. Try and remember that although your students love you and will probably miss you, they will survive without you.
• Make sure that you have a great sub-folder already in place especially if you are caught off guard and can’t even function or are in an accident. You can have peace of mind knowing that there is a lesson in there that anyone can teach + all the incidentals for a day with your little ones.
• Check out my substitute tips by clicking on the link.
• And if you don’t…I’m here to rescue you. Grab something off the site and FAX it to your school and your sub can run with it. Or call a teacher friend and have them do it for you.
• When I’m sick I swear by a cup of hot chamomile tea that I drop an Airborne™ tablet in. I don’t care if some people think that product is a placebo or not. When I have a cold it now only lasts about 2-3 days instead of lingering for 7-10. My favorite flavor is apple cider. This product was developed by a 2^nd grade teacher and that’s good enough for me.
• Well that’s it for “Doctor Diane’s” tips.
• I hope you have a super healthy year! I wish you all the best!
• Is there something that works for you? Feel free to comment.

September's HOT TOPIC is:

Discipline Tips

• ·        What works for you?
• ·        Do you have some great classroom management ideas?
• ·        Do you have a tip for lining your kids up?
• ·        Do you have a song you sing to get ready?
• ·        How do you keep children quiet in the hallway?
• ·        How do you handle the ADHD child whose parents don’t believe in medication?

     Here's a booklet I wrote that might help with one of the #1 reasons for discipline problems: Keeping your HANDS to yourself! Click on the link to print a color booklet for yourself  as a wonderful read-aloud.  I put 2 on a page for easy copying so you can send a booklet home with each of your students to share with their families. I've also included a CERTIFICATE to help promote great behavior. Children will want to become a member of the "High Five Helping Hands Club!"  They'll receive one when they understand the concept and have helping, not hurting hands. There's also a SKILL SHEET where a child can ZAP and X out the hurting hands, as well as a cute ART ACTIVITY where they'll make a "handy" heart-print, sure to become a cherished keepsake that makes a terrific bulletin board too!  Have your little ones trace and sign the Helping Hands CONTRACT and watch great behavior grow!  FREE BOOKLET

UPDATE: I just made a Teacher's Edition so you can have a BIG copy of  the children's size. I laminated my copy, put it in a folder, laminated the children's edition, cut up the picture pieces and put magnet strip on the back.  When I'm reading my big teacher's copy I pass out the picture pieces.  When I come to that picture the child holding that piece puts it on the white board.  We sequence the story. Everyone says the phrase "Please keep these to yourself." when a child puts a picture on the board.  I keep these pictures in a baggie in the pocket of my folder.   Click on the link to print a copy. 

I've also made a Classroom Rules Promise Pledge. Click on the link for a copy.  I have my students raise their left hand and then put their right hand over their heart and promise these things, and then sign the contract.  I think it makes it official.  Promises are a big deal in a young person's life.  When an infraction takes place I remind them that they broke their promise and that I'm disappointed in the choice they have made.

If you need an easy Happy Gram Daily Behavior note to send home click on the link.

If you need a note to send parents when their child moves from the green to a red zone click on the link. FYI red zone note.

I also have Windows Of Good Behavior a great behavior modification technique that helps motivate even the "toughies"! At least it's worked on mine!  Click on the link for 28-pages of help, including the game, self-esteem building incentives (bookmarks, badges, slap bracelets), happy grams, and directions.

Need some tips to get those students in line and quiet? Click on the link for my 70+ Transition Tips!  

•  
• I have my tips listed through out the site, but here are a few more things.
• I think the bottom line in discipline is have a set of procedures and rules and make sure that your students know what they are from day one.
• Practice them, model them, hold children accountable, make sure they know that they are responsible for their behavior and that that behavior has consequences, follow through with consistency and you wil have few discipline problems.
• My rules for Y5's are basic. Keep your hands, feet and mouth to yourself. Mouth entails not only biting, but not saying naughty words, or unkind things.
•  
• I also have them observe the "Golden Rule." They definitely understand the question: "Would you like it if someone did that , or said that to you?" Therefore do not do or say that to anyone else!
• Those hands are for helping not hurting and WE are responsible for the things we SAY and DO.  It's important to define responsible.
• I have a "Thinking Chair". It's where you go to think about your inappropriate behavior, or your unwise choice. It's for 5 minutes. I do set a timer, because it's very easy to forget a child and some don't complain.
• I also have a little stool that I call my "Sweet Seat." Sometimes children are simply "Cranky Pants." because they are tired. So I say, "Ya know what? You need a minute in the Sweet Seat. Go sit there and sweeten up."
• The best time to put children in Time Out is when it's Free Play Center Time. When they see others playing it has much more of an impact than when they see others working at a skill sheet. They know they are missing out.
•  
• When the timer rings I go over and talk with the child. I ask them "What were you doing? What should you have been doing? What are you going to do now?" I tell them that they are a good boy or girl and that I don't expect those kinds of choices from them. Then I give them a hug and send them off.  If it was something that I think a parent needs to know about, I jot down a note and pin it to their back so that they can't pull it off.
• I never keep a child in for recess. That only compounds problems. A hyper child needs to run out the wiggles or you will exaserbate the problem. Besides, you are also punishing yourself. You won't get your 15 minutes of sanity time, or be able to leave the room to run an errand or go to the bathroom.
• I NEVER tell a child that they are naughty. I tell them that they are good and smart so that I don't expect them to be making unwise choices.
• I ALWAYS give children a chance to explain their side of the story and tell me why they did something. Sometimes what they do actually makes sense. For example, one little boy came to me saying that 2 of my Y5's were tinkling on the floor. When I asked them why, they told me they were tinkling in the drain in the middle of the floor because the one bathroom was being used, and there were already 2 boys at each of the 2 urinals and they couldn't hold it anymore and they didn't want to have an accident.  I told them that this really was inappropriate, but it actually did make sense to me, so I did not punish them. 
•  
• I recommend the techniques of the  book Love and Logic and I also recommend the program Capturing Kids Hearts. If you ever have a chance to attend any of these seminars they are well worth the money and you will come away with a few more tricks to put in your teaching bag.
• I greet my students in the hall, and as they enter the room I give them a hig five and compliment them on something. Right away I have a personal connection with them and show them that I care about them.
• I never raise my voice. When things are loud, I wait for a break or lull and then I whisper. This truly quiets down a room, and I have their full attention.
• Like Pavlov's dogs, I have trained my students that when they hear a the tinkling of a little bell, or the lovely ringing of a chime, they stop what they are doing and listen for a command.
•  
• Make sure you tell your students that only  YOU can ring bells and chimes.
• Tell them the procedure, practice the procedure, tell them the consequence of not following the procedure, as well as the postitive consequences of following the procedures then be consistant.
• For example. on the first day of school I tell my little ones that when the 1st timer rings they must stop playing and help pick up the toys. If they do not have everything picked up by the time the second timer rings, the tubbies that are left out will not be able to be taken out the next day.
• This is my 11th year with Y5's. Not one year have they ever obeyed that rule on the 1st day. They are used to doing as they please and having their parents give them more chances, or even picking up for them. They are in essence reinforces negative behavior.
• The timer rings. Only a few children stop playing a start to pick up. They usually see no one else is stopping so they continue to play. I say nothing. The second timer rings. Everything is still out and the room is a mess.
• I ask the children: Did the timer ring?   Yes. What were you suppossed to do?  Stop and pick up the toys.  Did you do that?  No. What's the consequence?  We don't get to play with the toys.  Whose fault is that?  Ours.
•  
• I let them take responsibility for their actions. The next day I cheerfully say.: "Yay! It's time for Free Play center time!" and then I pause. "Oh no, we don't have any toys to play with. Could anyone tell me why that is?"  They know the answer. "Oh dear, I so wanted you to play. Mrs. Henderson loves you. She bought all of those toys for you to play with. Let's see we could lay on mats and take a nap. Does anyone want to do that?"  No one wants to. "Hmmm." No one had the books out. I guess we could look at books. Would you like to do that?"  They happily look at books. I let them look at books for 15 minutes. That's a very long time for a 4-year-old. The rules are all sinking in now. Because no one had puzzles out. I rescue them and say. "Children, I just remembered no one had puzzles out, would you like to play with puzzles? Just remember the timer OK?"
• Well when the timer rings you can imagine that they are all falling all over each other picking things up, because they want ALL of the toys out next time.
• Whatever your rules you must be consistent and follow through and your students will too.
• Some teachers laminate a pizza box, or an ice cream carton and then cut it up into puzzle pieces. Each time their class has had a great day they get to put a piece of the puzzle together on the board. Once completed, they get a pizza or an ice cream party.
• Other teachers fill a jar with a scoop of pop corn kernels, for pop corn and a video.
• I've put the word Popsicle and Hot Chocolate on the board and had my students earn the letters to earn those treats. Like wise, they can also lose a letter. These are all activities where children work as a team and we build community.
• I saw a poster that used team as an anacronym. Together Everyon Achieves More.
• When I taught 1st grade I had "3 strikes and you're out!" I used 4 small mushroom cans that I put contact paper on.
•  
• I put them in my chalk sill.
• I used 4 different colored sets of Popsicle sticks so that children did not have to search more than 30 seconds to find their stick..
• One can held all of the Popsicle sticks. The other cans said: strike one, two and finally three.
• If I caught you misbehaving, I'd say " Strike one Kelli." "Please go move your stick." When you had 3 strikes you owed me 10 minutes after school, or you got an extra homework assignment. etc. or whatever you decide will be the consequence for misbehavior. Some teachers have their students think up the consequences.
• Most of the 1st grade teachers in my school use the "Move Your Apple" poster. All of the apples sit in the SAFE green section. The 1st time a teacher talks to them they move it to the warning yellow section, the 2nd time the teacher talks to them they move their apple to the red you get a consequence section.
• Some teachers write out their discipline plan/rules and send it home for parents to read, sign and send back. Some have them sign the bottom and cut it off and send back that portion.  I think this is important if you have older students. I've never run into a problem with my parents understanding my simple rules or their consequences.  It certainly wouldn't hurt to add the sentence:
• Mrs./Mr. ________________ I have read and understand your discipline plan, rules and consequences for your classroom and have reviewed them with my child. Signed: ____________________ Child's Name: ____________________________

CHANTS

• Here's the little chants and techniques I use to get children to be quiet that I teach my students on the very 1st day of school:

• Give me 5! EYES on me. EARS listening, MOUTHS closed, HANDS folded in lap, FEET flat on the floor, or criss-cross-applesauce if we are sitting on the cardpet.
• I say: "Bup-Bup-Bup-Bup-Bup!" My students say: "Eyes up!"
• I say: "Ten hut!" My students say: "Line up!" and then get in line.
•  
• I say: "Count off!" My students say: "1-2"
• I repeat: "Count off!" they say: "3-4"
• I repeat: "Count off" they say: "1-2-3-4 we're ready to go out the door!"
• Then we whisper: "SHHHHH! 1-2-3-4 we're really ready to go out the door."
•  
• I say: Clap-Clap and clap my hands and my students echo and do the same.
• I say Slap-Slap and slap my thighs and my students echo and do the same.
• I say Snap-Snap and snap my fingers and my students echo and do the same.
• I say Tap-Tap and tap my mouth and my students echo and do the same.
• I say Shhhhhh! With my finger at my lips and my students do the same.
•  
• I'll clap a pattern and my students will try to copy it. I'll do it twice more 'til they get it correct.
•  
• I'll say "Slap-Smack! Put your hands behind your back!" Children will slap their thighs and smack their bottoms and hold their hands behind their back as we walk down the hallway. They repeat the phrase that I just said as well.
•  
• I'll flip the lights off and they'll need to freeze and be dead-quiet. We'll practice it 'til they are.
•  
• “5-4-3-2-1 quiet in the hallway has now begun. Shhhh!” We clap the 5 beats with a 2 slow and 3 fast pattern.

• Since counting by 2's is one of our K standards I made it a "line up" phrase.
• 2-4-6-8
• Please line up
• oh-so-great.
• Tip toe-Tip toe Tip toe
• Please...
• Do it quietly
• with ease.

(Children say the first 3 lines with you rather loudly, then as they tip toe they say the last 3 softly.)

• I'm a smartee!
• I won't be tardy!
• I'm ready to go!
• I'll line up just so!

Ideas from other teachers: (Thank you!)

The Traffic Light System:
I put up a cardboard traffic light and write names on clothespins.  Every morning, everyone starts off on the green light.  When they have broken a rule, their name goes on the yellow light, if they break another rule,  their name gets put on the red light.  At any time, children can gain their way back to a yellow or green, but if at the end of the day they are still on the red, a note gets sent home to parents.  Children on the green light at the end of the day get a little reward (jellybean, sticker, etc) it works wonders at this age!

Quiet Game:  Whenever someone stops in, or the phone rings and I have to step away from a whole group activity for a moment, I have the children play the Quiet Game. Where they sit in the teacher's chair and they choose someone, to take their place where they were sitting and then the person they chose then chooses the next person to sit in their place. No one can say a word and they have to be whisper-quiet changing places. They can also play paper-scissors-rock on the carpet. It's also a great way to keep them entertained if I’m busy for a moment

• I positively reinforce all the good  behaviors with treats of some sort.
•  
• Dealing with a HYPER CHILD:
  

• I have a small round child-size table where I can have a child  work undistracted. You always want to make this a "positive" thing. "Johnny let's you and I move over to our special table."  Is far more affective than telling a child you are moving them because they are misbehaving.
• To keep one of my more hyper active children calmer when walking in line in the hallway I hold his hand.
• ·        He was always flailing around touching everything he came in contact with, with his other hand,  so I invented Wally. Cosco™ & Sam’s Club™ have the square white milk jugs so I decorated Wally with wiggle eyes and some black marker facial details and filled him a 1/3rd full of water.

•         This child enjoyed carrying Wally whenever we’re transitioning in the halls and it kept him preoccupied. He also had his hands full and couldn't touch anything on the walls.
• ·        When that novelty wore off,  I gave him a large manila envelope to deliver to the other teacher.
• ·        I also let this child sit in a little rocking chair during parts of the day. The rocking motion helped sooth him and he tended to stay seated throughout story time and other moments when I needed him to be focused.
• ·        If he needed a time out and wouldn't stay in the chair, I let him choose a timer. I also let him hold one of those colored dripping novelty things that when you turn it over drops of liquid slowly fall onto little wheels or change color.· It kept him calm while he sat there. Our school also had a sand vest available, and also a weighted rectangle that he could put on his lap that was also filled with sand. I simply said, "We're going to wear this right now, putting no negative connotation with it whatsoever."   
  

• I also made an ANIMAL ADVENTURE; JUNGLE JAUNT file folder for this child. I stuck 10 Velcro dots on a folder and laminated 5 different clip art animals. He got to choose an animal each morning.   Every time I caught him being good, staying on task, or if he completed a task, he got to move his animal to the next dot. When he got to the end of the "jungel trail" he received the "prize" that he had chosen that day. It could be a prize from the treasure chest, or some one-on-one time with me, or he could be the helper of the day, or line leader for the day etc. I kept the animals in an envelope taped to the back of the folder. He loved it!
• This has been so successful that I designed SOLAR SYSTEM BLAST OFF  (Move your rocket) as well as DINOSAUR DESTINATION (Move your dinosaur away from the erupting volcanoe and through the swamp.) Click on the bolded links to print a copy of the playing pieces, and backgrounds.
• I've also included a matching certificate that the child keeps track off. As he moves his animal/dinosaur/rocket on my board, he also gets to trace a line on his certificate and color a numbered heart. When he completes his certificate I sign and date it and he has something to take home to share with his parents to let them know that he had a great day. This saves me from having to write a note. There's also a behavior log for you to fill in for the week. You could have the child choose a bigger prize for completing 5 game boards (an entire week's worth of school!)
• Click on the link for DIRECTIONS of how to make the file folders.

What To Do With A Real Problem Child

Document: Start a notebook on the child. Have a page for each day and make a bulleted list of everything that they do inappropriately. Have a tally sheet where you time how many times they are out of their seat in one minute intervals.  List how many times they were in the Time Out Chair and why they were in it.  Have a page of the behavior modification plans and special things that you are doing to help this child.  Use the documentation to get the child observed by others, evaluated, tested, etc. Keep documenting.

Make Contact: Keep the parents informed of the child's behavior: Make a form letter so that this is not time consuming for you. Make it a check list. Sign it and have a place for them to sign and return; after so many notes home ask them to call you if your phone calls are not being returned which is usually the case.  Set up a conference.  Pin these to the child's back so that they will see them. Give copies to your principal.

Ask for help: Inform your principal that you need assistance; can you qualify for an aide? When there are extra volunteers/subs in the building could they please send them to you? When older students are in a block or not doing something could that teacher send down a few helpers to your class? Can the Psych department help?  Can the parents/grandparents come in and work-one-on one for an hour one day a week?  Is there a near by teacher willing to let this child sit in a chair in their class to get him out of your room for 5 minutes to settle down?  Can you set up a program where you can send him to the office, or to the principal for an intervention time when nothing else works?

Set Up Ultimate Consequences: Can you make parents accountable so that If their child continues to be disruptive or hurts another child you can send them home?

Is this child a runner? Keep your door shut, keep that child's seat as far away from the door as possible, they are not to use the bathroom with out adult accompaniment, set up a "Child-On-The-Run" alert system. You have a walkie-talkie and so does the office.  If the child runs, you notify the office and they take over.  When the child leaves to go with another teacher, they get the walkie-talkie etc.

Cover yourself: You need to make your principal aware that other parents may complain and that this child is a potential threat to your, their, and his safety and that could involve not only complaints but a potential lawsuit.  This always seems to give administration a wake up call that they need to listen.  Sometimes they are not even aware of what a handful you have.  Ask them to come in and observe the situation.

Explain: The rest of your class is definitely affected by a "wild child".  You need to explain to them when this child is NOT present that he has a bit of a problem and that you need their help.

• Could they PLEASE not follow his behavior.  I explain to my students that they are sort of like his big brothers and sisters and it's like when they have a baby brother or sister that doesn't know any better and they help him, and don't do things that they do.  They are good boys and girls and I know they will make wise choices and if we model great behavior maybe this child will copy US!
• I also explain that sometimes it is best if we simply ignore his negative behavior, and that I might let him wander and go play with something while we are all doing something else like a lesson.  This is so that I can teach them, which is what we are here to do and that we will have lots of fun doing that and that this child will miss all the fun learning. Later when they are playing I will go and work with him one-on-one and he will miss more fun.  They seem to understand this concept and then when they say: "X is not listening, or he's over there and not in Circle Time." I can just say that's OK this is our time and he's missing the fun and they'll know.
• I also ask them to keep an eye on him when I'm working with other students and let me know if he's in a "No Touch Zone", or trying to get out of the door.  I tell them this is not tattling and it really helps me relax a bit knowing that I have 19 extra pairs of eyes helping me keep an eye out.  They also enjoy that responsibility and I let them know that they are helping keep X safe too.

Positive Praise: As with all children the importance of praise is so imperative.  A really challenging child may only have ever felt how it feels to get attention negatively.  I try my best to notice any kind of positive behavior and then recognize it immediately and praise them.  This can be a high five, thumbs up, a pat on the back, or simply an encouraging word or a combination.  Putting a sticker, or drawing a smilie face or star on their paper is also very rewarding.  At times I announce to the class:  "X has completed their work, or stayed in their seat, or not been in the Time Out Chair this morning! Let's all clap for them." This child just beams.  As with my other students who do a great job, or improve, when this child completes anything (!) I'll hold up their paper and say: "X finished his paper!"  Always make sure the praise is genuine and just enough at just the right intervals.

•    Click here for some discipline tips for young children. ·      

•  Click here for my handout I give parents during conference time if their child has been in the Time Out chair too many times.
• ·        Click here for my template of “I was in the Time Out chair today.” I have these on hand to pin to a child, so when this happens I quickly pin this note to their back (where they can’t remove it) and I don’t have to waste time with further correspondence. Parents know they can give me a call and this is also an opening for discussion with their child.
• If I have a child that's repeatedly in Time Out we put them on a Behavior Modification plan where I get the parents involved at home. I send home a calendar and if they haven't been in Time Out at school, they get a star on their chart at home, that ='s some sort of reward that they have worked out with their child. Ironically one reward that is especially high on a child's list is a special one-on-one quality time with either parent. Parents are surprised when I suggest this as a "hot button". They think that their child will want a toy, or trip to McDonalds. A weeks worth of stars is also another, bigger reward. Likewise, if the child WAS in Time Out a negative consequence happened. This program has never failed me, as long as the parents were on board and followed through at home I've had great success.

•  Click here for 30 great tips on helping a child with ADHD.
  
  Again, the single best thing you can do is have your rules and regulations and PROCEDURES set up from day one. Here are some great links that reinforce that.
  
• Click here for a beautiful article and great tips from a successful 1st year teacher.
• Click here for great tips from a seasoned pro

       Hi! Thanks for stopping and welcome to Hot Tips & Cool Solutions. They run from September through May.

      Click on the "Hot Tips And Cool Solutions" link so you can read it, or print it and read it a little bit at a time; or possibly keep the pages in a binder to refer to and use whenever you want.

      I hope you enjoy these tips and that they give you some solutions to problems that you may be having at home or in your classroom.

      As always, if you have something great going on with you and yours, I hope you'll take the time to share with us!

      Thanks in advance. diane@teachwithme.com

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Teapot Mother's Day gift. (Tea bag on the back.)

These are roses in my front garden. Each June God gives me a huge bouquet for my Anniversary!

They bloom all summer. :-) The more I prune the more they grow.