1-2-3 Come Make A Keepsake Autograph Booklet With Me

It's the middle of May and the school year is definitely winding down.  You can literally feel the excitement in the air in anticipation of summer.  I was always looking for a few fun activities for my kiddos to do independently, while I did assessing and other year-end paper work.  I needed something that was easy-peasy in the prep-work department too.

With that in mind, I designed 3 quick, simple and fun  autograph books.  No matter what grade I taught, all of my students really enjoyed collecting autographs, and I was freed up to work on my long "to do" list.  Woo hoo! 

Practicing writing their name is especially meaningful for younger kiddos; the autograph book is a super-fun way to practice, and sure to become a keepsake.

 The first auto-graph booklet uses some adorable automobile clip art for a "play-on-words" that I'm so fond of incorporating in my work.  After running it off and giving a few directions, allow students time to color their booklet and collect signatures. ( Fun for them and quiet time for you! )

Simply run the cover off on white construction paper and have students color their car, or run the pattern off on a variety of colors of construction paper and have students cut and glue the car of their choice to the front of another sheet of construction paper. (See sample in photograph).

I've included inside pages for your students to color and collect signatures on.  There's a page for classmates to sign, one for other friends, another for school staff, plus two teacher pages.

Since PK children tend to write their names really big, I've included a full-page version, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page option. The large car-themed auto-graph booklet is a FREEBIE. Click on the link to view or download it.

The sweet schoolhouse is another choice in the packet.  I've designed a generic cover, as well as a specific one for preschool, young fives, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade. 

This booklet also has inside pages for special people to sign.  They are black and white, so that when children are done collecting signatures they can color the cute clip art.  (More time for you to finish assessing or whatever! Can I hear another woo hoo!?)

Finally, the pencil autograph booklet, is for older students and just a cover.  (There's a full-color cover option, plus a black and white version. )

Simply cut some blank pages for the inside and staple together.  Bright-colored or neon copy paper would be perfect for these, adding some extra pizzazz. 

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT Store for the end of the year keepsake autograph booklet packet. It's just $2 (I figure it's a small price to pay for some "sanity saver" time.  What say you?)

That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  My feet have once again hit the floor running. 

Our son is getting married on the beach this weekend, so I have a myriad of super-fun, last-minute things to do, all while watching a baby and toddler, as Nana's little day camp is also open today.   Wishing you a love-filled week. 

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.  The important thing is not to stop questioning." -Albert Einstein

1-2-3 Come Make A Sweet Keepsake Card With Me

I really enjoy designing things that incorporate standards at the same time creating a keepsake that families will enjoy.  With that in mind, I came up with a "berry" special packet.

Strawberries are one of my favorite fruits, and were also popular with my Y5's.  They are fun and easy to draw and provide a great play on words. 

In the "Berry" Special Packet, I've included templates for both a mom and dad, so you can use this "craftivity" for Mother's Day or Father's Day.  There's also a generic one that says: "You are 'berry' special" so students can make this for another significant person as well.  This would be fun for Grandparents' Day too.

I've included a pattern to make the leafy portion.  Add a bit more pizzazz by making the leaves 3D.  Have students cut out two and then fold one in half.  Match up the leaves and glue only one section on top of the other. 

If you look closely at the photo you'll be able to see how the leaves pop up.  Adding a stem and strawberry blossom, gives the card that finishing touch.

Older students can add a second strawberry and "hinge" their card with a small piece of Scotch tape.  Children complete the writing prompt, add a bit of color, trim and glue to the inside.  Younger students can simply complete just the sentence on the front.

To make things extra special, have students glue on their school picture and make a heart using their thumbprints (see photo).

Leaves can also be made by tracing a child's handprints.   I made an example of both, so you can see how they turned out.   Click on the link to view/download the "Berry" Special Craftivity.  

While I was making my sample, I thought that a mini version of this would make a quick, easy and inexpensive end or beginning of the year gift for students. 

"I hope your summer is 'berry' special.  Just like you!" or "I'm wishing you a 'berry' special school year!"

Turn this into a sweet treat by attaching your card to a berry-flavored juice box, or package of Wild Berry Skittles and you're set!

Click on the link to view/download the "Berry Special Summer/School Year Gift. 

Thanks for visiting today.  If you'd like to see more Mother's Day FREEBIES, click on the link to pop over to that section of TeachWithMe.  I also have a "pinteresting" pin board with more free Mother's Day ideas, crafts, and activities.

 "When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child." -Sophia Loren

 1-2-3 Come Do Some "Souper" Fun Craftivities With Me

This "craftivity" packet is very versatile. I have templates that you can use at the end of the school year, where students write about the"souper" summer they are looking forward to, or the "souper" year they had; or they can make one for your next year's kiddos explaining why they are going to have a "souper" year in __________ grade.

Simply run off which ever pattern you need.  Students color the template and then trace it on a sheet of construction paper.

I used red to blend in with the soup can, but you could offer a variety of colors. 

This will become the "inside" section of the can where they'll complete the writing prompt and then "hinge" it at the top with a small piece of tape or a staple, in such a way that it flips up to reveal what they wrote.

If you've incorporated the popular "Bucket Fillers" program in your classroom, the "souper" compliment flip up or windsock, fits in nicely, and goes a long way in building a child's self-esteem.  For this prompt, I prefer the windsock as it's a nice way to review the 3D cylinder shape as well as ABAB patterning. 

Here's How To Make One:

I didn’t have a big sheet of red construction paper, so I had to tape two smaller ones together.  The “compliment strips” are the width of a ruler and the length of the paper.  I chose two colors for more pop, as well as a way to review a color pattern.

Students each get a stack of 10 strips (5 of each color).  Have them glue the strips to the bottom of their large sheet of paper that has their soup can glued to the front.  I left 1/2 an inch of space in between the strips.

Put students in groups of 9.  Review what an adjective is and then brainstorm nice things (compliments) that they could write about each other.
Children write something about themselves on one of the strips, and then pass their paper to the next person. 

Passing continues within the group ’til everyone has written something on each person’s windsock. The teacher visits each group and writes something for each child on the 10th strip.

Students gently curve their flat “souper can” into a cylinder shape and staple the ends together.  Punch a hole on either side, attach a 12 inch piece of yarn and dangle from the ceiling. 

Having students make a windsock for your next year's kiddos would also make a wonderful back-to-school welcome display.  After the first day, take them down and pass them out to your new students.  They read and share with the class.  Hopefully these will help ease first day jitters and get your students excited about the year ahead.

Finally, to help celebrate special holidays, there are patterns for a "souper" mom or dad, as well as one they can make for Grandparent's Day, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever.  

Keep in mind, that any of the 2D writing prompt options, can easily be turned into the 3D cylinder shaped windsock craft,by simply having them write on the strips of paper.

Click on the link to view/download the "Souper" Writing Prompt Craftivity Packet. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Even though it's Sunday, and typically my day of rest after church, I have some very tempting "souper" craftivities in the works...

Does anyone else out there get excited about making things and designing lessons for their classroom? After all, it is actually our home-away-from-home.  

"Good manners: The noise you don't make when you're eating soup." -Bennett Cerf

1-2-3 Come Do Some Word Art Activities With Me!

Tag! You're it; now you make a word picture! I am over the moon excited over Tagxedo! It’s a website that turns words, famous speeches, poems, quotes, etc. into a VISUALLY stunning word cloud picture! 

The possibility of ideas is endless.  Here are a few that I dreamed up for up-coming spring activities:

The site is simple to use, so that even K students can be shown how to type in a list of words and create a special piece of art that can also become a card.

Brainstorm a list of words with students; write them on the board; students choose the ones appropriate for them and type them in.

These are three that I made for Mother’s Day. You can use mine, or have students describe their mom and make their own.  Click on the link to view/download the Mother’s Day word pictures.

Different fonts, colors and shapes are available to choose from, so each child will come up with a unique keepsake for their mommy.

Another activity that you could do,  is to have students make up a list of adjectives that describe them. Students make a word picture about themselves entitled “ME”.

I chose the handprint shape for mine, but they could choose whatever shape that represents them, such as a shape from their favorite sport, a ballerina, their age, their initial etc.

Teacher's could also make a "High Fives!" word art picture for each one of their students as a card for preschool or kindergarten graduation, or as a certificate for going into the next grade. 

I've also made, "Look Who's Leaping Into ______ Grade!" filled with fun words associated with the school year. There's also a matching bookmark or slap bracket to go along with the certificates.

Click on the "Look Who's Leaping!" template to view/download mine, or design your own with words specific to you and your school.

Tagxedo also has an awesome gallery featuring famous people.  Two of my favorites are Abe Lincoln and Martin Luther King.

How perfect to use word art, when studying these men. Have students plug in a speech, or adjectives they feel describe them.

What a wonderful vocabulary builder and great independent computer center to practice keyboarding skills!  It’s also a fun way for students to illustrate a poem or short story that they wrote!

I’m always looking for different ways for students to use Dolch and CVC words, so I typed in the various lists of Dolch and CVC words to make cute anchor charts. I made a header that says:  How many words can you spy?

Students LOVE  “I Spy” and “Where’s Waldo?” books, so this is yet another way to immerse children in word work in a fun way. Run off copies of the various word pictures and have students “spy” the words in the collage.

Have them jot down the words as they find them and then, for another activity, students can alphabetize their list.

Have students make tally marks next to each word to see how many times they found it in the word picture, to reinforce yet another standard!

I've included an apple word art picture for all of the Dolch words for the following lists: pre-primer, kindergarten, first, second and third, + an apple for all of the Dolch nouns and an anchor chart that lists all of the words in their separate categories.

There are 8 CVC word posters. The shape depicts a CVC word. i.e. dog, pig, key etc. I've included an alphabetical list of all of the 338 CVC words used on the word art posters. Click on the links for the Dolch Word Picture Packet,or CVC Word Picture Packet . 

I also thought it would be cute to make a graduation certificate using those themed-words. Click on the link to view/download the Kindergarten Graduation certificate word picture.

Word are is an interesting and unique way to plug in new vocabulary as it relates to the various science themes that you study, like butterflies. Click on the link to view/download the Butterfly Word Picture anchor chart.

As you can see, I had an absolute blast on this site and hope you do too! Do you have a fun site that your kiddos enjoy or a personal favorite educational site?  I’d love hearing from you diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to post a comment here, especially if you use one of my ideas.

For more technology in the classroom, click on the link to zip on over to my "pinteresting" pin board filled with  more creative and fun ways to use technology with your kiddos.

Thanks for visiting today.  Even though it's the end of April, the weather continues to be unusually cold here in Michigan.  We actually had snow flurries the past two days.  Boo and boo hoo too! Wishing you a warm and cozy day.

 "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.  Art is knowing which ones to keep." -Scott Adams

1-2-3 Come Make Some Paper Love For Mother's Day With Me.

My Y5's enjoyed putting puzzles together.  Since it was one of our report card standards, I made time for them to work on puzzles for a few minutes at the end of the day.  With this in mind, I thought I'd design some "paper love" using puzzle pieces.

While I was diddling around with the puzzle idea, I wondered if there was some sort of easy & inexpensive gift my kiddos could make to give their mom to go along with their card.  Since the card was all about pieces, Reese's pieces came to mind. 

You certainly don't have to include them with this craft, but it's a simple way to add a little something to their creations, so you don't have to make something else.  Thus, there are several options for putting this activity together.  

Take a photo of each of your students and then have them cut it into puzzle pieces.  You can make them look more like a puzzle by placing my puzzle template over the photo and then cutting on the lines, or you can use carbon paper and trace the template onto the photo for easier cutting.

If you think this is too difficult for your students, they can simply cut their photo into several pieces.  Remind them to cut their photo into only 3-6 pieces, or you can bet that they’ll snip away, with no chance of gluing things back together. 

For preschool kiddos, have a room helper do this for you and then put each photo in a snack Baggie for students to put together.  They'll be surprised to find that it's a photo of them.

Students can glue their photo puzzle together onto a sheet of construction paper, so that all of the pieces fit snuggly together, or you can have them trim a bit from the edges so there is a gap between the pieces.  

I like the effect of this better, but I made sure that I cut my puzzle, so that it did not slice up the facial portion of my photo. If you're going to have your kiddos glue their puzzle this way, make sure you show them a sample, and explain the importance of not cutting through the center of their face.

Have students sign their picture puzzle and then glue it to the “I love you to pieces” paper and trim. 
I’ve included a template for mom, as well as a blank one for students who don’t have a mom, or if you wish to use this card for Grandparent’s or Father’s Day.

It's nice to give children color options, but I chose orange and yellow construction paper, because I wanted to include some Reese’s Pieces as a gift, with a double play on words. 

To keep the cost down, you can buy small packages of the candy and staple the little bag to the bottom of the photo puzzle, or you can buy it in bulk and fill mini snack bags.

Brainstorm with your students why they love their moms, and make a list on the board, so that students can refer to it as they complete their writing prompt.

Run off the large puzzle template and have students write six reasons why they love their mom (special person) to pieces (one reason in each of the six puzzle pieces).  Have students end with: "I love you to pieces [Mom]. We were meant to be together."

There are several options for putting the card together. I glued the photo puzzle to the right side of their writing prompt.

Children could also make a traditional card and put their prompt inside for their mom to read, or they could attach the writing portion to the bottom of the photograph.  You decide, or give children a choice.

I mounted the writing prompt to a sheet of construction paper as well.  You could also attach it to the back of the picture puzzle and not trim that down.

I’ve also included an “I love you to pieces” header in two sizes.  Have students color the word with a yellow marker.

You can add the larger one to your Snack Baggie, or use the smaller one and glue it to the corner of the writing prompt for that finishing touch. (This is what I did for my sample.)

I forgot to do it in my photo, but have students outline their puzzle pieces with crayons or markers.  As I was working on my sample, I thought this would also make a sweet end-of-the-year gift for your students.  Have a helper take a photo of you with each of your kiddos. 

You cut up the puzzles and put them into a Snack Baggie that you attach to a box or bag of Reese’s Pieces, then complete a puzzle note for each child. 

Tuck them into their backpacks the last week of school, or they can put them together at the end of the day, while they eat a few pieces of candy.  Make sure none of your kiddos has a peanut allergy.  Click on the link to view/download the "I love you to pieces" packet.

If you'd like to see all of the Mother's Day FREEBIES on TeachWithMe, click on the link to pop on over to that section of my site.  I also have an entire Pinterest board specifically for Mother's Day, filled with lots more interesting, fun and best of all, FREE activities. 

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  The weather continues to be windy and cold.  Since Mother Nature hasn't realized it's springtime here in Michigan, I will again snuggle in and whittle away at paper mountain.  Wishing you a sunny day.

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." -Abraham Lincoln

3 pages.

When you're deciding what Dolch words your students will work on, you may want to take into consideration their frequency of use.  I've included 2 Dolch word lists in this packet. One lists the order of frequency for each separate Dolch word list (pre primer-3rd grade).  The other list, categorizes all of the words, from all of the lists, by order of frequency.

1-2-3 Come Make a Mother's Day Keepsake Card With Me

This fingerprint keepsake card is a quick, easy and fun craftivity, with wonderful results.  I've included 2 options for creating them.  Little ones can simply color the letters and then carefully press fingerprints on the paper. 

Older students can place the letter templates over the blank poem-page and then press their prints in and around the letters, using various colors of stamp pads.

I made several sets of the templates, using an old file folder, so that more than one child could use them at a time, and set this activity up as an independent center at a table.

Remind students to use the sanitary wipe to clean off their pointer finger, using only one color at a time, so they don't ruin your stamp pads.

There are lots of washable stamp pads on the market, but if yours stain your students' fingers, wipe with a sanitary wipe and have them rub a little suntan lotion on the stain.  By the end of the day, it should be gone.

After they are content with the look of their paper, they carefully lift off the templates to reveal the word mom. For even more of a keepsake factor, have students glue their school photo inside the oval.

This is the technique that I used on the photograph.  I saw a similar poem all over the Internet, and revamped it for this project.  The original author is unknown.  Here is my version:

"I've left some little fingerprints on just about every wall, on furniture, doors and windows, I've really marked them all.  Here are some that won't rub off to remember when I was small, because I'll love you forever, even when I'm big and tall."

Have older students use the back of the paper to complete the writing prompt: My mom colors my world with love because...

Show children your sample and have them read the word MOM, then flip the page upside down and ask them to read the "new" word WOW.  Encourage students to share this demostration with their own card, explaining to their moms that they are a wow mom. This could also be another writing prompt for the back.

Take advantage of a teachable moment, and tell your students about palindromes, as mom, read forwards or backwards, is the same.  Click on the link to view/download the Fingerprint Mother's Day Keepsake Card.

Another colorful card is the Mother's Day Rainbow Writing Prompt Mobile. Have students brainstorm with you, thinking of ways their mothers color their world with love, caring, joy etc.  List these on the board.

Cut strips of construction paper.  Students fold the strips in half.  Using a glue stick, they rub glue all over the back, place a piece of yarn down the middle of one section, and then press shut.  They continue this process until they have all of the colors of the rainbow represented in their appropriate rainbow order.

Students complete the writing prompt by composing a sentence on each strip.  Older students can write on both sides.  Add the finishing touch, by including a photograph on the heart pattern. 

Click on the link to view/download the Mother's Day Rainbow Writing Prompt Mobile.  If you'd like to see all of the Mother's Day FREEBIES on my site, click on the link. 

I also have a very "pinteresting" PIN board, chockful of more free Mother's Day crafts and activities.

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  The wind is howling outside my window.  It's a cold and dreary day that doesn't look or feel much like spring. 

However, it's the perfect kind of day to tackle paper mountain, and get some design work done, as there's no temptation to go out and play.  Wishing you a stress-free and productive day.

"My mother taught me about the power of inspiration and courage, and she did it with a strength and passion that I wish could be bottled." -Carly Fiorina

7 pages

Here's a fairy tale that uses all 220 words from the 5 Dolch sight word lists. What a fun way for children to practice!  The author is unknown.  I've included a color-coded key, so you can see which words came from which lists.

1-2-3 Come Do Some Letter Tile Activities With Me

If you're a blog hopper or Pinterest pinner, then you've probably seen all sorts of wonderfully creative activities for the alphabet or word work that involve letter tiles.

Some teachers and homeschoolers use magnetic ones on cookie sheets, others order colorful plastic alphabet squares from a company, or use the Scrabble tiles from a garage sale find. Although many educators have their kiddos cutting and gluing letters to make words, I didn't find any templates to do this with.

With that in mind, I designed a packet that includes both upper and lowercase letter tiles in 4 different sizes.  From one set on a page, to 8 sets. Simply print, laminate and trim to use in centers and for games.

Run off extra sets for students to use for Daily 5 or other word work activities, where they cut and glue letters to make words. The packet includes a 4-page tip list, filled with ideas and games to use the letter tiles for.

Make an uncut laminated copy of the large set to use as an assessment tool.  Individually, ask a student to point to a letter or cover it with a block or other manipulative.  Click on the link to view/download the Upper and Lowercase Letter Tile packet.

Besides this newest FREEBIE, since it's Thursday, I also wanted to feature something for TBT (Throw Back Thursday). 

As far as cutting and gluing letters to make words go, one of my most popular downloads is this word-work worksheet.  It's simple and fun and fits easily into Daily 5.  Students write and stamp the word, plus use the letters included in the packet, to cut and glue a word together.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  A soft and gentle rain is falling.  My office window's open and the fresh air smells wonderful. I find the sound of rain very soothing, so I'm just going to kick back and relax, while I cut, paste and play today.  Wishing you a carefree day.

"...I like it when it rains hard. It sounds like white noise everywhere, which is like silence but not empty.” -Mark Haddon

18 pages.

This packet includes both upper and lowercase letter tiles in 4 different sizes.  From one set on a page to 8 sets. Print, laminate and trim to use in centers and for games.  This FREEBIE is part of my large, Alphabet Activities packet on TpT.  Click on the link to pop on over.  For your convenience I've included a preview.