Tag Archives: friends

Get those Kinders Ready for First Grade!

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I hear it a lot.

How do I know if my child is ready for FIRST GRADE?

He/she will be six.

Is he/she ready?

Well..as a “veteran”  

 FIRST GRADE teacher,

there are a few 

lessons EVERY Kindergartner should know

BEFORE starting FIRST GRADE.

 

What should kinder students know before entering first grade?

Helping kindergartners get ready for first grade.

Here are the 

5  MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

you can help your

kindergartner

get ready for

FIRST GRADE.

How to be ready for first grade.

number one

First and foremost…

they need to be able to

TIE THEIR OWN SHOES!

And KEEP THEM TIED!

child tying his shoes

Help your child learn to tie their own shoes

There is NOTHING worse than kids

running on the playground

tripping on 

THEIR OWN SHOELACES!

I cannot teach 25 students to tie their shoes.

Parents…please…teach your kids to tie their shoes!

Pinterest

Let’s get ready for first grade.

number two

a loose tooth hanging in a child's mouth

Your child will lose a tooth in first grade.

In first grade…they will might..maybe will,

LOSE A TOOTH!

They will might have a “wiggle” tooth.

I WILL NOT PULL IT OUT!

“I promise not to put MY hands in YOUR mouth,

AND you will NOT put YOUR hands in MINE!”

Please..discuss this AT HOME!

Almost ready for first grade.

number three

If your pants are too BIG…

get a BELT!

Not a belt with multiple straps, or a buckle that requires PLIERS!

PLEASE..a belt that can be put on and

 TAKEN OFF…QUICKLY!

Odds are..if the belt needs to come off…it needs to come off  FAST!

Parents, please…teach your kids how to use it!

dark brown belt with buckle

dark brown belt with a buckle

AMAZON

They are almost ready for first grade.

number four

Pencils are for writing with…
NOT CHEWING ON!

They are NOT TEETHING RINGS!

Please keep them (and most other first grade tools)

OUT OF THEIR MOUTH!

chewed up pencils with erasers

pencils with teeth marks on them

So close to being ready for first grade.

and last..

and MOST IMPORTANT..

I am your TEACHER.

blonde teacher

Mrs. McCarty

You may call me Mrs.

You may call me MOM.

I answer to GRANDMA.

I probably will answer to GRANDPA.

number five

Treat me kindly.

Say nice things.

Be Polite.

Follow our rules.

Smile.

Give me a hug.

And we will have a wonderful year in

FIRST  GRADE!


NOW…You are ready for First Grade!

OK..kindergarten parents…

GET THEM READY FOR FIRST GRADE! 🙂

 

Oprah

Tag Parents, YOU’RE IT! Teachers want to SHOP on TPT!

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I know. It’s SUMMER!

Our Brains won’t STOP!

Relax. Thinking about desk arrangement.

Poolside. Reading a book about Classroom Management.

Computer. Should I redo my lesson plans?

Keep swimming for teachers

Keep Swimming!

We don’t STOP!  It’s a LIFESTYLE!

Want some help? Want to WIN a $100 TPT Giftcard to Shop on TPT?

I would LOVE it for Back to School stuff!

Entry for $100 TPT GIftcard to shop on TPT

Want to WIN a $100 TPT Giftcard? ENTER HERE! SHop on TPT!

Some bloggy friends of mine & I have put together a $100 TPT Giftcard to giveaway to ONE SPECIAL WINNER, so YOU can shop on TPT!

YOU can’t WIN…If you don’t ENTER!

Let your friends know.

YOU want a TPT Giftcard! And YOU want a giftcard! And YOU want a giftcard!

Oprah

Oprah …You want a giftcard!


GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  


 
Prize: $100 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card
 
 
Giveaway Organized by: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher)
 
 
Co-hosts:   An Apple for the Teacher, The Froggy Factory, MM Bilingual, Jackie Crews, Kim Heuer, Paula’s Primary Classroom, A Plus Kids, 180 Days of Reading, The Chocolate Teacher, It’s a Teacher Thing, 1stgradefireworks, LIVIN’ IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER, Kathryn Watts, Digging Deep to Soar Beyond the Text, It’s Kinder Time, Globe Trottin’ Kids, Reading and Writing Redhead, Tanya G Marshall The Butterfly Teacher, Mrs Wenning’s Classroom, Teacher Gameroom, Teach with Hope, and Roots and Wings.
 
Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 6/13/18 and is open worldwide.
 
Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers!
rafflecopter

Enter on Rafflecopter HERE!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Don’t forget to shop on TPT at

1stgradefireworks logo

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1stgradefireworks

 Here are some posts to help your TEACHER BRAIN ( We never stop.)

What are YOU reading this summer?

Leave me a comment… I’m adding to my professional library! 🙂

 

Happy Mother's Day Giveaway

Happy Mother’s Day

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I want to say a HUGE Thank You…to my MOM!

Happy Mother’s Day!

I LOVE YOU!

Mom at her birthday party.

Mom with her birthday cake.

Happy Mother’s Day! 

Myself and a team of amazing teachers have grouped together to gift an awesome teacher with a TPT gift card to show them how appreciative we are!

Mother's Day Giveaway

Mother’s Day Giveaway


PRIZES INCLUDE 1 x $75 TPT Gift card

The giveaway begins         Friday 11th May 2018 12am
It ends             Saturday 19th May 2018 12am
If YOU are VERY, VERY  good…MOM might share her winning TPT Gift card
with YOU! 🙂
Enter the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck to ALL!

Happy  Mother’s Day!

Mommy, I love you.

Check out these fun posts from 1stgradefireworks:

Skinny Food for Skinny Jeans? Lifestyle changes.

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I must admit…

I am NOT a fan of SKINNY JEANS!

skinny jeans require skinny food

Well…just NOT on me!

I am a 54-year-old Grandma.

I couldn’t wear those when I was 12…

more or less today!

Yes. I am BIG BONED…always have been!

So I am determined to make the lifestyle changes

to “decrease” my density.

So..Weight Watchers and I have been in a

RELATIONSHIP,

for the past 40 years…on and off!

I have been through MANY, MANY 

programs.

Yes, I ate LIVER, counted FIBER grams, and 

Worked out for MORE POINTS!

MORE POINTS  =   MORE  FOOD

I can honestly say..the last 18 months

I have made MORE Lifestyle changes

than I EVER had.

My blood pressure is down, my knees don’t hurt,

 I work out 4-5 days a week, 

and I eat fruit! 

A LOT OF FRUIT!

And I have lost & KEPT OFF 30+ pounds!

More to go..but on my way!

CLAP…CLAP…CLAP

So HOW?

What made the difference this time?

I am determined to never, ever DIET again!

If I want chocolate cake..eat chocolate cake.

chocolate cake can be SKINNY FOOD

EAT THE CAKE!

 

 To make a LIFESTYLE change, you have to have a PLAN!

There is a BALANCE SYSTEM.

Kind of like my checking account.

I can make deposits (save points & workout more)

So that when I make a withdrawal (chocolate cake).

I NEVER EVER GET OVERDRAWN!

Zero means zero!

When you use ALL of your points for the day…

YOU ARE DONE!

I am NOT a weight watcher leader.

I am NOT getting paid…just good info!

Just trying to keep my hubby & me healthy!

We have 4 children & 5 grandchildren.

I plan on being there to be a GREAT GRANDMA!

I want to see graduations, weddings, births, etc, etc.

I will do everything I CAN.

I will make lifestyle changes to ensure I will be there.

I have a very active PINTEREST BOARD.

Weight Watchers chocolate cupackes

Weight Watchers Chocolate cupcakes from Pinterest

Here are a few pins so you can choose 

what works for YOU!

TRY SOMETHING NEW!

Make a lifestyle change!

Do Your BEST!

LOVE WHAT YOU DO!

Believe in YOURSELF!

WE GOT THIS! 🙂

EASTER GIVEAWAY!

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Hippity, Hoppity

Easter’s on its way!

Happy Easter!

 Myself and a team of amazing teachers

have grouped together

to gift an awesome teacher

with a $150 TPT gift card

to show them how appreciative we are!

Easter giveaway

The Easter Bunny is having a giveaway! Who wants to win a $150 TPT Giftcard? ME!

Anyone want a

$150

TeachersPayTeachers

GIFTCARD?

HANDS  UP!  I DO!  I DO!

The Giveaway information…

Starts: Sunday 25th March 2018 12am

Ends: Sunday 1st April 2018 12am

How to enter?

HERE….

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also enter on my

INSTAGRAM 

site.

1stgradefireworks logo

1stgradefireworks logo

 Good LUCK!

Wendy    1stgradefireworks

Clean up 2017

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Can you hear the song?

Here’s a link to help you…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY-H2WGThc8

My NEW YEAR’S Mantra!

CLEAN UP!   CLEAN UP!

I LOVE to start the NEW YEAR with cleanliness!

NO ...I AM NOT  OCD ( quite the opposite ).

I like to start the year off with a clean slate…

doesn’t always stay that way!

So here I  go!

MY Closet! 

ICK!

Keeping these…pants together..skirts…etc

Hubby even did his shoes! 🙂

Pile to GO!
Cleaned out my closet…found my LOST slippers!

YIPPEY!
Pile of unneeded hangers!

Gave some of them away with donated clothes.
Kept some…yes..I got rid of the WIRE HANGERS!

HAHAHAHAHA

So I am DONATING 2 bags of 

“UNUSED” clothes & shoes

( Doesn’t fit, holes, haven’t worn, aren’t going to wear…)

to Goodwill.

Have you tried this COOL  closet  trick?

Take ALL of your hangers and turn them 

BACKWARDS!

As you wear something…

turn the hanger forwards.

Next year…

ANY hanger still turned backwards…

YOU HAVE NOT WORN IN ONE YEAR!

DONATE  IT to someone who will!

The Christmas Decor!

I LOVE my Christmas tree.

I turn on the lights, sit in the dark, and watch it twinkle!

But…it has been up since November.

( Yes, before THANKSGIVING!)

I didn’t have Thanksgiving at MY house..so..

UP WENT THE CHRISTMAS DECOR!

Makes me happy!

But…Time to “CLEAN UP, CLEAN UP!”

Gma loves help! Such a decorator!

It takes a LONG time to put ornaments away!

You have to touch each one…remember when or where you got it…

the memories are sometimes OVERWHELMING..

Sniff..sniff..giggle..giggle

We started this years ago…

When we travel, or have a special place…

we buy an ornament.

Check out my UPDATED post on 

“In Life…there is NO “Do OVER!”

Newest member of my snowman ornament collection.
Don’t forget the year!
Little sister got married  in HAWAII!

We were ALL there!

So FUN!

and last…

ME!

I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions…

I don’t need ANOTHER thing to worry about!

But..

I have changed my eating habits!

( Lost 32  pounds …so far )

YEAH!!!

My new favorite “treat”…

APPLES & Peanut Butter!

But wait!

 Isn’t Peanut Butter FATTENING??????

Here’s my SECRET..

Slice apples ( I buy mine pre packaged & sliced ). 🙂

Put them single layer on a plate.

Put 1 Tablespoon ( Yes I measure ) peanut butter in a small zip-lock bag.

Close bag. Microwave PB ( mine about 20 seconds).

Snip ( tech term) the corner off of the bottom of the PB bag.

DRIZZLE over apples!

It’s like FROSTING the cake!

* UPDATE…  You CAN use PB.

BUT…

My newest LOVE

PB2.

Powdered Peanuts…NO  FAT!

Mix 2 TBL powder with 1 TBL  water!

PRESTO!

PB  with NO  FAT!

I LOVE LOVE  LOVE  the PB2 with CHOCOLATE!

CAN YOU SAY…  REESES???

I have it on my toast in the AM.

So…I am beginning my

CLEAN UP 

mode.

I should start on the kitchen cabinets, or the bathroom…..

I think I hear 

APPLES & PB

calling me!

Happy New Year’s,  my friends!

Cookie Exchange…cheater! ME!

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Each December our family has a cookie exchange.

You bring 1-2 dozen cookies.

You take home a variety of cookies…

as many cookies as you brought.

Here are some of the cookies made from years past:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AUIVybs91IafbDtkvVkRjnAtfnqJIhGchljvrBWewHyUgeExB8-nPHU/

and these

And so…

those of you who know me…

I don’t bake…

well, I have..

I just don’t ENJOY it!

* I made a batch of persimmon cookies last weekend.

I felt I had to before the perimmons rotted.

YUCK!

Bad BAKER!

I gave them to the chickens!

And so…  What to take to the family cookie exchange?

Make it…..don’t BAKE it!

TA DA!

Enter..

NUTTER  BUTTER  REINDEER!

Check out my COOKIE Pinterest board for MORE ideas!

And so…

Will it be a Pinterest SUCCESS?

or

A Pinterest FAIL?

Here we go!

Supplies.

Lay out the Nutter Butters.

Break the pretzels into antlers.

Mix powdered sugar into

ROYAL  FROSTING.

(It dries like CEMENT…it holds everything!)

I think ..

PINTEREST  SUCCESS!

The grandkids LOVE them!

So was I a COOKIE EXCHANGE cheater?

Maybe. But you know what?

The smiles & hugs made it ALL worth while!

Merry Christmas!

Kinder Friends GIVEAWAY!

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Kinder Friends GIVEAWAY

Merry CHRISTMAS!
Feliz  Navidad!
Joyeux Noël
Frohe Weihnachten
There are sooo  many ways to say
“Happy  HOLIDAYS!”
My friends and I at
Kinder Friends
are having a
DECEMBER  GIVEAWAY
We are celebrating
Holidays  Around  the  World!
We are giving away a $25 TPT card!
Raise your hand if you want one!
ME!   ME!   ME!
Here are a few of my
December    products
to help YOU
survive the month!
THAT,
my friends,
is a  UNIVERSAL  theme!
A HOLIDAY BUNDLE!
5 Packet BUNDLE!
Includes:
BABY It’s Cold Outside:
Noun Sort
FROZEN!…HFW Game
SLIP SLIDIN’ AWAY…Long vowel Silent “e” Word Work
SILLY SNOWBALLS…Beginning blends word work
Color & B/W printables
Grades 1-2
Do You Want to Build A Snowman?
Place Value Activity for whole group / small group / independent practice.
Snowman “pieces” to create a snowman based on a given value.
Snowman HATS have a number. The students “build” the snowman using corresponding units. Uses base-ten blocks, expanded notation, math mountains, & ten-sticks to make numbers. Differentiate based on student needs. CCSS CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.NBT.B.2
Power Pronouns
25 Pocket Chart Word Cards and
Printables to help students practice using pronouns
in complete sentences.
Snow Fun
4 ELA Centers for Winter
Included:
Sight Word Snowball Fight
Partner Reading Stick Puppets ( Reading Comprehension)
How to Make a Snowman: writing
Christmas Tree “Rhyming” Chains
Available in color & B/W
Grades 1-2
This Elf is NOT on the Shelf!
32 Math Task Cards …
1 more / 1 less
10 more / 10 less
Holiday Themed
And…..
The ELVES are Working OVERTIME!
ELA centers :
Verbs…Past, present, future
Nouns…Common, Proper, plural
Digraphs
Inflectional Endings
Punctuation
Here is a FREEBIE
 from ME to YOU!
OK…my friends!
Enter  the RAFFLECOPTER
and then….
HOP  ON  OVER to my friend
PAULA at
Paula’s Preschool and Kindergarten
For MORE Goodies!
Goodbye!
Adios!
Happy Holidays to one and ALL!

Give from the…HEART!

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Teachers  are  givers.

Kids are TOO!

We want EVERYONE  to  have 

ALL of their WISHES come true!

BUT….

So how?

How can we teach curriculum,  maintain  sanity,

and MAKE WISHES COME TRUE?

Give!

GIVE  FROM  THE  HEART!

In our classroom we  make ornaments.

NOT all of the ornaments are for CHRISTMAS.

Some of my kiddos don’t celebrate Christmas.

BUT…

They  create.  They  inspire.  They  give.

From the  Heart.

My  favorite things are HANDMADE.

( Sniff… from the heart)  🙂

Where do we get our  ” inspirations” ?

PINTEREST!

(You can follow me here…)

No stress…pictures…some directions…Ahhhhh.

My  happy  place!

Here are some of MY  favorite  ideas!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AauKHq04s3VIDuE8bceSrLCmvzxEHKxLIV9dfmZwn2y-Qrg2qgtIP88/

Popsicle  sticks! 

Glue! Paint!  Decor!

Let the imagination go!

NOT ALL OF MY KIDS MAKE THE SAME ORNAMENTS!

Let them have choice!

I show them the pictures.

 I share the BASICS.

I let them GO!

MY  choices and their choices MAY BE DIFFERENT!

Different is good! 

Give from YOUR heart!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/101260691599483836/

SALT  DOUGH!

Who doesn’t  like  DOUGH?

Squishy, squeezy  balls of  FUN?

I  LOVE  handprint ornaments.

(GMA  HERE)  🙂

Our kiddos are small for such a short time.

Make those MEMORIES!

I  bring out ALL the cookie cutters I can find, borrow, beg for.

SUGGESTIONS…

Don’t let them be too THICK.

Let them dry FOR A LONG TIME ( 3-4 days ) 

before PAINTING!

Hot glue string on the back after dry,

OR

Poke a hole on the dough with a straw BEFORE drying.

MY newest LOVE!

HANDPRINT   SNOWMEN!

ALL of MY kiddos make this one!

I make these in small groups

( I can only do 3-4 kiddos at a time)

If you have a PARENT HELPER…

this is a PERFECT craft for them!)

Paint on day 1.

DRY  day 2.

Faces ( I suggest  BLACK SHARPIES )  Day 3

Scarves  (  felt, material/ paper scraps…srapbook paper works great!)   Day  4

Let EVERYTHING DRY 

& then 

add  a  string  for  a  hanger!

BE SUPER CAREFUL when sending these home!

( No dropping )

Place in a gift bag

 ( we use hand decorated lunch bags)

with LOTS, LOTS, LOTS

of tissue !

So…we  GIVE FROM THE HEART!

It’s not about the $$ amount 

when giving.

It’s about the thought, the effort, and the LOVE

that goes into it!

Here is another gift I do FOR my kiddos.

See the blog POST here.

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Holiday SEASON!

Make memories.

Share the LOVE.

And

Give From the HEART!

What? NO Halloween PARTY??!!

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 WHAT???

NO  COSTUMES AT SCHOOL?

NO Candy….No  PARTY!

WHAT!??????

So  how to

“CELEBRATE”

without

“celebrating” ?

( think OUTSIDE of the box )..

We are having a “rotation” party!

The kids rotate to each of 3 classrooms.

The teacher prepares a “project” for 3 different classes.

One-time  prep.   Stay in MY classroom.

Kids get to do 3 different projects.

They move!

WIN!  WIN!!

So here are our 3 projects:

Room  4 :

SCIENCE!

Bat Hats!

We just add some  BAT FACTS 

to incorporate our 

informational writing!

Room 7:

Skeleton Bones!

Cute  craft!

Counting!

Room 3:

Candy  Necklaces!

WHAT? 

 ( Yes… We will have CANDY!)

Here  is  the  HOW  TO…

Need  :  Plastic Wrap

Yarn:   2  long pieces  and  4  small pieces  per  person

5  candies  per  person

Lay the plastic wrap horizontal.

Put candy  in a line…in the middle of the wrap.

Roll the  candies in the wrap “like a burrito”.

Tie the long yarn to the ends.

Use the small strings in between each candy.

I tie them in a knot, then a bow.

TA DA!

Wear   them home!

(Can’t  eat candy until they get home!)

and  so…..

We “really” aren’t  having  a 

HALLOWEEN  “PARTY”…

Just a little

“FUN” in room 3!

and  a little candy to take home!

So we wish YOU a safe and happy

HALLOWEEN!