While thinking of the gifts I wanted my kids to make for their parents, I started searching for ideas online. I wanted something cheap, easy, and I needed it fast. I have been a tad last minute lately. I didn't want to waste my time on something that was cheesy, but something that they would pull out every year. I decided to have the kids make their parents Christmas coasters.

I have 17 kids and I decided to have each kid make 3. It was affordable and they turned out super cute.

Materials:

tiles (I picked mine up at Home Depot)

modge podge or Elmer's all purpose if you are cheap like me

acrylic spray

paper (either photos, pretty paper, or paper to draw on)

I first cut out paper, slightly smaller than my tile and had the kids draw pictures on them. If you are doing this from one adult to another, you would just cut out your pictures or pretty paper to the correct size. Then you paint your glue on the blank tile.

Place the picture in the center of your tile, and coat again with glue. Do a fairly thick layer and be sure that you get the edges really well. You can see from the picture below how white it will look. It dries clear, so don’t worry.

Just let them dry, then spray with clear acrylic spray to seal them and make them waterproof.

They really looked impressive, and if I hadn’t already started making other presents for friends, I would have made adult versions of these for them.

Bam! Impressive keepsakes.

New Challenge: third grade

So... I am no longer a Kindergarten teacher. I now teach third grade. We only had enough Kinder kids for one class this year, so I got bumped. I was very very nervous at first. Kindergarten is my grade of choice and my comfort zone. So... here we go!

We are actually about to start our 4th week of school. I can't believe how fast the past month has gone! So far I have started to get into routine and I know what I am doing a little bit more. I still feel like I am faking it though... especially when it comes to parents asking me questions. I am trying to iron out my policies, figure out what a smoothly run classroom should look like, and just see what works for me.

I am starting to like it more and more and have come to this conclusion. Third grade will be easier to teach, but not nearly as fun. With third grade there is a lot less prep, kids can do more on their own and love to help, you are using less creativity and thus less energy to get everything prepared, and there is a lot of routine. But... Kindergarten is so much fun! I miss the creative activities, their joyous spirits (I mean come on.. they would ask me to assign homework because they loved it) and launch into long stories whenever I asked them how their day went. I still love seeing my old Kinder Kids around school. I probably get more hugs from them than I do my current students. That first class of mine will always have a special place in my heart.

That being said, I do think that I will enjoy the year. I am thinking of fun activities and learning experiences for them to break up the day. Here goes nothing :)

Dramatic Play Flower Shop

Dramatic Play Flower Shop

A while ago my partner (the teacher next door) teacher and I decided to turn our dramatic play center into a flower shop. She had tons of fake flowers so this was an easy task for her. She has taught for over 30 years and thus... has a plethora of fun things for her friends. (friends what we call all Kinder kids) I, being the cheap person that I am, didn't want to go out and spend a bunch of money on fake flowers. Even at the dollar store those puppies add up quick. So, being the crafter that I am, decided to make them. You can find the tutorial here on my other blog. I also made some for my mom out of her favorite fabric. I had tons of other ideas for them as well.

Mother's Day Card

A Rainbow of Tulip Handprint Mother's Day Cards :)

The Sub

Today one of my parents told me that she had asked her child what the name of her sub was.

student: Meatball Marinara

mother: No what was the name of your sub?

student: meatball Marinara

Mom thinks to herself... I didn't raise my daughter to make fun of a stubstitute teacher, what is going on here? Then realizes... oh we went to subway the other day and had her first sub sandwich.

sub sandwich/ substitute teacher. Word confusion... it makes for hilarious moments :)

Fuzzy Pants

Today there was a very fuzzy catipillar that was making its way onto the path we walk inside from recess. So... I rescued him. The students promptly informed me that his name is Mr. Fuzzy Pants. A very appropriate name :)

Steven James- Holding on to You (FishFest 2010)

Our school is pulling together to help out one of our teachers. Her husband recently got signed and is trying to get on stage at Fish Fest. He is currently in first place. Watch him on Youtube and you can help him get there!