Scissor Practice

Over the years, several Pre-K and Kinder teachers have asked me how I got my kiddos to cut so well. Granted that the majority of the time when it's required, it's usually to cut out squares to glue onto boxes. But I believe children need more dexterity than that.

So I use these simple templates. I've included a sample below. (You can click on the photo for the full size and copy to save on your computer.)

Normally, I draw several different kinds of lines per sheet of scratch paper. I've also drawn loops. These practice sheets are perfect for when a student has finished his work early, and needs something to occupy his time before going on to the next lesson.

Using Pinterest Pictures in the Classroom - Ice Cream Cone

1. What is this?

2. How many dips do you see?

3. Why do you think the photographer put the ice cream dips in this order?

4. What flavors do you think each color represents? What would each color taste like?

5. Would you be able to eat all of this ice cream cone? Why or why not?

6. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?

7.  What if I told you this really wasn't ice cream? What do you think the photographer may have used to take this picture?

Reading Chart - Week 6

'Tis the Time of Year to Stock Up!

September/October is when the dollar stores are stocking up and preparing for the Christmas holiday. Which means their selection is at its best.

This is when I would buy my classroom Christmas gifts. With the holidays approaching, once I got this chore out of the way, then that would be one less item on my To Do list.

Hint: It's also a good opportunity to grab some stocking stuffers for fellow co-workers and family!

5 Ways to Use Stickers in Your Classroom (That You Probably Never Thought Of!)

Here are 5 odd/new ways you can use those stickers you normally give out to your students.

1. Cut in half. Put the half on a sheet of paper or index card, and have them draw the other half. This works both sides of the brain, as well as perception and fine motor movement.

2. Place a whole sticker on paper and have them draw a scene around it. Have them describe what it's about to the others.

3. Pretend their sticker is the cover of their book. Have them write a few sentences, paragraph, or story. Don't forget the title!

4. Have them relate their sticker to a number. Ex: 2 skis, 3 ornaments, 2 squirrels, 12 snowflake points. (Anything BUT the number 1.) Graph the stickers - how many had 2 of something, how many had 3, etc.

5. Make an alphabetical list of the pictures on the stickers. Ex: E = elephant, M = mouse, mitten, S = snowflake, squirrel, snail, skunk, shovel, etc. 

Reading Chart - Week 5

A Cheap Halloween Costume

Playing Hide and Seek

Reading Chart - Week 4

Using Pinterest Pictures in the Classroom - Licorice

1. Does anyone want to guess what these are?
2. What do you notice about them? Can you describe them? How big or small do you think they are?
3. What do you think you would do with something that looks like this?
4. Do you notice anything about they way they are laid out?
(A: shades of a rainbow)
5. How do you think these would feel if you touched them?
6. How do you think these are made? What do you think these are made of?
7. Where do you think you could find these?

Always a Good Idea

Sometimes I use these, but I've also been known to leave the substitute a blank sheet of file folder labels, with instructions for them to hand out to each student and let the children write their names on them to aide her with identification.

In addition, and I've learned this from past mistakes, I don't pre-label these with my class roster. The mobility at my school is high, which means there's often students who leave and new students registered, making the pre-done labels obsolete.

Reading Chart - Week 3

Happy Labor Day!