Valentine Gifts

Each year we like to do gifts for the parents from their children.  We like to make handmade/ sentimental things that the parents will have as keepsakes for years to come.  Anything with a handprint is precious!!  This one doesn't have handprints.... it has tiny fingerprints!

 This is a tile where kids use their fingerprints to fill in the heart.  We saw something similar on (go figure) Pinterest, and we decided to tweak it to fit what we had in mind.  This ends up being an inexpensive, but very special craft.  The tiles come from Home Depot and are SUPER cheap (like 16 cents a piece or something!!).

To make this gift:  Get some white tiles, fine tip permanent marker, pink and red accrylic paint, ribbon, hot glue, and clear acrylic spray.

Trace the heart onto the tile- if you mess up, it's okay because it rubs off!

Have the kids make pink and red finger prints inside their heart.

Once they are dry, have them write their name with the marker, and then spray them with the acrylic sealer.

You may have to touch up any part of the heart outline that has rubbed off accidentally.

Hot glue a ribbon on the back and you're done!  You have an inexpensive, simple, ADORABLE keepsake for parents.  :)

  -Amanda and Jessica

Behavior Management Strategy- Valentine's Day Style!

Here's a little idea that came out of the Target Dollar Spot {gotta love it!!}  During special occasions sometimes it's fun to pass around something throughout the day to good listeners.  In October it was a pumpkin, December it was a gingerbread man, so when we saw this cutie pie mailbox!!  A teammate shared an idea from a blog- not sure which one, but this person passed something around with a prize inside.  We decided to try this with the mailbox.  We made a cute little label to put on the front, and each day a small prize will be hidden inside.  {It could be an eraser, special sticker, coupon reward, or anything that will fit!!}  You gotta keep things exciting and fresh to help motivate the kiddos... that's why it's fun to change things up around the seasons, and the kids LOVE it!

If you'd like the label click HERE for the free google doc PDF.

Another idea for whole class behavior idea... "Sweet Behavior"!  Here's a little poster of a valentine box.  The class works to fill up the box with ten chocolates to earn a special reward!  Like we said, you gotta keep things fresh!!  Simple idea, but adding a cute little picture/ theme looks like something novel to the kiddos!

If you'd like a copy click HERE for the free google doc pdf.  :)

-Amanda and Jessica

Better late than never?!?!

We had plans to post about December, but it seriously flew by so fast!  It was gone before we knew it.  Since Thanksgiving was so late, we had so much to cram in before winter break!  Here are a few snapshots of our weeks before winter break....

How to catch a gingerbread man projects:

Love how unique each one turns out with the yarn and paper plates!  

Graphing... Which part did you bite first?

Each kid got a little gingerbread cookie and everyone took one bite.  Since we were working on graphing we made a class graph and they tore off the part they bit off first.  This was fun!

Read and Write The Room...

These felt cuties were purchased on clearance from Michaels, and are perfect to hide around the room for the kiddos to practice sight words.  This one is hiding behind the calendar!  The words were taped on to allow for changing them up if needed.

Speaking of "Read and Write the Room"  Which is one of our favorite literacy stations, we have this pack that includes seasonal cards and recording sheets to last throughout the year!

Click on the picture to check it out on TPT!

Another game we made is "Crunch Crunch".  It is similar to "Bang" where they pull out a card, and if they can read it they keep it, but if they pull a gingerbread "Crunch Crunch" card, they lose all of their cards!  This is a hit with the kiddos and they love playing it.  It's a great way to practice sight words.  It has all of the Pre-primer, Primer, First Grade, and Second Grade Dolch words.  Click on the picture to check it out- it's just a buck!  We also have one for Thanksgiving (Gobble Gobble) and Valentine's Day (Love Bug).  It's simple, but changing it up for different seasons keeps the kids engaged!!

Hopefully we'll be able to be better about posting and sharing ideas, that is after all why we decided to do this!  New Years Resolution?!?!

-Amanda & Jessica