On my day off...

A preschool teacher, housewife, amateur photographer, and blogger needs a day off every now and then.

Here are some photos from mine.

I picked up some flowers and finally had a chance to recreate this Pintrest find!

Pintrest Version

And my version...

So what do you do when you need a day off?

Field Trip Snaps

So not only is being a preschool teacher totally awesome and fulfilling every day... I also get to tag along on field trips for free!

I love the outdoor classroom and teaching my students on the go. Someone picks up an acorn? We start talking about what it looks like, feels like, and how it grows into a tree if planted.

Someone notices a dried up sunflower? We get the chance to feed a cow? The school bus left tracks in the mud? 

All of these every day things can be turned into a short lesson if you know how.

Anyways, because of some nasty people out there I can't post pictures of my little ones online. Instead, I'll share with you some of the cool photos I been able to snap.

I wish I could have gotten more, and believe me...I often "herd" my group onto the next activity while looking  over my shoulder thinking "Now that would make a cool photo!"

I had to keep my legs on the pumpkins to keep them from rolling onto the kids. 

The wagon ride was quite bumpy and we had a mini pumpkin avalanche while going up a hill.

This photo of the dried sunflower makes me so happy, and it just happens to be my desktop background.

Bite your lip!

Good Evening dear readers,

I'm sorry that I don't have a lot of time to write a proper summary of this article.

I honestly miss my blogging time but I'm enjoying teaching so much that I've thrown most of myself into my work. 

My kids are great and they need my very best effort every day. I'll post crafts and things when I can, but for now check out this awesome article written about how to talk to little girls.

Bite your lip and skip the "oh you're so cute" or "I really like those sparkle shoes!". Get down to what really matters and show them that looks aren't everything.

How To Talk to Little Girls 

by Lisa Bloom

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Teacher Tips

Keep those toddler crayons organized!

No more "He took my red crayon!"

or "No Mrs.Girr, that's not my pencil on the floor."

Use these handy dandy labels to keep things running smoothly. 

Just print out enough name-tags for each crayon and use any clear tape to stick em in place.

Here's a second tip.

Stick name-tags on the glue stick and the glue cap. It will save you a whole lot of trouble when little Suzy's cap rolls across the table next to little Johnny's cap. 

No arguments, and teaches responsibility to those little guys.

Labeling 150 crayons and 6 glue sticks did take about an hour out of my day, but it was totally worth it and has saved my sanity over and over again.

Antique Toys

"So, where do you want to go?" 

A simple question Mike has quickly learned the answer to.

He always sighs when I tell him, but then smiles and starts the car.

Off we go to the antique shop!

One of the cool things I found was an original Dream Pet. 

The Japanese used to sell the sawdust filled animals in the 50s. 

Cracker Barrel sometimes brings back classic designs every so often...but it was really cool to hold and original  with the tags still attached! 

By the way, I'm still on the hunt for a vintage 70's style dress for my latest antique purchase. 

She's a 15" antique doll from the 1970's.

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She's currently wearing a gypsy holloween costume and I would love to fine something a little more... vintage/classic looking.

Any tips would be appreciated!

fall is near

and I can't wait for...

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...the first chance I'll get to make festive garland from natural sources...

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...the sweet taste of hot chocolate mixed with heavy cream...

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...that first heavy sweater...

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...those warm pumpkin spiced pancakes...

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...rosy cheeks and Eskimo kisses in the cool weather...

but most of all...

...I can't wait so share my favorite season, with all it's joys and wonders, with my new husband...

Happy Fall Everyone.

Farm Review Game

Gooood late late late Saturday night readers!

I am not normally up this late on a Saturday, it's just so embarrassing and rude to be falling asleep in church on Sunday morning, but I'm wide awake and just itching to write a teacher's post!

My preschool curriculum uses a barn theme throughout the entire year. We have several characters who help us learn our shapes, colors, numbers, etc...and every Friday I have a review game for the kids. For the past few weeks, we've played girls vs. boys and used little marks on the white board to keep track of points. 

Well...little creative me thought that each team should have a mascot and a more interactive way of keeping score.

Here's what I came up with.

The boys have Stewy the steer and the girls have Chloe the cow. 

At the beginning of the review game neither of the animals have spots. The spots are earned by the team members with correct answers, participation, and good attitudes. The spots are stuck on with sticky tack and I place the animals low enough on the board so the kids can easily reach the "points". 

The cow and steer end up looking something like this near the end of the review game. The winners get to go to their tables first so the loss isn't terribly detrimental for second place. 

I free handed both the cow and the steer and colored them in with wooden colored pencils. They were sent off for lamination so I can keep them for years. 

(tip. never use wax crayons when coloring a lamination project. The machine WILL melt the crayons and your ruin your visuals!)

Each one is about 18 inches tall and they serve as farm decorations Monday through Thursday. 

So there's my idea, and it's totally up for grabs! I just ask you to please link back to this page if you decide to share this game on your own social network/blog. 

Have a great night!