Play Doh

The year my team went as Play-Doh was so simple, and yet we got a huge reaction out of it! All you need are frisbees, sturdy headbands (we used these), plain yellow T-shirts from Walmart or Michael’s, and card stock! We printed the Play-Doh logo on cardstock and made them into necklaces with yarn. Hot glue the headband to the frisbee to make the perfect “cap.”

Hungry Hungry Hippos

This was another super simple costume! You will need: Plain white baseball caps (like these for under 5 dollars each), foam balls, string, craft paint, felt, and colored T shirts. Use a bamboo skewer or long screwdriver to make a hole in the balls and then string onto twine. Use inexpensive craft paint from Walmart to paint the hats and plastic bottle caps to match. Then just cut the eyes out of felt and hot glue it all together.

Banana Split/Ice cream

To make this costume you’ll need white T shirts, felt in multiple colors, red and brown craft paint, foam balls, headbands, and red pipe cleaners. You don’t even need to buy fabric paint for the shirts if you don’t mind it being a bit crunchy feeling. Hey, it’s only for one day after all.

Snowmen at Halloween

I love this costume because you can have a zillion different variations and it’s so much fun! Have you read the book Snowmen at Halloween, by Caralyn and Mark Buehner? It’s from the Snowmen at Night series and it’s adorable. To make the snowman base, all you need is a plain white T shirt and some black felt “buttons.” We dressed them up a little more with these white tutus. Then, dress your snowman up for Halloween using anything you have on hand! We went as a ladybug, witch, cowgirl, and superhero!

Bucket Fillers

For this one, it helps to have a Cricut or a friend with one who is willing to make the faces. If you don’t, the faces on the buckets are definitely optional. We got the buckets, T shirts, and felt from Wal-Mart. We used our school die-cut machine to cut out the shapes for the shirts. It’s very easy to cut a hole in the bottom of the buckets using a box cutter. Top it off with adorable headbands like these and the costume is done!

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of our favorite group costumes. If you use my links to make a purchase through Amazon, I do receive a very small commission which helps me keep this website up and running. I did not include links for items I found cheaper at Wal-Mart or the Dollar store.

Happy Halloween!

The post Five Easy Group Halloween Costumes for Teachers appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

Turkey Close Reading

This short informational passage about turkeys is perfect for reading with young students.

Thanksgiving Math Centers

Add a Thanksgiving twist to all of your math centers. Students love these simple games and activities that provide practice with important math concepts.

Thankful Turkey Booklet

This is just about the easiest craft in the world, and it’s the perfect opportunity for emergent writers to write what they are thankful for.

Thanksgiving Count the Room

This math activity gets students up and moving! They will be highly engaged searching for the pictures you’ve posted around the room, and they will get to practice their counting skills while they’re at it.

Thanksgiving Write the Room

Another interactive center! Students love to wear fun glasses and headbands as they search for the posted words with their clipboards.

Thanksgiving No-Prep Printables

It’s the holidays. You’re going to need some simple, no-prep activities to get you through!

Turkey CVC Word Center

Students love putting the feathers on the turkeys to create CVC words! The simple recording sheets help students show that they’re on task in this station.

Butter in a Jar Craftivity

If you study what life was like long ago, students will LOVE seeing how butter can be made by just shaking heavy cream in a jar! This craftivity lets them share their process.

Giving Thanks Close Read

This close reading lesson uses a Thanksgiving poem, which is perfect to pair with the All About Turkeys close reading above.

November Math Journal Prompts

If you don’t do a daily problem solving journal with your students, now is a perfect time to start. These easy prompts can be cut and glued into notebooks so that you don’t have to take precious time coming up with math problems!

I hope I’ve made your life a little easier this November! Happy Planning!

Tiffany

The post Thanksgiving Classroom Activities appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

To make this applesauce, you don’t even need a recipe. You will need 4 bags of apples, some cinnamon, and water. No sugar or extra additives. Just goodness.

Before my students come in, I peel and chop most of the apples. I save each student a large chunk of apple to chop up. We get started first thing in the morning, because you want your applesauce to have plenty of time to become soft and mashable. The first year I made crock pot applesauce, I didn’t start early enough. We had warm apple chunks instead of applesauce that day!

I sit my students on the rug in a circle. I sit in the middle, and peel, core, and chop a few apples so that they can watch. Then, I let my students get to work. I give them each a chunk of apple, a paper plate, and a plastic knife. They wash their hands, and then chop up their apple and add it to the crock pot. A large crock pot should be filled almost to the top. When we’re finished chopping, we add some cinnamon and one cup of water. Then we put on the lid and turn the crock pot on high.

We let the applesauce cook on high for about four hours. It should be very easy to mash with the back of a wooden spoon. Around 2:00, I turn off the crock pot and mash up the apples. Some chunks might remain, but that’s OK. I divvy it up into small paper or plastic cups/bowls and let it sit out for about 20-30 minutes to cool. Here is a photo before mashing:

And here is a photo after mashing. You can mash it up more if you prefer, but I love a slightly chunky applesauce.

The experience of making applesauce is one I hope my students never forget. We always follow up with a how-to writing so that we can teach our families how to make it again!

You can get this craft HERE in my TpT shop. You can read about the other apple math and science activities we do by clicking HERE! I hope this post has inspired you to get cooking in your classroom!

The post Making Applesauce in the Classroom appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

Ah, the first day of kindergarten. So much promise and excitement leading up to this big milestone in the lives of your students. There is so much truth in saying that the goals for the first day are to “get them fed and get them home.” If you can do that, then I definitely call it a win. But you need to do a little bit more to fill your day. Here is what the first day of kindergarten looks like in my classroom.

ARRIVAL

When my students enter the classroom, I have something simple waiting for them at their seats. I’ve done playdough (mini cans) and coloring pages in the past, and both have worked out well. Playdough is nice because no one will scribble all over and say “I’m done!” after .5 seconds! While the students work quietly at their seats, I am calling them individually to show them where they will hang their backpack and how to make their lunch choice.

CIRCLE TIME

As soon as possible, I gather my students on the rug. I show them the signal for the bathroom and we talk about how to flush the toilet and I show them the sink and trash can. I don’t fully go over the bathroom expectations right away, but I want to make sure that everyone knows how to get to the restroom when they need it. We then talk about how to sit on the rug so that everyone has personal space and can see the teacher.

I talk about myself. I tell the students that I have been waiting to meet them all summer long, and I am so excited to spend this school year with them! I tell them about my family and my hobbies. Then, I tell them that I want to get to know them better. We play a getting-to-know-you game. I keep it simple. I sing “I’m looking through my window,” and at each student’s turn, they tell one thing they like to do. This is a great time to snap a “First Day of Kindergarten” photo!

READ ALOUD

I usually read The Kissing Hand. I have a raccoon puppet and I invite students to talk to Chester and to tell him their feels and feelings. Then, we take a tour of the school using clues that Chester the raccoon left behind. I use my Kissing Hand Companion pack for this. Click on the cover to get it.Before we take our tour,  we talk about the hallway procedures and practice walking in a straight line around the classroom. We then venture out and take a quick tour of the school. We stop in the cafeteria and practice going through the lunch line and finding our lunch table.

When we get back to the classroom, we complete a “First Day of Kindergarten” coloring page. Talk about how to take care of crayons and put them away. I make the start of an anchor chart about classroom supplies (what they do/ They do NOT). Model how students will walk to their seats and get started. Model how they will push in their chairs after they clean up.

WRITING

I like to have my students draw a self-portrait on the first day. I model how I draw myself and then invite them to draw themselves. I walk around as they draw and I encourage them to write their name on their paper if they know how, and I take note of who is already able to do this.

This First Day of Kindergarten Freebie includes a a parent questionnaire, writing page, self-portrait sheet, classroom tools anchor chart pieces, and an “I Shined on the First Day of Kindergarten” crown.

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LUNCH

Pack something you can eat with one hand, and don’t count on getting to eat it during your actual lunch period.

MATH

My math block is in the afternoon, so this is when I give my students free exploration time with manipulatives. I usually have pattern blocks, bear counters, and links. After a few minutes of exploration (or as soon as I sense it’s time if students are getting antsy, I rotate the tubs. I teach my students to stop, look, and listen when they hear the sound of my bell ringing. That’s how I get their attention when it is time to clean up. We also sing counting songs, and talk about more procedures such as how to clean up the materials.

RECESS

Recess is extra long on the first day, because we discuss the rules for each part of the playground while we are outside. All of kindergarten usually does this at the same, and my teammates and I demonstrate proper playground use. We also act out examples of what NOT to do.

IN BETWEEN

Throughout the day, I mix in lots of singing and dancing. I teach some of the call backs that I use (class! yes? 1-2-3 eyes on me, etc.) Sometimes, even a game of  “Simon Says” is the perfect way to get out wiggles.

PACK-UP

I make sure to begin this process early. My students practice getting their folders from their mailboxes and putting their papers inside. They then put their folders inside their backpacks and return to their seats. I read a story at the end of the day.

If you keep it simple, focus on procedures, get them fed and sent home, the first day of kindergarten will be a success!

The post What To Do on The First Day of Kindergarten appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

Do you struggle to maintain ongoing communication with parents during the school year? So often, we start out with the best of intentions, but the parent-teacher relationship can be one of the first things to drop off as the busyness of the year sets in. I know that’s true for me, as sending home that weekly newsletter becomes such a chore. But over the years, I’ve picked up some great strategies for keeping families in-the-know. Follow these easy tips to keep communication going strong all year long.

Tip #1 Use a Communication app

I use the Remind 101 app to message parents weekly. Parents simply download the app and you are able to send out group messages, whole-class messages, or individual messages to parents. I use it to remind families about ice cream days, field trips, special events, and even remembering to bring back their library books or wear appropriate shoes for PE at the beginning of the year.

Remind, Bloomz, and Class Dojo, were all clear favorites when I polled my Facebook Group. Each app has its own unique features (class Dojo is also a classroom management tool) but what they have in common is that they allow you to communicate with parents directly. Check out all three, and think about which one is right for you!

Tip #2 Use Seesaw Online Learning Journals

Seesaw has transformed the way my students use technology. If your students have access to tablets, computers, or Chromebooks, get them using Seesaw! It’s the perfect way for families to see what their children are doing in the classroom, often in real time. Here are some examples of what students can do on Seesaw:

1. Post a photo of a pattern they made using manipulatives
2. Draw a picture using the drawing tool/ type a sentence or story to go with it
3. Record a video of themselves reading a book
4. Write sight words, sentences, and CVC words
5. Record themselves skip counting

In the example below, a student was looking for nonfiction text features in her book. When she found these labels, she snapped a photo and used the drawing tool to circle them. Then she wrote the adorable sentence below it explaining what the page was teaching us. Her mom and classmates were able to see what she had done, like, and comment on it to encourage her.

The possibilities for Seesaw are endless–no matter what you are doing in the classroom, there is an opportunity for students to respond on Seesaw. Families simply need to download the app, and they will receive a notification when their child posts something new. They can even leave audio comments on their child’s work!

Tip #3 Send a Newsletter, but Don’t Rely on it

If you take the time to send out a weekly newsletter, kudos! I send one home weekly and gradually “wean” families off of the newsletter by spring. But so often, notes and reminders put in the newsletter alone get missed. For the first decade of my career, I was so frustrated by this! And then my son started school. Listen. If this elementary school teacher who KNOWS the importance of communication can’t always manage to read the newsletter before the week is over (oops), then I guarantee you the vast majority of parents aren’t reading it carefully and in a timely manner either.  I still think a newsletter is great, but it doesn’t hurt to send an extra little reminder about important events, and your families will appreciate it!

Tip #4 Send Positive Notes Home

I know. You learned about this way back in undergrad, right? You said you were going to do it last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. I will be the first to admit that I never send as many of these home as I would like to. That’s why I created these “caught being good” slips that you can simply hand to a student! It’s so simple. Just keep them in a plastic container on your desk and hand out as you see fit. You can still send home a more personalized note when you can, but these are perfect for those crazy days when you would otherwise be kicking yourself at the end of the day thinking “darn, I wanted to send home a note about ___!” Just sign up below to access the free download!

Tip #5 Don’t Overwhelm with Homework

Research tells us that homework does not have a positive impact on student success. I have tried, seen, and purchased a variety of homework options over the years. One thing I’ve learned is that families appreciate it when the things you send home are quick, simple, and to the point. Last year, I really wanted to find a way to help families understand the skills we were working on. I created Home Connections, which require families to assess their child in one skill, and then report back to the teacher on the child’s level of mastery. It’s available HERE in my shop for both language arts and math. These have been a game-changer in my classroom! They’ve been an eye-opener for me! And now my students’ families fully understand each skill. If you choose to send home nothing, that’s great too! Just encourage reading!

Pin me!

The post Fostering a Home-School Relationship appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

I can’t believe I’m writing this post already. The school year is flying by, and the 100th day of school is right around the corner. This will be my 13th 100th day of school, and I have a set of go-to books that I always read in the days leading up to it and on the big day itself. Here are my top five read alouds for the big day! This post contains affiliate links.

1. 100th Day Worries

In this story, Jessica struggles to come up with a collection for her 100th day of school. She gets many ideas, but finally ends up with the perfect collection in the end with help from her family. I love to read this story to my students before the 100th day. We talk about ideas for collections that would work well (100 cotton balls) and ones that would not work well for us (like big items).

2.  I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words

This classic book is perfect for the 100th day! After reading the book, make your own list of 100 words and read them as a class.

3. The Night Before the 100th Day of School

This book is perfect for–you guessed it–the day before the 100th day. It’s a cute twist on The Night Before Christmas. A young man is trying to find the perfect collection for the big day. My students love this fun book!

4. Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day

If you teach kindergarten,this book is a must! I mean, it’s Miss Bindergarten!

5. 100 Snowmen

100 Snowmen is the cutest book. It rhymes, which is always great for holding students’ attention. Kiddos love reading about all the snowmen in this story and the fun things they do. You could do a class project and make 100 snowmen with your students!

Those are my top five books to read for the 100th day of school. Don’t forget to grab your teacher shirt so you can be festive for the big day!

Pin this post to come back to next year!

The post Top Five Books for the 100th Day of School appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

But you’re feeling the pressure, aren’t you? The teacher across the hall has an elf, and your students are wondering why Santa hasn’t sent one to your classroom. I’m here to tell you that you can join in on the fun with little-to-no headache. Here are some tips to make it fun, inexpensive, and hassle-free!

Don’t feel like you have to buy the name brand elf.

A lot of teachers simply don’t have an elf because of the expense, but are plenty of generic elf dolls out there that work just as well as the thirty-dollar version. You can snag this cute little elf for ten dollars on Amazon. Your students won’t complain, I promise!

Skip the hassle of daily notes, crazy props, and fancy outfits. 

If you want to incorporate these things, more power to you! But they are not necessary and your students will be just as thrilled to look for your elf who has simply moved to a new spot every day. My six year old son comes to school with me every morning, so a fancy set up is not always possible. I enlist the help of my teammate every day, who either moves my elf quickly before we arrive, or who takes my son into her classroom right away so that he can “help” her with a task. If I’m the first to arrive at school, which is rare (because, kids)….I will send my son on an errand of some sort and rush to my room to move him.  Point is, my elf is rarely doing anything elaborate, and my students still think it’s the greatest thing ever.

Have your students keep a daily journal.

I’m gonna give it to you straight. Your students are going to enter your classroom bursting with excitement to find out where your elf is hiding each day. Early morning craziness can set the tone for the day, so I suggest having a journal for you students to work on right after they find your elf. If your students aren’t independent writers yet, they can draw the picture and you can guide them with the writing as a class later. Having a place to record what is happening with the elf is important! I use this simple classroom elf journal. When the holiday season is over, it’s fun to look back on all of the elf’s adventures. Parents go wild over this every year too!

Head to the web for Inspiration!

When you are feeling creative and when you have the time, there are so many fun things you can do with your elf! Sometimes it’s best to just embrace the crazy! Check out my Pinterest board for tons of Elf on the Shelf ideas!

The post Classroom Elf on the Shelf Made Easy appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

Close reading is so painful!

If this is how you feel about close reading, then this blog post is for you. I love to teach close reading, and I’ve been doing it long enough now that I’ve got a system in place that works very well for my students. I hope this post gives you some good information to take back to your classroom. I’ll also share a close reading freebie at the end!

Here’s  the basic procedure that I use for every close reading lesson:

Introduce and Predict

Introduce the title of the text. I always ask my students to predict what the text will be about and what the purpose of the text might be (is it a nonfiction piece to inform, or a fictional piece to entertain?) Always do lots of turn-and-talk when teaching a close reading lesson. The more opportunities your students have to discuss the text, the better.

Read it Through

This should be a cold read. You’re not stopping to ask questions at this stage. You just want your students to listen and follow along with you. After you’ve read it through, feel free to have students echo read it or choral read it with you to build fluency.

Reread and Clarify

This is where you discuss the text for deeper meaning and have the students make notes on their text. We circle words we aren’t sure about and find context clues to show us their meaning. Here, we are really focusing on the structure of the text. One of my biggest struggles when I first started close reading was having enough texts for all of my students to have their own copy. More on that in a bit.

Text Dependent Questions

This is where you ask questions that can only be answered by the text. Students must find the evidence within the text to support their answers. This is where a great deal of deep discussion happens. Always have your students do lots of turn-and-talk to discuss!

Reread and Summarize

After all this discussion, have your students turn-and-talk to summarize the text or to tell something they learned from it. I often have my students write to respond to the reading.

Close Reading-The Big Challenge

The biggest challenge can often be the text itself. It’s not easy to find quality reading that is simple enough for emergent readers to follow but ALSO rich enough to extend and discuss. That’s why I created a close reading curriculum which includes texts, lesson plans, and extension activities. This set has truly made close reading easier than ever. Here are just a few reasons why I love it.

1. Every student gets their own copy of the text. You can print each student a black and white copy (great for teaching in whole group), or you can print out 6 or so colored copies and laminate them (great for small group). My students love to use dry erase markers on their texts. Instant fun.
2. The lesson plan is done for you. Need I say more? Time is valuable!
3. A Variety of options for extension! Whether you are using the text feature of a diagram to fill in a labeling sheet, finding key details in the text to fill out a can-have-are organizer, or simply writing to summarize, you will find the option that is right for you.
4. Built in assessment. Each lesson comes with a quick question sheet that includes a multiple choice question and a fill-in-the-blank question.

My students love doing close reading in whole group. I project the text up on the SMART board and I give each student their own copy of the text, a crayon, and a clipboard. We can use the magic pen on the SMART board to underline evidence, circle words, and make other markings. Then, all of the students make the markings on their own copy. Putting it into the students’ hands is really invaluable when teaching these strategies. Plus, I love that I can send the text home with them, allowing them to share it with their families.

I want you to be able to try these lessons for yourself, which is why I’m offering this close reading lesson for free. Click HERE to access your free lesson. I hope you have a great time teaching it!

The post How to Rock Your Close Reading Lessons appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

It’s only the beginning of July, but after only a few weeks of relaxing, your mind is starting to wander back to the classroom. It’s almost impossible to NOT think about it. All the bloggers are sharing their “Back to School Tips and Tricks” posts. Instagram is blowing up with everyone’s Target Dollar Spot finds. And all of the stores are cruelly showing us, with their Back to School Displays, that summer break will be over before we know it. But it’s got me thinking about my own tips for starting the school year off right. I hope these are helpful to you as you begin to prepare for a new year!

1- Get your Head Right

The great thing about the beginning of the school year is that it’s a fresh start. A great year starts with a great mindset. Maybe you had a really rough time last year, or a really hard class. Maybe you clashed with a teammate, administrator, or parent. I can tell you first hand that even with an awesome team, supportive administration, and great parents, there will always be something to complain about. We all complain sometimes–we’re human and we need to vent. But leave all that baggage from last year behind you. Commit to being a positive force in your building this year. Read some blogs, watch some Gerry Brooks videos on Youtube, or listen to a motivational speaker. Do whatever you need to do get pumped up for a great year!

2- Set a Goal

I don’t mean that goal that your administrator will make you set–ya know, the one that goes on your performance review. What is it about being required to do something that absolutely sucks the fun right out of it? I mean choose a topic that you are genuinely interested in learning more about.  Make it something you’re excited about. Last year, my goal was to use many of the strategies from The Reading Strategies Book (off topic–but it’s a GREAT book!)  This year, my teammates and I are interested in learning more about STEM activities to implement in the classroom and to expand on what we already know about Project-based learning. We’re also passing around the book, Purposeful Play. When you choose something you’re passionate about, PD is so much more fun!

3- Do something fun with/for your team

A small, inexpensive token is all it takes to show your teammates that you’re excited to start off another year with them. Some ideas include a notepad from the dollar store, mug with a funny saying, pack of pens, colorful sticky notes, or even a candy bar. Another great idea, if you’re able, is to invite your teammates out for a lunch or for coffee, just to touch base and hang out on a personal level. Of course, you’ll talk about nothing but school no matter how hard you try not to, but that’s OK.  Your year will go much more smoothly if you have a great team to support you.

4- Buy something for your classroom

I know you’ve felt it. That high you get right after you’ve raided the Dollar spot, scored the perfect chairs for your classroom library, or opened up that teacher planner that just came in the mail. Go ahead and buy a little something for your classroom. It will excite you and motivate you for the year ahead!

5- Visit your classroom

Visit your classroom before you’re actually required to, if you can. Move some furniture around, think about what bulletin boards you plan to put up, and get the lay of the land again. I always feel better starting pre-service week when my room is at least partially set up. Just don’t go TOO often (see below).

6- Enjoy your summer while you can! 

There is nothing worse than being back at school and thinking, “I barely got to enjoy my summer!” If you are constantly working on school things and not relaxing, you just might feel bitter about it once you have to be back. So be sure to spend the last days of summer doing what you love–traveling, sleeping in, Netflix–whatever makes you happy! If you start the year feeling rejuvenated, you will be less stressed, more motivated, and ready to go!

I hope these tips have helped you to see that having your BEST year ever isn’t about creating the perfect Pinterest classroom or jumping on the latest teacher trend. It’s about having the right mindset, setting goals, and enjoying what you do!

The post Back to School: How to Make it Your Best Year Ever appeared first on KTeacherTiff.

We recently had ice cream day for “i” day of our ABC countdown to summer. Instead of buying ice cream, I decided we would make our own. I knew it would be a great memory-making activity for my students, and *bonus!* we could tie-in a how-to writing to go with it.

A couple tips: If you decide to try this (you really should!) don’t get too hung up on the kind of salt you use. I’ve make ice cream in bag plenty of times using plain table salt–but ideally, the chunkier the better (it lessens your chances of salty ice cream). Double bagging is also a smart move.

For my class of 18 students, a half gallon of whole milk and a quart of half and half made more than enough ice cream for all of us. I used a combination of half and half and whole milk, and the result was creamy, delicious goodness.

Ingredients

1 half gallon whole milk

1 quart and 1 half quart cartons of half and half

sugar

vanilla extract

Additional Materials

ice cream salt or kosher salt

gallon-sized Ziploc baggies

quart or sandwich-sized Ziploc baggies

Steps

Start with 6 small Ziploc baggies. Pour 1 cup of half and half and 1 cup of whole milk into each. Add 3 Tablespoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla to each bag. Seal them up well, taking care to remove as much air as possible. Double bag them to protect the ice cream from getting salty.

In 6 gallon-sized Ziploc baggies, fill slightly over halfway with ice (the picture below shows more ice than needed. I didn’t want to half to walk back to the school ice machine if I didn’t have enough!) Dump 1 cup of salt over the ice in each bag. Place the small, milk-filled baggies inside of the larger bags. Seal and double bag (they break open easily with little ones shaking).

Divide your students into groups. Give each group a bag to shake. Each student will shake the bag for a minute or so and then pass it to the next person. Their hands get cold quickly so lots of passing occurs! You can always wrap the gallon baggies in hand towels to keep your students’ hands from getting too cold.

After about 5-8 minutes,  you will have the tastiest ice cream! Remove the bags of ice cream from the larger gallon bags and wipe them off. You can even give them a quick rinse for extra protection from saltiness. Divide the ice cream evenly into cups and enjoy!

The post How to Make Ice Cream in a Bag appeared first on KTeacherTiff.