Today's Spooktober Guest: Ms. M

Hi Everyone,

It is Ms. M from Ms. M's Blog, a.k.a Ms. k/1ELL. I am here to share some Halloween fun with you all.

I was excited that the FBU ladies asked if I would like to guest blog. I thought of a million Halloween items to post about, but I chose to tell you about my new project. A doorway spider web.

I always love the spider webs made from the white cotton webbing but I am TERRIBLE with the stuff. It is always a mess for me and never sticks. This year, I had a brilliant idea. I used some of that fancy bakers twine from the Twinery. I bought a sampler pack recently and have been looking for ways to embellish my classroom. So I used it to make a spider web. Want to make one for your class or home too?

The first thing I did was to take some bakers twine and make an X in my doorway.

Next I added a 3rd piece of twine across the center.

This is where it gets complicated. I next, taped another piece of twine to the top of the doorway, dead center to the intersection of the would be web. I took that piece of twine and I strung it to the right. When I reached the right of the X I tied a knot and stung it down to the next piece of twine and tied another know. I continued to do this all the way around.

When I got to the top I took the twine and stung it straight down and tied a knot in the center. The went to the bottom line and tied a knot again. I left some twine hanging from the bottom because I wanted to have a spider hang from it like it was coming down from its web.

I did this process again 3 times. Here is the picture of what my we looked like then.

I was not happy that some pieces were not taut but looking at it now, it looks pretty good.

After constructing the web it was time to add the spider!

I just LOVED this, but unfortunately I had to remove the large spider. Some of the taller staff members at my school kept running into it. I am pretty short so I had no problem, but I also feared some students jumping up to tap the spider. :/

Here is what I came up with.

I added some small spiders to the web and placed the large spider at the top of the web as if it was coming down on to it. I love it! I like it more than the original design.

The best part is that the kids all thought it was real and asked me constantly until I stood on a chair and touched it. Here are some shots of them walking out of the room. I had to blur their faces, but you could still see the expression in their bodies. Priceless.

Thanks for reading along. Feel free to check out some of my other projects over on my blog, by clicking on the button below. :)

Enjoy!

***Wow, Ms. M, that is one spooky & CUTE spider!  Thanks so much for sharing!  

Now, go visit her blog and see why we think she is spook-tacular!   

 

Friday Freebie {9-11}

This coming Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9-11.  I still remember vividly where I was when the attacks happened.  

I was student teaching at the time and my kids were in specials.  I was in the library with my Mentoring Teacher watching the horror unfold on the TV screen.  I was teaching 3rd grade and my mentor said that we weren't going to tell the kids, so I tried to pull it together in a hurry.  Then, just as we had gotten the kids back to their seats, a parent volunteer came storming in and asking us (in a very loud voice) if we knew about the plane crashes.  So much for our plan...we had to tell the kids (a brief version) about what had happened.  We felt like their parents could explain in more detail if they so desired.  


I will NEVER forget the looks on their 8-year-old faces (confusion, fright, sadness).  I knew what I was feeling and it had to be quadrupled for them!  Anyway, I asked my mentor if I could plan a lesson/craft based on what had happened for the next day.  We were all going to remember this and I felt like we needed to help the kids understand.


So,  I made a huge flag out of butcher paper to hang in the hallway.  Then, I asked the kids to draw something about the events of 9-11 on white paper and also to write one word about the day on a star.  This is how it turned out. (I apologize for the terrible quality of these pics ~ camera technology sure has come a long way in 10 years.)

The next year, when I had my very first class of Kinders, we made a hand-print flag out of a sheet that I will forever cherish and display proudly in my classroom!

For today's freebie, I saw an awesome idea for a 9-11 family project at What the Teacher Wants.  It may be better for older kids, but I'm sure you could adapt it for those little ones!

I am so grateful today for all the heroes of that terrible day...firefighters, police, & the people of NYC!  I'm also grateful for the soldiers who fight daily to protect our country from anything ever happening like this again!  Please say a prayer for those out there directly impacted by that day, who lost loved ones, and still miss them beyond measure.  WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!!   

Just so I don't leave you feeling depressed (like I am right now after writing that), I do have some good news today!  My APPLE FUN UNIT is done and ready for purchase in our Teacher's Notebook Shop.  It is 26 pages for Pre-K, K, & 1st and includes...

As usual, we are having an introductory sale (15% off) from today (9-9) till next Friday (9-15).  Hurry...you don't want to miss all the apple-y fun!    Click HERE to view!  :)  Ta-ta for now! 

Making a Year Mondays {Rules}

What is one of the first things to teach your new kiddos when they come into your room?  Every teacher knows the answer to this one...RULES & PROCEDURES!!!  I know that doesn't sound like a fun concept, but without it, your classroom would be a bunch of confused chaos.


So, here are some cute ideas to make the rule-learning fun for your new sweeties!  {and they are all FREE downloads...yay}


Growing Kinders has an activity kit in her TpT store HERE called "The Day a Monster Came to School" that is super cute!

Castles & Crayons has a fun Marshmallow Toes activity teaching your Munchkins how to walk in the hallway.

Kindergarten Kiosk has a wildly adorable Jungle rules poster.

One of my favorite songs to use when introducing the rules was always Dr. Jean's "The Rules of the Classroom Rap."  Also, today on You Tube, I found a video from Teacher Tipster, Mr. Smith is so funny & very creative!  I used to sing this song with my kinders & it is really fun!

So, how do you explain your classroom rules to your kiddos?

Shout Out Saturday {First Grade OWLS}

Happy Saturday, Sweeties!  I have a new (well...new to me) blog to share with you all today!  I first visited First Grade Owls because of the name.  I LOVE owls, but cannot put a picture of one ANYWHERE in my home because my child is deathly afraid of them!  Can't tell you why...he just is.  We can't even go to some grocery stores if they have fake owls hanging outside to scare away the birds.  


Ok, focus...sorry!  I'm going on the 3rd night of very little sleep trying to create a preschool curriculum from scratch for my little one & I'm not even certified Pre-K...YIKES!!!  When I get all my "school stuff" organized, I'll show you pictures.  

Nicole, of First Grade Owls, is too creative!  Her classroom looks so inviting and has her cute little owls just hanging out to greet her kiddos!  I love it!  Please go visit her blog sometime this weekend...there's so much to "hoot" about!  Sorry, couldn't resist! :)  Here are a few goodies she has to share!

her classroom...so cute and organized!

reading strategies bulletin board

I am so lovin' this display area for work...she hot glued little clips under each owl to the concrete block wall. 

She puts restroom passes in clear 5x7 frames for the kiddos to put at their seats when they are gone!  The best part is she has these (in many themes) available as a free download in her TpT store.

So, be a wise owl, and fly on over there to say hi to Nicole!  :)  Enjoy your weekend!  

Shout Out Saturday

Happy weekend, everyone!  I hope you all have a cool place to be on this hot summer day!  I'm chillin' with my sweet tea in the air conditioned house taking a break from playing with a playdough ice cream shop (more info on that later) with my sweet boy! :)

The other day, I stumbled upon a blog with a WEALTH of creative ideas...Mrs. Gilchrist's Class!  Cindy, the blog's author, is a first grade teacher, who is so generous with her awesome freebies!  You have to go check out her blog!  You won't be disappointed, I promise!  


Here are just a few of the amazing things you can find at Mrs. Gilchrist's Class...

Absentee Folders

Power Towers {hint: 3-year-olds love this too - try letters or numbers}

Reader's Toolbox

Silly Band Math

 Story Map

 Thanks for everything you share, Cindy!  We wish you the best of luck as the new school year approaches!


Stay cool, friends!

Teaching Trends Tuesday {New Unit}

Hello, Fab Friends!  Ok, so this "teaching trends" blog topic makes me a little nervous because this school year will be my fourth year out of the classroom.  I cannot believe it has been that long since I had those "beginning of school butterflies" that always made my stomach their {home sweet home} for at least the first 3 weeks of school!  

One classroom trend I know is different from when I stopped teaching is...BLOGS!  I think during the last couple of years, the teaching social media (blogs, websites, facebook, twitter, and now pinterest) has exploded!  I think it's so amazing and I am continually inspired by how many creative teachers out there are willing to share their talent with the blogging world!  

Another trend that I am so loving for the classroom is teacher-made materials!  Who else knows better what teachers need teachers themselves?  I was always making materials for my kindergarten kiddos, and now I am even more motivated to make materials for my little one (as well as stock up my collection for when I return to the classroom).  

So, to start off my year of printable units, my BACK TO SCHOOL UNIT is ready for purchase in our brand new Teacher's Notebook Store!  I used the cutest school-related clipart from Digi Web Studio.  It is 31 pages of fun math and language arts activities to do at the beginning of the school year.  It can be used with preschool, kindergarten, or first grade.  Take a peek at what's inside...

The unit is regularly priced at $5.00, but for ONE WEEK ONLY (until Tues. July 19), since you are a faithful FBU follower, you can have it for 30% off making it $3.50.