Organize in style!

Had to put my cart in reverse as I passed (and almost missed!)
this adorable chevron planner at Target!
(Doesn't a monagram make everything better? How cool would these letters be in your blocks center?! ..purchased at Michael's craft store) 

Grey + Pink...two of my favorite colors..this planner was destined to be mine!  I always choose a planner that shows the whole month at a time..I have to see the whole thing! : )

In between the month calendars there are pages to write in extra notes.. The planner is made by Dabne Lee/Blue Sky and cost around $7...

Summer Shopping Finds!

I found these handmade wooden tops at a local flea market called Persimmon Hollow.  The man who carved these also carves all kinds of handmade wooden toys including cars and trains..I would love to go back and buy the train set for my blocks area.  Wouldn't these tops be great to pull out on a rainy day? I could imagine how students would contemplate trying to make their tops go faster or even spin longer..or what surfaces they spin on best!  Great for fine motor too!  He carves small and large tops..the small are $1 and the large are $2

I ran across these ABC and mosaic tiles in Michael's craft store....I think they would be fun to use on a light table!  

I picked up these old cell phones at a garage sale...perfect to enhance communication skills in pretend center...I had a few last year and the kids loved them! I think I will use these  when  I start incorporating the Highscope "Plan, Do, Review" process! Can't wait! 

I also want to incorporate more practical life actiivties/trays.  I found this garlic press and citrus squeezer at Dollar Tree!  Set out a tray with an empty bowl, a bowl of water, some cut up sponges and these squeezers..  or use an ice cube tray! I saw this idea on Counting Coconuts blog ..one to one correspondence, counting, fine motor, practical life skills!

Check out my pinboard for more practical life activities:  http://pinterest.com/thepinkido/to-learn-practical-life/

Chevron First Day of School Signs

Check out these cute chevron first day signs on sale now in the Pre-K Tweets TPT shop!  Take photos of students holding these signs on the first day! I like to take the photos with the playground in the background.. parents love them! 

Freebie! Printable chevron teacher favorites list!

Freebie!! Download this cute chevron teacher favorites printable for FREE!

Follow the links below:

(blue/pink) http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chevron-Favorites-List-731150
(yellow/gray) http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chevron-Favorites-List-731153

Send this filled out printable home in your beginning of the year info. packets...OR give to fellow co-workers so you keep track of all your teacher friends' birthdays/favorites!

Pre-K Tweets TPT Store!

The Pre-K Tweets TPT store is now open!  These o"fish"ally printable tags are currently available for purchase in my tpt shop!... get them here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ofishally-in-Pre-k-729457
I also have a other styles of these o"fish"ally tags available for purchase!

Wings and things!

As I was going through past photos of this year on my camera card..I found the long lost photos of our insect jars!  This was such a fun activity and it incorporated nature/creativity!  I printed off the mason jar template from here: http://sweetlyscrappedart.blogspot.com/2011/07/mason-jar-i-love-mason-jars-free.html

Then, during our insects and garden unit,  our class went for a nature walk and collected all little sorts of nature artifacts in ziploc baggies.  I pre-labeled the baggies with their names and all my assistant had to do was pull out their nature bag when it was their turn for art. 

I love how precise this one is... This student is always very careful and takes time in whatever she does.. We visited our school pond and it looks like she made some lily pads in her jar! 

Students were encouraged to illustrate their own insects...

I love this student collected a little bit of dirt...she said it was in case her ladybug got hungry..HAHA! 

I picked this game up at a garage sale last summer..FOR A DOLLAR!  So much fun...the bees are in the hive..students take turns pulling out the leaf sticks..a few bees fall into the personal trays and students count their bees at the end! LOVE IT! 

SO FUN when I see skills being practiced in action!!  Candid photos are the best!! I save my old cell phones and put a few in the pretend center so students are encouraged to practice oral language skills.... I had this one Spanish only speaking student this year..He could talk up a storm on one of these old cell phones!

I've been trying to encourage writing in all of the centers...  interesting and unique writing utensils like crayola twist up colored pencils, gel pens, and these flower pens are fun ways to get students to WANT to write! 

"telephone"  leave a couple of these pvc pipes in a center.. and just see what wonderful things can happen!  

FLOWER POWER!! These grass styrofoam boxes were a display to hold mini pinwheels at hobby lobby..I asked the manager if  I could have them and he gave me four!  Students practiced flower arranging and fine motor skills in the sensory tub!