Crayon Bulletin Board

In the beginning of the year I always start with teaching about the colors.  It is a very basic concept, and all of the students can feel successful the first couple of weeks learning about colors while I am also trying to assess everyone and teach classroom procedures.  I designed a DIY Crayon Bulletin Board Template for you to use in your classroom!

If you are looking for the wood background you can grab it on Amazon using my affiliate link below! 

The best part about this bulletin board kit is that I have the following quotes for you to choose from.  You just pick you favorite one and print it on colored paper, then cut it out!
Crayon quotes:
We are a rainbow of possibilities.
We are the brightest crayons in the box.
Be unique. Let your colors shine.

The crayons are editable so you can write the color name or type each student's name on the crayon.  It makes for a really personal bulletin board that is just for your class!

This bright and vibrant board is perfect for showcasing student work or hanging in the awkward space above your sink! ;)

Early Learning Counting Practice

I am going to brag a moment.  Harry can count to 10.  Yep, he's a genius.  

Ok, I am TOTALLY kidding (but you know I am SO PROUD).  I have to give credit to his daddy for practicing counting with him every day, it warms my heart when I hear the two of them practicing in the other room.  We decided to keep the ball rolling by continuing to sharpen this skill and to practice memorizing the numbers and counting objects.  With the help of Lakeshore we were able to use some hands on resources to explore and memorize numbers.

Lakeshore and I have partnered together to review some of their fine motor products that are perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, and even kindergarten students. Please note that I am a blog ambassador for Lakeshore Learning and I am compensated for my blog post, but all ideas are mine. :)

First I introduced the Learn to Count Washable Activity Book.  This little book zips up and he can carry it around!  I first showed it to him when we were on an airplane for our family vacation.  It kept him quiet for a good 20 minutes while he flipped through each page, playing with the interactive activities.  

I helped show him how to find the creatures on each page and then how to touch each one and count. He isn't able to read the sentences but after a couple days of me reading it to him he would make his own sentences as he turned each page.  We were able to practice language and count at the same time!

Harry's FAVORITE counting manipulative were the Number-Bots.  The numbers actually transform into little robots!

Harry and I played with these by starting them all as numbers.  He would say the number then we would turn them into little robots and he would practice saying the colors!

The options are endless for using these in a primary classroom because they come with addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, and equal signs! Here are some ideas:

-Have the students put the robots in number order.

-Start the numbers off as robots and put them in a number sentence.  Then ask the students to turn the robots back into a number and solve the problem on a white board!

-Give the students two robots, and have them turn them into numbers and see who can create a bigger (or smaller number)

Why do kids love stamps so much?  I love them too, but I HATE the mess.  These Self-Inking Math Stamps are great because you don't need a stamp pad!  Harry was easily able to stamp his little heart out, they are super durable and fun at the same time.

First he just practiced stamping with the star and car shape to get the hang of it.  The top of each stamp shows the letter/shape so the kids can easily identify what they are stamping.

Here are some advanced ideas of how you can use these stamps:

- stamp different numbers and ask the kids to stamp that same amount of stars under it

-stamp out a number sentence

-have the students roll dice and stamp that same number

For more Lakeshore inspiration and ideas follow them on:

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Student "To Do" List Freebie

I am on a mission to get my students to embrace and learn how to be organized.  I feel like by the end of the week we have several different assignments that are due, and people are working at different paces.  I am constantly making lists of who needs to turn in what.  I decided I am going to start making my students be more responsible for keeping track of what work they need to finish...and that inspired this "student to do list."

I printed out a "to do list" on bright paper and laminate it for durability  so the students can write on the list with EXPO Dry Erase Markers  and then they can erase and modify their list as needed!  We have been using these ink indicator markers so the students can see how much ink is left in their EXPO maker.  #love

I let the students pick out what color list they wanted and then I gave a lesson on how and why to use "to do lists."  We talked about how they help us stay organized, keep us motivated to finish our work, and also allow us to feel accomplished once we finish our tasks!

My students have been keeping these on their desks or in their "unfinished work" folder.  You can even put velcro on the back and attach it to the side of the desk.  Their favorite part has been crossing out each task as they accomplish it and then erasing the whole list once they are done!

Grab this free printable in my TpT Store!

Be sure to grab a pack of EXPO Dry Erase Markers with Ink Indicator markers on your next Target run! ;).  You can also grab them on Amazon and other places that sell EXPO markers as well!  Please note that I am partnering with EXPO and am compensated for my work. I received product free of charge, but all thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.

Llama Classroom Theme

Guys.  Llamas are my new obsession.  I haven't gone completely overboard but I do want to have a lot of llama decor in my classroom!  We started the year with a couple llama back to school activities and I want to share them with you!

First up is my llama bulletin board!  This llama bulletin board is available in my TpT store and comes with these llama school quotes:

Llama quotes that are included:

-This class is a llama fun.-A llama learning happens here.-Learning is a llama fun.

All you do is pick your phrase, print the letters on colored paper, cut the letters out, and hang on your board!  I also included little llama clip art that you can open in a PPT and type on!

We did a llama back to school "get to know you" craft that is available in Fancy Free in 4th's store.  This little llama craft is SO CUTE.  The students filled out about 10 different questions about themselves and we attached them to the llama!

We hung the llama craft up on our bulletin board around my llama quote.  This board is in the hallway and it is my FAVORITE thing to greet me in the morning. 

 We started off teaching Growth Mindset by using these Llama Growth Mindset Task Cards.  We are explicitly teaching Growth Mindset in our classroom to set the expectations that we are to never give up and to constantly try and have a growing mindset. We can always learn from our mistakes and weakensses! Use these 16 llama themed task cards to give the students an opportunity to reflect on each scenario on how they would demonstrate a Growth Mindset. 

The students pick a card, and reflect on each scenario sharing how they can have a growth mindset (instead of a fixed one!).

LLAMA HAVE A GROWTH MINDSET!

So get ready, your are going to be seeing a lot of llama activities from me this year!

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