Scarecrow Themes for Make it Monday, Teacher Talk Tuesday, and Friday Freebie Make Up!!

Okay, today I am going to get three days in one with a Scarecrow Theme!
I was so impressed with these literature stories that I had to create a packet filled with activities to enhance literacy skills with a Scarecrow Theme. I use this in early November just before I begin Native and Colonial Americans.

 Scarecrow Pete is no ordinary scarecrow! He`s a straw-filled dreamer who uses books to transport himself to new places. When a young visitor stumbles upon Pete one sunny summer afternoon, he learns how magical reading can be. Together they devour book after book, meeting classic characters, delighting in new experiences and exploring new lands.

 A resourceful chicken seeks the help of her farm animal friends to solve a problem, while giving something of herself along the way. Chicken really admires Scarecrow’s hat. Scarecrow would gladly trade his hat for a walking stick to rest his tired arms. Chicken doesn’t have a walking stick to trade—but she knows someone who does. Thus begins her quest to find items to trade among her farm friends, all to obtain a walking stick to swap for Scarecrow’s hat. But why does Chicken want an old straw hat? 

 The world becomes an extraordinary place when viewed through the eyes of a scarecrow.
They perch high above gardens and fields, with borrowed coats and button eyes and pie-pan hands that glint in the sun. What else is there to know about scarecrows? Perhaps more than we realize. . . .

When winter descends upon the cornfield, the first snowfall brings about an amazing transformation: a lonely scarecrow, ignored and feared by everyone because of his flapping coat and jagged metal mouth, is covered by a thick blanket of snow. Before long, he is transformed into a jolly snowman and is loved by all!

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Now the Freebie for you contains the craft too!

Click here to download.

A day late for TbT...

Okay so I'm a day late for TbT and now I will be a day late for Friday Freebie BUT I promise it all just a bit behind schedule.
Today was suppose to be our Highland STRIDE where kids walk to raise money for our school.
The principal was going in the dunk tank because we raised close to $20,000.  WOW
Due to fog it was canceled so I was on a quick track to making new plans.  As you know teachers must be the most flexible people in the world.
But I do have some goodies for you today!
Do any of you remember making these?  I made them for every season and just found them tucked in a tub while cleaning out.  We wore them like an apron and filled them with paper clips, markers, stickers and all you could need while you were walking around.  LOL I think I will wear this next month.  Suppose a painters apron would work as well and fabric paint it.  Just a thought.

Today we finish up Johnny Appleseed and what a week we had.

I hate how the ugly school lockers and walls make them look but our Johnny's are adorable.

Next year I won't be teaching BUT I though he would look adorable with an apple in his hand.

So October 1st is right around the corner.  I took advantage of the extra time today to get ready.

Our patch is ready to be posted and my door is a "fall" welcome!

Note the polka dot theme for my room.

Actually it was luck!

Next weeks theme...

Have a good weekend all!  I will have the freebie tomorrow!! 

Go Green!!

My Reading Backpack

You will need:
Gallon Size Baggie with Sudent Name in permanent marker
Leveled Readers
Copy Machine

If you can check each of those off you can provide a valuable experience for your students.f
We all know the Top Ten Ways to Improve Reading...
READ, READ, READ, READ, READ, READ, READ, READ, READ, READ!

The Reading Backpack does just that and a little more. Check out the pages and if you like here is the link to make a copy!  I will continue to update comprehension pages sent home:)
Click Here

Smilebox

Today for Teacher Talk Tuesday I wanted to share a program I find so helpful in communicating with parents. It is free and provides the opportunity for you to bring your parents into your classroom. For working parents who never get to stop by or cannot attend field trips, this program makes them feel a part of their day. It is simple to use and as I said before "free". All you need to get started are a few pictures, parent emails, and a computer. Here is one I did yesterday of my class at the orchard. Michele This is the link to the site.

Make a photo slideshow

Field Trip Freebie!!

Click Here

Apple Print Shirts

Perfect for apple season and fun too!  We painted shirts but you could do just about anything:)

Take a sweatshirt or t-shirt.  No need for it to be new BUT it must not have print and be clean.  Any color will work.

Next you will need fabric paint and apples.  I use yellow, green, and red colors for the apples because on the darker shirt the red does not show up as well.  You will need a little brown for the stem and seeds.  The leaf is made with a little piece of sponge.

Cut your apple in half...top to bottom.  Stick a craft stick or fork in it to pick the apple up and print.

The harder apples work best.  We used a Delicious apple.

Keep wipes and paper towel close by because the paint does get on your hands.  You do not want messy fingertips to get on the shirt.

I think they turned out adorable!!

Fall Sale!!

Pumpkin Themed Pack!

I am so excited.
I just created a Pumpkin Themed Pack that will provide practice, assessment, and FUN all in one!

The anchor charts and vocabulary are filled with color and a pumpkin theme.

The practice pages are SAVE MY INK and provide activites that could be used for assessment or practice.

And what a delightful patch you will create.

There is reading, writing, word work, and mathematics all packed into on packet.

I'm so excited!!

Click here

Friday Freebie!

It's not yet Friday but with a big day ahead tomorrow I wanted to be sure to get this to all of you.
Happy Birthday Johnny Appleseed!!
Click here to download.

Internet Safety

Today we are having a presentation on Internet Safety.

This is such a "hot button" right now.

In going through my files I uncovered, "literally" below a stack of papers, this delightful story.

Worth the read and perfect for the young child.

Math Mat for 10 frames and number bonds...

My kiddos need all the practice they can get right know understanding number bonds and ten frames so...Pull out the linking cubes and you have the perfect Math Mat!

Here is the link to get it!

Math Mat