Favorite Stories: Room on the Broom!

Currently, my favorite Halloween book is Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson! My students always love the whimsical story, lively illustrations and the rhythm of the text almost feels musical when read aloud (There is, in fact, a musical version that can be heard HERE!).

I always read the book a few times, do a little dramatic play with some props and then towards the end of the week I show the short animated movie - the kids really love this story!

Since the story is repetitive, it great for having the children join in while reading and to work on retelling skills afterwards. I really wanted my students to be able to engage with this story over and over again in new and different hands-on ways, so I created a few activities to go with it - they can be found HERE. 

My students' absolute FAVORITE activity is this Build & Balance Retelling activity: 

Students have to balance the broom by carefully stacking the storytelling props on top of each other. I created several printable options including foldable picture props, pictures to attach to wooden blocks (or these BLOCKS), or pictures sized for DUPLO type blocks. Several options make for quick and easy differentiation! 

The foldable stacking pieces are the easiest to balance and the quietest, but are more fragile than the pictures sized for wooden blocks. The Duplo pictures are great for adding to your building area and they stick together so there isn't really much balancing, just building. 

Build it up, but don't knock it down! 

For older students, I added some worksheet options to go with the activities including pages for retelling, creative writing, problem solving, main idea and story elements. There are MANY different options for each, which makes for easy differentiation! 

I also collected these great dramatic play props so that the children can act out the story!

How to Make your iPad into a Secret Message Decoder

I recently discovered that I can set my iPad or iPhone up to decode Secret Message activities!

This means that if you have a newer Apple device, with iOS10 or higher, you don't need to purchase one of the decoder options or spend time making a decoder; simply follow the directions below to adjust the color settings on your device and then set a shortcut so that you can access the Red Tint  setting quickly!

First, you need to enable the 'Red Tint' setting.

Go into SETTINGS - GENERAL - ACCESSIBILITY - DISPLAY ACCOMMODATIONS - COLOR FILTERS. Next, click the toggle at the top to turn on the color filters option.

Scroll down until you see sliders for Intensity and Hue; slide both all the way to the right for red. The red tint will not show up in pictures or screenshots, but will alter what can be seen through the camera on the screen.

Your screen will look a bit like this with the red tint on:

For quick and easy access to this setting, you'll want to set up a shortcut.

Go into SETTINGS - GENERAL- ACCESSIBILITY - ACCESSIBILITY SHORTCUT. Click on the 'Color Filters' option on the list. Now the red tint setting can be easily accessed by triple clicking the home button. If you have multiple accessibility shortcuts set up, you'll need to choose the Color Filters option from the list

When you go to use your shortcut, you'll press the home button quickly three times. Depending up on what app you have open, you might have to choose 'Color Filters' from a list of shortcuts you have set up. It looks like this:

Now you're ready to use your device to reveal the hidden words in one of my Secret Message Literacy Centers! But before you get started, I highly suggest making sure that your device is well protected just incase it's dropped!

Simply turn on the Red Tint setting and then go to the Camera App. Point the camera of your device at one of the Red/Blue Secret Message cards to reveal the hidden word; you will be able to view the word on the screen of your device like this:

Give this activity a try with this FREEBIE! It includes the first 10 Fry Sight Word Secret Message cards, 3 different recording worksheets and an answer key.

For more Secret Message activities check out THESE posts: 

Montessori on a Budget

Even if you’re a Montessori newbie, I’m sure that you already know that starting Montessori classroom or homeschool program can become pricey very quickly! Authentic Montessori materials are made from high quality and sturdy materials, making them a somewhat hefty investment right up front. Some materials can be homemade relatively easily if you have a little skill with some paint, glue and sandpaper, while other materials take a bit more elbow grease and a moderate skill set with power tools. I’m not especially skilled with power tools, but know my way around the craft store pretty well and can spray paint just about anything!

In addition to classic Montessori materials that make up the foundation of a Montessori program, a variety of other materials are needed to supplement and deepen the opportunities for learning. Supplemental materials can be purchased from companies providing Montessori materials, but often at a high cost. In my experience I’ve found that many supplemental items can be purchased cheaply from thrift stores, big box stores, yard sales and other less obvious sources if you can think creatively!

Check out my favorite was to Montessori on a Budget:

Dollar Store Montessori: Top Ten

Even if you're new to Montessori, you probably quickly realized that Montessori isn't cheap! I'm always on the look out for items to use in my classroom and finding things that don't break my bank account are awesome! Here are my top ten Montessori items that I usually find at my local dollar and discount stores. 

1. Plastic Trays - The dollar store usually has tons of different tray options that are perfectly sized for young children to hold and carry. Since many Montessori activities are presented on individual trays, it’s important to have lots of trays available. I also like to color coordinate with seasonal themes, so when I find a try that I LOVE, I usually buy several of each in every color that they have (ugh!). Look for clear plastic trays in the party section and colored plastic trays in the kitchenware section.

2. Plastic Baskets - While I personally love natural baskets, I simply cannot find enough of the same basket at a low price to effectively organize materials, especially in the language area. Dollar stores often carry a large selection of  plastic storage containers and colored plastic baskets that are perfect for organizing language materials and math manipulatives.

3. Plastic Bowls - I’ve had a difficult time finding large enough plastic bowls for mixing, washing and scrubbing activities or have found containers that are large enough, but were way to pricey for me to purchase. I’ve luckily found some very large bowls, buckets and basins in multiple colors at dollar stores near my school.

4. Small Glass Bowls-  I use tons of small bowls to hold various manipulatives when setting up tray works. I’ve found several size variations of small glass bowls in the kitchenware section and they usually come in packs of 3 or 4 at a time which is perfect when we accidentally break a few each month.

5. Colored Sand - In the floral section, I frequently find colored sand in small bags which is perfect for my sand writing tray. I switch out the color of sand about once a month – sometimes I add glitter to the sand to make it more fun.

6. Napkin Holders - I am fully aware that this seems like kind of an odd item to have on my list, but really the small plastic napkin holders are perfect for holding extension worksheets or recording pages right next to the activity. They hold the papers upright and keep them neat and organized.

7. Tweezers/Tongs/Grabbers - There are so many different variations on the tongs/tweezers and grabbers that are available. I’ve consistently found sets of several types of tweezers in the health and beauty section as well as various size tongs in the kitchenware section. On occasion, I’ve even been lucky enough to score chopstick like grabbers in multiple colors!

8. Manipulatives - The dollar store is a great place to find a variety of manipulatives for tray works from dry rice or beans to tiny erasers and craft materials. Super for practical life and math centers! I recently found plastic 'gems' in several different colors... 

9. Sponges & Cleaning Supplies- Since every wet work needs a sponge, I'm always looking for a variety for colors to match to my works - I've found great variety in colors at dollar stores and you often get 2-4 sponges for only $1. I've also been lucky enough to find small dust pans and brushes, scrub brushes and dish brushes in multiple styles, shapes and colors which are perfect for many practical life works. 

10. Seasonal Items - Since I switch out my trays monthly and follow seasonal holidays and trends, I'm constantly on the lookout for seasonal specialty items that can be pretty pricey at other stores. I stock up on seasonal 'party favors,' and small decor items for use in various classroom activities. I recently purchased several different types of Easter eggs, easter grass, small blue eggs and some flower shaped gems that will be useful in my practical life and math activities in the coming weeks.

BONUS Idea - 
11.  Unique Containers - I have a basket of various containers for opening, closing and putting small objects in and out of as a fine motor activity. I'm always on the lookout for interesting little containers to keep this activity new and exciting for my students. I've found so many small containers that open in a variety of ways at the Dollar Store - check out the seasonal candy section for little tins, seasonal shaped containers and interesting boxes. The health and beauty section also has many options. And look for coin purses and little zipper bags near the makeup or by the checkouts.

Craft Store Score: Ten Frame Box

(affiliate links included for your convenience)

Last year, on one of my frequent strolls through the craft store, I found this plain little plastic box in the beading aisle (I don't even bead, so I'm not sure why I was even in this aisle in the first place!).

Ten Frame Box

Most people would be rather unimpressed with this little plastic craft supply storage, but I'm positive any teacher of young children will notice immediately why I was so enamored by it... It has 10 pace and is a real-life hands-on ten frame! Perfectly aligned with common core just as it is! (And I didn't have to make it myself, modify it or pay a ton of money for it at a teacher store!)

I promptly bought one of these magnificent little boxes and tested it out in in my classroom. My students absolutely loved counting little objects into the box and it worked perfectly for my students who struggled with fine motor challenges - the items stay in their spaces baring completely knocking the entire box off of the table!

Ten Box Counting

I did end up modifying the box just a tiny bit by using a little hot glue to affix the dividers securely in the box, but otherwise, it was perfect just as it is!

Initially, I kept the box in my circle time basket and had each of my preschoolers (this was a special education preschool classroom) choose a type of manipulative to count into the box to practice the number of the day. Each student took their turn while their peers practiced waiting, watching and listening to the students before him/her. The repetition and hands-on nature of this activity were perfect to reinforce counting, one-to-one correspondence, left-to-right object placement, order, organization, active looking and listening and more!

A colleague observed the little box in action and asked to borrow it to see if her students responded as well as mine had. I dutifully lent it to her, and never saw it again! Her students loved it just as much (maybe even more) than mine did. I bought another box and it too disappeared after lending it to another teacher in my building. I'm now on to my third or fourth box...

Recently, in my new classroom, I got brought the box out again and made some ten frame cards that fit almost perfectly under the box. The cards show the numeral and number word on the left and indicate which boxes should be filled to create the proper quantity.

I set it up as one of our Math works for March... I'll be changing out the manipulatives for Easter next week!

March Math Work

You can get a FREE set of ten frame cards HERE if you'd like to try them out in your classroom.

The actual box that I used can be found at Michaels Stores or online HERE

Amazon has similar pack of three Bead Boxes that are a little smaller in size (maybe easier to store if you need more than one of them).

Ten Frame Math Center

Easter Math Center FREEBIE!

(Affiliate links included for your convenience.)

My students loved the self-checking St. Patrick's Day clip cards that I made a couple of weeks ago - so much that I made another set for Easter!

The set includes clip-cards for numbers 1-10 and have been carefully designed to be printed double-sided to create a self-checking center. 

I absolutely LOVE that my students can check their own work - and they love it too! I've put them up in my TpT store as a FREEBIE! 

Prep for this center is pretty easy - all you need to do is print (double-sided if you want them to be self-checking), laminate & cut. You'll need some kind of clips for students to mark the number - you could even use a dry erase marker or crayon if you wanted to! 

Skills: one-to-one correspondence, matching set of objects to numerals, counting to answer "how many?"

Aligned with Common Core standards: K.CC.A.1, K.CC.B.4, K.CC.B.5