Bookmaking Fun

I was bopping around on various blogs today and saw Mrs. Tabb's post over at First Grade Awesomeness. She was sharing photos of her summer send off and it triggered a memory of a site I found a while back. It's Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord's bookmaking site. She has wonderful, easy to follow steps for making blank books with/for children. Check out her printable & video on using or rather re-using paper to make a "HotDog" type booklet:

What a great summer project..making blank books for my Kindergarten students. Or save the printable for parent volunteers for next school year!
Here's a link to her printable for a STEP BOOK

Video Tutorial for Step Book

She also has steps to make an Accordion Book

Video Tutorial for Accordion Book

SeaHorse Pattern Freebie

As part of theTBA Freebie Friday, I would like to share something from my Sea Life unit....
My Kindergartners are loving every minute of our Sea Life unit. We created a mural of the ocean for our classroom. As we learn facts about an animal, we have an art project to make the animal and add it to our mural. Sometimes the kids draw free-hand. Other times we draw together step-by-step. To make the Seahorse we traced patterns. Here are the directions a copy of the pattern we use plus a couple of samples to view.

Click image for printable pattern

Treats are in the Lounge

Since I have become an author over at Teaching Blogs Addict, I have discovered many wonderful and talented teacher blogs. Along the way I find myself hopping into all sorts of interesting blogs. Today I stumbled on to Cookies and Cups. I think I gained a few pounds just LOOKING at all the images of wonderful treats. I don't know about your school, but we have "Treat Day" every Wednesday. Teachers  & staff sign up to bring treats for everyone. Our staff is so small now that this year I had to sign up for 4 days to bring treats. By my last turn I felt a little burned out....Cookies and Cups has wonderful recipes and photos to go with.  This blog definitely gets a HOT TOPIC award, we'll be talking about this one in the lounge at school!
I can't wait to try some of the recipes over the summer and have something new to bring for treat days next school year! Check out Cookies and Cups:

There's also a GREAT idea for creating a treat for kids. My plan is to make these as a WELCOME TO KINDERGARTEN item for next fall!: Pencils they are too cute!

Handy Crabs

I thought I'd share this oldie but goodie... We are learning about Sea Life in Kindergarten. We created an "ocean mural" in our room and as we learn about different animals, we make that animal as an art project to add to our mural. This is how we made our crabs: I use red, orange or combine red & orange paints to give our crabs some variety.

Paint hands and place on paper like this

After it is dry, use marker to outline crab. Cut it out!

Sometimes the kids accidentally cut off a crab leg, but we don't worry because crabs can lose a leg and eventually grow a new one! ;-)

Screenshots for Mac or PC users

I was asked how to take a screenshot of an image on your computer and place it in your blog. The process is fairly easy, it differs slightly depending on which platform you are working on Mac:





 MAC




or a PC:

A wish for you all

Wishing every Mom a very Happy Mother's Day. My mama left this life nearly 10 years ago to join her three sons in heaven. I feel her love upon me all the time and miss her more than words can say. For those of you who are able, be sure to give your mama a loving hug on this day, and every day that you can! Happy Mother's Day to you too Mama!

And the Winner is.....

Mrs. Owens of Go Fourth With Mrs. Owens! She gets her choice of a gift certificate from TPT, Target or Amazon.com. A HUGE THANKS to all followers for joining in on the fun In The Teacher's Lounge!
Can't wait 'til the next give-away!
Congratulations Mrs. Owens...Please contact me to let me know which gift certificate you would like.