We Need Your Help!

Some fellow teachers and I have projects for school supplies posted on OO.com. We are in the runnings to have our projects fully funded. All we need is your help and it will only take a few seconds of your time. Please follow the link and Facebook "LIKE" each of the four projects on the page. THAT'S IT! Thanks so much in advance! If you have similar projects please leave your link as a comment and I will return all favors!

http://www.oo.com/safkids/leaderboard#!/projects/funded/false/query/arroyo%20vista%20elementary/pagesize/10/page/1

Pool Noodles and Funnels - Dollar Tree Finds!

Pool Noodles and Funnels - Dollar Tree Finds!

I found these pool noodles at the Dollar Tree! I also picked up a pack of 3 funnels for $1! We added them to our water play bucket area. The children were able to transfer water from one bucket to the other. This required some team work and it was great to see them working together!

Later we put funnels on both ends of the noodles and used them as telephones. The noddles vibrate slightly when you talk into them providing a great senesory input for the users.

Kate from Fun in ECSE nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award!

This award is named for the German word "Liebster," which translates to "beloved" or "favorite", and is given to a "new, up and coming blogger."

Here are the rules:

1. Link back to the person who gave it to you.
2. Post the award to your blog.
3. Give the award to at least 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers.
4. Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award

So here are people I am giving this award to.

+ Ms. Pasqua's Kinder http://mspasquakinder.blogspot.com

End of the Summ-arrgghh Treasure

End of the Summ-arghhh Treasure Hunt

Summer school came to a close yesterday and we ended with a Pirate Party! Our SLP (speech and language pathologist) devised a treasure hunt for us. While we had a dance party, she came in and hid a bunch of pirate clues around the classroom and hid the pirate treasure in the kindergarten playground. The clues were simple enough for our 3-5 year olds to figure out (with supports).

Some of the clues were:

• Where do we put the trash? -- trash can
• I sail on the ocean. -- a big box we turned into a pirate ship
• I go "flush!" -- the handrail behind the toilet
• You can water the flowers with me -- watering can
• You climb up on me and then go down. Weee! -- Slide
• Look for a shovel and bucket in me-- sand box

It was awesome to be able to turn our fun party into a speech lesson as well. Inside of the treasure box were our party supplies. Balloons, pirate tattoos, face paint, Pirate's Booty, Ice Cream Cones, and an ice cream scoop (the ice cream was safe in the freezer!).

When we came back inside we had one heck of a preschool party! Complete with a Disney pirate themed CD that I just got on clearance at Party City for 50 cents!

Here are some images from our party! Enjoy!

Pirate Pipe Cleaners Counting - Download

Arrrggh!! Counting with Pirates!

We are working on counting, number sense, and 1-to-1 correspondence. What better way than with Pirate Pipe Cleaners!? I saw a post on Pintrest about taping number cards to pipecleaners and having the children string the corresponding # of beads onto the pipecleaner. I created our Pirate version with calendar pieces I found on http://www.makinglearningfun.com.

 I thought that the cards on Making Learning Fun were too big for my purposes, so I simply copied the image and pasted in on to a Word document and modified the size. Afterwards I laminated them and used white duct tape to tape each card to a pipecleaner. I decided to go with yellow and gold pipecleaners to represent "treasure". Instead of beads (which I did not transport with us to our summer school classroom) we used various sized buttons (which our SLP did bring to our summer school placement).

Sorry about the poor quality!

I also added dots to help the students count along, or check their work. Each card has the number of dots as the number listed.

Adaptations For Different Learning Needs

• Some learners just worked on stringing beads to foster fine motor skills
• Others who struggle with fine motor skills were asked to identify the numbers, or count the dots.
• You could adapt this as a sequencing activity too.

Pirate Ship Handprint

Summer school is winding down, and so is our Pirate theme. I will be sad to see the Pirate go. My students were not all that interested in elaborate pretend play. If they did engage in it last year, it was usually with lots of prompting, and limited story lines. Towards the end of the year our almost kindergartners started to pretend to be Pirates while on the playground. I decided to spend this summer with our Pirate theme in the hopes that this play would continue. Unfortunately, our almost kinders decided to do Kindergarten Prep summer programs, and left us :( (I am SO excited that they progressed enough to enter general ed, but sad to see them go!). Needless to say, I was worried the Pirate theme would fall flat without the big kids modeling. Boy was I wrong! I was amazed at how quickly they took to the idea of Pirates. We put a large cardboard box in the pretend play area, and I figured I would have to paint it and do a lot of coaching before my kids would see it as a Pirate Ship. Again, boy was I wrong! They saw the "boat" and knew just what to do! I hope these skills continue into the fall!

Today we made Pirate Ship Hand prints as a sensory project. Some of my students are very uncomfortable with messy textures and so we try to expose them to safe activities to desensitize them to these textures. Hand print art is a great way to do this, and the parents always enjoy it too.

Of course if a child has a very intense reaction to having his/her hand near the paint he/she is not forced into touching it. We try to have them become okay with simply having the paint near them, and then we will build on this over time. One of my students was very unhappy about the paint, and so we simply traced his hand with a brown crayon.

What you'll do:

• This is a 2 day process. On the first day cut a white piece of paper into two "hot dog" pieces
• Day 1: Give the children a variety of "ocean" colors and "sunset" water color paints. (we used liquid watercolors and a variety of brush sizes). Have the children paint one of the papers in the ocean colors and the other in the sun.
• Let the papers dry over night and then glue the strips together.
• Day 2: Pour brown paint into a paper plate and place students hand in.
• Have the children open their hand wide (you may need to model this)
• Press down.
• Glue sails on the middle fingers

If I were to do this again, I would replace one of the "sails" with a pirate flag, but even without it the kids understood that it was a Pirate Ship or boat.

New Layout!

I updated my blog's layout last night and love it! I was able to get it all done with the support of Shabby Blogs FREE tutorials and freebies. If you are looking for something new they have a ton of cute stuff for use.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Pirate Ship Snack and Picture Directions Download

Pirate Ship Snack

We included our Pirate theme in snack time this week by building Pirate ships out of food!

What you'll need:

• Pretzel sticks
• Orange Slices
• American cheese
• Picture Directions

You can find the picture directions over at Making learning Fun!

Pirate Treasure Sorting and Worksheet Download

Pirate Treasure Color Sorting

After our Pirate iSpy Bottle activity we had left over jewels that would not fit down the bottle neck. My kids loved playing with them, so we incoporated them into an activity that worked on color word recognition. Each paper plate was labeled with the color word and the kids had to move around the table to place the jewels they picked on up the correct plate.

Some our learners were simply working on matching, rather than reading the words so the picture shows the words written in the corresponding color of each color word. You could make this harder by writing the color in Black. This activity could be made easier if you limited the number of colors you were using at once.

As a follow up activity I printed a worksheet I downloaded from the creators of Over the Moon. The children have to read the color word and color the pirate ship with the correct color.

To make the worksheet harder make copies in black and white.

Pirate iSpy Bottles: Free Download

Pirate iSpy Bottles

ARRGgghh! We incorporated our PIRATE theme into a sensory activity this week. The kids started out with an empty 8oz water bottle and used a shovel + a funnel to pour sand into it. Once they had sand they were free to add whatever "pirate's treasure" they desired. We had mini sea shells, glitter, buttons, pearls, various beads, and a variety of rhinestone shapes/sizes. In addition I lamenated mini paper pirate flags (download the pirate flags here), and pirate stickers.

After they were satisfied with their treasure we hot glued the bottle cap back on. The kids tied on a shiny piece of scrap fabric around the bottle's neck and their Pirate iSpy Bottle was complete!

In order to invite the children into this activity, I covered the table with a table cloth (easier to clean up the sand later) and a full sized pirate flag (found it on Amazon.com for less than $5!)

Encourage the students to lay the bottles on their side a roll it around. The different pieces of treasure they included will be revealed. This activity can easily be turned into a speech lesson if you have the children label and talk about the different things they find in their bottles.

Pirate Ship Jell-o Cups: Free Download

I found this cute idea on Pinterest and knew it would be a success with my little friends. They not only enjoyed making their "ocean cups", but loved eating them too!

What you need:

• 2 boxes of Jell-o (this will probably make more than you need - depending on your class size- but ensures that everyone gets a turn mixing)
• follow directions on the packet
• I let all of the kids have a turn pouring in some water, and mixing. (highlight how the color of the Jell-o changes as it gets wet)
• Have the kids use soup laddels to pour Jell-O into their cup
• Let set over night and add orange slices to each cup.
• Add a pirate flag toothpick (you can look for them in party supply stores. I made my own. Download the pirate flags here)
• Enjoy!

Sensory Play - Water Beads

We had this AWESOME light table dontated to use from Donorschoose.org. (We are so lucky!) The light table is a sensory activity, perfect for students with sensory integration issues. One of our favorite things to play with on the light table are water beads (another sensory based play material).

Be sure not to waste your money on fancy water beads. I found this 10 pack of water beads on Amazon.com for $1.69! Of course I bought several sets. The process of hydrating the tiny water beads is also an exciting activity for little people.

Penguin Couting

Penguin Counting

If your students are anything like mine, they love goldfish crackers. The use of the crackers has not only made this counting game fun, but also highly motivating. This counting game will help your students recognize numbers (we do 1-20, but you could use any numbers you wanted), as well as works on 1:1 correspondence.

 First you need to print out a picture of a penguin (we made these from construction paper, but you could easily just use clip art). Make sure to laminate them before giving them to the kids.

We give the kids a choice of which numbered penguins they want to use. We allow them to keep all the goldfish they use for counting, and eat them after they are finished working (the kids quickly realize that the higher the numbers the pick, the more crackers they get).P

Free Download: Penguin Matching Center

Download HERE

Use this template to creat a matching center of your desire. Simply cut out an extra set of fish and have the children place them over the grey fish outline. We are using it to match number words with their numeral counterpart. You could use it for anything you wish, alphabet recognition, sight words, etc.

Biking Our Way to Success!

Biking Our Way to Success!

www.donorschoose.org

My Students: "Big wheels keep on rolling!" However, this is not the case if you are a preschooler at our school. The kindergarteners have two very old bikes, which they allow us to use once a week, but this limited time is not enough for our developing gross motor skills! We need our own preschool sized bikes!
Our class is a Pre-K for students between the ages of 3-5 with special needs. Their disabilities differ, but most are placed on the Autism spectrum. We are located on an elementary school campus and are the only Pre-K in the district.

My students have their days, planned full of interventions, assessments and therapy sessions. They are all such little troopers that face great difficulties daily. When they come to school, I want them to be excited and happy. School should be challenging, but there's no reason it can't also be fun!

Despite their disabilities, the students in my classroom are just like any other preschooler. They love coming to school and exploring their environment in hands-on ways. We love music, dancing, and art (especially the messy kind!), but our favorite time of the day is story time! If you were to visit our classroom, you would probably be introduced to our favorite book, "Pete the Cat," within the first five minutes of your arrival (probably sooner!).

My Project: The students in my class eagerly await Fridays because they know they get to ride the "big kids" bikes. Unfortunately, because of the kindergarten's recess schedule, we only have access to the bikes one day a week. This simply is not enough time to help develop my student's large muscles and coordination. Many of the students in my class have delays in coordination, balance, and gross motor development. Our occupational therapist has suggested that many of the students in my class should start riding tricycles, in order to help encourage development. We are requesting one small bike and one bigger bike in order to accommodate all of the children in our class. We would also love a scooter to help practice balance and coordination for some of our more advanced students.
My students are so excited for the day that they can use bikes freely at school. Our new bikes will be well loved by the students in my class. Your donations will help ensure that the wheels of development keep on rolling!

My students need 2 cycles and a scooter to help practice coordination and to foster gross motor development.

I Love Donors Choose!

A Sensational Experience!

I love Donorschoose.org



My Students: A hand dryer, a toilet flushing, a hug from a friend! All of these very normal sounds and sensations can be overwhelming for the students in my class because of their placement on the Autism Spectrum. We need a way to experience with our senses in a safe and structured way.
Our class is a Pre-K class for students between the ages of 3-5 with special needs. Their disabilities differ, but most are placed on the Autism spectrum. We are located on an elementary school campus and are the only Pre-K in the district. My students have their days planned full of interventions, assessments and therapy sessions. They are all such little troopers that face great difficulties daily. When they come to school, I want them to be excited and happy. School should be challenging, but there's no reason it can't also be fun! Despite their disabilities, the students in my classroom are just like any other preschooler. They love coming to school and exploring their environment in hands-on ways. We love music, dancing, and art (especially the messy kind!), but our favorite time of the day is story time! If you were to visit our classroom, you would probably be introduced to our favorite book, "Pete the Cat," within the first five minutes of your arrival (probably sooner!).

My Project: Autistic children often have difficulties organizing and processing sensory input. Sights, smells, touches, and sounds may be ignored entirely, or overreacted to. When sensory input is not being managed properly, problems in behavior, learning, and attention may arise. We have attempted to create a miniature sensory center in our classroom by using a radio, a swing, tumbling mats, and aromatherapy; however, we would love to expand this area in our classroom in order to better address our student's entire sensory needs. We are requesting one light table in order to explore sight in a hands-on way. The students will be able to use the translucent Prism Blocks and Climbers in order to explore color, light, and depth perception. The Magna Tiles will be an interesting way for the students to adjust to resistance and pressure. The bean bags will help our students adjust to sitting on different textures, by being enveloped in a soft, squishy chair.
Our class is designed to help prepare students to be able to function in a classroom before entering kindergarten. Some of the biggest issues facing Autistic students in the classroom are behavior, attention and sensory input management. We greatly desire a way to help our students better handle sensory situations, and thereby preparing them to be successful students later on. This sensory station will be a wonderful way to ensure our student's success and development!

My students need a sensory station that will help them with their Autism, as well as give them the sensory input necessary to better help them explore their environment.

http://www.donorschoose.org/taf-p/677589?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sendfriend

Free Download: "Way Up High In the Christmas Tree!"

Way up high on the Christmas tree,

____ little candy canes winked at me.

So I shook that tree as hard as I could

Down came a candy cane,

Mmm it was good!

All of the candy canes on the tree are attached using velcro. When you start ask your students to help count how many candy canes are on the tree, then write (or have a student write) the number on the blank line. Each time you sing the song, remove one candy cane and recount how many are left on the tree. Continue singing until you wind up at zero! For a free download of the candy canes click here.

December Book Alert!

In anticipation for December I just bought the book, "Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight". it's another book in the series by Jerry Pollata! I'm expecting it to be as popular as "Who Will Carve the Turkey this Thanksgiving?"

Good news you can get it on Amazon for as low as a penny ( plus shipping)! Just follow the link

Heads Up for Next Year!

This is such a great book for little ones! My kids ask for it daily (multiple times a day). Each page features a different animal and why it wouldn't be a good choice to carve the turkey. We like making the animal sounds as we go. It finally ends with grandpa and grandma arriving and my students race to be the first to point out which adult is holding what. It's probably too late this year, but I'd keep an eye out on scholastic for it to go on clearance soon (it's already only around $4 with scholastic). Enjoy!

-Miss Timaree

Free Download! - Gingerbread Man Puppet

I made gingerbread puppets this weekend and although it isn't even Thanksgiving, I just couldn't wait to post them! You can download them here. If you do download the puppets please feel free to leave me a comment!

Directions:

-Download the puppets
-Cut out and laminate
-Tape popsicle sticks to the back
-Have Fun!

A Song to Sing with your Puppets

(To the tune of Frere Jacques)

Gingerbread, gingerbread,
Yum, yum, yum, Yum, yum, yum.
I like gingerbread, I like gingerbread,
In my tum, In my tum.



Linky Party!

A Special Kind of Class alerted me to the linky party happening over at What the Teacher Wants. As a new member of the teaching blog world, I'm really excited about this chance for community!

1.  What are you thankful for in your classroom?
Our new iPad. Our school has something called "Wish Night" sponsored by the PTA where parents are encouraged to donate money to help provide for the "extras" in public education. One parent made a very generous donation to be used for the purchase of an iPad 2, case, and apps! We are so excited, and the kids can't get enough of it! Even some of our less verbal kids have learned the word iPad. Gotta love it.

2. What person are you most thankful for?My family, friends and (especially lately) my more experienced coworkers, who make me look good even when I feel clueless!

3. What 3 blogs are you most thankful for?
Certainly more than 3 but here you go:

-A Special Kind of Class

-Teach Preschool

-Kindergarten Klub

4. What guilty pleasure are you most thankful for?

Reese's Fast Break candy bars (a Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with nougat!), Diet Coke, Hulu, Pandora (my morning commute is 1.5 hours YUCK!)

5. What are you most thankful for?

The new transmission in my car, which makes me trust it (somewhat) more than I did before :)

Link Up!