A Clipboard for Teacher: Holiday Gift Idea

If you planned to make a handmade gift for your child's teacher this holiday, there's just enough time to make a personalized clipboard.  If you plan right, it's possible to make one within a night, leaving it to dry overnight and  then have ready to wrap up as your child rushes out the door.

They're easy to make, making sure you allow for drying time is the most important part to plan for.  I like to take unfinished clipboards from office supply stores (usually about $2 a piece), paint the edges, and then use Mod Podge to decoupage on themed scrapbook paper. 

All the cute themed paper pads available in school themes make it very easy to design a cute clipboard.  Most papers within the stack will coordinate.  I found one by MAMBI at Micheal's that also had very nice sheets dedicated to each of the primary grades.  These were fun to use for some clipboards I made for my friend Margaret's daughter's teachers.  I simply paired the grade each particular teacher taught with the matching grade level sheet.  First grade for her youngest daughter and third for her oldest.

It's nice to include a fresh new pad of lined paper with the clipboards, your child can write a holiday message right on the top sheet, eliminating the need for a Christmas card.   We like to also slip a gift card underneath the clip, right on top of the pad of paper makes for a great presentation.  What teacher wouldn't love a little $5 or $10 gift card to a local coffee shop to treat herself to a nice hot beverage on the way to school in the morning?

Goodbye Kindergarten

This morning I waved goodbye to a kindergartener on the way to the bus with Daddy.

This afternoon, I greeted a first grader as she got off the bus. 

My soon to be six year old, the time has flown.  You are such a big girl now and I think the last day is actually harder than the first.  I will miss you so much when you are in school all day next year.   I will miss our quiet mornings, making breakfast with you, and going for walks before bus time.  But I am excited to continue to watch you grow into the beautiful young lady you are becoming!

The First Week of School

We made it through the first week of Kindergarten!  Isn't my big girl super cute in her special blue outfit picked out for the first day?  We always take a picture on our front porch with her school bag, here is last year and the very first first day of school, when she started 3 Year Old Preschool.   I can't believe how tall she's gotten and how she's lost the little girl chubbiness!

Last Wednesday she was so funny as we got ready, picking out just the right accessory for her hair, "Mommy, it's has to match!"  She wasn't too happy with having to cover up her pretty music print dress up with the raincoat.  Brad came home early for lunch and the four of us walked down the block together to our bus stop.  The day was overcast and rainy so we had to wait in a drizzle for it to arrive.  But no other drops were in evidence, no tears were shed, not by the five year old or the thirty-four year old!

Our little neighbor friend was in her preschool class last year and this year they're together again.  I'm thankful that they both get on and off the bus together and will head to the same room.  I was nervous about ER riding the bus even though it's only a few blocks.   We've been watching all the "big kids" get on and off at the park in our subdivision for years.  She's been looking forward to it so much that I knew there was no way I could not let her ride the bus. 

The kids on our block are all really good and watch out for each other. She had several older siblings looking for her and they've all been making sure she gets on the bus and off at the right stop. In fact, she's beginning to be annoyed by all their care and told me on Friday that she is not a baby and can do it by herself.  She knows exactly where her house is and doesn't need me to meet her at the bus.  Then she walked in front of me, not turning around, to prove it.  I'm certainly not going to stop taking her to and from the bus any time soon but it really made me thing, wow she's growing up so fast!

After our little kindergarteners climbed up the big steps of the bus, and gosh did they look little next to the bus, we jumped into our cars and beat them to the bus loop at school.  My neighbor drove me, while Brad watched LB at home, and both our kiddos were shocked to see us when they got off.  They walked by with the other students and the principal and I waved to ER. 

I think I'm already turning into the embarrassing parent, because she gave me "the look" and then pulled her hood farther over her head, LOL!  That's what it looked like at least, she told me after school that she pulled the hood up because she was afraid I'd be mad her bow was getting wet.  Hmm...not sure which interpretation to believe but she had me and the other parents laughing.  We went into the school to peek into the classroom and saw them head off to gym class before going home.

I've gotten a little bit out of her about class itself. They begin each day with their special. Monday is Book Club, which is like storytime in the libray. Tuesday and Wednesday they have gym class, Thursday is art and Friday is music. Last week they had choice time when they came back to class followed by circle time and snack. After that she got a little vague about what happened. There should be a recess some where in there but it rained all last week so no one went outside.

She talked quite a lot about all the different rules at the specials and how the gym teacher used her as an example of how NOT to dress for gym. I thought maybe she was upset but she was excited to be chosen for this "honor". Mainly he was pointing out why you shouldn't wear a dress or Crocs. The other big thing to remember is never ever go into the supply room without being told to by the gym teacher. Because if you do and something falls on you, you could be squashed FLAT! I wish you could've all seen and heard her telling us about that, she got quite animated and clapped her hands together for FLAT.

In art the class made a book and is working on collages to put inside. She informed me that a collage is, "When you stick a bunch of stuff together on a piece of paper. It's supposed to look like something, but I don't know what. Mommy, I didn't like to ask her. I know if it doesn't look like what it's supposed to, you'll like it anyway. Cause your Mommy and it's required or something like that. And I know it will go up on fridge anyway."

The third highlight she spent a lot of time telling me was about meeting their teacher's special friend, he's a racoon and there's a book about him. I asked her if it was The Kissing Hand and she went all quiet and got a shocked look on her face, "How did you KNOW?!!!" Ah it's good to still be able to impress your child as an all knowing parent! I explained to her that when I taught kindergarten I used to read that story on the very first day of school to my new students. She thought that was very neat and I think my coolness factor in her eyes went up a couple of notches. Good to be cool to someone!

She has also been taught a new little song that she sings like a broken record:

Tootsie roll, lollipop

We were talking

Now lets stop!

I told her I hope she follows what the words to that tune mean a lot better at school then at home. Because she's been belting that out and talking a mile a minute afterward! Oh yes and just yesterday she informed me she's learned one thing so far. The letter D says /d/. I have to say it's been rather amusing for this former kindergarten teacher to hear about kindergarten from the kindergartener. Makes me wonder what my students used to say about class time!



Credits: Louise Franks Designs: School Rules Mini Kit, Flowers from Carnival, Star & Ric Rac from Playful, Button from Be Inspired, and letter from Fabulous Fall. 

The First Day of School

The day I've been eagerly anticipating, while dreading it at the same time has finally arrived.  My little girl is off to "Big Girl" school and starts kindergarten today!  It is so different to be entering school for the first time from the other side.  ER is very excited to be in the elementary school we used to got to playgroup at.  It's also the same campus as her four year old preschool was, so it's nice that some things are a little familiar.

In a way the year kicked off with Open House last week.  We found her locker and went on a little scavenger hunt to familiarize ourselves with the room.  Parents got a mountain of paperwork to fill out and ER found two little friends in her class that she already knows.  Her teacher seems a little shy with the parents but got right down to chat with ER. 

I think this afternoon will be especially tough on me because ER is in the grade I taught for several years.  I think watching her go off to school would be bittersweet for me, no matter who the teacher was.  I'll be back to let you all know how the first day goes tomorrow, for both me and her!



Credits: Louise Franks Designs: School Rules Mini - a FREEBIE for her newletter subscribers and super cute don't you think :)  The scholarly owl is so fun and I love the blue that coordinates so well with ER's favorite color, also blue.

Template from the June Freebie by the Creative Team at Live, Capture, Create by Amy Stoffel.  Template has been altered slightly.

First Day of School Pictures

Here she is, my big girl all dressed up and ready for a new year! She'll be going to a four year old program three afternoons a week and was so eager to head back. She was full of energy this morning and insisted we walk over. She danced almost the whole way.

She picked out her outfit all by herself, and choose this one so that she could wear her favorite color blue and the brand new shoes she's asking to wear ever since the came in the mail.

Waiting outside of her classroom and anxious to get inside and make new friends! I think I'm the one taking this the hardest, I can't believe next year she'll be off to kindergarten and gone five days a week! Compared to last year, she really has grown a lot!



Digital elements are from the kit Little Scholar by Jady Day Studio.

First Day of Preschool

Yesterday was ER's first day of preschool and it went very well. Really! It was much better than I expected. There was no crying, ER didn't and neither did Mommy, although I think if she had started I probably would've in the car! Brad works down the street from the preschool coop and met us there. We arrived a little early because as Session Rep., my job was to take pictures of each of the kids with their family. He took her into the classroom and got her settled, while I was busy with the families. I looked in a few times and she was absorbed with playing with the activities set out on the tables.By the time I finished in the hallway, it was Circle Time. I said goodbye to her, and she reached out to kiss the palm of my hand and held out her little hand for my kiss. We've been reading the Kissing Hand, and I've told her that I'd kiss her hand and she'll kiss mine. That way whenever one of us misses the other, we can hold our palm to our cheek and feel each other's kisses. She really liked the idea of that. She waved happily to me as I walked out.

I thought for sure the tears might be coming, since the past few days I've been rather sad at the thought of my baby heading off to school. I've been torn between my feelings as a former educator and parent. The teacher knows it will be a good experience for her, she'll get to learn in a safe and nuturing environment. Her teacher is very warm and kind, ER took to her right away, and she just has a manner to her that is very good with young children. ER will get to see other kids, learn how to exist without Mommy at her side at all times, how to follow directions, and school manners and rules.
The mommy side of me, keeps thinking why do we make them grow up so fast? Why can't kids be little, play, and run around longer. Is it really necessary to start formal instruction so soon? I didn't go to preschool until I was four, how early is too early? Plus I feel I can teach her more and better than anyone else. After all, it IS what I did professionally before staying home.

So it's for socialization, not the academics that we're sending her. Is it worth it to essentially pay for a play date? Don't worry in the back of my mind, when I say that comment rather indignantly I KNOW that there is structure and a whole lot of learning going on too. I am a big proponent of developmentally appropriate activities and learning through play and hands on manipulatives, which is also the philosophy of her preschool. With all the second guessing and going back and forth in my mind, you can imagine how relieved I was that today went as smoothly as it did!

I do feel it was the right decision for us, even though in my heart I am still very sad that my baby will not be with me all day anymore. That other people will care for her because I won't be there. I think most of us go through a period of reflection on this, or at least I hope other people do too!
When I picked her up from the playground, Mrs. Pam told me that the art activity was to make a painted apple. Each child got to choose with color they wanted: red, green, or yellow. ER picked red and when her teacher asked her if she liked green, ER told her no, only red. Mrs. Pam crinkled her nose and told her that she doesn't really like green either because they can be sour. ER thought that the face she made was very funny and then the rest of the day, she'd ask Mrs. Pam if she liked green apples. That was her way of getting Mrs. Pam to make the funny face again. I thought it was nice that her teacher made it a point to tell us each a little antidote about our child's first day.

As we drove home ER agreed with me that school was fun, but added after a pause, "I missing you Mama. You kissin' me all day." I could see her rubbing her little hand on her cheek in the rear view mirror. When we got home, before she climbed out of the car, she said, "I gonna kissy you right now," and she did, as well as giving me a big bear hug. We ate snack and then I asked her what she wanted to play. She just wanted to snuggle on the purple couch and watch Olivia. And so we did, at one point ER had her arms wrapped around my waist and looked right up at me and said, "I love you Mama, Mama always comes back." So even though we took a big step today, she's still my little girl who loves to give me rapid fire kisses on the cheek. I think we'll both adjust to preschool, just fine.

{BTW Did you notice the layered digital frames I made for the last three pictures? I'm rather proud of the way they came out, especially because I had to figure out how to change the color of the rick rack from green to blue. The original color version is in my header. That and the tree button came from my header kit by Krystal Hartley. Otherwise, I used freebies I got off August Blog Train. It's rather tedious to go to all the blogs but a nice way to add to my digital collection, all it costs is the time it takes me to gather everything up. The top frame I did not make, it came already embellished and ready to go.}

It's the BIG DAY!!!

Wish us luck, it's ER's first day of preschool. Class is this afternoon, and it's going to be her first time away from us. I am pretty nervous, and can't believe this day is here or how fast the summer went by.

F is for Farm Field Trip: Part 2, A Digital Mini Story Book

I wanted to make a little book with our pictures from the field trip yesterday, and I wanted it to be finished as quickly as possible so we could begin reading it now and as we do our follow up farm activities. My solution, was to use these great page templates I found for free at Epson's Creative Zone. The ones I used for this project can be found here. I opened each page template in PS Elements, dropped in my pictures, and added a little bit of text. Now I can print them out as 4x6 prints slip into a photo album. I can even use their other kits to make more pages and add to our story book of memories quickly.

I am not sure why the text is blurry on some of the pages, I think it might have to do with the way I compressed them before uploading to Blogger, but they are not blurred on the copies we printed out.

Seasonal Sensations Family Activity Night

We belong to a preschool play group run through our school district called First Steps. We meet with other children of similar ages for one hour a week for free play, theme based activities, art, and circle time. ER really enjoys going "to school" and I like talking to the other Mommies. We've made some great friends in our local area, and had some fun play dates. Most of my friends from growing up live an hour or more away and only one has children close to ER's age so it's nice to have friends closer by.

Besides weekly play group about once a month there are parent education nights. This month we met for a family activity night and it was a lot of fun. The theme was Seasonal Sensations and the activities incorporated using our five senses, there were a lot of great things to do. Thanks so much to Julie, Nicole, and Fifi who put a lot of hard work into making play group so much fun and for planning and putting together this fun event.

We made floom out of cornstarch with water and food coloring. ER always likes getting to play with spray bottles! The floom has a goopy texture that solid yet liquid, very fun.

There was a table with different scents in bags for the kids to smell, such as cloves, cinnamon, and clementine peels. At that table we also peeled a clementine and talked about how it feels when we bite into it and how it tastes. It was the first time ER has tried peeling fruit; she got about half way through it before handing it to Daddy to finish, and she knew it was juicy when she bit into it and it sprayed juice all over her face. We also spread marshmallow fluff on graham crackers and talked about crunchy with her. At another table we made cute ornaments, and it's a good idea for crafting with young kids. A sheet of contact paper is folded in half and an ornament shape is cut out of it. Prepare this for the child ahead of time. Peel back half and have your child lay little squares of tissue paper on top. Unpeel the second half and fold down. Press firmly to seal. Add a hole to add a string for hanging and you're done. ER thought it was neat how the paper was sticky and glue wasn't needed.

We made a second cute ornament too. Each child was given a pre-cut ornament photocopied onto heavy paper. Then finger paint was used to decorate it and some sprinkles of glitter added shine. You could cut out the center and add your child's picture but since most of ER's artwork is in the center we will be leaving it as it. We usually paint with a paintbrush so I think ER was surprised to be told she could get her hands all messy this time.

The kids even got to take off their shoes! We walked on top of a fake furry bear skin rug, snapped big bubble wrap with our toes, stepped in sand, and then stood on chalk dust before making foot prints on a paper trail.

The last one was making fun treat, Snowman Soup. Place one pouch of hot chocolate, eight marshmallows, one candy cane, two chocolate kisses, and Snowman Soup poem in a plastic bag. Here's the poem:

Snowman Soup
Was told you’ve been real good this year,
Always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,
You’ll need to warm your spirit.
So here’s a little Snowman Soup, complete with stirring stick
Add hot water, sip it slow, it’s sure to do the trick!

I'm not sure if this was supposed to be part of the activities, but ER really liked the sensory table this week. So she took advantage of a chance to play in the "snow" one more time. I may have to give her cotton balls to play with at home too!