Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Summer Sanity

This is the Summer of getting my Centers organized and re-energized for the FALL!  I spent most of last Summer finishing my classwork to get my Texas Teaching License ... so after hours of reading and taking quizzes and re-taking quizzes and MORE reading ... I did not feel like looking at lessons. I made a vow that this Summer would be my Summer of Sanity! And I'm having a blast!

I made a trip to Hobby Lobby yesterday afternoon and I'm glad I did ... they had many things at 80% off and so I was able to buy a few things for my classroom that I will take pictures of and share later ... but one thing I can share now is MY Learning Targets / Name Board that I will place right outside my classroom.


The board was $3.60 ... I couldn't pass it up! I walked around for a while deciding what I would do with it in my classroom!  I knew I would be able to do something with it .... but what?
I picked out some cute "blingy" letters that say mrs. E. and added those to the board. I also purchased some Velcro and a couple cute wooden cut-outs that I will use during the year.

I am going to post the Learning Targets on this board so that when parents or visitors are walking through the building, they will know what our class is working on.  The Velcro will hold the cute little cut-outs that also go along with many of our learning targets, so that I'll be able to change them out as needed.


 
UP - CYCLED CENTER
I 've also been saving bottled water lids for about 7 months! I pulled out my colored Sharpie's last night and made two complete sets of Upper and Lower case letters for a matching game for one of my letter/writing centers this year. I will keep collecting lids and I would like to have 4 complete sets. I then will make some Word Family games with the lids! This is an easy and inexpensive center!
 
 
I saw this project out on Facebook and wanted to make it last Summer, but I'm glad I didn't because after thinking about it I decided to give it a little twist. At the beginning of the school year we study Numbers 1 - 10 and also 11 - 20 in Math, but we also study Texas and Texas symbols in Social Studies. So, I decided to link both together. I put ten craft sticks together and proceeded to tape them together so that they stay together. Then flip them over and add some Mod Podge.

 
Paint some Mod Podge across the sticks and then carefully lay the picture you would like to use onto the sticks.
Who doesn't love Mod Podge!

 
 Once you position the picture, then gently Mod Podge over the picture so it adheres to the sticks. My first Texas Symbol - The Texas State Fish ... the Guadalupe Bass.
Then be patient and let it dry ... it took a couple of hours because it is HUMID today!

 
  I then cut out the description of the picture which I Mod Podged to the back of the sticks ... it will be a little difficult to read once it is cut into the puzzle, but I will also have hard copies in the center, so children and I can read what the symbol is.
Finally, I added numbers and tallies ... it still is a little tacky so I'm going to let it continue drying before I cut it apart.
 
 The final thing you need for this project is an X-acto knife ... I am going to let the puzzles dry over night before I cut them ... I feel that the humidity is making the Mod Podge take a bit longer to dry.
 
 Here is the ARMADILLO!!!!  The Texas State Mammal (small)
I think the kids will love using these and I will be able to get dual usage out of them!
Math and Social Studies!

 
For my 11-20 Number puzzles, I am going to use some Community Helper pictures and I am also going to use colored craft sticks and put them in color patterns!



 

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Azle Main Street Arts Festival


 
A GREAT way to start my Summer ... if you missed it -- you need to check it out next summer ... Azle Main Street Arts Festival . The festival had Food, Music, Art, Authors & FUN!

This was my view from my table before the Festival started. I was very excited because RED debuted at this EVENT! One little girl who just graduated from Kindergarten on Friday wanted a Red book ... her mom said "are you sure?" and she said "YES! I want to have a book of Memories of things I learned in Kindergarten!" ... that made my day!  I am also deeply honored because a couple children with special needs wanted Muffin's first book; because of it's rhyming and repetitive verse! AND ... two school counselors now have a copy of The Life of Bud .... I love that my books are out there making memories!

I loved this piece ... A Venus Fly Trap ....

This painting of the Longhorn stared at me all weekend ...
I love it because it looks like a Photo ... but it is a painting.
Wish I could have afforded it ...

Art Work from some of the local students
and authors in the background!

I loved the simplicity and complexity of these mini watercolors!
 
AMERICAN IDOL top 12 Winner -- Trevor Douglas was one of the
featured Musicians!


He's a sweet kid .... I love that he LOVES Science too!
 
I had Trevor sign one of my RED Goes To Kindergarten bookmarks ...



 
Local Sculptors doing their thing ... they are so patient!
 


Working his magic -- doing symmetrical watercolors ... fun to watch! 
 
Had a great weekend at the Azle Main Street Arts Festival .... hope I'm invited back next year!
 

 

Monday, June 8, 2015

DEAR Texas Continued


THE THINKERY - Austin, TX

Back on April 12 & 13, Texas Association of Authors proudly put together a wonderful State - Wide book event Drop Everything and Read Texas ... I was excited to be a part of this and traveled to San Marcos, TX on Sunday, April 12 and had an incredible book signing at the Half-Price Bookstore there.  But ... I was also honored to be able to do a Member Event at The Thinkery in Austin, TX on Monday, April 13.  If you have not been to The Thinkery -- it is a hands-on Science and Nature Center for children! There was so much going on that I wished I was 4 and could just join right in!!!!
 
When I arrived, the staff was incredibly friendly and immediately whisked me and all my book stuff to a place behind the counter and then showed me where story time would take place. They then told me to go EXPLORE!!!! 
A room with all kinds of gadgets for kids to try!

A GIANT Light Bright board ... how super cool is this!!!!!!!!!

This is GENIUS! A giant plexi-glass area where kids can use washable paint -- they give the kids smocks and paints and let them have at it! There is a gutter at the bottom of the glass on the other side and spray water bottles so you can spray and wipe off spots to paint!
Does anyone want to make me a smaller version for my classroom?????????

The Simple Machines wall ... I love the step ladder so kids can get to the different parts and really explore!


The water filtration area ... the water flows through the system if everyone is working the simple machines along the way!  They had little smocks for the kids to wear so they don't have to be soaked ... they also can take off their shoes ...
The Healthy Periodic Table ...
This area was a huge kitchen and kids were eating a healthy snack which included these LOVELY huge strawberries!!!! 
 
It was then time to set up and do my book reading.
They had wonderful little round cushions (FROM IKEA) for all the kids to sit on
If anyone wants to get those for my classroom ... that'd be great!
You can see the little girl getting her red cushion from the holder
 
This little guy was super duper cute!

I had about 30 kiddos for the book reading ...

They were so well-behaved and it was a great experience!!!!
The paper-mache elephant was behind me -- it was made from notes that kids from The Thinkery made ... very cool -- don't think I could tackle something this big in my room, but it'd be fun to try!
This place is incredible! 
If you live in the Austin, TX area, and you have children, it's a MUST see!!!
 
I have driven by the Collin Street Bakery many times on my way to countless events, so
since I had a little time on a Monday afternoon, I decided to stop in.


I didn't realize they are famous for fruitcake!
But, I decided to get some cookies and a latte!
All I can say is YUM!!!!!!!!!

 
DEAR Texas is planned for April 15 & 16, 2016 -- if you have a bookstore or are an organization that would like to host authors ... please let me know or you can contact Alan at TxAuthors@live.com or follow on FB Texas Association of Authors
or follow on Twitter @TexasAuthors.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Sunday, May 17, 2015

RT Convention FUN!


My husband and I brainstormed back in the fall on a very cute RED giveaway idea! I ordered all RED crayons from Crayola and he googled for a little bag to hold the crayon ... he found the perfect little crayon holder from ClearBags.com ... I was so excited that everything got delivered in time for me to make these to give away


I printed the book cover with the release information for RED
put the Red crayon in the ClearBag and tied them together with ribbon

I purchased a Red flower pot from Target and placed a Red plastic
tablecloth at the bottom to lift up the give away

VOILA!!!!  I love them! And everyone who purchases a Red book through me
will ALWAYS get one of these!!!!!!

On another stormy May day in Texas, I hopped in the car at 6:15am and headed off to the Dallas Hyatt Regency. I was a little nervous driving in the storm ... but took it slow and steady and it was exciting to get there! Reunion Tower is right next to the Hyatt. One of these days maybe I'll take a trip to the top of that! Did Valet parking for my car since it was pouring down rain ... and when I walked into the HYATT I saw this and RT BOOKLOVERS CONVENTION projected on this huge column and was sooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!
Here is my table .... I love setting it up
And can't believe I used to go to book events with 1 book... soon I'll have 5 -- YIKES!!!!
 


The view from my table ....


Our Badges ....
Yes ... Katherine Boyer made her way to the convention -- she had to check out RED! (left)
Cindy Nord (in full costume), Me, and Katherine (right)
I think I need a selfie STICK! 
 
Kathryn Falk ... WOW -- she does an amazing job putting on this
convention!!!!
 
My neighbor --  YA Author
Katie Charles
 
You cannot attend the RT (Romantic Times) Convention without
seeing COVER MODELS!!!

I sat across from this Cover Model (Don Allen) all day ... tough job!
Yep ... that's him on the front of that book!!!

 
OKAY ... when this Cover Model (James D. Magnussen) stops at your table and wants to buy your books for his 3 kids...
you're like "REALLY you have 3 KIDS!?!!!?
What a sweet guy ... hope he has a safe trip back home to Arizona!
And I hope your kids enjoy the books!!! 
 
It was lots of fun to be the only children's author at this event! I had lots of MOMS getting books for their kids!!!!!
 
Packed up and ready to go ....
it was a GREAT DAY!
 Lots of people leaving! 
Good-bye RT Convention and Hyatt Regency
I had a GREAT DAY!
 
 And ... when I got home ... more Prickly Pear flowers
had blossomed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
If you interested in reserving a copy of Red Goes To Kindergarten ....
email me at thelifeofbud@aol.com or leave a comment here!
Pre- Release copies should be arriving soon!!!