Polka Dotted Center Signs

Okay, here is another Polka Dotted FREE printable.

Polka Dotted Center signs are a set of (11) different center signs to use in your classroom for personal use only!

The images used to create the Polka Dotted Center Signs come from a wide variety of resources to include: Google Images, Scholastic, Borderbund, Art Explosion, and Microsoft Office Clip Art. Translation from English to Spanish was provided by Google Translate.

The packet contains the following:

(11) Different colored polka dotted center signs.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability.
• Original size is 12” x 18” and can be tiled over (2) 8.5”x 11” sheets of card stock. OR the center signs can be printed using the FIT To PAPER selection.

DOWNLOAD>> Polka Dotted Center Signs

Terms of Use:

Fair Use Rules:

Most of the layouts and designs are original; you can display or perform the material provided:

1. You give Lanie’s Little Learners credit by acknowledging www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com as the source
2. It is not for commercial use. It is for personal or classroom use only.
3. The digital version in the form of PDF’s are not altered or transformed in anyway.
4. If you share an idea or printable that is from www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com please use them in a professional manner, give credit, and do not claim them as your own.  If you find a downloadable file on www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com, you may not directly link it from your site.  You MUST direct traffic to the blog post where it’s contained.
5. Distribution is clearly prohibited. If others would like a copy of the material please direct them to www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lanies-Little-Learners or www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com.
6. The photos and clip art come from several sources to include, Art Explosion, Borderbund, MyCuteGraphics.com, KevenandAmanda.com, and Microsoft Office clip art. Under the copyright laws Circular 21, the images maybe used for educational purposes. The entire copyright circular can be downloaded from: www.copyright.gov/circs/circ21.pdf. The images are also covered under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported. The license terms of the work can be found here http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0.
7. Any questions, suggestions or comments, please email me at lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

Credits: 

www.KevinAndAmanda.com

Polka Dotted Classroom Labels

Okay I admit it, I have a thing for polka dots. So this year all of my individual labels in each center, classroom labels, and center signs ALL have a polka dotted border. I color coordinated each learning center in my PreK classroom. For example the Discovery Center (Science) is colored coordinated using the purple polka dotted scheme. All the individual labeled items, center sign, mini-word wall, and work cards all have the same theme. I did this for two reasons. First, I am kinda OCD about having things match, and second the students know which center an object comes from by matching the color coded labels. Pretty neat I think. So as a FREE download I am offering a set of (11) editable different colored polka dotted frames for you to use in your classroom. Keep reading for more information.

Polka Dotted Classroom Labels are a set of brightly colored polka dotted frames to use in your classroom for personal use only!

You could also use the labels for the following:

• Classroom labels
• Environmental print
• Small individual picture frames.

The packet contains the following:

• (11) Different colored polka dotted frames. There are four to a page.
• Each label is editable using Adobe Acrobat. The text is set to auto so it will shrink as you type. Each frame has (2) text boxes. The first is for English language labels, the second is for second language labels.

Pink Polka Dotted environmental print label.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. Type in the form fields using Adobe Acrobat. 

DOWNLOAD>> Polka Dotted Classroom Labels

Credits:

www.KevinAndAmanda.com

All About Shapes Activity Packet

All About Shapes Activity Packet is for students to discriminate, recognize, sort, and match shapes using both clip art images and photos.

You could also use the activity for the following:

• Shape recognition
• Matching
• Sorting
• Classifying
• Listening and following directions
• Cooperative play.

The packet contains the following:

• (9) Cookie jars with the following shapes: 
  

• rectangle
• square
• oval
• circle
• triangle
• diamond
• star
• octagon
• heart

• (6) Cookie per shape using both clip art and photos to represent each shape.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. 

• One suggested assembly method is making a file folder game. First, cut out each cookie jar and glue to the inside of a file folder. (2) cookie jars can be placed on one page. (1) file folder will hold (6) cookie jars. To add pages to the file folder for the remaining cookie jars, cut a file folder in half . Glue the remaining cookie jars to the file folder. Laminate the file folders. Then the additional page can be attached by using clear packing tape and taping the page to the file folder. 

• Laminate each page of cookie game pieces and cut out. The cookies can be attached to each cookie jar by using Velcro. Store the game pieces in a ziploc bag stapled to the file folder.

DOWNLOAD>> All About Shapes Activity Packet

Credits:

www.KevinandAmandaFonts.com

www.MyCuteGraphics.com

Mailbox Student Address Cards

These mailbox shaped cards are the ideal printable to use for students to learn their name, address, telephone number and birthday.

You could also use the activity for the following:

• Name recognition
• Address knowledge
• Telephone knowledge
• Birthday
• Letter recognition
• Concepts about print
• Emergent reading skills
• And so much more!

The packet contains the following:

• (4) Mailbox Cards with lines for writing information on.
• (4) Editable Mailbox cards that you can use Adobe Acrobat to type in student information. 

Directions:

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. Then cut out along image lines and write student information on the cards with a permanent marker AFTER laminating. To re-use cards, simply scribble over permanent marker with a dry erase marker, then wipe clean. Something in the dry erase marker enables the permanent marker to be cleaned off the laminated card. Perfect to reuse the card instead of having to re-print new ones!

If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

FREE Download>> Student Address Cards

Credits

www.MyCuteGraphics.com 

www.KevinandAmanda.com

Number Tracing Cards

Number Tracing Cards are perfect for little hands to use. Simply supply your little ones with dry erase markers or dry erase crayons and let them practice their fine motor skills while they are recognizing their numerals.

Directions

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. For added durability I cut the cards apart on the dotted line and folded the cards in half on the solid line. Then I glued the two folded pieces together with stick glue. I then laminated the Number Tracing Cards. NOTE: If you decide to assemble your Number Tracing Cards this way, leave at least an 1/8th of an inch of laminate film around each card when trimming. This way the laminate will not peel (if it’s the good kind). Then I punched a hole in the top right corner and used a book ring bind my Number Tracing Cards together. I am using the cards in my writing center this year.

If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

DOWNLOAD >> Number Tracing Cards

Credits

• www.MyCuteGraphics.com    
• www.KevinandAmanda.com

Alphabet Tracing Cards

Alphabet Tracing Cards are perfect for little hands to use. Simply supply your little ones with dry erase markers or crayons and let them practice their fine motor skills while they are recognizing the letters of the alphabet.

Directions

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. For added durability I cut the cards apart on the dotted line and folded the cards in half on the solid line. Then I glued the two folded pieces together with stick glue. I then laminated the Alphabet Tracing Cards. NOTE: If you decide to assemble your Alphabet Tracing Cards this way, leave at least an 1/8th of an inch of laminate film around each card when trimming. This way the laminate will not peel (if it’s the good kind). Then I punched a hole in the top right corner and used a book ring bind my Alphabet Tracing Cards together. I am using the cards in my writing center this year.
If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

DOWNLOAD >> Alphabet Tracing Cards

Credits

•  www.MyCuteGraphics.com       
• www.KevinandAmanda.com

Rain, Rain GO AWAY!

Alapaha River on HWY 122

Lately it has been raining cats and dogs for the last two weeks. The Alapaha River is out of its banks and my yard looks part lake, part jungle because the grass is so high. So why not add some rainy day activities you can use at home or in the classroom.

Language Activity

To develop language skills practice this rain poem:

Rain on the green grass
And rain on trees.
Rain on the rooftops,
But not on me!

Science Activity

Rain Gauge
Use an empty can or jar to make a rain gauge. Place the container outside to measure the rainfall. Have the rain have your child investigate how full the container is. Use words like more, less, about, estimate to build vocabulary. Also, as an extension activity have your child draw a picture to how much rain is in the rain gauge. This will develop scientific observation skills.

Art Activity

Eyedropper Painting
Materials: Assorted plastic medicine droppers for safety, and food coloring, plastic cups, white construction paper

Directions: Fill the plastic cups half way with water and add a few drops of food coloring to each cup. Let you child practice fine motor skills by using the plastic medicine dropper to get the watercolors. Then encourage your child to hold the plastic medicine dropper above the paper, then release the color creating a colored “rain” drop. REMEMBER it is the creative process and not the end product that contains. To promote language skills ask your little one to describe his/her painting to you. Then you can write his/her words directly onto their artwork and display.

Cooking Activity

Rainbow Fruit Parfait
Ingredients:

• red = strawberries 
• orange = oranges 
• yellow = bananas 
• green = kiwi 
• blue = blueberries 
• indigo = blackberries 
• purple = grapes 
• vanilla yogurt, granola bar

Directions: Cut up each of the fruits above, layer each fruit with vanilla yogurt in a cup and crumble up a granola bar on top. Chill for about 30 min. Then enjoy!

Literacy

Little Raindrop
This is the sun, high up in the sky, (hold hands in circle above head)
A dark cloud suddenly comes sailing by, (slide hands to side)
These are the raindrops, (make raining motion with fingers)
Pitter, patter down,
Watering the flowers, (pouring motion)
Growing on the ground. (pat the ground)

Thunderstorm
Boom, bang, boom bang! (clap hands)
Rumpety, lumpety, bump! (stomp feet)
Zoom, zam, zoom, zam! (swish hands together)
Rustles and bustles (pat thighs)
And swishes and zings! (pat thighs)
What wonderful noises
A thunderstorm brings.

Math

Rainbow Matching
Materials: Assorted fabrics matching the colors in the rainbow.
Directions: Cut the assorted fabric in 2 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inches squares. Have the children sort the fabric into groups by colors, textures, and size. Differentiation: For children having difficulty in sorting by colors, provide a corresponding colored paper cup or bowl for the children to use. The children can match the fabric to the container.

Gross Motor

Worm Wiggles
The purpose of this game is to move like a worm. Show you child how to lie on the floor and move their body forward without using their hands or elbows. This game will surly get a giggle or to and hopefully burn some energy off as well.

Amazon Book List

Rain or Shine: All About the Weather

Let It Rain by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book

Whether it's snowy, rainy, or sunny, readers can explore the natural world with Maisy and find out how wonderful weather can be!

What's the weather, Maisy? It's sunny — hooray! It's windy — hooray! It's raining — hooray, hooray! Whatever the weather, Maisy knows how to make the best of the day. Little fans will be proud to help with the forecast by pulling the tabs and turning the wheels to make the rain come down, the snow fall, the lightning flash, and even a rainbow appear!

Splish!Splash!: A Book About Rain

The Rain Came Down

What Will the Weather Be? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Resources/Credits:

• Flooded Alapaha River image: http://www.wwals.net/tag/alapaha-river/ by JSQ 
• Clip art images provided by: http://www.MyCuteGraphics.com
• Juddy Herr, Yvonne Libby Larson. (2009). Rain. In Creative Resources for the Early Childhood Classroom (pp. 549-557). Cliffton Park: Thompson Delmar Learning.

Who Came to School Today?

I have continued working on my "Under the Sea" theme for my classroom. I can hardly believe that it is only 14 DAYS until the start of the new school term. I am both disappointed and excited at the same time. Disappointed because it means less time in the pool but excited to see how the new ideas and activities I created will work this year.

The activity I created is all original artwork. The Who Cane to School Today Attendance chart will be part of our morning ritual. The students will come in find their name on the sign-in sheet, sign-in, put their fish in the fishbowl, and then decide how they feel for the day on the How Do I Feel Today Chart.

Who Came to School Today? is used for attendance. The children come in and move their fish name tag to the fishbowl.

You could also use the activity for the following:

• Name recognition
• Letter recognition
• Counting letters in a word
• Counting how many are in school
• Listening and following spoken directions to name a few.

The packet contains the following:

• Who came to School Today? Finished size: 17” x 33”
• Editable Individual Fish for students’ names.

Directions:

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. To attach the fish names to the chart use the Velcro dots.

Who Came to School Today? Fishbowl chart is tiled over (8) pages with a 1/8” overlap. To assemble cut, along image’s outline. When all pieces have been cut out, simply lay the corresponding piece a 1/8” over until print edges match. Finished size: 32” x 17”

I also have included Who Came to School Today Fishbowl chart as one piece measuring 32” x 17” on page 15 for those of you who would like to take it to a print shop or Sams Club which also offers large format printing at a reasonable price.

The individual fish for students’ names are (6) to a page and can be printed (2) ways. I created an Adobe Form for the individual fish names where you can type the name of your student directly on the fish. The form is set up to AUTO so it will shrink large names to fit on the fish. The second way is to simply print the individual fish names onto card stock, write individual students’ names, and then laminate for durability.

DOWNLOAD>> Who Came to School Today Attandance

Blog Overhaul

I have worked pretty much the entire day and into the wee hours of the morning giving my blog a much needed overhaul. My son has come in the room several times to say enough is enough. Yet, I'm the type that has to get the creative idea out of my head and in to production. If not, then I lay awake tossing and turning.

I decided to take on the challenge of overhauling my entire blog because, I wanted a more polished theme that went with both my personality and my blog topic. So, like everyone else I ‘Googled it’ to find a FREE blogger template that was just right. A blogger template that was not too small, nor too big, but the perfect one. I found one that I like as you can see. With some minor tweaking I am pleasantly pleased with the outcome. The only thing I wish I could change is the columns’ width. I have so much information that I needed three columns, but the drawback is the width of the actual "post" column. I'll keep tweaking with the code until I find the perfect match.

Take a look at the changes and use the comment box to let me know how you feel, good or bad!

Summer Ideas

Fix an area outside to let you child enjoy painting. Some ideas include inexpensive watercolors, white construction paper, and of course water. If painting is not something you’re interested in than choose markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc. Before your little one begins their “plein air” (outside) master piece, go on a nature walk through your yard, neighborhood, or local park and talk about all the different colors and textures you see along the way. To promote language skills use as many describing words when talking with your young child. Words such as enormous, tiny, hairy, smooth, bumpy, bright, dull, shiny etc. Describe the shape of the object, its dimensions anything to expand your child’s vocabulary. When you return from your adventure encourage your child to remember details from the walk and paint them or draw them. Remember it is about the creative process and not the end product. Talk with your child about their painting. Ask, “Tell me about your painting,” leaves an opened conversation as opposed to “what are you drawing?” For a science experiment, encourage your child to observe how fast the watercolors dry. Most of all have fun!

Credits: www.MyCuteGraphics.com     www.KevinandAmanda.com

My Many Colored Days

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss is a wonderful way for parents and teachers to talk with children about their feelings. Each day is described in terms of a particular color, which in turn is associated with specific emotions. Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a variety of animals, this unique book covers a range of moods and emotions. (Ages 3-8)

I am introducing this book during the first month of school as part of my Feelings Theme. I used the information provided from the Book Nook based on My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss to create visuals to retell the story with.


To purchase a copy of My Many Colored Days click here.

My Many Colored Days Activities Packet contains the following:

• Each animal is in colored and coordinates with the story. 
• Each colored boy is in color with the color word written on the cutout. 
• Pages 12-27 are a printable book based on the story by Dr. Seuss. The printable book is used for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY! It may not be sold or re-distributed. The book is copyright protected and may be used for classrooms purposes only. The images are from the Ideas for Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss and can be found here: http://www.csefel.vanderbilt.edu/booknook/many_colored_days.pdf.

Directions: It is suggested that all pieces are printed on card stock and laminated for durability. Pages 2-11 print single sided, laminate, and cut individually. If you plan on using the visuals on a felt board simply attach the rough side of self-adhesive Velcro dots to the back of each piece. Another option is to use self-adhesive magnets. Also, to act out the story, print another set of visuals, laminate, and glue to craft sticks. Place the puppets with the book in your library. The book on pages 12-27 can be printed manually on both sides, laminated, and then either comb-bound or use book rings to make the book. Both the book and the puppets are being used in my Safe Place from Conscious Discipline.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Many Colored Days Activities

Examples of activities that can be used while reading My Many Colored Days and throughout the day to promote social and emotional development:

• While reading the story, pause after each animal and discuss the animal’s color. Ask the children to share a time that they were in that mood. After reading the story, discuss the spectrum of colors in comparison to moods and feelings.
• Extend the story by discussing different colors and their association with emotions. Explain that sometimes feelings are described in colors. We are all different and may have a different feelings or moods with each color. For example, although some associate blue with being sad others find it very peaceful and happy. Make a chart with different colors across the top. Ask children to pick which color represents how they are feeling. Talk about why they picked the color to represent their feeling. Write the children’s names under the color they pick.
• Color spinner—Trace two hands, with the two palm edges touching, on one piece of card stock paper or file folder. The fingers will be facing the outer edge of the paper/file folder, while the palms are toward the center. (Note: Once traced, the hands will form a mirror image of each other.) Cut out an arrow and attach it with a brad to form a spinner between the two hands. Color each finger a different color using the colors represented in the story. Have the children pass the spinner around taking turns spinning the arrow and discussing what the color means for them. Talk about how different people may have different feelings associated with the same color. For example, in the story, purple makes the boy feel sad; for others it could mean feeling loved.

The ideas used above are from: Ideas for Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss – Book Nook Ideas and Activities

Useful Social & Emotional Development Links

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country.

Creating Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior is a FREE product developed by the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) that gives teachers practical strategies, developed from TACSEI’s research activities and experiences in Positive Behavior Support, to create a plan to support young children who are having challenging behavior.

Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning and discipline.

Are You a Bucket Filler?

I am using the concept of “Bucket Fillers” and “Bucket Dippers” as part of my classroom management system in prekindergarten. According to Bright from the Start guidelines we are unable to use traditional behavior charts. This upcoming school year I am introducing the book the first week of school. I have designed our classroom rules around this theme. I have also purchased (2) buckets one is green for the “bucket fillers” which means go or good. It is a concept young learners can easily grasp. I also have printed a picture of a girl smiling to attach to the front of the bucket with the words “Bucket Fillers.” The second bucket is red for the “bucket dippers.” Again using concepts early learners can understand, red meaning stop and think about your actions. The picture for the front of the bucket is a boy who is sad and has a tear rolling down his face.

After reading the book the children will hear scenarios that I have observed over the years of teaching and decide if the action is “bucket fillers” or “bucket dippers.” A child can draw a heart from the bag and depending on the age level either read the scenario or have the teacher read it. Then the child decides which bucket to place the heart in. 

Another activity for children to complete is a drawing prompt. Have the students draw a picture of how he/she can be “bucket fillers.” Let the child dictate his/her story to you and write the caption underneath. You can hang the pictures individually or combine and make a class book the children can revisit often.

In addition to the whole group activity I have designed “Bucket Fillers are people who…” poster illustrating our class rules. I also have designed a “Bucket Dippers are people who…” illustrating the opposite of our class rules. This way when a situation arises you can show the child what he/she is doing that is a “bucket dipper” and an illustration of how he/she can be “bucket fillers.”

DOWNLOAD>> I Can Be a Bucket Filler Activity Packet

I have also incorporated a Kindness Recorder as part of our classroom helpers based on the ideas of Conscious Discipline. The Kindness Recorder’s job is to catch classmates being “bucket fillers” and add a heart to the bucket. At the end of the day we count how many hearts are in the bucket and say our Bucket Filler Chant which can be found at BucketFillers101.com.