GROOVY Theme Teacher Planner

The Groovy Theme Teacher Planner is a fantastic resource for teachers looking to stay organized and on top of their game throughout the school year. Its vibrant design, coupled with its extensive range of features, makes it both a practical and enjoyable tool to use. Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned educator, this planner is sure to enhance your planning experience and help you manage your classroom more efficiently.

Key Features

• Year at a Glance: This section provides an overview of the entire year, making it easy to mark important dates, holidays, and events.
• Notes and News: A dedicated space for jotting down important notes, reminders, and announcements.
• Volunteer List: Keep track of parent volunteers with ease.
• Blank Monthly Calendars: These can be used repeatedly for any month, providing flexibility and longevity to the planner.
• Weekly Planning: Ample space for planning and note-taking on a weekly basis throughout the entire year.
• Checklists: Useful for keeping track of tasks, student information, or any other important details.
• Emergency Contact Info.: Essential for maintaining students’ emergency contact details in an organized manner.

DOWNLOAD>> Groovy Theme Teacher Planner to purchase from my TPT store.

How to Contact?

For more ideas and resources follow my blog at: www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com

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

If you find a mistake or typo in the packet, please email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com so I can fix the error and send you a revised packet.

BE Kind Teacher Planner

The "Be Kind" Printable Teacher Planner is a versatile and user-friendly planner designed to help teachers stay organized throughout the year. Its emphasis on kindness and thoughtful design makes it a delightful addition to any teacher’s toolkit.

DOWNLOAD>> Be Kind Teacher Planner at my TPT Store.

Key Features:

• Editable Dates: The planner comes with editable dates, allowing teachers to customize and reuse the planner year after year. This feature is incredibly practical, ensuring the planner remains relevant and useful for an extended period.

• Print-On-Demand: Teachers have the option to print individual pages as needed or the entire planner at once. This flexibility accommodates various planning styles and printing preferences, making it easy to integrate the planner into different routines.

• Checklists: The inclusion of checklists at the back of the planner is a thoughtful addition. These checklists help teachers keep track of tasks, to-dos, and important dates, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

• Weekly Planning: With 52 individual weeks included, teachers can take notes or plan for each week in detail. This section is perfect for lesson planning, jotting down reminders, or reflecting on the week’s accomplishments.

 

The planner's design is both functional and visually appealing. The "Be Kind" theme promotes a positive and encouraging atmosphere, which is especially fitting for an educational setting. The clean, organized layout makes it easy to navigate, and the cheerful design elements add a touch of inspiration to daily planning.

All About the Letter I - Letter of the Week Activities

 Letter Hunt: Go on a Letter Ii hunt around your home. Encourage your child to see how many objects he can find with names beginning with the /i/ sound like in ice cream and itch. Support your child’s writing process by encouraging him/her to write the word on an index card. Then have him/her tape it to the object.

Odd Sound Out: Say three words, two beginning with the /i/ like in itch sound and one sound that is different. Have the student repeat which sound does not belong.

• in, itch, hat
• iguana, hot, igloo
• goat, ill, if
• it, is, food
• inch, ink, hotdog

I Listening Game: Read the following sentences. Have the students repeat the words that begin with the /i/ sound like in ice cream.

• Irene likes to eat ice cream.
•  I like to plant ivy.
• Watch out for the iceberg.
• McGee is an Irish name.
• An island has water on all sides.

Fill in the Missing Word:  All of your guesses should begin with the /i/ sound like in igloo.

• You can build this out of blocks of ice. It is round. You can sleep in it. It is an ________. (igloo)
• I can be a pet. I am cold blooded. I am usually green, and I like to eat insects.  I am an  ________. (iguana)
• It is sweet and made out of milk and cold. You can make a banana-split with it. If you leave it out of the freezer it will melt. It is   _______. (ice cream)
• When I sneeze and run a fever I am sick. Another word for sick has just three letters it is _____. (ill)

Circle and Find: Have students practice reading environmental print. Use newspapers, junk mail, and/or sales flyers and have them highlight all of the letter Ii’s using a highlighter.

Songs

Ii

(to the tune Clementine)

In an igloo on an island

in a sea of icey water

lived an inchworm named Ignatius

and his itsy bitsy daughter.

She was smaller than an inkblot

and her name was Isabelle.

She didn't need a cradle

cause she slept in a seashell.

If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it,

Scratch an itch “i” “i”

If you're happy and you know it,

Scratch an itch “i” “i”

If you're happy and you know it,

Then your face will surely show it

If you're happy and you know it,

Scratch an itch “i” “i”.

Where is the Alphabet?

(Tune: "Where Is Thumbkin?")

Where is I? Where is I? (Children repeat.)

Here I am! (Hold up the manual sign for I.)

Here I am! (Children repeat and copy sign.)

What do you say I? What do you say I?

/ĭ/ /ĭ//ĭ//ĭ//ĭ/

Literacy Activities 

Body Letters - Challenge children to make different letters with their bodies. Can you make an "I"? Can you make the letter that you hear at the beginning of "ice cream”?

Air Writing - Write letters in the air using the index finger and middle finger. Keep your elbow stiff. Note! The teacher will need to reverse the movements or turn around while demonstrating in front of the class.

Things to glue on the Alphabet

• plastic insects
  
• pictures of insects
• insect stickers
• draw ice cream cones, or icicles
• ink
• Make I's out of fingerprints and add legs and eyes for insects

Snacks

• ice cream
• ice
• icing
• ice pops
• Italian food
• Indian food

Credits:

www.MyCuteGraphics.com

Winter Songs and Poems

Chubby Little Snowman (action rhyme)
A chubby little snowman,

(Hold hands out to demonstrate "chubby.")

Had a carrot nose.
(Point to nose.)

Along came a bunny,
(Hop like a bunny.)

And what do you suppose?
(Shrug shoulders; hold out hands, as if to question.)

That hungry little bunny,
(Rub stomach.)

Looking for his lunch.
(Hold hand above eyes, as if searching for something.)

Ate that snowman's carrot nose,
(Pretend to eat.)

Nibble, nibble, crunch!!

Five Little Snowmen (action rhyme)

Five little snowmen standing in a row.

(Hold up five fingers; stand up straight like soldier.)

Each had two eyes and a carrot nose.
(Point to eyes; point to nose.)

Along came the sun and shone all day,
(Form sun with hands; wipe sweat from brow.)

And one little snowman melted away.
(Hold up one finger; slowly "melt" to the ground.)

Four little snowmen...
Three little snowmen...
Two little snowmen...
One little snowman...

I'm a Great Big Snowman
to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot"

I'm a great big snowman,
Tall and fat.
Here's my tummy.
Here's my hat.
Raisins for my eyes,
And a carrot nose,
I'm all snow from head to toe!

Snowball
by Shel Silverstein

I made myself a snow ball as perfect as could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas and a pillow for it's head.
Then, last night it ran away.
But first -- it wet the bed.

Snowflakes, Snowflakes
to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?"

Snowflakes, snowflakes,
Snowflakes, snowflakes,
All around,
All around--
Whirling, twirling snowflakes,
Whirling, twirling snowflakes,
Hit the ground,
Hit the ground.

The Winter Pokey
to the tune of "The Hokey-Pokey"

You put your right mitten in,
You take your right mitten out.
You put your right mitten in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the winter pokey, [shiver]
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left mitten in....
You put your right boot....
You put your left boot....
You put your long scarf in....
You put your warm cap in....
You put your snowsuit in....

Frost 

(Sung to The Farmer In The Dell)

The frost is on the roof (point hands over head)
The frost is on the ground (point to the floor)
The frost is on the window (make a window with your hands)
The frost is all around (make large circles with hands)

Making A Snowperson
Roll it, roll it, get a pile of snow. 
(make rolling motion)Rolling, rolling, rolling, rolling, rolling we will go.Pat it, pat it, face it to the south. 
(patting motion)Now my little snowman's done, eyes, nose and mouth 
(point to each)


 
Zippers
Three little zippers on my snowsuit, 
(hold up three fingers)Fasten up as snug as snug can be.It's a very easy thing as you can seeJust zip, zip, zip! (do three zipping motions)I work the zippers on my snowsuit.Zippers really do save time for meI can fasten them myself with one, two, three.Just zip, zip, zip! (do three zipping motions)

Credits:

Images provided by www.MyCuteGraphics.com

Christmas Break >> New Activities!

I cannot believe that it has been a year almost to the date since I last posted. A lot of things have happen since then. First, I finally am teaching at LCPS in Lakeland which has turned out to be an awesome experience. I am still teaching Pre-K and, I am loving it. There are quiet a few differences between Head Start and Bright from the Start, most are for the best!

The first half of the year has been great! I have a SMARTBoard in my classroom (yeah!). I don't know how I have made it with out it. All of my printables that I used to print as large as I could, I now put on the SMARTBoard. Youtube.com is now my best friend. When I cannot find a book I am looking for in the library I can find on Youtube.com most of the time. The students are engaged and are actively learning.

Over the break I am creating new SMARTBoard activities to include Letter of the Week and Winter Themed activities.

DOWNLOAD>> All About the Letter...A SMARTBoard Activity

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

Circus Theme Resources

School is officially out for the summer! I'll miss the group of students that I had, but I am looking forward to a new group of fresh young minds. Since it is summer break, it's the perfect time to first relax, but to also plan for the upcoming school year. In retrospect I have learned a lot this past school term. I noticed some things that worked really well and some that just plain flopped.

I observed this past year some of the students had not been introduced to a wide variety of different types of animals. So, for the upcoming year I plan on introducing a variety of animals throughout the school year. My wonderful assistant and I discussed the classroom theme, and we came up with a circus theme. I am currently working on bulletin boards, word walls, center signs, and classroom decorations and activities centered on the circus theme.


Cubby Tickets – A set of (4) colorful tickets with editable text boxes in Microsoft Word. I plan on using the tickets to label the children’s cubbies this coming up school year. I will also take a picture of them on the first day of school and add to the ticket. This will help the children that cannot recognize their name in print.

Sample of the Circus Cubby Ticket

Download >>  Circus Cubby Tickets File 1 (word doc.)
Download >>  Circus Cubby Tickets File 2 (word doc.)

Keep checking back for additional resources!

~ Catherine