School Bag Linky Party!

So what’s in my bag you ask? Well, first I must begin by stating that this darling “little” bag was a “back to school” gift from my administrator. We arrived at our first staff meeting to find an array of little knick knacks and yummy treats to indulge in! The bag was by far EVERYONE’S favourite gift and it’s quite funny to see us all walking through the parking lot, each day, with the same bag in hand! (In my case, there are usually several other bags.. Darn dollar store gets me every time!)

Now back to the important stuff! If I could put my desk in the bag, I would, but unfortunately, only certain things make the “important enough to come home” list! My agenda is a must! I think it is part of the job description for teacher’s to want to organize, plan, color code, highlight, and create checklists! I KNOW I’m not the only one!!! Of course, it goes without saying, my non-teaching friends mock me for spending a large sum on something as trivial (their words not mine!) as an agenda!

My laptop is a MUST HAVE at home AND at school! It is home to all my TpT purchases, scrapindoodles clipart, and Kevin and Amanda fonts! I mean OBVIOUSLY I need it to create my adorable lesson pages and activities! Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I have a wireless color printer in my classroom.. I get a lot of work done on preps and lunch hours!

Somehow, I am afraid I will forget components of the daily five and seem to lug this book around everywhere! It’s not even mine! It belongs to my friend and co-worker Leslie! The funny thing is, I never even open it! I know the program like the back of my hand now!

Finally, I am constantly making posters, signs, games, schedules, something or other… and seem to constantly bring things home to cut, paste, laminate, etc.. Our work NEVER ends, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! Teaching is the most rewarding, fun, creative, and amazing job ever. Moreover, who else can actually justify buying clipart, wearing funny hats, dressing up, and spending a hefty sum on calendars, plan books, pens, and agendas!!!!

Ohhh.. Can't forget that sunglasses are a must have for recess supervision! And why not look good while doing it! I like to spoil myself in the accessories department!

So join the linky party at www.theinspiredapple.blogspot.com and let us know what's in YOUR schoolbag!

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Thank You!

Hi Everyone!
                    Just wanted to say a quick Hello to everyone and most importantly THANK YOU (before Curriculum Night begins at my school!) to Mrs Carroll! She featured me on her FABULOUS Blog and since then I have had a lot of traffic! I will be posting some new ideas and activities in the near future! The beginning of the year madness has somehwat subsided, and I will finally be able to focus a little more time on my precious blog! Please show some love and follow!! I promise not to disapoint! Also, if you have been living under a rock or are simply new to this whole blogging business please stop by Mrs. Carroll's AMAZING blog: http://www.thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/

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A little Baking Fun!

So I may have mentioned in previous posts that I am an avid baker! It is quite therapeutic and a great way to demonstrate my creative side! I tend to find any which reason to bake... birthdays, showers, holidays.. I even volunteered to bake, every second month for my schools social committee events!!! I also like to bake with the students, usually as a reward, special occasion... I love to have them bake for parent events! They get a real kick out of eating the cupcakes or cookies their little ones made! Baking or cooking can also make for a great l.a. or math lesson, what with all the recipe reading and writing, as well as all the measuring and counting!

 I thought I would share some ideas with you (recipes not included sorry... don't have that kind of blogging time on my hands!) You can find easy quick recipes on the internet, baking magazines, etc... I'd like to share the more artistic side of my endeavors! I apologize for the emphasis on the holidays, I love to bake for christmas!! Besides it's only 4 months away... hehe

These snowflake cookie cutters are awsome!!! I like to use food coloring, sprinkles and icing pens to decorate.. So easy simply dye the icing with food coloring, buy matching colors for icing pens and sprinkles!! 

These were super cute! Made a regular brownie batter.. used a circular cookie cutter and added a marshmallow (with toothpick), some icing and smarties yumm! Super easy to do with the kiddies and a fun little math activity as well... Patterning!! 

Same concept as the previous picture!

These are delicious! Double cookies. Simply use a circular cookie cutter for both cookies, then make a star shaped whole in one cookie (using a cookie cutter). SMEAR the full cookie with nutella (yumm!!!) and place the star cookie on top!

I also make my own chocolate! I use molds of course! White chocolate can easily be melted and dyed to any color (food coloring!) I also like to experiment with fondant (pink hearts) using different shaped cookie cutters.

These turned out great and were super easy to make! Rolled out some fondant and used cookie cutters to make different shapes and decorate! Also great for the kids (fondant is like edible playdoh!) Great for teaching shapes and colors!

I looooooooooovee this! It's called New Year's Kiss! I can't take credit for this as I found it in a recipe book, however this one is my very own!!! So easy to make... Go to your local Dollar Store and purchase  3 foam spheres. 1 for the inside of the pot, and 2 for the giant balls. Oh and don't forget to bye a pot while your there, and some giant wooden skewers, ribbon, and herseys hugs and kisses! Once you have all that, which will cost you all of 7 dollars, you can cover the spheres with aluminum foil, connect them all together with the skewers and hot glue the chocolates and ribbon on top! Voila! 

As I mentioned before, I love to use icing pens (you can find them at any grocery store) they add color and texture to your baking and are easy to use. 

These thanksgiving turkeys were made by my former students! We made chocolate cupcakes and added some oreo cookies and candy corn! They absolutely loved making these...

There you have it! 

Some artistic, mathematical ideas that can be used in the classroom :) 

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