Letter Ideas

A: Stamp finger print ants on the letter A; Paint A with apple slices
B:  Make thumbprint bumblebees on the letter B.
C: Glue cheerios on letter C
D: Paint dinosaur feet print on the letter D
E: Egg paint the letter E
F: Finger paint the letter F; Paint the letter F with feathers; Fly Swatter painting; Forest Animals/Frogs/Flowers/Family/Friends/Farm/Firemen/ Fall
G: Glue on glitter to letter G; Ghosts, Goofy Glasses Day; Grass paint letter G
H: Use entire hand to paint letter H; Stamp hearts on H
I:  Stamp insects on the letter I
J: Make jigsaw puzzles by cutting up a picture and putting it back together;  glue jelly beans on letter J: Read Jack and Jill
K: glued diamonds on letter K
L: Paint over lace on letter L
M: Paint the letter M with marshmallows
N: Painted with noodles on the letter N
O:  Glue oatmeal on O
P:  Drew pink and purple polka dots on letter P
Q: Paint with Q-tips on the letter Q
R: Glue rice on letter R
S: Glue sand on the letter S; String paint the letter S; Soap paint the letter S; Paint the letter S with sea shells
T: Glue triangles on letter T
U: Draw umbrellas out of U's on the letter u
V: Glue Valentines (hearts) on V
W: Buy fishing worms at an outdoors store and practice forming letter Ww
X: On a black X, draw with white crayons an x-ray
Y: Glue yellow yarn on Y
Z: Draw zigzags on Z or black stripes to make zebra stripes on Z

Making a Difference Mondays

I haven't posted  recent posts about making a difference on Mondays (For me, I like to make a difference every day...otherwise I would have no reason to be a teacher!)  This post won't be long, but I wanted to share a couple ways I made a difference in my students lately. 

I recently played football with one of my little boys...not just any child...it was that child you fall in love with because you have had multiple 'conversations' about how to act, be others' friends, and to listen, etc.  One day at recess, (now starting to become every day) he asked me to throw the ball with him.  It was one of those days, I had a little bit of extra energy so I agreed and tossed the football with him....not knowing how much it actually meant to him.  Later that day, as we were packing up to go home, that little boy came up to me and thanked me for throwing the ball with him.  His words were, "Mrs. Gansman, thank you for taking time to throw the ball with me.  I really had fun throwing with you!" Aww the joy that brought to my heart! This is normally that child that hardly ever says something nice and on that day I made a difference just by taking the time to throw the ball with him!  Think about those moments that may not mean much to you, but could mean the world to a child and even your own child if you are a parent.  Whether it's throwing the ball with a child, pushing him or her on the swing, or playing a game of tag, take that time even if its only for a couple of minutes.  You never know when that may be the only time that child has to 'play' or have that 'special' moment with an adult. 

Another way I feel I made a difference in one of my student's is by telling her mom about her behavior.  I took the time to tell her mom how well behaved she was and how she always tried to follow directions in front of the little girl so she knew I complimented her.  I assume later that evening, her mom told her how much that meant to her because the next day, we were packing up to leave again, and this little girl told me, "Thank you for saying that I was a good girl to my mom.  That was really nice of you. I liked that."  Just another small way of making a difference in one of my students' lives.  Take the time to not only tell your  parents what their child(ren) did wrong but also be sure to constantly brag on your students and tell their parents how wonderful they are as well!  Parents and students alike want to know the positive more than the negative.  I had a director at a center I used to work at that instilled in me to always give a positive before and after the negative.  I will never forget that and hope to always give as many positives as possible! You never know what child needs the positive word and reinforcement!

 I love my students!!!!!!!!!!  They are my world...besides for my husband and family of course!!!  I thank God often for such a wonderful place to work and for entrusting me with His precious gifts!!!

Bucket Filling Trophy!!!

For our scholastic book fair this year, each classroom was asked to make a trophy about their classroom's favorite book.  Our classroom decided to do a trophy for the story, "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?"

I highly recommend this story to all elementary teachers.  It is the perfect story to teach students how to treat others.  We  decided to make a trophy about this story because we refer to it on a daily basis.  My students try to fill their bucket with "Buckaroo Bucks." (wanted to somehow tie it in with my classroom theme which is a western theme this year)  When they are 'nice' to other students by helping them pick up their toys, saying kind words, holding the door, etc. they earn a "Buckaroo Buck."  In this story, it describes different actions students can do to fill others' buckets.  It also explains to students about being a bucket dipper.  Bucket dippers are students who say unkind words to their friends, hurts other students, talks out when others are talking etc.  When a student fills another student's bucket, they are also filling their own just like if they are being a bucket dipper, they are also dipping into their own buckets. 

Below is our finished trophy! My students did an excellent job, don't you think?!  I had already cut out hearts for the students to trace and cut.  (Excellent fine motor practice!) I then taped each heart to pipe cleaners that I taped inside the bucket to give our bucket trophy the look of 'love' flowing out!  We used tissue paper to fill in the bucket and hide the tape.  My assistant painted each child's big toe and thumb to decorate the outside of the bucket which says, "Thumb Toe-rrific Bucket Fillers."  I give my assistant props for all her help and suggestions on finishing our trophy and making it look so great!!