More Teacher Ideas...

I've found a few more cute Teacher ideas that would make adorable little end-of-the-year teacher gifts that were WAY too cute not to share! I think I'll keep them handy for next year as well. I know from experience that it's always nice getting little things like this from students :)

Below is a "TEA"cher Card. I'd probably print a cute message to post on the front of the tea cup as well...

This idea came from Family Fun. Instructions here..."Tea"cher Card

The next two fun ideas came from The Domesticated Lady. How cute are these water bottles? And what a refreshing idea for all the wonderful teachers out there now that the weather is warming up around the country...those classrooms can get HOT!

Here is the link... TEA-riffic Teacher Water Bottles

And then there's this sweet treat... We definitely do need S'more great teachers!

Link with template...s'more Teachers Like You



Hope your little ones are enjoying the end of the school year & looking forward to summer vacation!

Enjoy! s.b.

End of the Year Teacher Gift

M1 is officially done with 3 year old preschool this week. Just in time for her 4th Birthday on Monday. According to her, it just wouldn't be right to be in 3K as a four year old!!! Fortunately, in her case it works out that the finishes just days before her birthday :)

I wanted to share the picture frame I crafted for her teacher. She was a nurse for years, stayed home with her kids for many years & then went back to get her teaching degree. So... this year is her first year as a teacher. I wanted to make something special for her. She's a terrific woman & has taught M1 oodles of things throughout the entire year. I'll be delighted for M2 to have her as a teacher in another year.

Supplies- Unfinished Wood Picture Frame, Mod Podge, Craft Paper or Ruled Paper, Hole Punch, Paint Brush, Paint, Alphabet Stickers.

1. I began by painting the frame a dark barn red color & allowed a few min. of drying time.

*I got this frame from IKEA. It was a cheap pack of 3 unfinished picture frames that really come in handy when I'm looking for a quick Mod Podge project. I also regularly buy the unfinished wood frames from Michael's Arts & Crafts. Can't go wrong... they're only $1.00!!!

2. While the frame dried, I went ahead & traced the frame onto my piece of craft paper. (I found a piece of paper @ the craft store that looks like a ruled piece of paper. If you don't have one you could just use a plain ruled piece of paper.)

3. Cut out the rectangle & made it just a bit smaller than the face of the frame so some of the red paint would show around the edges.

*Below I layed it out just to be sure it fit correctly.

4. Use the Mod Podge and apply a layer to the entire face of the frame.

5. Lay the craft paper on top of the face of the frame over the Mod Podge glue. Be sure to press down around the entire frame to get any bubbles out & get it flat.

6. I usually go over the entire surface with Mod Podge one more time once the paper is down to give it an extra layer to secure.

7. Allow an hour or so to dry completely.

8. Use alphabet stickers to apply a message to the frame.

I chose "My First Year" since it's her first year as a teacher. I thought it would make a great memory. Other messages could include "World's Best Teacher" or "I Love My Teacher." You get the idea!

(Also, if you don't have stickers you could use various letters from magazines cut out & glue onto the frame.)

9. Once you've got your stickers in place, apply another thin layer of Mod Podge over the stickers to secure them as well. Allow to dry.

And you're done! What a cute gift... I certainly hope she enjoys it.

I was able to print a picture of the class as well, so it's a finished deal.

M1 is so anxious to give it to her this week & I am still in awe that she's turning 4! Where does the time go??!!

Enjoy! s.b.

Bookmarks!

Wednesday March 2nd is READ ACROSS AMERICA Day. A big day for school age children as most teachers will celebrate in the classroom. I've had several discussions with M1 about the importance of reading & we'll definitely celebrate with lots of books/reading as well on Wednesday.

In honor of the occasion, we made bookmarks!

Supplies- Scissors, Contact Paper, Thin Ribbon, Decorations (sequence, paper shapes, glitter, stickers, etc.), Small knife (for the adults!), Construction Paper.

*If you do not have contact paper, you can use colored construction paper & "laminate" it with clear book tape or packaging tape. Just need a little reinforcement so it lasts longer & doesn't tear.

1. We started with the hole punch & punched out a bunch of colorful shapes using colored construction paper. Just a few extras to add to our pile of decorations.

2. While M1 & M2 cut out shapes, I cut two 12X2 inch strips of contact paper.

(Again, you could just cut strips of construction paper here as well.)

3. Fold the contact paper strips in half.

4. Peel back the paper off half of the strip exposing the sticky side up.

5. Begin placing decorations all over the sticky paper. As many as desired.

Decorated, & ready to construct the bookmark...

6. Peel off the other half of the paper off the contact paper. Fold the undecorated side over on top of the decorated side & press to seal. (Trim off any edges that may not match up perfectly.)

7. ADULTS: Use a small exacto-knife (regular knife or scissors would work as well) to cut a small horizontal slit in the top of the bookmark.

8. Cut a piece of ribbon about 10 inches long.

9. Fold the ribbon in half & string the ends through small slit as shown below.

10. Feed the ends of the ribbon through the opposite "looped" end of the ribbon & pull to fasten, forming a small knot. (Also pictured below.)

And your bookmarks are all set & ready to mark the pages in any great book.

We're sending a few of these to M1 & M2's great-grandparents to use to mark the pages of their current favorite read!

Happy Reading & Enjoy!  s.b.

Candy Pencil Treats

How cute are these?

I'm thinking of making a few of these for M1 as a little "you did it" treat for next week when I pick her up from school. I found them in a google search & think they are so cute. She officially started 3 year old preschool today & did so well. No tears & she wants to go back... I would call it success!

Below- All dressed & ready to go...

Below is another google image that I found. Just a sligtly different variation from the first one & a bit easier. A Hershey Kiss, I'm assuming a roll of Life Savers wraped with yellow paper, a Rolo & a red Life Saver. So easy & so cute!

I wish I had seen this while I was teaching, it would have been a great first day of school gift for my students as well! Hopefully all your little ones had a great first week of school (if they've started) or good luck to those who start next week!

Enjoy! s.b.

Time for School!

The time has arrived... school starts this week! M1 is starting to show small signs that she's a little scared, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that her first day starts with a smile. We'll see...

To celebrate the beginning of school, we created a pencil. This is a project that I often created in my classroom. Upon completion, we hung them from the desks to display the students' names.

Supplies- *Yellow Paint, *6 Craft Sticks, *Glue, *Paint Brush/Sponge, *Tape, *Cream, Red & Black Construction Paper, *Scissors, *Ribbon

1. Begin by painting five of the craft sticks yellow. Allow to dry.

2. Cut out a large cream colored triangle & a much smaller black triangle to use as the tip of the pencil. (I used a manila folder for the cream color.)

3. Glue the black triangle to the large cream triangle.

4. Cut out a large rectangle. This will become the eraser.

5. Tape the yellow sticks together for a quick hold.

6. Use the 6th (unpainted) craft stick & glue it to the back of the yellow sticks to hold them together. We glued at a diagonal.

7. Glue the triangle onto the end of the craft sticks & the rectangle to the other end.

8. Tape a small piece of ribbon onto the back to hang the pencil.

Done! It turned out to be a great start-of-school craft. Afterwards M1 added stickers to her pencil spelling out her teacher's name. She's so excited to give it to her tomorrow when we go in for Open House. Hopefully Mrs.B enjoys it as much as we do!

 

Enjoy! s.b.