Holidays
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Christmas Gifts for Babies 2023
Halloween is tomorrow, which means it’s the perfect time to start sharing holiday gift guides… I know, it makes no sense, but this is the world we live in! Sharing gift recommendations for the youngest children is one of my favorite things to do. Infants can be so tough to buy for – they don’t NEED anything, and they aren’t old enough to really play with much, or let’s be honest even understand why they’re getting new things on this random day. Buying gifts for babies is truly about the giver and the child’s parents. Here are some infant gifts that are fun to give, and families will be grateful…
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Quick Halloween Teacher Gift
It’s always been my mission to make sure that my daughter’s teachers know they’re appreciated – because it’s something that teachers don’t hear enough. Sometimes that looks like personal, handmade gifts, and sometimes there just isn’t time for that! Here’s a quick and easy Halloween gift that I I just put together. Who doesn’t love a Halloween movie night? I found a bucket at the Dollar Tree, added some movie theater candy, Halloween Peeps, candy corn, and our family’s famous homemade kettle corn (but any popcorn would work). Then I tied on this cute tag, and decided to share it with you. You can download your own tags here. I…
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Last Minute Teacher Costumes
I love Halloween, but I’m not a huge fan of dressing up – it’s the introvert in me that doesn’t want any extra attention! I also don’t love the idea of spending a ton of money on something that I’m only going to wear once. I’ve gotten really good at creating fun, comfortable costumes from my own closet. The fact that they’re made from clothes I already own means that they’re also very school-appropriate. Here are some of the ideas that I’ve used in the past, just in case you’re looking for a last minute teacher costume that won’t break the budget. Gardener – Pull out a pear of jeans…
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Easy Trunk or Treat Ideas
On Monday I shared some tips for planning a trunk or treat event. This has been on my mind because I’m currently trying to pull together decorations for my daughter’s school trunk or treat. Have you ever searched trunk or treat ideas on Pinterest?! People get elaborate! That is not my vibe, I’m all about using materials I already have or can get from the Dollar Tree. The photo above was last year’s effort, every single thing was from my house – I fully went with the witchy coffee shop look so I could use the pillow and ottoman from my daughter’s playroom. Here are some other super simple trunk…
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October themes for classrooms that don’t celebrate Halloween
I love holidays and celebrating them in the classroom, but there are many completely valid reasons for not incorporating these into your lesson plans. When it comes to Halloween there can be religious considerations, cultural implications, and economic concerns. Every school has it’s own policy, but if you don’t celebrate holidays in the classroom it can be a real challenge to look for new lesson plan ideas and only find the ubiquitous Halloween ideas. I have a list of 35 fall themes that can be a great starting point for your planning, but these few October themes fit closely enough to Halloween that you can use many of the Halloween…
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Halloween Clipart
Creating this clipart set really helped get me in the Halloween mood! The colors and images are exactly what’s in my brain when I think Halloween. Being able to represent that in a visual way is super exciting for me. I can’t get over the cauldrons, and I’m obsessed with the little apothecary jars. I can’t wait to see what you all create with these. You can find them in my TPT and Etsy shops. Here’s what is included in the bundle:
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Halloween must-haves for teachers
My love of all holidays is no secret – truly one of my favorite things about teaching is the excuse to go all in when it comes to celebrations. Halloween is no exception! From my wardrobe to classroom supplies, I’ve been scoping out all of the Halloween fun. Here’s what is currently on my Amazon wish list (all links are affiliates). Ghost earrings – How cute are these?! I love that they dangle a little, but won’t be too heavy to wear all day. They’re pretty small, so they also won’t be too easy for little hands to grab. Polka Dot Tote – When it comes to celebrations at school…
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Last Day of Summer Party!
I’m happy with any excuse for a party! This one is a little bittersweet – so ice cream felt like the perfect theme. A “last day of summer” party is a great way to help children mark the end of one season and move into the school year with a positive attitude. This can also be a really powerful tool for the classroom. If you have students that have been with you all summer and they’ll continue to stay with you throughout the school year, this can help make that mindset change from summer to the school year. It’s also a great way to say goodbye to children who were…
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All Things 4th of July!
The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays, which is likely because of how close it is to my birthday. I love to go all in when it comes to red white and blue – and this includes in the classroom. I can’t believe that we’ve already made it to this point of the summer! Last week I shared a ton of patriotic resources, but If you’re planning for this week and next week here are ALL of the 4th of July posts that I’ve every written (you know, for inspiration): Children’s Books for the 4th of July 4th of July Bingo 4th of July Fruit…
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Patriotic Resource Round Up
Summer might’ve just started, but I’m thinking 4th of July lesson plans already! I’ve added a ton of patriotic materials to my TPT store over the last couple of weeks so it felt like a good time to share all of these so that you can start planning for the holiday. Patriotic 4th of July Alphabet Book for Preschool and Kindergarten – This book is a great way to celebrate the 4th of July while encouraging literacy. Each letter corresponds with an American themed vocabulary word which will help children practice letter sounds. Print one for each child, or a few for a center. You could also have children create…
