Just Perfect {empowering your kids}

Y'all know I'm all about anything girly.  Even more than that, I love love love anything that empowers and strengthens our next generation of girls so when I heard about this new book, I knew I had to have it.

Just Perfect by Kimberly Mohns Roberts is a cute little story about a mother who has the perfect responses to her daughter's bodily concerns.  It's a call and response storyline that follows each "Mama, I don't like my ____" with the reassurance from her mom that "Your ____ is perfect for..."  It's a sweet, encouraging story for anyone who has decided to actively teach body confidence to their children, daughters specifically.

At school, this would be a great addition to the classroom library.  It may not be appropriate for a read-aloud in the younger grades - only because not all little girls have had these questionable thoughts yet.  I would hate to put that terminology in their mouths if they are anything like my daughter who can look like she survived a whirlwind, look in the mirror and say, "Mommy!  I'm not cute!  I'm beautiful!"  I mean, right?!  That is confidence I don't need to touch until it wavers.  Unfortunately I know that some little girls start putting unfair amounts of comparison and self-worth on their appearance at an early age and this would be a great resource to be able to pull if a situation came up.

For an older classroom, even middle or high school students, I would totally use this as a read-aloud. Big kids like picture books, too, they just never have the chance to read them!  It would be a great discussion starter for students to be able to encourage each other in the strengths they see in their classmates or a wonderful springboard into an assignment on self-reflection.  I would also totally use this for a Girls on the Run lesson or in any type of counseling capacity.

The best part about this project is that it's Kimberly's story.  Not only did she come through anxiety, depression and attempted suicide but she wrote this story to empower her two daughters and the next generation of girls.  She's giving back 5% of the book profits to organizations that also support children, help them gain confidence and provide other resources as needed.  If you don't have kids or a classroom of your own, you can purchase one through her website and have it donated to a charity that can use it as a resource.  How great is that?!

This is a real, true woman who encourages others whenever she can.  Follow her on Instagram at momvscareer for more stinkin cute pics and encouragement like this:

While we're at it, did you know that there are other amazing resources out there to help you build your students' self-confidence?!

Dove has videos and lesson plans available for teachers.  Don't know where to start with an issue with one of your students?!  You're still capable of helping.  Just download the activity guides.  Your words are right there.

For younger girls - like your impressionable little kinders - I am loving this commercial by Barbie.  Like, one of my favorites of all time.

You could show it in class and let your students discuss it.  Use it to freshen up your Community Helpers unit and help your students learn not only what each career is but that each career is attainable for all of them!

Also, Disney Princesses.  That's right.  I have a 3 year old daughter, what else did you think we talked about around here all day?!

{click for video}

"For every girl who dreams big, there's a princess to show her it's possible."  I love this whole angle.  Our littlest girls won't understand some of the heavier hitting concepts.  But if my 3 year old can use Mulan's bravery as inspiration to keep trying during swimming lessons when she's terrified to put her face in the water, who are we to tell Disney that this is silly?  This is genius!

Let's use whatever our kids know, what's age appropriate and what makes sense in their worlds.  Empower them.  Give them examples.  Read them books.  Teach them lessons.  Whatever will work for your littles...use it.  What other resources do you love?!

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Rainbow of Friends {outline}

In one of my very first posts I shared my Rainbow of Friends activity that I like to use at the beginning of the year.

The title came from the book Rainbow of Friends by P.K. Hallinan but you can use any book about a child's individuality and uniqueness.  The point is just to get them seeing their similarities and begin making friends with their new classmates.

I've had so many emails and requests to share the outline but I can't because it's a printable from Mailbox magazine.  However, you continue to ask for it, so I did the only thing I can...I made a new one.  As long as you're a follower, you can have it!  :)

We keep our rainbow hanging up ALL year to remind us that we're a family at once & always.  Who else is hoping summer will stick around but is still already getting excited for the first day of school?!

Interrupting!!!

One of my sweet kids bought Interrupting Chicken for me at our school Scholastic book fair.

It's about a daddy chicken trying to put little chicken to bed with a story.  But every time the dad gets to a good part in the story the little chicken interrupts!!

Yes, we used this as a writing activity and another lesson on good behavior.  :)

Here are a few gems that my kids learned after our discussion on what interrupting is, can be and how it effects others around them: 

Just in case you needed another class meeting topic, this is a good one!  ;)

Miss Bindergarten has a {wild} day...

Whew!  I love books like this one.

It's a reminder that even the best of us has a rough day.  With the end of the year coming closer this could be one of those saving grace stories so of course I had to come up with some activities to go with it!  {s - t - r - e - t - ch that lesson out!}

The first is a Brace Map to help show {cause & effect}.  The kids choose characters from the story to draw on the left then draw how their behaviors effect Miss Bindergarten on the right.  This is also a good transition into a discussion on making good behavior choices!  ;)

{Miss Bindergarten is sad.}

{Miss Bindergarten is tired.}

The second is a writing activity to explain {text-to-self connections}.  After our discussion on how each child's behavior choices can effect other people in the school, they wrote about their personal daily choices.

{I clip down.  Mrs. Young feels sad.}

{When I be wild that's my choice.  If I be crazy that is interrupting.}

I had to add that "accident" box at the bottom for my sweet little girls who always do the right thing so they didn't get all upset about making a mistake!  We decided that most of the kids in Miss Bindergarten's class weren't being disruptive on purpose {minus maybe Franny and her fancy pants!} and that there's a difference in those choices.

This would be a great beginning of the year activity for First Graders getting acclamated back into the school routine *OR* you can use it at any point {like...per se...in the last 7 weeks of school} as a good reminder.

Plus maybe throw in a fun activity or prize for them to earn by not being wild.  It's not bribery...it's follow-up practice!  ;)

Pete the Cat's white {and muticolored} shoes.

Why oh why did I not get into Pete the Cat {by Eric Litwin} until just NOW?!  Seriously.  I saw all of the Pete stuff floating through the blogisphere last year and I was like, "Pete the what?  No thank you."  I'd never seen the book, no one on my team had the book and I had other things to do.

Then my kids heard "I love my White Shoes" during their Book Fair preview in the media center.  And what is the only thing I heard for the rest of the day??  {you know it...everybody sing!}  I love my white shoes.  I love my white shoes.  I love my white shoes.  I love my white shooooooes.


The moral of Pete's story is this: he is chill and it is alllll goooood which makes this book a must have for anyone with students who can be moody, whiny or emotional.  {Not you?  Ok then, go ahead and get back in your bubble.  There is clearly nothing on this blog that you need!}  ;)

First, we sequenced Pete's trip down the street:

Then we made our own Petes {thanks to Deanna Jump's model} with specific shoe colors for the stories we were planning to write afterward.

Being that I happened to do this lesson on Monday after an exhausting weekend, I was not about to be cutting out fifty'leven project pieces.  I gave each kid the following pieces of paper and walked them through it.

We used a large one to make his body, the other large one to make his head {some were able to cut it in one go, others had to make a head then cut separate ears to attach} the long, skinny one for his tail and the 4 cut strips for the legs.  They used the scrap bucket for everything else.

If you like all of your crafts to look the same you should probably get Deanna's pattern but I kind of like that they're all a little different.  :)

The kids wrote a story to tell how Pete's shoes turned their chosen color.  Here are a few:

{pink because he stepped in cotton candy at the fair} 

{yellow because he stepped in honey that fell out of a tree}

{black because he stepped in hair from a man giving himself a haircut}

{Red because he stepped in tomatoes a lady dropped at the grocery store}

{green because he got grass stains from walking through a field}

My Pete is {in Jenn's words "Pete-ish"} since I used hers as a model.  I just couldn't find any Pete graphics for purchase that I liked!  There are cute blue cats...but they just look like blue cats.  {not so much what I'm going for.}  So if you like my Pete you'll love Jenn's...check out her Cause & Effect writing at Finally in First!

Our art teachers have wallpapered the hallway with all of the amazing projects our kids have done in art class this year but there was plenty of room for our Pete stories on either side of the front door!  ;)

There are even more good ideas waiting for you in the Classroom Must-Haves Linky Party.  Remember to link up and share yours!

keeping {the pout pout fish} out!

Have you read this sweet story?

 The pout-pout fish is all bummed out and spreading his dreary-drearies all over the place.

His friends try to cheer him up but it just doesn't work...until he gets a kiss from a pretty pink fish!  Then he realizes that when he turns his frown upside down it's really a smile and he swims around spreading cheery-cheeries instead.  :)

I love love love it.  The kids do too...especially if you read it with your mouth all pointed down and in a sad, pitiful voice.  {Note: this is hard to do after you read it a few times and your kids start doing the voice with you.  So funny!}

I used it this year as one of our Class Meeting focus stories.  We talked about what makes the kids sad and how we can cheer up our friends when they aren't happy.

I don't have a pattern for the fish, it's just a big jellybean shape with a spout for the tail.  The kids cut their own eyes, fins and hair from the scrap bucket.  Then we hang them in the hallway to keep his dreary-drearies out of our room!

Here's a {cuter version} of the sheet to print off to go along with your artwork.  We read the story, discussed and made the chart in our 45 minute meeting.  I put out the supplies for the fish for morning work the next day and they were easily able to make those within 10-15 minutes.

No spreading drearie-drearies today.  Just cheery-cheeries!  :)

tattle tales.

I was on K is for Kindergarten the other day reading about Lisa's tattle jar.  I was cracking up reading her last comment {won't spoil it...you'll have to check her out!} and decided today that I needed to start one because my kids are out. of. their. minds. with the tattling.  And it's sending me over the edge.  I didn't have a jar so I improvised and made a tattle basket, literally walking to the printer paper, ripping a stack into fourths and saying "Here.  THIS is where your tattles go."

I read them this afternoon and {lesson learned} will never read them in front of the kids again.  Because there were legit tattles such as "_______ was throwing woodchips on the playground." or "______ is being a bully to me."

Then there were random ones like this that made me laugh out loud:

______ said shake your butt. 

And the star of today's show:

I did tattle on ______.

Hilarious!  If you know tattling is wrong but you're going to do it anyway, I guess the only real option is to tattle on yourself!  Enjoy it friends.  It's almost time to release the ridiculousness to the ears of their parents...  ;)

We are bucket fillers!

I've seen on many blogs {during my daily blog-stalking sessions} a lot of talk about filling buckets.  Our school already uses the color cards system for behavior and PBIS for positive reinforcement, but our Positive Climate committee decided we should start using school-wide compliment cards for an added incentive.  As soon as I heard that, I knew it was my "in" for bucket filling!

It came as perfect timing, too, because my kids definitely have a case of the 3rd Quarter Crazies.  I'm not sure of them aren't literally losing their minds!  ;)  After reading this book and really discussing - again - what it does to other people when we say or do kind things, they're starting to come back around.

This is my Bucket Filler display.  It is a work in progress since I have one student still out with the flu who hasn't had a chance to color his bucket yet.  I'm also going to add more labels for the compliment cards and print out color pictures from the book to help prompt students with specific ways to fill a bucket.



Many people have created bucket filling forms, but Ms. Newingham's is my favorite.  Go to her website for more bucket filling ideas and a printout of these certificates.  I got the bucket printouts from My Fun Teacher and am using a project display board that I bought years ago and have just been holding onto waiting for a great reason to use it!


There are tiny "warm fuzzies" in the bottom left pocket that I bought at Wal-Mart and students get to put one in their bucket as well as friend's when they do something kind.  I also decorated a bucket for myself so I can make a point of how students who follow directions and get their work done help fill my bucket as the teacher.  They are so excited to fill my bucket they'll bring me my coffee cup, give me extra hugs or say to students next to them "I'm not gonna do that right now because I don't want to dip in Mrs. Young's bucket."  We don't make a big deal of being a bucket dipper as far as the display goes {partly because I don't want students to get mad and rip their pockets off when trying to empty it out} but also because I want this display to just be really positive.  It's sitting on my discovery table right now but I'll be finding a new home for it soon.