Art Appreciation for Kids - Featuring Jeff Linenkugel - Wood Sculptures

Art is beautiful, fun, exciting, calming, and inspiring!  

How can we help kids to appreciate art--and express it?

• Take a brain break.  Search the internet for an art image--it can be a specific work of art or a type of art, such as "wood sculpture."  Have kids brainstorm everything they notice about the image.  Each kid who responds can call on the next child to speak.  

• Teach kids to observe closely: color, shape, size, line, tone (light and dark), texture, and pattern.  You'll find their vocabulary flourish--they'll describe things that are teal instead of green, and humongous instead of big.
• Respect each unique viewpoint.  Kids will surprise you with their observations, if you accept all responses--from serious to humorous.

• Ask kids what they wonder about the art work.  "I wonder..."

• How long it took to make this?
• What materials are there?
• How this would look if it were made with different materials?

• Help kids to use accountable talk to evaluate their experience.  They can use phrases like:

• I think...because...
• I like/dislike this because...
• I agree/disagree with you because...
• I want to add to what s/he said.
• That reminds me of...

• Let kids free-associate, to think like a poet.  Ask them what else is the same color, shape, size, motion, or mood as the art?  Their answer will be a poetic simile: "This is like a..."

• Roller coaster
• Bird's nest
• Skate boarder
• Atom
• Bowl of spaghetti
• Jazz dancer
• Seed pod opening
• Stormy sky

• Kids can learn to think like an artist, drawing pictures of their favorite images--either exact copies, or with new colors, shapes, sizes, textures, or moods.  Display these side-by-side with the originals for a fascinating art gallery.

Want to stretch kids' experience?  Why not take a class trip to visit a local artist in their studio or gallery?  

• Meet a real live artist!  It puts a human face on art.  Kids can ask questions, like:

• When did you start creating art?
• How do you get ideas for your art?
• What's your favorite piece?
• What kind of art do you want to create next?

• Kids can take photos of art works from different angles using tablets, phones, or cameras; and use these for discussions or displays in the classroom.

• For super-engagement, why not find a favorite piece--a sort of class mascot.  You might even have a fund-raiser to buy the piece.  Imagine that--real, live art in your classroom.  How inspiring is that?!  

Art is not stuffy.  It's not supposed to be walled up in a museum.  It's alive in each of us.  When we help kids appreciate art, we're helping them to appreciate every small moment in life.

Let's face it: Earth without art is just eh!  

All artwork by Jeff Linenkugel

Photo Credits: Jeff Linenkugel, used with permission

Teacher Resources Sale!

It's a TeachersPayTeachers sale! December 2nd and 3rd, with Promo Code: Cyber19.

If you've been on the fence, please consider these teacher resources at steep Cyber Monday discounts:

Yes, you can make your lessons perfect, and your observation lessons sooooooo much easier with this Teacher Evaluation Guide.   

It includes checklists, charts, cheat-sheets, tips, scripts, class posters, lesson plans and lesson plan templates for your expert Danielson-style teacher evaluation.

I use it all the time for my lesson templates and reminders of best practices.  And I admit, I carry the one-page mini-lesson cheat-sheet in my pocket, in the weeks before every unannounced observation (really!).

If you're a substitute teacher, you'll find that The Substitute Teacher Guide  is much more than a run-of-the-mill kit.

You see, after over 20 years teaching, I've observed hundreds of subs and teachers in action.  I've seen it all--the good, the bad, and the Kindergarten Cop Chaos.  This resource is a detailed and comprehensive account of what to bring, do, and say when you sub.

And it includes dozens of printables a sub can use all year.

NOT JUST FOR SUBS!  If you're a regular teacher, it makes a handy Substitute Binder--for the days you're absent--with explicit directions so you'll return to a semi-normal room.

It also serves as a refresher course for regular teachers, with guides for lessons, behavior management, managing trips, parties, outdoor recess, assemblies, and more. 

My current favorite is Behavior Management with Humor--a creative approach to discipline in the classroom.  You’ll find lots of tools and strategies for behavior management with laughter.

At every step, we start with the essential skills for no-stress behavior management. Then I'll show you how to infuse these with respectful fun, so they come alive in your classroom. 

 If you'd rather go for the whole kit 'n kaboodle — or is that the kitten kaboodle?  —  Here's a soup to nuts Behavior Management Ultimate Guide, with the heart of a tiger in a comfy kitten's fur.  

You'll be CALM and CONFIDENT at school—with step-by-step instructions for teaching school rules—starting from the moment you walk through the door of your classroom. 

This mega-bundle includes Behavior Management with Humor, with all the bells 'n whistles.  You'll enjoy teacher scripts, behavior mod charts that really work, ultra-cool Reward Tags, callbacks galore...and my favorite new-agey counting song to calm kids instantly—all with instructions included.

Cyber Monday wouldn't be complete without a little holiday fun, now, would it? 

Have a very happy cyber Monday--AND TUESDAY--and I'll see you there!

Teachers Pay Teachers Blog - Substitute Teacher Top 10 Tips

Thrilled to say... I’m in the TeachersPayTeachers Blog!

Please take a look…and if possible, like, pin, and share.

Thank you!!!  All my hard work wouldn’t have been nearly as fun without you—and you know it.  

So, I’m throwing a party!

To celebrate, my entire store will be on sale, 20% off, for ONE DAY ONLY, through November 20th.

Let's keep the party going!  One more day, through November 21st.  

AND, 50% OFF MY FEATURED RESOURCE.

WHAT???!!!  YES!!!

So if you’ve been on the fence about it, now is definitely the time.

THE 50% SALE IS OVER, BUT PLEASE CLICK TO SEE OUR CURRENT DISCOUNT OFFER...and...

PLEASE READ WHAT THIS BUYER SAID:

I bought this to make a sub binder (I'm a regular teacher).  I confess I've been binge-reading it, a must-read for every sub, teacher, mom and dad LOL!

If you want a full-on master course, with a step-by-step, finely-detailed trip through Substitute Teaching, please take a look. 

The Ultimate Guide for the Substitute Teacher includes hundreds of tips, teacher scripts, lessons, and printables that you can use all year.

And it’s not just for subs.  Are you a regular teacher?  This makes a great refresher course, or a sub binder for the days you're absent, with lessons that will last a full year.

You will also get this MP3 Counting to 100 Song--a classic--for a calming brain break or dance:

And P.S., my teaching life suddenly became much calmer when I took a few minutes every day to immerse myself in this hypnotically relaxing MP3, with my palms gently cupped over my eyes to block out the light.  

Did you ever wonder how an EXTRAORDINARY substitute teacher got to be that way?  Hint: it doesn’t happen in an instant.

Whether it’s your first year subbing, or you simply want a step-by-step guide to taking control of a classroom, I can help show you the way.  

Please take a moment to click through and see if the Substitute Teacher Kit is right for you.

As always, I’ll be wishing you all the best...

And thanks again for joining me on the trip!

Today's a Palindrome! Same Numbers Backward and Forward

YAY!  Today's a Palindrome!

It's the same numbers, backward and forward.

It's 9-19-19.
That's 91-91-9 backward.

A palindrome doesn't come along every day, so let's celebrate!

Share it, Sing it, or even better: Rap it and Dance it! 

This is my go-to, all-purpose Math-love in a Rap Song. You can rap about whatever math-stuff you like in the verses.  Sing a line and have kids repeat it.  

My Palindrome Rap would go:

Today's 
a palindrome
It's the same
Comin' 'n goin'

9 - 19 - 19
9 - 19 - 19
Math buffs sing it
Or rap it in time

Then then sing the melodic refrain that goes:

Rap, rap your math
Wrap it up, so you can clear your path!

Vamping is a non-negotiable, to get kids in the mood...for more math, of course.

***#*+&+*#***

When's the next Math Palindrome Day?  OK, I'll give you this one.  It's 02-22-20.

When's the next-next one?  Hmmmm.  You tell me.

Want more math palindromes?  Like, every day?
Watch your digital clock!  You'll see 12:21 and 11:11.  Of course, repeating numbers make a palindrome, too.

Where in the world can you find more number palindromes?

***#*+&+*#***

So...exactly what is a palindrome? 

It's any word, phrase, number, or sequence, that reads the same backward or forward.  Like...Mom; Amore, Roma; or "yay"--my first word in this post.

Yes, you ignore spaces, capitals, and punctuation.

Most famous palindrome:
A man, a plan, a canal--Panama!

My favorite palindromes, starting with kindergarten phrases, then math, civics, and devolving into pure zaniness.

Was it a rat I saw?
Was it a car or a cat I saw?
Stack cats!
Yo! Banana Boy!
Never odd or even
Rise to vote, sir
Live not on evil
Do geese see God?
Taco cat
Party boobytrap
no cab, no tuna nut on bacon!
Go Hang a Salami! I'm a Lasagna Hog! 

That last one--which everyone can identify with--is Jon Agee's title for his book on palindromes.

What's your favorite palindrome?  Let me know in your comment below.

But above all, enjoy your day--backward and forward!

Back to School Sale for Kindergarten and More

Kindergarten teachers - it's a back to school sale with CODE: BTSBONUS19

Not just any ol' sale -- a MASSIVE sale. 
If you're a new kindergarten teacher, please consider this:

The Kindergarten Creative ULTRA-Bundle will be deeply discounted -- but for one day ONLY: Tuesday, August 20.

Would you love to be CALM and CONFIDENT on your first days of school—and all year?  The Kindergarten Kit includes a step-by-step guide for setting up your class, with teacher scripts, lessons, posters, printables and tips. 

For over twenty years, I've helped kindergarten teachers set up their classes, and now it's my pleasure to help you!

You'll absolutely ROCK your observation lessons with this Teacher Evaluation Guide. The Perfect Lesson Plan includes checklists, charts, cheat-sheets, tips, scripts, posters, printables, lesson plans and lesson plan templates for expert Danielson teacher evaluations.

Does the very THOUGHT of wild-child behavior make you weak in the knees?  You'll find that behavior management is suddenly easier, with a creative approach.   

At every step, I start with the essential skills, for no-stress Behavior Management 101. Then I show you how to infuse these with respectful fun, so they come alive in your classroom.  It's the "ahhh" method.

And, for the days you're absent, NO WORRIES!  This Substitute Kit will make it effortless to set up set up a comprehensive sub binder, with generic lessons that will last you an entire year.

The sub kit also works as a refresher course for yourself: what to say and do during the entire school day, and during special events such as trips, parties, and assembly shows.

The Kindergarten Creative ULTRA-Bundle includes ALL of this: 

...AND this:

...A MEGA Bundle of creative Kindergarten Resources that you will use all year.

If you've been sitting on the fence, now's the time to jump in. 

This gigantonormous treasure chest would be a booster shot to your teaching life at any time of the year, but please don't wait.  

Wouldn't you like that leg-up -- like, ASAP?  Like, via instant brain-chip implant?  (Sorry, not available!)

The final straw: The Kindergarten Ultra is an Ultra Bargain -- it's over 50% off -- but only today.  

In fact, the price will never be this low again, as the introductory prices will go up after the Back to School.  So please take a look, and see if the bundle -- or any part of it -- is what you need.

As always, I'm wishing you a fabulous new school year, full of delightful surprises, revelations, and wonders!

Back to School Sale for Teachers

It's a back to school sale for teachers!  Hooray!  

Part of the beauty of "BTS" is a BTS Sale--right??!!--with up to 25% off at checkout if you use this code: BTS19

... on August 6 - 7, Tuesday and Wednesday 2019.

So won't you please drop everything this second, raise your right hand, and swear you're going to make your life a whole lotta sweet-bit-easier this year?

Yes, you can make your lessons perfect, and your observation lessons sooooooo much easier, with this Teacher Evaluation Guide.   

It includes checklists, charts, cheat-sheets, tips, scripts, class posters, lesson plans and lesson plan templates for your expert Danielson-style teacher evaluation.  

I use it all the time for my lesson templates and reminders of best practices.  And I admit, I carry the one-page mini-lesson cheat-sheet in my pocket, in the weeks before every unannounced observation (really!).

Behavior Management with Humor is my lifeline for discipline 101 with grace, and and just a touch of laughter.  I can't imagine even one day of teaching without it!

If you're a substitute teacher, you'll find that The Substitute Teacher Guide  is much more than a run-of-the-mill kit.

You see, after over 20 years teaching, I've observed hundreds of subs and teachers in action.  I've seen it all--the good, the bad, and the Kindergarten Cop Chaos.  This resource is a detailed and comprehensive account of what to bring, do, and say when you sub.

And it includes dozens of printables a sub can use all year.

AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR SUBS!  If you're a regular teacher, it makes a handy Substitute Binder--for the days you're absent--with explicit directions so you'll return to a calm, semi-normal room (insert nervous laughter!).

All three of the above items are in the grand bundle, The Teacher Guide for a Great Classroom...with behavior management goodie bags thrown in--reward tags, behavior modification charts, callbacks, and tons more:

Now let's switch channels...to a kindergarten teacher's dream...

First Days of Kindergarten Teacher's Bundle for kindergarten teachers--whether new, seasoned or in-between.  It features step-by-step instructions for setting up a kindergarten classroom, as well as moment-by-moment teacher scripts for the first day of school.  It's like I'm whispering in your ear, giving you expert advice at every turn.

But I don't stop at the first day.  We go through the first week of school--including all the printables, posters, parent letters, and forms you'll need.  

Then I point you in the right direction for the next few weeks of kindergarten, including 4 full weeks of homework (editable, of course, so you can use them for a full year).

This best-selling Kindergarten Back to School Bundle -- shown above -- includes the Teacher's Kit, combined with a School Rules and Bathroom Rules pack.  Each of those three can be purchased separately:

 

Even at regular prices they are each very generous kits, and they are priceless to anyone who wants that extra boost of confidence that comes with a thorough, seasoned guide.

If you want to treat yourself to the Creative Kindergarten Back to School Ultra Bundle, you'll unpack a whole year of creative songs, dance, laugh, crafts, the 3Rs, AND good behavior:

                                    

The ultra-bundle above includes one of my favorite kindergarten treasures: a How-to-tie-a-shoe photo tutorial for your learning center.  To quote one buyer (and maybe, I'll set it to a rock beat and belt it out...while standing on a kindergarten table top): 

"It works! It really, really works! I'm never tying another shoe--except my own--once a day. I love this product!"  -FULL STOP-    

Please stop by my store and browse.  I think you'll find plenty of useful and creative teaching solutions, at super-generous prices.

Meanwhile, I'll be sending you all my best wishes for the start of your new school year!

Brand New Me - How Branding Changed My Life

Brand New Me!  or, How Branding Changed My Life

I branded my store!  I took a good, hard look at my old store, waved goodbye, and took the leap.  I hired a pro.

Why?  My old store wasn't terrible!  It was artsy, colorful and fun.  Suuuure...but the products got lost in those cluttered display boxes, with the saturated colors, chaotic blend of fonts, and those borders that were just a tad too big.  

My old logo was gorgeous, but it said Teacher Ink.  That's my blog name, not my brand.  Renee Dawn is the brand--and also my store name.  And now it's there, front and center.

Everything is cohesive.  The colors even compliment my skin tone!  My store looks more professional, consistent, eye-catching, and buyer-friendly.  It's still me, but all dressed up.  

The new look is Boho, classy, and chic.  The message is that I'm a long-term teaching professional, and that I can help bring a calm, confident, and creative energy into your teaching life--and your kids' lives, too.

The new product covers are brighter, simplified, and they clearly highlight the contents.  The fonts are mostly uniform, and not all screaming in a giant size.  I've added a super-narrow font, and smaller print, too--for that crucial type hierarchy that had eluded me.

The product covers are designed with a color scheme--orange for teacher guides, blue for behavior management, and so on.  When you scroll through a carousel of stuff, even on a tiny phone screen, I'm easy to find. 

Just as easy to find as your favorite brand of chips on a store shelf!

Branding has changed my life.  I think in terms of branding (and sometimes dream about it, too!), and it's starting to shape my ideas.  I'm shaking off clutter everywhere!

I use consistent designs, fonts, colors, and phrases in all my marketing, whether it's at my store, Pinterest, or facebook.

Thank you everyone, for supporting my store over the years.  You knew me when...(uhhh, let's not look back!)

And thank you, Erin from E is for Explore, for bringing your graphic design genius to the party!