100th Day of School Creative Activities

Here's a fun and easy way to be creative on the 100th Day of School.

 I call it A Handful of Hundred.  Kids draw or glue 20 objects onto this printable--to see 100 at a glance.  

Kids can get as creative as they like: 100 hearts, smiley faces, flowers, stars, suns, rainbows, birds, or bubbles.

They can even add a creative feature.  If they draw bubbles, they can also add the little boy who is blowing bubbles on the bottom of the page.

This one shows 100 full-fledged characters:

 I've learned from experience, that kids loooove to add fun stuff like silly finger nails.

One kid drew 20 rings on the fingers, and she glued a tiny jewel on each one.

Super-cool!  And a fabulous display piece, too.  If you'd like this printable, and other cool and creative 100-related projects--we've got you covered.

Give your 100th Day of School a creative boost, with a School Super Hero Mask, task cards in every curriculum area, beautiful display pieces, and creative writing.

Have a SUPER-MEMORABLE 100th day of school!

•  100 Day Super Hero Mask: Super cute, super easy!  Kids draw 100 shapes on the “100,” color, cut and glue (Tiny 100-Dot Guidelines included)

•  I’m a 100th Day of School Super Hero – Certificate/Poster

•  100 Number Chart Activities

•  Task Cards and Activities in math, word work, science, social studies – Fun tasks to use all year!

•  Handful of 100:  Draw 20 objects on each of 5 hands.  A beautiful display piece.

•  Letter to Parents:  Create an artistic 100th Day Project at home to share at school EDITABLE PPT INCLUDED

•  Keepsake Creative Writing Project: a 9-page Book.  My Vision of the Future.  In 100 years…

•  Writing prompts with picture box and 5 lines to write.  Additional plain, lined writing paper.

•  Six 100th Day Songs, easy to sing-along!

•  Say One Hundred Around the World, in many languages; poster

•  Read Aloud Books, each with a Writing Prompt

•  Charts for tallies, games, writing words

BONUS (Included):

• Count to 100 MP3: Soothing vocals over relaxing instrumentals with a soft beat--for kids to dance to, take 100 steps, or strike 100 poses.  And, by the way, great for behavior management at any time.

Not just for your 100th Day of School--you'll find activities you may use all year.

Enjoy your 100th Day--and, as always, I'll be wishing you a wonderful last half of your school year!

Teacher $10 Gift Card AND FREE Substitute Teacher Guide Giveaway

Please join me in a $10 Gift Card Giveaway!

Our contest is now closed.  
You can still find fabulous resources at TeachersPayTeachers, at deep discounts till 12 AM EST on February 5, 2020!

Simply visit this Blog Post:

10 Tips for a Substitute Teacher

AND... leave your comment about subbing 
at the end of the

Substitute Teacher post!

AND... be sure to leave an email or contact link, too --  

(It will only be used for this contest)
or, message me your email at Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Teacher-Ink-1356200181061182/

 -- for a chance to win $10 worth of great resources for teachers.

Winners will be chosen by a random number selector.

Thanks for joining the fun! 

Contest begins 12 AM Tuesday February 4th and ends 5 PM Wednesday, February 5th EST. 

Congrats to our winner, Jacqueline Kelly!

Even sweeter:

Teachers Pay Teachers is having a SALE--up to 25% off everything--Tuesday and Wednesday, February 4th and 5th. 

Enter the contest above for a chance to win a FREE Substitute Teacher Ultimate Guide!  

·        Be prepared, organized and focused—be a “Dream Sub!”

·        Not just for subs... 

·        Tips for a regular teacher’s Sub Binder on the days you’re absent

Deep Discount + Super Site-Wide Sale + $10 Gift Card Giveaway = FREE Substitute Teacher Ultimate Guide for one lucky winner.


Winner to be notified via email at 5 PM Wednesday, February 5th.

ENJOY your TeachersPayTeachers Super Sale Days, and see you there!!

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!