Post Office Dramatic Play Center

 Here is my latest dramatic play center: The Post Office.  I like to put this one out in February because we practice letter writing by writing Valentine's letters.  I got all the images from teacherspayteachers.com.  I also got the postcard template from teacherspayteachers.  I made the post office uniform and bag by using iron on transfer paper.  It was really easy!  I just google searched the post office image and then printed it out on that paper, then ironed it onto the shirt, bag and hat.  I also love the little stamps because the kids get to design them.

I love this dramatic play center because it really gets the kids excited about writing!  They also learn how to address an envelope.  Last week we wrote Valentine's Day notes to the kids' parents.  The kids put them in envelopes and wrote their address on the front.  Then, before Valentine's Day we are going to walk to the post office to mail them and on the way back we are stopping to get hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls!  It will be really fun.  My school also does a mail system where the students can write letters and address them to different classrooms in the school.  They don't even realize their doing work when they are so excited to write letters to people!
Ashley

Easy Quilt Ideas

Here are the quilts I made for my daughter.  I made some for the boys too, but that can be another post.   I made theirs out of fabric they chose, but next I want to make them quilts out of their old uniforms an school shirts.  I made 3 quilts for my daughter.  It was a lot easier than I expected and even though they're not perfect, they are all special!

The quilt above was made with my daughter's old baby clothes!!! I cut squares out of the clothing that she outgrew and that had some sentimental value.  I included her first Halloween costume, her first Christmas dress, the outfit she wore home from the hospital, etc.  This quilt is so special and full of memories!  

The quilt above was made from my old Rainbow Brite bedsheets from when I was a kid!! I found them at my sister's house and knew I needed to make something with them!  I thought the pattern of the rainbow colored squares came out pretty cool!

The quilt above was the first quilt that I made for my daughter and it was made out of a package of receiving blankets.  The packet came with 4 blankets and I just cut them up into squares. I got the idea of using receiving blankets from my mom. It was perfect because the blankets already coordinate and go together.  Finding different patterns of fabric with coordinating colors can be difficult, so the blanket packet made it so easy!  They usually come with 4 blankets. 

I'll go through the steps I took to make the quilts.  And I am not good at sewing!  I had never used a sewing machine before I made my first quilt!!

Here's what you need:
Fabric squares
A fabric back to the quilt
Batting
Thread
Trim
Fabric cutter/fabric cutting board/fabric ruler
Yarn or buttons

1.  Cut the fabric into either 4x4 or 5x5 squares using a fabric cutter and a fabric cutting board.
2.  Lay out all the pieces in a pattern.
3.  Sew the sides of the pieces together so you end up with strips going horizontally.
4.  Sew the horizontal strips of squares together so you have one big square.
5.  Lay the big square onto the batting and cut the batting a little bigger than the square.  You will also need a piece of fabric underneath the batting which is the back of the quilt.  The batting should be in the middle.
6.  Pin it all together and sew along the edges of the quilt.
7.  Cut the excess batting off.
8.  Sew on the trim
9.  Finish by using yarn or buttons at every corner so the batting stays in place and won't shift around.

This shows the quilt squares on top of the batting

I wish I had pics of every step but I didn't have my blog while I was making these.  If I make another one, I'll make sure to take lots of pictures during the process!

Ashley

Book Bag: The Little Red Hen

This is where I keep all of my fairy tales, fables and myths. 

Here is my Little Red Hen book bag.

Here is a mini book from Scholastic

Here is a minibook from Reading A-Z

Here is a mini book from www.themeasuredmom.com

Here is my Little Red Hen book bag.  I have book bags for all of my fairy tales, fables, and myths.  Inside each bag I have lots of different things.  I try to find a mini book for the kids to read and take home.  I also have writing assignments, comprehension assignments, etc.  

One thing I'm excited about is my book bags full of objects from the story.  These are so great for retelling the story and for my kinders to play with after I read to them.  It is a fun way to test comprehension!  For The Little Red Hen bag I have: Ingredients to make bread- egg, wheat, salt, butter, rolling pin.  I also have a hen, dog, and goose.  

I'm trying to collect objects for all of my fairy tale book bags.  I ask my friends to look at yard sales, I find stuff at Good Will, in my kids' rooms, or wherever!!  

Dramatic Play Bakery

Here is my latest dramatic play center: The Bakery!!!  The kids love it!! Remember that all my dramatic play centers are a work in progress.  I need to collect more pretend sweets and would also like to get one of those play part cakes from Target or Walmart.  The order form can be used for any age- my kinders just put a mark next to the item and my older kids actually have to add it up (with a calculator!!)  I got the cute cookie set from Walmart- it's a Melissa and Doug set.  And I didn't realize my apron was so wrinkled! I need to steam it!
So I give my kindergarten students time to play in the dramatic play center everyday.  It really helps them work on their language skills, play skills, etc.  My older students get to play in it once a week.  The labels I found on teacherspayteachers for free.
I try to change out my dramatic play center every month, so next month I'll post the next one!
Ashley

Mom and Daughter Shoes

Mom and Daughter Shoes

I saw these women's shoes at a store and really liked the colors, but didn't buy them at first because I already had running shoes..... until I saw the matching toddler shoes.  Then I went out and bought them both.  I don't care if it's cheesy for us to match!  I think it's cute!! They are both pink with blue laces and a silver Nike sign.  

Ashley

Sweater Weather

Hello! I haven't blogged since school started!!! I knew that would happen.  It was snowing last night and a little bit this morning!  I love the snow and snow days, but I don't like driving in it.    My dad got me the Sorels for Christmas and I had been wanting them for a long time.  I was debating on getting the taller ones or the purple ones and I loved the color so I chose the purple.  We haven't gotten too much snow, but I whenever I see even a little bit I put on my snow boots because I need an excuse to wear them!We actually went to the park with our sleds to see if there was enough snow to sled down the little hill but there wasn't and we looked ridiculous out there trying to push each other down the hill with hardly any snow.  Maybe we can go sledding in the mountains before winter is over.  

At school, I put out my Bakery dramatic play center.  I will post some pics of my Dramatic play centers soon.  I try to change them out every month! I get so excited about my dramatic play centers because they are so much fun to put together and my binders love them! Plus they are so educational!  The kids practice their communication, math, imaginative play, etc.

My husband is still working the 12 hour shifts so I miss him a lot, but he does have a lot of days off!  The kids are all doing good and keeping me busy.  

I guess that's all for now!!  

Ashley

Flowy Hi-Lo Top

I survived my first week back at school.  It was a hard transition from summer back to work this year!!

I'm lucky that at my school, I'm allowed to wear jeans everyday!  I know at some schools you only get to wear jeans on Fridays.   

Back to work tomorrow!  The weekend flew by too fast!! I'm head teacher this year and it is a lot of work!  But I'm getting the hang of it.  Hopefully I just don't mess anything up too much! I've already made a couple of mistakes, but that's ok!