Tuesday Tip Day: Prep work is the key!

The more you prep, the better the party!  This craft is cute and easy and if you are with the youger kiddos having the strips cut will save bunches of time, and you won't end up doing the entire craft.  I would cut the strips out for all ages until 2nd grade.  Then they just have to glue the circles and then glue then to the paper!

Little Family Fun- Halloween Ideas

Partytime!!- Halloween

It is time to start thinking of Halloween ideas for your kiddos Halloween Classroom Party!! I will keep adding ideas as I find them!!

Name Skeletons- Garden of Praise

You have the kids fold a black piece of paper in half have them write their name in chalk so it will be thick.  Cut the name out and open paper. But a white piece of paper behind the black and and arms, head legs with more pieces of white paper.  Cute, cute skeleton! And a $ saver!

katherinemariephotography.com

Gross, Gross, Gross!  But perfect for a Halloween party!  The best part of this snack is that is made from store bought items.

Needed:

Graham crackers

White frosting

Red decorating gel

If you bring the stuff and let them make their own it is not homemade!!  And it also will take about 10 minutes so it's perfect for rotations!

Tuesday Show n' Tell: Homework Clipboards

After two weeks of the kids being in school and hearing the complaints of "I need a pencil." and "I need something to write on.". I decided I needed to make some homework clipboards, one for each of them. So I bought some clipboards for $1.27 at Walmart and found this cute tutorial. I am going to add a ribbon with a pencil attached so the "I need a pencil." is solved too!

It's School Time/ Hybrid Chick

When I get mine done I will post some pics!

Managing Monday's: Get Started Now

With school started, now comes the task of getting organized.  As a room parent getting volunteers in the beginning of the year is key.  After discussing the teachers needs for the class email/text/call all the parents to let them know what times and when you will need volunteers.  That way your party list is full when the time comes for the Halloween party.

Here is a list of great ideas.

Cozi

For a really helpful (FREE) online program that sends

 auto reminders and keeps the volunteering schedule online so parents can

check whenever they would like.

Volunteer Spot

Thursday Tip Day!

Today's Tip: Some crafts can work for any party during the year!

I think this cute magnet can work all year long!  I also love it for a homework magnet.  You could always grab a pumpkin or tree or heart for any other holiday, and just use holiday paper! For the younger grades I would precut the paper instead of having them cut the letters out.

click here for tutorial

Skip To My Lou

Back to School Teacher Gift Idea

Every year I want to give the teachers a cute gift to start the year off right, well about 1/4 of the time I actually do give them a gift. But since I always have the best intentions here are a few great ideas!!

#1 Brown Paper Packages
http://www.brownpaper--packages.com/2011/05/4x4-block-pencil-holder-teacher.html



#2 Holiday Snob - 4 printables
http://holidaysnobs.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-to-school-printables.html


#3 Shindig Parties TO GO- Free Back to School Printables (Sorry still figuring out the picture)
http://amandaparkerandfamily.blogspot.com/2011/08/guest-posting-over-at-lil-luna-and.html

#4 Purplest Pecalin - Teacher's Survival Kit
http://purplestpecalin.blogspot.com/2011/08/teacher-survival-kit.html

#5 Come Together Kids- Chalkboard Notebook
http://cometogetherkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/chalkboard-notebook.html

Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween will be here before we know it, and I thought this was a great treat for a Halloween Party!!

Johnny Appleseed Day!

Johnny Appleseed is a fun day for younger kids to celebrate. And sometimes the room parent will be asked to come to serve snacks.

Here is some information on the actual holiday:

http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/March/appleseedday.htm

Serving apple snacks and apple juice is always fun or even applesauce. Making crafts with apples as stamps is fun and here is a link to more Johnny Appleseed fun!

http://www.ehow.com/how_6007170_celebrate-johnny-appleseed-day.html

Tuesday Tip!!

Back to school is here!! And it is the best time to sign-up volunteers for ALL the parties in the classroom. I send out an email to every parent in the class telling them each party and what is available to bring or do. This way the parent can plan on the party way in advance. And they don't feel like is was thrown on them at the last minute. If you send this at the beginning of the year the rest of the year is a breeze!

Flash Back Friday:Teacher Info Sheet

This is still a great idea:

It is such a helpful way to find out exactly what your teacher needs from you this school year. This sheet is for your teacher to fill out.
It gives you information about what your teacher likes and also what parties they would like in their classroom. https://share.acrobat.com/adc/document.do?docid=cd733a01-b950-4479-83a3-f8478ff304a0

Halloween Games Links

Here's some cute links I found for activities for your Halloween Room- Party!

Halloween Bingo, Who's the Ghost, Halloween Memory!http://childparenting.about.com/od/halloweenparties/ss/halloweengames.htm

FREE Halloween Printables, Mazes & games!
http://funschool.kaboose.com/fun-blaster/halloween/printables/halloween-printables.html

Older kids games. First one to 31 dice game, and Spider game.

http://classroom-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/halloween_fun_math_games

Mini Caramel Apples

Mini Caramel Apples
Bite-size versions of the fall fair treat, these tiny "caramel" apples are a great party snack.More Back-to-School Treats
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
4-inch lollipop sticks
Melon baller
Granny Smith apples (one apple makes about 8 mini apples)
Butterscotch or peanut butter chips
Chopped nuts, nonpareils, sprinkles, shredded coconut (optional)
Small paper candy cups
1. First, cut the lollipop sticks in half at an angle (the pointy end will go into the apple pieces easier). With the melon baller, scoop little balls out of the apple. Each ball should have a section of apple peel. Push half of a lollipop stick into the peel of each ball. Pat the apple pieces dry. 2. Melt the chips according to the package directions. Dip and swirl the mini apples in the melted chips, then roll the apples in nuts, sprinkles, nonpareils, or coconut, if desired. Place the mini apples in paper candy cups to set.

I found this on www.familyfun.com

Water Bottles!

This is a great drink idea that the kids love!!! Take water bottles and give each of the kids one with a Kool-Aid Jammers Orange Singles (pre-mixed packet). They love mixing them by theirselves, and then the bottles close so there is less spilling! You don't have to make the fancy holder that is shown in this photo, but they are cute! Idea from www.splitcoaststampers.com

Some more cute snacks!

These are some cute ideas for a snack for a room party using store bought items. Have them make them their selves and then eat!

http://www.brightideas.com/halloween/recipes/r_600_1.jsp here's the link for ingredients & how to make!

Okay this is store bought cookie dough that you dye red, an cut in a lips shape, cook. Then when warm stick in a milky way mini and put on the fangs. So cute, I'm still trying to find a way to make the cookie store bought and not prepared at home, so if you have a great idea please comment.

Some cute Halloween Craft Links

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/halloweencrafts.htm

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/holidays/hcrafts.htm

http://www.halloweenpartybox.com/Halloweencrafts.html

FREE Halloween Printables!

I found these on parents.com here is the link http://www.parents.com/holiday/halloween/printables/halloween-printables/

There are face masks, pumpkin decorating & Halloween stickers (printable), coloring pages, and jack o' lantern templates.

Semi-Homemade-Sandra Lee: Halloween Food

Warning: I keep forgetting that you can't used anything but store bought items in the classroom. So the juice is fine, but I will add more ideas for room parties in a later post. But these are cute for home!

Dragon's Blood Drink

1 (46-ounce) can red punch (recommended: Hawaiian Punch)
1 (46-ounce) can apple juice
1 (48-ounce) bottle cranberry juice
1 (2-liter) bottle ginger ale
Ice cubes
Combine all ingredients in a large punch bowl or pot. Add ice and stir.
Ladle into serving glasses.


Spider Bites

1 (12-ounce) package semisweet morsels
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 6 cups pretzel sticks

Place parchment paper on baking sheet; set aside.
In a large glass microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate chips and peanut butter. Melt on high for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and stir until smooth.
Stir in pretzel sticks. With clean hands grab pretzel sticks and drop on prepared baking sheet in clusters to look like spiders.
Place in freezer for 5 minutes or until to chocolate is hardened. Remove and serve.


Wicked cupcakes
This is a little longer recipe so here is the link.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/wicked-cupcakes-recipe/index.html

Oriental Trading Co. webcode

*Don't miss out! Order online by 11:59 p.m. CT, September 9, 2008, to get free standard shipping on your purchase of $60 or more, within the contiguous U.S. Shop any link in this email, or enter key code WC97246 during checkout. This offer is not valid on purchases made with any other offers.

Oriental Trading Co. a Life Saver

Here is a link for a FREE catalog request to Oriental Trading Co. it always saves me a ton of money or just gives me a ton of ideas. These are a few of the cute craft kits. I will add a web code that will get you FREE shipping for an order over $60 (I try to order more than one holiday craft so I can reach $60).

http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/shared/sharedFlowController.goToHelpController.do?requestURI=link.requestCatalog

Back-to-school!

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/minisite/back-to-school-main/

I always have high hopes for the first day of school. Homemade breakfast & cute cupcakes to eat while they tell me about their day, but my hopes are always dashed when the day gets away from me. But again this year I'm planning on doing it, I thought these were cute ideas from Family Fun.