Create

I'm still in that awkward post-Christmas not-yet-new-year weird void where it is even more difficult than normal to determine the date and/or time. 

I shared a picture of my desk on Instagram this evening (when I truly thought it was a teeny tiny little bit after midday). In keeping with my I-have-no-idea-what-day-it-is general mood, I had switched my home office around 180 and am facing the door instead of the window. Hello, new perspective! Who would have thought it would make such a difference? I feel all new again. And a bit like I am in a real office waiting for people to come into see me. He he he.

create banner for teacher desk


Annette (on Instagram) mentioned that she would like to print out the create banner.

So here it is friends (in Google Drive), a little bit of what I like to call desk decor (why should our classroom get all the attention, right?!). 

I'm so glad you'd like to fancy-up your desk for the week too!

printable to do list



Farm Friends Help with Counting!


Hi friends!

I am just checking in quickly to let you know that I have revised another of my TpT listings

Farm Friends Counting Pack will help your little ones in the very early stages of counting. They simply:

1.  roll
2. identify the number on the dice (use dots or numbers to differentiate)
3. count out the correct number of animals
4. place them on their game mat

To differentiate this activity for your learners you can:

- use dice with bigger numbers
- ask students to keep a cumulative total
- ask students to 'double' their roll number (e.g if they roll a 2, they collect 4 animals)
- as your students to 'add 1' or 'take 1' from their roll number
- multiply by 3 e.g. if they roll a 2 they take 6 animals

Included is:

Count the Sheep



Count the Ducks





Count the Cows




and 
Count the Pigs 



If you have purchased the license for this bundle from me in the past, please download the fresh new printables from your 'My Purchases' tab!

Have a lovely day and thanks so much for stopping by!


Penguin Poster + Coloring Page FREEBIE


I told my family I was tidying the house while they played cricket outside in the thick humid heat today. 

I DID tidy most of the house and then stopped to do a quick sketch. As you do.

A few hours later I am here with a free download. How do a few hours always feel like minutes to me?

Anyhow - if you have no idea what I am talking about, you may like to hop over to Instagram and follow the little stories from my profile page today (I think you have to be on your phone). If you did sit through them, bless your heart. 

Here is a printable poster page I created and it has a backline version for your sweeties to color in!


Find it in Google Drive HERE

Have a lovely day - I am off to fuss over the family now ;) 

- Mel xx

Merry Christmas!


Wishing you the happiest of holiday seasons with your loved ones! Here is a little gift from me - a new FREE font! Find it on my blog sidebar (keep scrolling down the page and find the links in the right sidebar) or click below to find it in my TpT store!


Lots of love

Mel x

Sprinkle Kindness


Encourage your students to think of ways they can 'sprinkle kindness' around the classroom and record them on a cupcake display for your door, bulletin board or window! 


You can add little sticky page flags to your display to appear as cute 'sprinkles'!


A backline version of the cupcakes and posters are included in this printable packet so you can choose to have your students color them!


Have a super sweet day, friends! 

- Mel x

Butterfly Roll & Color Freebie + Resource Updates


We have a fun roll and color freebie for you today - perfect for subitizing and early number skills! Find it in Google Drive HERE

It's a great idea to have your learners shade the number key in the coordinating colors before they start rolling as an introduction to the lesson. 

In this play-on-the-page activity, students will be getting lots of practice 'subitizing' as they roll and glance at their dice, key and the numbered picture. They will be correlating the dot pattern, numeral and value of each roll as they check back and forth on each turn.

Butterfly Math Games for Emergent learners

If you'd like your students to get additional practice with numbers to ten, consider checking out our Butterfly Math Pack! Feedback tells us that your little learners will want to play them every day!

The pack includes 4 games that are practical and fast to prep. They will engage your students in quality learning experiences with a dash of fun!

Butterfly Flutter 

  • students will identify all numerals 0-10 

Butterfly Bingo

  • students will match numerals to learn digits 0-10

Butterfly Roll

Butterfly Roll will have them thinking about number order.

Butterfly Clip Cards

Butterfly Clip Cards will get your learners counting out a set of objects to match each numeral and using their fine motor skills to place the clips on the wings to match!

We know you and your learners will love these games. You will find them:
  • easy to use 
  • great with small groups
  • perfect for exploring number concepts
  • practical to prep
  • engaging for Pre-k or beginning kinder

SaveSave

Color in the Classroom


I used to have a little stash of giant blue paper rolls for my classroom. Soft blue, very peaceful and  'cooling' apparently. I ran out last year and used black for the majority of my classroom bulletin boards and 'base color'. Having never used black before, I was nervous. But it turned out beautifully.

I used $2 plastic tablecloths from K.Mart after finding rolls of black paper proved to be quite difficult. I used pink, blue and yellow as additional feature colours in my room - little splashes here and there. 

I am starting to plan ideas for 2017 and I am leaning towards blue or green again. If you're about to plan classroom decor, use the list above to think about how colour might affect feelings and behaviour in the classroom. I think simplicity in a palette is important, and try to stick to a maximum of 4 colours for feature objects and displays.


I've just added a new printable to the 'My Cute Classroom' series in my TpT store. These 'display in a day' packets help you create a fun bulletin board, door or window display easily and quickly in your room. They contain editable and backline elements so your students can contribute creatively if you have the time!




Thanks so much for stopping by today - I hope you are having a fabulous week! 

- Mel x

Five for Friday


take 5 on friday

5 for Friday is on vacation, but surprisingly, I was somewhat prepared this week - so here we go.... 5 random happenings from my week!

made us super excited and happy for more Christmas preparations in my house!



2. This is the Box Car
My 4 year old eagerly anticipates seeing this every Saturday at swimming school. Fascinates him. Every. Week. Without. Fail. 
I took a photo so I can tuck it away on my phone and drag it out next time I need an hour of silence. 
Not even kidding. 
Boys .......... 


3. This nifty little paragraph 
resonated with me on Thursday. 
Only a few pages left! Where did the year go?!

What a fabulous year 2016 has been! My best piece of advice if you're looking for an improved 2017 is to turn your TV off.


4. Lego! 
With minimal TV you have plenty of hours to fill. Draw. Read. Create. Build. 
We are crazy for Lego and had a ball looking {hello Santa} at this massive selection last weekend. 
Drool. 


5. The lizards are out!
Lazing idily in the sun, or making the best of their current conditions? 
It was fun watching this one hop up the steps!


Have a fabulous weekend - doing whatever it is that brings you peace. 

- Mel x

Snowman Addition and Subtraction Activity


Always always always a favorite! Your games and activities are so simple to use and always right on point with standards!
Thanks Sherese with think so too! Do you need a snowman activity to engage your students in learning addition and subtraction facts this winter? Check this one out!

Snowman Clip will help students consolidate their math facts and also improve their fine motor control.


Students will enjoy solving the addition and subtraction problems on the snowman and 'clipping' the ones that match the numeral!
  • Answers are in the range 5-20. 16 snowman cards are included.
  • A printable recording worksheet and cover page provided too.
  • Find them in my TpT store HERE

Free Christmas Subtraction Game



Santa's Sleigh Drop is a fun and FREE subtraction game to get your kiddos modelling subtraction!

Use it with the 20 or 10 frame alternatives. It has been downloaded over 85000 times on TpT and is one of my favourites.  

Find it in my TpT store HERE



Have a great day! 

- Mel x

Monday Got Me

Monday got me

Until I had a coffee and then it was all sunshine, rainbows and cupcakes.


Except the cupcake was a mint from my top drawer and a chocolate frog from the prize box, because I forgot recess.


And 'a coffee' may well have been 3. Or 4.


Never mind......wishing you a fabulous Monday! {But don't you feel bad for being a tiny little bit grumpy for a few minutes}.


- Mel x

Christmas Card Freebie + 2D Shape Art Projects


We like making a new Christmas card each year! This one incorporates one of my scrappy Santa drawings and can be downloaded for FREE from Google Drive HERE


It has a rounded shape so will not stand up on a shelf - but looks great hanging or attached to a gift.


I've finally finished the Christmas version of my 2D shape crafts and you can make all 6 fun projects, or just choose one! Find it in my TpT store.



Thank you so much for stopping by today, I wish you a very happy and replaced weekend. If your week was anything like mine, you may have felt a little brain fried by Friday!


- Mel x

Christmas Coloring Pages


I've added 5 new projects to my Scrappy Christmas Coloring packet! If you have the license, simply download from your 'My Purchases' tab on TpT. 



We also have a free coloring club and would love to have you join us. Read all about it over on the website - Pond Coloring Club

Lights


We've slowly been adding more of our Christmas decorations to the house all week. It started with the Christmas tree last weekend and is beginning to look like Father Christmas exploded inside our four walls.

It is perfectly timed with Sam's new found love of questions. What is the tree for? What are the cards for and why is the postman bringing so many? What are the candles for?

Oh the joys.

Here is a candle themed window art we made using paper, crayons and a tiny bit of cooking oil.

candle christmas art project free

Stained Glass Window Art Project Freebie




Find it over in our Coloring Club Christmas library - it's free and easy to join!


Find more Christmas Window Art in my packet HERE and more ideas for Christmas HERE


Thanks so much for stopping by!

10 & 20 Frames for Christmas




I go a little crazy for Christmas - can you tell?! 

We are not overly 'celebratory' in Australia in the holiday sense, but Christmas would be the exception. It coincides with the end of the school year, and as well as all the traditions of the festive season we are also celebrating the end of many yearly activities and commitments. 


My 'December' ten and twenty frame activities would have to be one of my favourite creations. I loved making these and getting them out to practice counting and numbers to 20. 


You can use them as activity cards, or task cards along with the included worksheets. Use them with dry erase markers, play dough or small tokens or counters. Once students have written the matching number of dots into each frame - use them for games! Matching, ordering and sorting. Even addition and subtraction. 


Find them in a bundle in my TpT store HERE


Santa's Sleigh Drop is another fun math counting frame activity in my store and it is still FREE! If you do not have it yet, add it to your collection for lots of festive fun!



Thanks so much for stopping by today, have a great Monday!

- Mel x