Valentine's Day Fun!

Hi! It's Carolyn from Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together.  I wanted to share a few fun, quick Valentine activities with you  today.

My favorite Valentine book to share with my class is Somebody Loves Your, Mr. Hatch, by Eileen Spinelli.

The children always love this story, and really seem to understand it. You can just see the empathy in the kids' faces as you read it.
If you aren't familiar with the story, here is a really quick synopsis.

Mr. Hatch had no friends. He was sad and stuck to his lonely routine every day.

One day, the postman delivered a box to Mr. Hatch, with a note that read, "Somebody loves you. "

This note and gift changed his whole outlook on life. He was happy, started talking to and helping people, and making friends.

The postman returned and sadly explained that he had delivered the gift to the wrong address.

Mr. Hatch again felt that nobody loved him, and he was all alone. (This is where my class said, "It's a CIRCLE story!" But I told them that it wasn't over yet! )

The neighborhood people had come to love Mr. Hatch because they finally got to know him. They missed the happy, friendly Mr. Hatch who they had come to know. They thought of all the kind things Mr. Hatch had done for them, and decided to do something to let Mr. Hatch know that he really was loved.

That weekend when Mr. Hatch went out to sweep his porch as he usually did, he was greeted with the happiest surprise he had ever seen- and he knew that he truly was loved.

The illustrations and expressions are so much fun to look at. The coloring is great, too, because we noticed how the pages where Mr. Hatch is sad are dark and not colorful, but when he is feeling better and more hopeful, the pages have more bright color.

We had a wonderful sharing time about what small things we could do for people to let them know that we appreciate them. We talked about how sometimes people who seem sad may be feeling like they have no friends, and may just not know how to let us see the happy person they can be.

I had the children share what they think love is. Then, I told the children that I have a favorite book that taught me some important things about what love is. I had copied off and read some parts of 1 Corinthians 13 about love. It's GREAT for vocabulary!  We talked about what it means to be patient and kind. We learned what the words envy and boast mean, and how that isn't a loving way to act. We talked about how love is thinking about other people, not getting mad easily, and forgiving others when they make mistakes.

I had the children write about what love is to them.  I took each child's picture making "I love you" in sign language for the illustration.  They loved it.

We also made some fun and easy Valentines.

First, I had the children learn to trace and cut half a heart on a fold of graph paper. After they cut the heart, they colored in the squares with glitter crayons. When it was done, they glued it onto a piece of construction paper to make a Valentine.

This is an easy little activity- but not all that quick, because I really encourage the children to take their time and color neatly. We started it today, and will finish the design tomorrow for morning work. If you have bigger graph paper, they wouldn't take so long to finish. If you have smaller graph paper, you could be busy for a week! Or- you can cut smaller hearts!

I also love marble painting. We make spider webs in fall, flowers and butterflies in spring, and these hearts for Valentine's Day. We sprinkled on a little glitter after the painting- just because glitter makes everything just that much better. 

I had the children write a note on the inside of the card to tell mom and dad, or whomever it was for, why they love them, and to thank them for something. The cards turned out so sweet.

I posted about a fun activity to make for moms and dads here. I call them Love Gloves.  The children stuff the glove, and you hot glue it to say, "I love you."  You can attach a little heart message from the child, too.

 

Finally, here's a fun little activity book that the children can do anytime during February.  

YEARS ago when my children were little, one of them got a Doodle a Day Daily Calendar for Christmas.  I saved the Valentine doodles for years.

 I enlarged them and made a simple drawing book for my class, which they have loved.  Plus, they get to use those  glitter crayons- so...  even better!  Can you tell I save the glitter crayons for very special occasions?

If you would like a copy of my little drawing book, click on the picture below!

Thank you for stopping by! I'd love you to visit me at my blog, Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together and my Facebook page, too!  

Sensory Integration Resources and Free Printables

Do you know me?  I am that child who hates being tickled and cuddled.  You try to make eye contact with me and I turn away.  When you read a story I play with my hands and appear not to be paying attention.  Music hurts my ears and instead of dancing along with my friends I sit in my spot with my hands over my ears.  Do you know me?



Many young children have difficulty processing all the sensory information that they face throughout the school day.  In order for you create an optimal learning environment for these children, it is very important that you take notice of the signals children are sending you about their sensory needs and do what you can to address them. 

I'm going to share several free resources with you today that will really help these "sensational children" be the best they can be.  Once you address their sensory needs, you will be able to help them learn new social skills and be more successful in school.

Let's begin with more information on Sensory Processing Disorder.  You can learn more on the SPD Foundation website such as what it is, what impact it has on learning, and how you can help!  Just click the link below!   

It is very important that you know the sensory needs of your specific students.  If you mismatch their sensory needs you may get an adverse response.  Some adults might think the techniques aren't working and give up.  You are right on one part--the techniques aren't working!  BUT it's not because of the child, it is because you are using the wrong tools for THAT child.  The resource in the link below helps you determine what type of tools to use for the for the type of results you want (alerting/calming).  Click on the picture for your free printable copy and to read the full article.

 

Another resource that I absolutely LOVE is on the Conscious Discipline website!  They have a FREE printable that helps you know how to address sensory needs in the Safe Place (a self-regulation station in the classroom where children go to calm down).  There are five posters and each one addresses different sensory needs.  Be sure to check those out and print your free copy!

 

                                                 



 

Sometimes the tools that are necessary to help children regulate their sensory system can be costly.  That's why I love this next resource!  This former teacher shares real life with her readers and gives very creative ideas for how you can address the needs of children in creative ways.  I hope you'll check her out! 

 

 

 

Another inexpensive way to address a young child's needs for sensory experiences is to include a sensory tub in your daily classroom activities.  You can incorporate many academic and social skills through play in a sensory tub.  This article shares a multitude (over 130) of ideas for sensory tubs that will certainly get your creative juices flowing!  Remember, just like with any other toy or station in the classroom, it is very important that you set limits and teach children your expectations when they are using these tools.

 

 



 

Let's wrap things up with this Ultimate Guide to Sensory Integration Activities.  It really is a wealth of resources and ideas for helping you meet the sensory needs of your students.  One of my favorites is a link to the Creative with Kids blog.   The author shares a printable list of quick and easy sensory activities you can do with everyday materials you already have on hand. 

 

 



 As you grow in your understanding of the sensory needs of children you really begin to perceive their behavior differently.  When you see that there may be some underlying sensory issues that are causing a specific "misbehavior" then you can begin to find the proper tools to help alleviate frustration for you and the child!

 

As always, I wish you well!  Until next time...

 

Jenny Spencer

Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor

Blogger, Ignite Learning LLC

www.ignitelearningllc.blogspot.com

Fun February SUPER Start: Hearts, Flags + 100 Days!

FEBRUARY! Oh how we LUV LUV LUV on February! 
Today is the beginning of all things SUPER! 
SUPER Bowl Sunday indeed!

I've gathered up some happy hearts as inspiration for your Valentine's Extravaganza! Can you really have enough hearts and LUV in your life? Get out the red and pink construction paper out, gather your glitter (or not) and let your HEART go WILD! 

That first heart up above is VERY meaningful to me. I sat at the elbow of my Little Red, WonderPeep {grand-daughter} as she painted that masterpiece on a SMALL stretched canvas for MY mom, obviously her great grandma! 

My parents (and hubby) last week for mom's EIGHTIETH birthday

I was just visiting my parents for my mom's 80th birthday last week and guess where that precious canvas resides? You guessed it! In THE place of honor amid the family heirlooms and treasures. It is probably about 5 inches wide, maybe only four, and it is precious beyond measure. 

AND PERMANENT! 

These keepsakes that you create with the children in your life are held near and dear by their loved ones, for ages to come! 

Take a look next at this amazing 'heart-quilt' that I had the good fortune to see at the Preschool of our Denver-Darling. Simple. Painted hand-prints and then a 'capture' of their insight into kindness transcribed on the heart. It is the stunning simplicity of the over all design that is breath-taking. [If you want to read what the kiddos have to say, click the pic to be transported over to my personal blog: Precious alert.] 

The "Kindness Quilt" above was created at the year's beginning, for an amazing 'back-to-school' display and for setting the tone for the new school year. This same idea would make an AMAZING classroom collaboration in honor of Valentine's Day! 

There is absolutely 'no-shelf-life' on teaching kindness to our littles. Take every occasion possible to talk about the basics: being nice to others, sharing, taking turns. Establishing a sense of community comes first, but building on the basics never runs out of style. 

Now hold on to your hat! I want to show you how I spent Valentine's Day in 2014. I had the great good fortune to be invited to a FL private school, for an author's visit ON VALENTINE'S DAY! 

Are you ready to take a peek at the incredible backdrop that greeted me? This was the stage setting. SO BIG there was no way that my camera could capture all of the premeditated shower of LOVE in one shot! 

Kindergarten Water Color Hearts for Valentine's Day Author Visit 

This is way less than half of the backdrop of LOVE! 

Here I am warming up the Preschool crowd with some follow directions, "Simon Says" type activity. Follow the leader NEVER gets old and it literally doesn't have to cost you two cents. Preparing to get started may be my favorite part of the presentation. All eyes wide open! Everyone's excited! Get 'em movin'!!! BEGIN!

Here are some additional "oldies-but-goodies." 

Here are some 'new' Valentine's Bulletin Boards on display at faith-based preschools I have visited.

Here's the PERFECT project for February. 
Combine the Valentine's Day Hearts and patriotic President's Day colors. 



I have a couple of 'new' articles in this past month over at my blog that I know you will appreciate. 

This first one gathers up nine different ways that teachers have their class 'sign-in' for the day! 
Some examples are from Preschool and a couple from Kindergarten. 

I saw these Kinder SPRAY PAINTED Nature Projects out in CA at the PK1 Conference. 

You simply MUST go see how they were created. 

I have the teacher's experience on record now. 

Be certain to read her 'comment' below the article itself! 

As usual, I will continue to add 'more' to this article over the course of the next day or so. Check back later for inspiration for President's Day!