I am beyond excited to announce that the Astrobrights Papers’ Colorize Your Classroom contest is back for another great year! The wonderful team at Astrobrights loves educators (almost as much as they love color!) and they want to encourage teachers to use color in their classrooms for a chance to win a yearlong Astrobrights sponsorship worth $5,000. Studies show that color can increase memory by up to 50 percent and help students remain engaged. What better reason to Colorize than to help your students?

The Astro Bright Minds have issued four different challenges that tackle problems teachers face when creating the right environment for their students: classroom décor, organization, differentiated learning and memorization.

ColorizeYourClassroom.com is a go-to source for educators. There, you can find inspiration and ideas on how color can help transform your classroom.

Using Color for Classroom Decor

By now, you know that I have a passion for classroom design and I love to incorporate color into my kindergarten classroom. Today’s challenge is all about how you can give your own classroom a bold burst of color in a budget-friendly way. I’ll show you how to use folded paper to put a fun twist on the traditional paper chain. You can hang this geometric garland anywhere in the classroom to create a fun and energized learning space.

You’ll want to plan ahead and think carefully about what type of pattern you wish you create with the folded strips. You will use 2 strips of paper at a time so consider which 2 colors you want to go together. While it is perfectly ok to use 2 strips of paper in the same color (such as Lunar Blue), you may want to capitalize on the “peekaboo” effect that happens as the papers are folded. Perhaps mixing Celestial Blue with Lunar Blue would be better because the contrast would create more drama within the folds. You can use as many colors as you wish throughout the chain, so consider if you wish to create a garland with a complete color spectrum (the way I did) or perhaps have fun experimenting with an ombre effect. The possibilities are endless!

For my paper chain, I decided to consistently use a strip of Eclipse Black paper folded among the bright colors. Using one color on the entire chain created consistency and the black added an extra punch of contrast.

How to Make a Folded Paper Chain

Once your color scheme is selected, you are ready to get started. Begin with two paper strips. Place the strips perpendicular to each other, making sure to align them at their shared corner. Use a glue stick to glue the 2 strips of paper together in this position.

Start folding with the bottom strip of paper – fold it up across the top strip.

Next, fold the other strip of paper up and across the previously folded section.

Repeat the process, alternating which paper strip you fold each time as you gradually make a paper chain.

After a few folds of each color, you will need to extend your paper strips to continue the garland. To do so, place a fresh strip of paper across the top of the folded square.

Apply a generous amount of glue onto the bottom edge of the new strip and fold the previous strip up onto the glue to create an extension.

Repeat the process for the remaining strip that has run out of paper and use the extensions to keep folding. Each time you run out of paper, use glue to extend the paper strips again. You can choose to change colors when you add a new strip or continue the entire paper garland in the existing 2-tone color scheme.

Here’s a look at how the spectrum changed as I added successive colors to my own paper chain.

When you have reached the desired length of your garland, glue the final fold of each color down to prevent the paper chain from “unravelling”. Allow the glue to dry and then hang your creation!

Get Creative with Folded Paper Chains

Make this project your own and experiment with different sizes of papers. Skinnier strips are more difficult to work with, but they are equally beautiful and interesting! Try using 1” strips. This photo shows a garland made with 1/2”strips of Astrobrights paper next to a 2″ strip that used two similar colors throughout the chain, rather than black.

Use a Folded Paper Chain as Classroom Decor

This DIY paper garland is the perfect way to add color and excitement to your classroom. Use it to create a focal point in the room to draw in the eyes of visitors when they first walk in. Perhaps the focal point of your classroom is a bank of windows. If so, hang the garland as bunting along your windows. You can also transform your classroom library into a special space for students by hanging a few long strands of this paper chain. Watch your children ooh and ahh each time they visit the area.

Involve Students in the Process

Depending on the age of your students, it’s also a fabulous project for children to get involved in creating. Let the class take ownership of their learning environment by teaching them to make the paper garland. Each student can create a section of the chain, which you can glue or staple together to create extended versions to hang in the classroom.

Colorize Your Classroom Decor

Now is your turn to add a spark of color to your own classroom to ignite student learning. I’ve shared a little inspiration for an easy way to incorporate color into your classroom decor, but the the sky is the limit for your creativity. Think you have a bright idea? Grab your favorite colors of paper or cardstock and start decorating! You could add a paper chain to your classroom or decorate in a completely unique and creative way. Your classroom is a blank canvas and the sky is the limit!

Share Your Idea Online for a Chance to Win $5,000

Once you have an idea of how you might add some extra color to your classroom decor, make sure you check out the challenges on ColorizeYourClassroom.com. There, you will find complete information about this years’s challenge. You can also enter to win a yearlong sponsorship from Astrobrights worth $5,000 by uploading an image of your own decor idea using colored paper.

While you’re visiting ColorizeYourClassroom.com, be sure to check out the challenge videos. You may recall some of fun I had last month during the Bright Minds Summit. We spent a lot of time on that trip preparing to make this year’s Colorize Your Classroom Contest even better than the year before and I can’t wait for you to see what we were up to.

This year’s Coloize Your Classroom Contest has 4 challenges. You can enter the contest up to four times by completing each of the 4 challenges. Just upload a photo on ColorizeYourClassroom.com each time you complete a challenge.

Astrobrights may even feature your bright idea as the pick of the week on Facebook to help other teachers colorize their learning!

Visit ColorizeYourClassroom.com for details, official rules for entry and hundreds of ideas on how to Colorize Your Classroom.

This is a sponsored post. I received payment, trade and/or products from Astrobrights in exchange for promoting.
However, all opinions stated are my own and I only promote products I love.

The post It’s Finally Here! Colorize Your Classroom with Astrobrights appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Have you heard the news? I am partnering with the amazingly talented Melanie from Schoolgirl Style once again to decorate my kindergarten classroom with an all-new theme. After two wonderful years of enjoying my Rainbow Chalkboard classroom theme, I decided it was time to shake things up a little.

Melanie and I started planning what my new theme would be several months ago, and I drove out to her little shop in July to stock up on a few classroom essentials.

Stocking up on @schoolgirlstyle goodies for next year! #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #backtoschool #schoolgirlstyle #kindercraze

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Jul 3, 2015 at 11:10am PDT

Once August rolled around, I headed back into my classroom ready to work and I really had my work cut out for me. This is how my classroom looked when I first walked in the door. I had a new plan for how to decorate the space above my windows so the silhouettes of children playing had to come down. You wouldn’t know it, but those paper decorations were held in place with a whole lot of glue and a little bit of tape! Each display come down in one piece. It was such a shame to throw them away, but after 2 years, the paper definitely needed to be replaced.

This came down from above my classroom windows today. A whole new theme means fresh paper and saying goodbye to these cute kids! I’m working with @schoolgirlstyle to redo my classroom and I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds! #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #backtoschool #classroomsetup #TpTCheckOutMyClassroom A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 3, 2015 at 2:14pm PDT

From there, the real work began: deciding on a color scheme. My new Schoolgirl Style theme came with plenty of printables, but I still needed to narrow down my color scheme.

Working in my classroom, playing with colors, and trying to decide on a palate. It’s so overwhelming! What’s your favorite color from the set? #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #schoolgirlstyle #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #backtoschool #b2s2015

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 5, 2015 at 8:25am PDT

This has proven to be quite a task! So many people on Instagram have been eagerly waiting for a peek at the new colors and design, but something in the room changed every single day. Often, it was big changes. Like the time I covered the massive bulletin board in the back of my classroom with Canary Yellow Fadeless paper.

I decided to go with yellow on the giant board in the back of my classroom. For today at least. All classroom decor decisions are subject to change before the first day of school. And maybe even after the first day. #tptcheckoutmyclassroom #kindercraze #backtoschool #schoolgirlstyle #iteachtoo A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 10, 2015 at 9:53am PDT

Only to decide that it was too much yellow a few days later and start all over again with a new color.

So long yellow paper. You were nice while you lasted…

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 12, 2015 at 9:38am PDT

And then there was the classroom library. Oh my word, I thought that space in my classroom might be the death of me. I spent hours this summer looking around for every possible color of plastic bin to use in my library. I really wanted it to have lots of teal.  This was the initial color scheme I had in mind. Within a day, it was replaced with this: And soon evolved into this: I really wanted to find book boxes in softer colors and was not having any luck. So I took my matters into my own hands and decided to spray paint a couple of book boxes to see if that was a viable option.

Stepping out of the classroom and into the garage. It’s all in the details! #spraypaint #classroomsetup #backtoschool A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 11, 2015 at 1:31pm PDT

Spoiler alert: it isn’t.

I ultimately decided to embrace the colors currently available for plastic boxes. My library has successfully been transformed and I decided to change things even more and make the switch to using my White Series Classroom Library Labels (instead of the black labels I had been using).

Survived the first day of school and now working on my classroom library. I’m making the switch to the White Series! #tptbtsselfie #iteachtoo #iteachk #iteachkinder #teacherspayteachers #kindercraze

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Sep 1, 2015 at 10:44am PDT

Those black labels aren’t the only thing to change. I decided that it is finally time to say goodbye to my little chevron bookshelf. The design is just a little too busy for my new classroom theme.

Time to say goodbye to my little chevron bookshelf. It chevron is too busy for my current classroom design #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #backtoschool A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Sep 4, 2015 at 8:30am PDT

I recently purchased a new piece of furniture from IKEA and my wonderful husband even came in for a few hours to assemble it for me. He also sent me flowers. I’m not at all sure how I got so lucky.

My husband seriously deserves some kind of award. He had flowers delivered to school “just because” AND he spent a few hours assembling furniture in my classroom this week. I am blessed beyond measure and so thankful for him. #classroomsetup #iteachtoo #besthusbandever #teacherlife #backtoschool

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 23, 2015 at 9:53am PDT

As my classroom color scheme evolved, so did my debit card. I have made countless trips to various stores to purchase new items and just as many trips to return items that I ultimately decided were not a good fit for my classroom design. This is just one haul that I decided to return during an afternoon of errand running. The gold letters went back to Hobby Lobby, the coral baskets went to Target and the decorative cork boards went to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

School resumed this week for me and once again, my classroom was not ready on time. It has a definite atmosphtere (and, thankfully, a color scheme) but many of the finishing touches are still a work-in progress. I ripped down my classroom alphabet after the first day of school and replaced it with a new look. I am hoping to roll out the rest of the details in the coming week so I can share it with you soon!

The post Coming Soon! An All-New Classroom Design appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Fall is just around the corner and my brown riding boots have been staring at me from the dark recesses of my closet, waiting for a chance to see daylight again. I asked my stylist at Stitch Fix to send some items that will be great pieces to add to my fall wardrobe and wear with my riding boots. When I opened the box that arrived at my door, I was positively in love with all of the rich colors and couldn’t wait to try everything on. This is one beautiful Fall Stitch Fix review! Prepare your eyes for some serious style inspiration and feel free to pin your favorite photos to your style board on Pinterest so you can make recommendations to your own personal stylist at Stitch Fix. You’ll also want to read all the way to the end of this post, because I’m giving away a Stitch Fix gift card!

Alessandro Floral Print Silk Blouse

The first item I tried on was an off-white 3/4 sleeve Alessandro Floral Print Silk Blouse from Amour Vert for Stitch Fix ($118) blouse with a soft black floral print. In addition to asking for fall layers, I have been begging my stylist to please send more long-sleeve blouses my way and I can’t stop pinning floral items. I just can’t get enough florals at the moment. Typically, you would expect to see lots of florals in the spring and summer but the black and off-white coloring of this particular blouse make it ideal for the cooler months. It’s a gorgeous winter white.  With a such a steep price tag, I tried this blouse on fully expecting to ship it right back. I paired it with the Emer High Waisted Tall Trouser pants that came in my 16th fix and a pair of Kelly and Katie black pumps (which I bought from DSW last year but are available at Walmart this year for an amazing price!) I also added some light beads and my black Chelsey stainless steel Fossil watch.

The outfit was fun and effortlessly dressy for a date night with my husband, Rob, or a girls night with my friend. I easily made the outfit a little more casual by adding a denim jacket from Old Navy.

Gideon Polka Dot Sweater

The next item in my fix was a Gideon Polka Dot Sweater from 41Hawthorn ($68). At first, I wasn’t sure if this sweater was preppy-chic and J. Crew style or more of a cliche teacher look. There was only one way to find out!

I tried the sweater on with my new Rizzo Skinny Pant that came in my most recent fix. I feel in love with these amazingly structured, ultra flattering and professional pants when I tried them on and I was happy to have an excuse to wear them (even if it is just for a few photos!) I also wore a pair of basic black riding boots. I kept the accessories simple with the same black fossil watch and silver Elisa Kendra Scott necklace that came in my Rocksbox.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the sweater was warmer than I expected for how lightweight it was. I’m always cold in the winter and this will be a great piece to keep me warm. I just had to do something about ALL THOSE polka dots. They were a little overwhelming and busy. The sweater needed something to break things up a bit, so I dug into my closet and did the unexpected. I wore the Callie White Denim Jacket that came in my 23rd fix. I know you’re not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, but here we are and I just did. And it was ok! The white denim actually looked stunning over the sweater and allowed for just a POP of polka dots.

I might not always be bold enough to wear the white denim and I may need some extra warmth on cooler days. This sweater also looks pretty great with the Pierina Textured Colorblock Peacoat that came in my 12th fix.

I don’t own any down vests, but I can’t help but think that this sweater would be ideal to pair with a bright vest for a pop of color. I LOVE this dark poppy Excursion Vest from J. Crew and this bright red Kendra Scott Andy Open Pinch bangle bracelet. I’m also slightly obsessed with the color red right now and the thought of this ensemble is giving me goosebumps. I might have to give down vests another try!

See the Rest of My Fix

I still have more photos to share from my fix and I’m giving away a Stitch Fix gift card! Check out page 2 to see the rest of my fix and to enter the giveaway!

The post Get Ready for Fall! Stitch Fix Review #27 appeared first on Kinder Craze.

As you know, I decided to completely redecorate my classroom this year. Just like my old classroom, this year’s decor is the result of a partnership between myself and Melanie from Schoolgirl Style. I spent the month of August working in my classroom, making decisions about all of the big elements that catch the eye when you first walk in. My first day of school was September 1 and I’ve been working on the details here and there as often as I can. You know as well as I do how crazy and completely exhausting it can be to head back to school. In between teaching my students, juggling paperwork and trying to be the best teacher I can for my new class; I have been slowly working to complete some detail projects for the classroom whenever I have some time to spare.

Each time I share anything on Facebook or Instagram, someone always asks when my classroom will finally be ready to share. The answer is always the same: soon. Believe it or not, the waiting is probably killing you more than it’s killing me. Just when I’m ready to throw in the towel and say, “Enough already! I’m taking these photos today!” I am inspired to complete one more detail to give my classroom a little extra pop. Then, I run out of time for photos. Believe me, it will be worth the wait. I want to leap for joy every time I tackle a fresh project and I know you swoon when you see it too.

But before you do see my new classroom, there’s something you need to know.

I have a small class this year.

Like… really small.

Seven students to be exact.

I know it’s crazy and I’m pretty sure it’s just a one-time thing. My school offers both half day kindergarten and a typical full-day kindergarten program. Parents can choose which program best meets the needs of their child (as well as their own schedules.) As you can imagine, most parents choose to enroll their students in full-day kindergarten, but there is always an interest in half day. This year the interest was particularly small and I find myself teaching 7 students each morning. I feel more like Mary Poppins than a regular kindergarten teacher, but I love every single moment of it. I have an opportunity to really get to know this group of students and shape my instruction to meet their needs in a whole new way.

I am counting this year as a monumental blessing for my mental health. Last year was all-consuming for me. I worked full time at school, managed Kinder Craze, launched my lifestyle blog, planned a wedding that was filled with personal details, and moved into a new home with my husband. To say that I was stressed out and exhausted is an understatement. It was a glorious year, but it wore me down and I spent my summer trying to recuperate from all of it.

You’re probably wondering what this has to do with my classroom and why I feel compelled to share this information with you today.

The answer is simple. With only 7 students, I also only have 7 desks in my classroom. As a result, the space looks huge. It’s not. It’s a regular classroom with some extra floor space because it isn’t overcrowded with desks. I want you to be prepared ahead of time so you don’t think my classroom is unusually gigantic. I’ll be the first to admit that I am blessed in many ways, but the size of my classroom is not out of the ordinary.

I know it seems like I’m taking forever, but the classroom is approaching completion. I rented a special lens for my camera just for my classroom reveal and I have to return it this week. So the classroom reveal is definitely coming soon. In the meantime, thank you so much for your enthusiasm and patience. It means the world to me.

In the meantime, I’m going back to work so I can finish these lovely details!

The post Before You See My Classroom, There’s Something You Should Know appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Now that everyone is settling back into their classroom routines, a few blogging friends and I thought that it might be time for a little Pick Me Up to help you stay energized in the classroom. There’s no doubt that going back to school is a big strain on a teacher’s personal budget so we want to give you something back. How does a $250 Amazon gift card sound? Pretty amazing, right?

My friends Marsha, Annie, Lori, Lyndsey and I KNOW what it feels like to be back in the teaching trenches once again and we know how much you could appreciate a pick me up. This giveaway is sure to be short and sweet so you don’t want to waste a moment!

But wait, there’s more! We want to ensure that your classroom budget can stretch extra far. Each of us is also throwing a SALE in our TpT store. You can save 20% on all Kinder Craze resources right now. But hurry! Because this deal is only good September 29 and 30. Not sure what to buy? Here are a few of my best-selling resources that are perfect for your classroom instruction. Do you own the Bundle of Books yet? This pack of 100 Interactive Sight Word Readers is already marked down 50% from the regular price of each individual book. Right now you can save an extra 20% and snag a really great deal!

Of course, if you’re looking for a REALLY amazing bargain, I highly suggest grabbing the Bundle of Books, Part 2. This pack is still growing up to 100 books. But the bundle of 74 books today and you will get future updates for FREE. A 20% discount makes this pack an absolute steal.

My kindergarten students are diving into number recognition and subitizing skills. This interactive Numbers In an Instant pack is a great way to help students develop automaticity in recognizing numbers and quantities 0-10 in many ways.

Within a few months, my students will be ready to move beyond basic numbers to 10 and gain fluency in reading and writing their numbers to 120. This Differentiated Count and Write One Decade at a Time has been a lifesaver in my classroom for developing those skills in my students and I know you will love it too! It’s also marked down for the two-day SALE!

You’ll find these great resources and SO MANY MORE on sale in my TpT shop. Hurry and save before time runs out!

$250 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

Now are you ready for your chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card? Use the rafflecopter below for your chance to win, but HURRY! The giveaway ends at 11:59pm Eastern Time on September 30.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Fall Sale and $250 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway! appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Halloween is so much fun when you are a kindergarten student. When you are a Kindergarten TEACHER, however, the holiday can easily become crazy and stressful. So much sugar, so much excitement, so many costumes. The secret to any  successful holiday celebration in the classroom is keeping your students busy. If you can sneak in a little academics, that’s even better!

I love any type of graphing activity with my students, but often the follow-up questions are so complicated and have so many words, that my students need the assistance of an adult to complete the activity. That sort of defeats the entire purpose of giving my class an activity. I need my students to work independently so I can play the role of Super Teacher and manage all of the other holiday festivities.

I created this simple marshmallow graphing activity as an in-class assignment that my kindergarten students could successfully complete my themselves. I handed each child a bag of 10 assorted Halloween marshmallows (with pumpkin, candy corn, and ghost shapes) and spent approximately 3 minutes on directions for this activity. Once the graph was complete, students answered two simple questions to analyze the data in their graphs. The picture names were labeled to provide an instant reference as students recorded answers to their questions. Every child in the class was able to successfully complete his/her graph with minimal assistance from me. Success!

You can download a copy of Halloween Marshmallow Graphing for FREE from my TpT store. It’s the perfect assignment to keep those little people busy.

Popcorn Monster Hands

My students also created a classic Halloween craft at our class party – popcorn monster hands! I love this craft for a few reasons. First of all, it keeps my students engaged. Secondly, it’s an edible project that only involves a tiny bit of sugar (5 pieces of candy corn to be exact). Halloween is fun, but so many of the crafts and treats revolve around sugar. I am responsible for the well-being of my students in the classroom and filling the children with sugar doesn’t seem like I am looking out for their best interests at all.

Kids don’t need sugar to be happy on Halloween. My kindergarten students had a blast creating their monster hands!

The finished hands were adorable and delicious!

The post Halloween Marshmallow Graphing Freebie and FUN! appeared first on Kinder Craze.

It’s here! It’s finally here! I know it has been a few months in the making, but I am so ecstatic to finally share photos from my new classroom design with all of you today. I have so much to tell you about this amazing space. Just like my previous teaching space, this year’s classroom design was a collaboration between myself and Melanie from Schoolgirl Style. We have become great friends through our blogging experiences and when our aesthetics unite, a beautiful classroom is the result.

My previous classroom design was created using Melanie’s Rainbow Chalkboard collection. It was a mix of black and bright colors and it was my happy place. The focal point of the classroom were the silhouettes of children playing that I had created using printable graphics from the Schoolgirl Style shop.

When I first became interested in classroom decor, I did everything I could to keep bold pops of black out of my classroom. I didn’t want to introduce any dark colors into my teaching space at all. When I moved into a new building and we worked on the Rainbow Chalkboard theme, Melanie had to hold my hand and reassure me that it was ok to have a lot of black in the room. She promised that it would add contrast and give the space an instant POP without making it feel to dark. Melanie was right. Once all of the accent pieces were in place, I was absolutely in LOVE with black and couldn’t get enough of the very color I had once feared.

Red is the New Black

This year, red is the new black. As much as I was scared of introducing black decor into my classroom, I felt even stronger about my general hatred of red classroom decor. I had sworn to myself that I would never ever have any red in my classroom. Melanie, however, has always adored the color red and her heart melts every time she sees a classroom with a splash of red. When Melanie and I started brainstorming for my new classroom design, I confided that I was ready to put the pink aside for a while. Even more shocking, I told Melanie that I was finally ready to embrace the color red. I’m pretty sure she came close to falling off her chair that day while we lunched.

I continued by saying that her Carnival theme kept drawing my attention and I was considering using that decor in my classroom this fall. But what’s the fun of a Kinder Craze and Schoolgirl Style collaboration if we don’t work together to create something new? We continued to talk and Melanie shared one of her secrets with me: she had a Vintage Circus decor line in the works. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven when she told me that. My wedding was a vintage theme and I am in love with anything that feels antique and special.

So, without more adieu, I am proud to introduce you to the latest theme from Schoolgirl Style: Vintage Circus!

I know you are going to have a lot of questions about where I shopped, which resources I used, and how I created some of the details for this space. I promise I will address each of those questions in this post (and affiliate links are included for your shopping convenience.) I will begin by sharing a span of my classroom, then break down the details of each space or project. Or, if you’re in hurry,  you can jump ahead to the shopping guide by clicking the image below.

My Vintage Circus Classroom At a Glance

When you first step through my classroom door, it feels as though you are transported to an old fashioned trip to the circus. As your eyes sweep across the room, you can’t help but notice the red vertical stripes around my word wall and the colorful lanterns hanging above each table.

A tented and ferris wheel skyline is the main attraction above the classroom windows with swags of red bunting and of course a few more red stripes. There’s also a bright burst of color from the library (just wait till you see the library in more detail!)

A large whiteboard is located in the front of my classroom. This is the space where my students gather to learn each day. An alphabet from my TpT store hangs above the whiteboard and my classroom rules complete the space below it.

As your eyes continue around the classroom, you will notice my calendar, easel and a the bright red rug that distinguishes the classroom meeting place.

After seeing all of the details in front of you, turn around and take a look at the view behind you. Your eyes lay to rest on more red stripes, some soft pastels, marquee letters and a white dresser for storage!

That’s just a quick glance at my classroom but I know that a quick glance will not be enough to satisfy your curiosities. Click over to page two for  a close up look at the interesting spaces of my kindergarten classroom and the Vintage Circus theme by clicking on the image below.

Of course, you could also click here to head to the last page for shopping information.

The post Take a Tour of My Vintage Circus Kindergarten Classroom appeared first on Kinder Craze.

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of seeing a brand new Stitch Fix shipment arrive at the door. My own fix arrived this week and it was more exciting than usual because I had just downloaded the new Stitch Fix iPhone app. I could track my fix directly within the app, check out online, schedule my next fix and even upload a selfie for my stylist to see as she plans my next fix. It was a pretty amazing week! My fix was as stylish as ever and I can’t wait to show you what arrived this month.

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you sign up using my referral link for Stitch Fix (included throughout this post), I receive a small commission that helps to offset the costs of my own fixes and allows me to continue sharing this type of content with you.

I had some fun sharing a sneak peek at my fix on Periscope this week when it first arrived. I have been trying to do this each time I receive a new fix and my viewers love getting an early peek at what’s inside. If you’re new to Periscope, you can download the app and find me @kindercraze to see my videos. They only stay live on the site for 24 hours, but I was able to upload my latest video to YouTube so you can watch it without worrying about the video expiring!

Fierro Elbow Patch Crew Neck Sweater

I immediately reached for the Fierro Elbow Patch Crew Neck Sweater from Brixon Ivy ($58). My stylist, Layla, had me at “elbow patch.” I adore feminine details and soft colors. I am already dreading the long Michigan winter when I have to say goodbye to some of my favorite flowy feminine pieces until the warm weather returns. I loved this sweater because it was a soft gray color and because of the lace accents on the elbow patches. What’s more sophisticatedly feminine than lace elbow patches?

I’m not going to go on and on about the elbow patches. I think the elegance speaks fairly well for itself!

This was a fun ensemble to accessorize. I added a long silver necklace that I purchased at Old Navy a few years ago, a basic pair of pearl earrings and my Fossil watch (similar here).

I also added the bracelet I wore for my wedding (I am always looking for an excuse to wear any of my wedding jewelry and the bracelet has proven to be very versatile. As a final touch, I wore the White Elisa Kendra Scott necklace that came in my Rocksbox. You can read more about Rocksbox in this blog post and how you can try the jewelry service FREE for one month.

This sweater looked great with the Sophia skinny jeans from Kensie that came in my 4th fix.

Of course I also added my brown riding boots. The boots are from Enzo Angiolini and I purchased them at Nordstrom a few years ago. I did a little research and they currently sell a similar pair on Amazon.

I also styled this sweater with a lightweight eyelet sleeveless collared button down. The sweater is fairly lightweight and I didn’t want to add to much bulk so this staple from my summer wardrobe allowed me to layer the look while keeping a smooth silhouette.

Sarah Quilted Jacket with Faux Fur Collar Lining

The second item included in my fix was the Sarah Quilted Jacket with Faux Fur Collar Lining from Coffeeshop ($78). My stylist, Layla, knows all about my outerwear addiction, so of course she sent another coat! This quilted jacket is a very similar style to the green coat she sent in my last fix and the burgundy puffer jacket that came in my 15th fix (I purchased both of them), and I couldn’t wait to try this one on as well.

This coat is a definite keeper. I guess I’ll have to make some room in my coat closet.

Amherst Multi-Zip Tote

The third item included in my Stitch Fix shipment was a red Amherst Multi-Zip Tote from Urban Expressions ($68). I rarely request specific items that I see in other people’s fixes because I love surprises from my stylist, but, after seeing a similar red purse in a different Stitch Fix review, I begged my stylist to please send one my way. The Amherst bag was bigger than I expected, but wow, is it fantastic!

I attended a teaching conference on Thursday and Friday this week and the tote served as the perfect purse for those days. It was large enough to hold my wallet, planner, sunglasses, water bottle, handouts and even a small laptop with plenty of room to spare. I also received tons of compliments on my new purse!

Can we just take a moment to admire how perfectly casual and chic this ensemble is? I love the sweater, the bag, and the jacket! Throw in the jeans and I was dressed from head to toe in Stitch Fix. This, my friends, is why I hardly ever shop in a traditional store. It’s much easier to have perfect-fitting pieces that are just my style delivered directly to my door.

See the Rest of My Fix

I still have two more items to show you from this month’s fix and I’m also giving away a $20 Stitch Fix gift card. Click the image below to head over to page 2 of this post. I promise you won’t regret it!

The post October Stitch Fix Review and Giveaway (#29) appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Now that we are all in full swing of the school year, I have a fun treat to share with you today. It’s totally free and it’s just for YOU, dear Kinder Craze reader. I am so filled with gratitude for all of the readers that come to visit Kinder Craze on a regular basis to discover classroom inspiration, craft ideas and (most importantly) educational resources. We all appreciate a well-decorated classroom, but the mission to help children learn is the heart and soul of every teacher, which is why I am sharing an exclusive FREE Interactive Sight Word Reader with you today.

I hear from teachers across the country on a daily basis that use my Interactive Sight Word Readers in their classroom. Kindergarten (and first grade teachers) are thankful to discover a resource that provides hands-on sight word practice in their classrooms. The interactive practice is pretty great in itself, but what early childhood educators really value is the fact that after their students complete the sight word activity, their children have a book with emergent text that they can READ!  That’s really the magic of Interactive Sight Word Readers: the pride and sense of ownership that children feel after completing a book and reading it to a teacher or a friend.

If you are unfamiliar with my best-selling Interactive Sight Word Readers, let me show you what makes these little books so valuable for little learners and their teachers.

Each Interactive Sight Word Reader begins with a meaningful coloring activity on the cover. Like all books, this one has a title. Mastery of the targeted sight word (in this case: the) begins on the first page. As a child colors the letters of the featured sight word, he/she will spend a few minutes staring very consciously at the letters contained in the sight word. It will begin to make an impression, which will be necessary to complete the rest of the book.

A cutting page with mixed up letters to spell “the” is included in the download. Students need to apply their knowledge of the new sight word to cut, unscramble and glue the letters to correctly spell “the” onto each page of the book. Of course, if someone needs a reminder of how to correctly spell the word, they can flip back to the cover and take a peek. It’s right there in big, bold, freshly colored letters.

These days, the emphasis on rigor and instruction has led to a decline in fine motor development. The cutting and glueing process provides a much-needed opportunity for little learners to practice these essential skills.

Interactive Sight Word Readers do so much more than help students master a new sight word. Each page in the book features a unique, predictable sentence at an emergent reading level. In this case, every page contains the sentence “I see the ___”. The final word changes in each sentence but picture support is provided with a sweet coordinating farm graphic.

Young children can gain reading confidence and develop fluency as they practice reading this “just right” text for their reading level.

The final page of every Interactive Sight Word Reader contains a slightly more challenging or different sentence pattern. Sometimes an extra word or two is added to the page to change the tempo. In this case, the words fit the existing text structure, but the punctuation changes from a period to an exclamation mark. This provides a teaching point about different types of punctuation and gives students an opportunity to practice reading with excitement.

The best part is that the completed book becomes a text that my students can place in their book boxes and to read again and again. All of the practice will help to build fluency and confidence in my kindergarten students as they read.

Download Your FREE Interactive Sight Word Reader

Click to download your FREE Interactive Sight Word Reader. It’s my gift to you and I know that your students will love this book as much as my own students do. You will receive the book via email within a few minutes. If you don’t see it in your Inbox, be sure to check your spam folder.

Teach a New Sight Word Every Week

We work on a new book each week in my kindergarten classroom and a wide assortment of Interactive Sight Word Readers are available for purchase individually in my store on Teachers Pay Teachers. Priced at only $1 each, they are a perfect affordable resource to supplement your weekly lesson plans.

Everyone loves a bargain and my Bundle of Books is a really great value! The download contains 100 Interactive Sight Word Readers and is priced at only $50. That’s half the price you would pay to purchase all of the books separately! Click the image below to purchase the Bundle of Books in my TpT store.

The first Bundle of Books was capped at 100 books and I began to develop a second bundle containing all of my newest Interactive Sight Word Readers. This bundle released at a low price and continues to grow. Each time a new book is added to the collection the price goes up, but people who already own the bundle can download the update at no additional cost. The Bundle of Books, Part 2 truly is an exceptional value. Click the image below to purchase the Bundle of Books, Part 2 from my TpT store.

The FREE download of “I See the Farm” can’t be found anywhere else. Not even for sale in my TpT store or as a separate purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers. It is an exclusive Kinder Craze freebie and it’s a small token of my appreciation to you!

The post Super-Exclusive FREE Interactive Sight Word Reader appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Do you ever feel like everything in the blogosphere is a huge announcement? I don’t have a huge announcement to make on the blog today (because not everything should be a mega announcement), but I do have a little update to share with you today. This year, I am only teaching part time.

The past year has been the most exciting year of my life. I planned the wedding of my dreams, launched a lifestyle blog with my fiancé, got married, payed off a massive amount of debt with my husband, worked full-time at school, presented at the TpT conference in Las Vegas, went on a honeymoon, partnered with Astrobrights Papers, completely redesigned my kindergarten classroom and kept the engines turning here at Kinder Craze. To describe those experiences as amazing is an understatement. To describe myself as stressed out and exhausted is the ultimate understatement. I was so passionately excited about all of those experiences, but I knew something had to give. There simply wasn’t enough of me to spread around to all of my projects.

Fortunately, some of the items on my plate naturally went away. The wedding came and went, my presentation was a huge success, I traveled and laughed and had the most amazing time on all of my journeys. The debt was paid off and my Vintage Circus classroom collaboration with Schoolgirl Style launched on the blog.

The remaining items on my list were teaching half-day kindergarten, my afternoon school responsibilities, Kinder Craze and Crazy Together (my personal blog). My restful days as a childless adult are numbered. After such a crazy year, I made a promise to myself that I would slow down, take on fewer projects, but do each of those projects to the best of my ability. This year I made a conscious decision not to spread myself too thin, to get more rest and to take time to enjoy life!

The arrangements for my part-time teaching employment are a happy set of circumstances. For several years, I have taught the AM kindergarten class at my school (parents have the choice of a half day kindergarten class with me or a full day class in the room next door), then maintained my full-time status by helping with various other school projects. I managed the school’s website, helped with social media, assisted teachers with technology, worked on marketing projects … it really ran the gamut.

This year I let go of most of my previous afternoon responsibilities. I still have a hand in many of those tasks; but, for the most part, I teach in the mornings then have the afternoons available for my own projects. Fortunately, health care benefits aren’t an issue because I get health care coverage from my husband. It’s the perfect arrangement for me at this time because I still get to spend my time pursuing my passions, but in a way that’s healthy and allows me to have more balance in my life.

As you might expect, just because I teach part time, it doesn’t mean I run out of the classroom every day. Many afternoons you can still find me hustling around the classroom. The only difference is that I usually leave while it’s still light out.

Sometimes, I do have a chance to just sit and work at my teacher desk.

The post My Decision to Teach Part Time this Year appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Have you heard the news? I am partnering with the amazingly talented Melanie from Schoolgirl Style once again to decorate my kindergarten classroom with an all-new theme. After two wonderful years of enjoying my Rainbow Chalkboard classroom theme, I decided it was time to shake things up a little.

Melanie and I started planning what my new theme would be several months ago, and I drove out to her little shop in July to stock up on a few classroom essentials.

Stocking up on @schoolgirlstyle goodies for next year! #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #backtoschool #schoolgirlstyle #kindercraze

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Jul 3, 2015 at 11:10am PDT

Once August rolled around, I headed back into my classroom ready to work and I really had my work cut out for me. This is how my classroom looked when I first walked in the door. I had a new plan for how to decorate the space above my windows so the silhouettes of children playing had to come down. You wouldn’t know it, but those paper decorations were held in place with a whole lot of glue and a little bit of tape! Each display come down in one piece. It was such a shame to throw them away, but after 2 years, the paper definitely needed to be replaced.

This came down from above my classroom windows today. A whole new theme means fresh paper and saying goodbye to these cute kids! I’m working with @schoolgirlstyle to redo my classroom and I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds! #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #backtoschool #classroomsetup #TpTCheckOutMyClassroom A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 3, 2015 at 2:14pm PDT

From there, the real work began: deciding on a color scheme. My new Schoolgirl Style theme came with plenty of printables, but I still needed to narrow down my color scheme.

Working in my classroom, playing with colors, and trying to decide on a palate. It’s so overwhelming! What’s your favorite color from the set? #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #schoolgirlstyle #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #backtoschool #b2s2015

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 5, 2015 at 8:25am PDT

This has proven to be quite a task! So many people on Instagram have been eagerly waiting for a peek at the new colors and design, but something in the room changed every single day. Often, it was big changes. Like the time I covered the massive bulletin board in the back of my classroom with Canary Yellow Fadeless paper.

I decided to go with yellow on the giant board in the back of my classroom. For today at least. All classroom decor decisions are subject to change before the first day of school. And maybe even after the first day. #tptcheckoutmyclassroom #kindercraze #backtoschool #schoolgirlstyle #iteachtoo A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 10, 2015 at 9:53am PDT

Only to decide that it was too much yellow a few days later and start all over again with a new color.

So long yellow paper. You were nice while you lasted…

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 12, 2015 at 9:38am PDT

And then there was the classroom library. Oh my word, I thought that space in my classroom might be the death of me. I spent hours this summer looking around for every possible color of plastic bin to use in my library. I really wanted it to have lots of teal.  This was the initial color scheme I had in mind. Within a day, it was replaced with this: And soon evolved into this: I really wanted to find book boxes in softer colors and was not having any luck. So I took my matters into my own hands and decided to spray paint a couple of book boxes to see if that was a viable option.

Stepping out of the classroom and into the garage. It’s all in the details! #spraypaint #classroomsetup #backtoschool A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 11, 2015 at 1:31pm PDT

Spoiler alert: it isn’t.

I ultimately decided to embrace the colors currently available for plastic boxes. My library has successfully been transformed and I decided to change things even more and make the switch to using my White Series Classroom Library Labels (instead of the black labels I had been using).

Survived the first day of school and now working on my classroom library. I’m making the switch to the White Series! #tptbtsselfie #iteachtoo #iteachk #iteachkinder #teacherspayteachers #kindercraze

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Sep 1, 2015 at 10:44am PDT

Those black labels aren’t the only thing to change. I decided that it is finally time to say goodbye to my little chevron bookshelf. The design is just a little too busy for my new classroom theme.

Time to say goodbye to my little chevron bookshelf. It chevron is too busy for my current classroom design #iteachtoo #iteachkinder #backtoschool A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Sep 4, 2015 at 8:30am PDT

I recently purchased a new piece of furniture from IKEA and my wonderful husband even came in for a few hours to assemble it for me. He also sent me flowers. I’m not at all sure how I got so lucky.

My husband seriously deserves some kind of award. He had flowers delivered to school “just because” AND he spent a few hours assembling furniture in my classroom this week. I am blessed beyond measure and so thankful for him. #classroomsetup #iteachtoo #besthusbandever #teacherlife #backtoschool

A photo posted by Maria Manore Gavin (@kindercraze) on Aug 23, 2015 at 9:53am PDT

As my classroom color scheme evolved, so did my debit card. I have made countless trips to various stores to purchase new items and just as many trips to return items that I ultimately decided were not a good fit for my classroom design. This is just one haul that I decided to return during an afternoon of errand running. The gold letters went back to Hobby Lobby, the coral baskets went to Target and the decorative cork boards went to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

School resumed this week for me and once again, my classroom was not ready on time. It has a definite atmosphtere (and, thankfully, a color scheme) but many of the finishing touches are still a work-in progress. I ripped down my classroom alphabet after the first day of school and replaced it with a new look. I am hoping to roll out the rest of the details in the coming week so I can share it with you soon!

The post Coming Soon! An All-New Classroom Design appeared first on Kinder Craze.

In the world of teaching, educators often find themselves so busy. We are so busy prepping, copying, teaching, coaching, conferencing, shoe-tying, collaborating and trying to accomplish 467 other items in a day, that it’s easy to sell ourselves short and not take in the greatness of our work each day. We shape young people into the kind of citizens that this world needs.

After last week’s horrific events in Paris, I am reminded that it is more important than ever to have quality educators in our classrooms and I am so thankful for everyone one of you. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes an entire army to fill the world with future leaders that will act with love.

Educators are always the first ones to blame with our educational system, when we are really just trying to the best use of the tools and resources available to us. The world does not say “thank you” enough for all that you do, so I have teamed up with some of my favorite teacher-bloggers to celebrate the work that you do with a giveaway. (This post contains affiliate links).

As a small token of our appreciation for the debated work you do each day, we are giving away a $200 gift card to either Target or Teachers Pay Teachers.
It’s winner’s choice!

Use the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win! Best of luck with the giveaway and THANK YOU SO MUCH for all you do. Your work is truly appreciated!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Give Thanks for Teachers $200 Giveaway appeared first on Kinder Craze.

The season of Advent is probably my favorite time of year in the classroom. I love slowing down with my students to talk about the birth of Jesus Christ and share the true meaning of Christmas. In my kindergarten classroom, we talk about Baby Jesus so much more than we share stories of Santa and his shelf-dwelling elves. Those moments are so special to me. In celebration of the Advent season, my students created purple and pink “stained glass” candles to display in the classroom window. I’m thrilled to share a tutorial and free template with you on the blog today so you can easily create this window craft with the little ones in your home or classroom

This window decoration started the same as all others. While my students were away from their desks, I placed a sheet of clear contact paper sticky side up on each child’s desk and gently set a black rectangular frame (which I had prepped and cut ahead of time) onto the contact paper. I also placed a baskets with 1″ tissue paper squares at each workstation. Most of the boxes contained a mix of purple tissue paper squares, and a few boxes contained a mix of pink tissue paper squarers.

When it was time to begin, students returned to their desks and began to fill the rectangle frames with the tissue paper squares. They were given instructions to only add one square at a time and to try and fill the entire space. My kindergarteners have completed similar projects several times already so they knew exactly what to do.

Once the rectangle was completely filled with tissue paper, I added a second piece of clear contact paper to act as a seal and keep any stray pieces of tissue paper from falling away. Each child then cut the excess plastic from their completed candles.

This project was particularly fun for me to experiment with in my kindergarten classroom because it involved mixed media. Our window decorations are usually complete once the contact paper is trimmed from the edges. Not this time! We used construction paper to add a flame and a evergreen leaves to the candle. Students cut a large yellow flame and small orange flame that they would then attach to the top of the candle with a glue stick.

For the evergreen leaves, we used handprints! Earlier in the week, I had traced each child’s hand 5 times. I wanted to give the evergreens at the bottom of the candle a little depth and some pop, so each child’s hand was traced three times on dark green paper, and two times on traditional green construction paper. The kindergarteners cut out their handprints and glued them to the bottom of the candle.

For the handprints, I gave very specific instructions to the class during our whole group time. The two light green hands were glued first on top of the candle, with the fingers pointed out.

One of the dark green hands was then glued on top of the two light green hands with the fingers pointing down. The two remaining dark green fingers were then glued ON THE BACK of the candle (one on each side) with the fingers pointing downward.
The completed Advent candles were simply stunning and my students were so proud of their creations.

I teach kindergarten in a Catholic school and these purple and pink Advent candles were the perfect decorations for my classroom windows to help us get in the spirit of the season, but also remember the true reason we celebrate Christmas each year.

Here is a photo of my classroom decorated for the Christmas session last year. You can see our Christmas tree and Advent candles hanging in the windows.  Our class prayer table sits right in front of the Christmas tree. I placed a Fisher Price nativity play set on the table for my children to reenact the story of the first Christmas.

If you teach in a public school and Advent is strictly off-limits for you, don’t fret! This window craft also looks beautiful and festive as a red candle.

You can download a FREE template to easily create this window craft with your own students. Click the image below to download your free copy. It will be delivered directly to your inbox.

The post Stained Glass Window Craft for Christmas and Advent appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Why is it so difficult to find books that kindergarten students can actually read? When school starts up in the fall, I always tell my classroom parents at curriculum night that the best source of age-appropriate reading material is Scholastic Book Orders. Not only does Scholastic Reading Club offer the best prices around, but they are often the only place I can find books for my emergent readers. You know what I mean: the kind of books with big print, only 1 sentence on each page, and lots of repetition.

I recently cashed in my bonus points to purchase some new leveled reading materials for my classroom. I ordered my go-to favorite books and took a chance on some new series. I know how disappointing it can be to order books that you think will be a perfect fit for your students, only to realize that they are too difficult, have too small of print or are just plain not interesting enough for kids to read. I also know that extra cash (or bonus points) for classroom books is a valuable commodity that teachers do not like to waste.

Take a peek at some of new titles I added to my classroom library. I took plenty of photos to give you an inside peek so you can make an informed decision about whether or not these titles are a good fit for your students.

This blog post was not sponsored in any way. Nor does it contain affiliate links. I just really know how difficult it can be to build a classroom library for emergent readers and I want to help make your job easier without the risk of wasted money.

Where to Find Book Level Information from Scholastic Reading Club

Before I dive in to show you my recent purchases, let’s take a second to talk about reading levels. There are multiple systems for leveling books. The most common systems are Lexile (LEX), Guided Reading Level (GRL) and Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). Different schools use different types of assessments to determine their students’ reading levels. In my classroom, I assess using the DRA system, but I label the books in my library using Guided Reading Level Labels. You can find a reading level equivalency chart here.

Scholastic does not provide reading level information for every book they sell in Scholastic Reading Club, but they do share the reading level of some books. You can find the reading level in small text at the bottom of a listing in the catalog and below the price of a book if you are shopping online.

I really wish that Scholastic would provide a reading level for every book that they publish and carry in Scholastic Reading Club. I also wish they offered a book order catalog that only contained Guided Reading Levels A-D so I could easily shop for my kindergarten classroom library, but that is a different blog post for a different day. For now, I just have to skim the book order for my desired reading levels. There are usually 2-4 items offered in each flyer.

Guided Science Readers™ from Scholastic (A-D)

When I order books from Scholastic, I almost always purchase the latest set of Guided Science Readers. They usually offer new titles seasonally and I scoop them up every chance I get.

First off, these little books are a gold mine in part because they are non-fiction. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you know how essential nonfiction texts are to curriculum, especially when it comes to the Common Core. Not only is it important to expose children to as many nonfiction texts as possible, but children happen to love nonfiction. Especially about animals. They are intrigued by photos and facts and often want to learn as much as possible.

Usually, however, there is a downside to nonfiction texts. They are often much more difficult to read. And the very topic that would otherwise inspire a love of reading can easily break a child down because it is simply too much of a challenge for a beginning reader to take on.

With Guided Science Readers™, however, that is not the case! Interesting nonfiction topics that are easy to read for all kindergarten students makes these books the best of both words.

This particular pack, like many other Guided Science Reader sets from Scholastic, contained a variety of books from Guided Reading Level A-D.

Level A Text Features

The Guided Reading Level A texts feature short sentences with plenty of picture support and a lot of repetition. The text is presented in a nice, big print that is easy for students to point to and maintain focus. The short sentence are also loaded with critical sight words for young readers. These Level A texts are perfect for building reading confidence – which is exactly what my kindergarten students that are a Level A need!

I happily added these books to the “Level A” basket of my classroom library.

Level B Text Features

The Level B books included in this pack of Guided Science Readers also contained the same great picture support, sight words, simple sentence structure and repetition. Two lines of text are presented on each page to provide just enough of a challenge for readers, while still allowing them to build confidence and feel the excitement of success while reading.

Level C Text Features

Children reading at a Level C are ready to initiate problem solving strategies to solve unknown words and these texts mix in a few sentence with unpredictable words and sentence patterns. These added challenges are balanced out with some sentence and sight word repetition so children don’t feel overwhelmed by the challenge. You may also notice that the print in the level C books is a little smaller than it was in the level B books.

Level D Text Features

For my more advanced kindergarten readers, Level D books are a great fit! These Guided Science Readers offer smaller text with longer sentences. I love how these books even used nonfiction text features to illustrate key words and concepts. It’s a great way to introduce these features in a way that is accessible to all children.

Guided Science Readers Levels E and F

Before this year, I had only seen Guided Science Readers available in Levels A-D. I think Scholastic must realize how much classroom teachers love these books because I was overjoyed to discover that they offered a pack of Levels E and F this fall!

These books were the same great text format that my students love, with small added challenges for more advanced readers.

After several years of stocking up on Scholastic books, I have actually built up a significant stock of Level A-D texts for my classroom library but my box of Level E books is somewhat limited. These were a great addition to the collection.

National Geographic Kids™ Sight Words Box Set

While I absolutely adore my Guided Science Readers, I am always looking to expand my nonfiction book collection and provide a greater variety of nonfiction books in my classroom library. I took a chance and ordered the National Geographic Kids™ Sight Word Box Set. They have a Guided Reading Level of C-F, which meant they had potential for my higher readers.

Each book in the set clearly labeled which sight words were featured inside.

The texts seemed like they would be a great fit for my Level C-F readers and I really liked that the featured sight words are in bold on each page.

You can see from the photo above and the one below that there was a repetitive pattern to the text. This was “book 2” in the set, so I’m sure it was a Level C (other books were more challenging) but it seemed to be an accurately labeled as a Level C text.

I Can Read! Penguin Young Readers Pack Levels B-D

Leveled fiction texts are always easier to come across on Scholastic. I had never purchased any Penguin Young Readers books, but I took a chance and ordered the I Can Read! Level B-D Pack.

The books varied in difficulty but they were pretty good. The text wasn’t over-the-top interesting (it rarely is for books that are easy to read), but these little books did the best they could.

I was particularly happy to see this book in the collection that used speech bubbles and simple print. I’m guessing this was a Level B text. It was a sweet book and this student loved it.

Just- Right Readers Community Pack (A-C)

The Just-Right Readers Community Pack appeared to be a good fit for my early readers as well. Fiction stories may not be as engaging as non-fiction, but this pack was about community helpers and many kindergarten students love reading about community helpers.

Even though the pack said it was for children reading as low as a Level A, I definitely could not see how any of my lowest kindergarten readers would be successful reading these books. This was one of the easiest books in the set and those sight words (write, with, our) were just too hard. I could see my children reading one difficult sight word, but three tough ones in the same sentence? It wasn’t going to work with my students that really struggle.

While I would hesitate to classify these books as a Level A in my own classroom library, I would agree that the books were a good fit for Level B and Level C readers.

Sofia the First Reader Box Set

For the final set of books that I purchased, I may have actually lost my mind a little. I never purchase character books from Scholastic. Ever. Not even when they come in a boxed set that says “sight words” or “phonics” because the words that are integral to any famous animated character storytelling are too difficult for most kindergarteners to read independently.

Do kindergarteners love books featuring their favorite characters? Absolutely.
Can a kindergarten student read those beloved character books independently? Probably not.

I invest in books for my library that are leveled and likely to help my students be successful when they read. Character books usually do not accomplish this task. Which is why I have no idea what compelled me to purchase the Sofia the First Reader Box Set.

In all honesty, I don’t have a clue who Sofia is. I recognize the three fairies from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty so I can only assume that Sofia is some sort of spin-off.  I think I purchased this set because I was feeling very hopeful when I saw that some of the books were classified as Level A. Character books are motivating and I would be thrilled to find character books that my students can actually read.

Some of the books made me think that it might be possible for my students to have success. Like this one with the simple sentence “I am a friend”. I wish the print were bigger, but at least the text isn’t too much of a challenge.

This book appears to be a Level B text. Ok, not too bad…

And then I opened up a few more books. Ugh. I know that savvy readers who love Sofia could probably figure out that the long word that starts with a w is Whatnaught (whom I can only assume is a widely known Sofia character). But my low readers who might not be so savvy? They might immediately be intimidated by that crazy looking word.

And then there was the word headmistress. Sigh.

These would be great stories for a parent to read to a child at bedtime (and the child could learn the challenging words after hearing them read several times) but I’m not convinced that they were the best purchase for my classroom library. I’ll add them to my book leveled book boxes and see what happens.

Straight Talk About Leveled Books

I am so happy to add all of these new titles to my classroom library, but I was a little disappointed with the level identification. Of this entire collection, only one set of books was easy to determine the exact reading level: the Scholastic Guided Readers. They clearly displayed the book level right on the front cover. The other books were all listed as range of reading levels, but it was impossible to easily identify the reading level of individual books in the set. Typically, I would just scan the books with one of the book leveling apps on my iPhone, but sadly every book that I attempted to scan said that book level information was not available. I was pretty disappointed that books I ordered from Scholastic were not indexed in Scholastic’s Book Wizard app. I hope that they update their database soon with more information about the books they sell in Scholastic Reading Club.

If you want to know more about the tools I use to level my classroom library, you can read all about it in this blog post. 

Increase Parent Purchases from Scholastic Book Orders

One of the easiest (and most affordable) ways to stock up a classroom library is through Scholastic Reading Club. It’s even better when you can cash in bonus points to get those books for FREE. This blog post has all my best tips to help you boost parent orders from Scholastic Reading Club. The more parents purchase, the more you can build your own library. It’s win-win.

Check out My Newly Updated Classroom Library

My own kindergarten classroom library is filled with books from Scholastic. The library got a big makeover this year.  You can see all of the details of how I organized the library in this blog post. 

The post The Best Leveled Books from Scholastic Reading Club appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Small things have been happening behind the scenes at Kinder Craze and I am so happy to share one of my biggest changes with you today. If you’re a fan of Interactive Sight Word Readers and you own the Bundles, you are going to be especially excited. I recently made a huge update to the Bundle of Books resources in my TpT shop.

All of the books that you know and love from each bundle are still included in the set and now it is easier than ever to find the exact book you need. The volumes of books which the resources had previously been organized into have been tossed out. Each book is now listed as a separate PDF file and I’ve made it super-easy to locate a book with the exact sight word that you need for classroom instruction. The books are all named according to sight word. To find a specific sight word reader, just sort the PDF files alphabetically and scroll to easily locate your desired sight word. Pretty exciting, right?

The original Bundle of Books continues to be one of my top-selling resources on Teachers Pay Teachers. This classic set of 100 Interactive Sight Word Readers is always priced at a 50% discount.

If the Bundle of Books has been sitting on your wish list, now is the time to purchase the Bundle of Books. The TpT Cyber Sale starts runs from Monday, November 30 to Tuesday, December 1. In addition to the everyday value of 50% savings, the Bundle of Books will also be marked down an addition 20% during the sale. PLUS, you can save an extra 10% if you use promo code SMILE at checkout.

Now you really have something to smile about.

Much like her big sister, the Bundle of Books, Part 2 also has an everyday value of 50%, but will be marked down for the Cyber Sale and can you can scoop up the extra 10% savings with promo code SMILE at checkout.

This bundle is an exceptional value because it is still growing. The bundle currently contains 81 Interactive Sight Word Readers (all of which are different from the readers included in the original Bundle of Books). With a regular price of $41.50, you can use the promo code to get this bundle for $29.88. The set is still growing and will eventually contain 100 books. Purchase this set for a huge bargain this weekend and receive all new books as they are added for FREE. The price will rise as new books are added, but updates are always free for existing owners.

In fact, I just updated the Bundle of Books, Part 2 this week! It now contains two brand new Interactive Sight Word Readers. You can purchase “Everyone Goes to Work” or “It is Fun to Help!” for $1 in my TpT store or just download the latest update if you already own the Bundle of Books, Part 2.

And just in case you missed it, you can also download an exclusive Interactive Sight Word Reader for FREE on the blog. “I See the Farm” isn’t available in my TpT shop, in any bundle, or anywhere else. You can only get it from the Kinder Craze blog as a small token of my appreciation for you. Click the image below to access your free Interactive Sight Word Reader. A link to download will be sent directly to your email inbox.

Enjoy the cyber savings and have a great week in the classroom!

The post Big Updates for Book Bundles that You Don’t Want to Miss appeared first on Kinder Craze.

It’s here! My December Stitch Fix shipment arrived and it feels a lot like Santa came early this year! This month’s fix featured a mix of plaid, sweaters, skinny jeans and prints in wintry blue shades. I couldn’t wait to try everything on and I know that you will love my 31st Stitch Fix Review. I’m also giving away a $50 Stitch Fix gift card at the end of this post, so you don’t want to miss out! (This post contains affiliate links.)

If you’re new to the Stitch Fix phenomenon, you are missing out! Stitch Fix is a personal styling service that matches you with a personal stylist. Getting started is easy – just hop over to StitchFix.com and create a FREE style profile. Then, when you are ready, you can schedule your first fix. You will be matched with a personal stylist that will review your style profile and hand-pick 5 items just for you. The items are shipped directly to your door so you can try them on in the convenience of your own home with your own clothes and accessories. Keep the items you want, then log in to Stitch Fix to check out. Then drop any clothes that you don’t wish to keep in the mail using the pre-paid shipping envelope that is included in your fix. Returns are free too. I have been using Stitch Fix for the past year and a half and it has transformed my closet. I dress better than ever before thanks to this amazingly convenient service and the guidance of my personal stylist.

So, without more adieu, here’s a look at what arrived in my December Stitch Fix box!

Nori Pullover Sweater

Fact: I am always cold in the winter and there is no such thing as having too many warm layers once the cold snap arrives. With that in mind, I was overjoyed to see that my stylist, Layla, sent a dark green Nori Pullover Sweater from RD Style ($78). I love, love, LOVE this sweater for so many reasons.

First of all, I adore that it is a crew neck sweater so I can add my own scarves and accessories. Cowl neck sweaters are nice, but a good crew neck sweater provides so many more styling options. In this case I added the iridescent gold Kendra Scott and the longer Gorjana pendant necklace that came in my Rocksbox.

You can purchase the necklaces on Amazon (click an image below to shop) or receive monthly jewelry shipments with Rocksbox. You can try Rocksbox free for a month when you sign up using my code: kindercrazexoxo.

I also styled this sweater with my gray Pixie pants from J. Crew (a wardrobe staple of mine) and my new black riding boots from Michael Kors. I’ve never worn over-the-knee boots before so I haven’t actually worn these boots outside of the condo yet. I am sold on keeping the sweater, but still can’t decide on these boots. What do you think?

Does the fact that they are over the knee make them scandalous?

For some reason, I feel a little scandalous wearing them.

Which is ironic since this is me that we’re talking about. #ProbablyTheLeastScandalousPersonEver

Anyways, back to the sweater. I love that this sweater is warm but still lightweight. I’m also thrilled that it is long enough to cover my rear end, which means I can definitely wear the sweater to school and not feel scandalous at all. The sweater does have some decorative knit details that require an extra layer underneath. I added a basic white tank from Old Navy and it did the job perfectly.

Alpine Plaid Wrap Scarf

I have been using my personal style board on Pinterest as a tool to beg my stylist, Layla, to please send a plaid item my way. Layla got the message! I was overjoyed to see a red Alpine Plaid Wrap Scarf from Look by M ($44) included in my fix this month. The scarf paired perfectly with the Nori Pullover Sweater!

My husband, Rob, and I didn’t opt for holiday photos this year, but this sweater and plaid combo is making me rethink that decision. How perfect is this outfit?

PS – Did you know I sometimes wear glasses?

I used to only wear contact lenses, but I lately, I have been having fun mixing glasses into my daily style. They’re not just an accessory. I’m basically blind without them. A few months ago, my husband and I tried out David Kind’s amazing at-home glasses service. It works a lot like Stitch Fix. I created a style profile, picked three frames that I wanted to try, and then my personal stylist from David Kind picked 3 more pair for me. I tried them all on at home, picked my favorite and emailed my prescription. David Kind handled everything. They even managed to fit the glasses perfect to my face based on a photo that I submitted. If you wear glasses and use Stitch Fix, you will LOVE David Kind. You can read more about my experience our this blog post. 

See the Rest of my Fix

There’s still a lot more to see from December Stitch Fix review, including a second way to style that gorgeous Alpine Plaid Wrap Scarf. Click over to the second page of this post to see the rest of my photos and your chance to win a $50 Stitch Fix gift card.

The post December Stitch Fix Review and Giveaway (#31) appeared first on Kinder Craze.

The holidays have arrived! And so begins every teacher’s daily roller coaster ride as we countdown to Christmas. I can literally feel the excitement in the air when my students arrive at school each day. I hear daily stories about their elves, trips to visit Santa and dozens of questions about our upcoming Christmas program. Holiday excitement doesn’t make for ideal teaching conditions or classroom management, but I can’t blame my students for being so excited. Their lives are filled with so much magic right now.

I decided to use color to channel all of that energy into a positive classroom experience with a little help from Astrobrights papers. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.

I don’t really like to hang Santa over my student’s head to encourage good behavior. It ends up feeling like a power struggle and that’s not what effective classroom management is about. I have a great idea to help with your classroom management during these last days before Christmas that is highly motivating, colorful and perfect for the season: a decorated paper Christmas ornament incentive!

Like all great motivators for a lower elementary classroom, this little project involves bright hues and pretty colors. I selected five colors of cardstock from Astrobrights Papers that coordinated with the plastic ornaments on my class Christmas tree: Solar Yellow, Outrageous Orchid, Martian Green, Lunar Blue and Rocket Red.

As you can see, these colors coordinate perfectly with my classroom Christmas tree.

I found a very similar pack of Astrobrights cardstock colors on Amazon. The only difference is that Outrageous Orchid has been traded for Pulsar Pink (another gorgeous color!)

I’m not sure what could possibly be more motivating than glitter. I stocked up at Michaels and bought a collection of glittery Christmas tree foam cutouts, glitter letters and rhinestone stickers.

To begin, provide each student with a simple ornament cutout. You can download a free template for the ornaments that I used here.

Each child peels a Christmas tree foam shape and places it in the middle of the ornament.

Next, the students can add their name onto the ornament. More glittery magic here!

These particular sticker letters were somewhat small and provide great fine motor practice!

And that’s all to start! Affix each child’s ornament to your classroom Christmas tree and use the ornament as an incentive. Each time you see a student making good choices or setting a positive example for other classmates, invite the child to add a decoration to their ornament. I love these rhinestone stickers because they add a little sparkle as well as provide a little dimension to the ornament.

It’s important to remember that this is supposed to be fun for all of your students.

Even for Ben.

You know who Ben is. That poor child who just cannot control himself. Who is always wiggling and making the absolute worst choice imaginable. The child who takes your glitter and spills it all over the table. On purpose. Who’s hands are always touching other students. The child who never, ever, ever raises his hand to speak. The child who constantly needs reminders to walk instead of running from one place to the next.

While Emma, Sara and Christopher have reined in all of their self-control on their quest to collect decorations for their Christmas ornament, Ben is really struggling. And these ornaments are really not intended to be a punishment. They need to be fun and motivating for everyone.

That’s what the giant glittery Christmas tree in the middle of the ornament is for.

And the pretty glittery name at the bottom of the ornament. Ben may struggle with self-control, but his ornament is not completely empty. He already started on the right note and that might struggle with his choices, but he is a lot more likely to love his ornament because of that shiny green Christmas tree in the center of it.

Of course, if you’re just looking for a simple, mess-free craft to do with your students, these ornaments can accomplish that goal too.

Click the image below to download your free classroom management ornament template!

I hope you have a magical Christmas season in these last days of 2015 and that you be blessed with the gift of patience.

This is a sponsored post. I received payment, trade and/or products from Astrobrights in exchange for promoting.
However, all opinions stated are my own and I only promote products I love.

The post Use Christmas Ornaments to Colorize Your Classroom Management appeared first on Kinder Craze.

As I sit in my office staring at my posted goals for 2016, I can’t help but reflect on the past year. To say that it has been incredible is an understatement. 2015 was the most joyous, transformative and wonderful year that I can recall. So much happened, and I can’t help but take a few moments to relive some of those remarkable moments from the past year.

I started 2015 with a resolution to take better care of myself, so I joined many other teachers in doing the Whole30 for the month of January. For that month, I basically lived in the kitchen and ate only healthy things, including lots of cage free eggs because they are cheap and fast to cook. I also became an expert at cooking enough eggs to last the work week.

My Stitch Fix stylist, Layla kept me looking my best all year long. You can see all of my Stitch Fix posts here and here.

In March, my beautiful nephew Max was born. I could just gobble him up every time I see him.

I may not be a mom, but my baby turned 3 in March. Kinder Craze celebrated its third anniversary and I celebrated with birthday cake. It was the worlds smallest birthday party. Just me and my huge pink and white cake.

Around this time, I knew that I would be moving in with my new husband within a few months, and I knew my closet space would be more limited. I created MariaSellsThings, an Instagram account that serves as a platform for me to sell gently used clothes and materials from my classroom.

Rob sold his house house and moved into the condo we are renting. I didn’t move in until the wedding, but I spent every minute of my free time painting the condo. It was an exhausting couple of weeks.

In April, I headed out to Lake Huron for a weekend getaway with some friends to celebrate my bachelorette party.

In May, Debbie Clement came to visit my school. She rocked the socks off my students and it was great to finally hug the real-life kindergarten rock star.

My students graduated from Kindergarten at the end of May and I started pulling down many of my classroom decorations. I wasn’t going to be Miss Manore anymore!

The absolute best day of the year (and my entire life) happened this summer when I married my wonderful husband, Rob. Don’t let the umbrella fool you. It only sprinkled for a few minutes that day, despite the severe weather warnings and 100% chance of rain.

I know every bride considers her wedding one of the best days of her life, but there was something extra magical about our wedding.

After all of the wedding excitement, Rob and I took a very relaxing honeymoon in Naples, Florida. The low-key getaway was exactly what we needed.

This summer I finally had a chance to share a tutorial for how to create those vinyl trees that were displayed in my classroom.

In July, I presented at the 2015 Teachers Pay Teachers conference in Las Vegas. It was my first time ever presenting!

During the conference, I shared about my experience transferring Kinder Craze from Blogger to WordPress and why this could be a smart move for many other bloggers that sell on TpT.

I also participated in a blogging panel with Kristin, Hadar, Emily and Megan. Empowering other teachers to turn their passions into a business is such a wonderful feeling.

I had a few days to recover from all of the fun in Las Vegas, then hopped on a plane again. This time I was Atlanta-bound for the first-ever Bright Minds Summit with Astrobrights Paper. My good friends Marsha and Reagan were there as well. We spent three wonderful days crafting, learning about the company and dining our way through Atlanta.

We also had a photo and video shoot to prepare for the 2015 launch of Colorize Your Classroom. I was in heaven!

After all of that excitement, I lost my mind and decided to completely redecorate my kindergarten classroom.

To get me started, I drove out to the Schoolgirl Style shop to meet up with my amazing friend, Melanie and stock up on supplies.

I spent the entire month of August camped out in my classroom working on details like this.

One of the most exciting aspects of the summer was building new routines with my husband. He helps me so much behind the scenes at Kinder Craze and both of our blogs have become a team effort.

Rob and I work well as a team and our biggest accomplishment was paying off $180,000 in student loan debt this August. We studied Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University program shortly after we were engaged and we committed to following Dave’s Baby steps. My new-house savings for the past seven years went toward the debt, but it was worth it to have financial freedom. We can rent for a few years while we re-build the savings.

This fall, I revealed my new Vintage Circus kindergarten classroom that was designed in partnership with Melanie from Schoolgirl Style. The space is completely magical and my students love coming to school each day.

I also made the decision to teach part time this year. After such a whirlwind of a year, I knew I needed more balance in my life. By teaching part time, I get to keep doing what I love in the classroom, and I also have the energy to share my ideas with all of you.

My home office finally started coming together. Before we were married, my bedroom and office were a shared space. I finally have a proper office with plenty of space to write, craft and shoot all of my Stitch Fix photos.

Rob and I travelled to Mackinac Island to the Grand Hotel’s first-ever Halloween Weekend. The weather was cold and rainy, but it was a perfect excuse to explore the hotel. The trip was one of the most fun experiences we have shared since we started dating.

I also had a chance to celebrate my first Christmas with my husband. We shot a few holiday photos to help celebrate (because that’s what you do when you love taking pictures).

Like any Instagram addict, I participated in #2015bestnine to discover my most popular Instagram posts from 2015. It’s no surprise that people that follow me on Instagram share my same love affair with classroom decor (along with a tiny bit of excitement for my wedding). It really was an incredible 2015. If you’re on Instagram, come follow Kinder Craze and join in the fun!

Looking Ahead to a Great 2016

With the arrival of the new year, my eyes are focused clearly on the future. I’m sure there will be changes ahead and I would love to make Kinder Craze better than every in 2016. I’ll have a little more information on that later. For now, let’s enjoy this gorgeous Saturday.

Reflections of 2015 Linky Party

I’m linking up with the Teeny, Traci and Hadar for the Reflections of 2015 linky party. Stop by and see year-end reflections from other teacher-bloggers.

The post Looking Back on an Incredible 2015 appeared first on Kinder Craze.

Kinder Craze really isn’t about me. It’s about you. The reader. The teacher. The Stitch-Fix shopper. The soon-to-be teacher. The mom. The friend.

Kinder Craze was created to be a space and a resource to share content for YOU. As you know, 2015 was a pretty exciting year for me. Let’s make 2016 a great year for Kinder Craze. I want to fill the blog with content that is useful and relevant to you. And if money is tight (as money often is), I want to offer giveaways and discounts that you find exciting and useful.

So I have a teeny tiny favor to ask of you today. I created a brief survey to help you communicate what you love about Kinder Craze and what you think could benefit from a change. This space was created for you and I need your help to make Kinder Craze better than ever. I took the survey myself and it only took me 2 minutes and 13 seconds to complete.

That’s not bad, right?

I didn’t think so.

Click here to take the survey.
It will be the fastest 2 minutes and 13 seconds of your life. I promise!

Thank you so much for everything. I just know 2016 is going to be AMAZING.

The post Let’s Make Kinder Craze Better than Ever in 2016 appeared first on Kinder Craze.

The 100th day of school is quickly approaching! My students get so excited about this momentous day, we begin reading about it a few weeks in advance. If you are looking to expand your own collection of 100th day of school books, this list is for you! It’s my top 50 picks of books to celebrate the 100th Day. Affiliate links are included in this post so you can easily purchase the books on Amazon. You can also discover many great ideas for your classroom celebration here.  Happy browsing!

	The Night Before the 100th Day of School The 100th day of school is almost here and one student is desperate to find 100 of anything to bring to class. Then all of sudden inspiration strikes, and he comes up with a surprise that makes the 100th day celebration one to remember! This hilarious story of a popular school tradition offers a perfect modern twist on Clement C. Moore’s classic poem. Find it here on Amazon.
	100th Day Worries When Jessica’s teacher tells everyone in class to find 100 things to bring to school for their 100th day, Jessica starts to worry. She wants to bring something really good. but what? 100 marshmallows? No, too sticky. 100 yo-yos? Nah, that’s silly. When Jessica reaches the 99th day, she really starts to worry. She still doesn’t know what to bring! Could the best collection of 100 things be right under her eyes? Find it here on Amazon.
	Fancy Nancy: The 100th Day of School The 100th day of school is coming up, and Nancy doesn’t know what to bring in for the class project. Will she be able to think of something imaginative in time for the big day? Find it here on Amazon.
	Rocket’s 100th Day of School Rocket isbusy collecting 100 things to take to school on his 100th day, and he has the perfect place to keep them safe. That is, until Bella, a squirrel who loves acrorns, gets involved. With predictable patterns, simple words, lots of repetition, and bright, colorful illustrations, this new Rocket book will charm young readers—and they can read it all by themselves! Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story. For children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. Find it here on Amazon.
	Jake’s 100th Day of School Jake and his fellow students are getting ready for a celebration. Tomorrow is the 100th day of school and everyone is going to share their collections of 100 things. The day of the celebration arrives. Jake’s friend Henry brings 100 bottle caps and Emily brings 100 paper clips. But Jake forgets the 100 family pictures he has glued into a special memory book at home. Disaster! The problem is solved thanks to Jake’s ingenuity and the sensitivity of his wonderful principal, Mrs. Wadsworth. He does have a collection to display that day… and something special to share with the class on the 101st day of school. Find it here on Amazon.
	Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten Miss Bindergarten, the world’s best kindergarten teacher, is getting ready for another milestone. Tomorrow she and her class will have been together for 100 days. To celebrate, each student must bring “100 of some wonderful, one-hundred-full thing!” At night, while the students go to work assembling their projects, Miss Bindergarten is working, too, making special surprises for the class. The 100th day of kindergarten is bound to be unforgettable! Children will delight in hearing about this special event, a common cause for celebration in kindergartens today. Find it here on Amazon.
	Young Cam Jansen and the 100th Day of School Mystery Cam Jansen and her best friend, Eric, are excited about their class’s 100th day of school party! To celebrate, they’re having snacks that start with the letter P: pretzels, popcorn, pineapple juice, and everybody’s favorite, pizza. But when the pizza disappears from the kitchen, it’s up to Cam and her photographic memory to “click” and solve this delicious mystery! Find it here on Amazon.
	The 100th Day of School The children learn 100 spelling words, plant 100 seeds, bake 100 cookies, and “”do everything the 100 way”” to celebrate this special day. Find it here on Amazon.
	Biscuit’s 100th Day of School It’s the 100th day of school, and Biscuit can’t wait to join in the celebration. Fun flaps reveal the sweet yellow puppy up to his usual mischief as he helps schoolchildren honor the day with games and lessons. Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Days of School A series of rhymes illustrates different ways to count to 100 such as by adding the ten toes of ten children or ninety-nine train cars plus one caboose. Find it here on Amazon.
	Ready, Set, 100th Day! Soon it will be the one-hundreth day of school. Minna wants to come up with a really, really different idea for her Ready, Set, 100th project with the help of Mom, Dad, and Pip, Minna searches the house. She finds and makes all sort of things. She arranges them in sets, and she plays with them. But she’s “still thinking!” until, suddenly, she gets a BIG idea! Important math lessons are incorporated into Wallace’s signature artwork using origami, recycled paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils and photographs. Find it here on Amazon.
	Counting Our Way to the 100th Day! Join the counting fun! It takes just a poem a day to count down to the 100th day of school! Keep count with numbers. Keep count with stars. Keep count with beans in a big glass jar. Keep a long tally and keep count with pins. Keep track of how many days there’ve been. Keep count by ones. Keep count by tens. Keep count each day and wait, wait, wait. In February — celebrate! Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Days of Cool Four students arrive on the first day of school looking cool and their teacher challenges them to keep it up as they count down 100 days to a cool celebration. Find it here on Amazon.
	Ready, Freddy! The 100th Day of School! The 100th day of school is approaching, and to mark the occasion, Freddy and his classmates must each collect and bring to school 100 of something. Freddy is overwhelmed by the thought, then he has a great idea to collect 100 shark trading cards. But he only has 21 cards! How will be get another 79 before the 100th day of school? Even if he had the money, his mom would NEVER let him buy that much bubble gum. Join Freddy as he plots the perfcet plan to reach his goal. Find it here on Amazon.
	100 School Days Mrs. Madoff’s class is counting pennies — one for every day of school. When they get to 10 pennies, they know they’ve been going to school for 10 days. What will happen when they get to 100? How will they celebrate Day 100, and what will they do with their 100 pennies? Find it here on Amazon.
	Emily’s First 100 Days of School Emily is ready for her first day of school. There’s so much to do: learning the alphabet, singing, reading books, dancing, and counting, starting with the very first day. One hundred days feels very far away, but day by day, Emily and her classmates see they’re getting closer. And as the lessons they learn begin to add up, their world expands. Chock-full of surprising discoveries, age-appropriate activities, and plenty of humor, Emily’s First 100 Days of School supports growing skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic, with an emphasis on math skills. Find it here on Amazon.
	The 100th Day of School How many ways can you count to 100? Try by 5s, 10s, and 20s. Lets celebrate math and learning on the 100th day of school! Find it here on Amazon.
	100th Day of School After counting down the school days, it is finally the 100th Day of School! Readers will love learning about how this popular milestone is celebrated in the classroom. This book includes fun and challenging activities that exercise both the mind and body. Children will enjoy learning how other children around the world celebrate this event. Find it here on Amazon.
	The 100th Day Surprise! The hundredth day of school means sharing one hundred things collected by each child. Liz has one hundred bows. Nick has one hundred Legos. Scotty believes he can outdo them all with his unique collection. The Hundredth Day Surprise will amaze the class, and Scotty will be the most stunned of all. Find it here on Amazon.
	100th Day: A Spot-It Challenge Its the 100th day of school, and we’ve hidden lots of items for you to count and find. Can you spot all of the fun things in these dazzling scenes? Find it here on Amazon.
	100th Day of School These all new, modern holiday books give readers the inside scoop on how some of our favorite holidays came to be and how we celebrate them today. Calendars that introduce kids to various types of informational text A fun craft themed to each holiday Comprehension activities in the back of the book that help readers recall and locate information relevant to a given topic Fast facts— offering fun, sometimes little known facts about the subject Table of Contents and Chapters Glossary with pictures Find it here on Amazon.
	It’s the 100th Day, Stinky Face! What will Stinky Face bring for the 100th day of school? The second in the early reader Stinky Face series. Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore’s popular Stinky Face series is now available in a Level 1 easy reader format! In this new story and adventure, Stinky Face, an inquisitive young boy, celebrates 100 days of school! But of course, first he has a question … New readers will love this funny, imaginative story and the easy-to-read text. Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Monsters in My School The one hundredth day of school at Frank N. Stein Elementary School is the best day of the year for all the monsters except Jane Brain. Readers will learn fun–and sometimes spooky–ways of counting to one hundred in this book. Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Ways to Celebrate 100 Days It’s the 100th day of school–what can you do to celebrate? Here are 100 different ideas for celebrating this fun and important day. The 100th day is about math–and so much more! From collecting to counting, baking to bouncing, reading to writing, every possible kind of activity is included for 100th day celebrations at home or at school. Bright, detailed photographs and plenty of innovative ideas will make this beautifully designed book the essential, must-have book for every family and classroom. Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Things that Make Me Happy In the grand tradition of “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens” comes an uplifting tribute to 100 everyday things worth celebrating. The list, in rhyming couplets, draws directly from a preschool­er’s world—from slippery floors to dinosaurs, from goldfish to a birthday wish. Amy Schwartz weaves a masterful balance between art and text, with each of the 100 items portrayed as its own well-observed and warmly detailed vignette. While the contents provide readers with a frame of reference for the quantity of “100”—a celebratory milestone in preschools and early elementary grades—the oversized pages envelop young children in the wonderful things surrounding them. Find it here on Amazon.
	Curious George Learns to Count from 1 to 100 Curious George is a good little monkey, and always very curious. Now George is curious about numbers. Counting from 1 to 10 is easy, but can he count all the way to 100? George has picked the perfect day to try. It’s his town’s 100th birthday today and everyone is coming out to celebrate! With the help of his friend, the man with the yellow hat, George learns to count from 1 to 100, making his usual monkey mischief along the way. Young minds (and little fingers) will find all kinds of wonderful things to count as they turn each colorful page. In this large format, paper-over-board book each page features familiar objects for children to count. A perfect book for celebrating counting, numbers and the 100th day of school. Find it here on Amazon.
	Centipede’s 100 Shoes Have fun with numbers in this hilarious new picture book by master storyteller and illustrator Tony Ross. “One hundred shoes, please!” said the little centipede. “Fifty left ones, and fifty right ones.”“Why do you want one hundred?” asked the shoe seller. “Because I’m a centipede, which means a hundred feet,” said the little centipede. But when are one hundred shoes too many shoes? And what do you do with too many shoes? Why, you give them away! Find out who gets them in this delightfully silly story about a centipede with sore feet. Find it here on Amazon.
	The Hundred Dresses Eleanor Estes’s The Hundred Dresses won a Newbery Honor in 1945 and has never been out of print since. At the heart of the story is Wanda Petronski, a Polish girl in a Connecticut school who is ridiculed by her classmates for wearing the same faded blue dress every day. Wanda claims she has one hundred dresses at home, but everyone knows she doesn’t and bullies her mercilessly. The class feels terrible when Wanda is pulled out of the school, but by that time it’s too late for apologies. Maddie, one of Wanda’s classmates, ultimately decides that she is “never going to stand by and say nothing again.” Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Inventions that Made History Applying engaging, innovative design and fun, informative text, 100 Inventions That Made History looks at the trailblazing inventions that have advanced technology and transformed the way we live, as well as the gadgets and gizmos that we couldn’t live without! Divided into five chapters — On the Move, Getting Connected, Ordinary Things, For Better or Worse, and Culture Shock — all areas of inventions are covered as well as showcasing the inspirational people who brought them to life. From antibiotics to the atomic bomb, microscopes to the microwave, and wind turbines to the World Wide Web, 100 Inventions That Made History is a discovery not to be missed. Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Snowmen 1 + 1 = 2 snowmen. 3 + 4 = 7 snowmen. 5 + 6 = 11 snowmen. Finally, 100 snowmen! As you count and add, watch the snowmen enjoy a snowball fight, make funny faces, play hide-and-seek— and just plain have fun. And you’ll have fun, too! Find it here on Amazon.
	One Hundred Hungry Ants Hi dee ho! It’s off to a picnic we go! One hundred very hungry ants hurry to sample the delights of a picnic, but marching in single file seems too slow for 100 empty tummies. The smallest ant of all suggests they travel in 2 rows of 50, four rows of 25 . . . and the division begins. One Hundred Hungry Ants is not only a spirited and whimsical story, but also serves as an enjoyable visual introduction to math. Find it here on Amazon.
	I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words The ultimate introduction to words, Dr. Seuss style! Perfect for introducing your child to reading! Introduced by the Cat in the Hat and featuring a selection of Dr. Seuss artwork and rhyming sentences, I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words shows young children how easy it is to learn to read – even for a dog. Each spread features five rhyming sentences, each positioned alongside a colourful flap which lifts to reveal a rhyming word and more delightful Seuss artwork. With a novelty child-safe mirror on the final page, this storybook is a joy to read with your child. Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Bears Math has never been this much fun! Way better than your ordinary counting book, this real bear caper tells a wacky, witty, wonderful story too! In an anarchic tale of hunters, feasts, and marauding beasts, we chase the numbers 1–100 through mountains, forests, and cities. Printed with gorgeous and vibrant colors, this stunning tome recalls the innovation and boldness of Blexbolex’s People and Seasons, albeit with its own distinct artistic mark. 100 Bears effortlessly distills the complex into the entertaining for a new generation of book-loving kids. Jam-packed with intricate detail on every page, children are sure to uncover something new and exciting with each reading. Find it here on Amazon.
	From One to One Hundred In this ingenious counting book, more than 2,500 items are imaginatively arranged in a dazzling display of detail, color and inventiveness. Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended List. Young Hoosier Picture Book Award Master List. Full-color illustrations. Find it here on Amazon.
	Sign Language: My First 100 Words A fresh new beginner’s guide to American Sign Language–with a poster of the sign language alphabet! Featuring cool computer-generated illustrations and a simple kid-friendly design, this reference book for the youngest readers makes learning sign language fun and easy! Learn 100 basic signs for everyday use in helpful categories, such as Food, Colors, Animals, In the Classroom, and more! Also included are instructions on how to fingerspell the entire alphabet and numbers. For quick reference, this book also comes with a bonus full-size poster of the ASL alphabet–perfect for home or the classroom! Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Hungry Monkeys This playful picture book encourages pre-readers and early readers to explore the concept of 100. Unusual in that it is a narrative-driven counting book, it offers a delightful and lively story about 100 hungry monkeys who set out to find themselves some food. Once their bellies are full, they all settle in for a nap, but then a monster suddenly appears. They fear he wants to make them lunch, so they all run for their lives. All ends well, however, once the monkeys realize the monster really just wants to be their friend. This book works well, with the emphasis on 100, in the math curricula for the early grades, and it would make an excellent tie-in for the important celebrations of the 100th day of the school year. As well, since the monkeys are described using a different adjective on every page — from excited to brave to sleepy — it would also make an excellent resource for a language arts lesson about the parts of speech. Find it here on Amazon.
	One Hundred Days (Plus One) Hannah’s teacher plans a party to celebrate the one hundredth day of school. But on the day of the big party, Hannah is too sick to go. She misses out on the fun! But when she returns the next school day, Hanna finds that adding one can make things extra special. Find it here on Amazon.
	100 Animals on Parade! With hundreds of colorful animals to count and hundreds of hilarious details to hunt, this unconventional counting book guarantees hundreds of hours of fun! Find it here on Amazon.
	Let’s Count to 100! Let’s Count to 100! comprises 11 bright panoramas, each featuring a delightful assortment of 100 different objects. Readers are invited to count the items and are also challenged to find specific details, such as a mouse with a red bow or a lone rabbit amid a giant flock of sheep. This book is packed with appealing images of children, fish, cats, moles and other cute critters — no two of which are alike — and readers will enjoy the many different moods and expressions on display. Each spread is also full of hidden dramas youngsters will love discovering for themselves, such as a hungry piranha poised to take a nibble of an elephant’s pink trunk. Kids will also like spotting how each scene, such as a meandering stream or a bustling cityscape, visually connects to the one that came before and the one that follows. Find it here on Amazon.
	One Hundred Shoes Centipede has one hundred feet. One hundred feet means one hundred shoes. How in the world does Centipede choose shoes? This Math Reader clearly demonstrates the concepts of pairs and multiple sets, all in simple, rollicking, rhythmic text and with bright, graphic illustrations. Find it here on Amazon.
	Henry’s 100 Days of Kindergarten On the first day of kindergarten in September, Ms. Bradley says, “Each day of school I will add a jelly bean to this jar. When there are 100 jelly beans we’ll have a party to celebrate 100 days of kindergarten.” What will Henry and his classmates do until the big day? In October, they share special things at show and tell. In November, they remember what they are thankful for. December brings a day to play in the snow, and in January, Henry discovers a favorite library book. Before they know it, the 100th day arrives! Now how will they celebrate? Find it here on Amazon.
	Ms. Goozenpop’s Crazy 100th School Day Ms. Goozenpop’s class is celebrating their 100th day of school. It all starts off well, but when you bring in 100 little creatures, and they soon start running amuck — well, things tend to get a bit… crazy. This humorous rhyming book is a follow up to Sandy’s first book, ‘Ms. Goozenpop’s Crazy Alphabet Show and Tell,’ where poor Ms. Goozenpop can’t seem to catch a break. The day starts off wiht the best of intentions, with the class celebrating their 100th day of school. Soon things take a chaotically funny turn when things get a bit out of hand. Find it here on Amazon.
	You Can Count on Monsters: The First 100 Numbers and Their Characters Using a unique teaching tool designed to motivate kids to learn, this volume visually explores the concepts of factoring and the role of prime and composite numbers. The playful and colorful monsters are designed to give children (and even older audiences) an intuitive understanding of the building blocks of numbers and the basics of multiplication. The introduction and appendices can also help adult readers answer questions about factoring from their young audience. The artwork is crisp and creative and the colors are bright and engaging, making this volume a welcome deviation from standard math texts. Find it here on Amazon.
	Celebrate 100 Days Are you learning how to count to 100? The students in this book are learning how, too. Their teacher is helping them by celebrating their 100th day of school. They have fun counting all kinds of things, such as seashells, marbles, and popcorn, in sets of 100. Find it here on Amazon.
	My First 100 Words in Spanish and English Learning a foreign language has never been this much fun! Just pull the sturdy tabs and change the words under the pictures from English to Spanish and back again to English! Find it here on Amazon.
	98, 99, 100! Ready or Not, Here I Come! Counting to 100 in multiples of fives, tens and twenties comes into play when four girls share a game of hide-and-seek. Find it here on Amazon.
	One Hundred Shining Candles This well-loved storybook has been reissued with enhanced reproduction and many newly created illustrations just in time for a warm Christmas read under a cozy quilt by the light of a flickering fire. Ten-year-old Lucy is a pioneer girl in the Upper Canada of 1800. Her imagination fired by the schoolmaster’s stories of Christmas memories, Lucy sets about making a special Yuletide gift — something her frail mother will be able to remember and cherish forever. But even with the unwelcome help of her little brother, Dan, making one hundred handmade candles to light on Christmas night is a daunting task. Limited supplies and resources make the job that much harder, but in the end it is Lucy’s own bossiness that nearly causes a disaster. Deeply disappointed in herself, Lucy accepts the sacrifice Dan offers to make, and together the children manage to create the most wonderful of all Christmases. Find it here on Amazon.
	Many Ways to 100 Text and photographs show the different ways of counting to one hundred. Find it here on Amazon.
	David Carter’s 100: Lift the Flaps and Learn to Count! Flaps upon flaps upon flaps—100 of them—are layered on top of each other like gift boxes filled with surprises. Acclaimed master paper engineer and illustrator David Carter offers children a magical experience as they uncover an array of 100 wonderful things in a variety of landscapes. From zippy city streets—where successive flaps open to show a truck, taxi, bicycle, scooter, and skateboarder—to scenes deep undersea, in the forest, and in a prehistoric world with dinosaurs, this clever, visually astonishing book will amaze kids…and teach them to count up to 100 too! Find it here on Amazon.
	… If You Lived 100 Years Ago Readers travel back in time to explore life in New York City 100 years ago, where there’s not a television or computer in sight! This illustrated guide reveals how people both rich and poor dressed, traveled, dined. And entertained. Find it here on Amazon.

How to Celebrate the 100th Day of School

Collecting children’s literature is a great way to begin your 100th Day of School celebration. Learn how I celebrate the 100th Day in my own classroom and discover new ideas to help the day come alive for your students too!

The post 50 Books to Celebrate the 100th Day of School appeared first on Kinder Craze.