Kissing Our Brains in K

There is an endless amount of reasons why I’m sad we are not physically together for the remainder of the school year. On the top of my list is all the spring and end-of-year activities I will be missing out on with my kids. There were so many memories still to be made. 💔
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BUT I was determined to make ABC Countdown to Summer work. It’s one of my favorite events of the year and I am so happy my amazing team and I pulled our ideas together to make this happen for our ideas. We kick off this event next Thursday, but until then it’s a surprise! 🤫
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I spent today getting our ABC Countdown to Summer Journal ready for our kiddos next week. I can’t wait for them to have this little piece of excitement in their life. Do you do an ABC countdown with your students? If so, I’d love to know when your countdown brings! 🎉🎉
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I spent some time this weekend writing letters to 29 of my favorite six-year-olds. It’s one small way that is helping me to feel more connected to them during this time. And now we prepare to conquer a new week of distance learning. 📬❤️
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It has been a little over one month since this classroom was filled with my littles. I’m missing them extra hard this week and wishing we could be back in this space together. 💖
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I have dreamed of having a home office for years. When my husband and I purchased our home and watched it be built I would walk into this room and picture all the creating that would take place here. I loved the windows that allowed for so much natural light and I knew I’d love being in this space. What I never dreamed about was just how incredibly thankful I would be for this space when a pandemic hit our world and I became an online teacher. Every day I tell my husband how grateful I feel for space during this time. ❤️
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Happy Mail 💌📬
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I received the most precious surprises in the mail that truly made my entire week. One of my students mailed me dog treats for my dog, Bentley, from his dog, Molly! 😭😭😭😭 I just can’t get over how unbelievably sweet this gesture was. To top it off the picture he drew me is a leopard printed mask to keep me safe so I don’t get coronavirus. My teacher heart is so full! I love my kids! 🥰🥰❤️❤️
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New day and a new message to my littles!
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Every morning we start our day with this chant and now more than ever it’s so important that my kids are reminded of these things on a daily basis.
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We’re currently on Spring Break, but come Monday I’m bringing back our morning chant virtually and we’re going to say it loud and proud together! 💖💖
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Heartbroken 💔
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I’m currently still processing the news we received this week that we will not be physically returning to the classroom this school year. I’m heartbroken. There were no goodbyes. There were still so many memories to be made. I still had so much to teach them. This is the most exciting time in kindergarten. The best was yet to come. I feel robbed of this school year and the time I will no longer physically have with my kids. I’m just so sad.
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I feel like I’m an emotional rollercoaster. I go from complete sadness and tears to telling myself you have so much to be thankful for. And while it’s true, I do have so much to be thankful for, I need to keep reminding myself that it’s okay to feel this sadness. It’s okay to mourn this loss. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to be angry. It’s not only important for us teachers and parents to understand this, but it’s so important for our kids to know this too. They need to know it’s okay to be sad. They need to know it’s okay to cry.
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I am determined to make this distance learning the best experience possible because my kids deserve that. They know I am sad, but they also need to know I am all in. The year is not over, we still have so much to learn together. ❤️
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First Day of School (Distance Learning Edition) Picture 📸
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I never imagined being an online teacher. If you told me a month ago this is where we’d be I would have told you, “It’s not possible.” But here we are, Educators, conquering the impossible and attempting to make the most of it. If someone asked me what I do NOT like about distance learning I’d throw a Mean Girls reference at them and say, “The limit does not exist!” If someone asked me to have a growth mindset and choose one positive about distance learning I’d say, “I can wear slippers all day!” I am always Team Slippers. 😍
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I know this isn’t easy for us. I know we’d rather be in the classroom with our kids. This is our new normal whether we like it or not. I’ve learned a lot about myself over the past week. First and foremost, I am FAR MORE of a control freak than I ever thought I was. I have lost all control and goodness it is not easy. I also learned that I am not productive in my pajamas. For me, pajamas means turn on the fireplace, get a cozy blanket, and turn Netflix on. And when Netflix judges me and says, “Are you still watching?” I say, “I don’t need that negativity in my life. Stop judging me!” With that being said, I quickly realized I need to continue a routine. I need to set an alarm, wake up, and do my morning routine in order to have a productive day. ⏰☀️
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If you have made it this far in my ramble, I would love for you to think of one positive about distance learning and share it in the comments below. Again for me, . Also, take your first day of school distance learning edition picture and tag . I’d love to see your pictures and support you along the way. Also, absolutely NO judgement allowed for first day pictures. You do what works for you and don’t let anyone make you feel less than for that. If you rolled out of bed and are still in your pajamas, you do you! If you are full glam and dressed to impress, you do you! If you’re anywhere in between, YOU DO YOU! We support who YOU are and whatever works for YOU. ❤️❤️
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Hang in there, Teacher Friends! We’re in this together! 🙌🏻💪🏻

Relationships First ❤️
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Just because we aren’t with them in person doesn’t mean the relationship building has to stop. Some of our students need us now more than ever. One simple way I’m continuing to build relationships with my kids is handwritten cards. 29 cards will go out in the mail tomorrow morning and be in the hands of my littles very soon. Just a small way to let my students know I’m thinking of them. 🥰📬
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Reminiscing on happier times from earlier this month when we wrote about what we would do if we found a pot of gold. 🌈
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This morning I found myself thinking about all the upcoming events, projects, and just learning I potentially won’t be able to do with my littles this year. It’s easy to let the unknown consume us with fear and anxious feelings. To stop these worries I opened my camera roll to look through my pictures of all we’ve done together. It helped seeing their little faces and all that we’ve learned this school year. 🥰
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Hang in there, teacher friends. We’re in this together. ❤️
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When a parent hands you a bag and says here’s some Astrobright paper for your class! 😍😍😍😍
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I’ll forever be thankful for parents’ generosity. I told this parent she’s a real life Astrobright Angel! 😇😇 I am excited for all the projects to come in the new year with my favorite paper. ❤️❤️
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Happy New Year, Friends! 🎉✨
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New Year New You or New Year Same You! Whichever you prefer, I hope 2020 is an amazing year for you. Thank you for your continued support and friendships, it means so much to me! 💖💖
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#2020

The only thing better than the blank books from are DONUT blank books! 🍩🍩
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This was another time I went to Target not knowing I needed blank books, but Target made sure to let me know I did in fact need DONUT blank books! 😍🍩💖
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Teachers Put The Stars Within Reach 🌟✨
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I hope you’re all enjoying your break and taking time for yourself to relax and recharge. ❤️❤️
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One item on my winter break bucket list was to stay in my pajamas ALL DAY! I’m happy to report I checked that one off my list yesterday. I put on clean pajamas when I woke up and stayed in them ALL DAY while binging Netflix with my hubby and fur baby. It was a great day! 😍😍
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What’s something on your winter break bucket list?! 👇🏻👇🏻
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This was the only picture I managed to take on Polar Express Day because teaching in December is a certain kinda special. But this backdrop added such a magical feeling to our classroom environment. Backdrops have quickly become my new favorite addition to my classroom this year and thanks to they have backdrops for all the things! 💙🎅🏻 🚂
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I love giving my students a gift for Christmas. This year I gave each student a book, thanks to , and I made them a sprinkle ornament. I started these ornaments last year and they’re my absolute favorite. 🎄🎅🏻❤️
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I absolutely love the way my parent volunteer gifts turned out for Christmas! I wrapped my kids in Christmas lights and added a Santa hat for their picture. I got the white frames from , acrylic paint from , and my kids used their fingerprint to create the lights on the frame. Such a special and personal gift for my amazing parent volunteers! ❤️🎄
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SURVIVED! There should be some type of award ceremony for teachers surviving the month of December. 🤣
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Thank you to for the best shirt ever! It was perfect for our last day. Also, shout out to my principal for letting me wear her leopard Santa hat today. It matched perfectly! ❤️🎅🏻
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Happy Winter Break, Teacher Friends!! 🎉🎉
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You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch! Grinch Day was a big hit in kindergarten today! 💚🎅🏻🎄
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Wishing you a Christmas filled with NOTHING BUNDT love and joy!🎅🏻🎄
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Nothing Bundt cakes are a favorite amongst my team members so these bundlets made for the perfect Christmas gift! ❤️
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I’m getting our math centers prepped for next week. It’s going to be another crazy busy week for me, and I’m sure everyone else too. If you’re looking for some easy print and go centers these are available in my TpT store. Christmas themed ELA centers are available too. Wishing you all a great week! ❤️🎄🎅🏻🤶🏻
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Forget , it’s head down for a nap Friday for me! 😆😂 I don’t know about you, but this week kicked my butt. Drowning, absolutely drowning, is how I feel right now. It’s important to keep it real so when others feel like they’re drowning they know they’re not alone. So, here’s to ! Enjoy your weekend, teacher friends and take time to recharge. ❤️❤️
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Our market cart transformed to a cookie stand for the month of December and Buddy the Elf is loving it! 🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄🍪
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It’s been a stressed filled week for me, but today one of my little love bugs walks by our cookie stand and says, “I could seriously stare at this all day. It’s totally perfect!” And all that stress seemed to disappear (briefly) and it reminded me that the extra time, love, and details are totally worth it! ❤️❤️
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Sneezy the Snowman is one of my favorite winter stories. This melted snowman writing craftivity goes along perfectly with the story. I always love seeing students creativity with their melted snowmen. You can grab this in my store for 25% off with code Cyber19! ☃️❄️💙
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Dear Multi-Tasking Educational Rockstars,
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It’s the Monday after a break and while nobody wants to wake up to an alarm or get out of their cozy bed, remember you have littles that have been counting down to see you. It’s a magical (crazy busy) time of year. We have 3 weeks to continue to inspire and encourage before we send them off for another break. We’ve got this! Embrace the crazy and love on those babies today. ❤️❤️
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Side note, this amazing sign is from . I felt weird buying it for myself, so I didn’t, but I sure do love it! 🤣😍
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One of my favorite November traditions is reading, Turkey Trouble, to my students and sending home this family project. It’s so fun to see the creativity every year! 🦃❤️
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My favorite way to kick off November and learning about gratitude are with these turkeys from . Each feather has a word about what the student is thankful for. Swipe to see some adorable responses. ❤️
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Dear ,
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Thank you for including the online! Receiving these in the mail without having to drive all over and search high and low was SO satisfying. 🎯🙌🏻🙌🏻
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Love,
A Very Grateful Teacher
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Last week we began our Rainbow Sight Word assessments. This 7 Drawer Desktop Organizer from is perfect for our sight word resources. I store the rainbow lists and rainbow word expert certificates inside each colored drawer. 🌈🌈
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I assess my students on a weekly basis to continually monitor their progress. I have found weekly assessments are the most effective to progress students through the Rainbow Sight Word program and also to keep parents informed of their progress. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💗
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Chicka Chicka! Boom Boom! 🌴🌴🥥🥥
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This project from Jessica is a class favorite every year! 💛💛
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Our market cart has received a little transformation. Our apple stand is now open for business! 🍎🍏
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Nothing beats 5-year-old squeals of excitement! Melts my heart every time. ❤️❤️
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Market cart is from the line from . 🎯
All decorative accents are from Target Dollar Spot and Dollar Tree. 😍😍
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New classroom means new bulletin board displays! One thing that was very important to me while planning my Rainbow Word bulletin board was having them in direct view for students during our small-group time. This wall worked out perfectly because our small-group table faces it right on. Also as an added bonus, if their eyes are gazing during their computer time, at least they’re looking at their sight words! 🌈 🙌🏻
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Rainbow Words sight word program is available in my TpT store.
Growth Mindset display is from .
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My favorite way to store our crayons are in these snack containers from Dollar Tree. They fit a 24-pack of Crayola crayons perfectly! 🖍 🖍
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I use community supplies in my classroom, so my kids choose any crayon container that matches their assigned color group. I also love how durable these containers are. I’ve been using these same ones for 4-years now and they are in perfect condition. 🙌🏻💚💗💙💜
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It may be a temporary wall (if you were here this summer you know the demolition saga), but we made the most of it and created a classroom library that my kids are LOVING this year. I love seeing my littles have such a love for books. ❤️📚
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Persevere sign is from
sign is from
Book, lightbulb and quote are from
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Confession- I’m a kindergarten teacher and I don’t like cubbies! 🤣🙅🏼‍♀️
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Anything that allows for shoving and clutter, I don’t like it. When I got rid of cubbies 2 years ago and moved to a filing system, I had no clue how it would work out in kindergarten, but I was willing to take a shot. I’m happy to say it was THE BEST decision! 🙌🏻🙌🏻
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My students file all their own papers and it only takes a day or two for them to get the hang of it once those expectations and procedures are put into place. All the papers collected in their file throughout the week go home inside their Friday Folders. 🎉🎉
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Crates are from and the Pendaflex Glow Hanging File Folders are from . ❤️
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