Hello Mrs Sykes

Why colored rice?  It's fun!  So often we forget to make things hands-on for our upper elementary students. Colored rice is great for tactile learners and much easier to clean up than sand.  In the past, I've used colored rice in baby wipe containers (easy storage) for younger students to practice writing letters or words in the rice.  They love the feel of the rice, and if some falls on the floor, they use the whisk broom and sweep it up in a jiffy.  With my older learners, I use colored rice to make word work fun with Shake It Up!

I've been having fun creating my own digital backgrounds, and my teaching buddy Casey encouraged me to share them with y'all.  Here's my first set of Chevron backgrounds (for personal/commercial use) called Many Shades of Grey ... For a closer look at each of the patterns, check out the preview file.   Here's a free page from the pack (be sure to check my Terms of Use - basically, don't say it's yours.)  If you use my graphics in a product, let me know; I'd love to give a shout-out! I'd love your feedback, as this is a new venture for me.  Thanks for your support!

Here's an inexpensive way to create chair pockets for your classroom with minimal sewing skills (4 straight lines per seat cover - promise!)  You'll need an iron, scissors, measuring tape, and some fabric.  Warning - lots of pictures ahead!!  :) Alright - in the interest of full disclosure - I am not very crafty.  I typically leave that to my teammates, including Casey and Cassina .  My mom was a Home Economics teacher for years, and taught many young ladies and gentlemen how to sew, cook, clean, etc.  Not me; I had no interest at all... until I moved out, got a job, and bought a house.  Since then, I've learned how to follow a recipe, clean the house enough to make sure I'm not attracting critters, and sew straight lines semi-straight lines.  I never appreciated how amazing she is until I moved out, and now I'm asking for her help all. the. time.  She's probably getting tired of it, but she really comes through for me, and I love m...

I have some terrific supportive parents in my class this year!  One of my parents sent in a *huge* box of envelopes, along with a craft suggestion: Monster bookmarks that eat your page!  Love it!  Here's the examples my student brought in from home: Kisses! Scary Teeth! Here's what we did: 1. Seal the envelope closed.   2. Cut the corners off, making sure each corner is big enough to decorate. Cut the corners Make 4 per envelope  3. Use a contrasting color paper to create teeth, eyes, etc. We traded the scraps from our envelopes to make teeth!   4. Get out of their way!  The kids had such great ideas! We scrounged around in the recycling bin for small scraps, too! adding teeth I was informed that this one is a ninja Sorry for the glare - they were in a ziplock bag to go home Variety of fangs and teeth 5. Remind them to use them on a book!  :)  We did figure out that they make cool fin...