7.25.2011

Back to School Shopping

Ooh! I just saw my first "back to school" commercial of the summer! I'm getting so excited! School supply shopping is the BEST! Move over Christmas, step aside Black Friday, this is my favorite shopping season of the year! There is nothing like buying a brand new set of personalized pencils and sharpening them one by one to place in your "bling"-ed out zipper bag inside your tricked out trapper keeper! Remember those Lisa Frank 3 ring binders? She was my fave! I never thought about it until now, but maybe all of these years I've been subconsciously inspired by her colorful pop art style! Thanks Lisa! I love you! And I love all of these awesome back to school items all found on Etsy! Enjoy!


7.24.2011

Keep Calm and Poster On!


Hey guys! I hope you're all having a fantastic weekend! I just wanted to stop by real quick and let you know about an awesome site I just found! Everyone knows about those "Keep Calm and ___ On" posters. Well, I just found a site that allows you to totally customize your poster! It's super easy and the posters look fantastic! You have five lines of text to type, the entire color wheel to choose your background and text colors from, and my favorite part, you can upload any image from your computer to be placed at the top! Check it out! It's super awesome!

7.22.2011

Fabulous Friday Freebie - To Do List

Wow! This week has been crazy busy! It was the boys' last week of summer daycamp, we're right in the middle of having a new A/C put in (badly needed with temps averaging over 100 degrees everyday this summer!), all while trying to print and design my little heart away! So, understandably, this week has been a little blog light! But I didn't want to leave you without a FABULOUS Friday Freebie! This week I've posted a weeklong to do list. This really came in handy for our family this week! Just print it out on a regular 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and cut in half! Now you have 2 to do lists to post on your fridge, stick in your purse or hand to your honey on your way out the door! Kit and I use these by posting on the fridge and writing out what we've got going on this week that we think the other should know about. Sometimes it's hard for us to communicate and coordinate everything that we have scheduled for the upcoming week as we're whizzing past each other throughout the day. This is a great way to make sure everyone knows what's coming up and where we'll be. Now there's no need to worry that his selective hearing and memory loss will keep him from knowing what's going on! Have a great weekend everyone!

7.15.2011

United States Abbreviations and a Fabulous Friday Freebie

To wrap up this week, I want to say a BIG congratulations to Liz, winner of this week's giveaway hosted by Small Types, and an extra BIG thank you to Erin for featuring Pop Heart Press on her wonderful blog! This week I've been so inspired by the wonderful lesson plans and teaching tools geared toward U.S. geography that I've come across on the web! I wanted to offer one more learning game, perfect as an addition to a Social Studies centers program! Click on the Fabulous Friday Freebie link for a FREE printable of 100 square cards (50 with the state names and 50 with state silhouettes and postal abbreviations).

Print on the blank side of colorful patterned scrapbook paper, cut out, and you have a brand new memory game! Have your kiddos flip the cards upside down, jumble them up, and arrange in a grid. 2 or more students can play at this center taking turns matching state names to the silhouettes and abbreviations! You guys have been so great offering other ideas and ways of using these printables! I'd love to hear how else you plan on using them! Enjoy and have a great weekend!

This teaching tool has also been featured on Today's Creative Blog! Check it out!
This printable is for personal use only, not for resale. Thank you!

7.13.2011

Teaching States, Capitals and Postal Abbreviations

I just came across this blog post by fivej's (a blog stocked full of teaching resources and advice from a homeschooling mom) and knew that I had to share it with you! This is a MUST read for any teachers/parents looking for ways to help teach their kiddos the states, capitals and postal abbreviations. In it you will find a super teaching tool for "tech"-y learners, where kids can hover over the state names and postal abbreviations magically appear (How did she do that!?). This is a perfect way for students to quiz themselves quickly! And my absolute favorite part of the post is a FREE ebook, Learn the States and Postal Abbreviations, which includes printable maps, flashcards, and worksheets. Absolutely amazing! 


I also just learned about an awesome nationwide, 50 classroom, postcard exchange that will be happening this fall! You can find out more and sign up here. I have been really inspired lately by all of the geography themed lesson plans, teaching tools and games popping up in the blogging world! So much so, I spent last night creating a beautiful postcard perfect for the postcard exchange or even everday use! The "Greetings from..." card features a map silhouette of America with your state colored in and a heart on your hometown. You can view the listing in my shop, but here are some previews!







Of course, if you're planning on introducing the states and capitals to your little learners, these flash cards are perfect for game play, quizzing, and hanging as decorative educational art!



7.11.2011

Contest Alert!

Hey guys! Be sure to check out today's blog post at Small Types! Just leave a comment for a chance to win your favorite item from Pop Heart Press! How easy is that! Contest ends Friday, the 15th. Don't miss your chance!

7.08.2011

Educational Toys and a Fabulous Friday Freebie

Everyday, Kit and I look for teachable moments and learning opportunities in conversation and play with the boys. So, I am always on the lookout for great educational toys to add to their playroom and help with visualization while we build the fundamentals. Here are some awesome teaching tools I recently found on Etsy!

6. boardstiff

Adore these teaching toys, but you're on a budget? Then you'll love today's Fabulous Friday Freebie! A super duper DIY printable, these fill in the blank alphabet cards are the perfect compliment to one of my all time favorite games, "I Spy"! Simply click to download, print out the cards on 8.5 x 11 paper and cut on the dotted lines! Attach the flash cards to a clipboard, hand your little one a pencil, and give them 5 minutes to fill out as many cards as they can! Want to make it even more fun? Print out a second set for yourself, and make it a competition! Find out who can fill out the most cards!







Tip: If you're little learner isn't quite ready to spell what they see, have them draw pictures of the items that they find! Remember, the objective is for your kiddo to identify the sound that each letter makes and recognize words that begin with each letter!
You can also find this fabulous freebie at Today's Creative Blog and Teaching Blog Addict!

7.04.2011

I love America this much!

Happy Fourth of July! Here is some etsy love in red, white and blue! 




1. ikabags | 2. the painted lily | 3. mama runs with scissors | 4. kay em kay | 5. pop heart press