Spooktacular Halloween Treats for Kids!

 Are you looking for fun and easy individually wrapped treats you can pass out to your students at school for Halloween?  

Maybe you are looking for something that is healthy and cheap?!? I mean.......everyone knows that a spooky good time ALWAYS involves treats!!

I have a handful of ideas you can check out below, and I promise any of  these ideas will guarantee a smile on a students face! The best part about these ideas is that they will require little time and very little in the way of supplies.

1. String Cheese Ghost

To make this cheese ghost all you need is a pack of string cheese and a black sharpie.  Simply draw a spooky face on the top of each string cheese.  Cheap, easy and healthy!

 2. Orange Pumpkins

Just like the cheese ghosts, all you need is a sharpie and an orange fruit of choice.  Grab a bag of cuties, clementines or oranges and use a sharpie to draw a pumpkin face on each fruit.  

Make sure to have wipes on hand or a sink, as eating an orange or a clementine in class can get a bit sticky.  The good news--your classroom will smell really good!   

I have also used peach and orange jello cups instead of fresh oranges.  Same effect...but maybe a little less messy when kids eat them.    

3. Pudding Bats

Although not as healthy as a string cheese ghost or orange pumpkin, the pudding bat is just as cute!  For this fun snack you need black or brown construction paper, tape, a sharpie and pudding cups.  

Use the sharpie to draw eyes and fangs on the pudding cup.  Cut bat wings from the brown or black construction paper, and tape them on to the outside of the pudding cup.  Googly eyes could also be used instead of sharpie eyes.....sharpie eyes just takes less time!  

 4. Mummy pouches

Get any sort of baby food pouch (literally my four year old still eats baby food pouches---it is the only way he will touch veggies) or squeezable applesauce.  Wrap the pouches with white party streamers and fasten with tape.  You can sharpie eyes on the face of the mummy, or glue on googly eyes.

 5. Halloween Treat Tags

Using treat tags are a perfect way to give and put a smile on the faces in your classroom without breaking the bank!  Simply print out the tag of choice and attach it to the trinket or treat it matches.  Printing the treat tags on cardstock make the tags more durable!

If you are looking for more festive ideas, check out list of 30 ideas from Room Parent by PTO Today!

Halloween Costumes for Teachers!

 Halloween is right around the corner....

At our building, teachers and students dress up and have fall parties!  I sure love seeing all of the creativity.....and I am confident parents love the fact they get one more use out of their kid's costumes!

If you aren't sure what you will dress up as, AND you want something that is super easy, cheap and quick to make check out this notebook paper idea I made a few years back.

Making it was VERY easy and required little supplies.  All you need is a white shirt, permanent markers (blue, red and black), a ruler and the ability to draw straight lines!

If you want step by step directions, click here.

Another easy idea is to be that elusive traveler, Waldo, from the Where's Waldo series.  I purchased the red and white stripe dress from Amazon, and wore it on top of black leggings.  

To finish out the costume, I purchased some circle shaped eyeglasses, a stocking hat and a cane.  Super easy, and comfortable!  Bonus--the dress also works well for an elf on Christmas!

If you are looking for more ideas, perhaps some group ideas for the whole school, check out this list from We Are Teachers or Not So Wimpy's list with 20 costume ideas!

Individually Wrapped Halloween Treats

Are you looking for fun and easy individually wrapped treats you can pass out to your students at school for Halloween?  Maybe you are looking for something that is healthy and cheap?!? I mean.......everyone knows that a spooky good time ALWAYS involves treats!!

I have a handful of ideas you can check out below, and I promise any of  these ideas will guarantee a smile on a students face! The best part about these ideas is that they will require little time and very little in the way of supplies.

1. String Cheese Ghost

To make this cheese ghost all you need is a pack of string cheese and a black sharpie.  Simply draw a spooky face on the top of each string cheese.  Cheap, easy and healthy!

 2. Orange Pumpkins

Just like the cheese ghosts, all you need is a sharpie and an orange fruit of choice.  Grab a bag of cuties, clementines or oranges and use a sharpie to draw a pumpkin face on each fruit.  

Make sure to have wipes on hand or a sink, as eating an orange or a clementine in class can get a bit sticky.  The good news--your classroom will smell really good!   

I have also used peach and orange jello cups instead of fresh oranges.  Same effect...but maybe a little less messy when kids eat them.    

3. Pudding Bats

Although not as healthy as a string cheese ghost or orange pumpkin, the pudding bat is just as cute!  For this fun snack you need black or brown construction paper, tape, a sharpie and pudding cups.  

Use the sharpie to draw eyes and fangs on the pudding cup.  Cut bat wings from the brown or black construction paper, and tape them on to the outside of the pudding cup.  Googly eyes could also be used instead of sharpie eyes.....sharpie eyes just takes less time!  

 4. Mummy pouches

Get any sort of baby food pouch (literally my four year old still eats baby food pouches---it is the only way he will touch veggies) or squeezable applesauce.  Wrap the pouches with white party streamers and fasten with tape.  You can sharpie eyes on the face of the mummy, or glue on googly eyes.

If you are looking for more festive ideas, check out list of 30 ideas from Room Parent by PTO Today!

Magic Reading Fingers

Tracking print is an important part of the learning to read process.  Kids need to know that we read print from left to right; and the print we are pointing to is what our brain and mouth will say.  

In fact in kindergarten and first grade, tracking print is one of the key concepts of print awareness that students must master.  Typically by the time students reach second grade they are able to track print with their eyes and without the use of a bookmark, finger or tool.

Of course young students can use their finger to track print.....but isn't it WAY MORE FUN to give them a special tool?  Or, as I like to call them....a Magic Reading Finger!  During Halloween, I like to let my students track print with witch fingers!

Before I give them a special tool, I always read them this fantastic poem from Jodi B. Whalen.  It is a great little poem that tells students the importance of tracking print!  You can download the poem for free by clicking here.   

During the not spooky season, you can use other fun tools to get kids excited about tracking as they read. Everything below can be found on Amazon at a relatively low cost.

1. Eye Finger Puppets

2. Mini Hand Pointers

3. Insect Finger Puppets

What sorts of "magic fingers" do you use with your students?!?!

Teacher Costumes for Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner....

While we aren't at school on the day of Halloween, teachers and students at our school still dress up!  I sure love seeing all of the creativity.....and I am confident parents love the fact they get one more use out of their kid's costumes!

If you aren't sure what you will dress up as, AND you want something that is super easy, cheap and quick to make check out this notebook paper idea I made a few years back.

Making it was VERY easy and required little supplies.  All you need is a white shirt, permanent markers (blue, red and black), a ruler and the ability to draw straight lines!

If you want step by step directions, click here.

If you are looking for more ideas, perhaps some group ideas for the whole school, check out this list from We Are Teachers or Not So Wimpy's list with 20 costume ideas!

The PERFECT Halloween Costume for a Teacher

 Yup.....Halloween is next week.

Do you have your costume planned? OR.....are you like me and have waited until the last minute? EEEEEKKK!

If you want something easy, cheap and QUICK to make.....check out the notebook paper idea below.  I made it a few years back and still have it! 

Making it is pretty straight forward---you just need some sharpies, a white shirt and a ruler.  BUT....if you want more step by step directions click here. 

This year my school is going with a Sesame Street theme.....so yours truly will be Abby Cadabby.  

What will your costume be this year? 

Halloween Snack Ideas: cheap, easy and healthy!

Halloween is right around the corner, and I am ready for a spooooky good time!

Normally my school has a costume parade where kids proudly walk the halls, while parents line the perimeter and snap blurry photos. Ha!  Kids then return to their classrooms to get sugared up and play games.

Due to Covid safety precautions, Halloween celebrations will look differently at our school this year.  Our students will still be able to dress up, although no parade.  We will still have classroom parties, although no parents.  I know it won't be "the same"....and that is okay! I am so thankful my school district takes Covid seriouslyand does what it can to keep all staff and students safe.  Plus we have some amazingly creative and talented teachers and I know they will put on a fa-boo-lous time for their students!

For the past few years, I have passed out some healthier treats to the intervention students I see.  I figure they get enough sugary snacks during their parties, so why not give them something cute and healthy?!?

The two items I hand out are cheap and easy to make! :) One is a string cheese ghost and the other is a jack o' lantern made form mandarin oranges.   

To make the cheese ghosts and jack o' lantern you need a pack of string cheese, cups of mandarin oranges (peaches work too!) and a black sharpie.  Break apart the snacks and use the sharpie to color on eyes, mouth and a nose.  Super easy, right?  

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!   

No tricks; just treats. :)

We are just a few days away from every teacher's favorite day of the year....Halloween!  (insert collective snicker and eye roll). 

                                             

Really though.....I have a pretty good time celebrating with the kiddos on Halloween.  We get to dress up.  We get to eat candy.  What is not to love? 


Okay....maybe the day after Halloween is not to love.....

                                  

This year my school district made the day after Halloween a PD/PLC day. Smart.  Soooo......the kids can stay out as late as they want tricking and treating and won't be sluggish the next day at school!  I call that a win!

Anyway....if you are looking for some fun, festive and cheap treats to handout to your students, or to make for your kiddos at home...check out these ideas I whipped up over the weekend! :)

Cheese Ghosts-- get a pack of cheese sticks and sharpie on eyes and mouth!  Cheap, healthy and oh so spooooooky! :)

Mandarin Orange Jack O' Lanterns-- A cup of mandarin oranges (or peaches) with a Jack O' Lantern face drawn on in sharpie. Again--healthy and cheap! :)

Witch's Broom-- Reese's peanut butter cups, with a pretzel rod pushed into the center.  Be careful when you push in the pretzel rod---those peanut butter cups can break easily! 

Spider cookies-- Simply bake any type of cookie according to package directions and place a Reese's peanut butter cup on top shortly after the cookies come out of the oven.  I let my cookies cool for about 5 minutes before placing the peanut butter cup on top.  Use chocolate frosting to pipe on the spider legs. I didn't have a lot of time, so I used pre-made peanut butter cookie dough and pre-made bagged frosting. :) Still tasted good! :)  The last step is to attach the eyes--I did this while the Reese's were a little bit melty, but you could easily use some frosting as "glue" and place on the backs of the eyes after the cookies have completely cooled.   

Hope you enjoy these fa-BOO-lous Halloween ideas!  Drop me a message and let me know what treats you make for your students or kids at home. 

Happy Halloween!

Notebook Paper--the best Halloween costume for teachers!

So in case you don't know Halloween is on Monday.....

I am sure your kids haven't been talking non-stop about it......

I am sure you aren't dreading the calm and quiet classroom party......

Well, if you are like me you plan your Halloween costume last minute (like 8pm the night before.)

So...since I usually have procrastinated, I have to come up with something easy and quick (and preferably cheap).  This year one of my teacher friends gave me the great idea of being a piece of notebook paper.   Ummmmm...yes....genius!
 

 I must say it was a big hit with the kids.....although some of them thought I was a flag (**cough, cough** Kindergartners **cough, cough**).  Some also thought I was homework....which is closer than a flag, ha!

Besides being a big hit.... the Notebook Paper costume was cheap ($3.99 people, and sharpies from my school!!!), quick to make (under thirty minutes) and easy!

Here is what you need:

• Large white t-shirt
• ruler
• red sharpie
• blue sharpie
• black sharpie
• flat surface 
• paper towels (to put inside the shirt, so the sharpies won't bleed through)

Pictured are all the supplies you will need for making the Notebook Paper costume!

Here's how you do it: 

• Lay shirt flat on a hard surface
• Place paper towels inside the shirt (prevents sharpies from bleeding onto the other side)
• Use the red sharpie, and draw a line down the left side of the shirt (shoulder tip to bottom)
• Using the blue Sharpie make dots (spaced 2 inches apart) down the shirt on both sides. 

First draw your red line, and then add blue dots spaced 2 inches apart.

• Next. connect the blue dots using a ruler.  Make sure you don't draw over the red line!!

Connect the blue dots with the blue sharpie creating straight lines.

• Finally, add your name to the upper right hand corner.
• and VOILA--you are done! 

I mean how cute is that?  How easy is that....and how cheap is that??

I paired my Notebook Paper costume with black leggings (hi...there comfort!) and tennis shoes.  You could easily wear it with jeans, or even sweats! :)

Here is to hoping you have a VERY HAPPY HALLOWEEN, and that you survive your classroom parties! :)

Eraser Challenge

I typically try to keep my blog posts upbeat and positive....because that is who I am.  I love being cheerful, carefree and lighthearted , but unfortunately tonight I must take a different approach.  As I type this blog post my heart is not light and happy...but rather full of concern.   The cause of  my despair is called "The Eraser Challenge."   Have any of you heard of it?  If you have any interest you can type "Eraser Challenge" into YouTube and see what pops up.  I would have embedded a video into this post...but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Basically the "Eraser Challenge" is a dare that students give to one another.  The students take an eraser and see how long they can rub it on their skin before the pain becomes intolerable. Sometimes students spell the alphabet with their eraser or try and sing a whole song in their head before they stop.  As you can imagine the friction of the eraser on the skin creates a terrible burn.  This burn then turns to a scab and in some cases a scar.

Like I said....I hate being so downcast, yet I feel it is important that we as educators stay informed on what could potentially put our students in danger.  The "Eraser Challenge" is a form of self harm and should be addressed if you see any signs.  We have a fabulous counselor and principal at our school....as I am sure you all do to.   I would highly, highly, highly recommend any signs be reported to your school counselor or principal...this way we can make sure our kids stay safe. :)

Now....let me end on a positive note. I am so, so, so, sooooooooo proud of my sister!  Today she ran her very first marathon. We are talking 26 miles....of straight running!  Yeah-----running....for 26 miles! Impressive!

My sister's first marathon!!  We kind of look alike, don't we??? 

 I also was able to complete two products for TPT.  The first one is a pack of ELA centers for Halloween. Whenever it gets close to the holidays I want to have fun with my kiddos, but I want to make sure they are doing something educational at the same time.  I plan on using this pack with my intervention kiddos.  Included in the pack are two great fluency activities, some grammar games, writing prompts and an informational text on the history of Halloween.  I must say I learned a lot when while researching the history of Halloween.  :)

The second product I finished was more interactive notebook pages.  These pages are all about getting kids to think about their thinking.  Hello metacognition! :)  The pages can be used with any text--and are perfect for comprehension! :)

I hope everyone has a great Columbus Day tomorrow!

Katie