Happy Holidays 2012

HaPpY  HoLiDaYs 

from your friends at KBound!

We promise to be back here soon! 

Tis the Season to be busy, busy, BUSY mentoring teachers and conducting workshops that are loaded with sleigh-fuls of 

Simple, Meaningful, and Funsical activities!

M&J 

KBound SALE

 

                    Save 20% on KBound materials!!!
                               hApPy sHoPpInG!
                                       M&J

KBound Projects

SO MANY KBOUND PROJECTS are now available on Teachers Pay Teachers . . . and there are many, many, many, many more on the way!!!  Cover pages (shown above) have been updated so as to allow a quick and more detailed peek at all that you are actually getting in each of your KBound packets.  As requested (we have requests!! ;) KBound Roll and Reads are now sold as sets, and include bonus activities and ideas.  Also, KBound large and small ABC Charts are now sold together instead of separately- that's because it's so difficult to use one without the other!  Check them out!!  As always, leave us comments or suggestions :) :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

     HAPPY THANKSGIVING from KBound!

 

                 We are so very Thankful!

We are thankful for supportive, loving, EVERYthing family.

We are thankful for encouraging and faithful friends.

We are thankful for new and exciting opportunities.

We are thankful for the courage to dream and for good health that allows us to live the dream.  

Life is Good and we are Blessed xo

We are thankful to be able to share our very favorite, tried-and-true Thanksgiving ideas and projects!  Check out our "Thanksgiving Fun" packet on Teachers Pay Teachers!

It is 49 pages (!!!) of funsical and meaningful holiday learning! 

Below lists activities included:

Number Cards

Word Cards

                         
                          

Roll and Read the PATTERNS

                          
. . . See the above projects and more on TpT!

KBound Turkey Art

This colorful, feathery, somewhat worried-looking friend was created by a Kindergarten student who used a Sharpie marker to draw it one day and then painted with water colors the next.  Brilliant!

Eve Bunting's A Turkey for Thanksgiving is one of our absolute favorite Thanksgiving stories to share with children of all ages (one of us STILL insists on reading it to her teenage children to this day... It's a Thanksgiving tradition that mom refuses let go!)!  Prediction is the name of the game for a first time audience.  Discuss empathy and point-of-view, of course.  Bring the story to life by giving these wonderful characters voice (a nice Southern drawl for Mr. Moose motivates mom's reading each year!), acting it out (no, mom does not make teenagers do this, but teacher mom has her students participate ;), and the variety of art and writing extensions is simply endless.

KBound Turkey Fun

Turkey headbands are just fun to make.  We popped this one onto a pumpkin to show it off, but it actually looks better on a child ;)
Cut a brown poster board headband.  Add feathers and a fun head. Traced and cut out hands make the perfect turkey wings!

KBound Family Project

In KBound's "Thanksgiving Fun" packet, we share an easy Family  Project! 
This sample shows dinner items that are cut out of magazines and then pasted to a paper plate and table setting.  Students enjoy sharing these with classmates.  Interesting discussions occur about foods and different family traditions! (Parent letter is included in the packet)


Thanksgiving Song & Poem

image by KBound

Turkey and Stuffing
 -author unknown

(Tune: "Frere Jacques")

Turkey and Stuffing

Turkey and Stuffing

Pumpkin Pie

Ten feet high

I was so much thinner

Before I ate my dinner                        

Me, oh my

Me, oh my

image by KBound

Pumpkin Pie

-author unknown

Pumpkin pie is yummy to eat
Around Thanksgiving
It's a treat!
But, watch yourself
You could create
A very painful tummy ache!  

     ENJOY!  HAVE FUN!  and COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!!!
                                      :) M&J :)


                            

Happy Halloween!

This week we are looking back over our many years of roaming the hallways and sidewalks while on Halloween parade.  Like clockwork, with the changing of the classroom calendar from September to October each year, we would begin our traditional fall transformation.  It had become, inarguably, the highlight of the season . . . for us, anyway!  And it's details would become as guarded as any rare and precious museum gem.
Giddy.

Even before KBound, we were original!

What was a spooooooky month for most of the world around us was just.plain.giddy for us.
Everything else in our home and school lives was put on hold and it was a time that very few others got a peek into. . .
And, so it would go that we would top-secretively hole up in one or the other's classroom during lunchtime to plan and create, make mad runs to Hobby Lobby after long days at school, and call/text into all hours of the night like pre-occupied, little school girls who just couldn't hang on until the very next day.  It was all in an effort to ensure the BEST, most amazingly FUN costume for Halloween.  Like preparing for Thanksgiving or Christmas festivities,  sometimes the actual process of counting the days, sneaking and scrambling to get it all done, and anticipating the big day is even more enjoyable than the product! Just maybe.
At the time, we really thought all of our efforts were to entertain the children.
At the time, we kinda knew that we were out to impress our peers.
As it turns out, we really were just carving out time to BE kids again.  For one entire month we had an excuse to be silly and carefree.  When Halloween arrived, we made our grand entrance... costumes revealed.  We celebrated our joy of creativity, dress-up, and childlike wonder amidst ghoulish cries and haunting warnings of doom.  Another Halloween had come.  And already we couldn't wait to take down the next September calendar so that we could start the fun again...

SO, whether you are dressing yourself up, dressing little ones up, or enjoying others dressed up this week, take a moment to recall your own Halloween memories.  What brings out the kid in YOU?

This post is for our moms, who lovingly spent hours and hours hand-sewing costumes for us year after year after year.  THANK YOU for making us feel amazingly special and for inspiring us to grow up to enjoy making so many of our own costumes, too.  Our only regret is that neither of you had a craaaazy buddy to create them with ;) ;)

   

Here's one more....Quick and easy if you're still looking for a costume!
We used "Gold Slips" (pieces of gold paper passed out for good behavior-students signed their name and put into prize drawings) for building-wide behavior management.
So, OF COURSE we had to become them for Halloween!!!

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!
M&J

What's in a Chart?

Our KBound ABC chart is made up of our original KBound characters.  Each one is obviously highly teachable (ex: apple starts with Aa and makes what sound?  Letters, sounds, pictures . . . the applications are endless!)!  Each one has a definite history and a unique story about it's place in KBound Land.  Each friend also brings to light a life perspective, if you will.  Now, what could one learn from an eskimo, you ask?  or a cake?  or a kite?  Surely, while our students only really need to know the teachable parts, they will enjoy each character's relatable KB Land story . . . and they will become familiar with them through KBound books, songs, charts, and a wealth of other engaging materials (on sale at or coming soon to Teachers pay Teachers).  Introduced with enthusiasm and creativity, these relatable and teachable characters come to life!

While teachers and blog readers will appreciate the teachable part of KBound's ABC chart characters as well, they will find humor in the life perspective part - that's not for the kids!  And we'll share them as we go . . . like how Queen, in her design stage, reminded us about beauty.  Oh, decisions, decisions! "Do we put lipstick on Queen?  Is that too superficial? too vain? . . . would that be in keeping with KBound's SIMPLE, cut-the-fluff ideals?"  What Queen ultimately offered us in her creation is that a little lipstick doesn't hurt any one . . . that it is not about the lipstick . . . AND that "you can't put makeup on inner beauty!" !!!  Our KBound Queen, as you will learn,  has undeniable beauty. And, if we're lucky, most of us have it both inside and out . . . lipstick 

or no lipstick ;)

So, here's a peak at KBound's ABC chart, available in both large and mini versions at Teachers pay Teachers.  They ARE the heart of all things KBound.  Both large and mini ABC charts are available in black-and-white and in color versions (shown).  All charts come with full instructions, creative ideas, and tried-and-true TIPS for classroom use (tried-and-true because we've been there, used them ;)

KBound characters will 'speak' to both you and your students . . . 

                                          We're sure of it!

Getting Organized!

Aren't we constantly looking for ways to get ORGANIZED?  

Whether we are genetically-predispositioned or NOT, everybody searches for ways to be organized. It is especially important to be neat, tidy, and organized (or at least pretend to be) when preparing to be out of the classroom.  

Whether you are away to a fun-filled, thank-goodness-for-a-day-to-sit workshop or you are *sniffle*cough*sniffle* sick, a Substitute Teacher (or Guest Teacher as we like to call them) appreciates as much organized and at-your-fingertips information as we can leave for them... located in one, "it's always this organized" spot. ;)  That way, everybody has peace of mind while the teacher is away . . . and you won't be fielding/dodging that dreaded call from the school office, or the flock of peers at your classroom door upon your return! (You know the ones who want to be the first to bring you alllll of the good news from while you were away?!)

KBound SUB TUB: Ready-to-Go materials that makes planning
 for a Guest Teacher Simple, Meaningful & Funsical for any grade level!

                          KBound SUB TUB to the rescue!!! 

      Check it out by going to TeachersPayTeachers.com

In our new SUB TUB packet you will find:

*Instructions for use

*The 3 Bees positive behavior management for Guest Teacher 

*Linking school and home - 3 Bee Tickets (master)

*Guest Teacher 3 Bee Reporting Sheet

*Desk Sign - to give Guest Teacher directions to locate sub plans

*Helpful Hints for Guest Teachers - Cover master for sub folder

*Welcome To My Classroom - Information page for sub folder

*Checksheet of suggested materials for your Helpful Hints folder

*Early Release / Emergency Dismissal Form

*Labeling your SUB TUB for easy access

   

So KBound friends, 

Our advice to you is to stay healthy (it is okay to take a mental health day once in awhile) . . . rest up at lots of good workshops.... and it's never too late to get organized! 

Bee Tickets for Behavior Management

Meet our KBound bee!
He's our original, hexagonal, behavior-refining friend!!

Buuuzzzzz on over to TeachersPayTeachers.com (search KBound)
to see all of these exclusive and original items for classroom behavior management and more:

KBound Daily Bee Tickets- KB bees help motivate students to follow classroom rules every day! Learn tips to work with parents to encourage ticket-earning!

KBound Holiday Bee Tickets- KB bees motivate students to follow classroom rules on even the most exciting days of the school year!  Trust us... we've used these and they work!!! What kiddo doesn't want to take one of these home to share at the end of the day?

KBound Oops! Tickets- Improve parent communication with these revealing KB tickets that take place of a Bee Ticket on a "tricky" (=difficulty following the rules) day!

(l to r) Sample of Daily Bee Ticket, Oops Ticket, and Halloween Bee Ticket
These and much more are available on Teachers Pay Teachers TODAY!

KBound Bees at Home- Encourage parents to catch kids being good at home, too!  Use our friendly and convenient KB bees to help parents report back to YOU about how students apply their school rules at home!  A letter of explanation to parents is included.




       Here are some freebie ideas from our classroom archives . . . Enjoy!

Students paint and display bees.
KB Bee Tickets  can be posted on the hive!

Hula Hoops make the perfect Venn Diagram!

Make bee hives by painting bubble wrap!

Painted paper grocery bags turn us into bees for story retelling!

Honor and Defend

“Haters”. We’ll only use the word once in this posting. Promise.

It was only recently, when we stepped out of our classroom comfort zone, that we encountered a non-fan.  A single non-fan. Not even a non-fan who was disgruntled about all that we stand for as KBound, but merely disillusioned by just one of the fifteen items that we’ve posted for sale on TpT.  Actually, she allowed as how she even liked part of it ... and then disliked the other part of it.  All of this still makes her a non-fan. SURE, she’s allowed her opinion.  YES, she can write her comment for all to see.  

Why do we bother giving this any attention at all when there are so many other instant-and-very-supportive KB fans, you ask? Because we’re human.  Because we are in transition.  Because we are not used to dealing with anything but sunshine, unicorns, and fairy dust?  Welcome to the real world, Girls! ;) ;)  In truth, it’s because we haven’t sold ourselves as anything other than “simple, meaningful, and funsical”.  KBound ideas and materials are indeed original, research-based, tried and true, and are alllllll about what a young learner needs. Conversely, KBound ideas and materials are not designed to cater to adult ‘curb appeal’, to be ‘showy’, or to hide behind pretentious ‘bells and whistles’.  We are proud of that!  We are SOOOO proud of that!  So, thank you #1 non-fan!  Thank you for giving us post material today.  Thank you for reminding us WHY we do what we do... and that we wouldn’t do it any differently.  While our miniMEs are suited up and prepared to defend today,  it’s all in fun.  Protect what you believe in. Have fun along the way.  That’s all there is to that! 

Peace :) :)

Stop the merry-go-round!

One of many well wishes! Loved them ALL!

Earlier...
"Stop the merry-go-round!"
   (We can't do it ALL!!!)

Later...
The KBound girls have been on some kind of a roller coaster ride these past weeks! Pulled with wide-eyed, pit-of-your-stomach excitement up, up, up . . . Then winding loop-de-loops, faces covered, through a wild corkscrew of wonder and possibilities . . .  Until finally darting down, down, down, hands-up and screaming,  head-on into the shadowy, but hopeful unknown...



Presently...
On Friday October 5 the merry-go-round stopped.
And dust from the roller coaster ride has settled (a bit).

We said GOOD BYE to our kindergarten classrooms,  to 'I Can' statements, to staff meetings, and a 24/7 job (& paycheck!)  We said THANK YOU to parents, our school district, peers and our families for their support.  One step off the roller coaster and we've hit the ground running...Running toward a dream that now stretches beyond the walls of our classrooms.  Heeding the almost-badgering advice of others', "Take your show on the road", we're off!  We're off to tighten the gap on school readiness.  We're off to share our "in the trenches" expertise of 25+ years with others who are now there.  We're off to mentor, to support, and to share our love of early childhood teaching & learning.
Today we are 100% KBound!

Our vision has broadened over the years, that's for sure. It's almost as if we're seeing the world now from waaay up high ... like from the top of a ... wait for it! .... a ferris wheel?!!   Ohhhh, here we go again!!!! ;) ;)

(Next up, we have to talk about "haters".  Then it's all about cool and spooky, tried-and-true October ideas!  Come back soon because we will 100% be here!!!)

Exciting News......

Stay tuned..... KBound has EXCITING NEWS coming soon!

TeacherspayTeachers

Check out our FREE SAMPLE PACKET on TeacherspayTeachers today!
Type KBound into TpT's search to find other original, creative, and fun materials, too... and watch for much, MUCH more to be posted soon!
As always, please send us any comments/feedback - We welcome and appreciate it :) :)

Have Fun! M&J

Meet Us!

Marsha and Jodie (left to right) are the real faces behind their KBound miniMEs!

We’ve been working in the same school district since beginning our teaching careers 25ish years ago!  It wasn’t until 1997 that we came together in the same building.  At first and from afar, Marsha thought Jodie’s hair was toooo perfect.  Jodie, come to find out, thought Marsha was toooo serious.  Hmmmm...

Way back then, Kindergarten planning/lunch time was a whooping 60 minutes (we know, we know...) and watching taped Dr. Phil episodes while planning was ONE: a way of not having to talk because we didn’t know each other well, and TWO: another way that we were just ahead-of-our-time in seeking out meaningful choice PD!!  Well, years of staff meetings and babies and evaluations and horses&dogs and curriculum passed... along with about 2,500 students who have come and gone through our classroom doors, so we figure... and today we find that we’re ONE: finishing each other’s sentences, and TWO: diving head-on into a whirlwind of KBound adventure! 

The horses&dogs are Jodie’s. She’s married. He plays guitar, so they lead a crazy rock ‘n roll life. Well... sorta. Ok.... NOT.  He does travel a lot, while she’s a self-professed homebody. I guess she’s a little bit country and he’s a little bit rock-and-roll!

The babies are Marsha’s and are both in high school now. She’s married, too. Theirs is a basketball family. So, it’s lots and lots of time on the court.  At 6’1”, she stands the shortest in her family (her babies are 6'8 and 6’9”). Needless-to-say, there are a lot of people to look up to in that family!

Soon we’ll be headed back to school to begin another year.  Our answer to the predictable “What did you do on your summer vacation?” will be SOOO different this fall!  Past summers were spent totally separated, with little or NO correspondence of any kind = friendship put.on.hold. (Really! No Kidding! We believe in a true summer break!)!  What did we do this summer of 2012? We were together virtually 24/7 = friendship put.to.the.test. (Really! No Kidding? and we passed the test!! :) THIS summer, after 25 years of lunch/planning times (and they aren’t 60 minutes anymore), AND the babies, horses&dogs, and husbands as well, ...we.are.KBound.

AND, 

After 25 years,

Jodie’s hair is NOT quite so perfect... and Marsha is NOT quite so serious! ;) ;)

                                                      

KB Update

Wearing our hard hats to bring you these important messages...

HaNg WiTh Us! 

We continue to undergo exciting changes! . . . 

Please check back frequently!! 

SiMpLiFyInG is GOOD...

Now it's even easier to follow your KBound friends! 

Starting today, both KBoundblog.blogspot.com AND KBound.com will bring you directly here to our 

simple, meaningful, and funsical KBound blog... Yay! 

ExCiTiNg NeWs: 

We are getting ready for our debut on TeachersPayTeachers.com this week....WaHOOoooo!!!

You can bet that we'll keep you posted!

NeXt PoSt: 

Meet the teachers behind KBound 

(the real ones behind those KBound Land characters

 that keep showing up :) :) 

Why KBound?

Sharing years and years (and years!) of simple, meaningful, and funsical ideas and activities is easy.  Teachers live to share!  Sharing, however, beyond OUR immediate and safe circle is what has brought the two of us together in this united adventure we call KBound.

KBound began in the shower (well, the name was "discovered" in the shower... Isn't that where everyone has their best ideas?), while washing the day away and thinking about the responsibilities of being an early childhood expert.  We live fearlessly (and tirelessly, selflessly, and somewhat crazily!) on the front line of daily classroom teaching and learning.  From preschool, young learners are sent to us; Kindergarten-bound (hence the name :) are they, literally headed for our door... ready or not.  As Kindergarten teachers, we live and breath what young learners must know to succeed when they come to us ~ what they must learn and master to succeed while they are with us ~ and what they must become in order to be successful and prepared as they are bound, once again, for their next school year.

Hmmmm.... the need to share what works + a clever name thought up in the shower....

A colleague once told us that we knew exactly how to love the little ones, while at the same time cutting to the @#$% of exactly what they needed to know!  Others gently urged us to take our "low-prep, high-power", cut-the-fluff activities and our tried-and-true management tricks on the road.        Us?  OK!  Why not?

So, here we go... creating a blog to share... somewhere beyond ourselves.  It's for the little ones who are bound for YOU, the experts living fearlessly and dedicatedly on the front line of somewhere simple (cut the fluff), meaningful (exactly what they need to know), and funsical (another shower word, which reminds us to bring fun and joy to everything we do!!)!!

Meet US in our next KBound post!

We're here!

We're here! Finally!! ...and we are so happy to begin our KBound blog adventure!!!

After a combined 50 years of experience in early elementary teaching, including 10 years of team teaching, we absolutely KNOW what hardworking, dedicated, idea-seeking teachers want and need.

KBound will deliver simple, cut-the-fluff, meaningful and hands-on activities right here!

Every idea is innovative and current, tested and proven to be successful in our own classrooms.

Printable activities are creative, FUN, and 100% original (KBound created & copyrighted for your use)!

Watch for photos, instructions, and helpful tips on these ideas and MORE:

*Tricks of the Trade = tried and true methods that we know spark learning across the curriculum

*KBound Center Model = creating and managing developmentally appropriate centers and rotations

*CCSS = linking the core curriculum to everyday activities so that it's not "one more thing"

*Behavior Management = easy, 'why-didn't-I-think-of-that?' tricks that really work

*Music Research = the power of music with brain development

*Parent Training = inviting parents into your classroom to bridge the gap between home and school

Check back here to learn about our KBound website, as well as our KBound debut on Teachers Pay Teachers...  All coming soon, along with humorous, sometimes embarrassing, behind-the-scenes stories about the creation of KBound and our beloved, teachable characters!