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! ;) ;)