10 Fall Magnet Board Songs and a Giveaway Contest!

I just finished creating this set of Fall songs for circle time. Now I can relax knowing I have some fun new materials ready for when I return to school! 

 Phew! No last minute prep!

This set contains 10 different songs - some popular classics, as well as a number of original fall songs set to classic tunes. 

Easy to learn, easy to perform. Just what I like!

 And just what I need on those days my brain is a little, shall we say, FUZZY. :)

Here's a sample of what I made!

The images can be used on a felt board (by gluing pieces of felt to the back) or on a magnet board.

I plan to glue some button magnets to the back of each picture and then use them on a magnet board.

What can I say?  I love magnets!

This 10 Fall Songs with Story Images set is available in my Teacher's Pay Teacher's shop. 

40 pages and over 50 images for $6!

All the clip art for the songs came from my

 Chirp Graphics shop.

(Yep, I've been busy creating lots of new images this summer!)

I'm so excited about this set that I would love to share it for FREE with two of my blog followers!

If you're not a follower already, just sign up on right the sidebar of my blog where it says "Receive posts by e-mail," then send an e-mail to teacheasyresources@shaw.ca with the words,

  I want to win!

typed into the subject line.

I will be picking the two winners in ONE week on

 Wednesday, September 3rd!

Good luck!

Teacher's Closet - Ideas for your Fall Wardrobe!

I don't spend a lot of money on my wardrobe, but I looove clothes, so every time the season changes I treat myself to a few new items.  

Fall is just about here, so you know what that means...

time to shop!

To keep track of what I want to buy next, I've started a Pinterest board called, Teacher's Closet.

I take a peek at it before I shop and once I hit the stores, it helps me search out what I "need" with laser sharp focus!

  I have about 42 pins on the board so far and I'm continuing to add on!

Here's a sample of some of the outfits I've pinned. 

Casual Spring Weekend by cynthia335 featuring thermal tops

If you'd like to take a peek at the board, just pop over to my Teach Easy Pinterest page.  

You'll see the Teacher's Closet board right near the top!

Tips for Using Magnet Board Songs and Activities

I love making magnet games for centers and magnet board stories for circle time.  

There's something about that "pulling" sensation from a magnet that kids love.
It adds a lot of extra fun to an activity! 

I like to use the nice, strong button magnets on the back of my image pieces. 

And I use squares cut from a magnet sheet for the corners of background pages since they need to lie a little flatter.   

When gluing the magnets, I find that a hot glue gun has served me quite well for the materials that are for my use only.  

If the kids are using the activities (for the magnet games,etc.), I've found that a stronger glue is required.

They're not quite as careful with the pieces as I am!

Go figure! :)

For highly used items, I strongly recommend E6000 glue for extra staying power.

It's available at Wal-Mart for just 4 to 5 dollars per tube.

When I first started doing magnet activities, I just used a cookie sheet (which works fine in a pinch!), but then I wanted something that could stand upright.  

So I found a magnet board with a lip in the back (just $3 at the thrift store - I do love a bargain!! :)  

Then I created the stand below with a piece of wood I found in the back yard.

  

I drilled two holes in the edges that matched the size of the dowel pieces I bought at Home Depot.  

Then I painted it a nice bright green!

If you decide to make this stand, just keep in mind the size of your drill bits when you buy the dowels.

  You'll need some big holes!

You'll also want to make sure the dowels will fit into the lip on the back of your magnet board.

Here's my magnet board in use for some of my Fall games!

 Crow Number Match Game

Fall Back to School Unit 

The kids practice number recognition by matching #1 - 20 crow magnets to the corresponding number circle on the board.  

Apple Tree Magnet Game
Fall Back to School Unit  

Students load up the apple tree with the apple magnets.  

Then they roll a #1 - 3 die.  If they roll a "2" they place two apples in the circles on their apple basket.  

First player to fill his basket WINS!

My last tip regarding using magnet boards is to put a non-skid mat from the dollar store underneath them.  

It keeps the stand nice and stable!

Back to School Sale - 20% OFF all products!

School's just around the corner so I'm throwing a one day

BACK to SCHOOL SALE!!! 

ALL products in my Chirp Graphics shop AND my Teach Easy Resources shop will be discounted!

If you are looking for some new activities for Fall, you may want to peek at my 

Fall Back to School Unit

It contains 9 fun circle time and center time activities including:

1. Two person Apple Tree Counting Game

2. Jack O'Happy Mini book

 3. Class/Circle Time Pumpkin Number Game

4. Scarecrow Number Matching Game

5. Jack O'Happy Song Cards 

6. Farmer Squirrel's Nut Stand Playdough Activity

7. Class/Circle Time Leaf Colour Game

8. Colour Song/Storybook called Can You Guess the Season?

9. 5 Crows All Shiny Black Magnet/Felt Board Song

 And if you like clip art for your teaching resources or other creations, I have a ton of new items for Fall! 

Here's four of my recent additions:

As I mentioned ALL products in both shops will be discounted by 20%!  

Click on the shop images below and take advantage of these great prices while you can!

Just remember to use the promo code BOOST at checkout to get the full discount!

FREE Fall Clip Art Set from Chirp Graphics

I see so many teachers busy preparing for the start of the new school year.  

Teachers are one hard working bunch!

Plus, we know what will happen if we're not prepared!

  Can you say, C H A O S ?!  

Yes, avoiding disaster is very motivating!

I was thinking about what I could do to brighten the mood of any teachers who may have a bit of the back to school blues.

Sales are fun, but even more fun is getting something for FREE!

So I decided that throughout the Fall I would offer regular FREE clip art giveaways from my Chirp Graphics shop!
And I won't be giving away just a couple of images from a pack; I'll be giving away full sets! 

And tomorrow (Wednesday, August 12th)
 will be the first one!

This week's set will be completely FREE, but for
two days only - the giveaway ends on
Thursday, August 14th at 9 pm. 

After that, the set will be available in my shop at regular price which is still low ($4.50), but of course, not FREE :).

If you decide to download the pack below, I'd love your feedback on it for my shop page.  It will really help me build my little store, plus it gives me great inspiration!
  Thank you in advance! :) 

Just {click here} or on the image to pick it up!

p.s. - If you'd like to be notified of these flash freebies, just sign up as a follower on the sidebar of my blog and/or click the Follow button on my Chirp Graphics shop!

Behind the Scenes - Meet the Teacher Q and A's

I follow a few different teaching blogs for ideas and inspiration.  And I love seeing bits of the person behind the blog!  

Today I saw this Meet the Teacher Link-Up and I thought it would be fun to join in and do the Q and A's.

So here's a little more about me!

 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Coffee, Starbucks (I love their Caramel Macchiato and the ambience is pretty good there, too!), going out to eat (I love eating; hate cooking!), the OUTDOORS (hiking, walking my dog, mountain biking, or just sitting and staring at the clouds!), Cadbury Hazelnut chocolate bars, and wearing comfy jeans (the staple of my wardrobe).  

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

I would probably want to be an interior decorator.  

I'm crazy about furniture, accessories, throw pillows, even...light fixures!  I would love to help people create a space that makes them feel good.  Especially if they think they can't afford it.  I've learned that you CAN have style even on a super tight budget.    

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Down to earth (I'm going to say that's ONE word!), authentic, and creative.  

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

I never do school work outside of school hours...
 

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

My husband is the most critical attendee!  He does all the grocery shopping, cooking, and bartending for parties!  I'm so lucky!    

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

This Way and That! 

 (In some ways I need and seek a lot of change.)

  
 Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

The ability to use more than 10% of my brain power!
  We humans have a lot of wasted potential!     

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

I have a ceramic jar full of favourite quotes on my desk.  There's so many I can't pick a favourite, so I'll pick the most recent one I added...

If in doubt, choose the bigger life.
 

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

I've sung "Let It Be" by the Beatles for Karaoke night a few times.  That would be the safest choice!

Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

Oooo.  There's nothing I dislike more than setting an alarm to wake me up.   And yet, I don't have tons of energy late at night either.  I think I usually hit my peak around 6 pm.  

 Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

 My two Pete the Cat Units!

In my Chirp Graphics shop, I love the Monster Cuties set I just added!  

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

I use what might be considered seriously embarrassing baby talk when I speak to my dog.  He's so cute.  I can't seem to help myself!

But tell me, who could resist this face?

But that's enough about me!  
If you have a blog, click {here} or on the image below to link up and post your own set of Q and A's! 

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