Mentor Monday: 2/2/15: An Easy Valentine’s Day Craft and Book Ideas

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Welcome to the February edition of Mentor Monday! This week we are talking about Valentine’s Day! I have a super cute and EASY craft for you to make with your kiddos. It’s great for following directions, shapes, symmetry and scissor practice. Of course, I have books too!

A Nor’Easter has been predicted for today in New England? Not sure what that is? It is a super windy storm that can be accompanied by rain, snow, or a mix of the two. The wind blows down from North and comes off the ocean from the East and bang! A Nor’Easter. It can cause lots of coastal flooding an erosion too, which is rough on our precious coastline.

While I’m storm prepping again, I’m thinking of Valentine’s Day. For some reason, things were always a little kookier around that holiday in my classroom, even more than Christmas. Can you identify?  I think my kids were just tired of being stuck inside, a vacation was coming soon, and of course, there was candy.

I’ll never forget the Valentine craft from you know where.  A parent organized it in my classroom one year. Picture 24 porcelain, heart-shaped dishes, paint, rhinestones, glue, hot glue guns, and a hair dryer. Then, picture a teenager yelling at his younger brother, (my student), their Mom blow drying 24 dishes in the corner of my classroom an yelling at both of her sons to stop fighting. Finally, picture two dishes smashing on the floor and kids crying.  Would you like to imagine the look of utter amazement on my face? It looked a little something like this…

Ask me how much many times I have ever allowed a craft like that in my classroom again? Zero! Parents truly mean well, but any Valentine craft that involves electricity needs to be left at home. Can I get a witness? 🙂

I’m a simple craft kinda gal, so here is a collage for a mailbox I showed my students how to make. PLEASE NOTE: Use a large piece of construction paper to make these, not an 8 1/2 by 11. It requires very little materials and they look great all hung up. The best part is, your kids can do this with minimal assistance. I actually showed them whole class and everyone got it the first try. (This was with third graders.)

While you’re prepping your Valentine’s Day festivities, you’ll surely want to gather some books! Here are a few I especially love in a collage, just for you. All of these are great choices for school age children.

I wrote a blog post last year about Mr. Prickle’s Problem during a blog hop if you’re interested. You can also find my book unit I wrote to use with it in my store by clicking here.
Finally, I one more treat for you! Click here for some free Valentine’s Day bookmarks! Who doesn’t want a brand new bookmark? Your students are going to love using these while curling up with a good book.
I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Please join me back here next week for more Mentor Monday ideas!
**Teacher bloggers who’d like to link up: Please follow the Inlinkz directions below and use this schedule. Directions and a Mentor Monday button are included. Thank you so much!

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