Check out some great resources on 
our pinterest board. 

Lots of great stuff even if you don't sell goods!

We love to highlight teachers who are using our frames and clip art to create great resources for other teachers.

Check out Teacher Julia's new item to help students navigate through non-fiction text!

Check how Linda Beeghly's used our freebie frames to create a wonderful lesson on drawing self portraits. I will definitely be trying this with my students. (Shh... I will also be trying it to improve my own drawing skills). Awesome job, Linda! Thanks for sharing!

 

Click HERE to check out Linda's lesson on TpT. 

Did you know 89 of our 377 followers on TpT are getting exclusive FREE RESOURCES each month??? Check out some of the freebies we have sent out so far. If you would like to receive free resources each month too, be sure to 1) Follow us on TpT and 2) Email us at SingSmileandLearn@gmail.com to let us know you would like to join our program. Soon after you will start getting exclusive freebies each month! 

Don't forget to vote on our blog to help us decide which type of free resource to send out next month!

For the Classroom & Beyond!

I {franki} help at a monthly foster care meeting. While the foster parents are in a meeting, some friends and I plan crafts for the kids to do. This month I brought in our BOO BAT CROWNS and our FUN SPIDER CROWNS. The kids had a blast coloring them and wearing them home. It was simple and worked for all the ages that attended. If you are having a Halloween activity think about adding these to the agenda. Just another way our products can be used for the classroom and beyond!
  
                                                     Have a BOO-tiful day!!

An Apple for My Teacher

I wanted to give a unique THANK YOU to my little one's teachers, so this is what we did. We bought these plain caramel apples for $2.99

Then, I let the kids add sprinkles for a bit of fun. I always use a bowl so it contains the mess and allows me to pour the left overs back in the bottle so they aren't wasted.

I added our own cupcake holder to make the bottom a little prettier too. To help with cost, I used regular sandwich bags and cut the zip top off. I got ribbon from the dollar store to attach the notes. 

For the notes I used our Candy Shoppe Borders and printed on card stock. I was able to print all I needed on one page.

After I cut them, I used this corner punch to round the edges which I think looks nicer. 

Then I punched two holes in the card to add a bow. I pulled the ribbon through and tied a bow. 

I use the "rabbit ears" method to make the perfect bow. To give the edges a nice finished touch, I cut a "V" out of the bottom of the ribbon. A simple trick is to fold the ribbon in half and cut a line up to the center. When the ribbon is open it will look super nice.

And here is the finished product my children gave to their teachers:

It took all of maybe 30 minutes from start to finish. I like giving opportunities for my kids to show appreciation and give thanks in a tangible way with a gift that teachers will enjoy. Although most of this was my effort, the kids enjoyed adding sprinkles, helping to punch the edges, and presenting the apples with a hug and a verbal "thank you" to their teacher. What do you think??

My daughter is very shy when first meeting people. So when she started a new school, with a new class, and with three new teachers, I wanted to set her up for a successful first impression. Being an introvert myself, I have learned that having a reason to talk to someone helps me initiate conversation. So, I tried this philosophy with my Skye. I sent her with three of these on her first day of school:

She cautiously walked to each teacher and handed them her gift. She was still a bit anxious, but the teachers spoke right to her, thanked her and hugged her. (Touch being her love language also helped the awkwardness dwindle a bit for my girl.) 

I also gave the teachers a win by putting her name on the label. This ensured they "knew" her name and made her feel a bit special.

I used a piece of ribbon, a cookie from Panera, a whole punch, and the Bubble Frames from our TpT Store. Simple enough right? 

She had a great first day, which means I did too!

I am not only a creator of our products at Sing, Smile, and Learn, I use them too! Feel free to share how YOU use our products in the classroom and beyond.

Our clip art and borders can be used for so many purposes! This training binder was made using our Candy Shoppe Borders on TpT. 

 I (franki) like this little guy I made to go with one of Lindsay's songs. Just thought I would share.

CLICK HERE to hear Linds's song.

Birthdays

Kids look forward to it more than Christmas. It can be celebrated simply or with all the hype and pizzazz that can be mustered, and they are just as happy. As long as there is something fun to stick a candle in that can blown out after the famous song is sung they are pleased. It's their birthday. They love it so much that the day after their birthday they add a "half" to their age and count down with plotting plans for their next birthday.

So, in the busy day of our classroom, how can we add a to this most special day?  Especially for those who will go home without any celebration at all.  Here are a few simple and quick ideas:

1. Write "Happy Birthday _____" in big bold letters on the chalkboard, whiteboard or smart board. Leave it up as long as you can.

2. Ask the principal to stop by the classroom to say Happy Birthday.

3. Leave a surprise gift in their cubby or desk. This can be as simple as a pencil, certificate or coupon.

4. Let the Birthday child be the line leader or go first for everything.

5. Have lunch with the Birthday Boy or Girl.

6. Have birthdays designate "Star of the Day" or "Star of the Week". [check out ours here]

7. Let the birthday student pick the book of the day, classroom game, or snack.

8. Write them a note or birthday card and secretly send it home in their backpack.

9. Call them the night before to say you can't wait to see them tomorrow and celebrate their special day.

10. Mark them as special with a Birthday Crown [check out ours here], sticker or button.

No matter how small the gesture you will make a big difference to their day. What are some ways you add the Happy to birthday?

A Little Confession...

This is Franki - the graphics gal of SS&L. It's 2AM and I am taking a break from working on some really fun birthday crowns, [that will be up some time this week], to share how excited I am about this little business Linds and I are trying to not only give wings to, but also take flight. We have texted and talked more in the past few weeks than I think we have our entire relationship.  It's so much in fact, that everyone in my home knows her ringtone and sings along to it!  I have listened to my sweet 4 year old singing it from time to time as she scoots about playing.  In the evening when my phone dings that I have a text, Rocky knows that it's her and usually makes some silly little tease about our new endeavor.

Here is my confession: I like it. I really like it. I am proud of the products we have created. I giggle over our giddiness of minor wins. I laugh at our lack of slumber. I am thoroughly enjoying the ride so far. So Linds, thank you for asking and trusting me to be your partner. I look forward to growing our friendship, business and hopefully, bank accounts.

Little FYI: I married her brother in October 1999, and we went to church together many years before that.  And her ringtone on my phone? Sisters by the Lemon Sisters.

Franki and I just teamed up this summer. We want to showcase the first few items we have created together in our Sing Smile and Learn store on Teachers Pay Teachers.

These first day of school crowns will have your students smiling all the way home! We tested them our on our own children this summer and they absolutely LOVED them!!!These are available for preschool, kindergarten, and first grade. 

Star of the Week Complete Classroom Kit has everything you need to launch a star of the week or day including posters, banners, class books, certificates, crowns, etc. 

I can't wait to use this fall common core journal set in my classroom. There are four different cover options, common core writing journal pages, word banks, editable word walls, and more!

Franki and I are thrilled to introduce a special program for our followers. Each month we will send out an exclusive freebie to our followers that is either not available on Teachers Pay Teachers or not a free item. 

Through these monthly exchanges, the followers in our freebies program will get to know us better and receive one of a kind clip art, backgrounds, songs, or teaching resources. 

Check out our Sing Smile and Learn store on Teachers Pay Teachers. If you like our style, please follow us and soon you will get an email about your exclusive free resources.We cannot wait to connect with you! 

*Sing Smile and Learn provides original clip art, custom graphics, original songs, and teacher resources!