About Me
I love children and puppets and books, and I have been blessed beyond my imagination! I live in Michigan with my husband, and not too far from 3 of my 4 adult kids and my great daughter-in-law and son-in-law. (One son had the nerve to move out of state!) We are so over-the-moon about our 4 grandchildren and extremely excited that we get to spend a lot of time with all of them! Â All I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a kindergarten teacher – and I had that job for 22 years. Now I am playing with grandkids and looking for a way to share some of the things I love doing with children – and avoiding school supply aisles during back to school days because it makes me sad. I hope you can find something fun and useful here!
Oct 22, 2010 @ 23:44:36
Nice job! Keep the ideas coming:)
Oct 25, 2010 @ 15:18:03
I love your ideas!
Oct 27, 2010 @ 01:08:09
Thanks for sharing. I really like the text features.
Oct 27, 2010 @ 03:27:20
I am in my 34th year of teaching-32 in kindergarten. I love finding new ideas to use in my classroom. I am very impressed with your blog and will be adding you to my favorites. Thank you for sharing.
Oct 27, 2010 @ 10:54:17
Thank you Janet, that is such a nice compliment – you made my day! I am so glad you enjoyed my blog!
Oct 27, 2010 @ 20:45:06
Hi!!
I looovve your blog! I am a new k teachers and would LOOOVE to get the text features books that you make with your students. I know my students would truly benefit from booklets like these.
Thank you so much for all of your wonderful information…..I am learning soo much!!
Vanessa
Oct 28, 2010 @ 10:23:56
I love seeing your great ideas and projects! Your students were very lucky to have such a fabulous and creative teacher. Are you possibly planning on posting any blacklines that go along with your books and acitivities? I’d love to try them in my own in kindergarten classroom.
Oct 28, 2010 @ 11:59:31
Thank you Sarah. I would be happy to share the masters but I haven’t figured out how to post them yet. When I try to add a full size picture it gets cut off on the blog – I really am a novice, I keep asking friends (and my kids) – I will figure out how to do it! Any suggestions are welcome!
Nov 28, 2010 @ 19:09:01
Love this site! Where do you get most of your puppets? I have several Folkmanis but need more, especially the people ones
Nov 29, 2010 @ 12:01:51
I bought puppets everywhere! At conferences, toy stores, online, craft shows. Some of my friends got great deals on ebay or Craig’s list. Check out Folkmanis and Lucy’s Toys online. Once in a while some are listed on the site Teacher’s Bargain Basement. You can Google any of those to get the email address. I’m so glad you love puppets too!
Dec 01, 2010 @ 08:22:22
Did you have a letter that went with the kindness calendar that I love? Thank you in advance. Hillary
Dec 01, 2010 @ 17:47:29
I’m so sorry, I don’t have it saved on my computer. I got rid of lots of stuff when I retired before I decided to write this blog. I know I explained that my goal was for children to spend some time thinking about being kind to other people, and to give specific suggestions of things young children are able to do that shows they care about other people.
Dec 02, 2010 @ 22:45:57
I am so glad I happened upon your blog. I am so enjoying your ideas. My most recent favorite of yours (I am savoring your prior blogs.) is the one on nursery rhymes. Is it possible to get or buy copies of your pages with the space for the kinder photos? Thanks, Debbie
Dec 02, 2010 @ 23:38:11
I am working on that! I left a lot behind when I retired, I plan to go visit my old school and borrow a few things back. I’m so glad you like my blog!
Dec 18, 2010 @ 15:56:32
I am so glad I found this site Diane! I was so sad to hear that you were retiring but know how excited you were to become a Grandmother. I hope you don’t mind that I am bookmarking your blog so that I can use these with the twins. I have so many fond memories of Ethan’s year with you that I would love to pass on to them so that they can have a little fun too. Also because I want to see what their answers are to “How to Cook a Turkey” since we still howl at Ethan’s responses. Enjoy your retirement and keep the pictures of your little cuties coming!
Jan 26, 2011 @ 18:26:31
I love your blog. I found it when I was looking for information about teaching the value of respect to my kindergarten students. Your information and ideals are refreshing! Thank you for helping me to remember the magic of kindergarten and not the mini first grade that so many sites seem to reflect!
Jan 26, 2011 @ 21:00:43
Thank you so much Robyn! That really meant a lot to me! I feel so strongly that Kindergarten has to be fun and engaging, and you can still meet all those benchmarks! All of those social skills and ability to self regulate are just as important as sight words and reading strategies. I really miss teaching, and love to think I can share some of the activities I loved so much!
Feb 19, 2011 @ 00:46:25
Amazing website, Diane. So helpful! I wanted to do that cute Abe Lincoln project this year you shared with me a few years ago & couldn’t find an example. That was always such a cute Kindergarten looking project. Could you share that one? Hope you enjoyed Disney! Thanks again for continuing to share your ideas.
Feb 24, 2011 @ 21:50:08
Thanks so much for making & posting the cute Abe Lincoln project for me! Love it. It is just one of them that just makes me smile. So Kindy looking! Also, can’t take the cuteness of the baby pics. Precious! And your son feeding those 2 babies at once with one on his tummy. Now that is a pro daddy! Thumbs up!
Mar 05, 2011 @ 15:06:09
Where did you purchase your Grace Mulligan and Calvin puppets?
Mar 05, 2011 @ 15:13:59
I got them from Folkmanis, but I heard they have been discontinued. I searched character puppets online and found a few sites online that listed them. I love them, it’s so fun to be able to use your hands.
Mar 05, 2011 @ 16:21:51
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog! It is terrific. I taught K for 5 years and am returning next year after spending time in GR 3. I thought I’d better see what has been happening since I was gone-your blog has given me lots of ideas. Now I can hardly wait for Sept.!! Although I will enjoy summer!!! Thanks from Canada!
Mar 07, 2011 @ 19:59:36
THANK YOU! What a blessing to have your wisdom. I am a first year kindergarten teacher and feel humbled beyond belief! There is so much to learn and it helps so much to hear from a veteran like yourself. I hope you know how much I appreciate your willingness to share!
Mar 16, 2011 @ 15:29:48
Hi Diane,
I was happy to find your blog online while I was looking for K ideas. I had so much fun working and learning from you when we worked together on the K workshops with Mary Masson. This will be a fun way to keep in touch with you. I am so glad that you are still mentoring others in our profession. I didn’t realize that you retired but I am so happy for you.
Everyone glean from her knowledge, Diane has much to offer!
Mar 16, 2011 @ 21:42:19
Thanks Rose, it’s so nice to hear from you! I hope your year is going well, and that you might find something useful here! Feel free to add any of your great ideas too!
Mar 27, 2011 @ 21:29:33
Hello,
You have the best ideas and strategies and love looking though everything when I have time. About a month ago, I was trying to find the girl puppet, with no luck. Well, guess what? I received it this weekend and was so surprised. She is so cute and now figuring out how to use two hands and the mouth opening for having her talk and be busy with her hands. I’m guessing one hand and the mouth. It was one of the places I contacted and they said they would look around for it. Now I have to get busy finding the “reading strategy” items and be ready to use it very soon. So wanted to Thank You for such a wonderful idea.
Mar 31, 2011 @ 14:07:11
I have loved your blog. I just came across it last week and have already used one of your transportation activities. The kids loved it.
This is my first year teaching K and I surprisingly enjoy it. I didn’t think I would. I have a very bright student who reads at about the 4th grade level and her spelling is just amazing. When you have a student like this do you have them participate with the whole class when we are doing our phonics/letter/making words time? I have been having her do what the rest of the class does, but I know it is so easy for her. I will throw in a harder question or two just for her but I feel like she just isn’t being challenged. Any kind of information you could provide would be much appreciated. Thank you for all the time you have spent on this blog. The information is so helpful.
Apr 17, 2011 @ 12:54:20
What a great find ! I love your ideas and your gentle approach to teaching kindergarten. I have been teaching for 38 years, but only the last 3 in K. I am always looking for new ideas! Thank you and please keep sharing your wonderful career with us.
May 15, 2011 @ 23:11:39
Hi
Oh … I also have a 7 year old and 5 year old (both boys) who try out your lessons for me 
They LOVE them too 
Keep up the GREAT work 
I have taught in Public School for over 10 years and am now a Home School K-9 teacher always on the search for inspiration and fun ways to incorporate learning. I LOVE your blog
May 20, 2011 @ 15:38:31
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you can use some of my ideas! Diane
Sent from my iPhone
May 25, 2011 @ 18:14:39
Thank you so much for posting such creative and interesting ideas! I am a first year kindergarten teacher and I can’t believe it took me almost the whole year to come across your website, its like the bible for kindergarten teachers!! You have excellent ideas and I really appreciate the printables and pictures you provide. I found your blog a few weeks ago and you quickly became a favorite! I will most certainly be using your end of the year ideas!
Thanks again and keep posting!
May 28, 2011 @ 19:58:47
Your site is wonderful. Thank You for all your great ideas and printables. Do you have any theme ideas for Nursery Rhymes ? I could use some fresh ideas.
Thanks again! Helga
May 29, 2011 @ 06:56:51
I’m so glad you’ve found some things you can use on my site. I have some Nursery Rhyme stuff posted under the Rhyming section. I didn’t know I was going to do this blog when I retired, and I didn’t save a lot of projects that I would have loved to share. I wrote about a few projects and shared a book that we used that changed the nursery rhymes to include the names of the children. Thanks for reading!!
Jun 04, 2011 @ 22:57:22
I love your Summer Package ideas!! I was wondering if you have a list of the books you sent home with the A to Z books letter, as I have access to that website, and would like to send the books home with my students.
Thanks,
Kelly
Jun 05, 2011 @ 08:32:32
Hi Kelly,
I’m sorry I don’t have the titles that I sent home. The letter I included was from the first year I sent these books home, and I sent the same books to every family – 4 books from each level A-D. Sometimes I used my DRA2 levels (reading assessment) and sent books that were just below, at and just above each child’s reading level, but I really don’t think it is vital to match their reading level, the most important thing is for them to keep reading!! It takes a lot of time to figure out how many / which books to copy if you try to individualize it. I would try to give an assortment that basically lets the children practice books that are really easy to read (to give them confidence), right at their level (to maintain skills) and a little challenging (that makes some parents happy!)
Jun 06, 2011 @ 21:29:46
Hello there,
I was wondering if you could fill me in on some of the science experiments you did for the ocean unit. I’m starting it this week and I know my kids LOVE science experiments. You mentioned something about salt water and food coloring. I would appreciate anything you remember or tips you could give!
Thanks
Allison
Jun 09, 2011 @ 22:07:40
Your site is AWESOME!! I LOVE IT!!
Jun 10, 2011 @ 01:05:20
After accidentally deleting my end-of-year report card comments on my disk drive, I was in desperate need of finding good e.o.y. comments and stumbled upon your site. I am excited to keep coming back during the summer to enrich my kinder planning for next school year… THANKS A BUNCH for your site and THANK GOD for existing!!!
Jun 10, 2011 @ 06:59:56
So happy to help!!
Jul 19, 2011 @ 17:06:29
I love reading all of your ideas. This next year will be my 36th year of teaching. Computers are wonderful. I’m finding so many great ideas.
Linda
Jul 22, 2011 @ 06:54:35
Wow! You have a great site! I’m enjoying learning from your expertise. I have been teaching Kindergarten for six years now. Thanks for sharing all of your ideas!
Jul 22, 2011 @ 11:37:13
I love your ideas! I can’t wait to use them next year in my kindergarten class. I do have one question. I would love to see an outline of your themes for the year. I am trying to get ready for next year but I feel there are so many themes you can do. Thanks for sharing all your ideas!
Aug 05, 2011 @ 19:33:01
I’m so glad I found your site. We teach in very similar ways and I love soooo many of your ideas. Thank you for sharing.
Aug 06, 2011 @ 07:04:58
Thank you so much for taking the time to write! I love sharing!
Aug 23, 2011 @ 15:45:47
AMAZING! Your website is probably one of THE best that I’ve come across! Thank you so much for sharing all your awesome ideas! I’ve been teaching kindergarten for 5 years and each year I am looking for new ideas.
THANKS again!
Aug 25, 2011 @ 17:58:41
What I love the most about your ideas is that they are child centered. They showcase the child’s work with minimal “enhancement” via computer graphics that sometimes take away from what the child did. Your class books are terrific!
Aug 30, 2011 @ 12:25:32
Love your website. Just saw your note on the website and noticed it was “old.”
Of course you can share anything on it. I have not kept up with the website, but vow when I return to Toledo to do some postings. Every month I write part of a tri-fold for Olander Park in Sylvania on activities for “Leave No Child Inside!” I will try to share the latest activities with readers.
Keep up the great work.
Joyce
Sep 04, 2011 @ 00:56:27
I just “found” your blog. Love it!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and all of these resources with us (especially the ones of us that are newer!!!!)
Thank you!!!!!
Sep 05, 2011 @ 19:27:00
Thank you Wendy! I am so glad you found some ideas you can use!! Have a great year!
Sep 04, 2011 @ 20:34:25
I am a teacher educator whose story is much like yours. I am so glad you are taking the time to pass along your knowledge to the next generation of teachers, those who will teach our grandchildren:)
Sep 05, 2011 @ 19:26:25
Thanks Kay. My oldest grandchild is turning 3, and I think about his first day of Kindergarten sometimes. I will hold onto the image your note gave me!!
Sep 06, 2011 @ 08:50:35
It’s Joyce, not Wendy. I do enjoy your blog.
Sep 07, 2011 @ 20:04:46
Hello,
I love your blog! I taught kindergarten last year for the first time, and I plan to incorporate many of your ideas this year. I was wondering if you did any activities for teaching about the flag and Pledge of Allegiance. I’d love some suggestions!
Sep 23, 2011 @ 23:09:56
Just wanted to say thank-you. I am a new K teacher and have found your site to be useful, comprehensive and inspiring. Keep teaching us, I am loving it.
Sep 29, 2011 @ 13:49:43
Not so much a reply–a request!! In the Do You Know How Pumpkins Grow? book, you mentioned a coloring method using a warming tray. I would like to know more details!!!
Wanda Booth
Sep 30, 2011 @ 22:50:30
Yes Wanda! I love it! I will take pictures to show you soon! Another birthday this weekend!
Oct 12, 2011 @ 20:43:57
I just discovered your sight. I am so excited to explore. Yeah!!
Thank you for taking the time to post all of this.
Oct 12, 2011 @ 22:09:11
Thanks for reading! I hope you find some ideas that are helpful!
Oct 17, 2011 @ 14:35:16
Hi Diane!
Its been a while since we last talked, but I always am checking your posts for ideas! I am now teaching second grade, but I still find a lot of your ideas can be applied to our little ones.
In science we are learning how living things grow (animals, plants, and people). Do you have any ideas or projects you did with animals and habitats? I thought you did, but maybe I am wrong.
Also, I know you had more Halloween projects besides the leaves, Halloween Counting book, and Pumpkin cycle. Would you mind sharing those too? Thanks Diane!
Renee Johnson
Oct 27, 2011 @ 15:59:19
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience!
Dec 12, 2011 @ 10:27:35
Hi Diane,
Im looking for ideas for Christmas crafts. I am going to do the balls with the painted snowmen again and the rudolph candy canes. Any other ideas besides the items you have posted?
Feb 19, 2012 @ 12:04:35
this is fantastic i have now got some great ideas for my home daycare thank you
Feb 19, 2012 @ 17:47:24
Thanks Monique, glad you found some useful ideas!
Feb 23, 2012 @ 20:47:01
I just happened across your blog. THANK YOU so much for sharing. I am an ELL teacher, K-8, and I was looking for some new ideas for my kindergarteners. I especially enjoyed your post about sight words – I usually start with the words that relate to them personally (I, like, love, me, my, see, can, have, has, etc.) but then I was getting stuck for some more ideas – thanks for elaborating on how you taught various sight words – that was SO HELPFUL!!!! It is so generous of you to share your expertise – THANK YOU!!!!!!
Mar 01, 2012 @ 14:50:45
I just found your blog today. Love it! I have taught kindergarten for 22 years, we have 5 grown children, and have 2 beautiful grandchildren and a 3rd one (grandson) who is supposed to be born today but will probably take his time making his appearance just like his mama did many years ago! I can relate to your experiences as both a teacher and a nana.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas. I truly appreciate them!
Mar 11, 2012 @ 08:34:11
Thank you Karen! How is that new grandson? I hope things are great. It sounds like you and I have a lot in common, thanks for reading!
Diane
Apr 15, 2012 @ 18:57:58
I just found your site. I work in Germany teaching American children of our military serivce members. Thank you for sharing your ideas. You have such great ideas and lots to share.
Apr 15, 2012 @ 20:08:52
I’m so glad you found some things you might be able to use!
May 02, 2012 @ 21:02:17
I just found your website and was wondering if you could help me with something? I need to create a fake window on a wall (outside looking in) and can’t for the life of me think of what to put “in the window”. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
May 02, 2012 @ 21:25:51
A friend of mine did that, she put part of a tree with branches filling up quite a bit of the window and the trunk showed on one side. It was great because she changed the tree to show the seasons and left it up all year. Behind the tree she just had light blue for sky and a little bit of clouds. Another idea might be to put something they recognize, like a picture of part of the playground equipment – slide or climber, etc. whatever is easiest to draw and cut out! Sounds like a cute idea. Are you going to add a curtain rod and fabric curtain? That would be cute too, if you could fasten it up somehow.
May 08, 2012 @ 20:07:16
Well, what a wonderful surprise to find your blog that sounds like we could be twins! I live south of you in Ohio and this is my 32nd year of teaching with most of my years in Kindergarten. We now have a full day, every day and the literacy opportunities make me so happy! I have a few more years in the classroom until I can do what you’re doing with Owen with my 5 grandkids. I have done many of the same stories and activities but you have given me many great ideas as well. Thanks for taking the time to write. We all appreciate your generosity.
Jun 05, 2012 @ 21:05:29
I overheard someone taking by the copy machine that you had a website. I came home and had to see for myself! So glad that you are sharing all of your amazing work with the world. I was privileged and honored to work with you and have you as my mentor! With love-Katrina
Jun 10, 2012 @ 13:12:58
I enjoyed reading your parent education pages and can’t wait to share them with parents net year. Thanks so much.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 00:32:33
Thank you for the wonderful pages you made for Back to school Night. I have put them into a Livebinder for parents to peruse.
Lots of work went into those!
:0) Melanie
Jul 13, 2012 @ 06:47:58
I’m so glad you found them useful!
Jul 22, 2012 @ 23:00:30
Thank you for sharing your wonderful, creative, educational ideas! After teaching first grade for 4 years, I am teaching kindergarten for the first time in about a month and your site is helping me plan. I especially like your Me Book. I can tell that you were an amazing teacher – and you still are! Now you are teaching us!
Jul 23, 2012 @ 07:26:37
That was so sweet Tiffani, thank you. I hope you love Kindergarten as much as I do.
Aug 20, 2012 @ 16:15:03
I have been teaching kindergarten for 18 years and this is the best web site I have ever visited! Thank you for sharing.
Aug 20, 2012 @ 22:42:17
Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas! I especially love the parent education information and the “homework” ideas. Your site is well organized, and I’m really enjoying browsing through it. Thanks again for your generosity!
Sep 03, 2012 @ 06:11:30
Thank you so much for sharing your awesome ideas. I just found your blog and have spent a couple hours looking at it. I can’t wait to use some of your creative ideas with my first graders.
Sep 06, 2012 @ 14:51:21
Hi! I love your blog. You have so many wonderful ideas. I was just looking at this post about grandparents day ideas.
http://dbsenk.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/grandparents-day/#
I want to make the grandparents day booklet with my little ones for their grandparents. I was wondering if you would be willing to send me the file that I can edit.
Thanks!
Debbie
Oct 06, 2012 @ 21:17:30
Hi Diane,
Hope all is well! Im back to teaching Kindergarten this year and I realize I don’t have all of the copies for the fold up books for letter sound. Do you have a link or file I could download for the alphabet fold up books?
Oct 17, 2012 @ 12:09:44
Thank you for your generosity in sharing so many great ideas, Your blog is the first I’ve ever officially followed. There is so much there that I may not need to spend time searching anywhere else. Thanks again
Nov 26, 2012 @ 18:38:19
Hi Diane,
Thank you for sharing all your great ideas. I must say you love many of the same authors and stories that are my favorites. I am a first grade teacher and I am hoping that you might be able to help me. I noticed that you have a sequencing activity for Little Red Riding Hood. I am looking for the sequencing activity for the gingerbread man. The Frank Schaffer Kindergarten Activities book I have is out of print and all of my pictures for the fairy tale sequencing are missing. I have moved around a bit and I am sure they got lost in the shuffle. I am hoping you could help by sending me the sequencing pictures for the gingerbread man. We do an entire bundle on fairy tales and December is the gingerbread man, any help you could give me with any of those 6 sequencing pictures for fairy tales would be great.
Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Bev Ciaburri
First Grade Teacher
Nov 26, 2012 @ 22:21:40
Hope this helps Bev!
Jan 30, 2013 @ 15:55:08
I took a class of yours in Grand Rapids at the conference years ago. I loved it! When I found this site and reading about a dog named Rosco I knew it had to be you. I took “Kindergarten Fun From A to Z” and I always wanted those CD’s Do you still sell them?
Jan 31, 2013 @ 22:04:18
I am a kindergarten teacher. This is my first year. I need ideas for graduation. I would like to do a play and show off what they have learned. I’m having a hard time finding something. It could be any simple play and I can rewrite it to include what they have learned. Any ideas?
Apr 10, 2013 @ 20:35:54
Love your site………I am hanging up the tinker toys this year after 43 years in a K-1 classroom. Keep up the good work of sharing great things with the kinder world.
Apr 10, 2013 @ 20:47:18
Thanks Kate. It’s a big decision, isn’t it? Grandchildren were my motivation! I hope you find fulfilling and fun ways to spend your new life! This blog has been a good transition for me, part of me will always be a Kindergarten teacher.
Apr 14, 2013 @ 19:20:18
This site is great! I wish I had found it earlier in the year,
Apr 14, 2013 @ 20:31:50
Thanks Verona. I have several posts about ending the school year and getting ready and getting.started in the fall. So glad you found it useful!
Apr 15, 2013 @ 00:26:50
Thank you so much for your hard work and for all ideas. I love it. Muchas gracias.
May 03, 2013 @ 01:35:53
Thank you for your ideas , it is interesting as well as useful .
May 06, 2013 @ 15:43:20
Diane, I found your blog interesting and especially to teachers and parents of young children.
I think it would be nice if you named the local libraries that you have mentioned in your blog. I’m sure the libraries would appreciate the publicity.