A sale, a freebie, and HAPPY December!

     Happy December!  I hope you had a Thanksgiving full of blessings, laughs, family, friends, and lots of yummy food!  I was feeling most thankful for my maternity jeans after all the food I ate this weekend.  Yikes!    (I am still trying to figure out why all pants are not made with those glorious stretchy waistbands.)

     My long weekend was extended an extra day because I am patiently awaiting my ultrasound appointment in a few hours to *hopefully* find out if our little sweetie is a boy or a girl!  You could say I'm just a taaaddd excited!  I may or may not have already checked out some cyber Monday deals online so I can do a little pink or blue shopping this evening. ;)

     I think we got our fill of all things TURKEY last week in first grade,  and now it's on to Christmas...so hard to believe!

 These scrapbook paper turkeys turned out to be one of my favorite projects we did. Adorable! 

If you are getting an early start on Christmas projects like we are...here is a little freebie to get you started.  We are participating in the Macy's "Believe" Campaign as a school.   We are all sending letters to Santa to support the Make a Wish Foundation.  Our local paper also publishes their letters...so our deadline is soon.

Here is a template for your Santa letters.  Click to download.

We are working on asking vs. telling sentences this week so in our letters, we will TELL Santa something, make two wishes, and then ASK Santa something. We also talk about *nice* ways to ask for something so it's not an I want, I want, I want letter. ;)

Here is an example from last year...

Dear Santa,

I am in first grade now and I lost two teeth!  I would like a Monster High doll.  I would also love to have a stuffed kitten with blue eyes. How are your reindeer doing?

Love,

a first grader :)

Do you have this book??

It is a precious read aloud to use when you are ready to write your Santa letters!

I am participating in the big TPT sale today and tomorrow!  20% + 10% off....yes please! 

Here are some Christmas & Winter math stations, games and activities galore to get you going this holiday season.  Click the images to check out the free previews!

Don't forget to use the code CYBER for an EXTRA 10% off from TPT on your purchases!

OK...almost time to head to my appointment! Yippee! Fingers crossed that our little booger cooperates (and his/her legs are NOT crossed!) ;)

Boy or girl?? Any guesses??

Happy Monday & Happy Teaching to you!

Super Duper Sunday Sale (and a freebie)

Hope you're having a fantastic weekend!  Mine has been good so far...except for the fact that it is FREEZING. 

 

I hope that little rodent was right this morning and that spring is on its way in a hurry.

 

Speaking of that little rodent...we read some fun stories yesterday about Groundhog's Day and learned a little bit about them, graphed our predictions, etc.  My favorite groundhog story is "Substitute Groundhog."

 

 

One of the writing activities we did went along with "Wake Up Groundhog."

I told them that they could write any ideas they had about how to wake up a groundhog AS LONG AS they didn't HURT him.  I've had some traumatic experiences with my sweet little darlings writing horrific things they would do to wake him up in the past.  NO HURTING!

 

My kiddos this year had some...interesting ideas.

 

 



 

Yes...you read that right.  Stick him outside "nacked." What in the world!

 

I would find a big "simbl" and hit it.  I would throw snow at him. Ruthless, I tell ya!

 

 

 This is great.  Step 1: Get kids  Step 2: Give kids sugar Step 3: Make kids yell

That'll wake him up for sure!

 

 

This one is hard to see but I had to show you.  This little guy is super serious...always doing the right thing.  He wrote "I would poke him with a "nif" (knife) "jitley" (gently). 

I said not to hurt the groundhog...so he added gently!  Violence = not funny....but this made me giggle.

 

We also finished up our pattern unit with some fruit loop necklaces!  I just used plastic ribbon (the kind you can curl and put on packages) and taped the end to their desk so the fruit loops wouldn't slide off into the floor. It worked GREAT!

The best part is, now I have half a box of fruit loops to finish up.  I never let myself buy sugary cereal like that but if it's leftover, I can't let it go to waste...right?!?!

 

So, Andy has to work tomorrow which stinks...because I don't think it's socially acceptable to make a ridiculous amount of junk food to watch the game if you're at home by yourself, even if you share a little bit with your dog...

 

Luckily, some friends are having a little get together so I think I'll head over there for the first half
(to watch commercials and eat).

 

Speaking of the SUPER bowl...Are you ready for the SUPER sale tomorrow??

Thank you Ashley Huges for the ahhh-dorable button.  If you haven't checked out her clipart...wow.  It's fabulous (and in my cart waiting for the sale to start!)

Well...here's a little secret.  My sale has already begun (20% off PLUS an extra 10% from TPT)...so you can start shopping on Super Bowl Eve if you like. ;)  I'm also going to extend the sale to the 4th as well. (Ya know...just in case you're in a food coma tomorrow and can't get your fingers to click the right buttons. It happens.)

 

I added a few new products to my store recently...mostly math.  Click the pictures to find out more.

 





 

 

 

I had a bunch of requests to offer my geometry materials separately from my "Hello Winter" pack and I was more than happy to offer that as a brand new "Shape it Up" Mini-Pack!

 

 

It includes the super fun "At first it was a shape" activity (a personal fave!)

 

  

 

*Just please note: you should NOT purchase the "Shape it Up" pack if you have already purchased my "Hello Winter" pack.  I don't want anyone to be disappointed to find duplicate activities.  If you have the "Hello Winter" pack, you already have these geometry materials as well. :)*http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shape-it-Up-A-Geometry-Mini-Pack

 

 

Perfect for Valentine's Day...

(or anytime because I surely don't need a special occasion to enjoy a cupcake!)

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't forget! 

 

Is anyone else celebrating the 100th day this week?  Ours is Friday!  Last year one of my favorite projects of the whole year was our "100 year old portraits."  There are lots of ideas floating around pinterest.  We put our own little spin on them and are planning to do them again.  I'll post pictures when they're done!  The kids did an awesome job last year of describing themselves at 100.  The writings were downright hysterical.  I'm hoping for more of the same this year.  If you are doing any variation of this project and need writing paper...here it is!

 

The second page has empty space at the top so that you can tape the first page over top of it (and overlap) so that it looks nice hanging in the hall.

 

Click the pics to download.

 

 

 

 Happy teaching to you!

 

 

 

Exciting Times!

Lots of pictures, lots of rambling, and LOTS of excitement

(oh, and a freebie if you can make it to the end)

Don't say I didn't warn you. ;) 

What a fabulous week! 

Here is what's been going on in my corner of the world...in list form...because there has been a lot of JOY to share.  I am SO blessed.

1. I hosted a brunch for my beautiful best friend, Maegan, who left for Uganda this week as a missionary.  Sad to say goodbye...but she'll be back in a few months for my wedding, and I'm so very excited for her new adventure in life.  I love a good excuse to get together with awesome friends and scour Pinterest for party ideas...and eat donut holes. 

If you are interested in her journey...she started a blog to document her work in Uganda - www.wordsoftruthindeed.wordpress.com

Trying out the "self timer" setting on the new camera to show off my messy house and fabulous friends. 

2. I met my student teacher and she is sweet as sugar.  I think I am going to love working with her this semester!  YES! 

(no picture of her...don't want to scare her off, yet.)

3. I HAVE A NEW NEICE! My brother and his wife welcomed their sweet girl, Hadleigh, into the world on Wednesday morning.  They got home safely today and we are planning our trip down to meet our new neice and goddaughter on Monday! I am ridiculously excited.

This is my beautiful momma. She will probably shoot me for posting this picture because she (gasp) forgot her makeup when she made the trip to my brother's house for Hadleigh's arrival. Clearly, she doesn't need it.  My dad didn't understand the trauma of forgetting her makeup.  He's a boy, what can you say?

4. It snowed like CRAZY on Thursday evening and we got a FREE snow day on Friday...making a 4 day weekend.  FREE, I tell ya! As in...no stealing our ONE teacher workday of the whole year on Tuesday, no snatching days from spring break, no crazy Saturday work days...FREE.  

Granted, I worked on report cards all day on my "free" snow day...but I did it with PJs on, Today show on in the background, snuggling with Sawyer so it barely counts.

Pure. Joy.

Sawyer helping dad "hit the books" to study for his paramedic exam on our snow day.

5. I have been busy trying to learn how to use my new camera.  I am 100% overwhelmed but I'm trying!  My favorite things so far have been learning to "blur" the background a little and playing around with the "sports/action" setting and taking way too many pictures of Sawyer on the move. Ta-da!

Does anyone know if there is a Guinness World Record for dog with the longest tongue? I feel like we might be in the running.

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

I promised you some examples of work from my Winter Math Pack when we got to it.  We dove head first into some geometry this past week and the kids LOVED it.  I'm currently searching for some good tangram puzzles to challenge my smarties because they seemed to LOVE the pattern block work we did.

One of my favorite activities, as usual, was the "At First it Was a Shape" books. 

He later told me that he made this crown for me because I look like a princess...say no more, you got your "A" on this project. ;)

Can you read the sign? It says "Get hot dogs for free."

I'll be there.

If you are getting ready to teach geometry or patterns.... or if you need need some winter problem solving goodies...check out my latest product on TPT!

And lastly, we made some Martin Luther King Jr. portraits.  I am kicking myself for not getting pictures of them for you because the mustaches were out of control.  Here are some sweet examples of their dreams, though.  Some of them "got" the assignment right away...others needed some help.

One little boy wrote "I have a dream that I get some chicks."

We didn't get into whether or not he meant the bird kind or the girl kind.  Either one is a legitimate dream, I suppose.  

Wish I could draw as good as this firstie!

Amen, sister.

My dream is I wish for everybody to be safe from the storm.  

My dream is people "picken" flowers because it is nice. LOVE!

My dream is that people will not judge on there disabilities. Love that invented spelling and love the message.

My dream is every "wan" to smile.  This makes my heart smile.

If you need a writing template for a "dream" writing, feel free to grab this one for, ummm...next year since I'm so late posting this. :)

Happy weekend to you!!

Snowmen in Bikinis?!?!

Happy Monday! 

Do those two words go together?  

They do when you come home to this little package on the front porch.

My new camera arrived and I'm so ridiculously excited! 

I forced myself grade some papers and enter some test scores before I opened it tonight.  Now...I shall open it and take approximately 2000 pictures of the dog while I watch The Bachelor.

Before that fun commences, I did want to drop in and share a cute little freebie with you.  This was a totally spur of the moment little writing activity that I put together last week to go with this fabulous book and review some science information on seasons.

After we read the book, we discussed what we would do with our snowmen if they stayed all year long.  My babies came up with some fun ideas for their "snow people".  They wanted to lounge at the pool with them, go trick or treating, carve pumpkins, and watch 4th of July fireworks!  It was a great review of the seasons and holidays associated with them.

Here is a your copy of the cover if you'd like to do this activity in your classroom, too! I just stapled this to a couple pages of writing paper (one side for each of the four seasons) and let them go to town!

Here are some fun examples! :)

They crack me up!

Happy teaching to you!