Almost there...

We have 1 and a half days left until Christmas vacation.  About 1:00 this afternoon, I told the teacher across the hall from me, "Ok, I'm done!  I'm officially not teaching anymore until Christmas vacation!"  The kids are soooo super excited about Christmas, it's just not gonna happen, lol!  So, we're going to finish our Christmas Story book, maybe watch some classic Christmas videos and just party!  How about you?  Are you going all the way to Friday or are you out already?

On another note, Christmas came early to me today.  I found out last week that I was awarded a grant that I had applied for through our local education association.  Back in October, I had written 2 grants for $500 each - one for interactive whiteboard activities from Lakeshore and one for downloadable centers (mostly from Doodle Bugs Teaching and Deanna Jump) .  They stated that applicants could apply for more than one grant, but only one would be funded. I just figured I had a better chance of getting one funded if I wrote both of them.  When they told me I was funded for $500, they didn't tell me which grant was funded.  So today I get a call from our bookkeeper who told me that she got the check but there was a problem with it.  They had written it for $1500 instead of $1000.  I told her she was wrong and forwarded her the email I had received that said I was funded for $500.  She called the education association and they told her they had some extra money so they decided just to fund both of the grants!!!  YEAH!  So, I get to start the new year with cool things like these:





And, of course, tons and tons of activities from Teachers Pay Teachers.  Seriously, I know most of you know Deanna Jump, but you have to check out Doodle Bugs Teaching.  Her stuff is awesome too!

On Thursday, we'll be making graham cracker gingerbread houses at our Christmas party.  Now, I've never tried these, so wish me luck (and any tips you have would be GREATLY appreciated)!  Check back Thursday for pictures.

In Remembrance...

There Are No Words...

Run, Run As Fast As You Can...

Since Thanksgiving, we've been working with the gingerbread stories.  So far, we've read The Gingerbread Man, The Gingerbread Boy, and The Gingerbread Girl.  The kids are really enjoying it, and I've been trying to incorporate more Common Core type questions for them to answer.  On Monday, our "Mad Scientist Monday" activity was this fun one:

You can download it for free at Teachers Pay Teachers (just click the link to go directly to the product).

I know we're all getting used to Common Core (some of you are way more advanced with it than I am), so I'm trying to get my students to get used to the type of deep thinking required with Common Core.  So, instead of the weekly selection test that comes with our basal, I decided to write my own "selection test" based on the gingerbread man story.  I asked the kids to think of a word to describe the gingerbread man AND cite text evidence to support their decision.  Well, let me tell you... my intern and I thought we were going to LOSE OUR MINDS!!!!  The kids just wanted to write their word and then say that they know that because they read it in the story.  But - we stuck it out and encouraged the kids to keep trying.  We kept leading them to see that they had to write what the "it" was that they read in the story. 

 

After only about an hour and a half, they finally started to understand what we were saying.  Then, I got the most creative and amazing thinking from them.  Some examples:

 

"The gingerbread man was fast.  I know this because the characters couldn't catch him."

 

"The fox was sneaky.  I know this because he tricked the gingerbread man."

 

"The gingerbread man was hungry.  I know this because on the bottom of the second page, it says that he ate the gingerbread man."

"I know the gingerbread man was yummy.  I know this because everybody wanted to eat him!"

 

"The gingerbread man was smart.  I know this because he came up with the rhyme, 'Run, run, as fast as you can.  You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!"

 

This week, we've been reading The Gingerbread Girl and The Gingerbread Boy.  I came up with a test for these stories too.  On this one, I ask them to compare and contrast the gingerbread boy and girl, to  explain how the gingerbread girl knew not to trust the fox, to choose a word to describe the gingerbread girl and give text evidence (similar to the ones above), and finally, to tell which story they liked best and explain why. 

 

I can't wait to see what they come up with!  If you'd like a copy of either of these worksheets, just leave me a comment with your email and I'll send it to you!

The Cutest Turkeys Ever!

I know that lots of people do the turkey disguise project.  I started doing it last year and they were really cute, so I did it again this year.  I have to say that they turned out really great again! Check them out:

The pig in the middle of the window was my favorite.  The pig mask actually lifts off and you can pull the turkey out of the costume.  They actually made this turkey have a double costume - when you pull him out, he has a Pilgrim costume on!  Oh, and I forgot to mention, the pig costume even has a piggy tail on the back. 

If you've never done this before, you need to try it next year.  The kids and families really have a blast doing it and they usually turn out great!

**Sorry for the delay in posting this, but my Mama flew down for Thanksgiving, and I spent the whole week just enjoying time with her!**  I hope your Thanksgiving was awesome!

Election Day and a cute Thanksgiving art idea

Hey guys and gals,
      Every four years we do a mini unit on elections.  The kids get to register to vote and then we vote for President on Election Day.  This year, we used activities from this book:

 

It's really a great resource with a book on elections and voting, information on presidents, even voter registration cards and ballots to copy.  Our first grade classes have to bring their voter registration cards tomorrow and vote based on their "address".  For example, my class "lives" on Spradlin Street, so they will go to one "polling location".  We give each teacher an "address".  We have Alford Avenue, Bruey Blvd., Padgett Place, and Jackson Junction.  I can't wait to see who "wins". 

I did make an election day quiz to go with the book we made.  If you'd like a copy, feel free to grab it below:

Election Day Quiz

On another note, I wanted to share an adorable activity we do each year for Thanksgiving.  The kids get to pick if they want to make a pilgrim or an indian. 

I know I posted about these last year, but they're just so cute, I thought I'd post for my new followers.  I got this idea from The Virtual Vine. Just click the link to go there (you have to scroll down almost to the bottom of the page to find them).

Currently...

Ok, so I haven't done a currently in a while, only because by the time I have a chance to sit down and do one, it's like the end of the month and by then, what's the point? So now, I'm linking up and here's my Currently:

 

Head over and link up by clicking below:

 

Is anybody else really excited about the holidays?  I start getting excited around Halloween.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this time of year. 

 

We're voting on Tuesday!  Come back for some cute pictures and ideas for Thanksgiving activities!