Lovely Happy Times and a Bright New Year!

It has been a few FABULOUS weeks since I blogged, that is because I have been busy enjoying and loving every minute of the Christmas holiday! I hope you have too! To start the holiday off, my family was here for Thanksgiving. It was such a wonderful time, filled with laughter, love, too much food and decorating for Christmas! It makes my heart happy just thinking about it! 

When I went back to school, it was a CraZy whirlwind...there was Gingerbread Week, Elf Day, Reindeer Day, Grinch Day, Holidays Around the World, Polar Express Day and our Class Party. Oh my gosh...I'm exhausted just remembering the FUN that we had. It took me a few days to recover. I think I'm getting old! ;) I have lots of pictures to share with you about all the fun we had, and over the next few days and weeks I will try to share some of my ideas with you so that maybe you could use them next year! Until then here is a blurry/bad picture of one of my most treasured gifts from a student this year! A pair of pajama pants for Polar Express Day...they even have ruffles on the bottom! Stop it...just too darn cute!

As teachers many times we get wrapped up in everything happening in school and our classroom that it is so easy to neglect time for ourselves over the holiday to really enjoy the magic of it all. I try really hard to make it a point to stop and enjoy the celebrations in my city with my favorite people. Here are some of my favorite sights...snow made out of bubbles and a 600 foot sand Christmas tree...Christmas Florida style!

I can't believe yesterday was Christmas! What!?!?! Anyone else feeling like this today?!

I have been working a little to get things ready to go back to school. When I am organized and prepared I always feel so much more relaxed and stress free! :) When we go back to school my students will be celebrating the New Year together.

The kids will get to wear party hats and we will have bubbly grape juice. 

We will sing and have a little party together!

We will read books about the New Year and learn about New Year's Resolutions. Here are some of the books we will be reading...

Then the kids will make their New Year's Resolutions!

We will learn about the months of the year and practice sequencing them.

We will also be learning about how people around the world celebrate the New Year using this nonfiction reader.

This unit is filled with all these New Year's goodies and it is on sale for just $3! Go grab your copy and let it help make the start of the New Year at school a stress-free one!

     

Here's a little freebie for you to start off the New Year! Just click the picture below! I hope you enjoy!

Two More Days!!!

I think I can...I think I can...just two more days until Thanksgiving Break!

I always love leaving for a break totally prepared for when I get back. That way I don't need to worry about anything during my time off. So I have started prepping for the first week in December...which means Gingy will be making an appearance! :) Here are some pics of some of my favorite activities...

We will be reading lots of Gingerbread stories and using this cute anchor chart and post-its to record the story elements.

My students will be completing this fun family home project. I didn't get to have my students create a Turkey in Disguise...the month was just WAY TOO BUSY!!! I am looking forward to having them create these cute little incognito gingerbread men so that I can use them as a decoration all December!

We will be doing some yummy science! Math too...you can read all about my Gingerbread Math activities HERE!

The kids love reading texts in the pocket chart that we read during shared reading. I have a feeling that they will love the Gingerbread songs and text! They always really love when the text includes their names so I created a super simple pocket chart text that does just that! Click on the picture below for a FREEBIE!

Pictured below are other center activities that my kiddos will be doing. Some of my friends spotted the centers out on my table the other day, and begged to play some of the games. I got to snap some pictures when several of my little friends tried them out.

Gingerbread Scrambled Sentences

Beginning Sounds in the Gingerbread House

Gingerbread Word Family Sorting Activity

Vowel Cookies

What Shape is in the House? Math Center

Making Ten Practice

Roll and Count {No Prep Math Center}

Base Ten Cookie Friends

We will be making other craftivities and doing lots of other activities too! If you are looking for Gingerbread activities to use in your classroom be sure to check out these two units that are ON SALE! 

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Thanksgiving!

At the end of this week we started all things Turkey! Bring on Thanksgiving!

We read the book Thanks for Thanksgiving and then created our Thankful Turkeys!

I loved hearing and seeing my kids really think about what they are thankful for. Of course it melts my heart when they say that they are thankful for me...but even better when they talk about how they are thankful for each other! LOVE IT!

A parent gave me some s'more candy corn for the kids...so Friday afternoon seemed like the perfect time to bring it out and do some math!

We created Turkey Number Bonds. The kids had a BLAST!

Next week we will learn all about the First Thanksgiving and create these cuties!

It's time to go get my booty in shape! BOOT CAMP!! Have a great weekend!!!

Happy Veterans Day Sale!

Today I am so grateful for all the men and women that are brave and selfless in serving our amazing country. I will never understand the sacrifices that my grandfather, cousins, nephews and friends have made to protect my freedom...living in this beautiful country is something to be thankful for!

In honor of those who serve I am having a Veterans Day sale. Everything is 20% off for the next two days!

If you are looking for last minute craftivities or activities for Veterans Day check out this unit, which is on sale too!

Happy Veterans Day!