Snow Day!

I almost can't believe it.  We have had our first snow of the season.  I live in the south and the past couple of winters have been  very  d i s a p p o i n t i n g  on the snow front.  Last weekend we were in the 70's.  I wore shorts and t-shirts on my runs.  I even said to D, something about not getting any snow again this year.  But today . . . real snow!
I'm most excited for  A  and my sweet first graders.  They have had so little exposure to snow.  Whenever we read about it, talk about it, or try to write about it, it seems so distant and foreign.  Our snow drought finally ended this afternoon.
After dinner our little family went on a walk and  A  was beside herself.  She played a bit of snow soccer in the front yard and thankfully got some use out of the snow boots I bought last year that she was never able to use.

So YAY for snow! and YAY for snow soccer! and YAY for things happening when you've kind of lost hope that they would!
Have a fab Friday.

100 Days Smarter FREE Craftivity

Our first grade celebration of the 100th day of School is just a few days away.  I think I have too many activities planned.  But better to have too many than too few,  r i g h t ?

Hopefully my sweet students are working on their projects to show and share on that day.  They have to make a 100th Day t-shirts.  If you're not familiar, students can paint, draw, glue, stick, stitch (with help), pin (you get the picture) anything to their shirts to represent 100.  It's always pretty fun to see what they come up with each year.

I wanted to share one activity we will be using during the week leading up to the 100th Day.  Students will be making a little 100th Day cutie to help them practice their spelling words.

If you click on the picture below you can have your own copy of this craftivity for free.

The pattern also includes a recording sheet for a 100th Day writing assignment.

It will be best if you use construction paper colors to match the features of the each student in your class.  I used scrapbook paper for the arms of my samples.  But, plain construction paper will work just as well.  You may also want to play around with the positioning of the arms.  The clip art on the recording sheets is from Melonheadz.

*Please note, this pattern has been updated with legs and feet.  However, you can still make it the same as pictured above even with the updates)

I hope you and your class have a fun day of learning on your 100th Day of School.  Let me know if you have any questions about this project.

Have a great week.

MLK Day Is On the Way and So Is a FREEBIE

Our first week back to school has come to an end.  My first grade sweeties were more like first grade sleepies.  They were so worn out all week.  At dismissal, this afternoon, I looked down and three of my students were laying on the sidewalk with their heads on their backpacks while waiting for their rides.  If they can make it through one more week, they will get a well deserved three day weekend thanks to our Monday off honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
MLK day is an opportunity to learn about a very important American.  My bachelor's degree is in history.  Any time I can work history into my first grade curriculum, I am a happy lady.  I created a language arts activity just for this occasion, The Martin Luther King Jr. Sentence Scramble.
Click on the picture below for your own FREE copy.

A  tried her little hand at the scramble.  She is in a pre k readiness class and not quite ready to complete this activity by herself.  But with a little help from daddy in the reading department, she was able to figure the sentences out.  She loves doing "big kid" work.

The activity includes eight sentences to mix and unscramble, as well as two recording sheet options.  The clip art is from Melonheadz.

For my class, I plan on printing enough copies of the sentence cards for the students to work on this activity with a partner.  You can also use it as a literacy station.  This sentence scramble is a great way to practice sentence order and expose your students to Dr. King.

Happy Friday!

Welcome Back and a FREE New Year's Craftivity

Day one of the second semester . . . check.
We are now officially over the hump.  I spent the first half of the year working to change my kindergarten darlings into my first grade sweeties.  Now my goal is to turn them into fabulous second graders.  I must say the thought of my class moving on up already gives me a little lump in my throat.  I have a group of kids that (on most days) work together really well.
I can't think about all of that right now.  So moving on . . .
I did want to share one last New Year's themed activity.  It's actually a craftivity (I love that word, although my spell check doesn't agree with me) to go along with a fun New Year's themed counting book, P. Bear's New Year's Party by Paul Owen Lewis.

It's a jazzy P. Bear paper topper and a couple of different lined paper choices.  You can use it for any type of writing assignment you want.  You can have students write their spelling words, their New Year's traditions, or their New Year's resolutions.  It's really up to you.

If you click on the picture above you can have your own FREE pattern for this craftivity and two different recording sheets.   

Of course if you do not have a copy of this book, this activity can certainly stand alone.  But, I would really recommend adding it to your library.
Happy New Year.

Number of the Day FREEBIE

Yesterday was my first day back from winter break.  We were in meetings for the first half of the day and (thankfully) got to work in our rooms during the second half.  Although I had to leave before everything was checked off my to do list, I was glad to have that time.
As I was getting ready for my first grade sweeties, I ran across something you might find useful in your class.  It's one of my number of the day printables.  It is a good review activity for this time of the year, since we've worked a bit with place value.

I like to use it for morning work once or twice a week.
I've also included a 1-120 chart.  It's a nice addition for the back side of this number of the day practice or it can be a stand alone.

Click on the picture below if you would want a free set of these pages.

If you would like a version of this activity that I use a little later in the year you can click here.
I hope you have a wonderful week.

Spread Some Cheer This Year (With Some FREE Printables)

Winter break is almost over.  My first graders will be bopping through the door in a few days.  We will be hitting number comparisons for the next couple of weeks.  Every time I teach greater than and less than, I think about my second grade teacher and the little rubber alligator she got out when she introduced the > and < signs.  The open alligator mouth was the visual I needed to remember how to use those signs from that point on.
Now the alligator is certainly my go to, as I'm sure it's yours too.  When I started teaching I found this great puppet.

In class he's known as My Pal Al.  My first grade sweeties LOVE him.  He's silly looking and has some really pointy teeth.  I bought him at Target years ago.  He is still available.  I recently found him at Amazon.  He's made by Manhattan Toy Company.  He's is pretty fun to have in your class when your are teaching greater than and less than.

Something else I plan on using this year is a poster and poem I found on Pinterest.

I tracked it down to teacherbitsandbobs.blogspot.com. 

I've included a few printables I will be using this year as well.  (The clipart is from Scrappin Doodles.) 

You can get your own free copies by clicking on the picture below.

Finally I thought I'd leave you with a shot from my last celebration of the holiday season.  My birthday is on New Year's Day.  After a late night, we had a low key brunch at my parent's house.  If you look closely at all the candles, A is about to help me blow out, you'll know how old I am.  She made sure she put on exactly the right amount.  She's such a sweetheart.

Have a fabulous day.

Good Bye 2012

Happy New Year!

D and I had a date night to celebrate New Year's Eve.  

We went to two different parties.  Both very fun with loads of yummy hors d'oeuvres and lots of chatting with my buddies.  One party was for grown-ups only and one was family friendly.  I loved my tulle skirt find.  I thought I'd show you a picture of the completed ensemble.  We had a great night.

Here's to the New Year . . . new hopes . . . new joy and surprises.

Happiness to you always.