Freebies, Sweetness, and a Funny

FREEBIES

I am trying to keep a little more balance in my life; hence blogging a little less often. I forgot to take pics of our New Year's Resolutions but they were similar to last year.  We practiced inferring again with The Snowy Day. I used the same project as last year but we are so short on time now I put all the supplies in a bin and had the students complete it independently during Work on Writing. I did make a few new things for The Sleeping Pig last week.

I am not following HM since I am the Common Core guinea pig but I had my students read the story during Read to Someone. Then they worked together to fill out the story map and noun search. I also included the puppets from last year to have the partners practice retelling. I had the writing prompt as a choice for Work on Writing. If you'd like a FREE copy just click HERE to download. If you want the puppets for EEK! There's a Mouse in the House you can get those by clicking on the word puppets.







Place-Value I Have, Who Has was a big hit this week. The first time we played our time was 8 minutes 37 seconds and after a few times our time is now 3 minutes 35 seconds. We are swapping times with a class down the hall, trying to out do each other! Click on the pic to go see it in my store.

SWEETNESS

I had a student miss two weeks just before the holiday break so her family could spend 4 weeks in Hawaii like they do every year.  (Can you say jealous? In my next life I want to manage a life like that.) This girl is one of my favorites (I know, I know, I'm not supposed to have favorites but she is one of those super sweeties who is ALWAYS with me and gives me a smile just when I am asking myself why I corral educate today's youth for a living.  I asked her to write me a letter from Hawaii telling me about her trip as part of her work packet. Not only did she write me an adorable letter but she included a bracelet and a menu from the restaurant she was describing!

Notice the sushi drawing.

Like how she starred her recommendations?

I covered up her return address but how sweet is that? I missed her, too.

 

 

Do you have PESTS at your school? No, I don't mean the kind that require spraying. Ours are like a Secret Santa that lasts the whole school year. The PTA organizes it and I have been lucky to get some wonderful moms in the past. This year my PEST is terrific. I got a present every day the two weeks before the holiday break. Carmel corn, a Starbucks card, movie coupons, etc. All beautifully wrapped by a crafty gal. I am going to have to start taking pics before I unwrap. Today this was in my mailbox. It was filled with Ghirardelli Caramel Squares (my faves) and I am now enjoying my tea in it! I have to say, we have many wonderful parents.

 FUNNY

My class has been talkative lately in line. After waiting for a while for them to quiet down I let a few quiet kids start walking to lunch without us. That got the rest of them in gear as they enviously watched their peers get ahead of them.
As the rest of us were following a few yards behind, a student next to me said, "What if they run?"
"I can see them, " I answered.
"What if they are way up there?" the student continued.
"My eyes can see very far, " I replied.
"You are just like Santa then," the boy replied with a grin.
I am pretty sure he was referring to my skill of watching behavior from afar and not my bowl full of jelly but I didn't ask.
Little moments like that are why I love teaching first grade.