Mother's Day Gift updated

I updated my Mother's Day Gift Idea for If you Give a Mom a Muffin on TpT today. I posted all about this idea last year so click {here} if you didn't follow me then and want to know what I am talking about.

 I had remembered to take the date off the cover...

..but I forgot the one on the poem for the gift bag. Grrr...

This wouldn't be that hard to fix IF the original wasn't one of the things I lost in the 2 computer deaths I experienced last year. I managed to redo that last page and insert it into the original pdf. Did you know you can delete/insert/move pages in a pdf if you open them with preview?  Best trick ever!

So if you have bought this item previously you will want to go download the new version with no year.

Synonym Freebie

Have you seen the adorable "synonym" rolls floating around Pinterest? I had this pinned but when I followed the links I could not find the original poster of this cute idea! Let me know if you have better luck so I can give proper credit. Well, as much as I love art projects, what I really needed was a new literacy center that would keep my rowdy bunch engaged. I decided to make a read the room type activity.

I taped the synonym rolls around the room and my cuties had to find the matching synonym on their recording sheet. Click {here} if you'd like a FREE copy. 

We have the Distinguished School people coming tomorrow and we are all a little nervous. Wish us luck!

Finger Puppet Fabulousness!

Last month, I got the sweetest offer from Cheryl at Crack of Dawn Crafts to send me a Splat the Cat finger puppet. When I opened the package today not only was this adorable guy in there...

I'm using Cheryl's photo because mine was fuzzy.

but so was a note saying that Splat was lonely and he insisted a year of puppet buddies accompany him!

 Aren't they adorable!?!?!?!

One of my faves since I teach at a science school!

Jellyfish and mermaid.

Penguin and pirate with a gold earring!

I wish I had a better camera to do these justice! I love all the different textures, feathers, beads, etc! The frog has a fly that can be pulled into his mouth. The groundhog pops out of his burrow and be put back in to hide again. My co-workers were SOOOO jealous at lunch!

Easter!

 Cheryl has all the major holidays and many teacher topics covered. I have never done any finger plays in first grade but I think I may have to start collecting some! Go visit her blog and tell her how talented she is!!!

Magic Tree House Fans?

I am SO behind in emails and blogging. Sorry if I owe you something back, my life has been extra hectic lately! My husband has been working terrible hours so my mom duties have taken precedence over my virtual life. I spent way too much time in my car driving kids back and forth to baseball, scouts, dances, etc. And both boys had research papers due this week. UGH! I hate homework, especially papers!  I know as a teacher that is probably blasphemy but the other day I was driving by some kids outside riding their scooters and I thought, "How can they be outside, don't they have homework to do?"  Seriously, I thought that. Isn't that TERRIBLE!!?!!! They totally SHOULD be outside playing. 

I did manage to finish a new book club packet for one of my high groups. I have some Magic Tree House lovers so I thought I'd start with this one and then later make some for Eve of the Emperor Penguin and Dragon of the Red Dawn.

 This 26 page packet includes:
*28 comprehension and vocabulary questions
* 7 circle the adjectives sentences
*a brace map {thinking map} for rainforest layers
*rainforest picture cards for visualization and then use with
*ABC order to the 2nd letter
*rainforest research writing extension option
*map resources
*answer key included

 

If you are one of my faithful Book Club packet users (thanks SO much) I'll give you a heads up that I just got 6 of these Ready Freddy books for 95 cents each from Scholastic Lucky March #62 and plan to make that packet next if you want to grab a set.

 While I was at it I got this 6-book set for my on-grade-level group to try. Seesaw March #5045. Who can resist Mercer Mayer? I'll make something to go with this, too. Any skills you'd like to see me hit?

In other news, I started a DonorsChoose project for mp3 players because our listening center died. The DonorsChoose board of directors is matching funds through Monday so I am really close to getting it funded. How exciting!!!

Off to do laundry, clean, blog design, lesson plan, make kids do their chores, drive to baseball practice, harrass oversee my middle schooler starting ANOTHER research paper... I'll sneak in some blog reading in there somehow. Maybe a reward for each job I finish? Do you make deals like this with yourself or am I the only weirdo? 

The Luck Was WIth Me!

It is POURING outside. Thank goodness it waited until after school! My kiddos had MAJOR leprechaun fever and I don't think I could have survived today if we had indoor recess. My sweeties were hysterical, running around the playground searching high and low for those sneaky leprechauns!

ALL 30 kids brought a leprechaun trap in today and got a chance to explain how it worked.

Sticky fly paper to trap the leprechaun!

A crystal to make a rainbow to attract the leprechaun!

This sweet boy made it clear his was NOT a trap. He borrowed his sister's doll furniture to make a comfortable place for the leprechaun.

This one had chewed green gum holding the coins so the leprechaun would get stuck. YUCK but the kids loved it!

A tunnel maze!

Yes, everything on this trap is edible!

So of course we ate it!

The leprechaun visited when the kids were at music. He made quite a mess!

Tiny footprints.

They got into the gold Kiss Your Brains!

Were the leprechauns reading to our stuffed animals?

The leprechauns liked books about themselves!

They played one of our math tub games: Pot O' Gold of course!

They also got into our letter tiles. Every student got a note from Lucky and a chocolate and gum coin. 

 

It was kinda nice to have the traps and leprechaun craziness all on the same day instead of leaving them overnight like I did last year. Hope you enjoyed the leprechaun fun with your kids.  Or maybe you are on Spring Break already? Then my green is from envy 'cause I still have 3 weeks !!!