Currently ~ It's A Delightful December!

Happy December everyone!  Time is flying by which means that it's time to link up with Anne of Anne in Residence for:

Gifting

I found this great mini-Cornhole game in Marshall's, but you can get it on Amazon for less:

My younger son, Andrew (age 25), liked it so much that it ordered it on the spot on Amazon Prime from his phone.  Unfortunately for me, it was out of stock last weekend, and I needed it for a party last night for a Yankee swap gift so I had to use the one I purchased in Marshall's. 


Baking

I only bake cookies if they're break and bake:

Next time I make s'mores, I'm going to make them in the oven.  Click here to check out that recipe.  Now that's my type of baking when it's too cold to go outside to make them at the fire pit!

Singing

In sixth grade, I was the only girl who didn't make the chorus ~ due to being totally tone deaf.  Consequently, I do not sing ~ except with my third graders in the morning when we do morning exercises!

My favorite holiday song is the piano version Schroeder plays!

Mailing

My students completed all their gingerbread men with their letters about Massachusetts for our gingerbread exchange.  They came out really cute!

These are last year's gingerbread, but we used the same "accessory packs" for this year's version!



Decorating

I'm still trying to put away my autumn decorations!  It seems like December came so fast, and it's still technically the fall.  I do decorate with snowmen though so that I can keep my decorations up all winter!

Thanks for visiting the blog today!  I'd love to hear how you're doing!  Happy Weekend!

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Delightful December Showing and Telling!

Happy Winter Solstice ~ Almost!  I love knowing that each day will have an extra minute or two of daylight!

Today I'm linking up with Stephanie from Forever in 5th Grade for:

 Boston Tea Party Reenactment

If you love history and want to participate in a reenactment, the Old South Meeting House recreates the December 16, 1773 meeting in which the decision was made to dispose of the tea on the three British ships in Boston Harbor.  Before the actual reenactment, many "colonists" mingle with the crowd:

 Here are some scenes during the reenactment:

 This is the second year I've attended the reenactment, and it is so much fun!  Of course, if you're ever in Boston, you can visit the Old South Meeting House ~ it's on the Freedom Trail. 

 Cara Cara Oranges & Good Luck

They're back!  Cara Cara oranges are finally back, and if you've never had one, please check them out!  Juicy Cara Cara oranges are pink inside.  These oranges were discovered in 1976 and weren't even available in the U.S. until the end of the 1980s.  I was so excited to find them over the weekend:

While purchasing my favorite oranges and other delicious fruit, my total purchase came to:

I'm always feeling lucky when my total purchase randomly comes to a number like this!

Gingerbread Exchange Fun

My students created the most amazing gingerbread and wrote letters chock full of Massachusetts history and information for our Gingerbread exchange.  Check out some of their creations:

I gave the kids two options:  a Celtics themed gingerbread or a baker with the state muffin and cookie.  Of course, I told them to feel free to create their own gingerbread people.  What a fun project this is!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog ~ it means so much to me!

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

 

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Fabulous Five For Friday!

Hello, there!  I'm so delighted that you're stopping by for a visit!  It's time to link up with Doodle Bugs for:

 Morning Messages

On Monday we got a dusting of snow, and on Tuesday I went to a workshop by The Reading Strategies author (more on that later!).  Take note of the Morning Message I left for my "guest teacher:"

*Click here to see the Pin for the Snowflake poem.

Writing Strategies Book Workshop

If you have the opportunity to go to our of these workshops (click here for this workshop and here for other Heinemann professional development).

Click on book to check out this book on Amazon!

Jennifer Seravalho was an amazing speaker and teacher!  I learned so much in the workshop.  Here's one of the slides she showed (sorry for the head in the picture; those reading numbers are for students in grades 3 to 6):

The good news is that these minutes can be split up!  We do 20 minutes every day now in the afternoon, but I'm going to need to add another 20 to our morning schedule.  Also, next week I'll be having my students complete a reading log so I can see how much they are currently reading.

I'll be writing a separate post with more details on this workshop later.

Gingerbread Exchange

We have been receiving so many gingerbread men from our Gingerbread Exchange.  Check on some of them:

My students wrote their own letters and edited them, and they designed and decorated their own gingerbread men.  I'd love to hear from some of the classes who received our "creations."

Holiday Shop


The kids LOVE to shop:

Our wonderful PTO organizes this experience for the kids, and they LOVE picking out and paying for their gifts.  They take their gift decisions very seriously, too.

Reindeer Directed Drawing


We'll be writing about having a pet reindeer, but first we drew our own from a directed drawing activity I found on You Tube:

 Click here for the reindeer tutorial.

This tutorial was easy to follow, and the pictures came out adorable.  I also tried a You Tube video to make "easy" snowflakes from paper = not a good experience; although it was an interesting experiment (that's what I told the kids!).

Have a holly, jolly weekend! 

 p.s.  Doodlebugs is taking a vacation from this link-up, but I'm still writing my weekly blog entry!

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Five For Friday - December Arrives!

Happy December!  Welcome to another edition of:

with Doodle Bugs Teaching!

 Morning Messages

I only remembered to take pictures of three of my Morning Messages last week so I included a picture of the message that is on the whiteboard, too:

This week we are working on visualizing, and I think this poem has very vivid images - especially around here where the trees are bare, and the remaining leaves are crunchy!

On the half day, teachers had the opportunity to work on report cards which go home next Friday.  It's amazing that the first trimester is already over!

Thankful Turkey

I managed to forget to take a picture of this fun activity last week in which each student decorates a turkey feather and writes what he/she is thankful for:

I love how each student personalizes their turkey feather!


You can check this free activity here.

 Gingerbread Exchange

We are participating in a Gingerbread Exchange which involves writing a letter about our state and decorating a gingerbread person.  We then send off our creations to 22 other classes from around the USA, and they send us their creations.  So far, we have received one gingerbread from a school in Putnam, CT.

The kids wrote detailed and interesting letters - they even used their Social Studies books!

Here's the sad part - I was so busy marveling at their creativity that I forgot to take pictures!  Luckily, two students are still finishing up so I can take pictures of their letters and gingerbread person next week!

In the meantime, here are last year's examples:

Holiday Music From Around The World

We had an assembly about Holiday Music From Around the World put on by Bright Star Theatre based in Asheville, NC:

My favorite part was the Chinese New Year Dragon Dance (picture on bottom right).

December Style Challenge


To prevent getting bored with my clothes, I like to follow Wear What Where December Style Challenge on Instagram:

It's a fun way to pick out my outfits every day ~ try to check it out!

Have the most wonderful weekend for the most wonderful time of the year!

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