Short and Sweet.. and another freebie! {POLAR EXPRESS!}

I've been super exhausted this month.  {and not to mentioned stressed about everything!}  'tis the season!  ha ha!

I've been searching for something that I could use on our Polar Express Day, but have been coming up empty handed.  YES there are SO many wonderful packets on TPT.  I would LOVE to have the time to do what in half of them... but alas, we do one day with it.  We read the book and watch the movie as a grade level on the last day before school is out for the holidays.  (TIP-we do our holiday parties/celebrations the day BEFORE the last day so we aren't having to clean up after school--not to mention have that chaotic feeling of getting everyone out on time because the party is running late...)

So, naturally, I can't use what most of the packets have out there.  I created a quick and simple packet full of retelling activities, comparison, a word search and I thought I would have the kids web about their favorite parts of the book and movie.  When they return in January, I'm going to have them write a persuasive essay about whether they think we should skip the book and just watch the movie or skip the movie and just read the book. 

{These are just a few of the pages to give you a sample}

 

I also have 2 pages of "tickets" to give kids before the day.  We like to copy onto yellow/golden cardstock and punch the tickets with a festive hole punch.  (I think we have a tree)

You can snatch all this up if you are a Facebook fan.  I felt like I needed to thank my fans again, as well as have something timely up there.  Click HERE to head to my FB page!  You can only "see" it if you click "like" and then you'll be able to click on my "For Fans Only" tab at the top of my page!

Double Trees! {FREEBIE!!!}

I have a quick and easy activity for you to use before heading off to your Christmas/holiday break!  We've been working on doubles and near doubles.  (I have to say, I REALLY like the term "near doubles" more so than doubles +1 and doubles -1---SO much easier for the kiddlets to understand!!)

We discussed and did the "lesson" from the book.  But, it's December.  I needed some Christmas spirit {other than the kids' new found "spirit" from their excitement of just the word DECEMBER....}  So, walllah!  I give you "Double Trees"  {Not feeling the creativity for a great title right now... this week has gotten me EX-HAUST-ED....  I'd be sleeping now if I could, but I think I'm past the point of sleeping....

Here's what we did.  First, I handed out the Christmas balls.  I told my kiddos that they needed a red and blue crayon.  (You could choose any 2 you'd like..  I would have done red and green, but they were going to color the trees green, so you wouldn't see the balls on that tree..)  They colored the doubles red and the near doubles blue.  Then we colored the star of each tree to match.  (Doubles tree star was red)

They cut them out and glued them where they belonged.  I played a little iTunes Radio Kids Christmas songs and they were singing and engaged!  (not to mention, it was heaven to listen to... cause their chit chat had been driving me bonkers!!!)

Click on the picture to grab your freebie over at TPT. 

If You Give A... freebie and a sale!

This is going to be short, but random.  Somewhat.  ;)

First, my store will be on sale tomorrow and Tuesday!  EVERYTHING will be 20% off.  Enter the code: CYBER for an additional 10% off!  That's a 28% savings!

Here are some highlights of my store and things I'll be using in the near future!
First, when we head back tomorrow (waahhhh!)  We'll be starting these stations:

And we'll be starting these Tic-Tac-Toe word choice boards:

Did you know that I have pretty easy to use literature circles for primary kiddos?!  We'll be starting those off after Christmas.

These are my most favorite packs:

See how this looked in my classroom {HERE}

See how this looked in my classroom {HERE} {HERE} and {HERE}

See how this looked in my classroom {HERE}

Last, we just completed this pack a few weeks ago.  I just created a freebie for ya!  The kids had a blast retelling If You Give a Cat a Cupcake with it!

See how this looked in my classroom {HERE}

Click {HERE} to grab your freebie!

What are you looking forward to buying?!?!

Bucket Filling---Christmas idea Freebie!!

Well, this isn't an incredibly new and wonderful idea, but thought I would share what I'm doing this month.

*****I know that many of you do NOT use the bucket filling ideas within your classroom.  I kept that in mind making this packet.  This packet actually has 2 sections.  The first one has "Bucket Filling" and the second is a duplicate, however the words "Good Friends and Bad Friends" as well as Kind friends.  The club they will be in is called the "Friendship Club"***

First, we started a school-wide Bucket Filling program this year.  I was actually going to start it in my own classroom but the school-wide part is now an added bonus!  I love how it gets kids {and adults!!!} thinking about others and how their actions can change how people feel.

Well, since starting, my kids have become a little.... um.. comfortable with each other, and well, the bucket filling has since become bucket dipping.  So, I had to do something about it.

We started off by rereading the book and discussing what it's like to be a bucket filler and a bucket dipper.  We created this little anchor chart to remind us:

 Next {we'll start this when we get back}, we will discuss different ways to give compliments to others.  I hate when kids can only think about literal, not-so-sincere {though, sometimes needed!} compliments as, "you look pretty today" or "I like your shirt..."  We will discuss three different ways to start a compliment.

They will also complete a "Bucket Filling Buddy" Application!

During our weekly class meetings, we will go through a scenario from my packet that gets them thinking of what happened, if there was bucket filling or dipping as well as what would they do differently.  Many of the stories are from my own observations of them this year!  Some from years past and some just made up.

Each week we will have a challenge where students will be looking for things to fill buckets.  After a few weeks, I'll start accepting members into our club and they'll get certificates!  They will not be "inducted" all at the same time.  I want to make it something special and have them realize how they are capable of filling other buckets all the time.  I want the excitement of being a "member" to stay too!

For the month of December, we will be filling each others STOCKINGS!  We created our stockings before heading off to our Turkey Day break.  I hung them after they left {I had 12 hours of conferences to put in...}  When we get back, students will be filling "stockings."  These stockings will go home right before our holiday break.

Now, for those wondering.  What about those kids who don't get a lot of "notes?"  Well, my solution is simple.  I will be printing out a small class roster for each student.  They will cross off the person they write to.  Once they wrote to everyone, then they can start over!  {I'm sure I'll have a few overachievers}

 Click on the picture below to grab your freebie if you'd like to have a copy of the stocking template and stationary to write to friends.

Kevin Henkes!

This post should have happened a LONG time ago.  I just finished up my Kevin Henkes packet, however we have been done with him since September!  We started off our year with a "friendship" theme, which is perfect for the beginning of a school year.  We spent some time reading Kevin Henkes books and talking about friendship.  I have to say I wasn't so good at remembering to take pictures during this time of year... so here's what I have to share!

 {My teammate made this lovely bulletin board with the project!}

We spent about 2 weeks with this unit.  The kids loved the books.  {This was also the time where I used my freebie to help kids learn what character and setting mean--as well as know the difference.  You can find that post HERE.}  My unit with the kids concluded with them picking their favorite book, creating a mouse to match and writing a retelling of that book.  (First, next, then and last)  Unfortunately, I am unable to find the picture examples of these right now...  I've looked on every camera I have!  I know it is somewhere!!

This packet also includes a fun beginner research packet about mice!  It is set up like the rest of my research packets and can be completed whole group, small group or even independently, depending on your classroom abilities!

This packet includes activities for these books:  Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Sheila Rae the Brave, Chrysanthemum, Chester's Way and Wemberly Worried (as well as a few generic graphic organizers to use other books you might have of his!)  If you'd like to check out my newest product with all the Kevin Henkes goodies---click on the picture below!