I LOVE my new look!!

Notice anything different?

I love my new look so much that I am having a little giveaway to celebrate.  How would you like to win $10 to spend at TPT?  I'll send two winners each a $10 gift certificate.  The Rafflecopter will end in time for me to choose a winner before Cyber Monday when you just might want to be hanging out online and doing some shopping!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I must say that Christi from Design By Christi, took my ideas and came up with this great design.  If you're in the market for a new blog you need to check her out!

Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas

My firsties and I have been spending some time working on story retelling.  I'm trying to get them to remember to include many story elements including - setting, characters, events, problem and solution.

One of my favorite Christmas stories is Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Christmas so I decided to make a Christmas retelling light string.  I'm thrilled with how it turned out.

Doesn't Instacollage make it look festive?

I have placed each of the story elements on a Christmas bulb for a little festive flare.  Since I am in the generous Christmas spirit, I have posted this item for free at my TPT store.  Just click on the picture below to get your copy ;)

If you like story retell ropes, and you like Corduroy Bear you might want to check out this past post.

Have a great week!!!!

Christmas Short Vowel Sorting Station

I am into my Christmas shopping, decorating and of course planning.  With all the excitement I try to keep the routine, yet add in some festive fun.

I plan to use this word work station for a few of my literacy groups to reinforce short vowels.

There are 30 light bulbs and ornaments that need to be sorted onto 5 sorting mats (one each for 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o' and 'u').  I have included an "I can..." student instruction card to keep students on task and a recording sheet for you to monitor their work.  The entire station in included in both color and black and white.

I have just posted this at my TPT store.  You can head over there by clicking HERE.

I'd love to help with your December planning so I'll send a copy to the first 3 people who comment on this post.

Happy Monday!

Our Elf is Arriving Soon!

I am as excited as a kid before Christmas!  Last December my students were the most AMAZING writers and it was all because of our adventures with Jingles the Elf.  Our visit started with a cold delivery (I had put the wrapped box in the freezer) from our school principal.  On the first day we named our Elf and read the story.  Starting the next morning and each morning after he was up to quite a bit of mischief including zip-lining across the classroom, making a glitter angel, having a snowball fight ... the list goes on!

I have started a Pinterest Board where I have been pinning lots of great ideas I find.  If you are a 'pinner' like me click the picture below to follow the board, maybe you'll see something new.

I have my students record the adventures of our elf in a journal. If you'd like a copy click on the picture to download for free.

 

I also have a word search available HERE if you have some early finishers :)

If you have a great idea for my classroom elf I'd love to hear it.  If you have a link or a pin include that too because I would love to pin it to my board for others to see and maybe use in their classroom.

Here are a few of my faves from last year :)

 

There are so many great idea out there! I should have had my elf arrive months ago :)



An I Spy Update

I'm going to come right out and say it ... between assessments, report cards and getting ready for parent-teacher conferences, not to mention day to day planning I am struggling to get it all in.  PLEASE say that I am not the only one!!!

I am a very organized person and am usually so on top of things so I will be a happy camper when the next couple of weeks are over.

In my planning I'm looking ahead to December and when I pulled out my I Spy Christmas Words and realized that last year I had not been using "I can..." card in my literacy stations so thought I'd better add one!

For this activity students will use magnifying glasses to find teeny tiny Christmas words and then record them on a choice of two recording sheets.  If you already own this product you can head over to TPT and re-download the update for free.  I have also added it to my I Spy Bundle.

If you do not already own a copy and would like one, I'll be sending own to the first 3 people who comment on this post.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!