Check Out TPT's Cyber-Sale Nov. 27 & 28

Confession:

I fill my Teachers Pay Teachers cart as I digest my Thanksgiving meal.

And then I w-a-i-t... until Cyber Monday!

This year's TPT Sale will be November 27 and 28, and I'm including all of my shop's items at 20% off of their regular prices, including my newest products:

December Write the Room Pack (with Christmas images)

You can print your preferred picture cards, cut apart and laminate.  Display the cards at a table OR hang them throughout the classroom, since students LOVE to search for pictures with their recording page on a clipboard! Both color and black-and-white cards are included in this pack.

and my Hanukkah Write the Room Pack:

Two copies of the recording sheets will print from pages 7 and 8 to help your copy quota. Page 9 includes all of the pictures in this pack.

A bonus color-by-number page is included at the end of the packs for a center activity or fine motor sample.

Happy Cyber-Shopping!

~Michaele~

Christmas Spirit

Can I tell you how much of a relief it is to realize that not even Tennessee Ernie Ford could avoid young childrens' "Christmas spirit" during the holiday season?

I hope you're all enjoying the last few days of school before your well deserved winter break!

Merry Christmas!

... and warmest wishes for a ~very~ Happy New Year!

Rudolph Had Better Watch Out...

... because my Super Stars are after his job!

We made the traditional triangle/antler/glitter nose Rudolph project for one bulletin board, but followed up with photos of the Stars sporting their own antlers and glittered schnozzes... Rudolph should know how willing they are to fill in should Santa need their help this year!




This fellow appears appropriately nervous:








I took photos of the Stars standing in front of our white board, printed them out in grayscale on 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper (the white background made it easy to cut away the details that WEREN'T part of each child's body), had the students cut out antlers, glue them to the backs of their photos, and then glue their new portrait onto black construction paper.  White glue was swirled onto each nose, and red glitter was sprinkled on top and left to dry overnight.

The text on the first board reads "Run Run Rudolph!" while the other exclaims "We want your job!"

Do you have a favorite reindeer/Rudolph activity or story?  Add a comment and feel free to link us on our way to it!




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Want to learn more about reindeer?  Visit the Reindeer Research Program at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks (yep, where I earned my teaching degree) and check out all of the links!  Make sure to visit the Gallery and head down to the  "Educational Outreach" link.  The second photo featuring Elsa was taken in my classroom when I still taught in Alaska.  Your students can even help name each season's new calves!  Go here for more information.

See That Smile?

It's the smile forced after having two-hundred-and-fifty paper cuts sliced into my hands for our annual Christmas Countdown Chain art activity.

The things we endure for our students' magical moments.

And *SO* worth it!



What are your essential holiday art activities?

Posting This Almost a YEAR Ahead!

As I type, it's actually January 8, 2010, a "snow day" off from teaching here in Oz.

Keeping myself bundled up (and in jammies, *score*!) this morning, I stumbled across this song and video by Lenka and knew I didn't want to forget to share it for "next" Christmas, eleven months away...which as you read this, is *now*!

What can I say, cute captured me... I think I'm going to like doing the bloggy-time-warp from time to time!

Happy Holidays from me, myself, and I in January, to you in December:

Space Saving Classroom Holiday Trees

You might be a first year teacher who inherited a classroom with no tabletop tree to be found anywhere in the building...

Or you might not have money in your budget to spend on outfitting your classroom with a holiday tree that will only be up for two or two-and-a-half weeks before your students are on winter break...

*OR* you might not have the time, money or s-p-a-c-e in your classroom to accommodate a class tree for December...

Try this instead: find big rolls of bulletin board paper (or use large paper bags, cut open, that students can paint green or white); cut three big trees (fold the paper in half and cut a tree shape out of each large piece of paper, "valentine heart" style); and staple the trees to your bulletin board:

I've unpacked the ornaments I've received from past students, but your kiddos can certainly make their own to add to the trees:



Using clear tacks (or staples, t-pins, etc), "hang" the ornaments from your trees:



Students love to create and hang their own ornaments as they work their way through the creative construction center each day!  Smaller trees can be cut from large pieces of construction paper that students can decorate for themselves or others as gifts.





Try it!

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~ My Craft Evolution shares a cute reuse-recycle Christmas tree craft idea...

~ Want to see how I used several different colors to make winter trees last year?  Click here to see my January classroom decor...

Merry Christmas

Birthday Bliss

Finding my 40th Birthday Bliss has been surprisingly easy this month.  "Surprisingly" because

1)  I wasn't searching for it to begin with...
2)  My already-busy work and family schedules actually contributed to some of my milestone revelations instead of causing me to miss or skip right past them...

and

3)  so many family members, friends, colleagues, students (and their families), new acquaintances and even strangers have shared sweet sentiments, thoughtfulness and kindness during their own hectic-yet-happy holiday preparations.  Bright smiles and extended courtesies that seem most prevalent each December always contribute to making my birthday feel special~ those who know me will also add that all the extra *~twinkle lights~* and sparkle on display don't hurt either!



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I'm on "winter break" for the next two weeks and have finished mailing out my Christmas cards and holiday packages.  Catching up on blog-reading and magazine-perusing is on my agenda, but I've decided that the fun projects and ideas that I've been stumbling across since yesterday afternoon will not be shared with a deadline... recipes can be tried any time of the year, and crafty ideas can certainly be modified and used during other quite suitable months in the classroom or home crafting area.

Creativity abounds, and it's time to stop obliterating the joy of it by forcing it into a must-do-or-die timeline.  Does this mean I'm mellowing with age?

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~ Make and Takes shares handheld jingle bells (also perfect for classrooms that don't have a set of musical instruments!)...

~ Cut and folded paper garlands appeal to me over at d.Sharp Journal...

~  NotMartha shares a tutorial on how to make *the most adorable gingerbread houses* that rest on the lid of your hot chocolate/coffee/eggnog mug:



~ ... and Bubbly Scrumptious offers a tussie mussie tutorial that has me inspired for not only Christmas but Valentine's Day as well...

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Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Solstice to you Dear Readers~

The Truth About Elves (a Cautionary Tale)

... sure, they're cute.

They help Santa.

Occasionally they sit on shelves.

The paper variety are wonderful for cutting practice:




**~However~**, as my Super Stars and I found out today, ~if you add sparkley glitter to their hats~ and leave the room for **any length of time** (certainly long enough for the students to visit the music room and for the teacher to get a Diet Coke from the staff lounge machine), the elves may get a little...

...mischievous.

Oh.... my...

They climb into the window sills:

They frolic above the bulletin boards:

They climb the walls and hang from the ceiling:

They perch themselves above the door, just waiting to sneak out into the hallway:

And they hover above our books and stories at circle:

You've been **warned!**

Wednesday's Odds and Ends, Links and Love

A bloggy collage.... compilation...mish-mash.... odds and ends- call it what you like-

I've got a little bit of this, a little bit of that (but alas not a pot, a pan, a broom, a hat)...

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Like many teachers, not only do I purchase toys for my own children, I also buy toys, puzzles, games, and other learning manipulatives (yes, yes, yes, books too!) for my students.  When they begin teaching, many new-to-the-profession primary grade educators will ask their own friends and family for much needed supplies to outfit their classrooms, and on occasion, parents of students will ask if there are any games or toys that they can buy to donate to the classroom too.

Teacher and parent tip:  make sure to check out the Toy and Product Recall Finder at Parents.com when considering a purchase.

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Kindergarten's 3 R's has been added to the list of the 100 Best Education Blogs over at CertificationMap.com.  Their handy site is "a simple guide to receiving teacher certification and clarifies the steps needed to become a teacher in your state." Helpful, helpful, H-E-L-P-F-U-L!

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Music is my mood-setter in the classroom and at home.

Okay, in my Jeep too.

Year 'round.

Now that it's December, I'll admit to going a bit overboard on jingles, chimes, bells, and "like-a-lightbulb..."

Along with Jason Mraz's "Winter Wonderland," my students love to sing and dance to Raffi's Must Be Santa, and the The Twelve Days of Christmas (John Denver and the Muppets) is on constant rotation on the classroom's c.d. player (aren't headphones the greatest invention ever?):




What holiday songs are your students' favorites?

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Celebrate One, Celebrate Them All...

...might be the holiday policy at your school when it comes to decorating your classroom each December, which means not only will you have colorful and diverse displays in your room over the winter, your students will be exposed to wonderful multi-cultural elements and experiences:



Learning about various winter holidays is a wonderful way to integrate reading, social studies, math, art, dramatic play, and music.  While the majority of my Super Stars celebrate Christmas, they're thrilled to learn about Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, New Year's, and other family festivities.  Here are some crafty links I'm searching through for new project ideas:

Popsicle stick menorahs shared by Creative Jewish Mom...

Ornaments made from recycled cards, scrap cardstock or other found materials at Martha Stewart...

African/Kwanzaa crafts (I love the drum!) at MakingFriends.com...

...and ribbon wreath plates (Make and Takes) which will join our Chris-Moose (how to's shared from last year's post here).


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How about this version of Winter Wonderland by Jason Mraz for your December clean-up song?




I love it.

Confession and an Edublog Award 2009 Nomination

Oh yes, Sharpies are **IT** in my book:

** Silver Sharpies

** Holiday how-to's at Sharpie Blog where they've shared twenty five tips on how to use their markers to add a creative touch to gift giving, decorating and organizational needs!


** And something so totally ME,  Coleurs Cafe Sharpies.

Heaven help me if they figure out how to make pink sparkley Sharpies!

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Tomorrow is the deadline for nominating your favorite education blogs for Edublogs' Awards 2009!  Visit the Edublogs Nomination Site for more details.  

While I've been a fan of many of the blogs nominated in previous years, there's been a noticeable shortage of early childhood/kindergarten energy in the lists.

Time to remedy the situation!

I'd like to nominate Look at My Happy Rainbow! for Best Individual Blog because by gum, I **love** nodding along as I read each of Halpey's posts.  Though I've suggested that he hop on the teacher-fashion-bandwagon (c'mon, certainly some colleague has gifted him with the most obnoxious candy cane tie or suspenders by now), I have nothing but praise and appreciation for how he captures the truth of kindergarten in each of his posts.  

....wonder what markers he prefers?

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Oh yes, it's time...

Busy with Holiday Photos; Advent Links

With so many of our friends and family living elsewhere, our family likes to take candid photos to include in our annual holiday letter and cards.  Hoping that Mother Nature would choose to cooperate with us today, the kids and I found an extra strand of twinkle lights, turned on some Christmas music, and got comfy...


Dear Daughter:





The Pre-Schooler:

Me and the Pre-Schooler:

A blurry but wonderful holiday hug:

...and me, ready for FORTY!

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Tomorrow I'll be back to school and my Super Stars will be chomping at the bit to get the rest of autumn put away, replacing crunchy leaves and pumpkins with "gingerbread" men, Rudolph art, and festive decor.  Each year I have my students make an advent chain so they can count down the days left until St. Nick visits.

My version is the traditional red/green/red/green/red/green paper chain, with a yellow link at the top with the following poem attached:

December first until Christmas 

is the longest time of the year. 

It seems as though old Santa 

never will appear.

How many days until Christmas? 

It's mighty hard to count. 

So this little chain on links 

tells you the exact amount. 

(Students tear off one link each day)

But I've found some other sweet versions online:

~ A cookie sheet advent calendar that uses magnets (easy to simplify for kindergartners and great for a number order/counting center!) over at Anya's- Life is What You Make It...

~ Advent inspiration over at Kids Craft Weekly (easy paper cones and repurposed tissue rolls!)

~ ...if non-traditional is more your style, Poppytalk has some great photos of creative advent calendars  that again, would be simple to modify (or make construction paper versions of) for a classroom.

Merry Christmas

...from my family to yours.



Best wishes for a wonderful New Year!

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

Something Tells Me...

...that my students and their parents ~*know*~ me:



A gift tin full of cookie-makings...



...and multiple batches of coffee, Starbucks goodies, Pampered Chef items, hot chocolate mix, sparkly ornaments, and my magic-teaching-vitamins: peanut m-n-m's. Also received (but the photos turned out blurry) nummy smelling candles and bath treats~

Yep, my Stars and their parents see *everything*!

Merry Christmas Super Stars and Super Star parents- thank you for making me feel so special!

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Need some holiday inspiration or just want to look at pretties that other bloggers have shared? Take a peek:

~ A Storybook Life shares the most beautiful cupcakes (could you ever really bite into these without feeling guilty?)...

~ The Pioneer Woman Cooks fruit and crumbled left over chocolate chip cookies- should there ever *be* left over cookies in my house (um, never), this is the recipe I would try. Those of you with better self control than me, give it a try and let me know how it turns out...

~ Check out Motley Mutton and the Gangly Goat's felt animal necklaces (VERY CUTE!) at Etsy...

~ Saucy's bake sale goodies at Bloggedy Blog Blog just might convince me to pull out the ol' parchment paper one more time this month...

~ Should you ever want a strawberries and cream colored Christmas, head over to Everyday Beauty's Pretty Little Christmas for ideas...

~ Heather Bailey shares a flower pinwheel pattern over at Hello My Name is Heather- check out the poinsettia!

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Tomorrow is my 39th birthday and I am THRILLED! Wonderful husband and kids- *check*. Terrific family and friends- *check*. Awesome students and colleagues- *check*. Roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, and food in our bellies- *check*. Hope, optimism, healthy bouts of laughter, with some quiet time for myself thrown in- *check*. Master's Degree... uh...

Guess it's time to start the New Year's Resolutions.

*****



~ A Little Blog of Art features art/illustrations by Emma Block- my favorites so far are her holiday watercolors featuring ice skaters (along with some cute banners and ornaments), which you can find here...

Royal Icing Recipe (INEDIBLE!)

Apologies! I shared our graham cracker "gingerbread" houses with you but ~forgot~ to share the royal icing recipe!

Several of you have asked me for it, so here it goes!
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Royal Icing Recipe *inedible!*

This recipe yields a very small amount of frosting- so consider making a multiple batch. Three times the amount works well for TWO children.



3 egg whites at room temperature

¾ tsp cream of tartar (in spice/baking aisle at grocery store)

1 pound (about 3 and ¾ cups) confectioner’s (“powdered”) sugar



Combine ingredients in bowl and beat on high speed for ten minutes or until VERY fluffy~ if the icing seems runny, add a bit more powdered sugar and mix, mix, mix some more. Store in airtight container *at room temperature*. Do NOT refrigerate, and remember, DO NOT EAT.

Graham Cracker "Gingerbread" Houses

Our class party was today, so some "creative construction" was in order. We used these



and these



with multiple servings of



and GOBS of ("frosting glue")



~ all donated by our wonderful classroom parents! I brought extra supplies home and let Dear Daughter and the Pre-Schooler create their own "gingerbread" houses:









Holiday crafts are ~*fun*~!

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One of our terrific classroom moms made these:



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If tonight's freezing rain doesn't cause school to be canceled tomorrow, my students will be making pipe cleaner and bead ornaments (along with some January classroom decor before winter vacation): See a photo at Transcraftinental...