Holiday Gifts....Completed!

As of last Sunday, I had no idea what my first grade students were going to create for their families.  I wandered around Walmart aimlessly as I searched through my Pinterest account on my cell phone.  Nothing was coming together, my brain was tired, my creativity was zapped, I was at an all time holiday low.  But then, my dear husband called.  He was at Home Depot......did I need anything?   Poor thing, he had to listen to crazy me rattle on and on like only an exhausted, old first grade teacher could, in the midst of the holiday bustle.  Out of desperation, he mentioned that I could paint blocks and create a snowman like he had seen one day when I was looking at my Pinterest boards.  Maybe he had a thought here.  He told me to get stuff to decorate wood blocks while he tracked somebody down to cut 2 by 4 boards into 6 inch blocks.  I easily found paint, felt, buttons, ribbon, and women's ankle socks.  As you can see, his idea turned out to be one of the cutest family gifts my students have ever made.  My students painted the blocks one day, and then decorated them the next.  They cannot wait to take these little cuties home and I have once again found holiday cheer!   Happy Holidays!  

Kindness Tree

I love the month of December because it gives my first graders an opportunity to share acts of kindness with others.  One way we do this is with our Kindness Tree.  On the first day of December I bring in an undecorated tree.  The students are usually surprised and baffled by the empty tree and they often want to quickly decorate it.  I let them know that we will add one ornament everyday to the tree.   The ornament is a plain, white plastic ball.  We think of a word that we can write on the ornament that would show kindness.  I write the words with a black Sharpie marker and then we hang it on the tree.  For example, if our word is smile, we will practice that word all day in the classroom, throughout the school, and at home.  We are finding that when we share these kind acts in our classroom, school, and home, we are giving the gift of kindness to others.  These gifts don't cost a penny but rather come from the heart and are worth more than we may ever know.  The students also begin to realize that as we add each ornament to the tree, the tree grows more beautiful.....just as we do when we share our gifts with others.  

Reading Buddy Poem and Gift!

During Daily Five, my students are able to choose a reading buddy from our classroom basket to read to during Reading to Self.  My first graders have loved the buddies all year long, so for Christmas I decided to give them all a new buddy to take home.  I created this little poem to go on the gift tags:
I am your little reading buddy,
quiet as can be.
I will listen to you,
as you read to me.
Read to me anywhere,
anytime you can.
You will soon find, 
I am your biggest fan!
Happy Reading!
I found some great felt gift bags from Target to put them in and the gift and gift wrap are complete!  Happy Holidays!

Don't Forget the Simple Things!

 This time of year can be so hectic and rushed in the classroom with everything that needs to get done academically.  The students still LOVE the simple things, however.  Making reindeer headbands with hand traced antlers and a red pompom nose seem to mean so much, especially when we take a picture of the whole class wearing their headbands and then make copies to place in the holiday cards we make our families!  Making simple reindeer ornaments out of craft sticks to hang on the classroom tree also brings a sparkle to everyone's eyes as the kids realize they decorated the tree with things they made themselves.  Glueing colored pasta around their own photo to take home to share, reminds each student that they are an important part of their family and our class.  I have found it is the simple things that mean so much.  We just need to slow down and realize these are the things the students will remember and treasure!

Happy Holidays!

Easy Gift Bags for Students to Make

 If you need simple, quick gift bags for your students to make this is the idea I go back to year after year.  You just need a white bag, bow, and green and red paint.  I trace a circle on the bag in pencil and then the student dips a finger into green paint and dabs around the circle.  When the green paint dries, the student can then dab a few red dots around the circle.  I hot glue a bow on and then the bag is ready for a gift!


    These are the cards I just finished making for Reindeer Noses gift bags for my co-workers.  You simply just put some Whoppers Candy and a red gum ball (for Rudolph's nose) in a baggie and then place some type of tag labeled "Reindeer Noses" attached to it.