I do not own this video. This video belongs to SantaKlaws67 http://www.youtube.com/user/SantaKlaws67
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN!
I work at a low socioeconomic,
Title 1 school.
This time of year can be very hard for some kids.
Some families DON’T celebrate Christmas.
Some families can’t afford gifts.
Some are VERY proud and won’t accept donations.
So…Santa doesn’t come to EVERY house.
via GIPHY
So today..we had
THE TALK.
THE talk about what December, Christmas, and Santa
are REALLY about.
GIVING & HELPING!
Today…we became
HELPER ELVES!
I know…BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Folks..LIFE IS BUSY! Christmas time is BUSY!
Sorry to be the one to tell you that.
BUT…
30 days …from TODAY (11.25.23) 4 SUNDAYS!
YES, 4 SUNDAYS…
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!
So??
Think
MARATHON…NOT SPRINT!
(I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE LISTS! )
List ALL ( YES ALL ) of the people you
WOULD LIKE to give gifts to.
Now…
PUT A STAR next to the people you MUST give a gift to.
(I know that sounds weird..but..I would LOVE to give gifts to
EVERYONE…but…my bank account says I must prioritize).
It doesn’t mean I won’t give a gift…
just might be a “thoughtful”… not-as-costly gift.
Reality people!
If money grew on trees…
So…there is officially 1 more PAYCHECK until Christmas.
( Or figure out HOW many PAYCHECKS YOU have until DEC. 24 )
Take the number of gifts YOU MUST purchase
and divide by EXTRA $$.
***If you have been SAVING for Christmas, which you WILL DO for NEXT year, add that too!
That tells you HOW many GIFTS you MUST purchase and the amount you have to spend.
That’s important because
now you can begin looking for a gift
for the PERSON…not just a check-off on a list.
Now….start talking, texting, asking others…
ASK!!!!
What items do the people on your list WANT…NEED…LOVE?????
Add this to your LIST!
( If for kids…ASK THEIR PARENTS…sizes, likes, ages,etc )
Now…start looking…
online? Look for FREE shipping!
(AMAZON PRIME ..I am speed dial!)
Friends & Family …FAR AWAY??? ( Sorry )
SHIP TO THEM!
Don’t ship to YOU & then pay to ship to them!
SHIP DIRECTLY! FREE!
STOP!
YOU HAVE NOT MADE A BUDGET YET!
They always come first…don’t forget to add them to your MUST list!
And NOT going into SEVERE debt!
Only charge what YOU can pay off the next month!
OK..then..start listing whom you will purchase for.
After you purchase…keep the receipt!
I write the name of the person I purchased it for on the back…
RETURNS? Easy Peasy!
After you purchase…
or it arrives from SANTA’S HELPER
IN THE BROWN UPS TRUCK… 🙂
WRAP IT AND ATTACH A NAME TAG!
( This is from a Santa’s Helper…who has forgotten and was wrapping WAY TOO LATE INTO CHRISTMAS EVE! )
After Thanksgiving..
but NOT necessarily,
“Must Purchase For”
on my list!
( Yes I keep it in a little book in my purse! )
Now I have a better idea of “extras”…
Do I need to do “homemade”….giftcards…..”I thought of you- but have no $$ left” card?
What kinds of gifts can you give for NO MONEY?
How about a picnic at the park? A TEA PARTY for kids? A trip to the library to read books? Take a young child to the ZOO???
Gifts of “ONE TO ONE” time…ARE THE BEST!
And you can schedule them AFTER the holidays.
The gift that keeps on giving!
Whatever fits YOU!
RELAX!
NO GUILT!
It’s about telling the people you care about..
THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU!
Enjoy the season.
Spend time with friends & family!
TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!
And when JANUARY comes around..
SMILE!
(And maybe a mani / pedi for yourself?)
But…remember…
Have FUN!
What do YOU do to get ready for CHRISTMAS????
It’s that time of the year.
No. Not Easter Eggs.
Not Spring flowers.
Not even putting up the Christmas tree…YET!
To each skill there is a time to learn, a time to practice, and a time to MASTER.
In our classroom, it’s time for WRITING.
It’s probably the hardest for primary ( TK- 2 ) students to MASTER.
There is SO MUCH to learn!
Phonics, Grammar, Sentences, Spelling, Procedures…etc., etc.
And what if English is your SECOND language? Oh my!
And so, we start early.
Work hard. Practice A LOT.
And MASTER it, in time.
We need HELP. We can’t do it alone.
And we shouldn’t! We need help, support,
practice, and time.
We teach NONFICTION writing also!
WHAT? Help is here.
Check out my post on Interactive and Shared Writing
To help support my EL’s and my Emergent Writers, I have a NEW BUNDLE for Writing.
Writing BUNDLE for the Elementary Classroom
This is a combination of my top 3 writing products!
Good Luck!
Give them time, support, and
LOTS of practice.
Remember…
Here are some MORE ideas to help with writing:
If you want to see MORE goodies from 1stgradefireworks FOLLOW ME:
Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!
Wendy
Veteran’s DAY!
We are a military family.
Army & Navy.
We have heard stories from WWII to Korea to today.
Great Grandpa’s, Grandpa’s, Dad’s, cousins, sons, daughter-in-law…
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
In MY classroom
I spend a lot of time discussing MY SON
ACTIVE US NAVY…
and why it is SOOO important to say
“THANK YOU” for their service.
He is currently on deployment…
He was married to an active military US NAVY wife,
AND they had …MY GRANDDAUGHTER!
( She is sooooo cute!)
But he left them behind to live on a ship and PROTECT US!
So how can we say THANK YOU?
We send letters, pictures, stories, and cutsie art projects.
And this MOMMY sends BOXES of COOKIES! 🙂
I try to send things at least once a month.
This month’s ideas…
( Pinterest is GREAT FOR THIS! )
Let’s Talk Turkey
Next Month…… DECEMBER CRAFTIVITIES
Just a little something to remind them of
All of us at home who CARE!
When my son is no longer on a ship…
we send things to friends & family who are
ACTIVE soldiers & sailors.
AND
We send things to the local Veteran’s HOSPITAL.
All who serve and who have served…deserve a THANK YOU!
I searched GOOGLE for a local VA Hospital address…
takes a little searching, but time WELL spent!
ALL will appreciate it.
Parents who cannot ( or are not) with their own kids
appreciate a little art project or note from a child, any child.
A little smile, a little laugh, a warm fuzzy from home.
No need to put names on them.
Here are a few addresses …
To those Veteran’s ( active or inactive )
AND THEIR FAMILIES …
THANK YOU!
Happy Veteran’s Day!
Wendy
I’m getting LAZY!
Now ..I work 3 jobs…I get up at 5:00AM and go to bed at 9:00PM.
I think I deserve some DOWN time!
BUT…
Then…I..get…really…. complacent…procrastinate…LAZY!
I need someone to give me a little
Time to git’er DONE!
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Git ‘er DONE!
This has been one of those weeks!
So…
If any of you already have this…
DO NOT FEAR!
Help is on it’s way!
Book Club Book Reports
Now,
MY KIDS LOVE THIS!
The packet is full of independent activities, comprehension questions, word work, etc
ALL related to the BOOK OF THEIR CHOICE!
I can use it with ANY book…
AND
My independent readers can read a book
and as a GROUP
( can we say COLLABORATE )
they can DISCUSS & complete the pack TOGETHER!
Now I don’t use it daily…maybe once every two weeks or so.
It takes them a while & I really want them to
“get into it”.
Lots of rewards, positive notes, and specials when completed.
It’s a GOOD THING!
BUT…
It’s OLD. Really OLD.
It sounds like me!
SO…I DID IT!
I GOT ‘ER DONE!
And here she is…
ALL gussied up and purdy!
Preview of ALL of the NEW additions to Book CLUB!
Updated Book Club Book Reports
Character discussion cards for Book Clubs
Booklets for Book Clubs! YES!
Proper nouns in Book Clubs
Writing and Reading!
Booklets for easy PREP & GO!
Reading and writing BOOKLETS for Book CLUBS
Book CLubs have Phonics pages too!
She has grown from 14 pages to 44!
I added a booklet style because
PAPER & INK ARE AT A PREMIUM!
So now…less paper…less ink…
more productive teacher & students!
My Little LOVE…
Book Club
is available
at my TPT store
(click picture)
1stgradefireworks
You will LOVE this!
Wendy
Need MORE LITERACY Information?
WHAT DOES READ AT HOME REALLY LOOK LIKE?
Are YOUR students ready for GAMES..in centers?
Check out these GREAT Products to help kiddos READ & WRITE!
HUH???
Quirky is defined as…
” something that is strange/not normal but cool. Unconventional, surprising, odd.”
You mean ME? I am… ODD?
YES! YOU!
Number one reason Primary teachers are Quirky
We like to “DRESS UP”!
Now in most professions, there is a RULE of PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE.
Profession attire for QUIRKY teachers?
In Teaching…we are a little “QUIRKY”!
Elementary teachers dress up in tutus. QUIRKY?
Minions teacher costumes. Thank You https://teachinginroom6.com
Yo Gabba Gabba! Thank You https://teachinginroom6.com
Character costumes…QUIRKY? Thank You https://teachinginroom6.com
We tend to “go the extra mile!”
And it’s a GOOD thing!
( May have to add that to THING 1 & THING 2).
You get MY drift!
How many TEACHER Tshirts do YOU own?
Do YOU wear SCHOOL shirts on FRIDAY?
Do YOU OWN a Dr. Suess HAT?
Do you DESIRE a pair of shoes or socks that look like a PENCIL?
See? Just a LITTLE QUIRKY!
AND …HEELS???
Who can chase little ones
or grab the glue bottle
before it puddles
on the floor..
in heels?
NUmber two things that teachers do that are QUIRKY!
SMELLS..
Who doesn’t LOVE to walk into a room smelling of…
LAVENDER
COFFEE
FLOWERS
COOKIE DOUGH
etc., etc.
We all DO!
And so we PACK IN THE SMELLY STUFF!
Sweet smelling sprays
Air fresheners are NOT QUIRKY!
Quirky teachers make the classroom smell sweeter.
And then …24 LITTLE ONES go outside for RECESS.
AND they come back in…
UGH! Quirky teachers DON”T like the smell of WET PUPPIES!
SMELLING LIKE WET PUPPIES!
UGH!
And SOME of those 6-year-old WET PUPPIES…
NEED DEODORANT!
And so…we retreat to our OLD FRIEND…
Yeah CLOROX!
* in MY district you NOW must obtain a 1 hr. PD and get a “CERTIFICATE” to use CLOROX wipes in the classroom.
A Little QUIRKY!
But…we do what we need to do to survive!
Myself…I prefer cookie dough candles…
JUST ME.
DON’T LIGHT THEM…
JUST SMELL THEM!
Number three for Quirky teachers
Lunch.
First, it has to have pieces that can be held in
ONE HAND!
The Quirky teacher can do more in one lunch period, than most people do ALL DAY!
I always laugh when someone says,
” You HAVE 40 minutes for LUNCH?”
Yeah…after I get 25 kids to the cafeteria.
AND…one doesn’t forget their lunch and we have to walk back & do it AGAIN!
AND…if I don’t have to call a parent.
AND..if I don’t need to run off papers.
AND..if I don’t need to correct spelling tests, prepare the SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, write a note,
AND…HEAVEN FORBID…
GO TO THE BATHROOM!
( Don’t forget to EAT…it will be ANOTHER 4 hours until you are FREE!)
So…bring a lunch that can be eaten in ONE HAND!
The other hand MAY BE BUSY!
A LITTLE QUIRKY!
Number four for Quirky teachers
Those DREADED WORDS!
Do It YOURSELF…NEVER! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!
I don’t think I have EVER started a DIY where I didn’t involve someone else!
Thank YOU to my WONDERFUL HUBBY…
He puts up with my QUIRKINESS!
Spray PAINT!
Quirky teachers LOVE NEON SPRAY PAINT! Raise your colored finger!
Did YOU feel your hands get clammy?
How your heart rate INCREASED?
Do you have a smile on YOUR FACE?
NEON SPRAY PAINT!
Do YOU feel the “NEED”…to spray
SOMETHING?
I know..it’s OK…
I think some people are “wired” with it.
The NEED to PAINT!
And we do…
Sterlite drawers
Tool Kits for BRAG TAG drawers
Ahhh..organized storage for ALL. Quirky or NOT!
We will SPRAY EVERYTHING!
And…it’s OK!
( I’m sure SOMEWHERE…there is a 12 step program for this!)
QUIRKY?
YEAH!
Number five for the quirky teacher
No.Not grocery bags.
I mean BIG, LONG HANDLED, BRIGHTLY COLORED, (maybe) on wheels,
BAGS!
“I Like BIG bags & I cannot lie…”
(I think it’s a SONG)
Me dancing…
Quirky teachers LOVE big bags…and I cannot lie!
Colorful Big Bags!
Organized BIG Bags…be still my heart!
Bags on WHEELS! OH YEAH!
But…
LOOK AT THE BRIGHT COLORS!
We will carry 50-80 POUNDS of STUFF in ONE BAG…
GOTTA keep MY hands FREE!
And not think twice about it.
I AM NOT walking BACK to MY classroom AGAIN!
Yes…I can carry it ALL in one trip!
(Why do my shoulders & my back hurt so much?!)
But LOOK at the BRIGHT COLORS! So cute!
No…I will NOT buy 24 folders at TARGET for 17 cents each!
I just bought the CUTEST “31” BAG.. 🙂
A LITTLE QUIRKY!
And so…
Some of us were meant to be PRIMARY TEACHERS.
AND some are NOT!
To those who are…
HOLD YOUR SPRAYPAINTED FINGER UP HIGH…
WEAR YOUR T-SHIRTS PROUDLY…
AND SMELL the QUIRKINESS in YOUR WORLD!
WELCOME to the CLUB!
If you have HUNG in here for this LONG POST…
Keep GIGGLING…
Here is a FREEBIE for YOU!
Back to School Vocabulary Banner from 1stgradefireworks
Check out OTHER fun things from 1stgradefireworks!
Pin IT! 🙂
I don’t like things on my head.
I do enjoy a great laugh.
I want to participate with the group.
I am a TEAM PLAYER.
Sreaming Child
There! I said it!
I am the “old teacher” who does NOT dress up for Halloween.
Old Granny
WHY? I dunno.
Just never got “into it”.
The whole “make-up, costume, prop thing” just doesn’t appeal to me.
I don’t get the whole “dress up as someone else”, thing.
DON’T GET ME WRONG!
I love HALLOWEEN!
I dressed my kids up in HOMEMADE costumes AND store-bought costumes.
They were SO CUTE!
I just can’t do it at school!
My kiddos are NOT allowed to wear costumes to school.
I will NOT, if they cannot.
I wouldn’t dress up, even if THEY could. Sorry, Not me!
A cute T-SHIRT! YES!
Maybe. Maybe not.
Maybe??
This post might help me…
WOW! CUTE hat!… Maybe… Gotta go…
I think I found a HAT I LIke.
Stay tuned. Check out my Instagram.
There may be a HALLOWEEN pic.
Maybe. 🙂
Help me out…What do YOU dress up for on HALLOWEEN?
Leave me a comment. 🙂
Wendy
Reading-
Reading Passage
Comprehension Printable
Reading Response Printables
Vocabulary Pocket Chart Cards
Poem ( And Cut a part printable )
Writing-
Spelling List Forms
Word Family Charts
HFW Lists
Journal Pages & Covers
Interactive Journal Pages
Flap Book Graphic Organizer
Assessments-
BPST printable
Fluency Assessment
HFW List
Grade 1 / 2
