What TIME is it???

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How many “times” today have you been asked…

WHAT TIME  IS  IT???

 
For me…
WAY  TOO  MANY!
 
And so…
WE  TEACH!
 
Hour hand.
Minute hand.
O’clock.
Thirty.
 
And OVER…And OVER…And OVER!
 
Big ones for WHOLE Group. 
Little Ones for Small / Independent Practice.
(Practice  MAKES   Perfect!)
 
To help out…
 
I have created a
MUCH   NEEDED  Packet.. 
for ME AND  For YOU!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT  TIME  IS  IT  SNOWMAN?

 
These games will help my kiddos practice
Hour & Half-Hour
in 
MULTIPLE GAME  Formats!
 
 
Those who like SORTING…SORT!
Those who like a MATCHING GAME…MATCH!
Those who like to write..WRITE!
 
And so we work, we play, we practice!
 
And then…

 

WHAT  TIME  IS  IT??

 
RECESS!  LUNCH!  TIME TO GO HOME!
  
Check out my WINTER Pinterest board!
LOTS  of Winter GOODIES!
I am a Cookie Exchange CHEATER! And YOU?

I am a COOKIE Exchange CHEATER!

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Bake Cookies? ME?

OK. I admit it. I am a Cookie Exchange CHEATER!

Have you been to a “Cookie Exchange”? 

You bring 1-2 dozen cookies.

You take home a variety of cookies…

as many cookies as you brought.

Here are some of the cookies made from years past:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AUIVybs91IafbDtkvVkRjnAtfnqJIhGchljvrBWewHyUgeExB8-nPHU/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/532409987183578029/

and these

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/532409987183644068/

And so…

those of you who know me…

I don’t bake…

well, I have..

I just don’t ENJOY it!

* I made a batch of persimmon cookies last weekend.

I felt I had to before the persimmons rotted.

YUCK!

Bad BAKER!

I gave them to the chickens!

And so…  What to take to the family cookie exchange?

Make it…..don’t BAKE it!

TA DA!

Enter..

NUTTER  BUTTER  REINDEER!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/95349717084620212/

Check out my COOKIE Pinterest board for MORE ideas!

And so…

Will it be a Pinterest SUCCESS?

or

A Pinterest FAIL?

Here we go!

Supplies.

Lay out the Nutter Butters.

Break the pretzels into antlers.

Mix powdered sugar into

ROYAL  FROSTING.

(It dries like CEMENT…it holds everything!)

I think ..Pinterest SUCCESS!

The grandkids LOVE them!

So was I a COOKIE EXCHANGE cheater?

Maybe. But you know what?

The smiles & hugs made it ALL worthwhile!

Merry Christmas!

Winter Literacy & Math Centers

WINTER IS WONDERFUL

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Winter.
Snow.
Jackets, mittens, scarves, & snowboots.
 
I am NOT an expert on SNOW!
 
I live in NORCAL.
Wine country. 
 
Not a lot of snow here.
 
My students LOVE to learn about WINTER!
 
Our favorite theme.
 
 
ELA  AND  MATH  CENTERS
 
English  Language  Arts

 

Contractions

 

VERBS

 

MIXED UP SENTENCES

 

WRITING…MAIN IDEA  &  DETAILS
 
MATH

 

 
Math Mountains
Missing  Addends

 

MAKING  10  STRATEGY
PLACE  VALUE

Are YOU a HELPER ELF?

1 Reply
It’s the 
MOST, WONDERFUL 
TIME OF THE YEAR!


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!

We talked about 
HOW we can HELP at HOME, 
at SCHOOL, 
and help our FRIENDS!
 
We talked about giving from the “heart”.
Our class meeting was SO enlightening!
My kids were SO engaged.
It was NOT about “ME..ME..ME”.
It was about “What can I do for OTHERS!”
 
Sniff..sniff..made tears of joy come to my eyes!
 
IT WAS AWESOME!
 
And so…
 
Santa, you can come to ROOM 3.
(I have a feeling…he will)
 
But for now..
 
WE WILL BE HELPING YOU,SANTA!
 
WE ARE HELPER ELVES!
 

 

 

 
To help YOU out…
 
I have some 
CHRISTMAS Goodies
for the classroom
in my TPT store.
 
 
Here is a FREEBIE
from my store!
 
MERRY CHRISTMAS, 
Helper ELVES!
 

 

How to get ready for Christmas without the STRESS!

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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…

Christmas will be here!

I  LOVE CHRISTMAS!

So??  

 How  to  get  ready??

PACE YOURSELF!

Think 

MARATHON…NOT  SPRINT!

 Where to start?

#1…..Make LISTS!

(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…

#2…..DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN DEBT FOR THE NEW YEAR!

 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.

SLOW DOWN! Not ready to buy yet!

Now….start talking, texting, asking others…

#3…..DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE!

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!

#4…..Figure out what you can spend…

AFTER PAYING YOUR BILLS & feeding your family.

They always come first…don’t forget to add them to your MUST list!

Your kids COME FIRST!

And NOT going into SEVERE debt!

Only charge what YOU can pay off the next month!

NO DEBT AFTER JANUARY!

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..

#5…..I begin to look at my 

LIST of ” WANT to purchase for”

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!  

Christmas is NOT about who can GUILT YOU the MOST!

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!

Make Memories!

And when JANUARY comes around..

SMILE!

(And maybe  a mani / pedi  for  yourself?)

But…remember…

Christmas is from the HEART..not the WALLET!

Have FUN!  

Elf on the Shelf… FAILURE!

Do OVER!

What do YOU do to get ready for CHRISTMAS????

Writing BUNDLE for the Elementary Classroom

It’s time to focus on WRITING! Here we go!

Leave a reply

It’s that time of the year.

No. Not Easter Eggs.

Not Spring flowers.

Not even putting up the Christmas tree…YET!

In our classroom, it is time to FOCUS ON WRITING!

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. 

We focus on writing.

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!

WHY? It is time to Focus on Writing!

 

 

 

Good Luck!

Give them time, support, and

LOTS of practice. 

Remember…

It’s time to focus on Writing! 

Here are some MORE ideas to help with writing:

Informational Writing

Balanced Literacy

Literacy “Do-Over”

 

If you want to see MORE goodies from 1stgradefireworks  FOLLOW ME:

FB        IG     Pin   

 TPT     Blog 

 

Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours!

Wendy

 

 

Veteran's Day 2019

Happy Veteran’s Day from A Proud Military Family

1 Reply

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

Book Clubs Reading Response Pages

UPDATE to Book Club Book Reports

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This is crazy!

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!

So every once in a while…

I need someone to give me a little

PUSH    SHOVE    KICK IN THE  PANTS!

Time to  git’er DONE!

Larry the Cable Guy

Git ‘er DONE!

This has been one of those weeks!

So…

I have a packet I made that I use in my classroom

A  LOT!

If any of you already have this…

DO NOT FEAR!

Help is on it’s way!

Book CLub

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 was in need of “A LIFT” ( in all the right places ).

It sounds like me!

SO…I DID IT!

I GOT ‘ER DONE!

And here she is…

ALL gussied up and purdy!

Book Club UPDATE Preview

Preview of ALL of the NEW additions to Book CLUB!

Book Club New cover

Updated Book Club Book Reports

Book Club Discussion Cards

Character discussion cards for Book Clubs

Book Report BOOKLET STYLE!

Booklets for Book Clubs! YES!

Grammar in Book Clubs!

Proper nouns in Book Clubs

Make a Book Connection in Book CLubs

Writing and Reading!

Booklet Book Clubs

Booklets for easy PREP & GO!

Booklet Writing in Book CLubs

Reading and writing BOOKLETS for Book CLUBS

Phoncs in Book Clubs

Book CLubs have Phonics pages too!

She has grown from 14 pages to 44!

She is ALL GROWED UP NOW!

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

1stgradefireworks

You will  LOVE this!

Click HERE

Wendy

Need MORE LITERACY Information?

WHAT DOES READ AT HOME REALLY LOOK LIKE?

Welcome the VOWEL KIDS

Are YOUR students ready for GAMES..in centers?

Balanced Literacy WEEK 1

Check out these GREAT Products to help kiddos READ & WRITE!

Balanced Literacy

 

NOVEMBER? Already? Don’t BLINK!

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I just LOVE

Kenny Chesney… Don’t Blink

I think he is really, speaking to ME!
As I  am singing…no  BELTING OUT… his song
( in my car of course…windows up..no one wants to
hear this voice)

“DON’T BLINK”

Don’t blink
Just like that you’re six years old and you take a
nap and you
Wake up and you’re twenty-five and your high
school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don’t blink
You just might miss your babies growing
like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know
your better half
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you’re praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than
you think
So don’t blink
 
I can TOTALLY RELATE!
I swear…I just looked at the calendar & it was OCTOBER!
Early OCTOBER!
THEN…WHAM!
Halloween is here..NO..GONE!
and now it is NOVEMBER! 
WHERE DID OCTOBER GO??
As I turn the calendar, I realize 
I need to slow down
and appreciate ALL that I have in the HERE & NOW!
So, my friends..
BEFORE the Holidays come…55 days to be exact!

Don’t BLINK!

Take a few moments to 
STOP! Look around! Remember this MOMENT!
It will be gone in a BLINK!
Enjoy the…
LULL
( Before the RUSH!)
Take a minute, relish the moment, and
ENJOY!
BECAUSE…tomorrow will be here soon enough…
I wonder where I can get a
2024 CALENDAR?
(I better hurry…it will be here SOON!)
HAHAHA
Enjoy your weekend!
 
Here are a few 
“helpers” to get you through the
 Nov./Dec.  rush!
 
DON’T  BLINK!
 
Enjoy!
Wendy

 

Things Primary teachers do that are QUIRKY!

Primary Teachers are Quirky!

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Primary Teachers are QUIRKY!

HUH???

Quirky is defined as…  

”  something that is strange/not normal but cool. Unconventional, surprising, odd.”

You mean ME?  I am… ODD?

YES! YOU!

Here are the top 5 reasons PRIMARY Teachers are QUIRKY!

one reason primary teachers are quirky

Number one reason Primary teachers are Quirky

We like to “DRESS UP”!

Now in most professions, there is a RULE of  PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE.

Teacher's dress codes differ from grade to grade and school to school.

Profession attire for QUIRKY teachers?

In Teaching…we are a little “QUIRKY”!

Elementary teachers dress up to enhance student engagement.

Elementary teachers dress up in tutus. QUIRKY?

Elementary teachers dress up to enhance student engagement.

Minions teacher costumes. Thank You https://teachinginroom6.com

Elementary teachers dress up to enhance student engagement.

Yo Gabba Gabba! Thank You https://teachinginroom6.com

Elementary teachers dress up for Halloween to enhance student engagement.

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?

You see…QUIRKY!

Number two quirky

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!

Strategies for making the classroom SMELL sweeter.

Sweet smelling sprays

Strategies for making the classroom SMELL sweeter.

Air fresheners are NOT QUIRKY!

Strategies for making the classroom SMELL sweeter.

Quirky teachers make the classroom smell sweeter.

And then …24 LITTLE ONES go outside for RECESS.

AND they come back in…

YUCK! Wet puppy smells need strategies for making the classroom SMELL sweeter.

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…

Strategies for making the classroom SMELL sweeter.

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

Number three for Quirky teachers

Lunch.

A Primary teacher’s lunch is a LITTLE  QUIRKY!

First, it has to have pieces that can be held in

ONE  HAND!

Teacher multitasking.

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

Number four for Quirky teachers

DIY? Quirky?

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!

Elementary teachers LOVE to use NEON spray paint for DIY centers and classroom workstations.

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…

Reading center storage drawers for guided reading centers.

Sterlite drawers

Reading center storage drawers for guided reading centers.

Tool Kits for BRAG TAG drawers

Teacher storage areas for centers, materials, and guided reading books.

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

Number five for the quirky teacher

Are you QUIRKY about BAGS?

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…

Lesson plans, lunch, grading papers...bags for teachers

Quirky teachers LOVE big bags…and I cannot lie!

BIG bags for teachers

Colorful Big Bags!

Bags that have files for grading papers, lesson plans, balanced literacy materials.

Organized BIG Bags…be still my heart!

Big Bags for teachers

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

Back to School Vocabulary Banner from 1stgradefireworks

Check out OTHER fun things from 1stgradefireworks!

Pin IT! 🙂