We're Gonna Knock Your Socks Off!

Hello Everyone!
First day back with kids!!  Great Day!!  We took a lot of time today to celebrate 2015, warm up our brains, and set some new years resolutions!  In math I decided to combine our celebration and warm up with a little number bonding. We focused on the number 15 today in honor of 2015. Kids took turns tossing 15 sparkly pom poms onto our New Year hat.  They then had to figure out the 2 number bonds to go with 15 by looking at the pom poms on and off the hat.  As we were tossing, we were calling out "Happy New Year!" Our own little bit of new year fun! 

For our work on writing today, We were inspired by a New Years Resolution poem and brainstormed ways we could improve ourselves in our classroom. I can't believe the list the kids cam up with!! Way to go, guys!!  Of course we had to add one last thing to our list and that was that we need to believe in ourselves.  I think it's important to let them know that that almost need to come first and that I believe in them and what they can accomplish.

Then it was time for the kids to write their own choices for new years resolutions. We are gonna knock your socks off in 2015!!  We believe!!!

And then, of course I had to deliver our Believe Bracelets!! You should have heard these sweet kids!! "I'm never taking mine off!!" 

I believe all my littles left today knowing that I believe in them and they believe in themselves as well!!  What could be better?

For the New Years activities, you can CLICK HERE for the free download.

For the Believe Bracelets printable CLICK HERE!!

I am so looking forward to this semester with this group.  Watch out for flying socks!!

Till next time, thanks for stopping by for a peek into our wonder-filled world!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Believe

Hello Everyone,
Well, today the teachers in our district went back to school after being off for two weeks for winter break.  It felt good to be back, even though it was hard to hear that blaring alarm clock this morning. Today gave us a chance to meet together as an entire faculty, in vertical teams, and as a grade level team.  Our focus was "Believe." We discussed what that word meant to us, and to our students, our classrooms, teams, school, etc. We are so dedicated in our belief that we can make a difference in all of those! We read many quotes about belief, but my all time favorite one is "Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them,“ from the heart and mouth of Lady Bird Johnson.  If you really think about that quote, it  says it all.  Everything we do or don't do, say, or don't say, show or don't show, feel or don't feel...kids will live up to what they think you believe of them. I am a firm believer in the notion that if kids feel my belief in them-- the belief that they can be successful-- they will believe it themselves. Phew! That's a lot of "beliefs!" Hopefully you followed me on all that!!
Anyway, as a little reminder to myself, I made this little printable, and to go along with it.... some Believe Bracelets!  I plan on using the bracelets tomorrow already as we talk about setting goals for the second semester. 

For a printable of your own along with the Believe Bracelets, CLICK here!

Here's to tomorrow and believing in all of our littles!!! Have the best day ever!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Let It Snow!

Hello Everyone!!
Happy New Year!!!  My wish for you in this coming year is that you find some joy in every day!  I get so much joy creating hands on curriculum for young learners which will engage their hands and minds!! Today I want to share a little unit that uses snow and snowmen for inspiration.  My apologies to my Australian and other friends who are in the middle of summer right now, but maybe you can save this for another time in your year! :) This little unit is loaded with 80 pages of ELA, Math, and Science activities--whole group and independent, including my new favorite way to reinforce retelling!! Story Spoons!!! Take a look at some of what is included!

Lots of math games

Mystery Picture with addition and subtraction

Written Expression and hands on visual opportunities

Retelling practice

Mini Posters for Retelling

Story Spoons- Use for whole group
and Independent Retelling

 

Snowglobe Fun!!!

Tic Tac Snow!! Use jumbo marshmallows!

If you are at all interested in any of these and so much more, 

CLICK HERE!!!

Yes! It's free!! (***as is everything I post!! Just let me know if you can use any of this or if there is something else you want to see!***)

Well, only a couple more days of winter break fun!! Stay tuned for my next little unit "Hot Hot Hot Chocolate!!"

Thanks for stopping by our frosty little 

Window on Wonder!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Happy Holidays!

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by this little "Window On Wonder!"  I hope you had a wonder filled Christmas with friends and family. Mine was filled with all kinds of joy!! We got to celebrate my baby's college graduation...

 and then the birth of our Savior! 

The house was filled with family, friends, and food, along with love, laughter and loads of giving spirit! Today is a little more calm and quiet as my guys are out golfing.  I am cleaning, reorganizing, and actually enjoying a little bit of time to myself.  I thought I'd take a minute of this time to share what I was up to with my little firsties the week before break.
Our parent gifts turned out so cute this year.  For the passed 8 years we had been creating a snowman plate for our gifts. 

But this year, because of our diminishing funds, we decided to take the same idea and put it on a tea towel!! I think they turned out just as cute!! (And unbreakable!)

The first few pics show the steps I took to make my sample.  I didn't get too many pics of the kids actually working on their's. They needed my full attention during the process...if you know what I mean!! :)

We got tea towels at IKEA!
 Very cost efficient!!
(We had to get 130 of them!!)

We  wrapped them simply, in a white lunch sized paper bag. The kids were so happy their hard work and patience paid off.  They were so excited about giving their sweet gifts to their parents.

Speaking of giving, we spend a lot of time talking about and practicing giving this time of year. (The Christmas "gimmies" often take our attention.) We created a tree this year with ornaments that shared some different ideas. 

"I want...   I need... and I can give..."  

We brainstormed different heart responses to these starters and then created our ornaments.

LOOOOOOOOVE the kids' sweet ideas for giving!

Then, of course, we celebrated the wonderful story by Dr. Seuss, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." We celebrated the changes in the Grinch all week, culminating with Grinch Day at the end of the week! Grinch Day is one of our favorite days of the year. We have been embracing that green guy for the past 6 years or more. Every year it reminds us of the the spirit of the season.
Enjoy the pics!

A stuffed Grinch came to visit and watch us work!

And we couldn't forget that sweet little dog, Max!!

Tune - Row Row Row Your Boat

Adjective Study

Grinchy Adjectives!

Think Outside the Box

Happy Grinch Day!

Celebrating Green!!

Grab some green!

Green Glow Energy for Science!

How about some Who Pudding???!!!

My Crazy Team!!! WOW!!!
If you want to try some of the Green Guy's activities, CLICK HERE!


Stay tuned for a new version of my Snow unit for January.  I love having time to rework things!!
This little blog brings me such joy.  The opportunity to grow as an educator and share my experiences with new friends (fellow educators, parents, homeschoolers, educational publications, professors, even kids!) all over the world takes my breath away. May the new year bring all of you more joys than you can count!!
As Always,
Joyfully!
Nancy