There’s No Time (Literally!) Like the Present!

Do you have a surplus of wrapping paper and bows left over from the holidays? Could you not resist on buying some more on clearance at the stores? (Either could I!)We have a fun and cute idea for how to use all that extra wrapping paper when you return to your students after winter break!

There’s no time (literally!) like the present!

In this season of gift giving, bring the awareness of what the true gift of time can bring to your student’s lives. We introduced the idiom, There’s No Time Like The Present, to teach them that there are things in their life that they can take charge of and accomplish with a little hard work.

After giving some examples of what I chose as goals or New Year’s Resolutions, my students were ready to  choose a goal for themselves. We filled out a graphic organizer to plan how they were going to accomplish this for our prewriting and then started our first draft! Any time students publish their work, like for a bulletin board display, they know they need to edit, peer edit, and revise their writing. Their final draft is written with a pencil so that it is nice and neat!

Let’s sneak a peek at what some of my students wrote!
This little boy wants to stop drinking pop and say “NO!” to sugar!! I can sympathize!

This student wants to watch less T.V.! Great New Year’s Resolution!! (Although I also think she needs some quality time with her “mean” sister!" YIKES!)

We added this lesson to our TpT store for $2.50


Have fun using all the extra wrapping paper!

Reading Strategy Aprons are Now on TPT

Hello, Everyone!  We hope you are getting some much needed rest and relaxation this winter break! 

Just a quick little note to let you know that our Reading Strategy Apron and File are now on TPT! 

Enjoy your time off!

Fun Idea to Do With Your Holiday Guests!

Are you having people over for the holidays or for a New Year's Eve celebration?  Or are you going somewhere to celebrate either of these occasions?  If so, this Time Capsule activity is for you!  Bring a bit of "Awwwww, cute!" to the party along with an appetizer or dessert and you'll be the hit of the night!!

Each year we have everyone over for Christmas Eve.  We do a silly Dollar Store gift exchange, have a goofy ornament making contest, and order pizza.  Nothing fancy, just fun!  We also make a Family Time Capsule.  The best part is reading the sheets from the previous year and seeing how much we've changed!!  Fun!

Family Time Capsule Activity

Includes a directions page and:

This activity could be done at any time of the year (first day of school, 4th of July, birthday, etc.).  Just keep the envelop in a secret place and remember to open it on the same date the following year.  You could also save it for a certain day of the school year-invite family members in, serve light snacks and have them complete the time capsule together.

Setting Up the Time Capsule Area

Gather some winter or holiday themed items and designate a table in your house for families to go to and complete their time capsule sheets.  Provide the sheets, fancy pencils, envelopes, glue sticks, a scale, and measuring tape and let the memory making go from there!   

Sparkle-tip pencils at Michael's for $1!

Happy Memory Making!!

Giveaway Winner Announced!

Thanks to all who entered!!

Have a great weekend!!

Reading Strategy Aprons are Here!!

Some of you might remember our post about the reading aprons we were getting ready to make.  Well, needless to say, the process was a loooong one!!  Before we could shout, “Hot off the heat press!!!” we had to learn all about dye-sublimation vs. heat setting, ink prices, screens, and blends of cotton!  After finally getting the aprons into our hands, we found ourselves using any excuse to wear one! 

Little did we know, an apron is a very handy thing to have around. 

Especially when you’re…

Serving breakfast:

Painting:

And even making dinner…You never know who just might find it useful!

Well, maybe our aprons are not for everyone!

All silliness aside, we REALLY use the aprons to teach the reading strategies to our students!  First, we made sure they were teacher friendly and kid approved!  The students were taught the strategies as a whole group.  Now I wear the apron during guided reading groups when focusing on a particular strategy. 

          

Sometimes students even ask to wear it when they are buddy reading!  It is so sweet to see them using it to help a fellow classmate when they come to a tricky word!

The aprons are available on Teacher’s Notebook for $22 + $3 shipping and handling. 

We will be making trips to the post office on Wednesdays and Saturdays. 

To ensure delivery by December 25th, please place your order by December 16th.

We also have a 15 page file called Reading Strategy File to Accompany our Apron.  This file includes matching icons for a bulletin board display, 3 reading strategy worksheets, and a parent letter explaining the reading strategies for $4.  Please note:  the apron and file are sold separately since Teacher's Notebook cannot combine shippable and digital items. 

 

 

We’re giving away a Reading Strategy Apron and Reading Strategy Apron File to one of our readers!  Simply comment on this post-be sure to leave your email address! 

Check back on Saturday, December 10th to see if you’ve won!

Thanks!!

I Love Vistaprint!

{Don't we all?!?!}

The holiday gifts I ordered from Vistaprint arrived this weekend!  I go through phases where I am completely addicted to their site.  I have lost way too many hours of my life because I was busy creating things for my classroom, my kids, and even my neighbors!!  

I took advantage of a recent sale and ordered postcards for my students:

I sprinkled some snowflake confetti on their desk, and added a bow and their little gift

{which they were excited to hear they could start using today}!

It was an inexpensive and easy idea and a super-duper hit with my students!

Happy Holidays from Our Classrooms to Yours!