Happy New Year!

Wow! Where did the time go? There are only a few hours left for 2010...I hope everyone ends their year on a good note...because....

 2011 is just upon us...and I have a feeling it's going to be a fabulous year!



Marvelous Mittens

In January my kiddos and I usually complete a Mitten Unit...it is super fun and the kids really enjoy it. These are some of the books I plan on reading and some of the activities I plan on doing...

Jan Brett's website is a fabulous resource for any of her books. We will use a lot of the printables she has available on her site.

I usually print and laminate the Mitten Character Masks, then staple them to craft sticks. My Firsties use these masks to retell the story. Later they are placed at a center...so my students can practice retelling the story.

I also like to use the Put the Animals in the Mitten Activity for story sequencing. This activity will be placed at a pocket chart in a center...so that my kiddos can sequence the story. My students will also make and color their own activity to take home.

Marcia Goudie has created some awesome activities that she shares...here are just a few that I'm planning to use.

The Animals of the Mitten worksheet will be used to create patterns or for word problems during math.

The Mitten Sight Words will be used in small group to review sight words with my struggling readers.

The Mitten Stationary will be in the writing center...so that my Firsties can create their own mitten stories.

Here is another sequencing activity that is very cute!

Mathwire.com has a lot of math related ideas for the book The Mitten: Math-Literature Connections for The Mitten.

Here is another Mitten Patterns Book from Kelly's Kindergarten.

Finally, here are some other sites that have great Mitten themed units:

1. The Mitten Story Lessons from Hubbard's Cupboard

2. Magical Mittens from the Virtual Vine

3. Teaching Heart's Mitten Unit

and don't forget about The Mitten probability activities from Swamp Frog First Graders.

 

 I hope y'all (okay...that's my South Texas drawl coming out...hehehe!) enjoy these fun activities!

Favorite Winter Books

These are on my list to read once we get back in January...I love all these books!

What are your favorite winter books?

♥♥Merry Christmas♥♥

♥♥♥May the joy of the season fill your hearts with love and peace.♥♥♥



Teacher Blogs and New Ideas

I love blogging! I love the ideas I get from creative teachers around blogosphere...even though I am really enjoying my time off from school...here are some ideas I can't wait to try with my Firsties...once we get back to school in January...(all in due time!) If you haven't checked out these teachers' blogs...do so quick...their ideas are absolutely fantastic....thank you ladies for sharing with us!

New Year Unit from Really Roper

Snowmen Unit from First Grade Teaching

January Math Center from What the Teacher Wants

The Mitten Unit from Swamp Frog First Graders

and another Happy New Year Unit and Penguin Antonyms Word Work Center from Primary Perspective. 

I hope everyone is enjoying their Winter Break...and Merry Christmas Eve Eve to all!

Little Reindeer and the Grinch

I am still recovering from all the activities we did the last week before Christmas break...my kiddos were super excited about everything and in a jolly, happy mood. We read Christmas at the Top of the World by Tim Coffey and enjoyed writing about Little Reindeer. We first brainstormed a word bank, that they could use when writing...

Then my firsties wrote about and created their own reindeer.

We also read one of my favorite books...How the Grinch Stole Christmas. We created a descriptive word poster about the Grinch. Then my littles set about writing how the Grinch's heart changed at the end of the story. They really loved this story...and the lesson they learned about Christmas.

 

This last picture is of the poem they were singing all. week. long....I'm a little happy we're on a break...and so glad I won't be hearing this chant until next December!

 Hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas break too!

Now off I go to do some shopping!

Blog Mini-Makeover

Thanks to Leelou Blogs I received a mini makeover for my own blog...I love snowmen and I love the colors on this template...so it was absolutely perfect for my little corner in blogland. If you like the design...you can get your own at Leelou Blogs...they are awesome! I hope you like my mini makeover.... ;)

Gingerbread Man Ideas

Here are some of my favorite Gingerbread Man Ideas floating around in blogland...I can't wait to try all of them in my classroom! I love the Gingerbread Man Unit...you can focus on reading skills, math skills, science skills, and even social studies...what more can we want?! All of these very important skills wrapped into one neat little package...talk about integrating the curriculum! And on top of everything...so much fun!

The First Grade Parade has some cute gingerbread men programmed with chunks that children need to sort onto their corresponding plate.

She also has a great Gingerbread Estimation activity that you can download and print to use in your own classroom. 

Babbling Abby has some awesome ideas too. Here are just a few:

Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten has a great idea of using the Gingerbread Man to teach about the 5 senses.

 She also has a great measuring activity...visit her blog for more awesome ideas.

Mrs. Jump provides us with a great visual of what a good anchor chart should look like...she used this to compare different Gingerbread Man stories.

And I absolutely adore her Gingerbread Man Pie Chart! Can't wait to do this activity with my firsties!

Favorite Holiday Books

Just a few of my favorite holiday books.

What are your favorites?