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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Grinches and Elfs and Celebrations {PLUS FREEBIES}... OH MY!

The last couple of days have been extremely CRAZY creative ones in the classroom. It has been such a fun experience getting to loop from kindergarten to first grade with my fun and hilarious class, but that's another story...

This week we did a couple of very hands-on activities that the kids really sunk their teeth into and their scissors... it looked like Edward Scissorhands had been in our classroom!  The first activity we conquered was a "Winter Celebrations" Book.  {I will give a BONUS ITEM to the first person that comments with the error on one of these page examples...}  See pics below:

 
The next project was a Grinchy affair!  I AM ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH THIS PROJECT!!!!  THEY TURNED OUT SO CUTE! Ok, I'm done screaming... We created The Grinch from construction paper {no they didn't have a template, but I do give them visuals for each step, which I can share with blogland if there is enough interest} and played {what I called} "The Grinchy Grinch Game" 

Students counted the teeth by different values/points: For example, how many total points if each tooth was valued at 1, 2, 5 or 10 points.  They thought it was too cool to beat The Grinch and I thought it was cool that they thought it was cool, so there was a lot of coolness going on!

  
 
I LOVE how they are all so unique, individualized AND self-differentiated.

LAST, but not least.  We read, "The Littlest Elf" by Brandi Dougherty
The kiddos were then inspired to write their own elfkin tale and create an elf unique to them ... name and all.
  NOW FOR THE FREEBIES!  Enjoy... maybe not until next year.
Click on the one that you would like to "grab!"
Winter Celebrations     The Grinchy Grinch Game      Elf Writing

THANKS for stopping by and visiting.  Tell me how you enjoy your freebies {and remember, the first one to find an error on the winter celebrations book and comment about it will get a BONUS item}! :)


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Added a color version...

to my winter lunchbox notes FREEBIE!  One just wasn't good enough.  I added a color version to this download for you printing pleasure!  Enjoy. :)


Get it here!
BE THE "COOLEST" when you write a little note for your kiddo to find in his lunchbox {PLUS it promotes reading ... BONUS!} :)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

FREEBIE for lunch packing mommies & daddies...

I don't know about you, but my kiddos LOVE getting notes in their lunchboxes.  I ran out of some "pre-made" ones I got from other blogs and decided I'd try my hand at making some of my own... PLUS how can I resist this face?!?!   
I created a winter themed collection {a little cheesy, I have to admit!} seen here:
Feel free to download your own copy from TPT or TN.
 
HAPPY LUNCH PACKING & HEARTWARMING!

Monday, December 10, 2012

The Gingerbread Man has learned Spanish!

Woohoo!  I am happy to announce that my Gingerbread Man "Crunch" game is now available in Spanish! So far I have 3 lists available with more to come in the next 2 days!  Check it out:
 
 Check out either of my stores to download yours today!
Grab your batch today!
 

Saturday, December 8, 2012

SUPER cool FREEEEEEE vocabulary building app!

Have you heard of Bitsboard by GrasshopperApps.com?  I just downloaded it randomly for my son in hopes to build up his vocabulary.  It is described as "...both an app and global platform of millions of teachers, parents, students, and lifelong learners." 

Basically you download {pre-created} boards of vocab words that are organized by type. For example: animals, food, sight words, money, numbers, etc... When the voice says the word, you click the correct picture.  As you get more correct, the pictures increase in amount ... getting more and more difficult.  There are MANY boards to choose from and download ANNNNND it's FREE!! 
 
This is good for use at home AND IN THE CLASSROOM!! It is also customizable. You can set it to go up to 60 flashcards on the screen if you wanted to really challenge yourself!  You can also set it to show the picture, the word, the picture then word or the word then picture.  You can even delete pictures that you don't want on the board.  I could go on and on...
 
The thing I am most excited about {selfishly ... for myself!! WOW! That was redundant!} is the Spanish 101.  There are 4 pages of boards that you can download FOR FREE to brush up on your Spanish {or French [random side note: I used to be fluent in French, but now it is a distant memory!], or German}!  I am so excited!  The sad part is I haven't even shown it to my son yet because I have been too busy playing the app myself. HA!
 
I can't imagine this app will be FREE forever, but you never know.  Just thought I would share.  Check out iTunes today {not sure about Droid}  :)
 
Word to your iPad!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Take a bite out of my latest game ... Gingerbread Man CRUNCH!!

Gingerbread Man CRUNCH Game {PK-3rd Grade}

I have created a game for each Dolch sight word category that will nip away the boring old routine of reading sight words at the teacher table during guided reading time! 
 
Lay cards face down on the table. Kiddos take turns reading the sight words on the gingerbread men. If they can read the word, they put the cookie card on their plate.  If not, it goes back on the table.
If a “CRUNCH!” cookie is turned over, the player loses a turn!
Wah! Wah! The player with the most cookies at the end of the game WINS!

**BONUS PARENT COMMUNICATION SHEET INCLUDED**


Use GB cards as flashcards to assess student’s sight word knowledge & send home the communication sheet to parents for documentation, support & home/school connection.
 
What other Gingerbread Games do I offer?
 


 I look forward to your comments, pins & feedback!


Now run as fast as you can to:

 Teachers Pay Teachers or Teachers Notebook

QUESTIONS? Comment or email me.
 
Have a CRUNCHY day!