Currently....the middle of December

Yes...I am aware that it is currently the middle of December but.....here's what I'm currently doing! :)

Listening...I love the sound of Christmas music and listen to it as much as I can!!

Loving....Christmas is my most favorite holiday season!  I love the feeling of happiness, giving and love that fills the air!

Thinking...I need to finish start my Christmas shopping!  Good thing tomorrow is the last day before break!!

Wanting...It is a rainy day here in VA and I would like to put on my pjs and curl up in bed!!

Needing...I like to have the first week or 2 planned before leaving for break so that I can come back with a fresh start.  I am close to finishing but need to finish!!

Faux!  We have a faux tree!  We like the pre-lit tree!!!

Check out what everyone else is up to this December....

Five for Friday 12-11-15

I'm back to share our crazy week!  Nothing like the week before Christmas vacation in kindergarten!!    We have been very busy making these calendars for our parents.  Here are some of the pages: 

We have tried to keep some normalcy with reading centers and math stations.  Every day, they are asking if we can do math stations.  Isn't that nice to hear!!

I have written a cute message, wrapped and added the ornament for their presents from me.  This year I got them the book "An Otis Christmas."  It was a $1 book last year on Scholastic and I went ahead and got them ready for this year.  Click the picture of the book to get it at Amazon.

I glued the eyes, nose, bell and wrote the year on these cute shirts the kids made.  We will wear these next week during our party.

Today we made gingerbread houses!!!!  It was so much fun!  This is one of my favorite parts of the year!  And I had enough supplies left over that my 5 year old can make one at home!

Now you can head over to see what every  one else was up to this week!  Have a nice weekend!

Math Tip Monday {Linky}

I'm linking up for the first time with Theresa's Teaching Tidbits and K's Classroom Kreations to share a math tip.  This month, they are asking us to share how we keep math meaningful during the holiday season.   When I saw this opportunity, I thought about my holiday themed math stations.  One day just last week, we were very busy and running short on time.  I was afraid we weren't going to get to something.  I told the kids we wouldn't have time for math stations and they were devastated!!  What a great feeling to have as a teacher!!  I knew from then on, I had to do everything in my power for them to go to at least one of their stations that day.  We managed to squeeze them in at the end of the day and they were so happy!    I use a lot of different types of activities in my stations.  My first inspiration was Deedee Wills who has some amazing resources you could use.  Every year, I try to think about what skills my kids need practice with and create games they can use to practice.  My Winter Math Stations pack was born. It's a {FLASH FREEBIE}.  Only free for a few hours 12-8-15! Get it while you can and let me know what you think please!!!! The kids love the gingerbread puzzles to practice recognizing numbers with dominoes and base ten blocks.  There is a snowman measuring activity to practice non-standard measurement, an add the room game with candy canes and peppermints, and finally a graphing game with different stocking patterns.  Here they are in practice right now. 

One project that we did this week was making a gingerbread man.  It was a glyph so when we were finished, we were able to collect some data and analyze it.  The kids LOVED this project too.  You can get it from Andrea's store HERE.    

Now head on over to see what other ideas K-3 teachers have in mind to keep kids engaged in math during the holiday season!

An InLinkz Link-up

Are you Ready for a Sale? Cyber Monday 2015

I hope you are gearing up for the big sale! I know I am. I wanted to share some of the most wish listed items from my store so I'm linking up with Teaching in the Tongass.  I also added some products that are totally new at the end of this post. Keep reading to see them!  I hope you find this helpful!

Sight Word Sentence Practice

This pack is great to use with kindergarten, first or second grade struggling readers. You could use it for whole group, centers, or intervention time. I have even used it for morning work. Once your students are familiar with the format, the only change from page to page is the sight word and sentence. I have another pack that works on just sight words. You can find that in my store too! Sight Word Practice

Place Value Write the Room

Weirdly enough, this is one of my top sellers and most wish listed. Since its initial creation, I have updated the look and have added 2 sets of cards to use for differentiating. This is an easy activity to put in a center or math station. My students love walking around the room with a clipboard, so I tape the cards on the wall for the kids to find, count and record. I also have a memory game in my store! Place Value Memory

Let's Sequence Sentences - Summer Edition

This is one of my most wish listed items - although not seasonal right now, I have a bundle which currently includes the fall and summer editions.  I plan to post the winter edition by the end of this week (December 5th). And the spring edition will follow by March. BUNDLE Let's Sequence Sentences

These are my 4 newest packs. Two are great seasonal activities and two are great for my kinders right now to work on building their sight word knowledge. You can check them out with the links below. 

Sight Word NO PREP! K Trick Word Pack

Number Words and Color Words No Prep! Practice

Christmas Count the Room

Number Sequencing Pack - Christmas Edition

Now, it you haven't already, go see (Teaching in the Tongass) what everyone else has in their store! Be sure to use the code: SMILE at checkout for the extra discount!

In the spirit of thanking and giving to my readers....leave a comment with what product you'd like below. I'll pick 10 people and send them your way! 

Christin

Best Pencil Sharpener EVER! & Product Updates!

It is no lie! This is by far the best sharpener I have ever used. Since getting my first one 3 years ago, I have been collecting them ever since and refuse to purchase any others!

These are the three I have at school, but I also have one at home to sharpen there!  Get yours HERE!!!

Here is how it all arrived!  When I picked it up in the office, our art teacher was in there. I had to open the box right then and there to show her how to use it. She was totally convinced and ready to purchase some for her art room!  I even gave the website info (www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com) to our financial secretary so she can purchase these in the future instead of the same ole ones that break in a month. 

It comes so nicely packaged in this clear box. It is also wrapped in plastic - very well taken care of. 

It does come with this other contraption. That is used to clip and secure the sharpener to a table. 

Like this!

So, to put it to work...I have these dollar spot pencils...you know, the ones that ALWAYS break - no matter how much you sharpen or use carefully!!

So here goes, you pinch the black piece at the top and insert pencil. This holds the pencil in place so you don't have to. You give it some turns - far less than you would EVER think you'd need - and.....

Presto! Perfectly sharp pencils!!!

Look how sharp they are!  My love for sharp pencils is definitely growing due to this sharpener!!

So...if you have to have one now....head on over!  They have great bundle deals too!

I also just finished a big sight word pack that follows along with the kindergarten trick words from the Wilson Fundations Program.  You can see it by clicking any of these pictures.  

I also updated my Christmas Count the Room Pack.  You can look at it by clicking the pictures.  

I will have both on sale for the rest of this week!  Grab them while you can!