Silence For Sandy Hook Elementary

I {heart} a To-Do List

Don't lie... you love a to-do list, too... {it's OK to admit it... that's the first step}.  There is some powerful endorphins that are released everytime I draw a line through a completed task!  Since I have been blogging and TpTing {still makes me giggle when I type that}... I have struggled with staying organized.  My mind is all jumbled with things I want to make, blog posts that I could type, grocery lists, school to-do things, etc.  My super awesome friend, Tara, has started creating monthly calendars for bloggers... and they're FREE!  I have already snagged January from her and you can, too!  Right HERE

I hope that you will have a GREAT Friday...only 11 more days til the guy in the red suit stops by! 

-Stacy



Lost: Bloggy Mojo {Reward if Found}

So I disappeared from blogging not long after I had started.... and that was (ahem) unexpected.  My bloggy career started mid-September... by late September my world was a little more complicated!  My blog posts became sporadic... not quite as often as I would've liked.  I promise I had a good reason though :)

Meet the newest little human in my life.  This picture was taken right before Thanksgiving.  From mid-October until about a week ago... I had a nightly date with the toilet.  I had started to think I would never get to eat dinner again!  I am now 14 weeks... told my co-workers and my boys this weekend!  Looks like we will have a late May baby... which is good because I won't actually have to miss much work at all...if any!  :)
My boys have asked for a baby brother or sister almost daily for over a year... it was very exciting to tell them that their wish was coming true.  They were very excited.  My youngest is asking tons of questions, wants to rub my belly, and keeps reminding me to eat! :) 
I think that I may have found my bloggy mojo... Thank God that the nightly dates with the toilet are over.  I don't need 24 naps everyday anymore!  I have been able to make new things for TpT... and have even started getting caught up on the piles of laundry around the house!  Yes, I think I'm BACK!
Hope you all had a great weekend...  see you soon!
-Stacy

Rudolph's Crazy Cousin {we all have one}

I feel like I am on a constant search for fun and creative writing opportunities for my funky fresh bunch!  The Common Core standards that so many of us have jumped to are SUPER heavy with writing.  I decided to do Rudolph's crazy cousin as a craftivity... combining art and writing together to get us all in the holiday spirit!

Each kiddo made their own reindeer using templates that I had prepared ahead of time.  They needed brown construction paper, white construction paper, a small piece of black construction paper, and I let them pick out a sheet of Christmas themed 12x12 scrapbook paper {they were pumped about that part!}

I did outline their reindeer bodies once they had cut them out... and I got to draw in the crazy eyes with a sharpie!  Some of the kiddos picked a light colored scrapbook paper and in hind sight... I wish I had made them pick again (the antlers didn't show up as well!) 
Once they were done, they had to write...
"Rudolph's crazy cousin wants to help Santa.  Do you think Santa should let him help?  Why or why not?"
The reindeer made for a uber-cute hallway display... and while the scrapbook paper wouldn't be absolutely necessary... I'm not even gonna lie... it totally made them even cuter.
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you liked the crazy cousin craftivity... you know... we ALL have at least ONE crazy cousin.  If you'd like to get your hands on them... you can find them HERE

Hope you all have a great weekend!  Check back tomorrow for a post that I have been writing in my head for months!
-Stacy  

Santa is Hiring {eeeeek!!!}

Santa is hiring for new elves... and boy do I know where he can find some cute little humans for the job!!!  My sweet firsties took their elf applications VERY seriously.  I found them via Pinterest {of course} and it lead me over to the First Grade Parade where I could download the application for FREE!!  The kids had to fill in their info (name, age, birthday, etc.)  They had questions to answer (Do you like milk and cookies?  Do you like toys?)  They had to write reasons why they would make a good elf, draw a picture of themselves as an elf... and EVEN put their fingerprints on the application!  As you can guess... that was a crowd favorite! 

I loved their reasons...  one kid said she was great at working on a team.  One kidlet said he was an expert at making iPads!  Another even said he would be great at helping load the sleigh!  I was amazed at their creativity!  {proud teacher moment}

The applications were a great activity to get the kiddos excited about writing and made for a cool hallway display. 

We also spent part of our day coloring and writing Christmas cards for our soldiers overseas.  I had a classroom parent who volunteered to send them out for us.  The kids really jumped on board and were super excited to make cards that would be going overseas.  As an army brat... this is a cause that is near and dear to my heart!  My nephew is currently serving and my brother just enlisted!  I hope that those cards bring some Christmas joy to our soldiers!  

Hope you are all having a great week... not long til Christmas break now... hang in there... 
-Stacy

Freebies and a Nook Color HD (OH MY!)

Looking for a TON of teacher ideas, freebies, and the chance to win a Nook Color HD?  Head on over to the Tips for Top Teachers blog... I am happy to be a contributor and we are doing a HUGE giveaway... just in time for Christmas.  Good luck and I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!!  :)

Check It Out