So today I introduced a new thinking map called a tree map (how fitting?).  We then used Kim Adsit's Oh Christmas Tree Unit.  She has a great book starter for a Christmas Tree and then a Table of Contents page which lent itself to our informational writing. 

When the dog bites. When the be stings. When I'm feeling sad.  I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad!  (I LOVE the Sound of Music!  Aren't you glad you can't hear me singing this song right now?)


So, I filled my cart last night and {heart} my purchases!  Here are a few you might want to check out!

What a whirlwind Thanksgiving was this year.  We were blessed to have friends drive down from Georgia to spend it with us, but today is the first day I have been on the Internet since Tuesday!  We ate and shopped and ate and shopped some more:)  Fun times!

For your shopping pleasure- TpT  and MANY sellers are joining together for a CYBER Monday AND Tuesday SALE!!   All the items in my store will be 20% off and TpT will join in and that gives you a total of 28% off all your purchases in my store!  I know my wish list is long and I have already added several items to my cart.  All this and no line!  Its a win-win:)




I have linked up with Blog Hoppin' for this Cyber sale.  Head on over and check out the other sellers.
They are fabulous ladies with AMAZING units!

Speaking of fabulous, Jessica from Tales of a First Grade Teacher is having a super giveaway as she celebrates reaching 150 followers.  I am giving away a copy of my Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree unit over there.  I am thrilled beyond belief to be asked to participate.  So please head on over to Jessica's blog and show her some {love}!

Ok, true confessions- I have read The Daily 5 three times (ok maybe four or five...) and for some reason I can't take the jump!  I was inspired this week as I ready Reagan's post about her version of Daily Five over at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits.  After reading this post, I don't think I am that far off.  My students rotate through 3 centers and 1 reading group a day.  I am going to combine a few centers and give more choice at the centers.  I will keep you posted as I work out the final details:)

I try to incorporate our spelling pattern in the word work center.  I made a digraph review for ch, sh and th with a holiday theme.  I have put it on TpT as a FREE download. So please head on over to my TpT store, download Under the Christmas Tree and leave me some love. 

 

If you like this activity, you can check out my Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree as it has three other word work activities including blends, words with endings s, es, ed, and ing as well as contractions with a follow up worksheet. 








I will be giving away Rockin' Around the Christmas tree to the first three people who leave a comment!  I have also put it on sale for two days. 

We practice addition strategies with counting cubes, counting on, doubles and doubles plus/minus one.  The doubles plus/minus one is such a hard concept for these firsties.  Our math curriculum moves so fast and a new strategy should have been introduced each day.  I had to slow it down a bit!


We did manage to get in one Turkey Project.  Turkey Tom came from Pinterest with a recipe for left over turkey casserole and the rice was in the bag!  A coworker found it and I am unable to find the link.  If you know who the idea belongs to, PLEASE let me know!

I am linking up with Teaching Maddeness for


I am so THANKFUL to be off this coming week!

 I am linking up with A Year of Many Firsts and her Stuffed with Thankful Thoughts Linky Party.


1. For my faith, in good time and bad... God is good:)

2. For my family.  I am truly blessed.  I have a fabulous husband who ALWAYS supports me and 2 boys who own my HEART.


3. For a profession I love!  Through the ups and down of the ever changing teaching world, I love teaching.  I am at a wonderful small, country school with a family environment which happens to be my home school. 

4. For friends who make me laugh and smile though the years.

5.  I am thankful for this blogging adventure I began this summer.  It has inspired me to be a better teacher.  Thank you to all who inspire and share. Thank you for all of you who read my blog. This blogging community amazes me with inspiration and sweet words.

I went to download my pictures last night, and I did not do a very good job taking pictures of activities in October!  Yikes, I am promising to myself and my blog readers to do better next month!



OK, this is from the very end of September, so it was still hanging up at the beginning of October.  My kids loved learning about Johnny Appleseed.  The art project was awesome and it came from Teachers, Bits and Bobs.  I loved step by step directions for drawing Johnny!  We also made a circle map and I adore the pictures this little one added to her circle map:).

We were reading the story on The Little Red Hen in our reading book when my principal came in for an informal evaluation.  After reading, I said to the class we are going to compare and contrast the characters in the story and my little one (who is always in the clouds) yells out, "That's a Double Bubble map!!"  I almost did a cartwheel in front on my principal:) 



My kids and I  LOVED the Witches Brew activities by Mrs. Van Meter at Primary Possibilities.  The Real and Make Believe words for the pocket chart activity were a hit!  We even make the Witches Brew recipe at our Fall festival to make money for our class.  The yummy bat wings (ruffles) and eyeballs (cheeseballs) were a hit! I wish I had a picture of our booth, but we were so BUSY!


Here is a team picture after working a full school day and then at the Fall Festival until 8:00pm.  We were hot and exhausted, but the kids had a blast! 


The kids loved painting pumpkins.  I adore how their personalities come out when you hand them a paintbrush and let them create.  We painted pumpkins and after they dried the kids cut them out.  We talked about "bubble cutting" around the pumpkin, just like Mrs. Van Meter did with Johnny Appleseed.  ( I love this term:) I laminated them and they are hanging on the outside of our door and in the classroom.

I have linked up with Michele at Miss Nelsons Got the Camera.  Head on over to share what you did in October.  Its time to finally download the photos:)

Ok, seriously...November is almost half over and I am just posting my Currently!  That just seems to be my story of the year, A day late and a dollar short:)  If you don't believe me just come look at my Halloween decorations still up!  Is it worth putting up Thanksgiving or should I just skip to Christmas like the retail chains?  Not a bad thought!  Hmmm.


I headed over to Oh' Boy 4th Grade with Farley to link up and Oh' Boy was I ever inspired!  She has lost 50 pounds with good old fashioned hard work.  Lots of healthy eating, exercise and only water to drink!  WHAT!  No diet coke?!?  I know I need to take the leap.   Maybe next week.  I have to start on a Sunday:)

In the meantime, head on over to The Hands on Teacher and check our Marie's giveaway.  Marie is generously giving away a  $25.00 Starbucks gift card.  I love me a yummy Vanilla Chai Tea from Starbucks!  I will have to ask Farley if that's on the plan:)    Its COLD her in Florida in case you are wondering. Sweaters and flip flops for me!  Stay warm.


So now I am off to grade reading tests and math tests.  How many of you give numerical grades in first?  Just wondering:)