Teachers Gifts: Are they acceptable?

Have you heard about the controversy in Alabama about teachers receiving gifts from students? Do you think it is acceptable to get gifts from students? What about the feelings of those students who can't afford to give you a gift? To share your thoughts on this topic, jump on over to PRECIOUS PERKS!

Hot Coco Bar Pictures

Hop on over to my blog to check out the pictures from my class' HOT COCO BAR and more, including a student treat bag idea and Russian Christmas Craft. You can also check out pictures of other HOLIDAY LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES inspired by fellow bloggers.

Similes and Christmas

As I was reading The Night Before Christmas, I remembered there are some great examples of similes in there.

Hop on over to Elementary Matters to find out more about Christmas Similies!
Sally

Travel Around the World

This week we've been traveling around the world, learning how different countries celebrate Christmas. Today we traveled to Mexico, and have already visited Israel!

Fly on over to The Teachers' Cauldron to see our "souvenirs" from our travels!

While there you can also see how we measure out some trees today...

Happy Teaching!

Triple consonant blends freebie

This week, we are working on triple consonant blends. My kids this year love to create lists of words as a class and then write the words on a page of their own. I usually bind these into a book so they can read them during Read to Self. It's amazing to me that these books are the most popular books in the classroom library.  I created a couple of pages for them to brainstorm triple consonant blends and then cover pages if you want to bind them into a book.
Here's what the covers look like:

This is an example of the brainstorming pages.

Head over to my blog to grab the freebie.

Gang up on Winter Freebies!

BRRRR it is getting COLD outside!  We have been thinking about all the incredible resources out on the web right now for the holidays and thought you all might appreciate a packet of resources for after winter break.  Thinking about planning for January is just not on the top of our lists but if we had a packet of great ideas ready to go we would be in good shape!

So before you shut you classroom doors and head home to spend time with your family~ pull out one or two of your tried and true WINTER favorite activites!  The Teamies are compiling a Free Winter Packet! 

If you are interested in adding your item to the packet please email your activity and the following information to meanmygang@gmail.com and add Winter Favorite to the subject line.
Please include the following: Your First and Last Name & Your Blog URL.

Each entry will be credited with your name and blog information.  

(This is a great opportunity for ALL you new bloggers to get your name out there:)

We welcome ALL grade levels and ALL subjects.  The packet will be organized into categories once all of the entries have been submitted. 

We will be taking entries until December 28th. 

We hope to have the FREE packet up the first week in January!

For All of your hard work we will also be putting every person's name that submits an activity into a drawing for a $15 Target Gift Card!  

YIPPEE!  After Christmas SHOPPING!

                                           

                                           

I'm Excited to be here!

Hey Y'all!!! Jen Ross from The Teachers' Cauldron here, and I'm SUPER excited to be a NEW author for Me and My Gang! Can I tell you how my heart skipped a few beats when I opened the email from Stephie with the welcome packet to join in??? My husband was sitting right there and of course I had to tell him the exciting news....but do you really think he got it?? HA! But without a doubt I'm excited to be here! Come fly on over to my little blog and take a look around! I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Teaching!

Winter Smartboard Activity!

Hey Friends!
If you're looking for a way to keep the kiddies busy and learning at the same time, you might want to check out my Winer Fun Smartboard file. It has seven unique winter-themed activities, including a gingerbread man hangman-style game!

Feel free to take a peek by clicking {HERE} to see the listing.

The Ladybug Picture Book Award

What is the Ladybug Picture Book Award?  Hop on over to Elementary Matters to find out!

Sally

Four Holidays and the Grinch in one Week!

Yes indeedy! This week our 2nd graders will learn about Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Las Posadas as we connect and compare these holidays of lights.

I know most people tend to cover Christmas Around the World, but with Kinders and firsties, then third graders doing this-we decided to go a different route!

Last year was our experimental year with this project. Collaborating with our media specialist, we made powerpoints for all the wintertime holidays we could think of…this included the above PLUS Diwali, Hmong New Year {we have a large Hmong population}, and Three King’s Day, too! Whew! Each station {table with a laptop} also had traditional décor and colors.

This year, we whittled it down to these 4 that seem more connected through the symbol of lights. I can’t wait to use the new passport I created as a note taking booklet! I purchased little scrapbooking stickers to use as stamps as they visit each station in the library. Soooo, I will have small groups visit the table, watch the powerpoint, then fill out the passport together.

click picture to download

At the end of the week we will bring it all together as a class in some way. I am thinking a handprint to create a symbol for each holiday {tree for Christmas, menorah, kinara, and a poinsettia.}…

I will be sharing lots of pictures this week as we read, write, craft, and EAT to learn!

Also-if you need some last minute stickers…never fear! I made some that print on address labels {3 per label for 27 total}

Download this freebie here!

A few notes, the book prints 2 per page-I redid a larger 1 per page one that I will update asap because…how many teachers does it take to make a book copy in order??? More than the 4 of use obviously!

If you have purchased the passport-redownload it!