Five for Friday...On Saturday!

I'm linking up Doodles Bus Teaching to share my week with you!

and what a week it was!

We've been enjoying our visits with our classroom elf "Jingle" however in all the craziness of the week I forgot to take pictures of all his shenanigans, but I did get this one!

On Wednesday and Thursday we made Christmas ornaments for the parents and they turned out soo cute! I hope they will like them,  my ornaments are still on my parent's tree at their house.

This project required: white acrylic paint, plain Christmas balls ( I found blue glittery ones on clearance at Shopko), and a variety of Sharpies.  I was a little nervous to have them use Sharpies so I gave them a tiny little square to come up with their snowman design. I think the practice was perfect and they ornaments turned out great! Aren't they cute?!

Now for Friday...We began the day with the movie The Polar Express...I did a little lesson planning while we were watching.  All seven classes...yes seven were in the library.

To end the day we had our Christmas party and made gingerbread houses, fortunately we had many parents come to help us, Thank You :)

Then is was over! and now I'm officially on Christmas break, yeah! It was the longest week ever but it's all worth it! I'll miss those kiddos over break for sure. 

Yay for Break! me (in the red) and a fellow 1st grade teacher :)

When we come back we will be reviewing expectations and rules. What do you do when coming back from break? I would love to hear your ideas!

Keep calm, only 5 days left!

5 days left before Christmas Break! What do you have planned? We are hoping aboard the Polar Express all week, complete with pajama and movie day on Friday. I imagine the kiddos will be very excited, as they should be!

We're going to be doing lots of centers to keep us all entertained this week and I thought you might like a freebie for your week too.

Click this link to get your freebie! Santa's Silly Subtraction Sentences Tell me what you've got planned for your week!

Christmas Questionnaire

Hot Chocolate or Eggnog? 

I love both, I used to hate Eggnog and yes it does sound strange but I love love it now! (Isn't it funny how your tastes change from when your a kid to an adult so weird!)

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them underneath the tree? 

When I was growing we had what I would consider now to be kinda a strange tradition of unwrapping presents...my brother and I got to unwrap all of our presents on Christmas Eve after we went to the Christmas Eve service at church and then on Christmas morning Santa would arrive with unwrap/no tag presents. I guess it worked in our house because there was no way the new Barbie doll was for my brother!

Colored lights or white? 

I actually love to use both! I think colored lights don't quite have enough brightness so I like to use white lights too!

When do you decorate? 

THANKSGIVING DAY!

Real or Fake Tree? 

Since I always insisted on putting up the tree ASAP my parents used a fake tree and as you can see mine is white, so yes fake. I fake the pine/spruce/balsam whatever it is smell, is my favorite smell ever and I love it all year long!

What Tops Your Tree?

This year it's a some sort of lighted ball that I found at Bit Lots and turned into a tree topper.

Favorite Christmas Memories or Traditions?

Every year my town has a parade and lighting ceremony the day after Thanksgiving. Hundreds of people line the streets and the floats pass by. After the parade all the lights are turned on in the downtown area and there's a firework show (almost as good as 4th of July). I also love baking cookies with my mom, she has the best sugar cookie recipe ever!

Do you remember your favorite gift as a child? 

This one is a bit of a stumper...I had so many good presents and every year I was so happy excited. I remember getting wedding Barbie and Ken and a giant pink Limo to go with. I was totally girlie and always got Barbies or baby dolls.

Do prefer giving or receiving? 

Well of course I love getting presents but I do get really excited when I find the prefect gifts for my friends and family...speaking of which I better get on it...  

What is your favorite Christmas song? 

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! mainly because I love hearing my Grandma (who just turned 100) sing it. I love Christmas music but I prefer Frank Sintara, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole to the new artists

Candy Canes. Yuck or Yum? 

I love candy but candy canes are something I can turn down.

Favorite Christmas Movie? 

Christmas Vacation 

Do you shop online or at stores?

Depends on what I'm buying...usually in stores but it just depends. 

Photo Cards, Letter or Store Bought Card? 

I don't send out anything (no husband or kids to brag about, lol). My mother sends out a letter.

Now it's your turn! Link up at Michelle's blog

Look who's coming to our classroom this week?!

SO I couldn't resist... 

 and I broke down and bought one of these, especially since Cara Carroll came up with this cute freebie... click the picture to go pick up this freebie for yourself!

So on  Monday my class will be getting a special delivery! I'm pretty excited and I hope they will be too! Do you like the idea of an elf coming to your class to report back to Santa, I'm hoping that they will be extra good knowing Santa will be watching!

I'll be  back to let you know how it goes...

What did you buy at the big sale?

I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' to share what I bought during the Teachers Pay Teachers sale! I could have purchased so much more but I had to limit myself and just pick out the items from my  wish list that I could really use.

I'm new to using centers in my classroom since I didn't do them with 3rd graders last year, so I'm in the process of making centers and printing and cutting and printing and cutting and laminating and laminating. I think about how I'll be so prepared next year! Yeah pipe dreams I'm sure!

Anyway here are my awesome purchases!

1. A Very "Firstie" Christmas  

 2. Write On! December Edition

3. 1st Grade Christmas No Prep    

4. Christmas Math Centers

The I was in need of some stuff teaching R-controlled vowels, we've had a lot of fun with Pirate Rrrrsss that's for sure!

5. Phonics Cards -I got these to make a focus

6. Word Work R-Controlled Vowels Pack

7. Arrr! R Controlled Vowels

So now I'm printing and cutting like crazy.

In other news I'm taking part in my first Facebook Frenzy! Tomorrow starting at 8am EST you can collect freebies by visiting my facebook fan site and others!

Start here https://www.facebook.com/FriendlyFroggies/

and collect those freebies!

TGIF! almost

How was your Thanksgiving Break? (It's sale time)

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break! I spent mine doing projects around the house and readying a new freebie for my first facebook frenzy next weekend.  What did you do over the break? I really enjoyed sleeping in all week ;)

In other exciting news I'm super excited to buy some stuff on my tpt wish list, the cyber monday and tuesday sale starts tomorrow! My store is on sale from now until Tuesday click on the picture above! What are some of your wishlist products that you will be purchasing during the sale?

Here are just some of mine!

Babbling Abby's R-Controlled Word Pack

First Grade Garden's Phonics Posters

Babbling Abby's A Very Firstie Christmas

I don't know about you but I'm very happy to be going back to school tomorrow I can't wait to see my 23 little friends!