Grinning Grinch {Persuasive Freebie}

Engage students with holiday fun!  Persuade that Grumpy Grinch to Grin with this simple freebie.  I provided my kinders with persuasive format that would allow the kids to focus on the content verses the format. 

Holiday Lesson

During the Cyber Monday sale, I shared a unit from my cart.  The Great Reindeer Rebellion by The Bubbly Blonde. This past week I was able to dive into holiday themed learning.

To engage students, I read Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.  As each character is introduced, we charted their characteristics.  Before reading the end of the story, I asked the kids which of the below listed reindeer was their favorite based on characteristic.  

Cupid {sure-footed}, Comet {fastest}, Donner and Blitzen {twist and turn with ease}, Dasher and Dancer {biggest and strongest}, Prancer and Vixen {smoothest landing}, Rudolph {guide}

After we finished reading, I asked the kids to "turned and talked" about why they connected to the character  selected.  During this discussion, I had students graph their data.  What a remarkable graphing and data analysis math lesson!!!

I began our studies of reindeer/caribou with Gladys' unit, Reindeer Magic.

She always does a magnificent job with incorporating vocabulary, easy readers, and graphic organizers in her units!  

I found a great resource online to help build background of caribou. Link here!

To build on our persuasive studies, I used Alisha's The Great Reindeer Rebellion Literature Unit.  She provides story vocabulary and fantastic organizers to compare and contrast the reindeer in the rebellion to caribou. 

I had some troubles getting the book to class before the holidays so I went to Barnes and Nobles online and purchased their book through Nook.  It's sooo cheap!  $4~   I don't have a nook but I do have an iPad.  With apps available, you can download the Nook app and read through your iPad or iPhone.  Cool Right?  In October I purchased a neat $29 dollar VGA-Adapter from the Apple Store.  {I use this anytime I cannot find books in print.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!}  This will allow you to project from your iPad or iPhone through a LCD projector!  You can click the image below to link.

 

With an already strong understanding of elements in persuasive {we've been working on this for a few weeks}, many students did a wonderful job at convincing Santa to hire their caribou for the job.  I had to share one of my little guys cute paper...all he wants to do is eat cookies with Santa.  Ha! So Honest!!

Happy Teachings!

It's a Common Core Christmas!

Meeting Common Core Math Standards with a bit of holiday spirit can be sooo delightful!  After a lesson on sorting objects from shortest to longest, students were given a set of precut papers.  I alternated colors and shorten the length approximately two inches each time.  The kids were given the sheets in random order and asked to arrange.  During this time, I asked the kids to turn and talk about any "other" math observed during the process.  Within minutes we were talking about patterns.  A few students were struggling to determine the correct order of objects but immediately identified shortest to longest as discussion of an AB pattern took place.  

Once this objective was met, kids were given a set of precut bulbs.  I'm so blessed to have girls from my past looping class drop by each morning and assist with organization, cutting, tutoring, and general maintenance.  Students were asked to write each of the letter from their first name in the bulbs.  We strung their strand on their newly created Christmas Tree.  With a new calendar rug donated this past month from Donors Choose, we were able to easily sort into groups.  Names with 3 letters, 4 letters, 5 letters... all the way to 8 letters.  Allowing time for my students to turn and talk about the data is crucial to my understanding of who is meeting objectives and can clearly explain least and most.  PLUS it's so much fun listening to the kids talk curriculum content.  It makes my heart melt. 

Fun With Persuasive!

This past week I prepared my kiddos with a little elf excitement.  I introduced the Elf on the Shelf with the video An Elf's Story.  This twenty minute holiday classic introduces the concept of the Elf.  

You can link to Amazon for more information.  I purchased mine at the Hallmark store last year.

To add a little more excitement, we have a motion detector in the classroom.  I explained that Santa and his elves are working around the clock.  At times, Santa is too busy to take a peek into the classroom so he has lots of elves watching over each of us!  When the motion detector changes from green (elves) to red (Santa), you can hear the silent shrieks.  LOL!

Currently, we are in the middle of persuasive writing.  I decided to have the kids write Santa and persuade the Jolly Ole' Man to send an elf to Classroom 113. We mailed the letters to the North Pole on Wednesday and received a treasured letter and poinsettia from Saint Nick on Friday

The kids were over-the-moon when they caught glimpse of Shelby!  

I found the pattern for the Elf on Pinterest.  You can link {here} for my pin board with TONS of elf ideas!  The letter writing paper to Santa is pinned on my Christmas board {here}.  

Oh.boy! We've been on a persuasive kick.  The scholastic magazines are rolling in faster than I can keep up with this month: Firefly, Seesaw, and Holiday Favorites.  When I passed out student book orders from  November, I had lots of sad eyes.  I decided to have the kids persuade their parents to purchase a book from the December forms.  Each student was given a catalog page to circle three books. At this point in our genre study, the kids are aware of meaningful reasons.  One darling said, "Books help me become smarter so I can make us lots of money one day."  How can you argue with that?!?

"Could you buy me a book please?  I will clean up the room.  I am helpful!" 

With all the holiday excitement, my kids and I were noticing the beautiful fall leaves.  Here in Florida we experience seasonal changes very late in the year.  Last year, winter forgot to visit the Sunshine State.  With each change of the season, I take the kids outside to the same tree to take pictures.  Today, I captured the kids having some December Fall Fun!  

~Happy Teaching~

Sweet units, freebies, and coupon code!

I'm obsessed with shopping on TpT.  During Back to School, I scooped up a copy of Deedee's Overhead Stations.  She has offered several ways to interact with this set through technology: document camera, Smartboard, overhead, or plain paper and pencil.  I heart!!!

I decided to print out the set and place in sheet protectors.  I broke the set into three levels and early finisher work.  The kids are able to choose what they feel is appropriate for themselves.  Simple letter practice, building words, and building sentences.  

Check out her post here!  Without hesitation, I picked up her 2nd Quarter Overhead Stations during this sale.  Here's a link to her newest stations!  

Each year my class "Explores New Waters" during the holidays.  We travel to different countries, learning about landforms, seasons, and traditions.  Our travels take at least a week of exploring! I decided to update my lessons this year to include Rachelle's Holidays Around the World Pack.  This files is very informative with wonderful book suggestions, links, and activities for each country!  Huge plus for me.

Sarah from First Grader at Last has an amazing tens frame product.  I just love her clipart.  Yes, she creates her own clipart too!  She is a fantastic friend with a creative mind!  Have you seen her classroom?  It belongs in a magazine!  To snoop through her first grade classroom pictures, link here.  To see her latest clipart collection, link here!  View a cool idea for turning placemats into tens frames, link here. AND to scoop up a copy of her tens frame centers, click the image below!

Sarah also has a freebie supplemental scrapbook for her own Christmas Around the World.  Click here!

Have you noticed my new blog design?  Alicia at Dreamlike Magic made my dreams come true.  A new design for a new direction with my blog.  I'm sad to let the old design go but excited about my new journeys.  I will be under construction for a little bit as I get things up and going! 

Alicia made my blog transformation in a snap.  Her options are easy to choose between, her colors are fun and vibrant.  Her service is spectacular!  Annnnnnd, she is offering a 15% discount for all followers that shop at her etsy shop of website!  The coupon code is PrimaryGraffiti.  I encourage you to visit, browse, and take advantage of this SWEET deal! 

That's all my darling friends!  =D

There Was A Cold Lady Who Swallowed Snow

Brrrr!  It's cold outside.  Be prepared for those winter illnesses with my newest sub tub.  This file will need to be prepped in advance so don't delay!

 Click Image Above to Link!

Thanksgiving Loveliness!

Today went smoothly with wonderful ideas from friends in blogosphere.  As posted this morning, I worked through my plans and produced meaningful activities that made the kids smile.  

I began my day with a KWL on Pilgrims and Wampanoag

Gladys {Teaching in High Heels} has a cute mini unit!

Within Gladys' unit, I was able to spearhead our discussions with Vocabulary!  I would normally print in color but I downloaded these units last night. That's how friendly everything I used was!  Very Impressed!

{Side Note}The vocabulary cards were created with Ashley from the School Supply Addicts CUTE clipart!

 

 

A few books and videos later, we were comparing and contrasting!

Caitlin's November Unit was perfect for building schema!

{Lots of FUN center ideas too!}

 Now, what's a discussion with out moving to modern "Thankful" discussion? I was a bit bummed to find my Thanksgiving books missing. They were in the bin when I left on Thursday and gone when I arrived today.

You never know what happens with subs! Ugh.

So... Plan B!  

I'm Thankful For...

We had deep discussion about what we are thankful for and why!

Thanks to a variety of options in Katie's Busy Teacher Pack, 

I was able to provide the background for our next activity!

 Her unit is packed with wonderful centers for any first grade classroom!  This pack will come in handy next year when I loop with my darlings. 

As previously stated, I used Katie's Response to transition

into my next activity! Oh.how.I.love!

Kelley's A Plate Full of Thanks was an instant hit.

Teachers and students were in love!

And it's on sale right now!! 

I transitioned into math next with this cute activity!

Susan from T.G.I.F incorporated all kinds of common core into this engaging activity!  I used the numbers 4 and 11.  We've been working to understand the short date {month only}! My higher students worked with 11.

We also discussed that the 4th week in Nov. was Thanksgiving.

Hence number 4!  Lots of learning for my kinder class!

I was in the middle of finishing a cute idea by Reagan with the book Run Turkey Run! It's still sitting on our desk awaiting our return.  I will be back tomorrow with additional pictures!

Each year my grade level does Turkey in Disguise.  I sent home my copy before realizing that blogland had it's own floating about! Gladys has a whole unit {here}AND Deanna has a freebie {here}.

I was never able to get to Ashley's Freebie today.  It's so worth a look {here}!  I will be back tomorrow with activities, centers, and a craft from other wonderful blogs!  You can link to each store by clicking each graphic above.