Sandy Hook, Secret Santa, & Scoot

I'm sure all of you are feeling the same way I am tonight....full of sorrow for the lives lost this morning at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. I didn't hear about it until just after I sent all my kiddos off after school. Heart wrenching.....:( I am so sad for the families of the children and the staff members, but also for the school "family".....as they lost 26 members of their family today. I can't imagine how life goes on after such a tragedy. Each person affected by this senseless act is in my thoughts and prayers. May God provide the peace and comfort they need.

Anyway, I had a really good day up until that point....

Secret Santa started today and I got the sweetest...no pun intended...gift! A gingerbread house kit! I can't wait to make it...:) I love Secret Santa....it is so fun picking out special little gifts for someone and also to get special little gifts every day for 5 days! My kiddos were so excited when Mr. Johnny (one of our custodians) delivered the package to me. They couldn't wait for me to open it! Isn't it adorable..:) I will post pics when I finish it!

I also had this sweet surprise in my mailbox today! One of our school board members always gives ever employee (admin, teachers, aides, lunchroom staff, custodians, and bus drivers) in the district a small gift....this was a nice metal tin full of yummy chocolates! 

 I know why it's called a sampled now! As you can see, I sampled several pieces! LOL!

After work, I had to run to Wal Mart and pick up some quick foods for my hubby and son to have over the weekend while I'm gone to Tallahassee to visit my daughter Miranda! While I was there, I spotted a pack of these.....

I have been looking for some so I can make some of these.....

Aren't they just adorable? I saw them on Pinterest! I'm hoping to find some things to put in them this weekend at one of my favorite stores.....

And....to finish up this post, my kids got to play SCOOT today. Mine really love it and it gets them up and moving! You can find the document and directions to play here. You can use it in so many ways...today we used it to review physical science vocabulary. I typed up the definitions and placed one on each desk and the kids had to write the words for each definition in the boxes. Sometimes I type up questions....either multiple choice or true/false and they write the answer in the box. Have you ever done this with your class? If so, please share how you use it...:) 

Well, I better head to bed....it's 11:30 and I need to be up around 6 in the morning! 

Count your blessings tonight and please remember Sandy Hook students and workers in your thoughts and prayers! 

Be Blessed,

...

Productive Days...:)

Don't you just love a productive day? I know I do....and today was one of them! I got so much accomplished! First, I was able to take my classes to the computer lab today so we could do Discovery assessment 2 make-ups. I only had a few in each block, but it is just easier in the lab. It also gave us a chance to visit a fun website while the make-ups were being done. I let my kiddos go to edheads and choose from 3 activities to review some of the units we have covered or are currently working on. They LOVED it! When everyone was finished with make-ups, I let them have the last 15 minutes to visit A Kid's Heart and play some fun Christmas games. 

Once I got each class started in the lab, I was able to work on transferring a ton of documents I had saved on my laptop to my flash drive and organize them into folders. I find so may awesome things online and save them, but I'm always in a hurry and don;t take time to organize them on my flash drive. I was thrilled to get that job done!

After school, I was able to get all my Discovery data recorded and ready for our data meeting after school tomorrow as well as update my RTI data. 

Well, anywho.....my first block earned their last cupcake for their Sweet Rewards, so I went by the store and got what I needed to bake their cupcakes for tomorrow! 

Here's my Sweet Rewards board earlier in the year!

They are going to be so excited! I let them vote....cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, or brownies. 

Well, cupcakes won, but lots of kiddos wanted the other options, so.....lucky me found a mix that was brownies topped with swirls of chocolate chip cookie dough....so I made cupcakes and brownies/cookies! Now, they can have a choice.....:)

MMMMmmmmmmm!

So, while I was baking, I made grilled cheese and soup for supper and then finished all the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. Then, I sat down and made myself go ahead and type up my after-school tutoring progress reports that are due Friday. They are done and e-mailed! I am almost all caught up! Hopefully tomorrow I can finish lesson plans and grading and then I can totally enjoy the weekend. I am excited....my sister, nephew, and I are going to Tallahassee to spend the weekend with my daughter. We are going to shop till we drop and then go look at some fabulous Christmas light displays! 

Here's one from last year....they do a patriotic light display complete with music on the radio. The lights change and flash with the music.....gorgeous!

Same house....different music!

I can't wait!!! Well, it's almost 11pm....past my bedtime, so I better hit the sack! 5:30 will be here before I know it! Have a happy Thursday...:)

Be Blessed!

...

Christmas...:)

I decided to feature my Christmas decor today! I absolutely love Christmas and decorating for Christmas! I wanted to share some pictures I took around my house! The first few are in my kitchen. The kitchen is my favorite place to decorate each year....probably because it is so bright and cheery! It is all decked out in gingerbread and sweet treats! Each year I add a little more to my collection....come take a look around!

The top of my fridge!

The Cookies sign is a new addition this year! It makes me smile...:)

My kitchen tree....all decked out in sweet treats!

Top of my cabinets...gingerbread houses and train. The garland has candy and peppermint lights.

Area by my stove...my mother-in-law made the gingerbread girl for me years ago!

Another cutie made by my mother-in-law!

My coffee/hot cocoa area. I love it!

A closer view....:)

Yankee Candle gingerbread carousel and in the background a ceramic gingerbread muffin pan!

A little cutie I picked up at the Dollar General this year!

This is the buffet in my dining room....complete with a few miniature nativities.

My china cabinet....with a little Christmas decor.

Next up are some pictures of my snowman collection. This started several years ago with the teacher snowgirl you will see in one of the pictures. She has apples on her dress...you can't miss her! Anywho, my favorite aunt bought her for me when I was in college to become a teacher.....and that started the collection! I have surrounded her with several little snow students...:) Some of these were gifts and some I bought myself, but each one is near and dear to my heart! Take a peek.....

I love the snow family....a Secret Santa gift at school a few years ago!

Two of these three cuties were Secret Santa gifts as well!

My cutie teacher snowgirl and her students.
I love the one with the red and green hat....he has a huge head and little body!

A couple more cuties....the one on the right is a snow globe!

You can see books by my favorite author in the background here!

More sweet little snowmen. The one in the center was a gift from my daughter...:) I love them all!

This is my largest and he springs up and down! Don't look at the dust on top of my  media cabinets....LOL!
I had to hold the camera up high to snap this one and I didn't know the top was so dusty!

Frosty's hat...:)

Not the best picture, but this is the cabinets with the snowmen inside.
They light up and look so pretty with all the snowflakes, snowballs, and fake snow surrounding the snowmen!

My Santa I've had since my kiddos were small, along with a few new Christmas novels....:)

My tree covered with sentimental ornaments....we love reminiscing  over them each year!

I love this antique bowl sitting on top of my Christmas Carol books...it has 2 scenes from Dickens on it!
I found it at a flea market a couple years ago and fell in love! I have a large collection of the Christmas tree jars you see here as well....all found at yard sales & flea markets for next to nothing! The pedestal one in this picture is my favorite!

Well, that's it for now...I hope you enjoyed the tour! Next year I hope to have my library area finished so I can decorate it! I have big plans for it involving book page ornaments! I can't wait...:) I plan to feature my favorite aunt's house soon. It is just gorgeous! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Be Blessed, 

...

I'm Beginning to Think a LOT about Christmas....

Don't ask me why....and I'm certainly not rushing it (although I do LOVE Christmas), but I have been thinking about Christmas a lot today! It started earlier when I was eating dinner at my mom and dad's house. I was talking to her and telling her I wanted to come up with something to give all my students this year. I always bought my firsties something....sometimes a Christmas book from Scholastic, sometimes a small toy. This year though, I have over 60 kiddos! I am trying to think of something inexpensive, simple, & cute that I can make or put together. I found some cute ideas on Pinterest......but none of them are quite what I'm looking for! Any ideas? 

So.....anywho, after a delicious bowl of chili, I came home and found this awesome deal for a free Elf On the Shelf and the book for the first 5,000 teachers who enter! It is from this site.....The North Pole Playground. I rushed right over there and joined up so I could enter! Too cool....I hope I get one...:) Do 5th graders still believe in Santa? It's been a while since I had a 5th grader of my own!

This is a pretty cool site....go check it out, join, and enter to receive your own Elf! 

I was also trying to think of a way to incorporate science with Christmas and I came across some awesome ideas! I will definitely be doing the Christmas Chromatography (see pic below) activity with my kiddos, as well as the Case of the Christmas Cookie! They will love it....and so will I! I'm hoping to think of a small gift that is Christmasy (is that even a real word?)....and scientific! 

Christmas Chromatography!

And....since I am on the topic of Christmas......don't you just love these commercials?

And these movies?

Christmas is going to be here before we know it folks! What are you planning for your kiddos.....or for your families? Please share your ideas...:)

Be Blessed!