Oh Gingerbread Boy!

Did anyone else have a "Wacko Wednesday"?  I feel like my feet haven't hit the ground once today. I swear I have been on automatic pilot since around 5ish {A.M.} this morning. I always wonder what it would be like to have one of those get to work at 8:30 kind of jobs. Ha! 

We have been working, working, working this week. I always say it is better to keep the crazy little kiddos busy during holiday weeks so they don't have time to drive me crazy! It's a win/win for everybody right? Here are a few activities that have kept our little minds out of trouble! ;) 

Since it has been a gingerbread kinda week, we have been reading all of the many versions of the Gingerbread Man.

Our favorite so far....

The Gingerbread Pirate

We LOVE this story! After reading, the students created their very own gingerbread pirates. I gave them a gingerbread pattern and scrap paper and they went to town. I must say, they came up with some pretty darling little pirates. They then wrote similes to describe their sweet new friend!

Look at these little guys! :)

Along with working on similes, we have been graphing up a storm. 

How do you eat a gingerbread man? For this grativity, I gave each student a gingerbread man and we all took one bite. Then, we recorded the results together on a tally chart. We have been working on number scales and bar graphs, so after the results were in, we graphed the results. The students decided the number scale {we counted by twos}.

To integrate a little writing in with this activity, the students used sequencing words {first, next, then, finally} to describe the way that they like to eat their gingerbread man. I don't have any pictures for this, but some of these writings were way too funny. This was a perfect topic for a little quick write.

Our next graphing activity was not centered around gingerbread men, but the kids loved it just the same. I used the cutest little website to introduce my crew to those sleigh guiding reindeer {Click on the picture to check it out!} We all voted on our favorite reindeer and recorded our data on a tally chart. After the results were complete, we turned our data into a pictograph. While creating pictographs, we were really zoning in on the key. On our graph 1 reindeer = 2 votes. The students loved cutting the reindeer in half when we had to represent an odd number of votes.

Then, to add a little more crazy into our week, today was holidays around the world. My second grade team all took a custom or tradition from around the world and created a fun little lesson. The kiddos thought they were BIG stuff changing classes like the big kids. It was so much fun and the kids really enjoyed learning about other cultures. In my classroom, we talked about the different holidays known as the festival of lights {Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Las Posadas, Ramadan} After reading a magazine article from our weekly reader, we all created a menorah place mat.

{Idea courtesy of Pinterest...duh! Ha!}

I know that so many of you have asked about the Minute to Win It games that I will be using for our party and I pinky promise to be back tomorrow to share those with you. Tomorrow is Polar Express Day {a.k.a. roll out of bed and stay in my pajamas and go to work day!} This teacher is super duper excited. Probably even more excited than those crazy children of mine! :)

You've Got a Minute to Win It....Good Luck!

I promised some party planning ideas, so here they are and I'll make it short! I know many of us do not even have time to breathe....let alone read some crazy little blog! :)

On Friday, we will be celebrating the holidays Minute To Win It Style. My kids are SO crazy about Minute To Win It {You know...the crazy game show where you have one minute to complete the task?!?}. So, I have several little Minute To Win It games...holiday edition!

Along with the games, we are also having our own little version of a North Pole Photo Booth. I saw this idea on pinterest {Where else...right?} and just couldn't resist. My kids are in L.O.V.E. with a camera and I think they will have lots of fun taking holiday pictures with their school buds. These little cuties were easy to create with simple construction paper.

I have decided to take it super easy with the food. Usually, the excitement messes the appetite ALL up! So, rather than throwing piles of food away, {it happens...year after year} we are keeping it sweet and simple.

Our Menu:

North Pole Cupcakes and Hot Chocolate Cupcakes {for the chocolate lovers}

And...I am super excited about this...

A Hot Chocolate Bar

Well...that's it! Short and simple right? All I can say is thank the good Lord above for some good ol' Pinterest!

How are you planning to celebrate?

Wishing you a wonderful...FINAL...week of school! 

Twas Two Weeks Before Break....

As excited as I am about Christmas break, I honestly can NOT believe we only have one week left. My kiddos were so awesome last week that I think they have me all confused! Usually I am begging, kicking, and SCREAMING for a break, but I think I may just make it through this final week without any of those???? Maybe??? Just maybe???? I'll get back to you on that one! ;)

Last week was a crazy busy week as we were trying to squeeze in all things Christmas and a few...well...not so Christmas activities as well!

Last week, we wrote a descriptive piece to describe a very unusual sound that we heard on Christmas Eve night. Of course...that sound would be...Good ol' St. Nick stuck in our chimney. The kiddos had to use all of their senses to describe what they may see, hear, and feel while trying to figure out such a peculiar sound. We finished this little writing up with a craft by the all too awesome Cara Carroll.

We also completed a second descriptive writing: Elf on Strike. The kids wrote about why they are so unhappy with the conditions of the North Pole and what they would like to see happen if Santa wants them to return to work. These were hysterical! The students really got into this writing and had some unique requests for the jolliest of all elves...Santa! 

{I am so beyond proud of this little man in my classroom. At the beginning of the year, he would barely write a sentence for me...now he has some of the BEST descriptive writing in the class! I love when my kiddos remind me why I became a teacher!}

 Then on Friday, I finally pulled him out! Yes...Scouty {my kids named him last year} is back and they were BEYOND excited to see him. I have been waiting for that perfect moment for him to make his appearance {a.k.a. after one of those crazy days...you know what I am talking about} BUT we haven't had one, so he had to come out before it was too late!

We also had secret messages from Santa. One of my sweet teacher friends sent a link to the coolest site EVER that allows you to personalize messages from Santa. I know there are a lot of these types of sites out there, but seriously...this is hands down the BEST yet! I created a message for each child and then the laptops were ready when they walked in the door. They totally believed that I received an email from Santa at 2 A.M. asking that I deliver the messages to all of the boys and girls in my room. I totally wish that I could show you their entire face in these pictures because they are priceless. I tried to take a candid shot of each student to give to their parents. So stinkin' sweet...I swear!

Laptops.....check! Messages ready....check!

Priceless faces and reactions....check...check....check!

I seriously do not know how I caught some of these faces, but they are full of awesomeness!

"Mrs. King, Mrs. King...he knows my name and what I want and how old I am and and and and...oh my goodness!" Precious!

Check out that crazy amazing site here: Portable North Pole



Well, that is last week at a glance, friends! Next week, we are moving on to gingerbread activities and Polar Express Day! So stinkin' excited! I will be back tomorrow with my party ideas for Friday. Really....our Christmas party is Friday?!? Where HAS the year gone?

Happy Sunday Sweet Friends!!!!

Long E Word Sort {2nd Grade Word Work}

Hi sweet teaching friends! It is all about being short and sweet tonight. We finished up reindeer week with a bang last week and are quickly moving through another week...Christmas style. This week, it is about all things holiday! We have been writing about Santa and all of his little elf friends while TRYING to stay focused for MAP and listening to a little Kenny G {old school style!} HA! The good news is...so far, so good! My kids have knocked reading and language usage out of the park! {HUGE sigh of relief....THANK THE GOOD LORD! Right?...RIGHT!} 

I have been reviewing long vowel teams over the past two weeks, so here is another little word sort for long e teams. Click on the picture to download your copy! 

 Hope you are all having the amazing weeks that you deserve. I feel like I am echoing so many blogging buddies out there BUT if you have sent me an email, please, please, please be patient with me. I oh so enjoy reading each and every one of them and am hoping to be able to reply to all of you very soon. Thank you so much for thinking enough of me and my blog to send your thoughts and questions. Y'all are awesome!

I hope to be back Thursday with all things Christmas!

Reindeer Wrap-Up

It was a run out of the building at 2:30, throw your shoes off when you hit the front door, dive on your couch and never move until Saturday...NIGHT....eat pizza and indulge in all kinds of chocolate and not even think about weight gain kind of FRIDAY! I am still looking for the individual that was standing outside of my door this morning giving my kids shots of espresso! HONESTLY! Crazy kiddos! :)  

Even through all of the madness today, we still managed to squeeze in all things reindeer to wrap-up an exciting week of learning.

On Wednesday, we read one of my favorite holiday books.

I found this little crafty idea on Pinterest and tied it in with a writing review. We have talked, and talked, and TALKED about showing not telling in our writing. They began by writing a tell me writing to describe their antlers. They then transformed those boring details into a show me writing.



Here are some of the finished products:

On Thursday, we finally put these sweet little laptops to use. They will be seeing their way into our classroom much more often after the new year! Are they not the cutest little things {the laptops not the students...OK...they are cute too! :)}

Then finally, we were able to cash in our reindeer rewards to make our reindeer chow. Here was our spread...we even threw in a little measurement with measuring cups and spoons.

Even though they didn't need ANY help on the sugar end, I loved the way that our chow turned out! This little incentive is definitely a keeper.

All of these ideas are included in my Run, Run Rudolph unit. It is still 20% off until midnight!

Can I hear a cheer for the weekend????