Christmas Tree Crafts!

Last week, we completed a variety of candy cane themed activities, and this week, we did a Christmas tree theme! We each made our own small tree and them put them together to create a class tree in the hallway!

Simple, but Magic Behavior Intervention

This week in my morning group, we had a new student join us.  So, we have been reviewing some basic rules like sitting upright in our chairs and raising our hands without screaming "ME!!"  This is a very squirmy and competitive bunch!!  We have been having a hard time getting through our reading lessons, because I constantly have to remind one of the kids to stop laying on the table or to stop shouting out all the answers.  

This week, I decided to review the "rules" with them and make "following the rules" into a game.  We listed the rules on the board and came up with a prize for the winner (this group loves drawing pictures…so that was one option to choose as a prize).  Every time I caught them following the rules, they got a point.  Every time they broke the rules, they lost one.  In the end, we had one winner and several losing students crying.  However, on day 2, everyone was on their best behavior and they even asked to "play the point game again." (!!!)  This is not a game I will use every day, but it is great to bust it out when you are working on teaching new behaviors to your students.

Reading Station

We cover reading at a variety of stations in the classroom.  I run reading groups with all my kids (whether the group is working on learning the alphabet or making inferences).  However, we also have a station specifically called "reading."  This is an aid run station, where the kids get to work on reading every day in a group of 2 students for 15 minutes.  I have 3 levels of work at this station which I will go over today.

Candy Cane Craft-a-palooza!

Last week, we had a little candy cane theme going on!  Check out these cheap and easy crafts we did…

We started the week with these finger print candy cane pictures.  

Holiday File Folders

I have had some requests to post some file folders on TPT over the last couple weeks…so now you have them!  This first set I posted is holiday themed, but I have several more sets in the works which I will be posting soon!  I printed these out and put them together last week and my students were chomping at the bit to work on them as soon as I was finished!  Gotta love my little worker bees!  

CYBER TUESDAY and FREEBIE!!

Just a reminder that today is the last day of the CYBER Holiday Sale!!  28% off everything in my TPT store!  Click the picture below for a link directly to my store!

Currently and CYBER MONDAY SALE!!

Happy Cyber Monday!  And Happy December! I am so excited for this month!!  I already have all my fun holiday activities planned out for the month, and yet, I just keep finding more ideas!  I don't know how I am going to fit everything in!!  

Anyway…onto this month's Currently! Hop over to Farley's Blog to join in!

Listening:  My husband and I had over 14 hours of driving this weekend, so we rented an audio book from the library to listen to!  I love that I can download things to my iPhone for free from the library!

Loving: I had the best long weekend at home spending times with family and friends!  

Thinking:  I am so pumped about my Christmas break! I am going on my honeymoon to Australia and New Zealand!  If you have any tips or suggestions on what we should do, please let me know!!

Wanting: I am so close to finishing my Christmas shopping and hope to finish this week.  I have never done my shopping this early before, and I have got to say, it is really refreshing!

Needing:  Since I basically ate my face off for the last week, I really need to eat some fruit and veggies (and maybe just that) for a couple days to detox.

Favorite Tradition:  My favorite Christmas tradition is something my family has done forever!  We cook up some rice pudding and put a blanched almond in so it is hidden.  Whoever gets the almond wins a prize.  The actual rice pudding isn't even very tasty…but the tradition is still my favorite!

Also, did I mention my excitement for CYBER MONDAY??  I have created my wish list and will be buying my items when I get home from work today…this was great motivation to get me planning my activities for the winter! 

Here is a link to my store or click the image below in case you are interested in saving some money!!  The sale lasts today and tomorrow!  My store is 20% off and when you enter CYBER at checkout, you will get the full 28% off the original price!  Happy Shopping!