Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Year's Resolutions

The last day of 2013.. I can't believe it's already here.  This year has literal flown on by!  This is my second year in PreK and I love that God placed me with such precious children.  I saw one during the break and it just warmed my heart.  Hubs got to see her (I talk about her all the time!) and said again and again that he couldn't stop smiling after seeing her hug me and just the look on her face and the excitement in her voice.

I will be getting a student teacher in just a couple of weeks.  Very excited to have her join me and my little family.  I have such special stories of each kiddo that it might even be difficult for me to share them!  Gosh!  That sounds bad!!  I am such a mother hen when it comes to my babies!

Here are a few things that I'll be looking forward to for the new year! HUGE thanks to Peach for the Teach for this fabulous link up!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Hope for the holidays.

I couldn't wait to sit down with my little guys to make the snowman handprint ornaments.  I showed them all a picture from online of what it would look like.  They have always loved the feel of their hands being painted.  They giggle and say how much it tickles.  I put them in their center groups and one group at a time they come to me for the ornament project.

Once I start painting on the scarf, eyes, hat, and carrot nose, the snowman comes to life!  Seeing their little hand turning into a work of art just amazes them.



It was time for specials, so I lined them all up and we walked to Music class.  I came back to my room and sat and worked on as many ornaments as I could get to while they were gone.  As I sat there, I fell in love with what I was seeing.  Memories being made.  A snapshot of each child on this very day of his or her life.

I was painting on some carrot noses when it occurred to me just why we take so much time with the kids to do these "silly" "time consuming" projects.  For memories.  We do them for the many Mama's and the Daddy's who, unfortunately, have faced tragedies.  I have given memories to the Mama whose TWO kids I had who perished in a house fire.  Teachers give memories to those families whose children have been take away by idiot gunmen who come and take our babies from us.  It's heartbreaking.  Those were the thought that went through my mind as I painted on details.

It was time to pick up my lovelies from Music, when I met up with my partner teacher.  She looked at me and said, "There's been another shooting in Colorado."  I couldn't believe it.  The very thing I had been thinking.  Just wanted to hold them all so close to me.

An ornament will never replace a Mama's baby.  But hopefully it be a memory she can hang on her tree to remember today's moment in time.

[To make these ornaments, just paint your child's hand white and place an ornament in their hand.   Take the pointed end of a paintbrush and dot on snow.  When the handprint has dried, add on a warm cap and a scarf.  Use the end of the paintbrush again to add perfect dotted eyes and mouth.  Use a small brush to dab on the carrot nose. That's it!  Make sure to add the child's name and year on the bottom or back of the ornament.]

Thursday, December 12, 2013

When the little red-headed girl moves.

What do you do when the little red-headed girls moves away?  You know, the little one that has tugged at your heartstrings since the first day of school.  The one that makes the goofiest comments and always brings a smile to your face.

In my case, it's not a red-headed girl, it's a blond-headed boy.  He "says" he is moving.  Of course, we hear that all the time and most of the time it is inaccurate/misinterpreted information.  But when he said he was moving, all I could think was NOOOOO.. not this one!!  He is such a doll!  He is super in love with me! LOL  He is like Flight of the Bumblebees on Steriods as he flits about in front of me, holding my hand or my leg.

Hoping I won't have to say goodbye.  But if I do, the hug farewell will be filled with some really wonderful memories.

#PEGS  #dimplesareagirlsbestfriend

Sunday, December 8, 2013

13 Days of Christmas?!

Have you heard of the 13 Days of Christmas? I just found out about a group of bloggers who are offering a freebie each day and then having a giveaway at the end.  You may recognize many of these blogger/TpT sellers.  I have linked the graphic to Day 1 of the giveaway.  I can't wait for it to start... these are some incredible teacher/authors!!

http://www.simplykinder.com/

Friday, December 6, 2013

Can I just share my two favorite FB Freebies?!!!

I am brand new to a couple of the sellers' stores on TpT and am SO thankful I clicked through today and found some INCREDIBLE freebies!  Wait until you see what I downloaded:

First this beautiful set of winter kiddos from Lindy Du Plessis.

 https://www.facebook.com/LindyTPT

The other freebie I fell in love with was from Okinawangirl 

Her item was an Interactive Numbers activity with precious little stockings and gingerbread men. Click either picture to go to her FB page to download!!  I can't wait to use this!!
https://www.facebook.com/theokinawangirl

https://www.facebook.com/theokinawangirl

December Frenzy Map

I want to share the FB Frenzy map with you, too!!  Look at how MANY hops there are!  I KNOW!!  I can't believe it either!  Just download and click on any of the start pages and return to go to the next set of pages.  How easy is that?! :D

CLICK to see the FRENZY MAP

December Facebook Frenzy

It's finally here!!  The December Facebook Frenzy.  I can't tell you how many goodies I have downloaded today!!  SO many different categories to click thru AND it includes MUSIC and CLIPART!!  My favorite!!

I am excited to be offering my Dasher's Number Line Adventure.  It is the smaller version of a much larger unit in my store.. I am thrilled with how it turned out!



Tuesday, December 3, 2013

A little, red visitor in our room!

Our classroom recently discovered an additional person in our classroom.  He is very small and so, very tricky!  Yesterday, when we met him, he was hanging from our flagpole!  The kids immediately saw him, even before he was introduced.  We discovered that his name is Twinkle Toes and he was sent to our classroom to check on the kids for Santa.  Twinkle Toes is a scout elf for Santa.  He reports back to Santa each evening as to how the kids were that day.  We are having to be extra careful, and the kids definitely remind me, that we cannot touch Twinkle Toes.  Apparently, his Christmas magic will leave and then he won't be able to report to Santa when the kids have been on their best behavior!