Happy New Year's

As  you reflect on the past year and prepare for the year ahead, what would you do if you were not afraid?  I read that phrase recently in "Success" magazine.  Fear is powerful and often holds us back from achieving our personal and professional best.

If you are like are me, you are waiting until the last possible minute to think of returning to school.  If you have not made those lesson plans for the first few days back, consider my New Year's packet.

Click on the picture to visit my store.

Hot Chocolate, Gingerbread Houses, and a Freebie

     I wanted to make the last week before Christmas vacation special, not to mention bribe them to have good behavior.  So, we made hot chocolate in the crock pot.  On another day, we constructed gingerbread houses using milk cartons from the cafeteria.  The day we got out for Christmas, we had our Christmas program and our party.

Gathering of the ingredients for hot chocolate

There's nothing better than Eagle Brand condensed milk

YUM!

Sweet and Delicious!

Decorating - we put the icing in baggies

Constructing and Decorating

A finished product

Getting ready to sing at our Christmas Program

Shepherds

Sweet little angel

A Gingerbread-themed Christmas Party

Pin the button on the Gingerbread

It was a hit at the party.

Click the picture to download.

Merry Christmas!!

Gingerbread Cookies

     Do you ever take on a project and later wish the idea had never entered your mind? For example, at Christmastime, why do we feel it necessary to do every possible cooking and art project at school?  We are already exhausted, frustrated, and ready for a much needed vacation. And yet, we do.  I always think it's because I am trying to create magical experiences. So, in an effort to create magic, here are some pictures from making homemade gingerbread cookies.

Before the oven

Freshly baked and ready to decorate

Mixing and Measuring

The cafeteria reluctantly agreed to let us use their ovens.

Decorating is not as easy as it seems.

Almost ready

Santa Bingo

If you need a little time filler before Christmas, consider Santa Bingo.

Click the picture to view.  There are 5 different Bingo cards. Answer pieces are included.  There will be more than one winner after each game.

Jazzy and Rudolph

Jazzy arrived on Wednesday!!

The mailman came to our room with a package from the North Pole.

After all the screaming, we opened the box.

There was a letter from Santa and Jazzy was inside.

And, there was more!

Personalized elf hats for everyone!

We went to see Rudolph.  Santa was still busy working at the North Pole.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

     This week we decorated our tree and put up our Gingerbread House.  This will be used for our pictures.  It's rumored that our elf might arrive this week. We'll keep you posted.

Our Gingerbread Backdrop (Thanks, Jessica)

Decorating the Tree

Adding the Finishing Touches

Caught these two working hard at our Word Work Station.  I was so proud.

     Here are some new products to get you in the Christmas spirit. If your students are anything like mine, they are wild, wild, and more wild.

Click on the picture to go directly to my store and check it out.

Stay Tuned...12 Days of Giveaways Coming Soon!!!