Wrapping Up The Year - Birthdays!

I am linking up with our awesome collaborative blog, Hello Sunshine!
This month, we are sharing ideas to help wrap up the school year.  I'll be sharing another fun, end of the year idea on the Hello Sunshine blog tomorrow.  Be sure to check it out!  :)

I became a little too obsessed with the Elf on the Shelf at Christmas time.  As soon as I saw the birthday version, I bought it instantly and knew I HAD to figure out a way to use it in the classroom.  

And I did!

  

During the school year we celebrate individual birthdays minimally.  We sing to the child and they get to take home a small birthday gift from me.  They are allowed to bring treats to pass out during lunch.  In order to make each child feel special and enjoy their birthday, I like to have one big birthday party at the end of the year.  I bring cupcakes, we play games, and have a really fun time!  I'm super excited to involve the birthday edition of Elf on the Shelf this year.  My class LOVED having the Elf on the Shelf visit us during Christmas, and I know they’ll LOVE seeing him back at our birthday party. 

I also included a behavior management aspect.  To help manage the kiddos during the last month of school, they are going to need to earn the birthday party.  In the note the elf leaves, he explains that he will be watching their behavior each day and reporting to Santa.  If the class displayed appropriate behavior, he will leave them a green dot to put on the present.  If the class did not display appropriate behavior, he will leave them a red dot to put on the present.  The class needs to have 15 green dots on the present, in order for the elf to be allowed to come to the party.  

What's included in this packet?

-Directions for how to set it all up

-Invitations, Thank-You Notes, and Weekly Reflections 

-An Acceptance letter from the Elf

-A Classroom Management plan incorporating the Birthday Elf

-Blank Calendars for April, May, and June 2015

-My calendar for May filled out with elf antics

-Poems to accompany each day

-9 Birthday Party Game Ideas

Click here to check it out!

Now go link up with Hello Sunshine to share with us how you wrap up the year!

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December Currently!

Hello, December! 

I'm linking up with Farley again for another round of currently. 

 

 

 

 

Listening Ok, when I started this post I was watching The Walking Dead, but that only lasted about two minutes!  I won't give any spoilers away, but OH MY WORD!!! 

 

 

Loving  Our Elf on the Shelf came today!  Introducing...

 

 

After narrowing the list down and voting on our favorites, Elfie was the winner!  (Thank heavens, because one sweet boy suggested the name, Expurt Thift!  What?!?  He said it was the name of a game he likes to play.  After I wrote it up on the board, he corrected my spelling for me.  Yikes!!)

 

You can check out my Elf in the Classroom Packet here. 

 

Thinking  My tree is down from the shelf in the garage and waiting eagerly in the hallway to be put up.  But man, I do not have the time or energy for that!  I really might just keep walking around it until my parents come this week... 

 

Wanting  Even though my tree isn't put up, I did take down all the rest of my Christmas decorations and started decorating.  That made me realize I really want some new decorations!  You really can't ever have too many, right??? 

 

Needing  The end of the quarter is getting close to an end, and I have yet to grade any writing... Everything else was graded, entered, and filed in a timely manner.  But writing is my nemesis! 

 

Giving  My parents are snowbirds from Canada, and are coming down this week to bask in the glory that is Arizona!  (Not to brag, but we had record high temperatures on Thanksgiving - a balmy 87!)  My mom and I decided we are going to do the 12 Days of Christmas for some families we know who can use a little bit of Christmas Cheer! 

I can't wait!  :)

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What the November???

How on earth did it suddenly become November!?  Let alone, the end of November!  But, I'm really glad it's here, because that means December is just around the corner.  Some of my most favorite classroom activities happen during this special month.

 

Handprint Calendars

I've got the calendars copied, the cardstock purchased, and the paint ready to go.  We are starting this adorable Christmas Gift tomorrow!  I can't wait!  I started making these calendars during my first year of teaching.  But I took a break from them the last two years, as I adjusted to the new state, district, grade level, and school.  Now I am ready and raring to go! 

 

Elf on the Shelf

Last year was the first year my classroom ever had a little Christmas Elf.  It was more fun than I could have ever imagined!  I really hope we get another one this year.  ;) 

 

In case we do, I prepared a little Christmas Elf in the Classroom packet. 

It is FULL of activities and ideas to use with your classroom Elf. 

 

Included in this packet are:
-Two Calendars to fill in for the daily Elf Activities
-Worksheet for students to decide on the Elf’s Name
-Tally Chart and Bar Graph for choosing the Elf’s Name
-30 Suggested Activities (with original matching poems) for your Elf to do
-Two Versions of A Daily Elf Journal
-A Weekly Elf Reflection Page
-A note to leave if your class is too naughty
-A note to leave on your Elf’s last day

 

Lucky for you, it is ON SALE today and tomorrow. 

Click here to check it out! 

 

Gingerbread Houses

I LOVE the tradition of having parents come make gingerbread houses with their children.  At first I thought it would be too chaotic, but it was definitely a controlled chaos.  :) 

 

Pretty soon we will be sending a note inviting parents/families to this special event.  When we do, I will upload a copy of the note here for you to use. 

 

Have a great week!  :)

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Guess who's back????

Back again.  Jingle's Back.  Tell a friend.  

Actually, he's not quite back yet.  He'll be arriving right after we finish up our testing.  I became a little too obsessed with the Elf on the Shelf at Christmas time.  As soon as I saw the birthday version, I bought it instantly and knew I HAD to figure out a way to use it in the classroom.  

And I did!

  

During the school year we celebrate individual birthdays minimally.  We sing to the child and they get to take home a small birthday gift from me.  They are allowed to bring treats to pass out during lunch.  In order to make each child feel special and enjoy their birthday, I like to have one big birthday party at the end of the year.  I bring cupcakes, we play games, and have a really fun time!  I'm super excited to involve the birthday edition of Elf on the Shelf this year.  My class LOVED having the Elf on the Shelf visit us during Christmas, and I know they’ll LOVE seeing him back at our birthday party. 

I also included a behavior management aspect.  To help manage the kiddos during the last month of school, they are going to need to earn the birthday party.  In the note the elf leaves, he explains that he will be watching their behavior each day and reporting to Santa.  If the class displayed appropriate behavior, he will leave them a green dot to put on the present.  If the class did not display appropriate behavior, he will leave them a red dot to put on the present.  The class needs to have 15 green dots on the present, in order for the elf to be allowed to come to the party.  

What's included in this packet?
-Directions for how to set it all up
-Invitations, Thank-You Notes, and Weekly Reflections 
-An Acceptance letter from the Elf
-A Classroom Management plan incorporating the Birthday Elf
-Blank Calendars for April, May, and June 2014
-My calendar for May filled out with elf antics
-Poems to accompany each day
-9 Birthday Party Game Ideas

Click here to check it out!

I will be updating this packet with more pictures and ideas as I use it in my classroom. You can follow all my elf's daily happenings on instagram @jvanorman or by searching the hashtag #birthdayelfintheclassroom

Now, for the best part...

Would you like to win:

This packet 

AND 

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition 

AND 

The Elf on the Shelf: A Birthday Tradition???  

You're in luck!  I'm giving it ALL away to ONE lucky reader!  

Enter using the rafflecopter below!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Elf in the Classroom - Week 2

I am loving having Jingle in our classroom!  It makes this month so much fun, and really does help with behavior.  I almost wish he could stay all year long!  :)

Here's what our little Elf was up to this week.

On Monday, Jingle decorated our class Christmas tree with Candy Canes for us!

You have all been as sweet as can be!

So I left you some treats all over the tree!

On Tuesday, we found Jingle fishing in the sink. 

I really love to catch fish.

Catching good behavior is Santa's big wish!

On Wednesday, Jingle was playing memory with our counting bears! 

I am making so many friends!

I hope my time here never ends!

On Thursday, Jingle moved all of our clips to Parent Contact! 

Have you been naughty or nice???

Sadly, they were NAUGHTY, so Jingle did not come back on Friday.  

He left us this note. 

I went to the North Pole and told Santa the news.

It made him so sad, we both have the blues.

I won't come back into your school,

Unless you promise to follow every rule.

You need to try harder to not talk out.
And work really hard and do not shout.

Treat everyone kindly, and be extra sweet.

And I may come back, with another treat.

The kiddos were DEVASTATED!  Some were really close to tears.  It was SO SAD!  

Jingle also left me this shirt, to help remind them that even though he was staying at the North Pole, he was still watching them.  

(I bought the shirt here.)

They were SO MUCH better on Friday.  

A lot of them wrote notes and drew pictures to apologize to Jingle.

It was sad, but super cute.  :) 

This week our elf is gone but we will try our best on working hard.  Jingle was upset today.  He was sad.  And Santa Claus.

I wonder if he is still sad.

I hope Jingle doesn't get upset.

I think he should come back with us.  

Dear Jingle,

I am sorry that you can't come back until Monday.  I'm sorry for being naughty yesterday.  I miss you and I hope you come back soon!

Love your good friend,

______

to Jingle

PS  I like your smile

Dear Jingle,

I'm sorry that you had to leave.  I promise it won't happen again.

Love, _____

Check out my Elf in the Classroom packet which includes my calendar of Elf events for the month, notes for the Elf to leave (mine and blanks), the Weekly Elf Reflection page (for a boy/girl Elf), and more!.  

I've loved seeing everyone's Elf in the Classroom posts on instagram.  Follow me (@the_sharpened_pencil) and use the hashtag #elfintheclassroom to post/find more great ideas!  I'm loving it!  :)

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Elf in the Classroom - Week 1

Our first week of Elf in the Classroom was a HUGE HIT!!!

On Monday, we heard a loud pounding in the door.  When we checked it out, we found this beautifully wrapped, ICE COLD package waiting for us.  

The class was so excited and begged me to open it right away.  I did, and they were ECSTATIC to find an Elf on the Shelf!  I read them the book and then we quickly voted on a name.  

I left him tied in the box and kept it open on the counter.  

The next morning, we found him here: 

I hope you keep your behavior on point,

So I can keep hanging around this joint!

 On Wednesday, Jingle was caught making snow angels out of my glitter!  

Having no snow was making me bitter.

Thankfully I found all of this glitter!

During our math lesson on surveys, someone asked me to leave a note for Jingle so he could tell us what his favorite snack was.  He answered us during lunch!  

The next day two children brought in a candy cane for Jingle to have.  

It was TOO cute!

On Friday, Jingle made his own little Christmas tree!

You have a lovely Christmas tree,

But this one is just right for me!

 On Friday, Jingle must have been tired from a busy week in our room, because we found him sleeping.  

Don't mind me - I'm just having a snooze.

When I wake, I hope to tell Santa good news!

After lunch we filled out a reflection page on our week with Jingle.

I was amazed by how much they wrote and the thoughtfulness of their responses.  

Maybe we should have an Elf all year????  

#notgonnahappen

  

 

Check out my Elf in the Classroom packet which includes my calendar of Elf events for the month, notes for the Elf to leave (mine and blanks), the Weekly Elf Reflection page (for a boy/girl Elf), and more!  

You can follow me on instgram (@the_sharpened_pencil) to see the daily happenings of our little Elf.  

Don't forget to check out the Elf in the Classroom Linky Party hosted by Mel D and Michelle. 

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