The Best Gift

This year I received one of my most treasured gifts!

Two of the parents from my class got together and made this ADORABLE photo book!  The best part was, they {and my entire class} kept it a secret for so long.  They copied pictures from my phone, blog, and instagram to use without me having a clue.  I'm so glad, because it was the best surprise!  Each two page spread has a sentence starter that each child finished.  My parents kept each child's exact answer, incorrect spellings and all!  It is too adorable!  

I wish I could show you the entire book.  It literally melted my heart!

Here are all the questions my class answered.  

Any teacher would LOVE a book like this.  

It is definitely something I'll treasure forever!

Click here to download the questions for yourself.  

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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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It's {ALMOST} Summer Break!

I LOVE the end of the year.  Not just because it means summer, but because we can actually start having some real, honest to goodness F.U.N!  The testing is over, the pressure is off, and the weather is MAGICAL.  Wouldn't it be nice if it was like this all year???  Imagine the possibilities....  :)  

My favorite end of the year activity is from Rachelle's "This Year Was Out of This World" packet.  

Each day {or when I get to it....} a on-task, well-behaved student gets to pop a balloon.  In 8 balloons there are questions for the class to answer in a cute memory book.  I put more balloons up to fill the moon a little more.  And then most students get a chance to pop a balloon, which to them, is the greatest thing ever.  

I saw a bunch of those "20 day countdown to summer" activities on pinterest, but most of them involve popping a balloon each day to discover an activity.  Since I already have a balloon popping activity, I decided to make a banner.   

On the back of each pennant is an activity for us to do that starts with each letter.  I did have to be a little creative on the phrases.  I {with the help of my AwEsOmE 2nd grade team} came up with:

S - Sidewalk chalk

U - U need a brain break {I downloaded some super fun brain breaks from pinterest, and will also use some from Teach, Train, Love.}

M - Mind games {hangman, memory, and other random games}

M - Mystery Box {I'm going to bring a special treat in a box and have them guess what it is using only yes/no questions.  It will probably be something tasty!}

E - Extra Recess

R - Read outside

B - Bubbles

R - Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament

E - Eat a treat {again, I'll bring in something special and delicious!}

A - Airplane contest {this one fits perfectly with our basal story for next week, Ruth Law Thrills a Nation}

K - Krazy dance party

! - Ice Cream Party! {I'll bring the ice cream, they'll bring the toppings!  If I'm adventurous, we'll do homemade ice cream and use some of Cara's fun activities.}

What other fun activities are you all doing???

12 days and counting!!!!!

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