A Christmas Conversation LINKY

The Silly Season is here and I’m running around like a crazy person. (Well, not right this second… trying to find the will to get up on this lazy Sunday morning!) There is so much to be done and so very little time to do it.

In one week (this Friday) I will say goodbye to my current class – the end of the year is nigh for those of us in Australia – and at the moment it’s a bit of a struggle to get there. But all will be good!

I’m linking up with The Inspired Apple for her Christmas Conversation Linky!

Happy holiday season! Don’t forget to link up with your own responses!

The Elf on the Shelf is coming… (Freebie!)

Okay, so technically the elf is hiding on my bookshelf in the classroom. (But shhh! don’t tell my kiddos that!)

Yes, folks, I am jumping on the bandwagon of the Elf on the Shelf – and what a fun bandwagon it appears to be! I’m super excited about it. I’ve even plotted out the different adventures our elf will have in my diary so that I remember.

Today, though, I broached the topic with my K/1s to get a feel for where their heads were at. (My Grade 1s like to remind me that I’m the person behind the Table Fairy points… I swear I’m not!)

We talked about how Santa knows who’s been naughty and nice. I got some really great responses, like the Santas in the shopping centres are actually reporting back to the real Santa at the North Pole, and that Mums and Dads and teachers also report to Santa. Then we talked about Santa’s special helpers and how sometimes – if kids are really good – Santa sends a special elf to watch over the classrooms.

… it worked like a charm.

Can I just say, my kiddos are SUPER excited and can’t wait for our elf to make their Grand Entrance on Friday.

I’ll be sure to post some photos of what the elf gets up to!

But, in the meantime, I have a freebie for you – for those of you who have your very own Elf on the Shelf. (And even if you don’t, this would make a cute creative writing task!) Plus, hey – FREEBIE!

Simply click on the image above to download your freebie!

Christmas Down Under Blog Hop, with freebie!

Hello, my friends!

If you’re seeing this blog post then you’ve either just stumbled onto my blog through the Christmas Down Under blog hop, or you’re a regular visitor. Either way, a HUGE welcome to you all! (If you missed any previous stops, please start at Mrs. Ward’s Land of the Little Learners.)

There are a total of 8 fun blogs and pages to visit where you can find some great Aussie Christmas-themed freebies for your classrooms.

This is stop Number 7 – nearly at the end. But don’t despair – you’ll find 2 fun freebies below before you hop on to your last stop! Just click on the images to download each item.

Christmas in the Gum Trees is a great sight word practise game, featuring 220 Dolch sight words and the iconic native Aussie animal, the koala. These sight word cards are versatile – while I have outlined a specific game (where students have one group of cards, along with some Gum Leaf! cards and practise reading the sight words to keep the cards, or returning them to the pile if they pull a Gum Leaf) they can be used in multiple ways.

My second freebie for you is not a new freebie, but one some of you might have missed before:

This blog hop (and its’ freebies) will be available and open until Christmas Day, so grab them while you can!

I hope you’ve enjoyed your goodies from my blog – I’d love to hear from you (either in the comments, or via feedback on TpT). Comments make me smile!

It’s time now for you to hop along to your next, and final, stop: Rosie’s facebook page, Green Grubs Garden Club (Hug a Bug Kiwi)!

Happy Holidays!

Directions for Santa

Intellectually, I know that December is a crazy month and that I should expect it every year… but every year it seems to get crazier!

It’s hard to believe that in 12 (school days) I’ll be saying goodbye to my class of Prep and Grade 1 students. Some of these students I’ve taught for the last two years and they’ll all be moving up to Grade 1/2 classes in another building. It makes me somewhat nostalgic!

Next year (starting on January 31st) I’ll be teaching a brand new collection of students in another Prep/Grade 1 class. First term will be veeeery interesting (again)! So far I’ve met 6 (out of 7) of the incoming prep students and we’re finalising the rest of the classes so I’ll meet my Grade 1s on December 12th.

Anyway… we’re well into our Christmas-themed activities (primarily because we really only have next week as a normal school week – last week is full up with school events, class parties, meeting new classes, etc).

Today we started my FAVOURITE Christmas activity. It was one of the activities that my teaching team gave me in my first year of teaching (3 years ago!) and I just love it. It’s called Directions for Santa (and it’s available in my Christmas Time is Coming pack).

First, as a class we brainstormed all the places Santa would need to stop on his way to their house on Christmas. (Please excuse my drawing and handwriting…)

Now, every year the responses I get vary  – last year my preps were very realistic (they put their friends’ houses, shopping centers, world locations, etc). This year was SO different. My Grade 1s were excitedly coming up with ‘Santa stops’ – Present Word, Sleigh Workshop, Candy Cane World, the Sack Workshop, Santa’s Airport, etc. It was so cute! They really had fun with it, which was brilliant.

Next I modelled on the IWB how to start creating a map for Santa. (Note the important Apple store stop!)

We talked a lot about including clear labels for each stop so that Santa knew exactly were to go.

Check out some of their ideas!

Aren’t they great!

We have an accompanying writing task to go with it that we’ll complete tomorrow, writing out the directions.

If you like this activity you can find plenty more in my pack – just click below to see it on TpT!

What is YOUR favourite Christmas activity to do with your students?

Christmas Time Is Coming…

That’s such a scary thought – I remember my students at the start of the year and can barely believe that in just 5 weeks time they’ll be moving up into Grade 1 and 2.

But with the end of the year, comes Christmas and all the fun festivities that surround it.

Earlier this month I posted my first Christmas Activities packet on TpT and TeachersNotebook. Tonight I plan to share each part of it with you. (Shhh! There’s a Literacy packet coming that could be even bigger…!)

Appropriate for Kindergarten/Prep.

Purchase on TpT and TeachersNotebook

(The lovely background is by MareeTruelove Designs)

Alphabet Match – Uppercase and lowercase letter matching cards (great for Snap, Memory, flashcards, etc) and 5 recording sheets.

Holiday Writing – 3 writing prompts with 2 different lined paper styles

• All I want for Christmas
• My Wishlist
• Letter to Santa

Directions for Santa – My favourite activity to do with my students at Christmas time! Students draw a map from the North Pole to their house, including all important stops on the way. Students can then write the directions on the included template (3 lined paper styles).

Awesome Adjectives – Describe an elf, the sleigh, Santa, a reindeer and a snowman.

Number Match – Match numerals, number names and number pictures. 6 recording sheets are included.

Counting Puzzles – 4 counting puzzles (with blank options)

• 1-10
• 11-20
• Counting by 5s
• Counting by 10s

Ordering Days & Months – Days and Months cards and recording sheets.

O’Clock Times – O’clock time cards (analogue, digital and words) and 1 recording sheets.

Odd and Even – Odd and Even sorting cards and 4 recording sheets (fill in the numbers and highlight the numbers).

BUMP to Jingle Bells – Simple and fun math adding game.

So, that’s my packet – I’m very proud of it. I can’t wait to share my Winter Holidays Literacy packet with you all as soon as it’s complete. It’s geared towards first grade, and incorporated my Label Christmas pack as well.

Here are the product listings for you, one final time!

TeachersPayTeachers & TeachersNotebook

(There is a sale coming up on TpT soon, so you can add it to your Wishlists if you like!)

Also, I wanted to give a huge shout-out thank you to Shanyn from Coffee, Kids and Compulsive Lists for featuring my free fonts in her most recent post. It’s so sweet!

I hope everyone’s having a FANTASTIC weekend!