Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Update on Our Week

Y'all, we finished our Christmas wall today and were able to do our text-to-selves craftivity with If You Take a Mouse to the Movies! I just have to brag on my kiddos - they did an awesome job on both of these projects! The "wall" is an annual tradition at my school. We have a door decorating contest, which includes the wall outside your door. Trouble is, the whole thing also has to be instructional, of course. I can do that! We read Brandi Dougherty's The Littlest Elf, which is about the cutest little elf you ever did see, last week. This poor little fella can't find a job at the North Pole, and feels all out of place no matter where he goes. We talked about how we sometimes feel like that little guy, because sometimes we're too little to help with jobs around the house or sometimes we feel left out (making text-to-self connections). I thought that was the end of a cute book and lesson...NOT!
I had it all planned out (in my own head) that it would be so cute to do the 12 Days of Christmas because I have 12 students, for my door and hallway display. My kids...had thoughts of their own. They came up with 11 ideas for the door. I let them vote. Rudolph won. I thought, "how boring," but I showed them a pin I had on Pinterest, and they loved it. A mom came in and helped hang the Rudolph and background while we were in MAP testing. Another teacher saw it from down the hall and said, "Really?" She, of course, had pinned the same exact Rudolph, and already had him on her door. I had no idea. Dilemma!


So, I got my brain in gear and thought to add more...enter the littlest elves (12 of them), symmetrical snowflakes (12 of them), a sleigh and Santa and the whole thing just grew and grew! I finally got it all hung up today, and it is stinkin' cute, ahem, at least that's what the other teachers tell me. I would never brag about it...I would tell you that every kid, I mean elf, looks exactly like each student in my class. Everyone who walks by instantly recognizes them! Here's how it all turned out...


 


Today, we read If You Take a Mouse to the Movies and practiced visualizing, on filmstrip graphic organizers, and made mice with text-to-self connections. These activities are from First Grade Wow. If you haven't checked out Nancy's blog, you simply MUST! She posts nearly every day, and all of her units are, get this, FREE!

Hugs,
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8 comments:

  1. Absolutely ADORABLE! Two years ago our school did a Christmas hallway competition. You wouldn't even believe how much everyone got into it. It was crazy! You would definitely be the winner at my school. LOVE THIS! The elves are my favorite!
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

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    1. You're so sweet! Last year, I did win "most original". I'm not sure if that's good or not!
      Brooke

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  2. I love all the decorations of elves and moose. Super cute and it looks like it was fun to make too!!! Thanks for sharing.

    Jamie
    teachingtidbit.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks, Jamie! It was fun - and educational, too, because we read, made connections, talked about the littlest elf's point of view, how he changes throughout the story, and made those symmetrical snowflakes for a little math.
      Brooke

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XOXO,
Brooke