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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Freebie And Give Away!

November 18, 2014, 4:45 pm
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Hello People!!!  Can I just say that my body is exhausted but my adrenaline is pumping!  I have been presenting at the Tennessee Kindergarten Conference for the past two days!  People...it was UHMAZING!!!!  I had a blast sharing my love and passion for kindergarten!  I had a blast meeting so many teachers and talking all about kindergarten!!!!

I want to share some of the love and excitement with everyone!  So I whipped up this fun freebie for Thanksgiving.  All you need are clothespins and this freebie!   (Wal-Mart sells big packages of clothespins for $2.  Dollar Tree sells packs of 36 for $1!)



Students simply clip the correct number of clothespins on the turkey to give him back his feather!!!

Just click the pictures to download your freebie!


I also wanted to share my handouts from my 8 sessions!  (I am working to get the PowerPoints posted!  They're coming! I promise!)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE HANDOUTS FROM MY SESSIONS!

I gave away $20 gift certificates for my TPT store during each session....SO....now it's your turn...I'm giving away 3 $20 certificates.....you can enter below!  (Hint:  you'll get more entries if you share a picture of me or one of my creations on social media with the hashtag #kindergartensmorgasboard)

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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard of Schedules And Playlists

November 19, 2014, 3:32 pm
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Happy Hump Day!  It was such a great day being back in the land of the mustaches with my 'staches after two days at the TN K conference!

This is what we celebrated today:


This little guy came to me with nothing.  Nothing.  This is growth over the last 4 weeks!!!!!  I was so excited when we finished his testing....but he was even more excited!  He was so proud of himself!!!!!!!   I know teaching gets hard....the mandates...initiatives...paperwork....and all of the politics that keep us from teaching....but this is why we do what we do.  It's all about those little ones who come to us with a burning desire to learn.    Remember, we work for our students.   

I have 13 CEOs.  I work for them.  That is all.

I'll say it again:  CLOSE THE DOOR AND TEACH ON!

At the conference, I got asked two questions over and over again!  

What is your daily schedule?
And can you please share your playlist?  (I had music playing as people came into the sessions!)  

So here are the answers to both of those questions:





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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Five For Friday

November 21, 2014, 3:35 pm
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Hello people!!!!  TGIF!!!   People, I love my job.  That is all.

I mean...kids telling you they "wuv" you all day long...being told you're "the best teacher ever" (um...I'm also the only teacher you've had ....but I'll take it!)...being told you're "the smartest person in the school...and funny too!"  I mean, what's not to love?!?!

So here are some fun snapshots from my week....you know, so you can see what happens in the land of the mustache!


This week I presented 8 sessions at The TN K Conference!  It was A BLAST!  But my voice wasn't happy with me after 2 days and 8 sessions.   It's a lot harder with grown-ups than 5 year olds.  But I LOVED every minute of it!   I think I'm addicted!   




It was stone soup day in Kindergarten!!!  I love this day!  It's a powerful lesson on what can happen when we work together!!!!!!   

I also love that the soup "chooses" a special student to get the stone!  Our soup chose our 'stache who went from zero letters/sounds/no name writing at the beginning to 18 letters and sounds and a beautiful name (and readable handwriting!)....but here's why I love my class....

When the student held up the stone and I talked about how hard the little 'stache had worked....my class began chanting his name!  OVER AND OVER AND OVER!  For FIVE MINUTES.  We were so loud the class next door joined in!!!!!  Two classes chanting for a friend and celebrating his hard work!!!    He was so proud!!!!!!!   

What more could you ask for??




This week we also spent a lot of time sharing all of the things we're thankful for.  I love this list.

Dancing...living...I mean...five year olds thankful for life.  Beautiful.

And how well do my students know me??  When someone asked what I was thankful for, one of my little diva 'staches says:

"Um, he's thankful for glitter and mustaches!"

HEART THEM!



And who doesn't love a paper plate turkey....that has to be painted....which means we got MESSY!

During this turkey construction project the principal walked in....(picture 13 5 year olds spread out on the floor painting paper plates...laughing...)....he said "Oh my...I'll keep being principal and you keep teaching kindergaten!" And he turned and left!  hehe

Again....I love my job!!!!



And how was your week?


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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Schedulin Sunday!

November 23, 2014, 8:45 am
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Happy Sunday before Thanksgiving!  I'm already going with my pants unbuttoned...to prepare for Thursday!


I am actually working Monday and Tuesday...who else??????

So I planned some fun, engaging (and slightly academic) projects for the two days.   You know...to keep control and manage the chaos....or at least we'll make a big mess and make something beautiful!

Monday we will celebrate the words we are thankful for!  

Each student will be assessed on the sight words that they know.  They will color each feather and make their own sight word turkey!  

I love these because they make a beautiful display but they also make assessing sight words more fun and creative!!!  



(This guy is in my gobble gobble creation which is on sale for half price!)

Tuesday we will celebrate all of the yummy food we will eat for Thanksgiving!



We create a circle map or bubble map of all of the foods we might eat on Thanksgiving.  Then each 'stache writes about what they will bring to our Thanksgiving feast.  Finally, we make our Thanksgiving feast placemats.    We always have so much fun with these and they always turn our so cute!!!  

And if you look at the picture...it gets messy.  So you know I love it.  Messy=successful!

And of course...we're making a silly hat!!!


This awesome hat is from my sweet friend, Time4Kindergarten!


Finally....I have to share this with you and make a challenge to each of you...

Yesterday, Yahoo posted a story about 10 turkey craft fails.    Here's the link to turkey fail number five.

https://www.yahoo.com/diy/10-turkey-craft-fails-c1416340738859/photo-hanging-turkey-photo-1416338758409.html

Yes people, that is one of our hanging turkey art projects.   Posted on Yahoo.  Called a fail.

A five year old's beautiful art project.  Called a fail.


What's a fail about this beauty?????

So here's my challenge!  I want everyone who has school Monday and Tuesday to participate in Operation Hanging Turkey!


I hope everyone will have their class make these paper plate turkeys.  

Take a picture.  Post the pictures on Twitter or Facebook and tag @yahoodiy and let's show them not to bully our five year olds!



I also placed all of my Thanksgiving creations on sale for half price!  In case you need some last minute activities for the week!





You have a few hours to enter for a chance to win one of 3 gift certificates to my TPT store!!!!









a Rafflecopter giveaway
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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard: Submission For Smorgie: The Male Perspective

November 24, 2014, 3:15 pm
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So today our schedule was totally flipped upside down because our 3rd and 4th grade had a field trip.  We had reading and math in the morning...then lunch and recess and specials in the afternoon.   

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!  We are hopeful this will be our schedule next year!!!

Alrighty...so, this is a question that's near and dear to my heart so I'm glad Holly submitted!!!!

Here's my perspective as a male in early childhood....maybe some of the other dudes out there can weigh in too!





And the 3 winners of $20 Smorgie Bucks to my TPT store are:

Rachel Turnbow
Kacey McLaughlin
Lindsay Nichols

Thanks for entering!  Stay tuned for more give aways!




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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard of Thanksgiving

November 26, 2014, 8:23 am
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Hello Thanksgiving break!!!  It was so nice to get to sleep in thi....wait....my internal clock woke me up at 6 a.m.  Ummm note to my body:  I AM OFF TODAY!  Let me sleep!     You know what I'm talking about....

I wanted to share with you all of the ways we've been learning about and celebrating Thanksgiving in the land of the 'staches!    It's been a busy couple of weeks...lots of messes...but we wouldn't have it any other way!!!


These super funny and silly crazy turkeys are just....well....glitterr-iffic!!!!!!  I mean seriously...how fun!

These were inspired by Cara Carroll at The First Grade Parade!




We spend a lot of time learning about the pilgrims and why they came to America.  We learn about their customs and foods and how the Native Americans helped them survive.  Then we draw pilgrims.  I LOVE these drawings.  People....how cute are those pilgrims?!   
We use a series of books called Draw Write Now.  They give step by step directions for drawing each picture.  They are great for speaking and listening skills and a great lesson for following directions.  I love how unique each pilgrim is and how these books allow us to be successful artists!!!!!

We also do handprint Mayflowers because anytime you can paint your hand is a great thing!


We have pie tasting.  We read There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Pie and then we taste three different pies.  This year it was pecan, pumpkin and apple.  We vote for our favorite pie!  Hello yummy-ness!!



This is one of my faves!  Each year we share about how we're thankful for the words we can read and write!!!!    I love this because we get to celebrate the fact that we can read and be thankful that we're good readers!  

Each of the 'staches gets assessed on their sight words and they get a feather for the words they know.  They color the feathers and make their sight word turkey!  

EPICALLY GREG-TASTIC!


These silly turkeys come from Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business!   They're just too cute and easy!


Of course we read Stone Soup and make delicious stone soup.  It's a team effort and everyone brings in some vegetables!  We work together to make something delicious.  Teamwork is a great thing and this is a great lesson on giving to others.  

Then we eat.  A lot.

And the soup chooses one very deserving 'stache to receive the stone.  (The soup chooses...wink wink nod nod!)  This year the soup chose my friend "chicken little" (um he looks like chicken little...and is just too cute and funny for words....i mean too cute...when he has his clothes on!)  because this little guy went from 0 everything to mastering almost all of his letters and sounds.  He has worked harder than anyone this year so the soup choose him. 

Here's the best part:  When he help up the stone...my class started chanting his name!!!!  "chicken little!  chicken little" and kept going and going....and then....people, you can't make this up...the class next door heard us and joined in.  There's nothing quite like 2 classrooms of 5 year olds chanting for a friend and his success to remind you what you have to be thankful for.  I don't think I've ever seen this guy prouder!!  

Hard work does pay off!!!!


We write what we're thankful for!

Dancing because it keeps my love of people ....
Mr. Greg....
Legos to build stuff....
Living because I don't want to die....


We also plan our own Thanksgiving feast and write about what we will bring to dinner.  Then we create our own feasts using grocery store sale papers!  

And the ultimate turkey art project....


Even though Yahoo called them a "turkey fail!" People...it's true.  These paper plate turkeys FROM MY CLASSROOM were featured in a Yahoo article and listed as one of the top 10 turkey project fails.

Personally, I think they are AMAZING!  And Yahoo can kiss it!!!

And of course...no day in mustache land is complete without a hat!  Thanks to Time 4 Kindergarten for these awesome turkey hats!


GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!!!!

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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Schedulin Sunday: Gingerbread Man Edition

November 30, 2014, 11:23 am
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Howdy ya'll!!  I hope everyone has had a restful few days off and enjoyed the blessings of friends and family!  

After eating my own body weight in food, I did manage to get productive.  I finished some creations...we shopped til we dropped....and we decked the halls here at Kindergarten Smorgasboard World Headquarters!

We actually switched our front room and den....now we have our tv and sectional in the front and the couch and chairs in the den with the fireplace.  We're loving the new set up.

This was necessary because...yeah...we bought a second tree.  FINALLY!!  I want like 4 more.  But at least we're now a two Christmas tree family.  Actually...3 if you count the pink tree in my office!!!

This is our original tree.  More funky and glittery fun....lots of bright colors.  And glitter.  So much glitter!

This is our new more traditional tree and mantle.  LOVE IT!!!!  Love the red and white and silver...love the mantle piece...love the Santa pillows!! 


So world HQ is ready for the holidays so let's get the 'staches in the mood!


It's 2 weeks of gingerbread madness folks!  Are ya ready?!

As always, yo can click on the picture to get my weekly lesson plans as a free download!  WOOHOO!  FREE!   LESSON PLANS!!!


Week 1 of Gingerbread Mania focuses on the more traditional stories.  Each day, we read a different story and compare and contrast the stories.  We use our story comparison chart to keep track of our ideas and what's happening with the gingerbread people!

Here are the gingerbread books we're reading this week:







Monday, we read our first story and after we finish our chart, a mysterious envelope falls out of our book.  The envelope sends us on a hunt for the gingerbread man.  As we hunt QUIETLY for him, another teacher puts gingebread man cookies and pieces for a hat in our classroom.  When we return we find our cookies and enjoy a snack while we make a gingerbread hat!


We wil also be doing lots of fun gingerbread crafts and art projects!






We love this free gingerbread man craft from Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business!!



We will do a fun writing activity where the 'staches will write about what they would run away from. 

We will complete a predictable chart  and then we will write our sentences and illustrate our writing.

 We will use the writing paper as a body and add a head, arms and legs to make a ginberbread man from our writing!

This came from A Place Called Kindergarten!

We will also make this funny little project about the gingerbread man in the stove!

This is from Preschool Crafts 101.

 In math we will be working on 2D and 3D shapes.  We will sort 2D and 3D shapes.  We will make our 3D shapes anchor chart.  We will build 2D and 3D shapes.  AND we will have a rockin' SHAPE PARTY!


We use toothpicks and marshmallows to build our shapes.  Then we eat marshmallows!  



For our shape party, I ask the 'staches to bring in snacks that represent 2D and 3D shapes!  We then sort our foods into 2D and 3D shapes.  THEN WE PARTY!  And chow down!   

This is such a fun, engaging way to end our study of shapes.  And we get to eat.  Who doesn't love to eat.  MMMMMM food.


This week also marks the arrival of our friendly classroom fox.

I am not a fan of the elf on the shelf because...honestly...he creeps me out.  Big time.  I have this irrational (it is...I admit it...) that it gets up at night and watches me sleep....seriously....he scares me a lot.  But I like the IDEA so we have a fox that visits our room.  Same idea as an elf but no creepy factor.  

He is a great classroom management  tool.  They're really on their best behavior because no one wants a bad report to the North Pole!

He will arrive tomorrow with a letter.  We will name him and see what craziness he gets into this year!



And now how about some freebies?!


Gingerbread Man Roll And Color FREEBIE!






Have you heard?  There is a SITE WIDE Teachers Pay Teachers sale Monday and Tuesday!  All of my creations will be 20% off and if you use the code TPTCYBER at checkout, you save an additional 10% off.  PEOPLE MY CART IS STUFFED!  I am ready to shop!



Who wants a $25 TPT gift card to use during the sale???  Well I am giving one away!  Be sure to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our gingerbread man activities and our centers come from these creations:



















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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard ONE DAY FREEBIE!

December 1, 2014, 3:00 am
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Howdy!  If you made it here from The Primary Chalkboard, then welcome!  If not, please visit The Primary Chalkboard for great ideas, great tips, freebies and more from some of my friends!



Happy Holidays from my friends at The Primary Chalkboard!  We are are celebrating all month with our own Advent Calendar.  Each day we will have a little treat for our readers from one of our authors/bloggers.  You can only get the treat on that day, so make you sure you check daily!

My one day only freebie is a super cute and fun letter recognition game!

Click to get your freebie!


I found these super cute reindeer buckets at Target (HELLO DOLLAR SPOT!).  I stocked up on them and then they inspired this fun freebie!

Since I still have a few 'staches working on letters, I wanted to give them a fun way to practice letter recognition!



Also, don't forget the HUGE TPT CYBER MONDAY/TUESDAY sale!  All of my creations are 20% off!  Use the code TPTCYBER to get an additional 10% off!




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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Gingerbread Writing Project

December 2, 2014, 3:41 pm
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Howdy ya'll!!!!!  

First things first:  Congrats to Kimberly Travers for winning the $25 TPT gift certificate give away!  SHOP AWAY!

Today I want to share a fun gingerbread writing and art project.   See...what had happened was...I like to do a lot of art projects in my class.  And since we have to be "academic" we do art and writing!  Writing=academic.  BRILLIANT, right?!?!?!  Makes me wish I had some glitter to throw!

We HAD A BLAST with this today.  It took us about 45 minutes total.  Fun?  Yep.  Simple?  UHHUH.  Academic?  Check.   Quick?   Done.  

It's perfect.

Here's what we did...

After reading a gingerbread man story, we brainstormed all of the things we would run away from if we were the gingerbread man!


We listed all of our ideas (except ONE....read on to the end...it's a great story...) on our gingerbread man (hello Mr. Greg is toats mcgoats an artist!)....

Then we wrote our sentence:   Gingerbread (insert 'stache's name) ran away from ________.

This is good stuff.


Then we used our writing to as a body for our gingerbread man!




(underwear!)




How much fun, right?!?!?!  I know!!!

So...here's my story.  I expect a parent phone call around 7:30 in the morning...

During our brainstorming session:

DogPound:  "Mr. Greg I have a really good one!"

Me:  "OK!"

DogPound:  "MY PENIS!" (he yelled it!)

Me:  silence.  I am bright red!  And instantly one of my girls says:

"Hey, what's a penis?!"

Me:  still mortified.

And then my normally very quiet and reserved ELL student turns to DogPound, waving his finger EMPHATICALLY in his face....and says

"NO!  NO! NO!  NO!"

And that' folks, is why I love my job.


Don't forget!  The big TPT cyber sale is going on until midnight tonight!

All of my creations are 20% off and with the code TPTCYBER you get an extra 10% off!!!!!






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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard 12 Days Of Christmas Give Away!

December 3, 2014, 4:00 am
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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Gingerbread Man In The Oven

December 5, 2014, 3:34 pm
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Happy Friday ya'll!  

Here is the highlight of our Friday:

"We do not use ink pens to pick boogers from our nose." (Throw that pen away, puhlease!)

And....my favorite ....

"Just because Mr. Greg is wearing gingerbread socks, please don't bite my leg!"

You can't make this stuff up.   And seriously, is there a better job out there?!

 Now, I want to share our super cute gingerbread man art project from today.

Seriously....these are just too cute.

We made an oven and put our gingebread man in the oven!  

It was super easy and the 'staches loved it!





Step 1:  color or make a gingerbread man


Step 2:  make an oven.  I just drew an oven-like (oven-esque) shape...we cut out the oven and cut out the middle piece.


Step 3:  Glue the oven to a piece of wax paper.    Add a handle and draw the knobs.  The knobs that "make the heat you want!" Seriously...love these kids!

Trim off any excess wax paper.  Glue the oven onto a piece of construction paper, leaving the top open.

Slide your gingerbread man into the oven!  





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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Schedulin Sunday

December 7, 2014, 11:14 am
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Happy Schedulin Sunday!!!!    It's week 2 of gingerbread man madness in our classroom.  This week we're reading more un-traditional gingerbread man stories!!!   I am super excited about the week ahead so let's get started!!!

As always, you can download my weekly lesson plans here:



These are the stories we will be reading:






My 'staches are beyond excited about the pickle book!!!!  

As we read each story, we will create a story comparison chart similiar to the chart we made last week!


We compare the characters, setting and plot of each story.  This leads to great book chat as the week progresses.  It also leads to great connections being made as we read!

In math, we're going to re-visit subtraction and work on strengthening that very challenging skill!

We will be doing some fun, hands on activities to practice subtraction. 


This is a super fun gingerbread man subtraction activity.  Each 'stache chooses some "gingerbread cookies" for their cookie sheet.  They glue them on and fill out their story problem (we work on this whole group!)  Then we mark out the cookies we "ate" and finish our story problem!!!



Another favorite subtraction activity is one I call:  "I'm lovin' it!"

We make a french fry box from a certain restaurant  (just a red square with an M written on the box).  Then each 'stache makes 5-10 french fries from yellow paper (just rectangles!)  and we place them in the fry box.

Then we write how many we have in our box.  Then we decide how many we will eat.  We remove those from our box and finish out equation!

Here is a super fun center freebie I created for subtracting french fries!


Here is another great subtraction freebie.  This is great for small group work!  And who doesn't love some stickers!?!


I found some super cute gingerbread man art projects on Pinterest!  I can't wait to make them with the 'staches this week!


This little guy was on Pinterest but he didn't have a link!  


These cowboys came from Mrs. Wood's Kindergarten Class!


We will also be learning about area and perimeter with our gingerbread men!

We use peppermints and hershey Kisses to measure area (cover the whole thing up!) and perimiter (around the outside!)!






Many of our activities this week come from these creations:






And anyone in Georgia???  Are you coming to the Georgia Kindergarten Conference on December 11 and 12???  

I'll BE THERE!!!  We will have a booth in the vendor area!  Come by and see us!  Grab some freebies.  And we will have conference only specials on exclusive bundles of my creations!  And you can meet the mister!!!















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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Gingerbread Subtraction

December 8, 2014, 4:06 pm
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Happy Monday ya'll!!!

Today we did a super fun subtraction activity to practice story problems and celebrate the gingerbread man!  Ya'll, we had a blast with this.  They turned out so cute.  It's such a fun, engaging way to write story problems and practice taking away.  I mean, what more could want from a lesson?!



Step 1:  make a cookie sheet.  You can't gingerbread cookies without a cookie sheet!

I give each 'stache a piece of aluminum foil and we glue it on construction paper.  Easy peasy.  



Step 2:  You gotta "bake" your cookies.

Each 'stahche got to pic 1-5 cookies from our "oven".  

Ummm these adorable ninjabread men came from my amazing TBFF (teacher best friend forever) at The Hartmann Sparkle.  She is such a talented teacher and she draws awesome clipart!  Be sure to check her out!!


Step 3:  Cut out your ninjabread and glue them on the cookie sheet!

Then you have to write your story.  You have to decide how many cookies you have, which friend will eat your cookies.  

Then you have to "eat" your cookies by marking an X through the cookies.




BAM!  Gingerbread subtraction story problems!




Here is a freebie for ya!  Click to download your copy of the story problem page!


And check out the ninjabread clipart from my TBFF!




It's almost time!  Come see us at our booth at the Georgia Kindergarten Conference December 11 and 12!

AND if you want your very own Smitten With Smorgie t-shirt, send me an email at gregsmedley@gmail.com  to order!









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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Schedulin Sunday: Christmas edition!

December 14, 2014, 8:58 am
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People, can you believe it's the last Schedulin Sunday of 2014????   This school year has FLOWN by!!!  But it's been an amazing year...so far!!!!  

So, no lesson plans this week.  I have tons of stuff planned....but I know it will all go wonky so I'm not even writing plans...we're just gonna wing it all week!!!

Are ya ready for my whirlwind week??

Here goes!

Monday:

We're kicking off our Reindeer Research project!  


We will read these reindeer books (which by the way, there aren't many informational text on reindeer out there...someone could be a millionaire if they wrote some great reindeer informational text for little minds.....just sayin)!  Each 'stache makes their own research journal using the class charts we make whole group!  I am super excited about this!




Monday afternoon will be gingerbread cookie day!!  Since we didn't get to decorate cookies last week, we'll do them Monday.  

And people, I hear a rumor that there's a gingerbread costume involved....not sayin, just sayin!

Tuesday:

More reindeer research....

Parent gifts.


The parents loved these so much last year so I'm doing them again.  They were super simple and cheap!

Plates are $1 at The Dollar Tree.
Acrylic Paint (Wal-Mart, Michaels, etc)

Paint students hand.  Print on the plate.  BAKE at 350 for a few minutes to bake the paint on.  Use a sharpie to write their name and year on the plate.  BAM!

We will also read Moosletoe becuase you can't celebrate Christmas without Moosletoe!  And we'll make this adorable moose craftivity!




Click the picture to download your free templates for Moosletoe!

Here's a fun moose snack you can make with Moosletoe!




Click the picture to get your free recipe!

Wednesday we will read Aliens Love Panta Clause!  People, who doesn't love a book about aliens who love underwear and Santa Clause?!


Then we will make these adorable Santa windsocks!  These are beyond cute hanging from the ceiling!!!!



Click to download your template and instructions!


Here's another epic fun and cute craftivity for Aliens Love Panta Clause!



Click the picture to get your freebie from my freebies page!

Thursday!


We will make these adorable poinsettas.  I love how amazingly beautiful these turn out each year.  I love how each one is unique, like the child who makes them.  I love the bold read color.   People, I just love them!  

This project is in my Holly Jolly Christmas Creation which is on sale this week!



We also do Stringing Up Sight Words for our sight word assessment!   It's super fun for the 'staches, a super fun and engaging way to assess sight words and it's pretty spectacular seeing all of these lights on display!




This creation is also 20% off this week!


Thursday afternoon is our pizza party.

Friday is polar express pajama day....and a half day....and the faculty and staff Christmas party AT MY HOUSE!

And that folks, is my last week before break.  Any bets on whether I lose it this week?!?!  hehe

Here are some freebies for ya!




AND ALL OF MY CHRISTMAS CREATIONS ARE 20% OFF THIS WEEK!!!  SNAG SOME LAST MINUTE CENTERS AND ACTIVITIES!!!


















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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Conference Presentations FREEBIE!

December 15, 2014, 5:28 pm
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Happy Monday ya'll!!!  I hope everyone made it through the first day of the craziest week of the school year.   Does anyone else feel like this week might be worse than any other week in school?!  hehe  But man, we're having fun!!!


It was gingerbread cookie day.  So obviously that means I had to dress as the gingerbread man.  Obviosusly.  AND surprisingly, no one nibbled me!!!

As promised...you can download my PowerPoints from the Tennessee Kindergarten Conference.  Just click on the picture below.  These are in PDF format so the fonts and formatting doesn't get all wonky and messed up!!  

(sorry it took so long...sometimes things get a little crazy here at world headquarters...don't hate me!)




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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard of Christmas Magic!

December 22, 2014, 8:16 am
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Hello Christmas break!!!!  Who's with me?  Who slept in today?  Who forgot to turn their alarm off?  OH...that was me.  TRUE STORY!   GRRRR.

I hope everyone gets to enjoy their time off.  Take naps.  Eat a lot.  Take naps.  Play on Pinterest.  Read.  Take naps.  Did I mention naps??  But seriously ya'll...relax!!!!!!

I have to share all of our holiday magic from the past 3 weeks!!!  We were busy busy busy little 'staches.  Gingerbread...reindeer...Polar Express...parties...and giving back....like, seriously, don't we have the best jobs ever?!?!


We spent 2 weeks with the gingerbread man and his friends.  We read all kinds of great gingerbread stories.  We created a story chart to compare and contrast all of the stories.  We made gingerbread men in the oven.  We wrote about the gingerbread man.  And of course, we made gingerbread man cookies.  And it's just not a normal week in our classroom if Mr. Greg doesn't dress up in a costume!!






 To see a whole blog post about this gingerbread writing activity, just click the picture!

We also used gingerbread men to help us practice subtraction with word problems!!  

We made the gingerbread man in the oven!  The 'staches had a blast with this little art project!  Click the picture to see a post with more details on this fun project!

And of course, we got to decorate gingerbread man cookies!  The mister made the cookies and the 'staches had a blast decorating and eating the cookies!

People, I have these 'staches so well trained that this was the quote of the little girl standing in the back:

"MESSY IS FUN!"

They so get it!!!!!!



Gingerbread pirates!  CHECK!



Of course there were lots of Christmas/holiday centers for literacy and math!!!!   




This year I did something new and LOVED IT!  I can't wait to do it again next year.  We did reindeer research and became reindeer experts!!!  Each 'stache made a reindeer research journal and recorded all of their learning!  We had so much fun AND...wait for it....LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT REINDEER!!!  Fun...learning....research....writing... BAM!  NAILED IT!



We made these adorable Santa windsocks.  We had so much fun.  The 'staches kept trying to wear them as masks and hats!  hehe  (FREEBIE!  Just click on the picture!)



We made these adorable gifts for our our parents.  Adorable.  Easy.  Cheap.  Seriously, 30 minutes and about $15 for the entire thing.  You can click the picture to see a post about these gifts.  (These would be great for mother's day or an end of the year gift too!)


Poinsettias!  These always turn out so pretty.  And this year it led to an epic glitter fight.  Allegedly started by Mr. Greg.  Allegedly.



We read Moosletoe and made our cute Christmas moose.

And finally, we ended our time together with Polar Express Day.  Pajamas, pillows, popcorn and hot chocolate.  A perfect ending to an amazing first half of the school year!


The highlight of our 3 week holiday celebration was this.  My class was invited to a local homeless shelter where my 'staches got to give back!  Amazon donated $5,000 dollars worth of presents to the shelter and my 'staches got to open the gifts and give them to the shelter.  It was so amazing to hear my 'staches be so excited to help others.    And seriously...is that not the world's largest Amazon box.  I want that at my house!


Yeah...and Mr. Greg wore the best. ugly. sweater. ever.  Period.










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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard of Resolutions!

December 23, 2014, 12:13 pm
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Howdy ya'll.  Well, I did it.  I got in my Jeep and drove to not one, but TWO malls today to finish my Christmas shopping.  I survived unscathed.  No elbows were thrown.  Not once did I have to use my teacher voice.  Although, seeing the husbands at Victoria Secret getting help from the employees makes me giggle and feel awkward at the same time....just sayin'!  

So I am excited to be linking up with my friend Jessica at The Second Grade Nest for a fun New Year's Resolutions Linky!





I want/need/hope to keep my home office clean and organized.  My plan is to install shelving in our garage and store some of my art and craft supplies in the garage to free up space in my office.  More space=more stuff....I mean more organized!  


I want to do more to support teachers and bloggers.  Especially new teachers and bloggers.  I am so blessed to be surrounded by amazing people giving me advice, opportunities and calling me out when needed.  I want to share my blessings with others.  Let's be real:  IT'S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS so the more we can help each other, the more we help our kids!!!


We just cancelled the membership to the gym in our neighborhood and joined the YMCA.  We do yoga every Saturday but I want to get back into my routine of working out 3-4 times a week so I can get my ripped, buff body back.  I won't lie, I WANT A SIX PACK!!!   


Sleep.  I need to go to bed and get to sleep before 11 or 12 each night!  We go to bed around 10 each night, but I read or browse Pinterest and Instagram until 11 or 12.  Must. stop.  Need. Sleep.


Italy!


Umm considering I am the world's pickiest eater...pretty much anything.  I really want to like coffee...I love the smell so maybe I'll try that.  Or maybe not.


How to use my Sillouhette Cameo.  For real people.  I got it for my birthday and for the life of me I cannot figure it out.  I've tried several times...No go.  Who wants to come help me????


Bitterness towards people who hurt me or let me down.  You know the people you lift up and then you find out they're not really who they claim to be...I want to let it go.  Let it go, Let it go.  No more bitterness.  Where's my glitter?!


Random acts of kindness.  It just feels good to know a simple gesture can completely make someone's day!


I have a children's book that I've written that I would LOVE to have published....If I can get it illustrated, I'm thinking of posting it to Teachers Pay Teachers!


What are your 2015 resolutions?  Head over to The Second Grade Nest and link up!




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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Merry Christmas

December 24, 2014, 10:00 pm
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Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!



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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard Home Office Tour

December 27, 2014, 1:48 pm
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Howdy!  I hope everyone had a merry and bright Christmas.  I hope Santa was good to you.  Santa forgot to deliver one of my gifts.  TRUE STORY!  My main gift did not arrive and the mister was so mad.  It's still not here.  But it's ok.  He actually went out on Christmas Eve and bought replacement gifts including a new Coach bag!  Isn't he the best?!



So, yesterday, I posted this picture of my home office after a day of cleaning, purging and organizing:


Everyone started asking for more pictures of my office...so I decided to do even better....how about a video tour of my office??

And yes, it's ok to be jealous of my paper and cardstock hoarding!  hehe


Do you have a home office?  What are your favorite or best organizational tips?  
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A Kindergarten Smorgasboard DISCO BALL FREEBIE!

December 28, 2014, 2:32 pm
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Happy Sunday!  I've been hard at work trying to add a new feature to my Kindergarten Smorgasboard Facebook page.  I am super excited that I got it to work...I think.  I hope.

OK...who doesn't love a good disco ball?!  What teacher doesn't love a free center that features disco balls?!


This freebie is only available on my Kindergarten Smorgasboard Facebook page!  Click on the image to go to my page.  Click on the FREEBIES button on the left side of the page.  And download your freebie!    I would love for you to like my page and share it with all of your teacher friends!!!



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