Christmas in the Classroom

There is just something magic about Christmas. Christmas is about love, giving, searching for good, and miracles.

Children associate Christmas with positive memories and excitement. Positive memories and emotions create hooks in the brain. One of the joys of teaching is using these hooks to build new skills.

This simple activity with Christmas tree cut-outs and button manipulatives can be used to teach a variety of skills building on those positive dendrites.

1. Cut Christmas trees from green craft foam or felt. (Christmas tree template printable: http://familyfun.go.com/printables/christmas-tree-ornament-patterns-702979/)
2. Use buttons as manipulatives .
3. Choose a skill topractice!

• Orally state math story problems while students use the buttons to create the problems on the trees. Stress words that are synonyms: plus, and, add; minus, subtract, take away.
• Practice positional words, “Put the button at the TOPof the tree.” “Put two red buttons UNDER the yellow button.”
• Demonstrate the communtive property using the trees, buttons, and a dry erase board.
• Place the trees and buttons at the math center and challenge students to write math story problems.
• Practice one-to-one counting using the mats and buttons.
• Learn beginning addition and subtraction skills.

Sometimes Life Is Like That . . . It's Just Pants

Monster Queen was refusing to wear her glasses in the car on the way to school today. Big brother was trying to convince her that wearing them was the right thing to do. The explanation went like this:

“This is how life is sometimes . . . it’s like it’s your birthday, and you get this cool package. It is just the shape of the toy you want, and you are really excited to open it. When you tear the paper off, though, it’s just pants. Sometimes life is like that . . . it’s just pants and you have to pretend you like it.”

Do You See What Hi-C?

A day in a minivan, three teenagers, and an unreliable GPS. . .

Is this the teaser for a horror movie?

Things I would like to return to Walmart?

A Monty Python sketch?

No! These were the ingredients for one of the best days I have had as a teacher. Three of my students and I attended Students Taking Charge training (thanks to our amazing school nurse). I had to get up at 5:00 am (not easy for Mrs. W), find student homes (REALLY not easy for Mrs. W), and negotiate unfamiliar roads (darn near impossible for Mrs. W). I should have been exhausted. I should have been cranky. I should have been miserable. BUT, thanks to some amazing students, I laughed until I hurt, did the driver dance, and learned the following:

• We have a deep set love of our school and want to find ways to make it even more “ours.”
• Our musical tastes differ, but we loved to sing together with the radio.
• Open-mouthed young men with their faces pressed to the window of the vehicle attract attention.
• McDonald’s does not sell Fanta, Pepsi, or lemonade.
• McDonald’s staff is very tolerant.
• Not everyone shares my appreciation for yard nomes.
• Everyone does share my appreciation for bobble heads.
• Why we think some people lie.
• There are limits to my Bieber tolerance.
• Why it’s wrong to steal.
• Some girls are good at shooting clay pigeons.
• It’s hard to change our patterns of behavior.
• We would rather look tough than vulnerable.
• Students do notice the things adults do. Adults are appreciated.
• It’s hard to talk in front of a group of strangers, but it’s rewarding.
• Mr. North can turn nearly anything into a song.
• We have a unique voice and something to offer.
• I REALLY like kids.

If you are interested in doing community service with kids (with or without the minivan), check out these sites:

Action for Healthy Kids http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/

Students Taking Charge http://www.studentstakingcharge.org/