Christmas Questionaire Linky and a Freebie

 

Hot chocolate or Eggnog?

I love both!  I drink my non-alcoholic eggnog with pinch of nutmeg.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them underneath the tree?  

When I was growing up he would set them up by the tree.  My husband's family wraps them.  We'll have to figure out which we want to do when we have kiddos running around.

Colored lights or white?

I decorate with white lights but I think if I were to deck out the outside of the house I would add some colored lights.

When do you decorate?

 We usually decorate the weekend of Thanksgiving if we can or early the next week. 

Real or Fake Tree? 

We have a real tree this year! Our fake is out in the scary spider infested shed...we decided we didn't want to deal with that!

 

What Tops Your Tree? 

A star.

 

Favorite Christmas Memories or Traditions?

Ohhhh so many! I remember staying at my grandparent's homes when I was little. My cousin and I would look for Santa in the sky and try so hard to sleep on Christmas Eve. The hubster's family does a White Elephant that I talked about here. I also love driving around and looking at Christmas lights.

Do you remember your favorite gift as a child? 

My first bike...my daddy tried to teach me to ride in my grandparent's cul-de-sac that day. I had a hard time until the next day when they got me training wheels.  I believe I was five.  

 

Do prefer giving or receiving? 

I love giving gifts and the excitement that they like what I gave them.

What is your favorite Christmas song?

I love "The First Noel" and  "Breath of Heaven."

Candy Canes. Yuck or Yum?
Yuck!  At least not peppermint flavored!
 
Favorite Christmas Movie? 
I don't know!  I haven't watched any Christmas movies in a long time! I used to love "Miracle on 34th Street."

Do you shop online or at stores?
Well out here in sticks I shop online but if I can get to the big city there are certain stores I try to hit up.  Amazon is the way to go out here though!

Photo Cards, Letter or Store Bought Card?

I love photo cards but I've never sent one!

I had this freebie for last week but I added more pages for you...to get this freebie click on any picture below.  If you have any suggestions for other "Colorful Trees" I will gladly add them! Just leave me a comment!

Happy weekend! Apple on!

Freebie Friday

Whoa...where has this week gone and where have I been?! I have a freebie for you!

I will probably be making another one of these for early next week or maybe even this weekend. What kind do you think I should make next? Long Vowels? Word Families? Short vs Long Vowels?

Have a good Friday night! Apple on!

I'm Addicted

Earlier this week someone contacted me on Teachers Pay Teachers...they wanted me to make something for them...EEEEEEK!!! I was so excited!  So I made a power point that includes words with short vowel, blend, and digraph sounds.  I had been researching around about how to make my products more appealing.  So I took the leap with this new product and now I am addicted.  I have updated all of my other phonics power points...and a few other things. Now I'm not saying my addiction is a bad thing but somebody around here better get the dishes done...so I think I'll take the weekend off...maybe. I've had this freebie on my blog before but with my updating addiction I added three more worksheets for you! Click the pic to go get yours!

And to check out the other victims of my updating addiction click on any picture below and it'll take you right to it!

Frame from - The 3am Teacher

Chevron backgrounds from - Jonathan Pearson

Fonts from - Mrs. Leeby and Kevin and Amanda

Have a great weekend!  Apple on!

A Funny, Short Vowels, and a Bulletin Board

I love sharing my first grader's funny moments...here is one from the other day.

S1: "Mrs. C...my mom is pregnant she just found out last night. She took a test."
Me: "That's exciting."
S2: "You mean the kind of test you put in your mouth?"
S1: Stares at S2 and then looks at me
Me: shaking my head no at S1

Student 1 and I seemed to have an understanding that not everyone needs to know how a pregnancy test is taken.  I laughed inside while I was shaking my head.

Well here are some short vowel things I have been working on as I promised! First I have these great Short Vowel Fluency Pages.  I use these pages at the beginning of the school year A LOT.  Here are some ideas...use them to make classroom posters of each vowel as we review/ learn them, use them as an assessment, use them for a reading center (refer to this post), or use them to have your students practice their short vowel fluency. 

Click the picture to get your Short Vowel Fluency Pages!

 Next I have a Blending Words with Short Vowels  power point that includes 10 words for each short vowel and 5 sentences for each short vowel as well...that's 75 total slides!  The red counters move up one at a time at the press of a button.  You can choose the speed that you want your students to say each sound.  Then the arrow shoots across to let the students know when to put the sounds together as a word!  My walk to read class has really benefited from using this daily.

Click either picture to get your Blending Words with Short Vowels!

Finally I wanted to share my new bulletin board that I have to show off my students work. I dyed clothespins for a little over a day in some food coloring, vinegar, and water.  After they were dry I hot glued tacks to the back and wall-LA!  Now I have clips for all my students work and I won't need to use a stapler!  I do have to warn you to make sure you measure out a 13X13 square for every clip to hang at the top of.  If you don't your student's papers won't fit both directions and also you might have to go to the art room and measure out more paper and move your border after you have already put it up...irritating I tell you.  I plan to pin the objectives associated with our work on the star clip in the top right corner.

orginal idea found here

Apple on!  Back to work tomorrow!  I love Mondays!