Happy New Year

As 2011 comes to an end I have been reflecting on the past year.  This past year I have taken the plung an entered the world of blogging.  Finally got serious about losing weight and lost 50 pounds (3 dress sizes).  So needless to say I have done a lot of clothes shopping lately. 

In 2012 I hope to continue my weight loss journey and continue working out.  Unfortuantely I still have lots to go in that department.  But it took years to put on so it will take some time to take it off.

Also in 2012, I plan to spend more time creating lesson/activities for my new shop at Teachers Notebook.  I always have great intentions on starting something, but somehow never finish it.  (at least not good enought to want to post/sell).

Speaking of Teachers Notebook- Don't forget my sale goes to 1/3/12.  Just added an -ow word work file folder center today.

Have a great rest of your 2011 and Happy New Year to everyone.  

Can't sleep

Well I have my days and nights mixed up during this winter break.  Should come in handy for NYE.
Yesterday I launched my shop on Teachers Notebook.  Today I added a few more things.  Here's a new one for Goods/Services.  It's on sale until Jan. 3rd.  along with many other items. 

I'm working on a (Ow- center activity, as well as a persuasive writing unit.)  So stay tuned for more information on that to come.

Expanding

Well I have just opened up a shop on Teacher's Notebook.  I haven't had.the time to upload much .I do have a few things on there, and plan to add more items soon.  So now I will be able to post my ideas here, Teacher's Notebook, and The Teaching Oasis. 

Right now I added my addition and addition/subtraction puzzles. (An idea that was posted on here earlier.)  Also in the past few years my Reading Super Bowl Contest has been popular on the Teaching Oasis.  So those items are posted on there as well.  Hopefully if time allows me too I will be adding more to my SuperBowl collection. 

Right now all my items are 20% off until 1/3/12. So be sure to check it out.

Holiday recipe Linky Party

Rowdy in First Grade  is having a Linky Party for the holiday season.  Who couldn't use recipe ideas with all the family and friends get to get togethers we have this time of year. 

Teaching Blog Addict is also having a Linky Party.

Here's a recipe that I just found and made a few weeks ago that I love.  I love artichokes and I'm always looking for new ways to make it.  This would be great for football parties.  (Too bad my Bears are not going to be making the playoffs this year.)

Artichoke Bread

1/3 cup butter 1 Tbsp minced garlic 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped 4 ounces shredded Mozzarella cheese 1 cup grated parmesan cheese ½ cup sour cream 1 French bread loaf Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the artichoke hearts, Mozzarella  cheese, parmesan cheese and sour cream. Stir toblend. Remove from the heat and cool. Slice the bread lengthwise and scoop out some of the center. Spoon the artichoke mixture evenly into the  bread shell and sprinkle with the cheddar cheese. Place each half on a baking sheet and cover lightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another  5 to 8 minutes or until the cheese melts completely. Cut into slices and serve warm. Merry Christmas!

Hand Santizer gift

Over the weekend I came across this post on Proteacher.  This year as a grade level we decided not to do gifts, but to go out as a grade level team for dinner drinks in January.  However I have a wonderful aide that I wanted to get her a gift and thought this would be perfect.  This also would work great for parent volunteer's. 

Here's a picture of what I made for my aide.  I added some clear stickers for decorations.

A close up of the mini hand santizer for her purse.

Here's a few links where the idea came from.  On one of these links you can dowload the labels that are on the bottle.

http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=268818

http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=268916&highlight=teacher+gifts

1 more day until Winter Break! 

Sorry for the 2nd post today- Polar Express writing

As I send in my earlier post today I have 2 more days of school.  On Friday and tomorrow (Monday) our second grade learns about Holiday traditions around the world.  Then on our last day of school we watch the Polar Express.  Of course anytime we watch a movie we have to tie it into our curriculum.  So we are comparing the book to the movie.  I also just created a writing activity for the students to complete.

Enjoy

Non-fiction retelling Homework

From reading many blog posts I hear that many teachers have already started their winter break.  (I"m jealous BTW).  Well we still have 2 more days until our winter break.

This past week I finished up my Then and Now unit in S.S. and I gave my students a retelling assignment for homework.  I have done this activity before in class, but never as a  homework asssignment.  It turned out to be a successful one.  Students were eager to go home and tell their parents about what they have learned.  How many times do we hear from parents or students when asked about their day "What did you learn?"  They answer "Nothing".  Well this assignment helped put that response to bed.

I set aside some time the next day for students to share what their parents wrote with a partner.  I believe that part is what made it successful.

Well if you are lucky enought to be on break- I hope you are enjoying it.  As for the rest of us- we can get throught it.

An easy dinner recipe- off topic

Not a teaching idea, but who wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen after a busy day- work or during the weekends.  A friend gave me this recipe and I tried it this weekend. (I believe it orginally came from Mr. Food- picture below is from Mr. food- the recipe did come from that site.  If you click on the picture it will take you to the site there's a video on there.)
 I just love Mexican food so I had to give this a try.
Not much prep work and you just put everything in the crockpot.

Tamale Pie

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef, cooked and drained
• 2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes, drained
• 2 cups frozen whole kernel corn
• 1 (2-1/4-ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
• 1 medium-sized onion, diced
• 1 (1.25-ounce) package taco seasoning mix
• 1 (16-ounce) package cornbread mix
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine cooked beef, diced tomatoes, corn, olives, onion, and taco seasoning; mix well then pour into a 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Prepare cornbread mix according to package directions then spoon over beef mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.
3. Cover and cook on high setting for 3 hours or low setting for 6 hours.

The Cutest Christmas Ornament

Well being a dog-lover I definitely think so.  One of my teammates saw this ornament last year at a craft fair and I just had to make one. :) (Thanks Dana!  J) 

All you need is 1 large biscuit, 1 medium biscuit, 2 small wiggly eyes, 1 black bead for the nose (or black Pom pom), brown felt for ears, red  felt for the tongue,  ribbon for the bow and ornament hanger, and tacky glue. 

Directions:

Glue the brown felt (ears), ornament hanger, tongue to the large biscuit and let dry.  Then glue the medium biscuit at the top over the ears/hanger.  Last glue the wiggly eyes, and nose.

Oh, don't forget to write their  name and year on the side.

Of course make sure you tell students to hang these ornaments at the top of their Christmas trees.  We wouldn’t want our four legged friends to eat these biscuits!  Well my poor dog Pebbles was going crazy when I was making this sample. 

Well just after posting this idea I came across a Linky Party from Finally in First. Just click on the Logo below to check it out. For more wonderful ideas.

5 Days of Christmas at The Teaching Oasis

Are you a fan of the Teaching Oasis?  If not click on the logo above to become a fan.  Starting on Monday Dec. 5 we are having giveaways.  (I believe Monday's is up already!)

I've also noticed that my Guess My Number Puzzles have been posted.  I hope to create another set over the Winter Break.  Also if you read Stregna Nona to your class check out Christina's Stregna Nona unit.

Gifts for students

Looking for an easy and inexpensive Christmas gift your class?  Well look no further.  I have an idea just for you.  Last year I had forgotten to order books for my students from Scholastic.  So I was frantically searching for something else at the last minute.  Well I was shopping at the $1 store and saw they had playing cards.  They came in a pack of 2, and you can't beat 50 cents for a gift.  My students love all the math games we do in class.  So I quickly typed up math games they could play at home with a deck of cards. 

I can't tell you how many parents told me how much their child liked playing the math games at home. 

So if you are still looking for a gift for your students just click on the picture below for the download.  I'm sure your students will enjoy the gift as much as my class did last year.

Here are some labels that I printed off and put on the deck of the cards.