"Dear Deers"

I wore my Noah's Reindeer hat this week--he made it when he was in preschool (Noah's now in the 7th grade)! Ms. Crews always refers to her students as "dear friends."  In first grade classrooms, rule #5 is "keep your dear teacher happy!"  Dear Deers, have a wonderfully terrific holdiay!  See you on January 2, 2013.

Circle of Control

12-12-12

My aunt's wedding was tonight!  What are you doing to mark this day?! 

I wore my Holiday Wreath sweatshirt and earrings today.  I was thinking about circles .  .  . I like the way a circle has no beginning, no end.  I like the positive ripples we've been thinking about when we smile at someone or share a kindness!  Who's in your circle of friends?  What is in your circle of control?  It's almost "circle-like" when you consider the Golden Rule, "Treat others the way you wished to be treated."  ;-)

Happiness runs in a circular motion .  .  . are you on track?

I'm NOT SHORT, I'm "Elf-Sized!"

Be helpful like an elf! Although some of those elves y'all have been telling me about seem anything but helpful .  .  .  Tonight we enjoyed the Porkchop Productions presentation, "Holly and the Christmas Kerfuffle!"  It was an amazing connection to our Kids at Hope effort this week.  Flick the Elf has to believe in himself to pass his E.L.Fs!  Holly the Elf has to believe in herself to SAVE CHRISTMAS!  There is a way YOU can make the world a better place in the way ONLY YOU CAN DO IT.  Pete the Cat reminds us "small is cool" in his new holiday adventure.  Our family wrapped up the day with Elfis by Alan Katz and Pete Fornatale.  Melfin the Elf has to have confidence and show the world who he really is on the inside!  He has to put the ELF back in believe in yoursELF.

It was an UNCOMMONLY DELICIOUS day, complete with ELFIN MAGIC.  :-)

Here's the Kids at Hope pledge that you can practice as often as you can:

I am a Kid at Hope.

I am talented, smart & capable of success.

I have dreams for the future and I will climb to reach those goals & dreams everyday.

All Children are Capable of Success, No Exceptions!

http://www.kidsathope.org/whoweare.html

You can see the Porkchop Productions show at other branches in the Lexington County Public Library System!  Check out the schedule:

http://www.porkchopproductions.com/Summer-2011.html

This link says "Summer 2011" but it really does link to the Christmas 2012 schedule!

Penguins are COOL!

Run, Run as FAST as You Can!

Have you seen the Gingerbread Man?  He's on Mrs. Broam's head???!!

"Little Grandma" Day

"What's the theme today?" a little fellow asked .  .  . today I had on GG's seasonal hat and vestlike top.  She made these for several holidays.  When she volunteered at Lexington Extended Care or our elementary school library, she would come decked out in her handmade duds.  I really don't think I ever had a chance on this "dressing up" habit!  I think it must be an inherited trait. :-)

Wednesday, December 5 -- was LEARN like your HAIR IS ON FIRE day, being it was the December Collaborative Day.

Tuesday, December  4 -- I wore a Santa Clause hat and my light bulb britches.  YOU BETTER WATCH OUT!

Monday, December  3 -- I wore a Santa Clause hat and my "Life is Good" shirt.  Life is good.

Week of 11/26-30

Monday, 11/26 -- Be a Teddy Bear Friend!  A teddy bear friend is one who listens and helps others feel safe.  A teddy bear friend is kind.  I wore my teddy bear stocking cap!

Tuesday, 11/27 -- Have a OLD FASHIONED Christmas!  My Grandma Drucie made me a Raggedy Ann Christmas jumper years and years ago.  I inherited a house coat from her that fits perfect with the pattern, and I topped off my outfit with red stockings, black mary janes and a Raggedy Ann wig/hat.  It took me all day to come up with the theme for why I was dressed this way .  .  . sometimes the outfit does come before the idea!  :-)

Wednesday, 11/28 -- Have a TREE-riffic day!  I wore a Christmas Tree hat a couple of students gave me last year to celebrate the holiday!

Thursday, 11/29 -- Jingle an Elf -- Get YOUR jingle on!

Friday, 11/30 -- School Spirit Day @ PHES -- GREEN and YELLOW makes me SMILE!  I wore my smiley face stocking cap.

What kind of fun can we have the first week of December?

Each Kindness

I used _Each Kindness_ by Jacqueline Woodson with the first grade "heart talk" lesson this week.  It's a great tie in and specifically addresses a friendship "missed opportunity."  Sometimes we don't get a second chance to be a friend .   .   .  it's a picture book, but one appropriate for all ages.  I had some good discussion with kiddos about how the story makes you feel.  We pretended to be Maya in the story and how she might have used a "heart message" to communicate with Chloe, Kendra and Sophie.  We also used a free iPad app--Ripple HD--to review ways to share kindnesses (kiddos "touched the water" as they explained a way).  "Each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world .  .  .  Each kindness makes the whole world a little bit better."  How can you be kind?