Planning for this WILD WEEK!

the week before. . .Halloween!

I don't get into Halloween a lot. I have worn a witches' costume before.

I painted "I'm Bats sbout BOO. . .KS" on an orange sweatshirt with a bat and ghost painted on many years ago, and wore it many years.

I have accumulated several cute Halloween ceramic and wooden decorations that I took to my classroom last week. I almost put them back in the box, thinking we don't need any more distractions, but the students and aides all got very excited, so they are very beautifully displayed in my classroom.

The students are hoping that I'll put some of the items in my treasure box, but Mr. Hammock says No.

So, tonight, at Wal-Mart, I picked up a few really cute, dollar items and a roll of tickets. I'm going to start giving out tickets, and let the aides give out tickets, too, for a drawing on Friday. And, I'll continue the concept with other weekly or monthly drawings.

I also bought a new Witches' hat with feathers on it.

Tomorrow, at the beginning of our reading time, after going over each group's vocabulary and spelling words, and setting the stage for the books, I am going to read aloud:

Wild About Books,

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type (which is the story in the gen. ed. 2nd grade reader for this week, and I have the actual book)

and

KIDS

I have one IEP meeting tomorrow, 3 on Tuesday, and several more that I need to get ready for and schedule.

All of the students, except ones who did not make 80 for their conduct grade on their report card, are going to the Pumpkin Patch on Friday, so I will be staying at the school, with those who do not get to go.

I will just have to remember the days that I went as a Mom and as a Girl Scout Leader!

Happy Halloween Week

to all of you!

I hope it's not too wild!

Sandy

Week 3 of TWOC, Keepsakes for Students to Make

Along with Reading, Writing and Math, we are still decorating pumpkins and talking about Fall in our class. We're not doing Christmas projects yet, but I am posting this now, to get in on my friend Keelie's 12 Weeks of Christmas, Week 3, Accent Craft.

She may have had a more elegant accent craft in mind, when she chose that for the theme for this week, but I think she has several participants who are into the simple, child made crafts.

So here is my contribution for this week.

Be sure to go check out Keelie's Blog party and when you can find the time, go back to read all of the posts for Week 2-Memories and Traditions and Week 1-Lists

I have a child's handprint craft book somewhere, but don't know where it is right now.

The Angel and Reindeer that I did with my children used their feet for the body.
I haven't found directions for my favorite one that I did with them when they were little.
I used felt. It was the shape of an ornate ornament and then their handprint was cut out of a different color of felt and glued on to be the design on the ornament.
I will post a picture of them when we get out of storage.
Just have to go ahead and post this to get in on Week 3 of Keelie's 12 Weeks of Christmas
@ http://redswriting.blogspot.com/2009/10/twoc-accent-craft-1.html

3 Easy Christmas Ornaments to Make:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

These are simple ornaments to make, and they turn out really cute! You'll need to help your little one hot glue the pieces on, but they can be glued on with regular craft glue if you'd like.

To Make Your Own Ornament:

Items you'll need:

Brown felt or foam1 pipe cleaner, cut into two equal pieces

Wiggly eye

Ribbon

Bell

Small red pom pom

Small white pom pom

"Deer" tag (see below)

Pencil or marker

Scissors'

Craft glue or hot glue gun

Hole punch

Directions:

1. Trace your child's hand on the brown felt or foam. If you use brown felt, try to find the stiffer kind (sold at craft stores). If you cannot see the pencil tracing, use marker or a light colored crayon. Cut the hand out.

2. Turn the hand upside down so that the thumb now becomes the reindeer head, and the other four fingers are now the legs. Punch a hole near the top of the "back" of the reindeer (where the wrist would be on the child).

3. Slide the piece of ribbon through the hole, and attach a gift tag to the ribbon before tying it on. On my gift tags I write: Happy Holidays from your "Deer", and have them sign it underneath. Make sure to include the year on the tag.

4. Using the photo as a guide, glue the red pom to create a nose, and the white pom pom to make the tail. Glue on the eye. Bend one half of the pipe cleaner to create the antlers and glue them on. Slide the bell over the other pipe cleaner, and bend it around the "neck" to make a collar. Glue the pipe cleaner across the back.You're done! Enjoy this cute reindeer.

Handprint Angel
Directions:1. Paint your child's hand with the paint, and have them put one blue handprint in the center of the paper. Wash his or her hands and have them add a yellow handprint on each side of the blue handprint to form the wings (see photo).2. Paint a flesh colored circle above the center handprint. After this circle is dry, paint or use a black marker to draw a face.3. Using the thin gold ribbon (wire ribbon works best) create a halo for the angel and glue it over her head.4. Write or glue this saying on the back:

HANDPRINTS
I know you wipe some away,

But these handprints

Were made to stay.

So keep them forever,
A treasure they'll be.

A special "I Love You,"

For you from me.

Snowflake Handprint

Items You'll Need to Make Your Own Ornament:

Craft Foam

Scissors

Ribbon

Pencil or marker

Snowflake shapes

Child's photo

Directions to Make Christmas Ornaments:

1. Trace your child's hand onto the craft foam and cut

2. Glue the snowflake shapes onto the fingertips. You should be able to find foam snowflake shapes at your local craft stores, but if not, you can always cut shapes out of a heavy card stock paper.

3. Glue your child's photo onto the center of the hand.

4. Glue the hanging ribbon to the back of the middle finger.

5. Attach this saying to the bottom of the hand on a piece of craft foam or paper:

My hand is like a snowflake
Unique in every way
Please keep it close to your heart
I'll be grown someday

OUR FUNERAL FOR "MR. I CAN'T"

Today was THE day for OUR FUNERAL for "Mr. I Can't"

I got the idea from one of the 4th grade teachers, when my youngest son was in 4th grade 6 years ago. She got it from a story in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. I have been doing it with my students every year that I have taught since then. I'm always not sure if my special ed. students are going to get it, and I thought I might not do it this year, since I'm at a Primary school. I decided that with a lot of explanation from me they could get it, and my 2nd and 3rd graders DID get it. . .I think. . .I hope!

I mentioned it to them last week.

Then, 2 days ago, I wrote on the board and told them:

Announcement:

"Mr. I Can't" died this morning. We will bury "him" on Thursday. We can not say "I can't" anymore.

I explained to them that we weren't burying a real person. It was the "thought" of "I can't" that we were burying.

I sent a newsletter home yesterday, telling the parents about it, and asking if their children had black or dark clothes, to have them wear them to school today.

This morning, I gave each student a strip of paper and a pencil. I asked them to write their name and the words I can't on the paper. If they wanted to write something specific that they had said I can't about, they could.

I put all of the pieces of paper in a small, plastic, instant tea canister.

This year, I found a tombstone at a garage sale, that a lady had painted R.I.P. on. It would have only been 50 cents, but when she found out it was for school, she gave it to me.

I added:

(Rest in Peace)

Mr. I Can't

Buried Oct. 1, 2009

We buried the canister right outside my window, and put the tomb stone in the ground.

I told the students that we can say "I can't. . .yet" or "I will try." or "I will learn", etc., but no more, "I can't!"

THANKFUL THURSDAY

Thankful Thursday! Yay! with Sonya at http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/ and
Lynn at http://unequalmarriage.typepad.com

Today, as a teacher, I am thankful for

1. the school where I teach.

2. my principal.

3. my Assistant Principal.

4. the paraprofessionals that work at the school.

5. that my students and I are burying "Mr. I Can't" today!

I hope that you will join us in Thankful Thursday today!

Have a Blessed Day!

Sandy