"New Goals for the Classroom" Or "It will be there on Monday."

I just have about 5 minutes or less to type these 2 posts into 1, so. . .I know it won't be great, but wanted to go ahead and get some of these thoughts out.

I already "failed" at the goal of going to work in my classroom yesterday or today, but
. . .that's because I chose to stay with my kids and be "Mom" every minute I could, instead. So, that's the reason for the thought in my head, "It will be there on Monday." Of course, I would like for it to be cleaner, more organized on Monday,
but oh well. . .it will get there.

I did buy shiny new folders for all of my students and 2 new folder holders for me. . .
I thought they might work as Teacher's Guide holders, but they didn't,
but oh well. . .I'll still use them to help me be more organized, somehow!

I bought lined post-it notes to use to write notes to the aides who work with the students.

I bought the stuff to stick more words up on the word wall, and more things on other walls.

I bought new dry erase markers.

I need to make a goal to not buy things for my classroom.

Gotta get off here, now. . .
to go be "Mom"!

Happy 2010!

Sandy

ELF GLYPHS

I thought these all turned out really cute! This is just 4 of them, but it shows the different ways they could be made.

MAKING MEMORIES WITH SOME OF GOD'S UNIQUE "ANGELS"

These are some of the paper angels made by my students. I have some made by my kids when they were younger, that are a little prettier, made with paint, but I think these are wonderful! We started to try it with paint, but decided not to, in our classroom, with good carpet. I pray for the parents of my students to realize how special their children and these days are.

We did get the apple cinnamon ornaments made. I will post pictures of them soon. They turned out great and smell wonderful!

Today, we had fun making Elf glyphs.

Left the Applesauce at home today. . .Try again Tomorrow for Great Smellin' Ornaments! (after Reading)

Welllll, the "making apple cinnamon ornaments" was not accomplished today, but the students were great about it, and hopefully, it will be a success tomorrow.

I had opened the big jar of applesauce that I bought, so I put it in the 'frig. I had all of my other materials sacked up and got to school with them.

I told the students in the a.m. that we were going to make the ornaments after lunch.

I got all the materials out, had a student reading the directions, showed them the measuring cup, and then. . .I realized. . . I did not have the applesauce! I explained it to them, and told them we would have to wait til tomorrow. I quickly told them that their assignment for the moment was to plan what cookie cutter or self made pattern they are going to use for their ornament.
They were fine with that!!! They all got right to work on drawing out their plan!

Oh, the recipe that I found says
equal parts (start with 1/2 cup each) of cinnamon and store bought applesauce

I tried it tonight, and I don't have a dough consistency, yet. One recipe did say white glue is optional, but if it is optional, I'm not sure why to use it. There are some recipes that you can bake, but if this will work without baking, then that is what I need!
Some recipes say just to dry for 24 hours, some say 3 to 5 days!

The recipe says to knead with hands, then roll with a rolling pin, between 2 sheets of wax paper. Then cut with cookie cutters and make a hole with a straw or pencil. Then, let dry for at least 24 hours and harden.
Then put a ribbon through the hole for hanging.

JUST NOT ENOUGH TIME!

I wish I could sit down and get my thoughts out here everyday, and have them to look back at, because there has been a lot going on in my classroom, but I just don't have enough time to write about it right now.

I am teaching my students READING, READING, READING, MATH, WRITING, SPELLING, GRAMMAR, SOCIAL SKILLS,. . .some fun activities. . .

Tomorrow, we are going to try making Apple Cinnamon ornaments. I hope it goes well.
I hope this last week before Christmas break is a good one.
I do have 2 IEP meetings to get ready for, too.
I better get off here NOW!