Love is in the Air

In a few short weeks, my first graders will be making their Valentine sacks.  This is always such a fun time for them and I enjoy watching their creative juices flow.  Oriental Trading has so many things to pick from that I think will be perfect for their creations!

They will start with the traditional white sack, and from there it will be totally their creation.  Water coloring, buttons, strings, jewels and scrapbooking paper.  How much fun is this going to be for them!!!!

 To go with our classroom theme, I chose some cute valentine cards with spiral suckers! 

During our party, the kiddos will be able to take pictures of each other with the adorable valentine heart photo props!

Samson is always ready to step up to the plate and do a bit of modeling!  As long as we don't make him put down his stuffed animal of the day!  

I might even have to take my adorable Samson to school with me on that day!  And yes... I know he is probably the cutest thing you have seen all day.  

I’ll send them home with all their goodies and their pick of several heart tattoos.  It’s going to be a fun day.

You are running out of time to get your order in at Oriental Trading!  Hurry! Hurry!  Hurry!  There are just too many cute things that you won’t be able to resist.  

Disclaimer:  I received the above products from Oriental Trading in exchange for my honest opinion of their products.

100th Day Fun with Oriental Trading

The 100^th day of school was here before I knew it!  It is always a day full of learning and fun.  My kiddos had  been looking forward to this day for a long time!  I plan for this day way in advance and Oriental Trading is always my first choice for many items used for our 100th day celebration!   

One of the first thing they spotted when they hurried into the room were these Hanging Paper Lanterns.  So cute, and they added some a little extra to our classroom! 

They were so excited when they saw them hanging from the ceiling that it took the a few minutes to notice they each had a few surprises waiting for them on each of their desks.   

Here are just a few of the surprises I had waiting for them!  The 100th day of school pencils, stickers, slap bracelets and colorful eraser made each of their eyes lit up with excitement!

This was the creative writing that we did today!  They spent quite a bit of their time  coloring and writing on these  "If I Live To Be 100" posters!  They came in a package of 30 and are very large!  Definitely plenty of space for them to get creative!  

I usually hide 100 chocolate kisses around the room for the students to find and put on our 100 chart.  This year I decided to do something just a tiny bit different.  I numbered these Huge Black Googly Eyes (comes in a package of 100) and the kiddos had so much fun finding them.  I'm definitely doing this again next year.  

I sent them all home with a colorful tattoo!  They were so easy to put on and stayed on all day long!  I must admit I was sort of nervous about putting them on without the permission of the parents, but I also sent home the directions on how to take them off easily.  

Since we had indoor recess, this was the perfect activity to work together and they absolutely loved it.   They had 100 items to find in this big picture.  They did not want to quit.  Who doesn't love Hidden Pictures...  Fun! Fun! Fun! I loved that were finding things in a classroom.  

Our day was packed full of lots of fun activities but the most difficult was this art project that we needed some help from our 3rd grade buddies! I love how the colors just "POPPED" in this 100 day Weaving!

At the end of the day we had a photo booth!   They took turns helping each other holding their props and taking their pictures on the iPad!  They had fun being goofy with these!  

They had a wonderful day... Thank you Oriental Trading for making the day even more special for each of my firsties!

Disclaimer:  I received the above items in exchange for writing this post.  I love their products and find it a wonderful place to shop for so many of my classroom WANTS & NEEDS! 

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Great Dog by Davide Cali

What do you want to be when you grow up?  At some point in each of our lives we have thought about that very question.  Children love to think about what they will be when they grow up.  This is a book that you might want to consider purchasing to share with them.   

This book approaches that very subject in a way that will bring a smile to a child’s face as you read this adorable book to them! 

As the story progresses, you are taken through a  wall of fame.  Well... pictures of family members that show such a wonderful  diversity of this family's members.    

The illustrations by Miguel Tanco are very interesting.   I enjoyed spending time looking at each of the family members and studying closely  the details in each picture.

The unexpected twist at the end was a bonus!

This would be a wonderful book to add to a classroom library.

Disclosure:   I received this complimentary book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions expressed  here  are my own.

Shelter by Celine Clair

Synopsis:

As a big storm approaches, two strangers arrive in the forest. All the animal families, safe in their homes, are worried, unsure of their motives. So, they all turn them away when they ask for shelter, and the strangers are left to fend for themselves. But then the fox family is suddenly forced out into the storm, and they must ask these outsiders for help. Will they find it in their hearts to give it?

In my first-grade classroom my students love to be read to… especially those with animals in them. As the story progresses the pictures themselves give you the feeling that the storm is drawing near!   I can almost visualize the expressions they will have as I read it to them!  The rejection that the bears must feel when no one will let them in… how cold they must be in the midst of this terrible storm… the gratitude they have for the fox’s gift… the fear the fox family has when their home is in danger… 

Discussing generosity and kindness towards others is something that we all need to be reminded of sometimes.  What a huge difference in can make in our lives!

Disclosure:   I received this complimentary book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions expressed here  are my own.

Me, Me, Me by Annika Dunklee

This book is about three young girls that are best friends.  Their school is going to have a talent show and Annie suggest that they enter as an all-girl singing group.  This seemed like a wonderful idea to Lillemor & Lilianne until they realized that they were going to have no say about the song they sang, the name of their group, or even what they wore!  They quickly realized that the talent show was really going to be all about Annie!  The group breaks ups and Annie decided to do a solo performance.  The other two girls decide to do a duet. 

All the girls quickly find out that things are not the same without the who group. 

This book is so typical of what children go through when they won’t work together as a team.  Will the girls reconcile before the talent show?  a

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Disclosure:   I received this complimentary book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed above are my own.

Blind Spot by Dani Pettrey (Book #3 - Chesapeake Valor Series)

Book Description: 

FBI agent Declan Grey is in the chase of his life--but isn't sure exactly what he's chasing after. Threatened by a terrorist that "the wrath is coming," Grey fears something horrible is about to be unleashed on American soil. When his investigation leads him to a closed immigrant community, he turns to Tanner Shaw to help him. She's sought justice for refugees and the hurting around the world, and if there's anyone who can help him, it's Tanner.

Tanner Shaw has joined the FBI as a crisis counselor . . . meaning she now has more opportunity to butt heads with Declan. But that tension also includes a spark she can't deny, and she's pretty sure Declan feels the same. But before anything can develop between them, they discover evidence of a terror cell--and soon are in a race against the clock to stop the coming "wrath" that could cost thousands their lives.  

My Thoughts:

I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this the 3^rd book in the Chesapeake Valor series.  This book was worth the wait!   It seems like forever since I read the last book, but it didn’t take me long to recall the events from the previous book and I found myself totally sucked into this book.  Two days later (I had to sleep, eat & work!) I was finished.   😊  

This Christian/Inspirational Fiction book allows the characters to show through their words and actions their faith in God.  It is just a part of their life and the author does an excellent job of showing that without overdoing it!  As the reader, you know they are Christians, but it is not overpowering!

If you like a book full of action and suspense, then you might want to give this series a chance!   One of the characters, Declan was highlighted more in this book than the others and I was so happy about that!  He has always been one of my favorite characters in the books and I was glad this book brought out more of his character and deep beliefs in the storyline.  

The ending of the book was quite a surprise!  I love a good cliff-hanger and I was not disappointed by this one!!!! 

I would recommend that if you have not read Cold Shot and Still Life that you do so before you read this book. There is a lot of history between all the characters in this book and it will help you connect the pieces together easier.

Disclosure:  Disclosure statement:  I received this complimentary book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions are my own.

Monster Party with Oriental Trading

Every year I try to do something fun for our fall party in my first grade classroom.  This year I decided to have a MONSTER DAY!!!  I had so much fun trying to find fun ideas (that can be made educational) from Oriental Trading that I think they are going to LOVE!  They have so many monster ideas and it was so hard to pick.  I finally decided on these fun things.

Monster Bean Bag Toss Game – I am going to set this game up at a math center.  Students will throw a bean bag to knock over the plastic cans.  Students will add up the number of cans they knock over using the color key for the different colors of the cans.  Aren’t these little monster cans CUTE!  I will be using these for several other activities during the school year as well.  

Monster Weaving Mat Craft Kit – These will be a perfect addition to our Monster Party.  The only preparation I will need to do is it tear the perforated paper apart  and put in a container at our art center.  Easy Peasy…Lemon Squeezy!  I'm so glad that I did one of these ahead of time... Now I know I need to tear these apart before the party.  

Monster Piñata – It doesn’t get much cuter than this to use for decorating my classroom for our Monster Party.  I just have to figure out how to make sure all 24 of my students get a chance at hitting it before it breaks.  Instead of filling it with candy, I’m painting 24 small film canisters (Yeah! I finally found a way to use them!!) and then adding a Tattoo monsters into each of them.  

  

Monster Pencils – We will start our day by writing a monster story using the Tattoo Monster from our Piñata and a cute Monster Pencil!! These pencils are hard to sharpen in my regular pencil sharpener because of the coating that is on them.  But I have a hand turned pencil sharpener that works great on these pencils.  There are 6 different designs for the Tattoos and I'm sure my kiddos will have a favorite.

And of course… what party would be complete without food & decoractions.

Goofy Monster Head Lollipops – Super cute!  I really want to try them…but I only have 2 boxes (12 in a box)… and I have exactly 24 students.  There are 6 different designs and they are different flavors.  Yummo!

 

Mini Monster Luncheon Napkins & Monster

 Party Paper Dinner Plates – A monster party definitely needs to have monster napkins and plates!!!  They are so cute!  My kiddos are going to be so excited to use them. I love that they are very sturdy and the napkins were bigger than I was expecting.  

Mini Monster Cupcake Liners with Picks – I have a friend that makes awesome cakes and she has volunteered to make the cupcakes for my party. All I have to do it add these monster picks when I get them to school.  I think I will be more excited than the kiddos!!!  The liners are different colors and go perfectly with the monster theme.

Eyeball Gummy Candy – Monsters and eyeballs... they go together RIGHT!!!  I had to have someone try them out... Isn't he about the cutest thing you have seen all day!  He said they were delicious and wanted more!

That's it!  I am so excited about this party and can hardly wait to see the expressions on the faces of my students when they walk into our classroom on MONSTER DAY!    

You still have a littler over a month to get ready for you Halloween Party!  Please give  Oriental Trading a quick look... you will love their variety as well as quick deliveries.  
  

 Disclaimer:  I recieved the above products from Oriental Trading in exchange for my honest opinion of their products.