Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Happy Christmas month! Let's be real... the whole month of December seems like Christmas. The music on the radio, the excitement in the school halls, the decorations... the whole world seems to change for a while. We've started changing our bulletin boards to reflect the season, thought I'd post the pictures of my Peanuts Holiday board!

And here's a close up of the Little Sad Christmas Tree... the sign beside it is a quote from the Peanuts character, Linus, and reads, "I never thought it was a bad little tree... maybe it just needs a little love."

Another close up, this time of Snoopy and Woodstock.... I found a cute little image on Pinterest and just recreated it for the board using construction paper and some icicle border we had from years past.

The snow of course is made of cotton balls (a teacher's best friend during the holidays!)

I don't know if anyone reads this, but I'm just happy to have what I feel is going to be an account of my time as a new educator... From receptionist to Aftercare teacher to Pre-K teacher and from there, who knows?!

Hoping your month is starting to brighten with the magic of Christmas,

TURKEY EXCITEMENT!

           I can remember as a child and later as a teenager how excited I was for holidays off from school. The happy-nervous butterflies dancing and partying it up in my tummy, the way everyone's energy was so infectious and bright... I think that was more fun than the actual breaks themselves!
Now as the adult in the room of widespread giddiness, it doesn't give me quite the same charge that it once did, though it does seem to zap it out of you lol. But I'll tell you what, the smiles on my kids faces are well worth the tired nights.

           I haven't shared with you all much about my after care kids... remember that while yes I am the receptionist, I am also the lead After Care (extended day) teacher. While I love being receptionist to this awesome school, I think I prefer After Care! The kids get homework help, additional learning through educational websites like Reading Plus and IXL; they get creative and have fun with Karaoke and Just Dance videos on Youtube... Fridays are movie days. Though this means my days are longer (11 hour days three times a week) and sometimes I'm not in the best of moods, these are my favorite times of the day.

          Today in After Care I rewarded the kids with pizza, trips into the treasure chest, and movies. We watched the new Disney movie, Planes, which my kids loved, and then Rise of the Guardians from Dreamworks. It was the last day of school before Thanksgiving Break, for which we have a full week off, so of course the place was electric with fun! They bought things from the treasure trunk (purchased from Wal-Mart, below)

Mercury Luggage Stackable Storage Locker, 30" @ Wally World!

 with their Shark Dollars; "money" I made with the school crest on different colors of paper to signify values...

(pics coming soon!)

(white = $1, blue = $3, yellow = $5). 

I think I would have preferred the trunk with wheels though... this one was super heavy especially with all the treats and treasures that I put inside before taking it to school... did not anticipate that lol.

BTW, they earn these Shark Dollars by having good behavior in the After Care classroom... we actually use the Clip It! Behavior Chart from one of my favorite blogs, A Cupcake For the Teacher! I use this to focus the children and have them mind themselves... the higher the clip (good) the more shark bucks they get by the end of the day. Every day is a new chance to earn, and seldom do I ever get to Parent Contact. I love it so much for its effectiveness and for it's price... FREEEEE!!!! You know free is gold to a teacher!

           Glad we made it to Friday, and THANKSGIVING BREAK, WOOOO!

Enjoy your breaks, my Wibbly Wobbly, Timey Whimey friends... 

To my fellow Whovians... This Saturday is the day we've been waiting for... The Day of the Doctor episode!!! ::::cries uncontrollably:::: 

Until next time ;)


ALLONSY!