Love, Loss and Finals

This year has been a year of loss for us. A tragic and unexpected passing took place right before Thanksgiving. Hug your loved ones and spend time talking to them so you can soak up the memories. I am also in my FINALS weeks. I have three major final projects due on Dec. 5 in addition to the course load I already have. I know I can do this but boy, am I tired! 

Mentoring

"Except for love, there is no greater gift one can give another than the gift of growth. It is a rare privilege to help another learn." - Marshall Goldsmith (@coachgoldsmith)

Sketchnote by @tnvora

FRIyay FUNyays-time to laugh out loud!

Happy Friday, my dearies. Thanksgiving Break is in my future. I will be working on a final project for one of my courses but I will be able to gobble turkey and cranberries while doing it so win-win!!

You've got the "WRITE" stuff!

Here is a developmental writing continuum that shows the stages of writing all children go through. You can use it as a guide to determine if a student needs more practice time, fine motor skill activities, etc. It is very interesting to see the stages of writing children go through. Remember, in the beginning attempts at writing, the focus should not be on if the letters make real words or are misspelled, but just on the actual practice of writing itself.

 

Turkey Time!

I am ready to gobble down, are you?!?

But instead of canoeing through mashed potatoes, I would be swimming with my mouth open.

So with turkeys (and other yums) on the brain, here are some neat teaching/library programming ideas that are Thanksgiving themed!

Turn your door into a giant turkey!

This is a great collaborative art project!

More information can be found HERE at Preschool Wonders.

Handprint art and stick frames! From Forty-Two Roads.

Look at this neat turkey paper plate craft. You can hang it as a wreath or use it as a cute hat to wear to Thanksgiving dinner! From Resourceful Mama.

I love these pinecone turkeys from A Pumpkin and a Princess! What neat table decor they would make, too. And easy to make!

Paper craft turkey fun from Twitchetts!

This Thankful Box was made from an empty Kleenex box. I think this would make a great circle time activity where every student writes what they are thankful for, signs it, and then each one takes turns drawing the paper out of the box and reading it aloud. More details can be found HERE.

 A fun snack was made into a turkey using a pudding cup, Swedish Fish candy, mini marshmallows and other small candies.

Here is the photo where the idea came from:

Party Pinching

And finally,

here is my own book display I did this month for the library. 

Cool turkey costume idea

 When I taught, I had always made my students be turkeys for the Thanksgiving celebration because it just felt wrong to have them choose between being a Pilgrim or a Native American. I also did not want to mis-represent historical narrative to them sooooo...turkeys for the win!

How to grow lightbulbs!

I love this graphic because it explains how to cultivate growth 

and get those light bulb flowers to grow!!!

Dinosaur Vs the Library-Read Aloud-Twinkle Teaches

FriDAY FRIyay! FriYAY FunYAY!

I am jealous of this frog.