Five for Frunday!

Frunday?? What the heck is a Frunday? Well, it was supposed to be Friday, but I couldn't get my act together until this morning, so it became Frunday!

Hiya Peeps, Kerri here!

I am linking up once again with Kacey from Doodlebugs Teaching for her Five for Friday (or Frunday. Whatever.) Linky party! 

Can I first say "Praise JESUS!" for only 5 more teaching days?? Yes. Thank you Jesus. AMEN.

Here we go...Number 1 is Family Wreaths!! Every year, we send home green paper and a letter asking the families to make a Family Wreath and they always come out sooo cute!! This year was no different. I just love them all!!

Number 2: Christmassy photo booth pictures! I found these Christmas photo booth props online and knew we just had to use them in the classroom. The kids had sooo much fun picking out a couple of props and letting me take their pictures. Check them out!

This week, we are going to make a cute little frame out of popsicle sticks and buttons (which are NOT easy to find, BTW, especially when you need a brazillion of them!) and put the photo booth pictures in them!

Isn't it sweet??

We even used them for our staff Christmas picture, which was super silly (alas, no picture to share with you). 

And, I brought them home and my daughter had fun taking pictures of our neighbor and our doggy in the backyard...

Number 3: Magic Elf fun continued! 

We are still having a blast finding Magic Elf each day, except that on Thursday he stayed home at the North Pole because my kids were so cuckoo for cocoa puffs on Wednesday. You ever have one of those days where the kids walk in the front door in the morning and you just know the whole day is going to be HELLISH?? That was my Wednesday, folks. PURE. HELL.

Well, I am happy to report that they were so devastated and worried about Magic Elf that they magically turned their behavior around and did MUCH BETTER. (PTL!) He came back on Friday and all was right in First Grade Land!

We wrote about him and drew him in our writing center this week, as well as made an Acrostic poem and an art project of him! Love...

I think Magic Elf went to Hawaii and got a MEAN OLD TAN in this picture!! HA

Number 3: Fired in the kiln reindeer Handprint tiles... they are finally finished!

I just love them! They are so darn cute and I think the parents are going to LOVE them too!!

Number 4: Ugandan paper bead lanyard for your name badge...

We all have to wear name badges and the lanyards are just kind of ugly. I stumbled upon these by accident when looking for paper bead bracelets to give to my girlfriends. Aren't they fabulous?? And, if you have to wear a name badge, it may as well look like a necklace and support women in Uganda who are learning a trade! You can check out Outreach Uganda here...

Number 5: My student teacher is AMAZING! Look at what she made me...

She is simply the most creative, thoughtful girl ever! This is such a great idea for a teacher (I just might be stealing this idea for my daughter's teacher this year!!)

Okay, friends! 5 more teaching days and then I hope can all spend a lot of time during our Winter Break like this...

Have a great week, Peeps!!

XOXO Kerri B

Five for Friday, and a Christmassy FREEBIE!!

Happy happy Friday, peeps!! Kerri here...

Oh. My. Words. I am sooooo happy it is Friday! I cannot wait to get into my fat pants, snuggle under a cozy blanket and fall asleep watching Gold Rush (yes, I am obsessed with that show. Weird, I know.)

I am finally linking up with Kacey from Doodle Bugs Teaching for her Five for Friday Linky party!!

It has been FOREVER since I linked up, but this week I got some fun stuff to share. Here we go...

1. It is only 2 weeks until Christmas Break, people. Is that not INSANE in the MEMBRANE?? We have been busy this week making our room all festive and bright...

We made our prancing reindeer art this week and I think they are too darn cute!

2. Gifts for our parents....In keeping with the reindeer theme, we decided to paint tiles this year and fire them in our kiln (we are so lucky to have a kiln on our campus!) Here they are pre-kiln....

I can't wait to see them all fired and bright and pretty! More pics to some...

3. Magic Elf is in DA HOUSE!!! Oh my, how my kidlets are loving our Magic Elf! They cannot wait to read his note every day and fill out their little books. Check it out...

You can see more Magic Elf fun in my TPT shop!

How about a little BRIBERY!! To keep them motivated to show the real meaning of Christmas at school, Magic Elf has been bribing them leaving notes with a little tiny treat on different kids' desks each day...

A little chocolate does wonders, doesn't it??

5. We have been working hard on our writing. Today, we used magazine pictures to help us describe what we saw happening in our stories. The kids LOVED it!! This is seriously the easiest thing ever. Cut out a whole mess of pictures from magazines, give one to each kid, and have them write about it. I was super proud of how well they did for their first time...

You can see that they are at all different levels with their writing, but they were all able to be successful using the magazine pictures. Try this out. Your kids will love it!

5. Family photos and a Christmassy FREEBIE...we took family photos last week for our Christmas card and they came out so cute (if I do say so myself!) Here is my little family...

Also I have a little FREEBIE in my TPT shop that is perfect for the next 2 weeks...

Click on the picture to go to my shop and download it for yourself!!

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!
XOXO Kerri B

Show Us What You Bought Linky Party!

Hiya Peeps!! Kerri here...
Did everyone survive your Monday back to school after the long break? I did, but barely. I am seriously tired today. It probably didn't help that I stayed up late watching the Hunger Games and decorating our Christmas tree (those 2 things go together perfectly, don't they??) 

I also found time to do a little online shopping for the good old TPT Cyber Monday and Tuesday sale last night and I can't wait to show you what I bought. I'm linking up with my girls over at Blog Hoppin' for our Show Us What You Bought Linky Party!

Okay, here goes. Round one on my TPT shopping spree (Round 2 will be coming later, make no mistake about that!!)
We are starting our unit on Holidays Around the World and I got this SUPER ADORBS unit from Karen Stamp (Mrs. Stamp's Kindergarten). My kidlets are going to LOVE getting their passport stamped for each country we learn about!!

Okay, who doesn't LOVE Teeny Tiny (aka Kristin Oldham)?? She has the most fabulous Partner Plays ever and my kids LOVE using them each week in centers. I picked these up last night and I already have a mom prepping then for me AS.WE.SPEAK. These will be perfect for the next 3 weeks!!

I also picked up these 2 ADORABLE sight words and numbers units from the beautiful Jill Pherrin, who I have the pleasure of working with. She just opened up her TPT shop and her stuff is TOTALLY WICKED! Please check out her little shop and see what she has to offer!

Finally, I have been eying Jodi Southard's Comprehension Notebook for a while and I can't wait to use it after the holidays. This is going to be perfect for my littles who need a little boost with their comprehension skills!

Oh, and guess who made his grand appearance today?? Mr. Magic Elf himself! 

My kids were OVER THE MOON with excitement. Today's lesson? Christmas is a time for friendship.  They ate it up!! Like for really real. They can't wait to find out where he's going to move to in the classroom tomorrow and what message he's going to bring! So much fun!!

Okay, Peeps! Link up with us over at Blog Hoppin' and show us what you bought, and don't forget to keep shopping. The sale goes through tomorrow!

XOXO Kerri B

TPT Cyber Monday {and Tuesday} Sale Starts Tomorrow!

Happy Sunday folks!!  Kerri and Lindsay here . . .

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a super successful Black Friday!! Well, get ready to shop AGAIN because TPT is having a GINORMOUS Cyber Monday and Tuesday SALE!!

That's right. You can get 28% off all of the products in both of our stores! BAARGAIN!!
Here are some goodies from Kerri's shop you might want to pick up for the Holidays and the upcoming New Year...

You can get a closer look by clicking on any of the pictures above! Thanks friends!!
Kerri B

Here's Lindsay...

Hi Friends! Guess what?? I had my baby!
Our new lil family of four is home from the hospital and STILL adjusting to life as a family of four . . . and the sleeping patterns of our new lil guy. (Sleeping all day and ready to party at night??!!)

I say he must be nocturnal. Kerri suggested that perhaps he is Australian and keeping to the time zone of his native land.  Either way, this mommy is E.X.H.A.U.S.T.E.D.  And I'm not really sure how long I've been wearing this same T-shirt.  Totally okay when you are on maternity leave, right?? (Just nod and smile folks.  That's what my hubby does.)

Anyway, I have certainly not been in any condition to actually go out in public and hit up any sales, so the cyber sales have been so great!  Christmas shopping?  Check.  Ordering holiday cards?  Easy peasy. 

And now, I am even more excited because the TPT Cyber Monday {and Tuesday} Sale is here!  That's right!  Starting tomorrow everything in mine and Kerri's TPT stores will be 28% off!  SUCH a great deal!

I mean, what could be better than shopping for deals for your classroom from the comfort of our own home . . . in your stretchy pants?? (Or is that just me?)

Here are some of the items you can check out in my store (click the cover image to be taken to my TPT store):

Merry & Bright {Holiday Math and Literacy Centers} - a great way to add some fun holiday cheer to your centers with 10 ready-to-use activities!

Mittens & Marshmallows {Winter Math and Literacy Centers} - 10 wonderful winter-themed activities for your little learners.

And finally . . . The Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy CVC Practice Pack {Tools to help your beginning readers}.  This is a great resource to use all year 'round, and especially great for your little kinder kidlets in the winter/spring as they start reading and writing like crazy!! :)

I have to share pictures of our lil guy. Introducing Mr. Charlie Emerson:

His cheeks are just oh-so-squeezable!!!

So happy to be home with our little guy!

Alright, alright, that's enough baby photos for now . . . Hope you all enjoy the rest of your Sunday and lots of shopping in the days to come!