Snow Much Fun

Lots of my Texas friends have seen a white Christmas this year. I love snow but I am more of a beach kind of gal. Cold weather makes me want to hibernate inside with my mug of spiced tea, a book, and my boys...the furry ones. =)

My mom and I went to see Les Miserables this afternoon. The theater was **FREEZING***!!!! Even though I was turning into a human popsicle, I LOVED the movie.

Awesome movie...bring the Kleenex.

To help you welcome winter, here are some *freebies* to warm you up. =)

Click on the picture above to grab the snowy contractions *freebie*.

Click here to grab all of these activities and more!

Here are some of the skills included in this *freebie*:

short vowels

blends

adding and subtracting

tally marks

problem solving

I hope you and your kiddos enjoy these activities. If you grab these *freebies*, please leave me a heart note (comment).

I am working on some Conscious Discipline posts. Let me know what questions you might have so I can try and answer them the CD way. What classroom management areas/concerns do you have?

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas. I'll be back before the New Year...now saying that is cray cray!!! Where did the year of  2012 go??!!???

From My Heart to Yours,

Precious Presents

Merry Christmas sweet friends! Each one of you is such a gift to me. Words cannot even describe how much I treasure you and all of your encouraging words. You are a Christmas blessing to me each and every day.

As I celebrate the birth of our Savior today, my heart rejoices at the gift of our King. My heart and mind also turn to my kiddos and the families and friends of those in Connecticut. Words cannot even capture what they are going through. But I do have a sense of peace knowing they are with Jesus in Heaven today...what a celebration that must be.

My heart thinks of my 17 little ones....my precious presents. What a gift teachers have each day to have so many blessings bestowed upon them. Presents do not have to be material things. I think we often think that presents should have fancy wrappings but some of our presents come to us wrapped in paper of brown. We must see past that paper to the beauty that is inside. We are given those presents to keep safe from harm.

Our children need to be reminded how much we love them. We sometimes get so caught up in curriculum, standards, or paper work - we forget to see the child behind that sweet, toothless grin. These precious presents are our little angels God sent for Earth to borrow....they are the future and heroes of tomorrow.

Remember those precious presents in your prayers-

Always take the time to show them how much you care.

They are a precious present from God above-

Wanting nothing more than the gift of your time and love.

These precious presents have endless worth-

They are God's tiny blessings here on Earth.

Merry Christmas!

From My Heart to Yours,

A Rainbow's Promise

When you find your heart breaking, the world just seems to stop. Words like "tragedy" and "horrific" do not even begin to encompass what we are feeling and going through. There are things we will never understand.

Over the past few days my eyes have started filling with tears at EVERYTHING: a child who lost his first tooth, my kiddos singing in the Christmas program, hearing a child tell another friend how much he loves his School Family, seeing a child caught up in the wonder of Christmas, and hearing children share about one of our greatest and most precious gifts: the birth of our Savior.

I have thought and worried about how I could sacrifice myself to be able to save and protect all 17 of my children. I would move Heaven and Earth to save each one.

I have thought and prayed about the children I see everyday who already seem to be losing some of their innocence. My heart breaks over things that some of our children know, have seen and gone through. Every person behind a horrific tragedy was once a child in someone's Kinder or 1st grade classroom.

I wonder what leads them to the point where they turn down the path of darkness. I know there will always be evil in this world...yet, I am humbled daily by God's grace and the gift of His son who would come and save me from my sins and darkness. I am also blessed each day to see His love and goodness shining through others.

God has called each one of us to be a teacher. Each child in our classroom was placed there for a reason. I don't think we may ever realize the heartprints we are leaving behind. God is using us to shape the future. The lessons we are really teaching are about being helpful, patient, kind, encouraging, and an Everyday Hero.

There will be days, weeks, months, or even years when we ask ourselves Why am I teaching???? Have I lost my mind???!!!??? I think we need to turn to each other in those tough times for encouragement. We are all going to have those kiddos that are Hoovers. Our love, patience, and understanding our gifts that are priceless. I know that children are either extending love or crying out for love...I pray that God helps us to hear that call.

As I was finishing my shopping for my kiddos' Christmas gifts, I thought about how my kiddos might not always remember the little gifts I bought them but I pray that they WILL remember how much I love them. The best gift I can give them is for me to be the Heart of Patience God called me to be. A teacher can be one of a child's greatest gifts.

My heart just breaks when I think of all of the hurting hearts of family and friends in Connecticut. I think of those 20 little faces celebrating Christmas with the King and my heart has hope. 20 guardian angels now watch over the kiddos in all of our classrooms and for that I am humbled and honored. One of my favorite song's has the lyrics about how God sometimes calms the storm but other times He calms His child. He is with us in this storm. Those precious little hearts are the upside down smiles we will see in each rainbow. They are our Rainbow's Promise after this storm. 

I pray God shines His love through us...may we be God's rainbows here on Earth.

From My Heart to Yours,

Love Them Like Jesus

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38,

When 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"This is heaven." declared a small boy. "We're spending Christmas at God's house."

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,

But Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

Then He opened His arms and He called them by name,

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring.

Those children all flew into the arms of their King,

And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

One small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

And as if He could read all the questions she had,

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of Mom and Dad."

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below,

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools."

"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.

"Come now my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

From My Breaking Heart to Yours,

A Groovy Christmas

I haven't been this excited in a looooonnnnnngggggg time!

I finally had to tell myself to STOP because I kept adding to this packet!!!

I didn't think you would still want to be doing Christmas in January even though I know you love Pete the Cat as much as I do!

In the packet are 8 literacy centers and 6 math centers....and let me tell you that they are beyond precious once you print them.

Here is a little preview of all of the Groovy Greatness in this 120 page collection of cuteness!

Hop over to my TpT store to grab it.

Leave a comment telling me your favorite Christmas song and I'll send 2 winners this packet or any item from my TpT store. Be sure and leave your email. I'll pick the winner tonight or tomorrow. =)

Karyn and Olwyn - check your email!

Thank you everyone else for your sweet comments. I am going to listen to some Christmas music and add some more activities to this packet. It seems to be growing and growing! =)

From My Heart to Yours,

Christmas Poetry Fun *Freebies*

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Passed out and sleepy about describes me right now.

Is it seriously only Tuesday???!!!???

Mother Nature here in Texas is in need of some SERIOUS hormone pills. It was 80+ degrees last Monday. Tuesday night it was in the 30's. This weekend it was back in the upper 70's.

There was a full moon.

I had my formal observation.

I have talked about the proper way to wear our clothing a gazillion times.

I have goats....and a beaver.

I am VERY scared to talk about how sweet my class is....I am terrified of getting a new child who will send my class to the Land of Bonkers and Beyond!!!!

This post will be short and sweet. =)

Here are some of the favorite poems my kiddos like this time of year. These are the ones they will still be singing and reading until May.

Click here to grab your copy.

I hope to be back very, very soon with my Grovvy Christmas Fun. =)

I would love for you to take a minute and leave me some love in a heart note. =)

From My Heart to Yours,