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Ring in the "NEW" and make it a wonderful, kind, warm, and more meaningful world for everyone to realize that we are all individuals that deserve to be treated equally and fairly.  That "HAPPINESS" and "CARING" is the new motto to live by.  "What can we, what can I do to create more happiness and a more caring place where I live, go to school,  play, or work."  Make that resonate everywhere as those firecrackers are set off and those wings of imagination are ignited in the classrooms.  It is up to us as educators to enforce and show our students the right and correct way to treat all individuals.   

May all your wishes and dreams of a fun-filled joyous holiday come true.  Remember the true spirit of giving is what comes from the person's heart and you should always be appreciative of what a person has given you.  Make it MERRY & BRIGHT!!!!!

CHRISTMAS  GOOD  DEEDS

Had my class make Christmas cards to take to the Nursing Home my Mom lives at.  They love it when they receive things especially from children.  Plus at this time of year it is good to show students that it is nice to receive gifts but also nice to give them.  Especially to remember the children and adults who are not as fortunate as we are.

"HO, HO, HO"

The word "SANTA CLAUS" depending on what grade you are teaching can be such a tricky word for some teachers.  For instance we were reading as a class an article about Santa Claus and it mentioned about him being at the Mall.  So that triggered one of my students to say, "Santa isn't at the mall he is at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas Eve."  Okay then someone else raises their hand and says, I got my picture taken last week with Santa at my Mall."  So I know at this point everyone of my students has their own "Santa Story" to share with us but I need to end it so that my first student that knows that Santas DON'T go to Malls doesn't get more confused.  So to get them off of the subject and let Mom and Dad handle that one the way they choose to.  I say, "Remember what Santa brings you those wonderful wrapped packages that you are being "nice" not "naughty" for.  How many are you are on the "nice" list?  Great"  Then we were able to go on with our lessons.   Side note-I did call the child's mother about the "Mall" and she was very appreciative of the heads-up about the classroom conversation.  She did inform me the next day that as soon as he saw her he told her the story.

S T U D E N T S    M A K I N G

H O L I D A Y    G I  F T   F O R

P A R E N T S

You have selected the appropriate gift for your students to make for their parents after looking through an endless assortment of ideas.  Tried it, and even fine toothed it, then went to the hassle of getting all of the supplies.  Which of course ended up visiting quite a few different stores.  The day of the lesson nice clear directions with my demonstrating each and every step and so many of them come out to look just wonderful.  As I look around one or two of them look like they fell out of Santa's sleigh. Not to worry though Teacher's are known by Santa's all around the world to be able to fix up those gifts so that Mom and Dad will never ever no the difference.

G I F T  E X C H A N G E 

O R  N O T ????????

Every year the question haunts me should I have the students exchange gifts or not.  I feel like maybe I'm not going to do it this year???  Then one of the Teachers asks me what are you having the children exchange this year??  One of the students ask me are we exchanging gifts this year??  Then one of my parents asks what are the children exchanging for gifts this year and I kind of feel that I got blindsided into EXCHANGING GIFTS again this year.  So to make it a worthwhile gift exchange I have been having the students bring in a wrapped book from the suggested 3rd grade reading list.  The only stipulation is that the book must be listed on the list.  After all of the books have been brought in I put a big number on each on.  The day of the party I put numbers  in a box and each student pulls a number out of the box.  I lay all of the books out on a table and each one finds their numbered book and finds out what they got.