Twelve About Twelve

Did you realize this Wednesday is 12-12-12?  Did you realize this won't happen again until December 12, 2112?  We won't have triple numbers like that until January 1, 2101, and I have a feeling I won't be around by then!

When I realized 1,212 was my the number of "likes" I have on facebook, I thought I might have some fun by brainstorming 12 things we can have kids do to celebrate 12-12-12! Come on over to Elementary Matters to download this Cuisenaire Rod freebie, and see lots of other ideas to celebrate 12-12-12!

     
                                               

Honoring our Veterans with a Great Resource

Veterans' Day is near and dear to my heart. My husband is a veteran of 30 years in the military. During those years he lost several soldiers during Desert Storm. I can't imagine how difficult it is for the loved ones of soldiers in Afghanistan today. I decided to put together a packet called "Honoring Veterans' on Veterans' Day".

There is a Shared Reading Book called, "What is Veterans' Day?" 2 Reading texts and Comprehension Questions for 2nd and 3rd Grades and 2 sets of Picture/Word/ Fact Cards, 2 Sets of Graphic Organizers and Writing Prompts at the 2nd and 3rd grade levels. Just click on the image above to check it out.

In honor of our veterans I have a few free Veterans' Day activities for you. Just click on the image below not only to access your freebies but find more free resources for Veterans'Day activities.

Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students. Hope you will check out my blog and follow my TpT store.

Looking for Something Fun for Halloween?

Click image for link.

Looking for something to do with your students tomorrow?  It just so happens that I have a packet that's perfect for Halloween day.  The kids will get some actual work done, and it's academically related!  There are activities for reading, writing, and math!

Click image for freebie.

Looking for just a few things?  Try the sample!

Click image for link.

Perhaps you'd prefer to focus on reading?

Click image for freebie.

Or just a few sentences?






My students haven't had class for a few days because of Hurricane Sandy.  I'm planning to make it a fun day back, but we really do have to get some work done!

Fern Smith's Swat ~ A Great Vocabulary Game!

SWAT FLY SWATTERS! 

These fly swatters were on sale 3 in a bag for a $1 at the Dollar General. I loved them so much I asked the hubby to jump in the truck and come on a quick 'field trip' with me! I bought 7 bags for $7, then I bought the ribbon at Wal*Mart for under 6 bucks. The basket was old and kicking around in our garage, so we cleaned that up and added the left over ribbon ~ ta-da! I'm feeling kind of crafty now! :)

To play SWAT, have the students write their vocabulary words on separate index cards, spread them around the top of the desk & let the games begin! They stand up & I called out each definition and then they "swat" each word. I also make up fill-in-the-blank sentences, opposites & "what comes first alphabetically?" etc. 

My students love it & it allows them to get their wiggles out!

I Would Love For You To Come Follow Me! :)

A Very Special Pumpkin Patch and a Freebie You Won't Want To Miss

Now that you have met me and gotten to know me a little I want to share with you a fun packet about A Very Special Pumpkin Patch. This picture above is from my favorite book, Pumpkins,the Book of Opposites. My students loved it and what a great book for teaching opposites and adjectives. Now that I'm retired I decided to make my own "The Very Special Pumpkin Patch" Unit for K-2 that includes a Shared Reading Book, 3 Make and Take books at the K, 1st and 2nd grade levels, Picture/Word Cards for a Word Wall and Center Activities, My Very Own Pumpkin Patch Book for your students to make, Pumpkin Word Webs for all 3 levels and My Favorite Pumpkin Writing Activity for 1st and 2nd. Here is a sneak preview:

You can click on either picture above to read all about it . I'd also like to share a freebie from my unit called
My Special Pumpkin Patch Book. Your students will love designing their own special pumpkins and either labeling them or writing about them. If you click on the picture below you get download your copy.

I hope your students enjoy this activity and my Reading and Writing Activities from my Pumpkin Unit.
Thank you for making a difference for your students.
Hope you will follow my Tpt store and blog and get to know me a little better.

HoJo is All About Halloween!

My favorite holiday has to be Halloween!

Back in high school we would do a full-out haunted house at the school, and I was always one of the masterminds behind it. We had several levels of spookiness - little kid, average, and crazy! Many parents went for the little kid one because they knew how scary it could be! Imagine going through a locker maze in a bed of steam when a guy with a REAL chainsaw (chain removed!) jumps out right in front of you! Needless to say it was a good time. :)

But that's off topic...

While I know many teachers aren't allowed to do anything Halloween related, I still wanted to create a post of wonderful Halloween freebies for those of us who can celebrate Halloween.

Click on the "boo" picture below to go check out all of the great K-6 freebies I've compiled!

 

Thanks for letting me share some of my Halloween story with you!

I hope to see you again soon!

~HoJo~