New Year's Linky Party

I have been coming up with new ideas to use in my classroom as soon as we return to school from Christmas break. I have uploaded January Journal Topics to make it easier to keep my students' journals organized. Today, I uploaded It's a New Year Writing Activity to help my students brainstorm goals they would like to accomplish this year. This is a freebie, so make sure you head to my TpT store and grab it to use in your classroom!

I was still in search of more ideas to use. I stumbled upon Ms.M's blog Teaching is a Gift and learned that she is hosting a 2013 New Year Linky Party. Yay! There are additional resources there that are so wonderful. You definiely should head there and search through those resources.

In addition to the 2013 New Year Linky Party, John Hughes of An Educator's Life is hosting his "Share the Wealth" Saturday linky this Saturday. By visiting both of these blogs, you will be able to scoop up plenty of resources and ideas to use for ringing in the new year with your students.

2013 New Year Linky Party




Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas! I hope that you spend this time making new memories and cherishing old ones, eating lots of scrumptious foods, laughing, and making merry during this holiday season. I have a lot to be thankful for, but the most important thing I am thankful for is my family. So from my household to yours, Merry Christmas!





Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary


Let's take today and remember those lives lost, those families affected, and all the community members who have endured the horrific scenes of this tragedy. Lift everyone up in prayer and keep their memories alive.



Germs, Germs...Go Away!

How many of you are frantically cleaning your classrooms as soon as you have students leave? If you are anything like me, your hands are dry and the classroom smells like a chlorox bomb exploded!

We have had so many sweet students absent lately due to a terrible virus, the dreaded flu, and strep. It seems like everytime we turn around, someone else is getting sick. Because my students change classes, I find myself constantly wiping down desks, doors, the pencil sharpener, and markers all day long. Because I feel like I am cleaning as much as I am teaching, I have put some new practices into my classroom:

1. Before the end of each class, I hand the first person on each row a wipe. They wipe each desk down while the others are lining up. If more wipes are needed, I give them freely!

2. I have a door wiper! This saves me time to do some last minute things in class. I usually choose a student whose behavior was good and who looks like he/she needs to get up and move around for a minute.

3. I assign a homeroom student to wipe down the pencil sharpener and another student to wipe down the "community" pencil cup.

4. I handle wiping down the markers for the SmartBoard and dry-erase markers.

5. I have hand sanitizer available in three places in the classroom, and encourage its use.

6. And finally, I preach to the students about washing their hands and the proper methods of covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze.

What are some ways that you keep your classroom as germ-free as possible?

This past week, my little girl had the flu. I have stayed home with her because she needed me and I just could't bear to leave her with anyone else as sick as she has been. My house has undergone a major deep cleaning. It needed it! Now, we are germ-free, fever-free and ready for the weekend!

I hope that each of you have a wonderful, fun-filled weekend!