Sunday, December 30, 2012

Fabulous Friends Giveaway!

I am so excited to announce this giveaway.  I have 12 prizes to giveaway thanks to some "Fabulous" friends I have met along this blogging journey!  I just hit 100 on my blog, so let's celebrate!

To sign up for the giveaway click here. 

The Prizes
From Me - Kindergarten Faith!!

 



From My Friends











Thank you for visiting my blog!  This giveaway ends on
Friday, Jan. 4.  Good luck!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Freebie - Snowman Crossword Puzzle

As you are preparing for your return to school next year, 2013 - lol  :0), take a look at this cute little activity I will be using in my classroom.  My students did one of these, from my Build a Snowman Worksheet unit, before we left for Christmas break.  It was their first crossword puzzle, and they were so excited!!
I hope your planning is going well, and if you are returning to a classroom in a few days, enjoy the rest of your break!

Click here to download this Snowman Crossword Puzzle freebie from TpT, or click on the picture above to download from Google Docs.

Click here to look at the entire Build a Snowman Literacy Worksheet unit.

"So you also must be ready, because the son of man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." Matthew 24:44



Wednesday, December 26, 2012

All School Sing Along & Traditions

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas break.  I know I sure am, and my family appreciates the fun play time at home with mommy!  :0)
During the last week of school we always have an all school sing along.  We also invite community members to join us during this wonderful Christmas celebration.   Each grade level sings a song for the school, and our 5th and 6th grade band plays as well.   We end with the 12 Days of Christmas.  This has become a tradition, and the kids look forward to the "day" they get to be and the actions they get to do as they progress to the next grade.   Fun, fun, fun!!!
If you look closely, each grade level has on matching class t-shirts.  This started two years ago.  Our incredible  PTT  organization  (Parents & Teachers Together) purchases "Field Trip" t-shirts for every student and teacher at each grade level.....every year!!!!  What a great way to build a sense of community within our building.  Kindergarten always picks yellow..... this way we can't loose them at the zoo in the spring!!  hahahaha

What traditions do you have at your school?   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

"If God is for us, who can be against us."  Romans 8:31

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Literacy Song & Guest Blog

Today I am guest blogging over at PreK+K Sharing.  Head on over to hear the fun little literacy song I sing in my classroom with our "Pass the Purse" game.

PreK + K Sharing

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." Hebrews 13:16

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Prayers, Praise & Celebration

As we struggle with the whys, I look at my own life and spend a little time in reflection.  We will never understand why things happen and who they happen to, but we must trust that our Lord is in control.  As I returned to school on Monday, I was met with 21 little smiles and pure joy on their faces.   We also had a celebration scheduled for that day.  Inside I had to send up little prayers knowing that I needed to love and do everything I could to take care of these 21 little faces before me.   So let us remember to give out a few extra hugs, say a few extra prayers, and always cherish the moments we have before us. 
Marshall Elementary School 2012-2013 Kindergarten Class

Monday was our National Blue Ribbon celebration at school.  We encouraged all of the students to wear blue and the staff wore their new National Blue Ribbon shirts.  Yeah!!  What a celebration we had.  It was so encouraging to see our school come together and celebrate this honoring event.  Our principal presented the award plaque to our superintendent.  Our superintendent then asked the students, teachers, and support staff to do a "big" group hug.  I wish I had an ariel photo of that - super cool!  :0)
 
At the awards presentation in Washington, DC our principal, Mr. Leis, and I had to dance before we were given the award. Today I taught the entire building the dance that we preformed at the ceremony.  The kids had a lot of fun and were super excited when they each got there very own Blue Ribbon medal to take home.
Way to go Marshall, and thank you to everyone for making our school the incredible place it is!

National Blue Ribbon Awards Ceremony video, Washington, DC
YouTube link: http://youtu.be/ekkjcH0UtUo


"Trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."


Sunday, December 16, 2012

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary


"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Freebie and Christmas Blog Hop

Our fun little 12 days of Christmas blog hop was so fun, that it got turned into a 25 days of Christmas blog hop!  Yeah!
Do you love Christmas Crunch cereal?  Well if so, then graph it and eat it.  I know my kiddos are soooo looking forward to Monday because they know this activity coming.  :0)  (They saw the box of cereal on my cabinet.)

Click here to download this yummy little freebie!  Christmas Crunch Graph
Have a very Merry Christmas, and don't forget to check out the rest of the exciting Christmas blog hop.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6-7





Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Power of a Prize

We have been working on numbers up to 100!  And I have to say, they are doing soooooo good.  We played a little game the other day, "Name that Number," and I decided to use prizes.  :)  Now let me tell you, here is the great part... they were colored blocks, wooden blocks, connecting cubes, etc.   But, I called them a prize, and they were hooked.   Wow!  
Each pair had white boards and a hundreds chart.  One person would write down a number, show it to his/her partner and say, "Name that Number!"  If the partner got it correct, they got a prize.  Oh my word, they loved it.  I heard, "Mrs. Rucker come look at how many prizes I have!"  "Mrs. Rucker, look at me!"  
Wow, the power of a prize.  Kids at this age need to feel important and loved.  Please remember that during this wonderful holiday season!  We can touch so many lives, and just like those blocks, we can be an inspiration and change a child's world!

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves had been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."  1 John 4:7-8