Night Before Christmas FREEBIE

We have been busy celebrating my son's birthday, so I haven't had time to sit and share about all of the fun things we're doing at school right now. That will come soon (hopefully). Today is just a quick update: I have mentioned a few times that I have a freebie to use with all of the different versions of The Night Before Christmas, and today it got a little facelift. It's still free, so go download and enjoy!

Also, I realized that this Thursday is time for the monthly Teacher Fitness linky. 

Since so many people will be thinking about New Year's resolutions after Christmas passes (in EIGHT days!), I think it would be fun to share your favorite way to work out. Please come link up with me and share with your friends!

Book Talk Thursday: Irish Night Before Christmas

When I saw Andrew's topic for this week, I KNEW I had to link up!

I also knew she would already be writing about my favorite because (1) we have so much in common that it's kind of crazy and (2) she grew up in Louisiana, so we have similar cultural experiences. It's okay though because I already mentioned a few weeks back how much I love the Cajun Night Before Christmas and how my dad used to read it every year. I'm not going to repeat it because Andrea wrote a great post about it today, and you should check out hers (and everyone else who links up).

When Steven and I got married and began to start our own Christmas book collection, we ran across this little gem and took it home immediately! The Cajun is fun, but he can't really relate to it. We both have Irish heritage (Why else would we name our son Keagan?) and we thought it would be fun! Steven has already tried to read it to Keagan. Emphasis on the "tried" because he only sits for a book in 1 minute increments...maybe...

Anyway, in this book, Santa (in green, of course) has seven lucky leprechauns helping deliver the packages as they ride around in a cart pulled by their donkey (who eats the thatch roof while waiting for them to come back). And with any true Irish story, they all have such a good time drinking and partying that they wake up the mom and get chased out of the house!

I've done this one with my kids before, but it's still far too removed from their spectrum to really understand. They do a little better with the Cajun version because  it's a little easier to spot differences. I did order a new version this morning to try with a fifth grade class on Monday - The Hillbilly Night Afore Christmas. Haven't read it yet, but I figure it will be more relatable since its set in Appalachia. We'll see how it goes!

And as you're hopping around and checking out all these fantastic versions, g download my freebie I created last year. I listed as many versions as I could find and made a quick template for students to create their own version!

A Little Christmas Fun!

I saw this linky on Amy Lemons' blog and HAD to join in because you know we're not really thinking much about school right now anyway, right? I know my head is already on Christmas and vacation, at least. Just glad I only have 1 1/2 more days before the weekend. I'm taking a half day on Friday to get ready for Keagan's 2nd birthday - YIKES!! Go link up with Michelle at Fabulous in First to join in on the fun!

Hot Chocolate or Eggnog? 

Hot chocolate. I LOVE it and always get very excited when the weather is cold enough to snuggle up with a warm cup of it. Eggnog just sounds gross to me...

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them underneath the tree? 

Since Keagan is still very young, we haven't really discussed "Santa". However, we left one large present unwrapped last year (his kitchen) and plan to do the same again this year (tricycle). I guess that's Santa for us. We don't want to make a big deal out of it, so Santa may continue to just do one big gift and a stocking. Then we'll wrap the rest.

Colored lights or white? 

I love white, but the hubs disagrees. We've actually had many debates about this and need to find a good compromise. Right now, I have a fake tree up front with my lights, and I think it's absolutely perfect!

Then our real tree in the living room has colored lights and all of our fun ornaments. I just feel like it suffers from an identity crisis, and it drives me a little nuts. I'm wondering if maybe I would prefer it if we got the BIG colored lights that remind me of gumdrops...

When do you decorate? 

We have started as early as November 1, but it's almost always basically done by Thanksgiving. The only thing we wait to do is our real tree because we want it alive and well by Christmas. It's just easier, and we both LOVE Christmas so much that we just can't wait!

Real or Fake Tree? 

We do both. Fake tree up front (and a small one in Keagan's room) and a real tree in the living room. We actually cut one down out in the woods one year when we had an endless ceiling...

Yes, that tree is about 12 feet!

...but now that we're in a normal house with regular ceiling heights, we just go to Food Lion or Kroger and buy one. They always have great trees, and we can get them for about $30 each year. Not bad!

What Tops Your Tree?

A star for both. If you noticed from the picture above, I was using some pick-thingy, but it drove me crazy. Target had a pretty red star on sale for $5, and I grabbed it up early in the season to trade out!

Favorite Christmas Memories or Traditions?

Opening one gift on Christmas Eve (usually pjs) and enjoying a fun dinner with the family.

Do you remember your favorite gift as a child? 

I don't remember actually getting her, but it would probably be when I got my Red-haired Cabbage Patch Doll, Daisy. I still have the doll today, and she went EVERYWHERE with me when I was little. I guess she's kind of like my "Woody" from Toy Story. She even went to college with me!

Do prefer giving or receiving? 

I prefer watching other people's reactions when they get gifts over opening gifts in front of other people (that makes me feel weird, and I suggest opening at the same time), but I do like to get gifts :::hangs head in shame:::. I think it's probably about equal for me if I'm completely honest. I LOVE buying gifts for kids!

What is your favorite Christmas song? 

I'm cheating and picking two because Christmas music is some of my favorite music of the year. Seriously, I can't wait to put it on my iPod (and may leave a few songs on all year), and I start listening right after Halloween! 

- Mary Did You Know by Mark Lowry - makes me cry every time! 

- I Celebrate the Day by Relient K - if it was in my range entirely, I would love to sing it at a Christmas service. Such a POWERFUL song! 

Candy Canes. Yuck or Yum? 

They're fine, but I want the chocolate!

Favorite Christmas Movie? 

Charlie Brown Christmas (especially when Linus gives the entire story) and ELF

Do you shop online or at stores?

Both, but I'm beginning to do more of it online, especially now that I can get cash back with ebates!

Photo Cards, Letter or Store Bought Card? 

I prefer photo cards because they're cute and simpler (and you can get them for pretty cheap), but we're doing an actual card this year because Steven's students have some as fund-raisers. We are putting a picture in the card, though. Just still need to take it...

Tried-it Tuesday

Let me just say that I am SO glad I bought Erin's Ultimate Christmas Bundle during the big Cyber Monday sale because it's really come in handy for these last few weeks before Christmas break when the kids are driving me nuts and I don't want to think much about plans. Not only are the plans already done and spelled out for you, but my fifth grade students are LOVING it! 

I haven't used The Gift of the Magi or Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer yet since I only do pull-out and don't have them for quite as long. But we are working our way through a Common Core Christmas. Yesterday we tried something different from the pack and did a video lesson. Video? Lesson? Erin included the link to this GREAT educational video about different December celebrations around the world. Hysterical AND educational.

But the way I really tied this into my instruction is through the active listening sheets that Erin provided. It was very interesting to see how well my students could listen and find information as they watched videos. They aren't very good at multi-tasking at this stage, and I noticed that even previewing the questions so they knew what to listen for was very hard for them. However, some of them did learn to work as a group and help each other gather the information.

Today, we watched the SAME video and talked about how it's hard to notice everything when we read or watch something the first time. So we REREAD or re-watch things to gather more information. I gave them the second active listening sheet, and we found things we didn't notice the first time.

I think I want to use more videos here and there for students to gather information, maybe for research projects, etc. I was honestly surprised that they struggled because I figured a video would be easier for them. I guess anything that requires deeper thinking and processing will be a challenge, though.

Book Talk Thursday - late, as usual

First, if you're here for Erin's (I'm Lovin Lit) giveaway, click here. If you aren't, then go check it out after you read because you DON'T want to miss it! Now you may continue...

I wanted to link up with Andrea yesterday, but I didn't have time. This is a book that I found on Monday, and I'm SO excited to share about it that I decided I didn't care if it's not Thursday anymore!

Have you read it? I was actually in the library looking for two other books that we ended up not having, but I decided to ask our librarian for suggestions of books the students hadn't already heard a million times before that were good. She sent me out with three, and this is definitely my favorite of the group! First off, it's Cynthia Rylant, so you know it will be good. Then it's just a GREAT story! Be sure to read it ahead of time so you don't get as choked up.

Here's what Amazon says:

In Appalachia each Christmas, a boy named Frankie waits beside the tracks for the Christmas Train, which will bring presents to the children who live in coal towns and hollows. Year after year, Frankie hopes that one particular gift a very special gift will be tossed to him from that train. It is this enduring hope that will guide him to the true meaning of the season. Full color.

We have been doing a few lessons recently that are all related to the true spirit of Christmas. I also bought Erin's Ultimate Christmas Bundle which contains a great lesson on childhood poverty in America. It ties in PERFECTLY with this book! If you don't want the whole bundle, the lesson is found in her Common Core Christmas unit.

What other great non-traditional books do you like to use during this time of the year?

Winter Planning Giveaway Stop C-16

I am SO excited to be a part of Erin's fabulous Winter Planning Giveaway! Instead of a simple giveaway, you will skip from blog to blog and collect secret words. Then you go back to Erin's blog (click on the image above) and enter all of the words for each prize pack you choose. And the best part? EVERYONE WINS!!! I found some amazing resources last time and can't wait to collect more to start planning for after Christmas (wishful thinking)!

For those of you who are new to my blog, I am a Title I Reading Specialist for grades 3-5. I've been teaching for about 8 years, and I LOVE working with upper elementary! Some of my favorite products to create are my drawing conclusions mysteries (be on the lookout for a Christmas themed one VERY soon) such as my Case of the Secret Admirer...

...and my literacy center packs. For my free product, I decided to share my Winter Literacy Centers. These include 4 comprehension centers and 4 word-knowledge centers. 

I hope you enjoy them! If you would like to see more of what I do, please follow me on Bloglovin!

You can also click on the buttons in the top right corner of my blog to find me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TPT and TN. I love finding new followers and getting to meet other teachers from around the country/world. It's so neat how we have this amazing teacher blogging community!

Okay, now what you're really here for: I am the last stop for Prize Pack C, so make sure you go back to I'm Lovin Lit to start at the very beginning. Then collect this word for your list:

And if you've made it through all of the stops, still head to Erin's blog to enter all of your clues!

I hope you enjoyed your scavenger hunt as much as I did!

Currently December with a Mentor Text

It's December 1, and I'm actually on the ball and one of the first few to share my currently with Farley (we'll see what number I end up with by the time I'm finished though).

Listening: Steven and Keagan both take Sunday naps, so I call it "mommy time". Steven likes to pick on me about it because I get very grumpy when they don't take their naps. I need my peace and quiet once a week to just do what I want (blog usually) without any interruptions!

Loving: We actually started decorating for Christmas about 2 weeks ago (don't judge), and it has been so much fun to watch Keagan interact with everything. Seeing his eyes light up as we turned on the Christmas tree for the first time, watching him rearrange our village people, giving him his first nativity...it's just so much fun! Tonight he gets to see Santa come through on a fire truck, so I'll be sure to get some pictures. I know this is his third Christmas, but it still feels like the first one. I'm sure I'll say the same thing next year as he is even more aware!

Thinking: With all the excitement of Thanksgiving (and some late night Christmas shopping online), I've been going to bed much later and sleeping in a little late as well. Today the alarm went off at 7:00, and I struggled to pull myself out. Tomorrow's going to be tough...

Wanting: I love chocolate, and Steven has a great, simple recipe for fudge. He doesn't like to make it much, though, because he knows I'll devour the entire thing and then complain when I gain weight. Maybe since I'm at my goal weight, it won't be as big of a deal this year!

Needing: Like I said earlier, my sleep routine is messed up right now. But I was getting bad about not getting up early enough to do my workouts before break. Hopefully I can get back into that routine as well. We'll see if I make it tomorrow at 5 though. Positive thoughts, right? If I do my workout, I can eat more of that yummy fudge!

Favorite Tradition:  I really struggled with this one because I seriously wanted to put everything! I love Christmas - shopping, food, movies, books, time with family, lights...all of it! So I decided to put one that was a little more unique to my family. I grew up in south Mississippi, near New Orleans, and there was a book that the local news would read on Christmas Eve every year called The Cajun Night Before Christmas.

It's so much fun - Santa is pulled on a skiff by a team of alligators with awesome French-inspired names. My dad bought the book and began to read it to the family once we moved to GA. Then I try and share it with my kids for a great comparison lesson now that I'm teaching. I also have The Irish Night Before Christmas, but nothing can quite top the Cajun version in my eyes! Do you have any favorite versions of the Night Before Christmas? There are tons!

***I realized after posting that this book would also be perfect to link up with Collaboration Cuties today also!