i'M aLl OvEr ThE pLaCe! *Snowman Freebie*

Oh Girls,

I don't know up from down these days..I can't decide if I'm happy we still have two weeks before break {Because I still have a whole SLEW of stuff to get done} or if I'm freaking out because we ONLY have two more weeks before break {Because I have a whole SLEW of stuff to get done}...not to mention my Christmas shopping isn't done, I have piles of laundry just screaming "We can't stand our own stank - please wash us"...which makes me feel like break is TOO far away.  Seriously, I have issues - don't I?

In spite of the hustle and bustle in Room 8 - there's a lot of fun and cuteness to be had too!

We did "tear" art which is so great for those "finger muscles" {you must pronounce the "c" in musCles when talking about fine motor skills}.  They turned out ADORABLE {not one item was drawn or cut - well, we did color in the snow at the bottom}.

After we made our snowman creations we used them to help guide us in a "how-to" writing exercise where we explained how to build a snowman.  I love the linear thinking and planning of ideas that has to take place in order to write a how-to.  One of my kiddos even noticed the words we use when retelling are the same words we used when writing our "How to Build a Snowman".  Love when they make those connections!

Here's a cuter snowman paper than what I used...

Snowman digistamp is from Cre8tive Hands - go check her out!

I've seen an abundance of Gingerbread ________ {fill in the character} floating around our blogs.  Here's an awesome CD that I know you'll love.  There are lots of fairy tale favorites put to bee-boppin' beats.  I can't even tell you how many requests I've had for the Gingerbread Man. {Click on the picture to take you to the website}

And... I can't stop eating these...

Back to business...

Today in guided reading groups we focused on comprehension -  "gameshow" style.  The kids had an absolute blast "buzzing in" to answer a variety of questions about their stories.

They make them wireless now too!

{click on the picture to take you to one site where you can purchase it}.

Have I lost you yet?  I told you I'm all over the place! 

I also wanted to say thanks to my bloggy friends at Fun for First, A Cupcake for the Teacher, First Grade Magic, and Apples and Papers who passed along the Liebster Award! 

This award is for "new" bloggers, and its goal is to spotlight up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers  If awarded, you must:

Copy and paste the award on your blog

Thank the giver and link back to them

Reveal YOUR top five picks and leave a comment letting them know

Hope your followers will share the love with them :) {I just know you will!}

If you're looking for some blogs to add to your daily addiction I hope you'll check those girls out.  They have such great ideas to share!!!!  Mrs. Cupcake is giving away a $10 gift card to Target {woo hoo} click HERE to find out more! {Better move quick - you've only got until December 14th!}

Here are my top five picks for girls who are knocking my socks off {And would love to knock yours off too - so go check 'em out!!!!}

Crayons & Curls

Ed Link - First Grade

KinderSmarten

Ms. Rachel's Room - A Special Ed Classroom

Peterson's Pad

{Peterson's Pad is having a $20 Amazon gift card giveaway in celebration of her "new look" - only NINE have entered.  Better move quick - you only have until December 14th!}

There you have it!

Oh, by the way - the cute little letter you saw{here} - you know, the TOELIT one?  That was my OWN son who wrote that! Yeah, it was a proud mom moment, let me tell you. Not sure if I'm more proud of the rock in the toelit or him charging a dollar to get into his recess Lego club {We got a call from the principal for that one too}.  Yup, that little bugger keeps us on our toes!

See the tears? Those are the crybaby letters - get it?

Now go out and buy yourself some wasabi peas...seriously.