christmas

  • So close I can feel it!

    I have always worked for schools that are open year-round, so the week between Christmas and New Year is the longest break I get, and it goes way too fast! This year I have plans to get some work done and do some major relaxing! Sleeping in! Sleeping in is one of my favorite things in the world, I love waking up and knowing that I can lay there for as long as I want.  My body would naturally sleep until 11am and stay up until 2am if I let it.  spending time with family and friends.  This is huge for me, I have 8 days off and I already…

  • Friday Freebie – Letters to Santa

    Happy Friday! Are you lucky enough to be done with school today?! I have to work next Monday and Tuesday, so I’m still in school mode, but this weekend officially begins my holiday celebration; staff party tonight (yay for pizza with the girls, we do it low-key!), Christmas with my favorite aunt (who also happens to be the best gift-giver) Saturday, and Christmas with my in-laws Saturday and Sunday. With Christmas quickly approaching, there is still time for that last minute letter to Santa! Here is a great little freebie for helping your little ones write that letter. This Letter to Santa set is from Teacher Karma, go download it…

  • Polar Express Activity Idea

    The Polar Express is one of my favorite Christmas movies to share at school because it really expresses the magic of Christmas.  It doesn’t matter how many times my students have seen the movie, every single time they watch in awe of the singing and dancing during “Hot Chocolate”, gasp as the train skids across the ice, and exclaim with surprise when the bell is found on Christmas morning. The Polar Express is all about Christmas wishes, and every child has a wish.  For as long as I have been teaching, my favorite activity to do with this movie has been to make secret wish bells with my students.  They…

  • Christmas Questionnaire

    I love any opportunity to share a little of myself with all of you, so I’m linking up with Fabulous in First, here are my answers to the Christmas Questionnaire; 1. When do you decorate?I always decorate the day after Thanksgiving. My house is pretty tiny, and I only decorate my living room and my kitchen, so it only takes a couple of hours. I love to turn on Christmas music or find a cheesy Christmas movie on Lifetime to listen to while I decorate.  When it’s finished everything feels so festive, I love being able to enjoy it for an entire month! 2. Elf or no Elf?No elf for…

  • Foam food for dramatic play

    Last week I posted my plans for our holiday cookie party at school.  I’ve been working on prepping some of the materials for our cookie shop dramatic play area , which means adding to my collection of foam cookies. I wanted to show you some of the cookies that I made before, and the new varieties that I made specifically for our party. I made all of these with sheets of craft foam, and they couldn’t be easier.  Making your own food with craft food is a great alternative to buying play food because it s really easy to customize, and it’s all flat, so it stores better than most…

  • A Quick Preschool Holiday Activity

    Are you in need of a last minute activity to keep your students occupied while you attempt to finish all of those parent gifts and holiday cards?! who doesn’t need just a little something quick and easy this time of the year?! One of the teachers that I work with has this activity out in her classroom and I had to share it with you. We’ve all seen the contact-paper-on-the-window activities, they’re all over pinterest, but this is a little different.  First, she attached the contact paper to the back of her bookshelf, so it made a great little space for one or two kids to work quietly.  Second, she…

  • Printable Teacher Thank You Cards

    I’m hoping that what I have to share with you today will be super helpful.  Tis the season to receive gifts from your students, and being the great, amazing, wonderful teacher that you are, I know that you write a thank you note for every single one of those gifts – or you intend to… I have some free printable thank you cards that will make your life just a little easier, simply because you can print as many as you need, when you need them.  Download the freebie, choose the design that you want to print, print as many as you need, cut them apart (2 fit on a…

  • Host a Preschool Cookie Party

    On the last day of school before winter break my school is hosting a holiday cookie party.  I’m still in the planning stages, but I thought I’d share my ideas because there’s still time to put together your own party. Whether it’s for school or family and friends, it’s sure to be an event that the children won’t soon forget! I used this clip art set from Erin Bradley Designs to put together super cute invitations.  My friend Jamie over at Play to Learn Preschool has an amazing Cookie Shop Dramatic Play Set that we’re going to use to set up an awesome pretend play area.   I found a…

  • Easy Christmas Activities for Toddlers

    I’m only at school part time, and since my schedule is a little flexible, that leaves me open to pick up subbing hours when other teachers are out.  Today I subbed in the infant toddler room.  Whenever I’m in someone else’s classroom I like to bring a few of my own activities – it’s like when you were a little kid and everyone else’s toys were so much more fun than your own! I grabbed three quick, easy activities to take with me, and they kept the little ones busy all day! When I say easy, I mean really really easy – read on to see! 1. Tweezers, Ice Cube…