New Years Activities and Freebies

Happy New Year! I have two days before I head back to my classroom and I'm currently all curled up on couch with my sweet pups enjoying just a little bit more relaxation time! :)  I am going to work on some grading and try to get ready for report cards today before I work on some lesson plans tomorrow but I'm getting a little head start today by linking up with my sweet friend, Denise's Show and Tell Tuesday New Years Edition.  

Since we have a two day week, I plan on doing some New Years Resolution Writings with my kiddos.  We follow a pretty scripted writing program, so I'm really excited to break away and do something different for a change. :) 

When we return from my break, I'll be reading this book to my kiddos. 

 

{Check it out on Amazon}  

Then we will be making these adorable little resolution kids that the sweet Amy Lemons shared the templates for last year. Original idea via Cara Carroll. You can find the templates {here}.

 

Source: stepintosecondgrade.blogspot.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I meant to make this foldable last year and forgot, I already have it saved on my TpT wishlist to print off for my class this week.  I am so curious to see what my kiddos will include on theirs! 

 

Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Thank you so much for the great freebie, Rachel! 

I also will be getting a new student when we return, so I'm going to be revisiting the ingredients for a perfect year from my Cooking Up a Great Year Together.  I love having a two day week so we can do some team building activities together.   Some of us could use some gentle reminders of how to treat one another and what better way to do that than with children's literature and food? :)

 

You can check out my original post about Cooking Up a Great Year together {here}.

We also never got around to doing the Toothpaste Activity that I blogged about {here}....so we will be doing that too.  Like I said, some of us need just a little reminder about nourishing words.  

You can download it {here}.  I have found that after Christmas break is a perfect time to review your behavior expectations for your class, it's often a shorter week...so it's perfect to do some community building and to spend some time investing in your classroom routines and procedures again.  

Since they'll be coming in so hyped up about everything they did over break, we will be doing a Find Somebody Who Winter Break Style! :)

   
Click on the picture above or {here} to download.  The typo in the directions is corrected...in the actual file. :)

Well I'm off to hit publish and go link up and join in the fun.  If you download one of my freebies, I'd love to hear how you plan to use in your classroom in the comments below! :)

New Year, New Goals

Today I'm linking up with Jen to share some of my New Years Resolutions. For some reason, I am not a huge fan of the word "resolution", I prefer to set goals instead. ;)

She's asked us to share one personal goal and one blogging goal, which I think is the perfect amount. Last year, my husband and I made a very adventurous list, and while we did well on somethings, for example saving money to buy a house, we didn't do so well on other things, like keeping a cleaning schedule.  You will find my blogging and personal goals below.

My blogging goal is to be more active on my Facebook Fan Page.  There are lost of times throughout the school year where I get really busy and posting on my blog happens less often.  My fan page is a great way for me to share things with my followers quickly and in a more personable way!  I started this resolution last night and I'm loving the interaction that is happening already! :) I'd love it if you checked out my Facebook page, you can find it {here}

I am also going to take one night a week to ignore my TpT and  classroom projects, my blog, and spend time commenting on all the blogs I love! 

I think I can sum up my personal goal for the New Year best in one little word. 

 This one is so hard for me! I am the type of person who thinks that she can do it all but doing it all wears you out!  This is my mantra for the New Year....

Source: swtblessings.com via Lisa on Pinterest

I love blogging, I love creating products for my classroom and sharing with others via Teachers Pay Teachers or Teachers Notebook, I love coaching Girls on the Run, I love being our Student Council sponsor, I love being a dog mom and I love being a wife.  However, that is a LONG list of things on my plate.  This upcoming year, I need to do a better job of scaling back a little bit on some of the extras in my life to fully enjoy the wonderful life I've been blessed with!   

What is a goal that you have for this upcoming year? I'd love to hear it in the comments below!