Rhode Island Teacher Says, "I Quit!"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBSgchJe2Z0&sns=fb

Words for teenagers...

Christmas Mittens Tree Ornaments...

These ornaments are made of felt, a cotton ball, and deorative ribbon.  Take a sheet of felt or a sheet of craft foam and (using a felt-tipped, fine-point marker) trace around your child's hands the outline of two mittens.  Using a hole punch, make a hole in one corner of each mitten before gluing on the cotton.   Add a small ribbon bow and lay flat to dry.  Attach wire ornament hangers through the holes that you punched earlier. 

The mitten ornaments displayed on our classroom tree:

 

 

 

 

Homeschooling and worrying about "socialization"? You needn't be!

school.familyeducation.com/home-schooling/human-relations/56224.html

Peppermint Stick Mouse Christmas Tree Ornament Craft...

This is just too cute and too easy not to feature on my blog!  This craft kit was purchased from Oriental Trading Company  www.orientaltrading.com  .  It comes in a set of 24 and is very reasonably priced.  Candy canes included!  The mouse parts (except for the nose) are made of felt.  However, you could make your own pattern rather than purchasing the kit.  If you do, then I think it would be better to use craft foam sheets instead of the felt because the glue tends to soak into the felt (which can be a pain).  You could even use wiggle eyes if you prefer.

Nativity Craft Project...

The stable is made from a shoe box with an attached lid.  It is decorated/covered with construction paper.  The Nativity figures were copied from the book Easy Christian Crafts (grades 1-3) published by Carson-Dellosa.  You may possibly be able to find similar figures online if you don't want to purchase the book.

Where to hang those Christmas stockings?

No mantle?  No problem!

Simple Christmas Wreath...

This wreath looks MUCH better than the  picture shows.  This pic turned out rather dark, so the color isn't showing.  Let me describe it:

The wreath is made from a 10" styrofoam ring that has been wrapped with rope tinsel.  The tinsel is two-toned in green and blue.  It catches the light and is really quite pretty.  It is decorated with ribbon, small bells, tiny pine cones, and artificial holly leaves and berries.

Making good use of those homemade salt dough Christmas tree ornaments...

Home (self) Made Christmas Ornaments 2012...

Ornaments are made from salt dough: 1 cup salt, 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 cup warm water.  Mix and then knead.  Roll out and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.  Bake at 200 degrees F. for 1 to 3 hours, depending on how thick they are.  Using tongs, turn shapes over to expose the underside.  Return to bake for an hour more.   Allow to cool completely before painting or decorating with glue and glitter.  

(My 4 year old grandson loves these ornaments that he helped paint.)

I think I will get out my smallest Christmas tree (from last year) and set it up in our classroom so my grandson can make good use of these ornaments.  A photo will soon follow...

The Meaning Behind the Candy Cane...

Homeschool Math in a Bucket...

Ahhhh!  The beauty of homeschooling...You don't have to sit at a desk all day!  Yay!  You can do school just about anywhere and at any time you choose.  This little scholar is very seriously working on his math lesson, as you can plainly see.  

(photo courtesy of a homeschooling acquaintance of mine - Thank you!)

Simple & Easy Table-top Christmas Tree for Small Spaces...

My living room is small and stuffed with furniture.  There is no space for a full-size Christmas tree to be displayed, so for many years now, I've used table-top trees.  I recently purchased this 4 ft. tree from Walmart.  Is is pre-lit, so I do not have to bother with stringing lights.  It consists of 2 major pieces, and 3 pieces for the stand.  Easy to put together.  Yay!  I chose the clear lights, but the tree is also available with colored ones.  Cost $25 before tax.    

The angel at the top of the tree has a  porcelain head and arms.  She was purchased from Avon by my mother and given to me 32 years ago as a "First Christmas" gift with my new husband/home.  The ornaments are mostly hand-made ones, with a few "My First Christmas" ornaments celebrating each new child born to us.

We ended up moving the t.v. to an end table to make room for the Christmas tree.  We "make-do" a lot at my house.  lol!

2012 Christmas Classroom Decorations

Bulletin Board idea taken from  Interactive Bible Story Bulletin Boards - grades K-3, published by Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc.

The snowmen are all homemade.  The large ones are made from small  plastic bleach? bottles and large styrofoam balls, covered with quilt batting.  The small ones are made from men's tube socks, stuffed with rolls of toilet paper and medium-sized styrofoam balls.