Elf on the Shelf!

I cannot believe that it is just about time for the Elf on the Shelf to make its appearance!  Where have the past few months gone?!  ACK!  I am super excited about bringing the Elf back our, the Kinders last year loved it!  It will be strange to have to call her a new name this year.  The biggest thing I love about having the Elf around is the writing piece.  My students wrote in their Elf Journals every morning for their Before School Work (BSW).  Here is an example:

This really helped to strengthen their writing skills as well as their fine motor skills.  Our elf did a lot of silly things:

 

Will you be using an Elf on the Shelf?  What are some fun things you like to do with your elf?

 

Catching up!

Holy smokes!  The past few weeks have flown by.  I've been a bad blogger lately, but, I've been very busy working on the house with my husband.  I wanted to share with you the Mother's Day gifts that we created.  Back in December, yes DECEMBER, we went up to the greenhouse at our school at took some seedlings that had sprouted from some of the other plants and potted them.  We made sure we had one for each student.  From December until April we watered the plants and watched them grow in their containers.  In April, the students each painted a terra cotta pot that I had scored at A.C. Moore for $0.44 a piece!  I also used my teacher discount card to score an even cheaper price!  We worked on a cute card and plant stick to use as well.  Here is the finished product in it's milk carton travel case:

We also did some free writing in our journals the other day and this one was too cute not to share.  This student has been my most detailed artist all year.  I love the details in her picture right down to her eating popcorn and the pattern on the rug!

 

That's about all I have to share for now!