December is a fun month in school!

We make our daily lesson plans all year.  We set up our rooms with care and thought.  We have a variety of manipulatives we collect and use.

So when we throw in something new and different, the students know right away!  DO NOT PUBLISH EVERY SINGLE THING YOU PLAN TO DO!  JUST DON'T!  I had a director that said, "You have to make this calendar this way and put all the things on it so the parents know and it makes the kids want to come to school."  WHAT?  NO!  I want to create an atmosphere of expectation and fun.  I wanted students to talk to their parents and answer the infamous question of the day, "What did you learn at school today!?"  Children need to talk to their parents.  Parents need to ask their children questions.  Family time around the supper table should be full of sharing and excitement.  But we are not seeing that these days.  Parents are running their children around all over to activities after school and all night barely acknowledging little people feelings, thoughts, questions, and etc.  They get mad when children don't share what they are learning because there is no time to sit...think...talk...laugh...it is rush here and rush there...and "Be quiet, I'm on a call." 

When teachers create fun and excitement in the classroom, children want to come to school and learn.  When parents are stressed out bundles of nerves and run their homes that way, children are full of anxiety and doubt and stress that they are not meant to carry.  They fuss and fret.

Our classrooms should be a safe place full of fun, consistency, and boundaries that encourage sharing, kindness, and imagination!  Don't take things away from children that spark their imagination.

Every December 1st, the students came into a classroom decorated for Christmas!  Our activities helped decorate the tree.

I teased them about texting Santa.

A mischievous Christmas elf would come and leave us notes and special activities!  On the first day, Jingle would introduce himself by way of confetti on the floor, a note, and hiding somewhere in the classroom.  He would arrive during recess or a special class...so the surprise was great when the students walked in to see a "mess".

The squeals, giggles, and concern were always so fun!  I learned to plan ahead through the years.  The cutting practice in Sept./Oct...was saved in a baggie for elf confetti in Dec.  The elf brought green triangles for our math lesson.  The children would pick up 10 pieces at a time to glue on their tree as we practiced counting by 10 (which was what we were practicing).  A punched, gold star for the top when they completed the challenge of counting to 100!  ANNNNND...most of the confetti was picked up from the floor by then and I had beautiful, unique trees to use on our bulletin board in the hall or on our door.

No cost!  Low prep!  Great fun!  Wonderful practice!  Be creative!