Next week is SPRING BREAK! 
So a lot of activities I have planned for this week
are geared around St. Patrick's Day.

Pinterest has more than enough 
craft and snack ideas.
What I needed were some good books.

Here's what I found-
(there's more than what you'll need!)
Pick out what your class will love best...
by Greg Foley

Bear and Mouse are looking for luck. Four-leaf clover luck. Will they find it? Monkey says there's no such thing. Turtle thinks it'll take took long. And Groundhog wonders if they'll be unlucky if they can't find one. Suddenly Bear isn't sure if he should keep looking or give up...until Mouse sees something unusual.

by Ivan Robertson

It's St. Patrick's Day, and Jack Mouse is visiting his cousin Sean in Ireland. Sean tells Jack about the myth of leprechauns, and Jack is determined 
to catch one for himself!

by Lucille Colandro

She's back! That lovely old lady has returned just in time for St. Patrick's Day. Now she's swallowing items to make the perfect rainbow 
to hide a pot of gold!

by Eve Bunting

Rabbit is growing shamrocks in a pretty yellow 
pot-he's getting them ready for St. Patrick's Day so he can wear them for the parade! When his pot of beautiful green shamrocks goes missing, he goes searching...will he find them in time?

by Teddy Slater

The St. Patrick's Day parade is off to a very fine start. The Leprechaun family is marching with lots of heart! Share in their dancing, share in their fun. You'll have the luck of the Irish when this day is done! Top o' the morning! It's March 17th, and the Leprechauns are gathered for their favorite day of the year. Join them as they celebrate St. Patrick's Day with music, dancing, and a parade!

(Bright Baby Touch and Feel)
by Roger Priddy

Kids of all ages can't resist reaching out to 
touch and feel textures in books! This touch-and-feel book features pages full of traditional St. Patrick's Day images, such as shamrocks, harps and parades, and more!

by Kathryn Heling

Count from one to ten as one little leprechaun looking for his treasure turns into ten leprechaun friends at the end of the rainbow!

by Big Red Balloon

Little Jilly wants one thing for St. Patrick's Day...that's to be 100% pinch proof! But Jilly has a BIG lesson to learn before she can get what she wants.
Children will love this e-book about mischievous Jilly who over thinks the St. Patrick's Day tradition of pinching people who are not wearing green!

by Lorna Balian

Ninny Nanny and Gram decide to catch a leprechaun and use his pot of gold to solve their problems. 
But finding the fortune is a lot of work!

by Mercer Mayer

When Little Critter finds a penny on the ground 
and picks it up, he thinks he will have a week of good luck. Boy, is he wrong! See what he can do to turn his luck around.

~Til next time

My oldest daughter (6 years) was recently introduced to The Sound of Music.
Sometimes I catch her singing tunes or talking about various scenes in the movie.
Well, I decided to share a few of MY favorite things...
for the classroom that is.

And no...I will not be twirling around,
dancing on hills as I share!
(get image out of head...get image out of head...)
My Favorite Brain Breaks:

Koo Koo Kangaroo Songs

My class loves to dance and sing 
to the No Crust song
Dinosaur Stomp is another favorite of ours.
And there are so many more too!

My Favorite Books

Mo Willems books for sure!
Check out his website too if you haven't already.

We also love to watch this version of
The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?
on YouTube.

My Favorite Classroom Games

Candy Land-Sight Word Edition!
 (found this on Pinterest)
and 
Break the Ice Articulation Game
from Busy Bee Speech
Really, you could do sight words on the
Break the Ice cubes also...
or letters/numbers and make matching cards that students have to draw from a pile in order to see which cube of ice they have to knock out.

My Favorite Supplies

I love the Busy Mama Recipes that
Crystal Underwood, author and creator of
Growing a Jeweled Rose gives on her blog.

You can find recipes for peppermint play-doh, pumpkin scented paint, and more!

They smell so good that ya just want to EAT them! ;)
My Favorite Classroom Music

Why, Frozen soundtrack, of course!
What else would we listen to during free time with
all this snow?!

Isn't there some kind of song about
snow going away?
So over it!

~Til next time

This year, our house is all about shaking up tradition
and creating a stress-free holiday season.


I have found some great tips on how to stay sane 
during this time of the year that I am dying to share.


The first tip comes from the Dec. 2003 issue 
of O Magazine. 

Lesley Dorman suggests to...
1) Check your Perfectionism at the Door!

As teachers, we have double the planning...

-Do I have all the food prepared for the family dinner?
-What snacks do I need for my class?
-Who do I still need to shop for?
-What craft should my students make for their families?
-What should I use as table decorations this year?
-Did I remember to send home the party 
supplies request list?
For every list we make in our heads for our home life, 
there is a matching point that takes us back to 
planning for our classroom.

Well I have some relieving news for you...
it all doesn't have to be perfect!

"Reassess, and set your priorities. 
Holiday stress sets in when you try to do it all. 
Tell yourself, "If I have time, I'll do this and that. 
If not, I'll only do that."

Thanks, Oprah! You always have such great advice!
2) Simplify!

Simple does not mean plain or boring.
In fact, simple can be the most beautiful at times.
Especially if it brings peace of mind!
Keep decorations quick and easy-like this one, 
suggested by Lauren Conrad.
This would also make great take-home 
gift after your party!

Need more? Here are 15 must-know tricks
Martha Stewart gives for simplifying your season.


Now don't panic when you read the next one,
but venture out and...
3) Break Tradition!

If you find that you have more traditions
than time to reasonably complete them...
then it's time to think change!
Pick a couple of simple traditions that
are really important to you and keep those.

Or break tradition altogether and do 
something very different from your norm.

This year, my family is breaking free and
 going to the zoo on Christmas Day.
The kids are super excited about 
our new holiday plan and I know we will definitely make some new favorite holiday memories.
4) Try this Stress-Relieving Recipe!

Here is a recipe that will ease your stress for a day...
You try it first and get back to me 
on if it works or not, lol!
5) Take some time out for you!

Pick some of your favorite things to do and 
make the time to do them.

Like baths? Take one!


Enjoy long walks in the snow? Go for one!


Got a book you've been waiting to read? Get started!

6) Take time out to reflect!

Don't forget why you are celebrating.

For me, it means taking a step back...

finding a cozy place by the tree...


and remembering what makes 
Christmas so special to me...

~Merry Christmas!
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