November Activities

When is the best time of the year to be thankful? ANYTIME, right!  It should be anytime, however, we typically think about them in the month of November. So if you are looking for new ideas this month, Look no further...

Idea #1

Thank you Lord...





 I have two versions. One that says "Thank you Lord" and "Thank you for." Since I work in Christian School, I have used the first version. If you are in public education, you would have to use the second one. Place this on the fridge and you are ready to go when Thanksgiving dinner arrives and you want to proclaim the good things He has done for you.  Click HERE if you are interested.

Idea #2
Turkey in Disguise



This has to be one of my favorite writing assignments of all time. Not really faith building, but it definitely brings in the community building aspect! They always turn out so silly and funny. The kids enjoy it too! Click HERE if you want the template.

Idea #3

A pocketful of thankfulness!



Click HERE and you can create a November bulletin board set. Students write about the person that they are thankful for.  Then they draw a picture and write a name of that person. They place that person's picture card in their pocket. You hang it up.

Anti-Bullying Unit

At the beginning of each year, I want my students to know that they are in a safe place. We talk about bullying behavior. Over the years and grades I have taught, I have used this Anit-Bullying Unit that I put together. The lessons are as follows:

Lesson #1- What is bullying?
Lesson #2-Bullying in the classroom.
Lesson #3-Take Action with Ant bully
Lesson #4-Conflict Resolution
Lesson #5-How would you feel?
Lesson #6- Get your angrier out.
Lesson #7-Peace Place
Lesson #8-The Caring Being
Lesson #9-Acts of Caring

Maybe trying these lessons and making your students aware of what bullying is could spark kindness in your room this year. Check out my FREE Anti bullying lessons by clicking below.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE LESSONS!

Open House

It is time to begin thinking about Open House! One of the things I do to prepare for open house night is put together "Survival Kits" for students. I grab all my items at Dollar Tree and place them in clear plastic bags and tie with ribbon. Then I place this note through the tie! Look Below. 

                                               Click Here





I also start thinking about the parents and how they can be involved throughout the year. I have a form for how to help in the classroom. 

Click Here

For those who are not available during the school day to assist, I tell parents that our class would benefit greatly from donations of any of the following items throughout the year.
Disinfectant wipes, paper plates, plastic forks and spoons, and hand sanitizer. I use sign up genius for parents to sign up for these items. 

Click Here!

Click Here

Another key item is a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt allows kids to notice the things in the classroom that we will be going over. If you do an open house after school starts, you can have students make the hunt for their parents in the upper grades or create one for the students to take their parents on in the younger grades. I have included the links to the ones I have used in both upper and lower elementary.

Just Breathe

As I grow older in years and in my faith, God consistently places women in my path who model things I need to know. My mom taught me about keeping a home that’s peaceful and full of love. In my teen years, my Grandma showed me what it looked like to pray consistently for loved ones! 

                             My Grandma and I: She always makes sure I know she is praying for me!

Later, a parent in my son’s kindergarten class became my friend. She showed me how to be a good mom while I was facing a chaotic household of four children. Little does she know that I watched the way she handled her boys and she gave me hope that I could be a good mom too!

Today, a friend of mine, one who I’ve grown closer to over the years, knew just what I needed. A Diet Coke and a chance to get to my classroom! I have been bound up at home after major knee surgery unable to drive. She too is a teacher and has much to do. She sacrificed her time to help me out. She taught me how to be selfless today.

                                       The pieces my friend  put in place today to help me out! 

Each woman and many others have shared with me something that I needed in order to grow.

The School Year is approaching. In Isaiah 41:10 the Bible says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." I

I love instant gratification, which makes patience hard to come by. During August, my patience is such a struggle. I know that patience is developed when my heart is connected to God. It grows from the knowing that He is in control and that He will work everything out in his timing. As I look back on these woman and think about many others who have been placed in my life at the right time and place, I see God being with me. He cares so deeply about my every need. He doesn't just watch over me though, I have faith He is watching over us all. Be encouraged and think about the times when He has been showing up in your life! I can't wait to share His goodness this year in my classroom. He is always working...

Telling the Story

Telling the Story is our theme at my school this year. It is an incredible experience to walk alongside kids as they grow both spiritually and academically. I cannot imagine teaching core curriculum without intertwining God and Christian principles. He is a part of everything I do and teach. Each day is uplifting when students are challenged to grow both in their Christian walk and in their knowledge and application of academic subjects. One example of how I do this is in an outdoor activity I have planned for the first and last day of school....

I will begin my year outside with my students. I will share with my students our school theme, "Telling the Story." In Bible times, Israelites often piled stones where important and memorable acts of God had taken place.  I will read this year's theme verse, Psalm 26:2b-3 "Lord, examine my heart and mind;for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness." We will discuss what it means to be faithful. Then, I will allow them to pick up one rock and place their name on it. They will then transfer their rock into a jar that will hold them all year. These rocks will sit in our classroom and be a reminder when we talk about Moses and Joshua how they were important to the Israelites. At the end of the year, we will talk about the memorable acts of God and recount how God has done MANY beautiful things with this our school walls. I'll remind them that the rocks cannot tell the stories of Christ's love. THEY WILL HAVE TO! That's how we build the Kingdom of GOD! 

Poetry Freebie

I am a dutch girl and every now and then, I could use a freebie! Here is one of the posters or handouts I created to go with my upcoming Writing Poetry resource pack! ENJOY!


TPT STORE POETRY FREEBIE LINK

The Books of the Bible

Click Here

The Bible Books is a bundle of activities centered around both the Old Testament and New Testaments books of the Bible. Activities include:

Old Testament
Fill in the blank
Game
Sort
Trace and Sort
Word Search (with answer key)
List of the Books
Rubric for Oral Reciting of the books

New Testament
Fill in the blank
Game
Sort
Work Search (with answer key)
List of the Books
Rubric for Oral Reciting of the books