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Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

Teaching with Heart and Creativity

Holiday Identity Crisis.

Many of you know how much I enjoyed teaching all the Christmas related crafts and lessons in December, but when all my bloggy buddies were posting about their Christmas Traditions around the world —and for some, the LACK of ability to even mention the word Christmas in their classrooms, I began to worry that I was not giving my students enough knowledge of other traditions.  As I focused on Santa, reindeer, and all the FUN of a Merry Christmas I avoided my guilt by telling myself that each child in my classroom celebrated Christmas and no one spoke up and told me differently.  So there.  It was ok to teach them using the fun of the holidays to spark interest and keep their attention…  Right? Right…UNTIL…..

 One of my boys (we’ll call him BOY) asked me (probably during one of my fabulous Christmas lessons), when we would be learning about the Star of David.  Then he asked me if I light the candles at my house…SHUT THE FRONT DOOR…I started to panic and asked him  in a slightly higher and more shrill voice than normal, if he was celebrating Hanukkah at his house.  BOY nodded and said when are we going to learn about it?  I started thinking about the fact that the last week before vacation was half over.  I had sent home Christmas themed word work, writing, math, science, and holiday traditions for the last two and a half weeks.  We were seriously seconds from making our last part of our CHRISTMAS gifts…the Christmas Cards.  And now I learn this valuable piece of information?  NOW?  It’s ok…I can handle this. I can handle anything.  I have been doing this for 14 years.  It’s all going to be OK…

So the Poem on the card that the students had to write was:

Roses Are Red
Poinsettias are Too 
Merry Christmas
I love you!
I thought quickly and changed his to read:
Roses are Red
Poinsettias are Too
Happy Hanukkah
I love you!
Brilliant right?  
How do I come up with this stuff?  Must be my liberal studies degree….
Then  I switched up my Christmas lesson the next day for a Hanukkah lesson highlighting BOY’S special family traditions.  BOY was beaming with pride.  I went just a tad overboard (it could have been the teaching guilt) But that boy was celebrated! (at least for one lesson out of 15 days of straight Christmas mayhem)
On Friday when all the students were coming in for our last day and Christmas party, in walked BOY’S mom carrying a platter of cookies and BOY had a gift for me in his hands.  I was amazed at their generosity considering all things and I quickly went up and thanked her and then I said, ” I had NO IDEA until Wednesday that BOY is Jewish” She looked at me and cocked her head sideways.  Then she said, “That’s because Boy isn’t Jewish.” UM…what?  “But he asked me about the Star of David.”  “He said you lit the candles.”  She said, “We are not Jewish.”  “None of that is true.”  Then I blurted out…”Well your Christmas card says Happy Hanukkah!”  Then we just looked at each other, looked at BOY,  and started laughing.  I thanked her again.  Stared down BOY as I shook my head and began my Christmas party.  (at this point BOY will for certain have total holiday identity crisis for HIS ENTIRE LIFE thanks to me)  
Later when school was over I texted BOY’S mom again to thank her for the generous gift and the Christmas cookies.  Then I said Happy Hanukkah!…she texted back that it was all they could talk and laugh about at her office all day.  
S-H-U-D-D-E-R…..I have relived that whole scenario just a few times over the last few days…just.a.few.
On another note!!!  (please, let’s change the subject!)
Here’s what we did at home yesterday.  I made the kids take pictures and then we went down to the Riverwalk for our traditional Christmas picture with the big tree downtown. 

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas!
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21 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized

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    Comments

    1. Jill says

      December 23, 2011 at 4:32 am

      I taught my kids a little bit about Hanukkah… we played dreidel and read a few books. From that moment on, until yesterday at 11:30 when they went home, my entire class was obsessed with saying "Happy Hanukkah" every time they gave another kid something. Let's say I needed a marker and asked a kid to go grab one for me. He'd come back, hand it to me, and say, "Happy Hanukkah!!!!!!!!!"

      I teach in a Catholic school. I hope my kids' parents are down with other religious holidays….. haha!!

      Marvelous Multiagers!

      Reply
    2. Amber Polk says

      December 23, 2011 at 5:02 am

      I love it! Too funny! I have a Jewish student and a student from India who celebrates Diwali, so we had to cover lots of bases.

      Reply
    3. Lindsay says

      December 23, 2011 at 5:05 am

      Oh my gosh! That story made me giggle. Love your pics at the Riverwalk!

      Lindsay
      My Life as a Fifth Grade Teacher

      Reply
    4. Sue says

      December 23, 2011 at 5:06 am

      Very Funny Story 🙂 Merry Christmas

      Sue
      theverybusykindergarten

      Reply
    5. Jenn Bates says

      December 23, 2011 at 5:26 am

      I laughed out loud! Happy Holidays!
      Jenn
      Finally in First

      Reply
    6. Kristin says

      December 23, 2011 at 5:35 am

      That's funny!!!!! It's kind of like the time I told a girl she needed to ask her mom if she was African American. We were studying MLK, Jr and she asked me if she was. Um, not for me to say.
      LOVE THE PICS OF YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!!
      A Teeny Tiny Teacher

      Reply
    7. Meenal says

      December 23, 2011 at 5:47 am

      This could only happen to you! Thanks for sharing this. We discuss Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Ramadaan, and Diwali. Our school is very multi-cultural but a lot of families celebrate Christmas along with their own holiday.
      Forty some years ago, my immigrant parents from India did the same thing. My late father pretended to be Santa as he left presents at the foot of my bed until we could afford a tree. Funny thing is, over the years, we got so into it that we decorated, cooked, gifted, sang, and celebrated Christmas more than a lot of my Christian friends did! We are in America so we should celebrate and honor our differences and similarities.
      Have a wonderful HannuKwanzaRamaDiwaChristmas season!

      Reply
    8. ROBLOX News says

      December 23, 2011 at 7:44 am

      Wow, A Jewish kid in you class…
      Jk,
      It's more like a prank. -_-

      Reply
    9. Kim says

      December 23, 2011 at 8:28 am

      Oh Reagan:
      It's past midnight, and only you could have me laughing and then muffling laughter because hubs is sleeping and then squeaking more laughter as I tried to finish reading the post and then the comments.

      Heeheehee.
      Still laughing!
      You really ought to publish this.

      Hey!
      I think TBA was collecting funny stories.
      This is a great one!!!!!

      Marry Christmas, sweet and funny BlogFriend!

      Kim
      Finding JOY in 6th Grade

      Reply
    10. Tara says

      December 23, 2011 at 10:45 am

      Oh good golly! I just played that all out in my head as I was reading it!!! Too funny! That's one for the memory book! At least your students are well rounded now with the second lesson;) hee hee! Too funny! Love your pics!! I did pics of the kids, torture for my 15 yr old I might add, but we need to do a family one. ( I just don't like the idea of being the fatty in the pic:(( ) oh well…..

      4th Grade Frolics

      Reply
    11. Sharon says

      December 23, 2011 at 12:22 pm

      O.M.G. Seriously laughing out loud right now at your post! Love the pics of your beautiful family! Merry Christmas!
      Ms. McBee’s Kinderbugs

      Reply
    12. Mrs. Smyth says

      December 23, 2011 at 12:23 pm

      Although most of our school celebrates Christmas, as a 1st grade, we focus on family traditions (this is how I get in my theme-ish stuff). Our school isn't very diverse 🙁 We learned about Diwali, Las Posadas, Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanza. I actually learned a lot about my families by keeping the focus on learning about others in order to be a good friend. Not that it didn't have a few crazy moments! I blogged about not reading about Diwali BEFORE teaching it 🙂

      http://newadventuresinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2011/12/pay-attention-to-book-before-you-read.html

      Have a Merry Christmas!

      Reply
    13. Holly says

      December 23, 2011 at 1:29 pm

      Funny!!!!! Same thing happens to me each year. While we don't "celebrate" the holidays at my school {which I'm happy to report we plan on "revisiting" as a staff next year} we do make a simple holday gift. We do a calendar and have the kids either stand in front of a Hanukkah poster or a Christms poster and still others in front of colorful paper who celebrate Ramadan. {We've got a HUGE mix of culures in my school – it's awesome} Every single year I put a kid in front of the wrong paper because they tell me they are Jewish {rarely do my Jewish friends claim to be Christian but my Christian friends *really* wish they could celebrate Hanukkah}. What a hoot…

      Your family is gorgeous! 🙂

      Holly
      Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade

      Reply
    14. A Teacher's Treasure says

      December 23, 2011 at 2:10 pm

      I couldn't stop laughing by the end of your post!!!!!!!! This is why I only celebrate Thanksgiving & National Holidays in my classroom!!!
      You did recover well from the mess though 🙂
      Beautiful pictures of you & your family!

      Happy Holidays!

      ❤ Mor Zrihen ❤
      A Teacher's Treasure

      Reply
    15. Jen R. (The Teachers' Cauldron) says

      December 23, 2011 at 2:31 pm

      ahhhh!!! hahahaha! That's so funny!! And I can totally envision myself looking back at that moment and cringing constantly…
      And I do the Christmas around the world, because I have a lot of personal friends who are Jewish, I think I've only really had one Jewish student in my 9 years of teaching. And I love learning about the world (we've traveled A LOT), so I love to share that too….plus our students are title I students that really don't have a background in much – I mean we live 15 minutes from the beach and 99% of them have NEVER been there!!! say what?!?! So. that's a lot of why I teach it.
      P.S. – I LOVE the christmas pix of the Riverwalk – we may need to take a trip one year over there 🙂
      Jen Ross
      The Teachers’ Cauldron

      Reply
    16. Jen R. (The Teachers' Cauldron) says

      December 23, 2011 at 3:04 pm

      yay – your button is on my blog now 🙂 How was it NOT there before?! ha!
      Jen Ross
      The Teachers’ Cauldron

      Reply
    17. Dianne says

      December 23, 2011 at 3:36 pm

      Too funny! I have a child who's Arabic and not allowed to participate in Music class or do any singing of any kind. He's been drawing me pictures of Santa Claus and writing books about Christmas for 2 weeks now! I'm so confused…?!
      Dianne
      Hopelessly Devoted to Teaching

      Reply
    18. Miss T says

      December 23, 2011 at 4:49 pm

      Oh my goodness that made me giggle!

      Also, you have a beautiful family 🙂

      Journey of a Substitute Teacher

      Reply
    19. Patti White says

      December 23, 2011 at 4:58 pm

      I really enjoyed your story. At our school, we used to have about 4 weeks to do Christmas Around the World, so we would study Mexico (b/c a lot of our families are Hispanic and we're fairly close to the border), Germany (New Braunfels and the Wurst Fest just down the road), Hanukkah (to be well-rounded. I'm Catholic and didn't know much about Hanukkah before I started teaching. My kids always love to play the Dreidel game, and we even decorated our door with Dreidels this year), and then we would pick another country. One year we did Christmas in Australia (Santa on a surfboard), and another year we did a Cajun Christmas. But now (for some reason, but I'm not sure what) we only have 3 weeks, so we only do the first three. It seems so rushed too. Where did all of that time go?

      I also loved the River Walk pics! I am a fellow San Antonian, and your newest follower! I would love for you to visit my blog and take a Christmas tour of my house. I'm a little crazy when it comes to decorating for Christmas, so I figured I'd share my craziness and hopefully spread some Christmas cheer. 🙂

      Happy Holidays,

      Patti

      aseriesof3rdgradeevents.blogspot.com

      Reply
    20. Klinger Cafe' says

      December 24, 2011 at 2:48 am

      That is to funny, if he had been my son I would have wrung his cute little neck. lol Your pictures are so sweet.
      Merry Hanukkah and Happy Christmas!

      Reply
    21. oh' boy says

      December 24, 2011 at 7:18 pm

      OH MY WORD!!! that was hilarious!!! too funny!!! and it shows how much you care for your kiddos to switch it up like that!!! still LOL though 🙂

      Reply

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  • Welcome!

    Reagan Tunstall

    Reagan Tunstall incorporates 26 years in education into her teaching resources and idea-packed workshops. Reagan's passion for teaching, combined with her speaking experience, drives her to share the effectiveness of developing a community of mathematical thinkers. She has led districts in the implementation of guided math practices and runs Guided Math Conference, a national conference for teachers. Reagan authored the book, Guided Math AMPED, and over 1,400 teaching resources, including Guided Math, a K-5 teaching curriculum.

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        • Howdy Partners! Come Take A Tour of our Texas Studies!
        • Fish in the Bucket and Other Things...
        • Guided Math-Reflecting on the Journey
        • Teacher Bag Lady and My Week...Wait...It's only Monday
      • ► February
        • Pot Of Gold Learning!
        • Phonics: What Why & How
        • Story Starters Galore
        • Teaching Time Freebies!
        • February in the Classroom
        • Write On!
        • Little Classroom Moments
      • ► January
        • Recap of the Texas First Grade Conference
        • Rough Patch!
        • iPad Essentials: Analyzing Weather!
        • Primary Geometry: Making the Grade with Shapes
        • Writing Mini-Lessons
        • A Peek at my Week {Gif Style}
        • January Jumpstart {A Day at School}
    • ► 2014
      • ► December
        • Guided Math Binder
        • Reindeer Games!
        • December Behavior Management
        • Five For Friday
        • About Math Journals
      • ► November
        • Heading Back To Work!
        • H is for...
        • My Handy Spelling Notebook!
        • Printable Literacy Practice
        • Honoring Veterans in Every Subject!
        • Five for Friday
        • Spelling and Phonics - Step by Step
        • Hello November!
      • ► October
        • It's a Fall Frenzy!
        • All About Reader's Workshop!
        • Fire Safety and Planning for Next Week
        • Franken Authors
        • Bat Science!
        • Beginning Place Value
      • ► September
        • Reading Strategies and my Week!
        • Our Daily Schedule in Pictures!
        • Prepping for Pumpkin Season
        • Apples and Fall Happenings
        • Apples! Hands-On Science
        • Classroom Clips and Quotes....Day 10
        • Interactive Notebooks and Young Learners
        • Practice Makes Perfect?
        • Kick Start Guided Reading!
      • ► August
        • Back To School: The First Two Days
        • Guided Math Rotations & Explanations!
        • School Tour Continued!
        • Teacher Week Day 2 Classroom Digs!
        • Teacher Week Day One
        • Engaging Writing Activities Volume 2
        • Daily Data Ideas!
        • Meet the Teacher Night Signs
        • Engaging Writing Activities
        • Launching Guided Math {A How To Guide}
        • Classroom Tour 2014-2015
      • ► July
        • iPad Essentials
        • Math Concepts Galore! Day 10
        • Day 8 ELA Units
        • Math Journals! Day 7
        • Math Centers on Day 6!
        • Christmas in July Day 5- How I Start the Day
        • Christmas in July Day 4- Spelling/Phonics
        • Christmas in July Day 2!
        • It's Christmas in July!
        • Label Obsessed!! {Free}
        • A Trip to IKEA
        • Organizing for Next Year
      • ► June
        • Word Work Storage and Yearly Plan
        • I'm Flipping over Flip Books!
        • All About Me Flip Book
        • The Math Journal Component
        • Effectively Teaching with iPads
        • Teacher Gift Tag
      • ► May
        • Making Writing Portfolios
        • Birthday Sale!
        • Free Candy Awards
        • Mother's Day and Gifts for Helpers
        • Teacher Appreciation Week!
        • What's Your Behavior Number? Freebie
        • Science Writing and Technology
      • ► April
        • Word Wall Centers For Any Word Wall!
        • May Math Journal
        • We've Got their Whole World In Our Hands
        • Camp Number Sense!
        • Keeping the Joy in Teaching
        • All in a Day's Work...
      • ► March
        • Neon Bloggers Take San Antonio!
        • The Big Phonics Bundle! {Purposeful Word Work}
        • My Coin Crew!
        • Spring Break Vacation and New Products Posted
        • Spring Forward with Motivation!
        • Spelling Ideas!
      • ► February
        • Workshop Talk!
        • All About Guided Math
        • Making Sight Words STICK!
        • All About Math Journaling
        • A Box of TREAT!
        • Mastering Measurement!
        • February Journal and My Throne of Lies...
      • ► January
        • Take off One Shoe...For Fractions!
        • Oh For The Love of Math!
        • Guided Reading and Guided Math Essentials
        • First Grade Texas Conference RECAP!
        • CENTER of Attention!
        • A Little Motivation Never Hurts...
    • ► 2013
      • ► December
        • Happy New Year 2014!
        • Winter Math Goodies!
        • Five for Friday
        • Parent Gifts and a Little Math Journal
        • Two Literacy Lifesavers!
        • Iced In at a National Conference in Dallas
        • Cyber Monday & Tuesday
      • ► November
        • Guided Reading Goods!
        • Prepping for December
        • December Math Journal
        • Nerdy Birdy! Turkey FACTS
        • Activities Like... {with a freebie too}
        • Scattered Recap...
        • Purposeful Word Work -- Blends!
        • Guided Math in First Grade
      • ► October
        • Trick or Read! Door Decorating, Freebies, and More!
        • Place Value Ideas and Rise and Shine Update!
        • The Time and Prep Factor
        • Critical Writing & Art with Columbus
        • Sounding Off....freebies and EMO.
        • Plenty Of Pumpkins and Other Fall Fun!
        • No Mayhem Monday!
      • ► September
        • This Week's Math: Resources and Freebies!
        • Five For Friday!
        • Guided Math Freebie and Sight Word Tracking
        • Making Ten Freebies and Our Self Portrait Gallery
        • Shaky Shaky Drop---Ten Frames
        • Highlights of our Learning Launch!
        • Math: How Do We Fit it All In?
        • Classroom Systems That Work!
        • O"FISH"ally in School....and a little bit of life...
      • ► August
        • Day 2 Breaking News...
        • Ready or Not...Meet the Teacher!
        • Back To School--It's NO JOKING MATTER!
        • Data and Learning Portfolio For Young Learners
        • Classroom Tour 2013-2014
        • Teacher Week! Let's Talk about Me!
        • Classroom Organization in Pictures
        • Must Haves for My New School Year
      • ► July
        • FUNdamentals and Friendships
        • Class Pet Writing Journal
        • Organization and Reteach!
        • Guided Reading-Transitional Readers Cheat Sheet!
        • How to Implement the Rise and Shine Binder {and a freebie}
        • Rise and Shine Binder
        • School Beginnings Update
        • Oh Good Graph!
      • ► June
        • A Teacher's Math Resource Units 1-6 Complete!
        • Meet Ups & Updates
        • A Teacher's Math Resource!
        • Big News!
        • Road Trippin' Without Falling Down
        • Chalky Classroom Garden Decor
        • A New Adventure in Professional Development!
        • Adding Tape Math
        • The Last Day...
      • ► May
        • Mark and Sally Learn To Tally!
        • The Last Week Of School Survival
        • Sliding Out of Town and Into a New Decade
        • Win a CUTE T-Shirt!!!
        • Five for Friday!
        • Classroom Details! {the nitty gritty}
        • Mother's Day
        • Math Center Ideas and a Sale
        • I Have News!
        • Five for Friday! Holla!!!
      • ► April
        • It's Official. I am a hoarder. Oh, and a Farm Freebie.
        • Book Reviews and SSSSSScenters
        • Fighting Bone Cancer
        • Hap Palmer CD Winner!
        • Math and Technology
        • Snake Safari!
        • Blog Stalker Bffs and Fraction Freebies
        • Catching up. A Freebie. Some Video.
        • Fly on the Wall Linky
        • Symmetrical Salad, 2-D Desserts, and My Fight with Siri
        • Math is a Picnic...in the Classroom!
        • Feelings and Rocks
        • Literacy Picnic In the Classroom!
      • ► March
        • Spring Daily Math and Language
        • Five For Friday
        • How Do You Spell......?????
        • Crunchin' Numbers! {Freebie}
        • My Year In Bulletin Boards! {Teacher Eye Candy}
        • St. Patrick's Day Sale!
        • My Spring Fling with Captain Obvious!
        • Riveting Reading Instruction
        • Five for Friday
        • Psst! Hey You!! Want a Freebie?
        • Unicorns...What Else?
        • Testing My Limits and Linky Visual Plans
      • ► February
        • Full Speed Ahead!
        • Looking Back and Heading Forward
        • Hall Pass Linky!
        • President's Day Visual Plans, Freebies, & Finds!
        • Sunday Funday!
        • Five For Friday!
        • All You Need Is LOVE!!!
        • Valentine's Day Week!
        • *Not Teaching Related! Boo-RAH!!!
        • February Math Centers!
        • Techy Teacher Tuesday! Free App and Literacy Activity!
        • Prepping Penguins!
        • Visual Plans and I Dyed My Hair!
      • ► January
        • Swimming With Sharks...and a little Claustrophobia!
        • Visual Plans and 100th Day Freebie
        • Sight Words and Thinking Maps!
        • Balance-Updates-and Lesson Plans
        • Dr. MLK Jr. Day!
        • Puppy Love Literacy!
        • Pinterest killed my Mojo
        • Visual Plans and Highlights
        • Home Office Makeover Reveal
        • Mega-Mode in January!
        • Visual Plans And New Year's Freebie
        • Classroom Pictures-Ready for January!
        • Mailbox Station
    • ► 2012
      • ► December
        • Look Away- I'm Hideous!
        • Jam Packed January and an Office Make-Over!
        • Texas Blogger Meet Up!
        • Sound Science
        • Parent Gift Factory...
        • Visual Plans For a Busy Week
        • Silence for Sandy Hook
        • Just 24 Hours Ago...
        • Making Reindeer Food Meet the Standards!
        • I met Kim Adsit!!!
        • Plans, Crafts, Parent Gifts, and Let's Meet!
        • Tech the Halls!
        • Monday Made It Freebies!
        • Visual Lesson Plans For Gingerbread Week
        • It's Gingerbread Week!
      • ► November
        • Techy Santa!
        • Visual Plans and Estimate to Win Today!
        • Run Turkey Run!
        • Attack Attack! Calling for Reinforcements!
        • Let's Get Real Personal Post.
        • Products and My Daily Schedule
        • Visual Plans...and life!
        • Veterans Day Unit UPDATE!
        • We've all Gone MAD!
      • ► October
        • Spooky Fact Families Freebie
        • Pumpkins and Common Core... What More?
        • Pumpkin Week & Visual Plans
        • Wrapping Up the Week
        • Our Bat Book Study
        • Top Ten Blogging Side Effects...
        • Bats, Stellaluna, and Visual Plans!
        • Spider Art and Writing
        • Don't Call the Exterminator!
        • Keeping Writer's Workshop Alive!
        • Spider Week and Visual Plans
        • Freebies and Pumpkin Estimation Winner
      • ► September
        • Week 6 Plans and Writing Lesson
        • What's Working?
        • How I Run my Math Block
        • October Math Centers
        • Teaching Writing Ideas and Plans
        • Fall Sale and a Funny!
        • Word Work, Apples, and Caterpillars...
        • Visual Lesson Plans with Links!
        • Skip Counting Freebie and My Week in Pictures
        • Whatever Gets You Out of Bed in the Morning...
        • Pests or Pals?
        • Top Ten, Freebies, and Plans
      • ► August
        • First Week's Fun
        • Surviving the First Day!
        • Reading Lesson Anchor Charts
        • Where I Teach Wednesday
        • Are You Ready to Expo?
        • My Visual Lesson Plans!!
        • Mouse Pad Makeover
        • Sneak a Peek at My Purchases
        • Odds and Ends
        • Anchor Charts For You
        • On Your Mark,Get Set,GO!
        • Special Delivery!
        • New Awards For Students
        • Classroom Tour 2012-2013
        • Titles, Questions, and Tutorials
        • Classroom Progress 2012
      • ► July
        • Heading in to School Today!
        • Feelin' Texan
        • Fall Art and Writing Projects
        • Tell Me More!
        • Pixy Stick Birthday Makeover
        • 10 Lessons for Teaching Reading
        • Pinterest Inspired Crafts
        • Back To School Prep!
        • Teach Like A Theme Park?
        • Surprise Vacation!
        • Old School New School
        • Back To School 10 Math Centers {&Freebie}
        • Nerd Alert!
        • Currently Burn Ban!
        • Motivating Students with Props from the Dollar Store!
      • ► June
        • WHAT DID SHE SAY?!
        • Check Check...Is This Thing On?
        • Dancing and Math
        • I Messed Up!
        • Summer Laziness????
        • A Year Of Daily Math!
        • Best Summer Ever!
        • Flipping Out for Freebies!
        • Daily Math Requests
        • Texas Sized FUN at the blog meet!
        • Currently Redecorating!
      • ► May
        • Our Last Day in Pictures
        • End of Year Freebies
        • Surviving One More Week-IDEAS!
        • Crafts, Chefs, and Spaghetti!
        • Oh Momma--It's Coming!
        • Read to Puppy!
        • Currently Moooo-ing!
        • Don't Judge and Freebie!
      • ► April
        • Academic Awards for Elementary Students
        • Farm Fun and Freebie
        • Candy Awards
        • Oh Momma!
        • Are My Kids Still Chasing Me?
        • Bulletin Boards & BFFs
        • Dear Teacher Diary...
        • Four Friday Freebies!
        • Skyping Good Time!
        • We Ate a Frog Today!
        • Snack Sized Learning and a Letter Writing Freebie!
        • Today Rocked!!!
        • Spring Daily Language Review and A Couple Pictures
        • The Bunny
        • Math Math Math!
        • Shhhh Don't Tell My Diet.
        • Spring Daily Math
      • ► March
        • This Week's Pictures
        • Lunch Linky and The Daily Five Update
        • Science Freebies
        • Dumpsville- Population Zero!
        • Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
        • First Grade Fashions and Academics Too!
        • The Real Rocks of Limestone County
        • Gone Buggy Unit for Free
        • Planning With Ryan
        • Bloggers GONE WILD--Spring Break Meet Up!
        • Morning Work Freebie and a Linky Party!
        • Elmer and A Sale!
        • Teaching Writing and Life Lessons
        • I Think I Can! I Think I Can!
        • Reference Wall Freebies
        • No More Word Verification!
        • Lenny the Leprechaun
        • We Looked for A Leprechaun!
      • ► February
        • Write on the Money?
        • Feels Like a Monday!---and a freebie!
        • Giant TPT LINKY PARTY!
        • Looking For A Leprechaun
        • Today I Celebrate Being in Remission!!!
        • Feeling Super Presidential!
        • I think I am global.
        • Do You Feel Lucky?
        • Rowing my Boat. Keeping Afloat.
        • Happy Valentine's Day! Freebie
        • March Math Centers!
        • Shock and Awe
        • Penguins and Polka Dots
        • Giraffes in Antarctica!
        • Currently Contemplating...
        • My February Lesson Plans and Winners!
        • I hope this is Freeze Tag.
        • Build A Graph Freebie and Celebrating The Non-Fiction Superbowl!
      • ► January
        • Grab a snack it's a long post!
        • Daily Language Work
        • Goats, Trolls, and a FREEBIE!
        • Do You Speak Blog?
        • Mid-Week Pick Me Up
        • Dream Squashing In Full Effect!
        • This Little Piggy
        • San Antonio Texas Blogger Meet Up!
        • Daily Warm Ups for Math and Language!
        • Math Centers!
        • I'm Baaaaack...{from the salon}
        • Catching Up!
        • Currently, MLK, and Other Assorted Topics (HAIR)
        • Writing and Centers
        • My Friday Fix!!
        • What to Do with Ten Extra Minutes...and more
        • Geometric Quilting Update
        • Highlights of the Last 2 Days!
        • 2012 Morning Work Freebie and Another Top Ten!
    • ► 2011
      • ► December
        • New Year's Sale!
        • Build a Pizza Math Center!
        • Monster Game Freebies!
        • Coziness, Confessions, and Lesson Plans!
        • 11 in 11 Linky FUN
        • I promise I know how to count...really...Free Reading Logs Updated
        • Bulletin Boards for Winter!
        • Merry Christmas!
        • Holiday Identity Crisis.
        • How Do Penguins Drink Their Soda?
        • The Emperor's Egg
        • My Pastor Ate Baby Jesus
        • Currently... Laughing
        • Top Ten Reasons I know Christmas is Near...
        • Sock Snowman Gift and Merry Christmas Splat the Cat!
        • All Aboard The Polar Express
        • Arrrrg!
        • Freebie, Giveaway, and a Recipe!
        • Cookies and Pepcid for Dinner
        • No More Reindeer Games!
      • ► November
        • Dream Squasher
        • In Charge of Chocolate and Cuteness
        • Black Friday through Cyber Monday Sale!
        • Rudolph the Chip-Nosed Reindeer & a Freebie
        • Christmas Art Projects!
        • Thankfully Giving!
        • Writer's Workshop Pet Edition
        • Not a DULL moment!
        • Daily Calendar Freebie and a mess of other ideas
        • Veteran's Day is Next Week!
      • ► October
        • November Unit Update!
        • 7 Things you'll wish you could forget
        • Bats, Phonics, and My Friday Fix!
        • Pumpkin Glyph Bulletin Board Freebie
        • Math Quilts
        • Halloween Dress Up Linky!!
        • Harry the Dirty Dog
        • Stellaluna Book Study!
        • Jack O Faces FREEBIE
        • Framed!!
        • Read on Little Dudes....Read on...
      • ► September
        • Oh Good Graph!
        • I Have Officially Spread Myself Too Thin
        • Fun with Fiction
        • Indoor Recess? Problem SOLVED!!
        • Totally Bugged.
        • You are the Wind Beneath My Wings...
        • Math Tubs
        • Writer's Workshop
      • ► August
        • Number Bracelets!
        • Breakfast in my Classroom {horrors}
        • Meet The Teacher Night
        • Things I have been working on...
        • Gone Buggy!
        • Top Ten Reasons You Know it is BACK TO SCHOOL time!
        • Classroom Pictures Part 2. D-O-N-E!!!
        • Classroom Tour 2011-2012 Part One
      • ► July
        • Book Barn!
        • Shape Up!
        • Teacher Feature
        • Writer's Workshop
        • Classroom Labels
        • I am a R-O-B-O-T
        • Vowels Visual
        • Monster Math Tubs
        • Can O' Worms
        • Earbud Storage
        • Discovery Bottles
        • WORD DOCTOR
      • ► June
        • Teacher Tipster...My NEW BFF!
        • Back to School....and writing...
        • Lovely Labels!
        • Classroom Organization
        • Minute to Win It
        • Teacher Song!
        • June Joy!
    • ► 2010
      • ► August
        • Classroom Details
        • Back To School 2010-2011
        • Classroom 2010- 2011
  • Guided Math Amped
  • Instagram

    GIVEAWAY! 🎉 To celebrate the launch of our NE GIVEAWAY! 🎉 To celebrate the launch of our NEW @hand2mindinc Math Tools Resource Kits developed by us @reagtunstall and @thekristinagrant, we’re teaming up to give one lucky teacher the grade level kit of their choice! Entering is easy:

 
1. Follow @reagtunstall, @thekristinagrant and @hand2mindinc
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3. Tag your teacher friends for extra entries. Each tag in a separate comment counts as an additional chance, plus they could win too! 🏷️   
4. Save this post and check back next Thursday to see if you’re a winner! 💾  
 
Math Tools Resource Kits are perfect for easily enhancing small-groups and centers, and each kit is grade-level aligned for K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 students. These kits are comprehensive, fully prepped, and empower students to take ownership of their learning! bit.ly/mathtoolsresourcekit
 
Open to US residents only until Thursday, February 2nd, 2023, at 11:59 pm CST. The winner will be chosen at random and announced in the comments on Friday, February 3rd, 2023. Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram. By entering, entrants confirm that they are 18+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility, and agree to Facebook’s terms of use. 
 
⚠️ Reminder! This is our only account on Instagram. All other accounts pretending to be us are fake and should be reported and blocked immediately. We will never ask for your credit card information and will only contact you from this account. ⚠️
    Guided Math Conference Three Texas events and more Guided Math Conference
Three Texas events and more to come! 
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    Magnet Science has been completely updated. Create Magnet Science has been completely updated.
Create a bar magnet booklet packed with learning and fun.
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    Our San Antonio Guided Math Conference was a celeb Our San Antonio Guided Math Conference was a celebration of math instruction!  We could not have asked for a better day with the teachers and administrators of central Texas. Huge thank you to  Hand2mind, ESGI, and Bless Your Heart.  We couldn't have done it without our tireless volunteers, Emily, Jake, and Morgan.  We love you! Our San Marcos event is Monday, and we will do it all over again!
    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writing and display fro Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writing and display from January writing lessons. 
Influential People and Me lesson. 

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    Word Family and Fluency Phrase Booklets *short vow Word Family and Fluency Phrase Booklets
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•Each booklet contains a target spelling pattern and different word lists and fluency phrases for that spelling pattern.
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•Students work through the booklets at their own pace. 
•Perfect for reading homework, 
•RTI 
•small group practice
The cover of each book has a glance at the level of mastery with motivating incentives for students.

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#wordfamilies #phonics #fluencyphrases #iteach #teacher #teachersofinstagram #iteachk #iteach1st #iteach2nd #reading #guidedreading #readingstations #literacy #ela
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