Elf on the Shelf Day 19

The elves took out the girls air rocket and tried to go for a ride. One elf hugged the rocket while the other jumped off the table on to the launcher. Unfortunately the elves are heavier than foam rockets so they didn't really go anywhere. 

Working as Partners

I work in a Dual Language Enrichment program. One of the major componets of the program is that students are to work as partners. I did a lot of partner work last year, but this year I have been distracted with new math curriculum, new students (I looped with my students last year), a class that makes me question why I am a teacher (luckily my other class makes me so happy that I am a teacher) that I just haven't done very much with the partner thing. Every year we are required to do six hours of training to refresh or increase our knowledge of the program and of teaching ELL students. I chose a training on making partners work. This idea came a day or two after the training as I was reflecting on what I could do to increase partner work in my room. We have privacy folders for when we take tests. Now we have partner folders for when we do work as partners. The point of the partner folder is to remind the student that they have to work with their partner (not take turns doing the work, but discuss the work together) and that it is not a time that the whole table can sit around talking. One of my classes LOVES to talk about anything anytime. So far this has really worked well and the kids are loving that they get to talk to each other and I am loving that I can stop telling them to be quiet. Other great benefits are they share papers so I make half the copies. That also means when they do something I want to grade I only have to grade half as many. Totally a win win. After Christmas I want to introduce rubrics where they grade their partner on how well they worked together and what they can do to improve next time. I am also thinking of ways I could get them working with other partners. My husband uses a clock where they sign up for twelve different partners and he tells them which hour partner they have to work with that day. I'm not sure I want to use that many partner choices, but I am trying to think of something that would give them four or five choices. 

So here are pictures of my students working as partners with their new partner folders. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 18

The elves had so much fun with the swings from the night before they decided to make them into a trapeze. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 17

The elves were looking for some entertainment tonight so they made swings that they hung from the light. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 16

While we were gone the Christmas cards from my mom arrived. She always makes handmade cards for the girls each year. The elves were holding the cards for the girls. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 15

This was our second night at Great Wolf. I guess the elves were as tired as we were. They pushed all of the bags and clothes off the couch so they could take a rest. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 14

The elves are reading up on the new game that Great Wolf has.

 It is called Shadow Quest. Sounds like it will be a good time. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 13

Several years ago we started a Christmas tradition of spending a night or two at Great Wolf Lodge. This past Friday night we headed to Great Wolf for this year's trip. Friday morning the elves were asking to go with us with a note, goggles, and a doll bathing suit. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 12

The Potato Heads' Revenge.

Back on day 6 the elves had fun taking apart the Mr. Potato Heads.

 Now the Potato Heads have had their revenge. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 11

Snowball Fight!!!!

Elf of the Shelf Day 10

The elves found the new skirts we bought for them. They decided to try them on and check themselves out in the mirror. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 9

The elves must have decided that they deserved a movie night.  

Here they are checking out the Santa Tracker channel on U-Verse. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 8

Today the elves tried to be stealthy. 

They hid in the Christmas tree to watch how the girls were behaving.

 Here is a close up of the elves in the tree. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 7

Yesterday was a snow day here. The girls passed some of their time playing with their Playmobile Zoo. They left it out, and the elves took their turn playing with it.

Winter Weather

Its an old saying yet so true. If you don't like the weather wait a few minutes and it will change.

Here is Cristina on Wednesday in short sleeves. She took her tights off as soon as she got inside.

Here are the girls on Friday. Cristina enjoyed listing the layers she had on to keep herself warm. A t-shirt, a jacket, a sweat shirt, a pair of jeans, a pair of pajama pants, two pairs of socks, and a scarf. Unfortunately what was called a snow day should have been called an ice day. What looks like beautiful snow is actually frozen sleet. It is frozen solid on the ground. There were no snow balls or snowmen to be made out of this stuff.  

It happens quite often, yet it amazes us every time. We have beautiful warm weather one day and freezing cold weather the next. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 6

We have a Snowman Mr. Potato Head and a Christmas Tree Mr. Potato Head, but the elves seem to have trouble figuring out how to put them together. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 5

Victoria brought home Christmas library books. 

The elves enjoyed a good story time reading one of the books. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 4

Today the Elves decided to go cruising in Barbie's car. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 3

Today the Elves decided to hang out in the bathroom.

Cristina's Elf hung from the bar like a little gymnast. Victoria's Elf played dress up with the hair bows.

Elf on the Shelf Day 2

Today the Elf on the Shelfs tried to get dressed in the clothes laid out for the girls. 

Elf on the Shelf Day 1

      Last year Cristina came home from school each day talking about the Elf on the Shelf that lived in her classroom. She very much wanted one for home and therefore so did her sister. We set off one night while she was at practice to find one. We found something so much better for our daughters who love imaginative play. Plush Elf on the Shelves that you can touch! Their story is a little different. They have a poem that says "I'm not the Elf on the Shelf that you know. I do not fly through ice and snow. My job is to simply stay here and play. You can touch me, and squeeze me, and play all day."
      Last year it was a bit of a struggle to get the elves to do anything creative, but I have a feeling that they have been thinking up ideas all year long.

Bedtime hit right in the middle of wrapping presents. 

The elves tried to help us finish. The girls loved what a mess they made of the tape.