25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 11

Is it only Tuesday? I feel like I'm already behind and the week just got started! I am so exhausted that I don't have a freebie to share tonight, but if you missed them, check out my Polar Express freebie {HERE}, my Mooseltoe freebie {HERE}, my Snowmen at Christmas freebie {HERE} and my When Santa Lost His Ho! Ho! Ho! freebie {HERE}.

So for day 11 of my Christmas picture book countdown, I chose Who Will Guid My Sleigh Tonight? by Jerry Pallotta.

Via Amazon

This is a fun story about how Santa found the perfect animal to guide his sleigh. Your students should enjoy picturing the other animals that Santa tried. If this books seems familiar, you may have seen some of Pallotta's other books such as, Who Will Be My Valentine This Year? and Who Will Help Santa This Year?

The one reason why I wanted to mention this book is because it talks about reindeer and I just had to mention these adorable reindeer pictures you may have seen floating around Pinterest:

Via ARTventurous

I saw a few other teachers (even Kindergarten!) try these last week and they turned out ADORABLE! It takes a few steps (pencil, pastel, paint the background, paint the nose and scarf, paint the fur) but with patience and support, they will turn out fantastic. If you do it with younger students, make sure to do the step-by-step drawing with them - ARTventurous has great step-by-step instructions (& pictures).

These pictures will be sure to brighten up your classroom bulletin boards!

I just found out a fun Christmas Questionnaire over at Michelle's (Fabulous in First) blog. I guess I'm not too tired to join in and answer a few Christmas questions!

Here are the questions:

Hot Chocolate or Eggnog
100% hot chocolate. I think I might go make some tonight!

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them underneath the tree?
Wrap unless it it something awkward (like a bike. Who on Earth could wrap a bike?).

Colored lights or white?Photo Cards, Letter or Store Bought Card? 

When I was growing up, it was always color. Now, white, white, white!

When do you decorate? 

Way too late. As in, I still do not have a tree or bit of decorations in my house. Hopefully this weekend!

Real or Fake Tree? 

REAL. It always takes me hours to pick out as we go through every.single.tree at the tree lot. I tend to pick out ones that are too tall (roof-scrapin' tall) and wide (can't-see-the-front-door wide), though not quite as big as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation!

What Tops Your Tree? 

Umm - an embarrassing star that I homemade years ago. I think this is the year I'll have to find a new topper.

Favorite Christmas Memories or Traditions? 

So many little things remind me of childhood holidays - getting up way too early to peek at stockings, eating chocolate on Christmas morning, visiting extended family, listening to the same Christmas songs year after year. Some of that we still do, some I've outgrown (ahem, there is no way I'm getting up at 4 a.m. to look at stockings or presents!).

Do you remember your favourite gift as a child?
I was (and still am) a complete bookworm. When I was nine, my aunt and uncle got me FIVE books and I was on top of the moon!

Do prefer giving or receiving? 

Giving all the way. It is such a great feeling! 

What is your favorite Christmas song? 

Oh, there are so many! Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas Is You, Run DMC's Christmas in Hollis, Madonna's Santa Baby spring to mind, but I think my number 1 favourite is Carol of the Bells.

Candy Canes. Yuck or Yum? 

They kind of make me nostalgic, but after the first few licks, no thanks,

Favorite Christmas Movie? 

Home Alone! 

Do you shop online or at stores?

A little of both, but I try to do as much online as possible.

Photo Cards, Letter or Store Bought Card? 

Umm, let's just say I'm not a big card person.

Head on over to Fabulous in First to join the holiday fun!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 10

I'm going to have to make tonight's post a short one because, well, A) it's Monday B) I'm tired already C) I almost forgot to post tonight!

For today's book, I'm going to mention a new one for me, Santa Claus and the Three Bears by Maria Modugno.

Via Amazon

This book is a fun twist on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This would be great to add to your library if you're studying fairy tales around the holidays. To make the read aloud more meaningful, have students compare and contrast the two stories or make text-to-text connections.

And with that, I'm off to relax!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books (& a freebie!) - Day 9

It's Sunday already? Not only is it Sunday, but it's already Day 9 of my Christmas Picture Book countdown. If you missed some of my previous freebies make sure to click {HERE} for some Polar Express train tickets, {HERE} for a Mooseltoe freebie and {HERE} for a Snowmen at Christmas freebie.

Now that that's out of the way, let's move onto a new book. Today's book is When Santa Lost His Ho! Ho! Ho! by Laura Rader.

Via Amazon

For the freebie, I've made three versions of a writing prompt. Your students will have fun brainstorming and writing about ways to make Santa laugh. I'm sure you'll have fun reading their hilarious answers!

Click {HERE} or the pictures to check it out.

I'm also linking up early for Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies, make sure to head over there to find some more fantastic freebies!

Have a great week!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 8

I know I'm going to say this for the rest of the countdown, but I can't believe I'm already on Day 8 - Christmas is going to be here before I know it and I am so not ready. My house is not decorated, the presents are not bought and I do not a tree yet.

Last year I discovered Otis by Loren Long and I thought it was such a sweet story with adorable illustrations (again, I'm a sucker for great illustrations), so when I saw this new addition to the series, I had to add it to my list.

Via Amazon

Aimed at younger students, your littles should love An Otis Christmas. Otis the tractor helps save the (Christmas) day when he fetches the veterinarian during a snowstorm, saving a horse and her new baby foal.

Onto other things, I just finished up a new Christmas unit - "Christmas Write the Room."

This unit contains five christmas math activities. Print the question cards, put up around the classroom, give the students the recording sheet and let your students have fun. I love write the room activities for all those students who need to keep moving and of course, for the scavenger hunt qualities, which makes it interesting for the kiddos too.

Click {HERE} or the picture to check it out. Make sure to come back tomorrow to check out my pick for Day 9 of my countdown and hopefully a freebie!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 7

Whew, Friday is finally here! It seems like the weeks just keep getting longer as it gets closer to the end of the December.

For Day 7 of my 25 Days of Christmas Picture Books, I thought I'd mention another funny/silly book. Students just seem to love David books, and It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon should be no exception.

Via Amazon

As always, the illustrations are unique and hilarious and I imagine, most of your littles will have a connection with David's Christmas shenanigans.

On that note, here's to a great weekend!

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 6 (& a Snowman Freebie)

Well, here we are already at Day 6 of my Christmas Picture Book countdown. Today I've got another freebie to share . . . and it's almost Friday - bonus!

Today's book is Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner. If your students like her other Snowmen books (which are perfect for the wintertime), they will love this one too.

Via Amazon

I've got a little printable writing prompt for you to use with this book:

Click the pictures or {HERE} to download the printables.

I've seen so many amazing snowmen art projects lately, they would be a great extension for this book. I particularly like this artwork from "Art- It's Made To Be Seen" that teaches about tints and shading.

Via Art- It's Made To Be Seen

If you're looking for some fun holiday writing to do with your students in the next two weeks, I also completed a new Christmas unit - "Dear Santa . . ." It contains six writing activities (instructions, suggested book lists, graphic organizers and writing paper), including persuasive, opinion, and descriptive writing.

Click the picture or {HERE} to check it out.

25 Days of Christmas Picture Books - Day 5

If you missed my first four days of pictures books, make sure to check out Day 1 {HERE} for a Polar Express freebie and Day 3 {HERE} for a Mooseltoe freebie.

So for today I have something a little different. A book that is slightly inappropriate, but totally hilarious. Maybe a book best suited for teachers (or intermediate students) - How Murray Saved Christmas by Mike Reiss.

Via Amazon

Inappropriate rhymes and adorable illustrations set this book apart. Check it out if you need a good laugh, or if you have older students who love goofy books.