Back to School Class Book

Hello, it's Melissa! I have not posted here in forever!! I've actually been out of the blogging loop all summer but I guess it's time to start thinking about school again.
Last year I shared a class book that I use during the first week of school to help learn names and give the kids some practice writing names. I touched it up a bit and changed the school year on it. Head over to my blog to get a free copy.

PTC Form

Hey Guys!

I just posted a self-evaluation on my blog Ed Link - First Grade to go along with my upcoming Parent - Teacher Conference. Stop by and grab one!

Snow and a Santa Freebie

They are calling for snow tonight! We don't get a lot of that here in Georgia. It sure makes it feel like Christmas when we do get some. Even without the snow, I've been thinking about all things Christmas.

I made another Christmas freebie to share with ya'll. Santa Cover Up is played just like the Gingerbread Cover Up I shared the other day. Stop by Fun 2B in First to read about how to play it and to get your own copy.

Click the picture to get it.

Also, I wanted to point out that I am working on organizing all of the printables I make on pages organized by subject area. The pages have pictures of each printable and links to find them. So far I have posted one page for math printables and one for science and social studies resources.

Holiday Help Wanted! (It's a FREEBIE!)

WooHoo! for the holiday freebies! Looking for a fun way to encourage creative sentence writing with your kiddos? Well, leave it to that jolly fellow-Santa! Santa and his elves have been working lots of overtime lately and they are exhausted! Check out this ad I found in the newspaper (wink, wink!)...

Click the pic to check out this FREEBIE!

Well, my firsties filled out their job applications today & wrote some super sentences telling Santa why they would be a good North Pole employee! Head on over to my blog to read more about this super-fun writing activity and grab your FREEBIE!

Sleigh Race

As always life is keeping me busy. So, today's post will be short and sweet. I created a game to practice addition. In order to play it each player needs two dice and something to color with. It is a partner game and each pair of partners will need a copy of the game. The directions are on the game. It is in black and white for easy copying. Stop by Fun 2B in First to grab your free copy.

Bring on December!

November is done. Thanksgiving is past. Bring on December!

I don't know about you, but I love December. It is one of my favorite months because of all of the excitement, the fun, and the holiday activities with family.

Of course, it is also a super busy month and every year sometimes gets crazy. So, I am kicking off the season by sharing a free partner game on my blog.  It can be used for reviewing addition or for an indoor recess activity. It also would work well with any gingerbread unit. Stop by Fun 2B in First to grab this free game and to learn how to play it.

The Legend of the Five Corn Kernels {FREE!}

Happy Thanksgiving from Castles and Crayons!

This is a little activity I have done since my very first year of teaching. This is one of those things that had been passed from teacher to teacher…so I am not sure where the original idea came from, but I DO know it is not my original idea! :) This would be perfect for those of you {ME INCLUDED! :)} who have school Monday and Tuesday this week!
First, you read a paragraph explaining that during the first winter in America, the Pilgrims only had five parched kernels of corn to eat on some days! After reading, show the students a paper plate with 5 popcorn kernels glued in the center. This is SUCH an amazing visual for them! One of my sweet firsties said, “WOW! I would be STARVING!” I know, right???!!!!
You can give your kiddos a snack size baggie, with the The Legend of the Five Corn Kernels story and five pieces of candy corn, to take home. :) I also included a fill in the blank story page that the kiddos could fill out and you could simply staple a baggie with five pieces of candy corn to it.
Click {here} to download The Legend of the Five Corn Kernels activity for FREE on TpT!