Journey to Excellence

We had a book chosen to read today for our Christmas Book and Activity a Day ... The 12 Days of Christmas ~ A carol-and-count flap book illustrated by Tad Hills. But, I didn't get it picked up from our library hold shelf on time and it was returned back into the system. I couldn't get it again because there was already a hold list. So, I searched and searched for a Christmas counting book and only came up with the tried-and-true The 12 Days of Christmas illustrated by Linea Asplind Riley. But, it didn't arrive until this afternoon, and our Christmas counting day was this morning . So, I improvised! I printed off a book called "My Christmas Book of Ten" that she read and we watched "The 12 Days of Christmas" by musicfactorymusic on Youtub e. I took some laminated green construction paper (that I had leftover from a craft party) and cut them in half. With a sharpie I wrote several different addition problems. Brynne sorted Christmas foam pieces...

 Our Christmas Book and Activity a Day book today was Bunny Christmas ~ A Family Celebration written by Rick Walton and illustrated by Paige Miglio. Join the festivities, as a cheerful bunny family prepares for a happy Christmas with all the trimmings. Mom and dad, brother and sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents come together to make merry. These bunnies really know how Christmas should be celebrated! Rick Walton's rhyming text and Paige Miglio's glorious illustrations paint a heartwarming holiday portrait of family togetherness for all to share.  To go along with the family spirit of the book, we made picture frame ornaments for both of Brynne's Great-grandmas. We used jello boxes and cut them to have a shadow box effect. Then Brynne painted them with a gold acrylic paint. We adorned it with boxwood branches we cut from our bushes and berries made from tissue paper. Lastly we attached a ribbon for hanging. I will order a picture of my four kids and my ...

Today's book in Shannon's Christmas Book and Activity a Day challenge was This is the Stable written by Cynthia Cotten and illustrated by Delana Bettoli. A gorgeous, poetic new version of the Nativity story Wondrous things are happening in this humble little stable. The animals are gathering round. Shepherds and wise men and angels are coming from afar. All of them are flocking to see the Christ child, born this night in Bethlehem.Illustrated in the gorgeous tropical hues of the region and told in lyrical verses perfect for reading aloud, this is a retelling of the Nativity that will be treasured for many Christmases to come. The activity for this book was a Nativity scene made out of free blank printables for coloring found at Catholic Icing and toilet paper tubes. I have always loved my 30+ Nativity sets I have been collecting for the past 20 years. But I think this one might be the only one I put out this year.  Brynne played with it most of the afternoon. (Ju...

First of all, it feels great to be back to school after having a week off! For the month of December Dawson will be reading passages out of the Books of Luke and Isaiah and studying Handel's Messiah . We are starting his unit on Ancient Rome. Brynne will continue with her 3 R's, reading about Colonial Williamsburg with the American Girl doll Felicity and will be doing some Christmas studies. We are joining Shannon at Welcome to our Wonderland in her Christmas Book and Activity a Day program. Today we read The First Christmas Stocking written by Elizabeth Winthrop and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. "Dream your dreams, my child, and knit them into the wool." A long time ago a girl named Claire learned to knit by her mother's side. As the mother knit mittens, scarves and all sorts of clothing for the wealthy people of the town, Claire set about knitting stockings to keep her toes warm. Claire, her mother and father, you see, were poor. They lived in a...

Starting the Monday after Thanksgiving, Brynne and I will be joining my friend Shannon at Welcome to our Wonderland in a daily Christmas book and activity curriculum. Although our library did not have all of the exact books Shannon is using, I chose ones as similar as possible so we can play along. Here's what we will be reading: Monday, November 29th ~ The First Christmas Stocking by Elizabeth Winthrop (supplies needed: paper stocking, glitter, Christmas foam stickers) Tuesday, November 30th ~ This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten (supplies needed: crayons, toilet paper tube, shoebox) Wednesday, December 1st ~ The Spirit of Christmas by Nancy Tillman (supplies needed: pudding or jello box, construction paper) Thursday, December 2nd ~ The 12 Days of Christmas: a carol-and-count flap book by Tad Hills (supplies needed: construction paper, Christmas foam stickers) Friday, December 3rd ~ Jingle Bells by Maryann Kovalski (supplies needed: pipe cleaners, jingle...