What Did You Get?

If you've run into family or friends,

you've probably heard the question,

"What did you get?"

Not only has someone asked me,

but I have also asked several people since yesterday.

Christmas is exciting,

we are excited about what we got,

and also excited about what they got

(especially if it was something they really wanted).

But as we are asking our loved ones what they got this year,

maybe we should be pondering what we GAVE this year.

I had the special privilege of giving a gift yesterday

that moved someone to tears.

THAT brought more joy to me than anything I got.

So my question for all of you this Christmas is,

"What did you GIVE?"

Joy to someone who is hurting?

Forgiveness to someone who has wronged or hurt you?

Love to someone who is lonely?

A listening ear to someone who is troubled?

Understanding to someone who is misunderstood?

Time to someone who needs a friend?

I pray that as this Christmas season slips away,

that we're reminded of the joy that giving brings,

that we continue to look for ways to GIVE.

I hope that your Christmas was life-changing,

for you and for those around you.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Praying that you all receive the true gift of Christmas!

Survival!

I really am trying to get some end of semester testing done,

BUT.........

Anybody else???

World's Worst Blogger Part 2

Yep, I know it's hard to believe but I'm back again after an extended absence:) 

I offer no excuses this time lol

I hope you've all had a restful and peaceful break and have enjoyed time with those you love the most. 

 Here at the beach our break started out at a beautiful 80 degrees.
So we've loved our time off.

I'm hoping that most of you are looking forward to at least one more week off from school and are also looking forward to the new year. I have some exciting new changes coming in 2014, so I am definitely looking forward to them.

Some of my best blogger friends and I are kicking the new year off for you with something special that we'll tell you about tomorrow. So be sure to check back here tomorrow,

I really will show up:)

Turkeys to Trees at The Teaching Tribune

Be sure to head over to The Teaching Tribune today to see what my kids made for Thanksgiving.

(click on the button)

It is a super cute craft that can easily be used for Christmas as well.

Enjoy the rest of your long weekend!

Black Friday Sale!

It's BLACK FRIDAY! 

and I have teamed up with some of my favorite bloggy friends

 to bring you a BLACK FRIDAY TpT sale.

I am throwing a 20% off sale at TpT on Friday, November 29.

To make it even sweeter for you.....

between MIDNIGHT tonight and noon on Friday, November 29

 if you purchase 2 products I am going to send you 1 product of your choice for FREE 

(of equal or lesser value).

It's a B2G0 FREE Black Friday for you!

In order for it to work you MUST email me at

1966pirategirl@gmail.com 

the following information.

1. Your TpT username

2. the name of the products you purchased between midnight and noon on Friday, November 29
(only purchases made during this time will receive the FREE product)

3. the name of the product you would like for FREE

I will email you your product as soon as possible.

Click the picture above to head straight to my store.

Hope you enjoy your Black Friday shopping!!

Christmas in July!

Happy Christmas in July!!

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.
FREEBIE HAS EXPIRED!

It's time to unwrap some presents!!

I've teamed up with 17 other bloggers and we didn't think it would be enough to just throw a sale this weekend, so we are also throwing in some Christmas/Winter FREEBIES and a chance to win something ($10 or less) from each of our stores!

We will have 2 GRAND PRIZE winners

(1 K-2 primary teacher and 1 GR 3-5 intermediate teacher).

This hop will take you to all 17 blogs where you will collect TpT freebies along the way.
If you're not already following our stores you might want to do that when you collect your freebies. It's a great way to receive information about upcoming sales & specials.

Hidden in each freebie, found on TpT, is a flamingo hanging out on the beach.
Look for a Christmas song written in the sand.
Find the underlined word.
You will need to collect all 17 words to enter the raffle for the grand prize.
You will find the rafflecopter at the final stop.

I think those are all the details you need.

Click on my freebie below, follow my store, find the hidden word.

Don't forget about my sale.

While you're over there, take a look around my store.

EVERYTHING is 20% off.

Don't forget to make the complete loop to all the blogs, like our pages, 

and enter yourself for the final prize. 

Click the button below to head over to my store.

Happy Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!

So thankful for this day and the birth of Jesus, but even more so I am thankful for what this day would lead to. As you celebrate His birth today, keep in mind why He came and what He willingly did for all of us.

BORN TO DIE
Shepherds gaze in wonder
While angel voices sing
This night of nights has come
And brought the world the long-awaited King
The earth is filled with gladness
And yet the heavens weep
For heaven's eyes can see
He was born to die for me.
It must have broken God's heart
For the future He could see
Yet He formed His hands and feet
Knowing one day they'd be nailed to a tree.
So all the world could know it
A gift came from above
For God so loved the world
That He gave His only Son.
Jesus
Baby Jesus
With a tear of love in your eye
Jesus
Baby Jesus
You knew you were born to die.

Christmas gift for my Pirates....

Party Day is tomorrow and I have been around and around with gift ideas for my kids. And I have (of course) waited until the last minute. Well, I finally settled on something that I know they want a lot. We have a "Pirate Treasure Log" in our classroom as part of our behavior plan. My kids collect compliments/caught being good, etc. on individual cards (I put a dot on their card with a sharpee). When they have collected 10, they are allowed to choose anything from the treasure log. All items in the treasure log are FREE, and that is my favorite:) We have things such as....Stinky Feet Day (they get to take off their shoes for the day), Eat Lunch with a Friend (get to choose who they sit with at lunch), Stuffy Day (they are allowed to bring a stuffed animal from home), etc. They LOVE trips to the treasure log. So that is what they are getting for Christmas. I made up a little rhyme and will add it to their goody bags tomorrow. Can't wait to see what they choose. 

If you think you can use the poem, please grab a copy below.

Pirate Gift Rhyme

Gingerbread Glyphs

Christmas in Germany was spent with The Gingerbread Pirates.
We are Pirates, so it was a must read. The kids LOVED it.

After the story we made these gingerbread glyphs.
Many of them wanted to cut off one leg and make them Pirates. (LOL)
But instead we used a FREE glyph offered by Sunny Days on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Click the link below to visit the store and pick up your free copy. 

Gingerbread Glyph from Sunny Days

Happy Christmas from Australia!

My buddy teacher (Karen Hyers, who is AMAZING!) and I have been taking our kids on a tour around the world for the last 2 weeks. One of their favorite stops so far has been Australia. They think it is so COOL that they go to the beach on Christmas Day. Since we live at the beach, it all makes sense to them. LOL 

We made these great sunset backgrounds with watercolors and then traced a palm tree with a snowman or Mary and Joseph to add the silhouette on the front. We think they look great with "Surfin' Santa."

Trying to keep them focused......

What a week (and another one to go)!

Our Christmas play is tomorrow and along with all the other festivities that go with the season, it has been tricky trying to keep us all on track. In Math we have really been working on addition with regrouping and the kids are doing GREAT. I caught their attention (much by accident) on the first day we started by making the longest addition problem that would fit on my paper. They were hooked:) Here is a sheet we did this week in between play practice and such. 

Yours to grab if you can use it.

 FREE Addition with regrouping sheet

Practice and a FREEBIE.....

I have no idea what I am doing, but I am going to learn. 

While I'm practicing, here is a FREE math sheet to help your students practice some addition facts in a festive way.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Sweet-Sums-Math-Printable