It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

So, it's that time of year... CHRISTMAS! I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas time. I love wearing big sweaters and cute boots and cuddling up with a cup of hot tea while I watch the cheesy Halmark Channel Christmas movies. On the other hand, I hate how crazy and wild the kids get and how my classroom has turned into glitter headquarters (I HATE glitter).

Christmas has come at such an inconvenient time time year. I have a few new students coming in, which means new IEPs to write, and on top of that I have progress reports that need to get done ASAP. Luckily, I have 2 great teaching assistants that have worked their magic and taken care of holiday decorating and Christmas crafts.


Our school curriculum (which we created with help from the University of Arizona) is based off of literature. Our theme for December and January is "light". This month we are reading "A Pinata in a Pine Tree". It is a great book that encompasses light, Christmas, and culture. Essentially, the book is a Mexican version of "The 12 Days of Christmas". We read both "A Pinata in a Pine Tree" and "The 12 Days of Christmas". I made picture cards using clip art for the students to sequence and practice counting  the objects for circle time activities. I also made a pinata with the students, which will hang in our classroom throughout the year. I did most of the dirty work at home and let the students decorate the outside with tissue paper during centers. It was a fun and messy activity that the students absolutely loved!

(pictures to come soon!)


When I moved into this classroom there was a giant paper tree on this wall. When I took the tree down, the tape pulled up all of the paint, leaving me with a hideous wall. So, I have given one of my teaching assistants permission to use the wall however she wanted, as long as it covered up the ugly paint job. The students love the fireplace and like to search for their stockings. The kids sit and read books next to the fire, which is so darn cute! It also goes great with our light theme this month.

Again, I let my teaching assistants take full reign on the dramatic play area. They turned the corner into "Santa's Workshop" complete with a North Pole, a present wrapping station, a letters to Santa station, and a Reindeer Rest & Read corner. The kids love playing in this area and it is so fun to see their imaginations at work!

Here are some more Christmas activities we have been putting together...