EASTER IDEA + TREATS + APRIL READING

Merry Sunday gang!  Usually I start spinnin' my wheels by the end of the weekend, but for some reason I am full of energy and ready to take on the world today! I think sleeping in coupled with the 75 degree weather forecast has something to do with this newfound feeling. However, the upcoming school week has me all jacked up too.  Have I told you how much I love the week prior to Easter??  Well, I do!  Spring, bunnies, chicks, flowers, etcetera, etcetera . . . it's just an oh so "hoppy" time in the classroom. Hardy-har-har!!  You knew I just had to go there :)

My all time favorite thing about next week is our no-prep egg hunt.  I blogged about this last year, but it was only my third post . . . so, I'll give it to you again!  Below you will find some shots of my class hunting eggs last year.  It's the easiest hunt around (thanks Mr. Brown . . . he came up with it years ago and it has become a bit of a tradition at our school).  It has three simple steps.

1. Bring your kiddos out to a large grassy area and sit them in a line.  Have 10 or so bags of those cheap foil-covered eggs pre-loaded in an Easter basket (don't show those babes yet).
2. Tell you kiddos they get to watch you hide the eggs.  They will surely boo and whine . . . it's awesome!!!!  Then, reveal that basket full of chocolate. As they continue to sit, start runnin' around the field chuckin' handfuls of eggs into the grass.  They will FREAK OUT and think it's the coolest hunt around now!
3. Quickly outline your expectations, remind them about sharing, blow your whistle, and let 'em go!

They absolutely love this and it's so cute to watch them help each other.  Sure, you always have a few greedy babes in the bunch that you have to "remind," but overall, they are so sweet with one another.  

I'm going to switch gears on you a bit, but I am still talkin' Easter in a round about way.  We dove into pronouns last week ('bout time, Mrs. Dolling).  We will be continuing our journey with this fun concept for the next few weeks and I will be rollin' with quite a few centers from my Pronoun Power Packet (photos to come next week).  In addition, I also made an Easter Flavored Pronoun FREEBIE last year that I found hiding in my file.  Figured I might as well let you all know about my file "discovery" . . . maybe you want to snag it for groups too??!!  

   

Moving on . . . I finished my April Good Morning Work (Reading) Packet.  I promised it by next weekend, but I decided to get to gettin' on it a few days ago and I was in the zone!  As I did with the math set that I put out earlier this week, I raised the bar!  As we round this final bend into the last trimester, it seemed only right to put our little firsties to the test.  However, I was still VERY mindful of what I think my babes can and can't do {independently} at this time. Oh, and yes, they are aligned to the common core! 

As always I am offering up the "Try 'Em Before You Buy 'Em Deal."  Click on the link below to get yo-self three free pages to try with your babes.  If you like what transpires in your room, come on back and treat yourself to the whole April Packet.  

CLICK HERE to try these in your classroom!

Alright . . . that's it my friends.  Hahahaha . . . that's it??!!  I wrote a big old dissertation up there.  However, I am hoping that you leave today with some goodies tucked in your pocket that you can run with sooner rather than later :) Oh yeah, and if you are not lucky enough to be on break next week, I put my low-prep Easter Activity Pack and Adjective Bunnies on sale.  Enjoy your Sunday my friends.  My flower beds are calling . . . 

Uh . . . WAIT!  One more thing.  Don't forget about the Growing Firsties contest!!  Boy, am I chatty today, or what??!!  However, I just had to back up and share before I truly E-X-I-T for good.  This ditty ends tonight and there are lots of treats up for grabs! 

Okay . . . I'm seriously leaving now :)