HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. LINCOLN - MINI BOOKS + RAMBLINGS

In honor of Mr. Abe Lincoln's birthday, I figured I'd dedicate today's post to presidents.  Heaven knows I'd love for it to be about something AMAZING that we did in class on this fine Wednesday, but alas, surgery leave continues and I got nuffin' in this year's kid department (I don't even have a dippy house cat story for ya either).  So, now that these excuses are out of the way, please give me a three more weeks or so and I'll be back to picture dumpin' and silly kiddo stories.  

Since I've been home, I have been working on stuff for my long-term sub to use with my babes.  It helps me pass the time.  I hate watching TV when it's light out and I can only read so many books.  {Although I did power through Divergent in a day and a half.  But, I digress . . . as usual.}  With this said, I made a new mini book collection for Presidents Day.  Similar to my Olympics Readers, this pack contains three different little books.  Two are more biography based (Washington + Lincoln) and interactive.  By interactive I mean that they contain writing and drawing prompts throughout . . . one even has a math problem.  The third reader (U.S. Symbols) is just a straight reader - the corresponding writing prompts are included separately.  

I won't lie, these were tough to write - much more difficult than the Winter Games set that I made a few weeks ago.  Not only did I want to make the material readable for fluent 1st and 2nd graders, but I also had to dig deep to remember all of those style/grammar rules.  Yup, I had to dig out my old college handbooks from my journalism degree days.  I learned that you don't capitalize national anthem.  Stick that one in your back pocket . . . you never know when you might need it :)

Speaking of Presidents, we did do some really fun stuff last year that I can draw on.  My favorite write of the year is the "I Cannot Tell A Lie" ditty that we roll with every February.  You learn SO much about your little sweeties.  One angel last year was pretty savvy . . . realizing that she has parents that peruse all of her work as soon as it's hung, she took a different approach.  She wrote, "One time I told a lie, but it was a very, very, very big lie.  I will never ever tell anyone.  Hahahahahaha!"  Her parents laughed like crazy when they saw this, but I did notice a little "look" creep into their eyes!

The kids took the time to read these too . . . they were so funny.

The class keeps going "uuuuuummmmmmmm!"

We had everything from lying about brushing teeth to punching brothers.

If you like this activity, be sure to check out my President Pack.  It's has all kinds of fun crafts and a few killer cool games!   

Alright, I am out of here.  Going to go work on book two in the Divergent series. I'm already hooked.  This could be a very LONG night . . . hehehe :)  I'll be back soon my friends.  Thanks for visiting!