"Mr. Greg Is Famous!" and FREEBIES!

Happy Friday!!!  Another week is gone!  And I am glad this day is over.  Not because the monsters were bad but because I have had a headache since last night.  And it won't stop.  I hate headaches.  I'm pretty sure I've maxed out the meds for the day.

And I got lots of warm fuzzies today...from students and parents.

We decorated gingerbread cookies today and while the kids were enjoying their cookie feast, I stepped next door for a second.  When I returned, it became apparent that there was some plotting happening at Monsters Inc.  When I walked in the room, the monsters all yelled, "Merry Christmas Mr. Greg" and en mass  ran to me and gave me the biggest and best group hug ever!!!  This was proceeded by a dicussion about how I am the best teacher ever (with mouth fulls of cookie to add some sugar to the compliment!)  Then I got to thinking, of course I am the best teacher ever.  You've never had another teacher.  I am the winner by default.  Then I decided to just ignore that technicality and revel in the idea that they consider me the best ever.  Oh yeah, and I heard one of them say, "Mr. Greg is famous!"  Famous.  I like it.  I am sticking to that theory.  I am famous.

During this discussion, one of my monsters (who didn't know I could hear her over the roar of 15 monsters with cookie face) told another monster that her "momma" tells her that "her teacher is the best teacher at the school and she's glad she's in Mr. Greg's class."  HOLLA!

Then at dismissal my little friend who is special ed (and GINGERBREAD OBSESSED!!  If I can figure out how tie every skill to gingerbread men, he will soar!)  told his mom about making gingerbread cookies and his mom hugged me (yes, hugged!) and told me that I was such a good teacher and she is so happy to see her son learn so much!

It is these moments that make teaching worth all of the hassles and stresses and frustrations.  How much better would teaching be if we got spontaneous group hugs EVERYDAY!  AMAZING!


I love my job.  I love my monsters.  I love keeping my door closed and teaching on and I love the crazy adventures of the kindergarten smorgasboard world.

And while we're on this inspiring kick....you simply must visit my friend Debbie Clement's blog post at Rainbows Within Reach..  It made me cry it was so powerful.  It is saved and printed and hanging in my classroom for future reference.  

And now, two freebies to celebrate this inspiring Friday!

The first is a craftivity for the very funny and very popular book, "Aliens Love Panta Claus."  When my assistants, "Oprah" and "Gayle" made these prototypes today, they turned out slightly bigger than I expected, but I left them because their just so fun!  Click the picture to to to my TPT store to get your copy!

The second is a free emergent reader that is perfect for the days leading up to Christmas!

Click on the picture to download your copy of "Little Elf, Little Elf, What Do You See?"