Book Talk Thursday ~ The Little Snowplow

In Virginia, we are gearing up for a major snowstorm, the first of this season. I love the snow and fun that it brings, but after a while, I am ready to get out and go!  Today's book is perfect for Book Talk Thursday!

In the book, The Little Snowplow by Lora Koehler, the little snowplow does odd jobs around the town while the other plows do the big jobs.  One winter he is stuck plowing the sidewalks while all of the other bigger trucks and plows tackle the streets.  While he is out and about, another truck is stuck in an avalanche.  Since he is so small, he is the only one who can get over to help the large truck.  He becomes a hero in a big way.

What a wonderful story to show that no matter how big or small, we can all be a hero.  Now, I am hoping that this big snow really does come our way, so I can enjoy some time with my kids and enjoy playing in the snow.

Don't forget to link up again this week!

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

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Reading in Winter Wonderland ~ White Snow, Bright Snow

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I was intrigued by the old look of White Snow, Bright Snow, which caused me to take a look at the book.  I especially love that it is a Caldecott winner.  It reminds me of  how much we all enjoy the snow and then long for spring when we have grown weary of the cold weather.  It is a book I will definitely enjoy year after year as I use it in my classroom. 

I love how the book uses a very poetic feel to tell the story of a small town on a snowy day. It really captures the nature of how snow falling feels and what it is like after the snow has fallen. A beautiful and timeless story for everyone!

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Happy Valentine's Day Five for Friday

It's Valentine's Day, and there were no Valentine's party because we are enjoying a snow day at home!  I am linking up with Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching to highlight my super short week.

1.  We went to school on Wednesday and had a two hour early dismissal.  One of the aides at the school fixed us some of her homemade donuts.  Yum!  I think I ate 5 of them!

This was NOT my plate!  I grazed all day long!

2.  Ginny Beth had her Valentine's party at preschool on Wednesday.  We looked at her stuff when she got home, and this is what she had.

Now, this aggravated me because I sent just some simple Sophia the First Valentines that Ginny Beth picked out for each kid and "signed" herself.  The letter that came home said for us to let the kids practice their writing skills.  Not a single item above were handwritten!  And the teachers gave the goldfish.  That was it from them!  I really feel like a horrible parent, but then I realize I am better off for it.  It took us three nights for her to "write" on her Valentines, and she is a better person for it.  And I spent a whole lot LESS money on it too!

3.  We finally got a BIG snow.  My husband and the other neighbors who have part ownership in the snowblower finally got to play with it.

4.  The kids had fun building snow igloos since the snow was too deep and fluffy to sled on.

5.  But they figured out how to sled on it!  It is definitely not safe, but they were having fun!

What were you up to this week?  Next week is supposed to get up near 60, so we are enjoying the snow while we can.  {Too bad my little girl started with a fever and cough last night, so it is inside for us today.}   Link up with Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching to let us all know!

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Book Talk Thursday ~ Snow

Here I am watching the beautiful snow fall on Book Talk Thursday.

And I can't help but write about a book that is perfect for the snow and a snow day:  Snow by Cynthia Rylant.

I absolutely love Cynthia Rylant's style and this book is beautifully written and illustrated. In the book, she tells about how children feel when it snows. I love how she captures the essence of how children feel on these fun snow days.  I told my husband today that it can be this cold outside with no snow, and the kids refuse to go outside.  Add some snow, and they will stay outside for forever!  My son and his friends were outside for 4 hours this morning and have gone back out again.  Now my daughter is ready to go back out in it!  They will sleep well tonight!

When I use this with my students, we will talk about what we did on our snow days.  I think on Monday when we return all of my groups will do some kind of writing about what they did on their snow days.  I cannot wait to hear what their days were like.  What a great keepsake and memory they will have of such a fun couple of days.

Since spring is right around the corner, this will be my last winter Book Talk Thursday.  I had a different book planned for today but had to take the time to share the beauty of the snow with all of my readers.  I leave you with a picture of the beautiful snow falling in my backyard.  Enjoy and stay warm!

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Snow Day!

Yesterday we had the entire day off of school because of a threat of snow.  Our weatherman even said at 5:15 to "take a picture now and then one 24 hours later.  Your yard will look different."  Yeah right!  Here are my pictures!

Monday at 5:15

Tuesday at 5:25 See any differences?  Me either!

Then around 7 PM, everyone in my area started posting pictures of snow!  And there it was!  Snow!  Only about 2-3 inches of it, but enough to go play in!

I just wanted to share some of our fun pictures in the snow as I have enjoyed another day off today.  Enjoy and stay warm!

Night sledding on the driveway

It's snowing!

Ready to go!

Street sledding

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Wishing for Snow with a Freebie!

I am still on break, but I am already wishing for some snow days.  I really wanted it to snow this week, so my son could have some time off of school with me.  Unfortunately, it has been cold, but no snow!  Next week will be even warmer, above normal.  That has been the trend for a couple of years now.  I am ready for some good snow to use that new sled Zack got and the snowsuit Ginny Beth is going to grow out of.  I will no longer be prepared for snow because it never comes!!

Since we have no snow, and no snow in the prospects, I am just going to pretend!  I have some super fun games that I have used with my intervention groups. They are called "Snowflake Flurries".  Students quickly read through the cards and keep the cards they know automatically, which are put into the "Snow Pile".  If they get a "Flurry" card, all cards in the "Snow Pile" go back into the pile to be drawn.  There are other variations and endless possibilities for these cards.  Best of all, they are full of snowy fun!

You can grab the bundle for half price through Sunday, January 6!  That is $3 for all five games!  Each game is regularly priced at $2 each, and the Preprimer game is FREE!!!  I have also priced all of the games at half price through Sunday, January 6 at $1 each!!!  Whoohoo!!!  Let it snow!  Click on the picture below to get your bundle.

You can also click on the following links to get the individual games as well!

Preprimer {FREEBIE}

Primer

First

Second

Third

Another fun thing to do in the snow is to build a snowman. Next week, I will be working with my first graders with my emergent reader and writing activities.  You can grab it at half price through Sunday, January 6, by clicking on the picture below!

Those of you who have snow, please send it our way!  We love to play in it and really need the snow days!!!

I hope those of you who had to return to work this week had a wonderful week back!  As for us who have until Monday, enjoy every minute of what is left of the break!  I know I have!!  I colored and played with Ginny Beth after her nap today.  It was very relaxing and therapeutic!

Until next time!

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