How to Catch a Leprechaun- St. Patrick's Day Freebie Activity

Spring is coming!  Tonight is the night we spring ahead on the clocks. Something about walking around the house changing the clocks ahead, when I know it correlates to having longer and warmer days, makes me so happy.  Spring also brings St. Patrick's Day celebrations, inside and outside of the classroom.  Today, I'm here to share a freebie I made last year for my students.  If you are looking for a freebie, read on.  I'm reposting a throwback post from St. Patrick's Day 2015. :) 

Ahhh, the time of year when I celebrate my Irish heritage. I enjoy everything about St. Patrick's Day, especially the stories about sneaky leprechauns. While visiting my own kiddos' school last week, I had the most entertaining conversation with them about leprechauns.  

The conversation actually made me miss having a homeroom and a consistent group of students for the year.  Please don't get me wrong because I absolutely love being a Reading Specialist. Working with flexible groupings of students at a range of grade-levels is a dream come true. However, there's something to be said about about establishing a *classroom family* from year to year. Anyone feel the same way? 

Creating a sense of mystery and magic in my own classroom on St. Patrick's Day was amusing. Watching the students' faces spotting chairs tipped over, papers strewn on the floor and little leprechaun feet all over the room was priceless. Writing persuasive letters to the leprechauns asking them kindly to please keep the room tidy while we were out of the room, and then returning to the read letters *written by the leprechauns*, certainly captivated the students attention. Below is a book that was always a favorite of my 2nd graders. 

Anyway, these are the comical memories which initiated my motivation to create a St. Patty's Day writing activity for my students and for you! So, what does it take to catch a sneaky leprechaun?  Find out what your students think with this St. Patrick's Day freebie.  It can be used with a variety of St. Patrick's Day-themed books and may even spark a little magic in your classroom.  

My favorite response from a little girl: "I will pepper spray him!"
 She then went on to explain what she'd do after that.  Oh, boy! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day and thanks to Little Miss I, Sticky Foot Studio and Teaching Super Power for the graphics and Jen Jones and Kimberly Geswein for the fonts! 

  

What Does It Take to Catch a Leprechaun? (Freebie included!)

Ahhh, the time of year when I celebrate my Irish heritage. I enjoy everything about St. Patrick's Day, especially the stories about sneaky leprechauns. While visiting my own kiddos' school last week, I had the most entertaining conversation with them about leprechauns.  

The conversation actually made me miss having a homeroom and a consistent group of students for the year.  Please don't get me wrong because I absolutely love being a Reading Specialist! Working with flexible groupings of students at a range of grade-levels is a dream come true. However, there's something to be said about about establishing a *classroom family* from year to year. Anyone feel the same way? 

Creating a sense of mystery and magic in my own classroom on St. Patrick's Day was amusing. Watching the students' faces spotting chairs tipped over, papers strewn on the floor and little leprechaun feet all over the room was priceless. Writing persuasive letters to the leprechauns asking them kindly to please keep the room tidy while we were out of the room, and then returning to the read letters *written by the leprechauns*, certainly captivated the students attention.  Below is a book that was always a favorite of my 2nd graders. :)

Anyway, these are the comical memories which initiated my motivation to create a St. Patty's Day writing activity for my students and for you! So, what does it take to catch a sneaky leprechaun?  Find out what your students think with this St. Patrick's Day freebie.  It can be used with a variety of St. Patrick's Day-themed books and may even spark a little magic in your classroom.  

My favorite response from a little girl: "I will pepper spray him!"
 She then went on to explain what she'd do after that.  Oh, boy! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day and thanks to Little Miss I, Sticky Foot Studio and Teaching Super Power for the graphics and Jen Jones and Kimberly Geswein for the fonts! 

  

Hello, March. I'm Feeling Lucky! March *Currently*

Ahhhh, March.  This month always brings along a few bonuses: longer days, warmer weather, Spring Break and leprechauns!   Because of these, I'm always happy to welcome March.  Anyway, the fantastically fab Farley is hosting another Currently.  I'm linking up to share #widn and to find out what my blogging friends are up to on the first of this month.  

Listening: In the background, I hear my kiddos playing with one another on this sunny March morning.  Lately, *Super Heroes* is the name of the game in this household.  Ever since we checked out Super Hero ABC from the library, they've ditched the princess and pirate costumes (for now)... 

Loving: I recently ordered Beyond Leveled Books from Amazon. I've only just begun reading it and am already loving the book.  It explores the uses and limitations of leveled texts in primary reading instruction.  It's a very easy read and includes a good deal of practical ideas, as well as sample mini-lessons that are worth putting into action.       

Thinking: Yay, the time gets to *spring forward* next weekend!   Even though we'll lose an hour of sleep, the thought of knowing spring is near makes me happy.  When the sun still peeks above the horizon after 5 P.M., I know warmer weather is on it's way.

Wanting: It's fun being an Irish gal, especially when I live 20 minutes west of Chicago.  I'm wanting to celebrate my Irish heritage on March 17th.  I love heading into the city to watch the parade and see the river being dyed green.  It's something I've done with my family and friends ever since I was a kid.  It'll be a nice tradition to start once my own kids get a little older.  

Celebrating St. Patrick's Day in school with the students is entertaining, too.  When I taught Kindergarten, First and Second Grade, I loved *brining a little magic* into the classroom.  The students' faces spotting chairs tipped over and little green leprechaun feet all over the room was priceless.  Now that I'm a Reading Specialist, it's not quite the same, since I don't have my own classroom.  However, I do love reading and discussing St. Patrick's Day themed books with them.  A few of my favorites are below.  

Needing: I'm needing a vacation and am ready for Spring Break to arrive...STAT!  

Spring Break Plans: My husband and I are both teachers, but unfortunately our breaks don't coincide this year.  Even though this saddens me, I am looking forward to some time to ??? while my husband and kids are at school.

Okay, okay, all kidding aside.  For all those out there who know me, I can't allow myself to do absolutely nothing.  Most likely I'll spring clean the house and do a little closet organizing.  After that, I'll surf some remarkable blogs for classroom ideas and continue to read the professional books I purchased on Amazon and checked out from the library because...

Well, happy March and don't forget to link up with Farley!

November *Currently*

I'm linking up with Farley for November's *Currently*.  Even though Halloween just ended yesterday, Thanksgiving will be here as quick as a wink!  November is a good time for self reflection and giving thanks.  I have much to be thankful for in my life.  Taking time out each day to count my blessings keeps my world in perspective.  I can't believe how fast the school year is already going by and I'm a year older as of this past week.  Time sure flies.  I guess it only flies when you're having fun, so that means I'm having fun...always a bonus.  

 

Listening: My kids had their first *real* Halloween this year and had a blast, even though it was snowing a bit, 37 degrees and windy.  At the age of three, they finally understand the Halloween excitement of going door to door to receive FREE candy if they say "Trick-or-Treat" and "Thank you".  It's fun listening to them going through their candy baskets with the "Ooh!" and "Whoa!" sound effects.

Loving: I'm loving the fact my family is supportive, thoughtful, generous, kind, forgiving, etc.  This list never ends.  I'm so lucky to have them.  Even though I'm grateful for them year-round, November is a nice month to give them a special *shout-out*! ;) XO  

Thinking: When I think about my husband, I smile.  I'm so glad to have married my best friend.  For my birthday, he surprised me with a little dining adventure.  We restaurant-hopped for the different courses of the meal.  It certainly was a wonderful evening. :)

Wanting: My husband and I are both teachers.  Each year we head out of town with the in-laws on vacation over Spring Break.  I'm really wanting my spring break to match up with my husband's, but that's not going to be the case, unfortunately.  This is the first year, in quite a few years, we don't have the same Spring Break schedules.  His school has break in March and my break falls in early April.  Oh well.  Maybe we'll get something planned for the summer vacation-wise. :)

Needing: Hello.  My name is Colleen Noffsinger.  I am a book addict.  When looking through Scholastic book order forms, I feel I need almost every single book in the catalog.  Does this happen to you?  I've apparently passed this trait onto my own kids as well.  We circle, circle, circle all of the books we *need* to read during story time in our home.  Even though the majority of the books can be found at the library, there's something about having them on the bookshelves in our home to read whenever we fancy.  Being able to purchase the books is just another thing on my *grateful for* list... 

Reading: My kids' favorite book for the past month was Just Say Boo!  Even though a new month started and Halloween ended, it was still read at story time today. :)

Hope you have a fantastic November and count your blessings!  Head on over to Oh Boy 4th Grade to link up with Farley to share your Currently...

Have a great weekend!

The Holiday I Most Enjoy Celebrating With My Students: Blogging Challenge Day19

Background by My Cute Graphics
Quote by Polkadots on Parade

Day 12: What holiday do you enjoy celebrating most with your students?

I LOVE Halloween!  

I guess my love for it all started as a kid.  You see, my birthday is a few days prior to Halloween.  I ALWAYS  had costume parties growing up to celebrate my birthday.  It provided me with the chance to wear my "can't-wait-to- put-on" costume more than a single time...with my jacket over it...so no one could see it...because it was usually raining on Halloween!

Once I became a teacher, it thrilled me to read Halloween-themed stories to the students in a dim-lit room to set the scary ambiance.  My favorite author for scary stories (appropriate for kiddos) is R.L. Stine, the creator of Goosebumps.  He's a fantastic author.  His stories kept the kids tuned in during read alouds and turning pages when reading independently.  My students would get so excited!  I wouldn't even hear a peep out of them because they wanted to hear every detail!  Of course, I didn't only read R.L. Stine books.  Other Halloween-related book recommendations are below. 

Click HERE.

Click HERE.

Click HERE.

Click HERE.

Click HERE.

Click HERE.

Click HERE. 

I LOVE the Goosebumps Series!

Other things I enjoyed were seeing the excitement of the students preparing for their Halloween costumes, anticipating the amount of candy they'd be collecting and wondering what I'd show up wearing to school for the all-school parade.

When it came to dressing up for Halloween, I've worn a multitude of costumes over the years to school.  Some include a cat, dog, zebra, cow, cowgirl, clown, purple crayon, doctor, witch, princess, fairy, Cat in the Hat, Scooby Doo, Daisy Duck, Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, etc.  The list goes on and on... AND ON! 

Since I don't have access to my classroom at the moment, I could only access a few pictures I have at home to share for this post.  The pictures are from my classroom when I was a 2nd grade teacher.  My husband was subbing at my school that day, and since we were together as a couple by that point, we dressed up together as Minnie and Mickey Mouse.  Needless to say, the kids got a kick out of our costumes!

Minnie and Mickey Mouse,
soon to be
 Mr. and Mrs. Noffsinger :)

This was only a portion of my class,
since the others were in the hallway
participating in various games with parents.
I've never had a total of 13 kids in my class! LOL

Some of the others playing games in the hallway-
Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin

Thanks for a fun blogging topic, Michelle! 

Bloggers, check out Bigtime Literacy for more 

blogging challenge link-ups!

Fun times!