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    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
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    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
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    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
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      • april fool’s day
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      • teacher appreciation
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      • halloween
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quick trick: ornament love

home / Activities / holidays / christmas / quick trick: ornament love
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Before all of the ornaments are off of the store shelves, I wanted to share two of our ornament secrets.

Thanks to one of my very best friends, I learned about the pickle ornament tradition waaaay back when I was in elementary school, and the minute I heard about it, I knew I someday wanted to have a pickle ornament tradition in my house.

  • Pickle Ornament: I was never sure really why they did it; all I knew was that the Teles family had a really cool pickle ornament that the kids searched for on Christmas morning. And the child with the sharpest eye got an extra–always extra cool–present.

So for the last few years, we’ve done the same thing: we hide the pickle ornament, and the person who finds it gets an extra gift. But I’ve made sure, since our kids are still very young, to make the gift something that can be shared–a big Crayola Color Explosion or Color Wonder set, a jumbo pack of markers.

The controversial pickle tradition is believed to have German roots, but who really knows. It’s fun for kids no matter where it began. Here’s some info on the Legendary Pickle Ornament and The Christmas Pickle Story.

  • Ornaments from Anywhere: When we go away, rather than spend a fortune on little toys or trinkets that just get thrown away or soon forgotten, my mom got us into the habit of picking up Christmas ornaments along the way.

A St. Michael’s sailboat from our little first anniversary getaway.

Granted, our tree is a far cry from the Martha Stewart or Pottery Barn-perfect tree, but it’s really awesome how our tree is beginning to tell a story—a story of our vacations, adventures, and day trips.

My parents and sisters also bring home ornaments for us from their travels; they always pick up funny ones or ones with extra glitter and sparkle.

Totally tacky, but it brings back memories of our fun
day at Dutch Wonderland this past summer.

And that’s it–just two quick ornament ideas for my super-incredible, totally awesome teach mama readers before the holiday shelves are bare and before everyone begins a New Year of travel and fun.

If you have any cool ideas worth sharing–please do so! I am always up for new ideas and am so grateful to those who share. Cheers, friends!

Thanks for subscribing to teachmama! Have a good one!

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

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This yearโ€™s registration deadline is approaching, but you still have time! 

What better way to get students to engage in civics and contribute to their communities? 

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Have you heard of The National Civics Bee? #ad 

The National Civics Bee is an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. 

Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in your community will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. 

Learn how to bring The National Civics Bee to YOUR community now: https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

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Find it at your favorite bookstore or order here: https://amzn.to/3Pu3tWs

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Okayโ€”how do we know if someone has dyslexia? 

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#demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading #dyslexia
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True โœ… or false โŒ?

#demystifyingdyslexia #dyslexiaeducation #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading
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What do you know about dyslexia? 

What questions do you have about dyslexia? 

For the next few weeks leading up to my own start to the school year I am sharing a new series called โ€œDe-Mystifying Dyslexiaโ€ and I would love for you to join me! 

Follow in my stories or on the highlight above!

#dyslexia #teading  #readingteacher #raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia

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Quick! Thereโ€™s still time to see if your area is registered to participate in this yearโ€™s National Civics Bee! #ad

Click the link in my bio to learn more and to grab a TON of free resources for families and educators. 

This yearโ€™s registration deadline is approaching, but you still have time! 

What better way to get students to engage in civics and contribute to their communities? 

https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

#CivicsBuzz #strongcommunities #middleschool #civicsbee #teachersofIG
View
Open
Have you heard of The National Civics Bee? #ad 

The National Civics Bee is an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. 

Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in your community will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. 

Learn how to bring The National Civics Bee to YOUR community now: https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

Iโ€™m thrilled to have partnered with @mom_select and @civicsbuzz for this exciting campaign! โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ’™

#CivicsBuzz #middleschoolers #teachersofIG #communitypartners
View
Open
Oh HEEEEEYYY, @luvvie โ€” did you see that @littletroublemaker made our hallway bulletin board? ๐Ÿ˜‰โ™ฅ๏ธ

(Itโ€™s what Rusty the ๐ŸฆŠ is currently reading.) 

Find it at your favorite bookstore or order here: https://amzn.to/3Pu3tWs

(This is my affiliate link, so when you use it, I will earn a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for using my link and supporting my small business!)

#readingteacher #raiseareader #kidlit #bestbooks #linkinbio
View
Open
How can people with dyslexia learn to read? ๐Ÿค”

Here are the 3๏ธโƒฃ elements that reading instruction should contain in order to be most effective for students with dyslexiaโ€”

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #readingteacher #teachreading #dyslexiaawareness
View
Open
Lately when I find four leaf clovers, Iโ€™ve been leaving them. ๐Ÿ€๐Ÿคท๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

So if youโ€™re in Maryland, and you happen upon a lonely, little 4-leafer with very little grass, weeds, or leaves around it, I donโ€™t know WHO tried to set you up for success.

#yougotthis #keepyoureyesopen #itsthelittlethings #kilpattyluck
View
Open
Okayโ€”how do we know if someone has dyslexia? 

Which professionas are able to make that important determination? 

โ–ถ๏ธ Watch to find out. 

Hit me with the questions you still have about dyslexiaโ€”and know we have a few more posts to go!

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #teachreading #readingteachersofig
View
Open
What are some of the common signs of dyslexia?

Watch to learn and find out!

#demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading #dyslexia
View
Open
True โœ… or false โŒ?

#demystifyingdyslexia #dyslexiaeducation #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading
View
Open
What do you know about dyslexia? 

What questions do you have about dyslexia? 

For the next few weeks leading up to my own start to the school year I am sharing a new series called โ€œDe-Mystifying Dyslexiaโ€ and I would love for you to join me! 

Follow in my stories or on the highlight above!

#dyslexia #teading  #readingteacher #raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia

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