30 October 2012

The Littlest Pumpkin

Okay, so I meant to post this earlier this evening, but I’ve been glued to the TV watching the footage from Sandy’s path of destruction!  To all my East Coast friends…I’m praying for you!!!!  PLEASE be safe!!!!!!! 

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Just wanted to quickly share a fun little activity we did after reading the book, The Littlest Pumpkin by R.A. Herman.  This is one of my favorite seasonal stories!  There is SO much you can do with it!!!  This year, I decided to use this story to reinforce the concept of making text-to-self connections.  First…we did a little story map action before digging in to our focus comprehension strategy.  Then it was time for a little writing & craftivity.

jacko7

This little craftivity was inspired by this art project I found at The Elementary Art Room.

Together, we discussed why the littlest pumpkin felt disappointed.  We wrote about it during our whole group shared/guided writing time.  My babies are getting SO good about putting “meatball spaces” in between their words and remembering their *stop signs*!  After writing together, I had my kids independently write about a time they felt disappointed.  Some of their little answers were CRACKING me right up!

jacko2  jacko3jacko4 jacko6

Just LOVE the way they turned out and their little text-to-self connections were too cute!  I LOVED reading them!  SO funny to see what makes them disappointed…like this one…

jacko5    jacko1

TOO cute!! 

We’ve been getting ready for Candy Day with a few little fun things in all sorts of random places.  I found these cutie fingers at the $1 spot at Target, so we’ve been using them as our “magic reading fingers” and pointers as we read around the room.  I used to LOVE these things!!!

jacko8

And we’ve been doing a little problem solving, too.  Thanks to Kathleen’s Daily Calendar Bundle, my kids are seriously kickin’ tail with their math skills!

jacko9  jacko10

Now I’m off to rest up for tomorrow’s festivities.  Should be an interesting day to say the least…full moon AND Halloween?!?!?!  Enough said!  HA!!! 

Happy trick-or-treating to you!

43 comments:

  1. Mrs. McHaffieOctober 30, 2012 at 7:48 PM

    What a super cute pumpkin!!!
    Good luck tomorrow! It's going to be a Venti kinda day for me!
    :)
    Kelly
    Beg, Borrow, Steal

    ReplyDelete
  2. VickieOctober 30, 2012 at 8:07 PM

    We use those same leveled readers! Your kiddos are way farther ahead than mine though...my high group just started level 3s! Love the pumpkins :)
    Vickie

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  3. UnknownOctober 30, 2012 at 8:09 PM

    Those pumpkins have so much character! Super darling!
    Amy Howbert

    Little Miss Organized
    amyhowbert1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kate DanielOctober 30, 2012 at 8:23 PM

    LOVE the finger for reading! Adorable!!!


    Kate
    Second Grade Sparkle

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michelle HudgeonsOctober 30, 2012 at 8:35 PM

    Love those pumpkins!
    Michelle @ Smitten With First

    ReplyDelete
  6. EmBellishOctober 30, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    Hahaha! I love the pointer fingers. My kiddos would LOVE those. Love those dollar deals! Looks like you guys had a blast in Chicago. So fun to have such an awesome network of teachers nation-wide.


    Emily
    Tangled with Teaching

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownOctober 30, 2012 at 9:37 PM

    So adorable! I love pumpkin activities and this is going in my file. Thanks for sharing. :)
    CruzninFirst

    ReplyDelete
  8. JodiOctober 31, 2012 at 3:43 AM

    Love the pumpkins! Your pictures are always amazing!!

    ❀Jodi
    Fun In First

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kimberly AnnOctober 31, 2012 at 5:51 AM

    Love this! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hsawyer29October 31, 2012 at 7:36 AM

    Do you have the activity sheet somewhere we can download? I would love to do it along with the pumpkin.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Room 214-Ms. Wenzel's BlogOctober 31, 2012 at 9:54 AM

    Booooooo Huge Fun :>)
    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lita LitaOctober 31, 2012 at 1:50 PM

    Love those pumpkins! I just pinned them :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Mr. First GradeOctober 31, 2012 at 5:20 PM

    LOVE The Littlest Pumpkin activity! Tried to do it today, but our library did not have a copy... I pinned it so I can remember for next year! Thanks for sharing!

    Mr. First Grade

    ReplyDelete
  14. Miss CosbyOctober 31, 2012 at 6:09 PM

    Adorable and I love that reading skill. Going in the 'remember next October' file :)

    Brenda
    You Might Be a First Grader...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Traci ClausenOctober 31, 2012 at 7:18 PM

    The pumpkins are SO cute!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jennifer RomeoNovember 1, 2012 at 6:24 AM

    LOVE LOVE LOVE these (and everything else you do!) Do you have a copy of the text-to-self pumpkin activity sheet I can download or buy on TPT? Thank you for your awesome ideas and always sharing!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. JoNovember 1, 2012 at 6:38 AM

    Hi!
    My name is Joana, I am 24 years old and I am from Portugal (next to Spain).
    I am a primary school teacher in a private college and this is my third year of teaching. Since last year I discovered many blogs like yours through “Pinterest”.
    I implemented some of your ideas and I am fascinated by your creativity, cooperation in classroom, independence and autonomy that you give to the children.
    I’d tried to do many things similar to yours but they were not always well accepted by my director and coordinator, because innovation makes a difference, and in making a difference insecurity is more than often created!
    I wonder if there’s any possibility to do an internship in your school, to learn and see, in practice, what I visualize in your blogs.
    I’d love to get an international experience for about one or two years in your country.
    My partner, Tiago, is also a teacher. He teaches English to Kindergarten and primary school children. He wanted to go to China but for me, it’s too far, and then there is the difference in the culture and language which would cause other types of adaption, which I feel would impede my spontaneity. He would love to learn new approaches and different strategies in his field.
    My e-mail is: joana_mbarbosa@hotmail.com, and I trust that you will be able to assist me in improving my educational skills. If it is necessary to give my contact to another person, please feel free to do so.
    With my best regards,
    Joana Fernandes

    ReplyDelete
  18. tzlaketNovember 1, 2012 at 9:18 PM

    Cara, what camera do you use? I am struggling with posting pictures to my little blog, and am wondering if it is my camera or the blog format I chose? Thanks, tons. I always love your ideas/inspiration! :0)
    Toni

    ReplyDelete
  19. Fifty Shades of Fabulous in FirstNovember 3, 2012 at 11:37 AM

    Love the pumpkin creativity and writing- too cute? Do you have a download for the writing activity? I'd love to do it with my kiddos next year.

    ReplyDelete
  20. JudyNovember 4, 2012 at 7:58 PM

    Hi Cara,
    I saw that you gave the east coast some love on your post and as a former Jersey girl that truly makes me happy!
    Being that you're way more popular than I am, I wanted to know if you could want to help me out to spread the word about helping a school in Northern NJ. They lost everything due to the floods. If you want to help or know of anyone else that would like to help, please visit my page

    http://teachinglittleapples.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-school-needs-your-help.html

    Thanks so much!!

    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  21. Amanda HoerstkampSeptember 25, 2013 at 7:43 AM

    Is the text-to-self activity available for download?

    ReplyDelete
  22. RebeccaOctober 7, 2013 at 12:54 PM

    Can I get a copy of the text-to-self activity with the Littlest Pumpkin book?

    ReplyDelete
  23. HayleycOctober 7, 2013 at 4:03 PM

    I love this idea! Could I get a copy of the text-to-self activity that goes with the Littlest Pumpkin book, or where can I find it available?

    ReplyDelete
  24. Little Miss TeacherOctober 8, 2013 at 5:14 PM

    is there a download for this worksheet?
    thank you!

    Lgaray2391@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. UnknownOctober 15, 2013 at 7:44 PM

    I was wondering if you can lead me to the worksheet that goes along with the super cute pumpkins?

    ReplyDelete
  26. UnknownOctober 24, 2013 at 10:05 AM

    I'm wondering the same thing as others. We are working hard on connections right now and I'd love to use this next week. thejenchileatgmaildotcom
    Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. KeAndraOctober 25, 2013 at 8:30 AM

    I would love a copy of the text-to-self connetion download as well! We are reading the book next week!
    KeAndra
    keandrad@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. UnknownDecember 5, 2013 at 4:30 PM

    I would also love a copy of the text-to-self connection as well. Thank you!
    rbkkcordova@ymail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. UnknownSeptember 30, 2015 at 8:10 AM

    i would love a copy of the sheet as well! meredithredick@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Laura HanleySeptember 30, 2015 at 10:22 PM

    Hello! I love this activity. Would you please email me the text-to-self worksheet. I greatly appreciate it and admire all of your wonderful ideas. :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Laura HanleySeptember 30, 2015 at 10:23 PM

    I forgot to include my email address. It's happytimesLh@aol.com. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  32. LisaOctober 9, 2015 at 5:03 AM

    Love this! I can't wait to hang this pumpkins out in our hallway to get the school ready for fall! Could I also get a copy of the text to self page?

    lisaprice1988@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. LisaOctober 9, 2015 at 5:03 AM

    Love this! I can't wait to hang this pumpkins out in our hallway to get the school ready for fall! Could I also get a copy of the text to self page?

    lisaprice1988@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. UnknownOctober 10, 2015 at 3:34 PM

    Hi! I love this activity! Could I also get a copy of the text-to-self page? Thx! And also, I love your products!!

    ericagraze@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Victoria FloreyOctober 15, 2015 at 12:33 PM

    Can I get a copy of the text-to-self activity? vtilson@wcs.k12.va.us
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  36. JamieOctober 19, 2015 at 7:27 PM

    Would you be able to send me text-to-self page? jlfrien@gmail.com. Thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. UnknownOctober 20, 2015 at 1:44 PM

    Can I please have a copy of the text to self page also? mollie.reischman@wvsd.org
    Thanks in advance! :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. UnknownOctober 24, 2015 at 2:19 PM

    I would be interested in the link to the download for The Littlest Pumpkin, please. I can't find it in your TPT store.

    ReplyDelete
  39. UnknownOctober 29, 2015 at 9:13 AM

    Hi there! I think I have the same questions as others! If you are emailing the text to self activity worksheet can I please have a copy too? My email is nray@ivcschools.com Thanks so much!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. UnknownOctober 6, 2016 at 12:38 PM

    Awesome! Can I get a copy of the text-to-self activity? nereida.gutierrez@mcallenisd.net

    ReplyDelete
  41. UnknownOctober 16, 2016 at 6:32 AM

    I have been looking for this worksheet and can't seem to find it! Anyway you would be able to send me a copy? Or a link to purchase? Thanks!
    rachel.mcdonald77@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Mrs. McNeal's MailerOctober 19, 2016 at 1:18 PM

    I love this text-to self- activity. Is there anyway you could send me a copy or can I purchase it.

    Thanks!
    mmcneal@richland2.org

    ReplyDelete
  43. AnonymousOctober 29, 2016 at 12:37 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete