Linky Love

Tessa from Tales from Outside the Classroom is hosting a "lovely" linky! It's all about LOVE.♥ Who you love. What you love. Products you love. You get the idea!

Well, I feel like I'm going to repeat what I have read from other bloggers and what I have written about many times before, but I can't help it. It's TRUE! I LOVE my new bloggy buddies. It has been an awesome journey so far. I only started in October and the friendships I've made via the internet has been incredible. All of a sudden you find yourself "talking" over email or commenting on a post like you've known the person forever. The coolest part is when you find out you have so much in common. I "met" Michele at Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans and come to find out she lives in Syracuse which is where most of my family lives and is the hometown of my parents. I feel like I've made a connection with Stacie and Amanda at Collaboration Cuties. They are always so supportive and positive with comments and they share neat ideas, too.  The Sister Teachers, Jackie and Danielle rock! I started following (and loving) their Pinterest board this past summer and now we're friends!   I totally get where they are coming from because my big sis and I are teachers, too. I absolutely can not forget my bestie Denise at Sunny Days in Second Grade. Without her encouragement and support, I would not be doing this!

I LOVE Teachers Pay Teachers. I mean WOW!! When you look at the talent and dedication of the teachers in our country and around the world, it is simply amazing. This is the part that the public needs to see. The talent. The creativity. The ingenuity. The love of teaching that we have! I love that we can showcase our individual talents and receive accolades and appreciation from our fellow colleagues. What better recognition than from our peers?!

Of course, Valentine's Day is approaching. The day of love! I haven't really had a chance to create any products, but I did want to share a little project we do in my class. It is called Forever Books. This is an idea that I saw a few years back and I fell in LOVE with. I share with my kids books that I have always loved since I was little and these books are called my forever books. For example, one of mine is Charlotte's Web. This was the first chapter book my big sister read to me. I was about 5 or 6. She gave the characters voices and read with so much expression! I remember laying on our bed as she read aloud to me. I cried and cried at the end. After that, that was a book I picked up again and again! After sharing the books with my class and I send home this letter. You can download it, but you will want to type your own so it is personal to you and your class. Feel free to copy the wording on mine.

Click here for a copy!

I have to share the other two picture books that I will love forever. Now don't make fun of me!! Promise? These are very old books and I never expected to find them on the internet, but I did! The first is called The Churkendoose (the what???). It is a book about friendship and being yourself. The Churkendoose is part chicken, part turkey, part duck, and part goose. And he's scary looking! Everyone in the barnyard is afraid of him until one day he scares away a fox and saves them all. Then they love him! There is a cute rhyme at the end about being yourself. Here is the book (remember don't laugh!):

Amazon only has used copies of course! Isn't he cute??

My other Forever Book is called How Fletcher was Hatched. Can't believe this one is still around!

This old story is about a dog whose owner has been spending more time with baby chicks than him. Fletcher decides that if he "hatches" like the chicks, Alexandra will pay attention to him. Read it to find out what happens! LOL!  Just an old fashion sweet story!

I do own both of these books and I share them every year. They are old and tattered.  I think my kids listen so attentively to the story because they can't believe how OLD they are! Maybe they can't believe how old I am!!

I hope that you will join up and share the LOVE!! Happy Thursday...it's almost the weekend!!