Month of JOY: Christmas Pancakes Who doesn't love fresh homemade pancakes? They are a staple in our house especially on weekends, so why not try to spice things up a bit and make some Christmas pancakes. Just add a few red and green m+m's to your pancake batter and VIOLA an instant Christmas favorite. We just love enjoying our Christmas pancakes while singing our favorite Christmas tunes! ...

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Month of Joy: A Child's Tree There is a two year old in our house that is jumping with joy about Christmas!  He loves searching for his Elf on the Shelf, singing carols, helping to wrap presents, telling everyone it's "Jesus' birthday!", and having his own little Christmas tree. I decorated a mini tree just for him on our screened porch this year.  He spends so much time out there, I thought this would be the perfect place...

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Big changes in the New Year!

We hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!  What a wonderful time of year to celebrate and enjoy family and friends, and that's just what we're doing!  As we all clean up our homes, organize the toys and clutter, and make way for a new year of resolutions, we'll be doing the same here at Simply Sprout.  We're excited to be working on some new things around here and can't wait to see you in the new year!...

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Month of Joy: A Child's Tree

There is a two year old in our house that is jumping with joy about Christmas!  He loves searching for his Elf on the Shelf, singing carols, helping to wrap presents, telling everyone it's "Jesus' birthday!", and having his own little Christmas tree.I decorated a mini tree just for him on our screened porch this year.  He spends so much time out there, I thought this would be the perfect place for a special tree.  I rounded up things...

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Month of JOY: Christmas Pancakes

Who doesn't love fresh homemade pancakes? They are a staple in our house especially on weekends, so why not try to spice things up a bit and make some Christmas pancakes. Just add a few red and green m+m's to your pancake batter and VIOLA an instant Christmas favorite. We just love enjoying our Christmas pancakes while singing our favorite Christmas tun...

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Month of JOY: Snowman on a stick

What brings more JOY to a child's face than doughnuts. These yummy snowmen are easy to create and oh so yummy to eat!All you need is:Powdered mini doughnutscandy cornsmall round chocolates twizzlers or other rope like candysmall cake perils&nb...

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Month of JOY: The Magic of a letter from Santa

Nothing brings more JOY than the Magic of the Christmas season. As a parent it makes my heart smile when I watch my little ones take in every moment and get so excited. As the big day quickly approaches we thought your little ones might want to hear from the jolly ol guy himself. Send them their very own letter from the North Pole and watch their faces light up with JOY.Want to take it a step further visitPortable North Pole and send them their very...

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Month of Joy: Giving Hearts

 For a goat, he's pretty cute isn't he?  I find great joy today in knowing that my students came together to learn, celebrate diversity, and give a goat!  For the past several years I have challenged my students to purchase an animal through organizations like Heifer International, Mercy Corps, and Samaritan's Purse to be given to a stranger far away.  A gift that they would not see delivered, one that did not come with a gift...

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Simply Teach from the heart not from the book

As our friends and colleagues prepare to walk back into the classroom tomorrow and greet those innocent smiling faces we realize that this will be a most difficult day. We struggle with our own fears and emotions trying to grasp onto a concept that still feels so foreign and unimaginable. How can we possibly go about our day to day routine when something so tragic grabs hold of us.....I have just one answer......it's quite simple we Teach.We...

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Month of JOY: Christmas Countdown

Christmas time brings so much JOY to little children, they are oblivious to the hustle and bustle of the season and simply marvel in its magic....ahhh to be young again!To harness some of that excitement and wonder we created a Christmas countdown picture frame. Before  bed each night we remove one of the clips...counting down to the big day!We found a wooden frame at our local Hobby Lobby and painted it blue. We used a branch from our Christmas...

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Month of Joy: A Southern Snow Day

Paper plate snowmen are about as close as we get to Frosty down in the deep south.  We dodge hurricanes and tropical storms, but the chances of relishing in a day off from school due to snow is unfathomable.  So each year it brings me joy to host a "Snow Day" in my classroom.  This year, I ventured to my son's class for a wintery day of fun!  I always ask the students to wear their pjs to school, and the fun begins from there!Some...

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Month of JOY: 12/12/12

Nothing brings me more JOY than some math fun!Today is 12/12/12 it is officially the last time we will ever see a repeating date again. So why not take a little break from all of the holiday fun to celebrate numbers, specifically the number 12.Here area  few fun activities you can do to celebrate:Make a dozen cupcakes or cookies, when decorating them add 12 pieces of candy to the top of each one.For your little ones Draw a large number 12 and...

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Month of JOY: Christmas Card Giveaway!

Whether the site of Christmas cards brings you instant panic or JOY we have a deal for you!Simply sprout is partnering with Magic by Marcy and MPIX for a fabulous giveaway.Magic by Marcy is offering a 10% discount on all orders for Simply Sprout Fans Magic by Marcy offers a variety of custom Christmas cards that are uniquely designed to compliment MPIX printing services. Your custom creation will be sure to be a favorite amongst your family...

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Month of Joy: Reindeer Wanted

 Joy comes in a lot of forms, especially during this time of year.  As a teacher there is nothing that brings me more joy than being able to combine teaching standards and concepts with creativity.  Teaching children to write with detail and explanation is sometimes difficult, and it doesn't help that they have Sugar Plum Fairies dancing through their heads right now!  Recently I have seen some great teachers make a fun lesson...

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Month of Joy: Christmas Card Geography

Who doesn't love receiving Christmas cards in the mail at this time of year?  In an age of email, blogs, and Facebook it is refreshing to have a small little glimpse (on paper) into the life of a family or friend that lives miles away.  Use your Christmas cards as a teachable moment.  I like to have my students bring in a Christmas Card of their choosing and research where that person or family is from.  Students have made brochures...

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