giving thanks

In this season of giving thanks, there are many things that I want to remember to be thankful for. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. husband

2. son

3. daughter

4. parents

5. sisters

6. health

7. home

8. food

9. friends

10. too many blessings to list in just ten!

New Year's Day Half Marathon

I came across a half-marathon in my area on New Year's Day. I am thinking about doing it. After looking at it, I think I can. Here are a few of my favorite things about it:

1. in the area

2. not on a Sunday

3. a great way to start off the New Year

4. run/walk event

5. no time limit

6. 13.1 miles

7. a great challenge

8. something new

9. not too expensive

10. will add more meaning to my workouts

vocabulary activities

My daughter has moved from spelling to vocabulary this year. In the past I kept a list of spelling activities to vary from week to week. She has not been enjoying her vocabulary book, so I wanted to put together a similar list of vocabulary activity ideas. I came across a website with some good ideas. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. use or lose (use the word six times in a day)

2. lotus

3. concentration

4. pictionary

5. balderdash

6. poem

7. word pyramid

8. crossword

9. use in comic strip

10. word cube

Fall Fun

It seems that everyone loves fall. The weather starts to cool off and time outdoors is pleasant. Here are a few of my favorite fall activities:

1. go for a walk

2. collect leaves

3. gather pecans

4. play catch

5. bike ride

6. read a book

7. tree bark rubbing

8. go to the farmer's market

9. bake

10. eat the autumn goodies

and still more ideas for a literature study

As you can see, we have lots of fun with independent literature study units. This will be my last list for now of ideas to use with any book. Maybe some of my favorites will help you come up with some ideas too:

1. write interview questions for a main character or for the author

2. illustrate a favorite scene from the story

3. make a mobile of items important to the story

4. act out a scene from the story

5. before you finish the book, stop reading and write down your own ending for the story. Then finish reading the book to see what happens

6. create game show questions and answers about the book

7. A-Z sentences (write one sentence starting with each letter of the alphabet about the story. there will be 26 sentences.)

8. design a brochure/pamphlet for a location in the book

9. make up a test to give others about the book

10. make up game show or board game questions about the story