So I'm totally NOT one of those people that find the Elf on the Shelf creepy. 

I find it magical, adorable, and way to fun not to have in my classroom!! 

This year will be the 4th year that Freddie the Elf comes to visit! :) His time in our classroom is without a doubt the biggest memory my students have from the year. My first group of kids are now in 3rd grade. Each year, they run to my classroom to ask questions about Freddie and if he has returned. I love it. They love it. And that makes me happy.

I've had many questions about Freddie. 

"How do you get started?" 

"What do the parents think?" 

"Do your kids actually believe it?" 

"How much work is involved?"  

Let's get started answering those...

Elves are Christmas related- how do you get away with that?

First of all, I send an email to my parents in November asking if any of them object to having a "holiday elf" in our classroom--- see what I did there? It's a HOLIDAY elf- not a CHRISTMAS elf. {Calling Freddie a holiday elf is essential as I have many Muslim students in my class.} 

In all of my years teaching, I've never had any objections!

How do the parents feel about it?

I then send out a SignUp to my parents using signupgenius.com for parents to secretly sign up for a date to take Freddie home for a one-night sleepover! Y'all, it's absolutely hilarious to see the record timing your signup fills up- the parents LOVE it because their child LOVES it!! I encourage parents to not tell their child when they will be taking Freddie home, I like the students to be surprised when it is their turn. 

More on what the students do with Freddie at home a little later.... 

Then comes the delivery...

Every year, the night before Freddie arrives, I wrap him in a shoe box with bubble wrap and lots of marshmallows- snowballs- and glitter.
I've heard of other teachers wrapping the Elf on the Shelf box instead of a shoe box. The only reason I don't do this is because the book mentions reporting back to Santa, and I try to talk about how Freddie is a Holiday Elf- not Christmas.
 I put the box in the freezer and slap on the North Pole delivery label I created.

At home, the kids are able to play with Freddie (if they are wearing the magic gloves), take him to the grocery store, or have Freddie watch them play at basketball practice. They are also asked to take pictures of Freddie and his adventures, and send the pictures back to class for the students to share with everyone. 

 Every day, your students will return the elf to class. Place your elf in an area of the room for him to do so some good observing. When your students leave for a long period of time, (specials, lunch, recess etc.) place your elf in a different part of the room and participate in some fun! 

One last suggestion I have to share with you...

While having a classroom elf is loads of fun- some days I'm just not feeling the holiday spirit. 

When the kids come in screaming "WHERE'S FREDDIE!!???" - it get's real old real fast. 

So, to solve this problem, I had Freddie write a letter to the kids saying they were hurting his elf ears with their screaming. Next time they come into class looking for him, they need to come in quietly, and when they spot Freddie- use the secret signal of showing "elf ears". 

Y'all- it was magic. No more screaming.

All in all, having a classroom elf requires some work and sneakiness. BUT, like I said before- it'll be a memory your kids will never forget. Isn't that what we want as teachers?? 

Now you want a Holiday Elf in your classroom? 

PERFECT! 

I created a pack to help other teachers get started with this holiday fun in their classrooms- check it out by clicking on the picture below!

•Classroom Elf Ideas- stuck on what to do? See the list of ideas!

•Elf Files Binder cover/pages for you to create your own classroom documentation of elf sightings

•Optional student Elf Files Mini Journals for each student to document their elf sightings

•“Name That Elf” Graph to vote on classroom elf name

•Parent Letter to send home with your elf when students take him home.

•North Pole Delivery label and “If Found” badge to attach to the bag or box you send home with your elf 

Head on over to my TPT store to grab yourself a copy!! 

 Ashley and Amanda from For His Glory did SUCH a fantastic job with all of the details!! 

The name tags, the mason jars (complete with a Texas decal sticker, and washi tape) were 

AH- DOOR-A- BLE! 

....and the door prizes!! Eek!! I was so fortunate to win these BEAUTIFUL handmade earrings from Stephanie (Mrs. D's Corner) 

It's been a few weeks since this little blog of mine has had any attention! Too much of my time has been spent focused on taming the craziness in my class- and watching Big Brother. (#teamderrick!) 

If you've read my previous classroom reveal post, you know that I am all about Great Expectations with my kids! My students are held to high standards and are expected to follow 8 expectations each day. Part of the GE "gig" is to have a Classroom Creed that your students create and recite each morning during the Call to Excellence (or Morning Meeting). When I had this group in kindergarten last year, they weren't ready to help create the creed. Instead, I had them recite the standard "classroom pledge" I found ...thank you Google!

After the week I've had... I'm thinking I need to buy this adorable mug :) 

right?? so true.

Thanks for stopping by, and thanks to DoodleBugs again for hosting! :)

 Y'all have already heard me PRAISE Hope King and her fabulous class I attended in Vegas. She has truly changed my mindset as a teacher. I've always thought of myself as a passionate, engaged, and out of the box teacher, but I had no idea what it meant to TRULY engage my students until I met Hope. #rockstarteacher

Well, she now has outdone herself with an AMAZING ebook focusing on nothing but Engagement! 

It is incredible. And a definite MUST have. #letsstartanepidemic

 And I'll be logging back in tomorrow to snatch up her amazing science resource for Matter!

 More amazing lessons. I swear, they're never ending. #shesagenius 

Michelle Oakes has created the PERFECT Focus Wall pack. I mainly purchased it for the fabulous Math vocabulary cards inside! Love all of the fun colors!