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December 2008, Vol. 1

	Dear Teacher, Welcome to this special holiday edition of Great Stuff for Teachers! Don't let the many December holidays pass you by without recognizing their traditions in your regular curriculum. If some of your students dread the winter season (beginning December 21), remind them of all the fun it has to offer – from snowflakes to Santa Claus! At sundown on December 21, Hanukkah begins. Teach your students about the history of the Festival of Lights, including why the menorah and dreidel are important symbols for the holiday. Many students consider Christmas their favorite holiday. Take advantage of their excitement with Christmas-themed math, geography, and vocabulary activities, not to mention arts & crafts! If your students aren't familiar with the African-American holiday Kwanzaa (December 26), try some of our great activities to celebrate the day in your classroom. Also in this issue, you'll find plenty of advice for writing perfect report cards. Best Wishes, The Editors of TeacherVision.com FEATURED THEMES Winter Emphasize the benefits of the coldest season, from snow to winter break, with these winter resources. Snowman Mobile A Winter Tree Winter Holidays Let It Snow! How Can You Make a Thermometer? Viewing Snowflakes I Dreamed I Was a Snowman Poetry Pack Snowflake Card Dressing for Winter It's Winter Weather Winter Holiday Contract Seasons Printable Book A Growing Snowflake Explaining the Winter Solstice Ski Bunnies More Winter Resources Hanukkah Celebrate the Festival of Lights, which begins at sundown on December 21. Favorite Hanukkah Activities Slideshow The Story of Hanukkah Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights Holiday Paper Chains Potato Print Wrapping Paper Clay Hanukkah Menorah Create a Menorah Gallery Israeli Children's Songs Make and Play the Dreidel Game Hanukkah Coloring Page Making a Holiday Card Jewish Knish Recipe Dreidel Games Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights Exercises More Hanukkah Resources Christmas Enjoy Christmas (Dec. 25) with holiday-themed literature, arts & crafts, skill-builders, and more. Favorite Christmas Art Activities Slideshow Christmas Printables Slideshow (Grades K-2) Christmas Printable Book (Grades K-2) Collage Christmas Tree My Christmas Wish List Hands & Feet Reindeer Heads Candle Decoration Hands-On Christmas Tree or Wreath The Polar Express Teacher's Guide Christmas Printable Book (Grades 3-5) Macaroni Ornaments Add 'Em Up for Santa "Merry Christmas" Pop-Out Card Rudolph Mask Starch Poinsettias Christmas Printables Slideshow (Grades 3-5) Christmas Songs Word Puzzles More Christmas Resources Kwanzaa Celebrate African-American History with Kwanzaa activities and resources. Kwanzaa Candles Kwanzaa Activities Kwanzaa Craft African Storytellers Favorite Kwanzaa Activities Slideshow Kwanzaa Symbols & Celebration Kwanzaa, the African-American Celebration of Ancestry Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa Creator (Coloring Page) What Is Kwanzaa? Activities for African Folk Tales Kwanzaa Background Santa Learns About Kwanzaa An Overview of Kwanzaa More Kwanzaa Resources TEACHING TOOLS Report Cards Follow our advice for crafting perfect evaluations of your students' progress. Report Card Comments: Academic Achievement & Improvement Report Card Comments & Phrases: Citizenship Report Card Comments & Phrases: General & Handwriting Report Card Comments & Phrases: Language Arts & Reading Report Card Comments & Phrases: Math Report Card Comments & Phrases: Personality & Attitude Report Card Comments & Phrases: Work Habits Report Cards: Advice for Parents Understanding Report Cards More Report Card Advice				New Content   Every month, you can find our latest materials on the New Content page. Check out our new resources today! Educator's Guide to Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope Quieting the Class Quickly Effecting Smooth Transitions in the Classroom Historical Fiction Slideshow Reading Guide for Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight A B C Letter Review Find K Things Reading Guide for Chains Math Enrichment Activities Printables Slideshow Nutrition Printables Slideshow Thank-You Gram Heredity & Genetics More New Content   Human Rights Human Rights Day is December 10. Human Rights and Responsibilities Civil and Human Rights Know Your Rights Freedom's Children and Witnesses to War Building Bridges Gingerbread Friends   Jan Brett's new book Gingerbread Friends is a fun and beautiful holiday book to bring into your classroom! This printable guide allows you to teach this cute children's story in your classroom, utilizing skills from across the curriculum.   Bingo   A game called "beano" was officially renamed "bingo" in December 1929. Play this classic game with your students. Holiday Bingo Vocabulary Bingo Healthful Foods Bingo Monumental Bingo More Games & Puzzles   Timely Topics   First Artificial Heart Transplant (December 2, 1982) Int'l Day for Abolition of Slavery (December 2) Nat'l Handwashing Week (December 7-13) Human Rights Day (December 10) DNA First Synthesized (December 14, 1967) Basketball Created (December 15, 1891) Poor Richard's Almanac Published (December 19, 1732) Winter Begins (December 21) Hanukkah Begins at Sundown (December 21) Christmas (December 25) Kwanzaa Begins (December 26) World AIDS Month (December) New Year's Day (January 1) Ellis Island Opened for Immigration (January 1, 1892) Letter Writing Week (January 4-11) Amelia Earhart Flew Solo Across Pacific (January 11, 1935) Martin Luther King Day (January 19) Inauguration Day (January 20) National Handwriting Day (January 23) Chinese New Year (January 26) National Book Month (January) National Thank-You Month (January) More December Events More January Events