A Friend for Arnie...The End!

This student is getting ready to remove the eyes so her
doughnut doesn't have to watch as it is eaten!

Oscar the doughnut says, "Hello!"

Where ever you celebrated National Doughnut Day, I hope it was filled with holes!  In first grade, my owlets had a hole lot of fun.  After reading Arnie The Doughnut, we created friends for him.  The day was just not long enough to fit in all the doughnutty fun that I planned. Is  there anything better than a well planned day were everything goes just right?  I don't think so!  A momentary glitch with the paper plates was quickly remedied and didn't even cause more than a moment of stress!  In case you missed it here is the link to my Arnie the Doughnut Unit...You can buy it on TPT, too!  It is new and improved, after I figured out some mistakes working through it with my owlets!

Good bye, Oscar!

Is it just me, or have you noticed that students seem to be distancing themselves from each other and you in anticipation of the coming changes?  I think we underestimate the stress that the end of the year causes in young students' lives.  Yes, they should be excited to be moving on to the next grade.   Yes, they should be very excited about a whole three months of relaxation and fun.  Yes, they should be excited that teachers with high expectations are finally going to leave them alone!  But, I know that one of my students has been intentionally failing tests so that I'll have him repeat first grade!  Another student who is sweet and goodhearted is suddenly doing mean sneaky things to classmates.  Everyone's patience...yes even mine...is running thin.  In these last days or weeks I pray that you will have a kindness and understanding for your students who love you and may not be as excited about The End as you are.  For some this is a sad story...I hope that you are able to help them find some happiness in saying good-bye!

National Doughnut Day! Freebie!!

Do you ever get inspiration in unusual places?  I very rarely go inside a gas station.  I love being able to pay at the pump!  Yesterday I decided to give into my love of coffee and go inside to pay.   If you give a teacher a cup of coffee, she's probably going to want a...DOUGHNUT...Yes doughnut to go with it!  WAIT...National Doughnut Day is Friday. This Friday, friends!  I would never have known that if I hadn't had that urge for a cup of joe at that particular moment in time.  I'm sure I heard angels sing when I realized that I would be able to celebrate this event in real style!   I suddenly felt so sorry for anyone who is done with school for the year...No doughnuts for them!

If you don't know Arnie yet...Let me introduce you...Arnie, you
are looking at someone who will appreciate you like no one else
can.  They will introduce you to all kinds of hungry great friends!

I find Laurie's illustrations delightful!  Each page is filled
with wonderful silliness that appeals to kids of all ages!

Several years ago, when my children were young enough to be in a summer reading programs, I was lucky enough to go and see author and illustrator Laurie Keller as she presented her new book, Arnie the Doughnut.  She brought along doughnuts that looked remarkably like Arnie himself.  She taught us the proper way to eat doughnuts which, I am happy to say, all of my children have mastered.  How you ask?  You always look at the doughnut and ask, "May I eat you, please?"  If the doughnut doesn't answer than you may go right ahead and eat it!

I can't wait to share pictures with you  of my owlets decorating their doughnuts with googly eyes and pipe cleaners. If your feeling the excitement mounting you may want to watch this video...Warning it may create too much excitement in the anticipation of National Day of the Donuts!


I'm happy to share with you these activities inspired by  the book Arnie the Doughnut and Digital Bakeshop's Kawaii Treats.What ever you do to celebrate I hope it involves a favorite doughnut of mine named Arnie who becomes the first DOuGnut ever. His adventure about friendship with someone he may

have least expected to be friends with

is as funny as it is heartwarming.   

Click on the link below to get the full packet!
National Doughnut Day 2012

Disclaimer:  This blog is in no way advocating doughnuts as a healthy life choice when it comes to food!  If there is a National Vegetable Day, this blogger promises to commemorate that day in style, too!  No doughnuts were eaten (yet!) in conjunction with this post!