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Having an elf has gained more popularity every Christmas season! And with good reason! Having an elf in your classroom allows for all kinds of fun to be had and a teacher can use it to his/her advantage! Wink! This time of year can be so magical for our students, and you can be a part of that joy and excitement! With these tips and ideas for a classroom elf, planning for an elf will be a breeze!
For the last four years, I've had an elf in my classroom. I place an elf in the classroom and read to them the story, Elf on a Shelf by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell. Then we talk about how we are going to have a special elf in our room until Christmas time and how the elf will report back to Santa every night.
I tell you, it is the best thing ever! My students are saints All. Month. Long. ‘Cause who would want to be on Santa's naughty list?! The students have an amazingly fun time and I am in Teacher Heaven because my students are well-behaved. It's a win-win!
My number one Classroom Elf Tip is for the elf to leave daily notes for the students. Students will love this!! When I did this with my class, they couldn't wait every morning to read their note from the elf!
If leaving a note every time seems stressful, then choose to only do it a couple of times. Making it more of a surprise. If you'd rather not have to think of what an elf note would say, use the Elf Notes I've created! Bonus: they are available in digital and print!
I like to wait until the last week before Christmas Break before the elf starts getting a little mischievous. Here's why! If the elf starts acting silly, the kids will love it, but then they will keep expecting this to happen! Then you'll have to think of some great clever ideas for weeks.
So here's my Classroom Elf Tip – plan for the last week before break for you elf to be a bit mischievous. Here are some easy things you can do:
One resource I use with my class is an Elf Writing Prompts. Each day the kids get to learn a little about the elf and then they get a new prompt to write to!
I cannot tell you how many times I used to rush into the classroom on cold December morning, thinking of a place to quickly move the elf before my students got to class! It's a rooky mistake… and it can easily be avoided.
Have your purse or backpack be your trigger! As soon as you grab your purse or backpack to head home for the day, think, “Oh… I've got to move the elf!” By moving the elf before heading home for the day, you save yourself the worry of having to do it first thing in the morning or worse, gasp, forgetting to move it!
Need some ideas on where to place your elf? Here are a few of my favorites:
Definitely keep it away from high traffic areas where students might accidentally bump it or touch it!
It might happen!
In the worst possible scenario, someone touches the elf!
If this happens, have your students write a letter to Santa asking for help. Turn it into a persuasive writing piece…hehehe! They need to convince Santa on why he should give them another chance with their elf.
All you need is a little bit or glitter, a Hershey kiss, a peppermint candy, or some hot cocoa… bascially anything that an elf might like to help it get its magic back!
Your students can take sโelfโies or, in other words, a picture of the himself/herself as an elf! In thisย Classroom Elf Freebie, I've included a pennant so that you can create a classroom banner using each students' SโelfโIE!
Click here for a Classroom Elf Freebie
If you have an elf in your room, then thisย Classroom Elf FREEBIEย is perfect for you!ย I've included samples of the resources mentioned above!
I hope that these Classroom Elf Tips make for a magical Christmas with your class! Make sure to check out Classroom Elf Notes for a stress-free December!
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