Before the holidays my students worked on a special project for their families: small family portraits. The children were beyond excited to create something from the heart to share with their loved ones at home. I thought their finished work was completely charming! Each student made and decorated a frame and then sketched and coloured a portrait of their family to put inside. The children even wrapped their own gifts: stamping paper bags with cookie cutters dipped in paint, making hand print cards, and wrapping their gifts in tissue (a first for many children – they were excited to wrap something up all by themselves!). I sincerely hope their families loved their gifts as much as the children loved making them.

To everyone who has visited my blog this year: thank you! This year I have been fortunate to connect with some truly wonderful educators (both in person and online) and I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the dedicated teachers who continue to inspire me each day!

Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best in 2017!