“Gratitude bestows reverence…changing forever how we experience life and the world.” — John Milton

Thanksgiving Break is practically upon us!  The students are restless.  I am restless.  I can practically smell the pumpkin pie and cookies and all things yummy fresh from the oven!  So close! 

When I was in school Thanksgiving Break consisted of Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday; we were busy in classes Monday-Wednesday of that week.  And I do not ever recall there being a high rate of absenteeism.  When I started teaching in 2008 (for the same district I graduated from), students had gained Wednesday off.  I remember being so wowed.  But, the truancy was high for Monday and Tuesday.  Really, those two days had so many absences at my school that they were like planning days.  Then a few years in, district must have decided the absentee rate was too high and thus not worth running Monday and Tuesday.  The whole week was allotted for Thanksgiving.  

Now the truancy just begins the week before.  A never-ending battle.  

The ten writing prompts that were listed in the last blog post are now in a nicely organized PDF that has been uploaded to the Free Little Resource Library.  Hurray!  I also added six more prompts, so there are a total of 16.  I figure, depending upon districts, there are generally not more than 16 days that lead up to Thanksgiving Break.   

If you need anything fall related for this month, my Narrative Writing Activity is great for the whole month.  

And if you’re looking for anything early, I have a fun unit on Saki’s “Bertie’s Christmas Eve.”

Happy Teaching and Happy Restful Thanksgiving Breaking!  

PS:  TpT will be having a sale this month on November 28^th and 29^th, therefore I will postpone my birthday sale for a week or two, but I will create a post once that belated birthday sale goes live!

M.D. Saints
Reading the Rapids
Liberty Dog Writing Co.