Tuesday's Tip

I've been away from the computer ALL WEEK running here and running there...running around everywhere...like Dr. Seuss's The Foot Book with feet here and there and everywhere!

So...I guess it's catch up time!  I believe it when life "wakes up" in the Spring.  We have SOOOO much going on both at home AND at school.  How is your life awakening this Spring????

Tuesday's Tip: Newsletter Homework

After several years of teaching, I discovered that "telling" students to practice spelling, vocabulary, and reading and math skills, etc. doesn't mean a whole lot.  The students have no idea HOW to practice and many parents are unsure of where to start, too.  Because of this, I began including skills and simple practice activities on the back of my weekly newsletters.  I also make a tiny space for parents and caregivers to initial when complete.  Below is a copy of the "Academic News" portion of my most recent newsletter.  I create my newsletter on PrintMaster with three columns.  My students and parents ALWAYS know what to do!  You may notice spelling activities at the bottom of the first column.  I have a list of spelling activities with their explanations that the students keep in their daily binders if they need to refer to it.  Tweak this to suit your classroom's needs.

Monday's Moment

Today went rather smoothly considering we're now adjusting to a new school schedule because of the many snow days we experienced in February.  I'm finding MOST of my MONDAY Moments occur while using the new Promethean Board!  It seems, I am constantly forgetting to click on the necessary tool to enable me to write or erase, which then causes all kinds of giggles.  The kids really get a kick out of my booboos while using the Board!

Did you have a Monday Moment you would like to share?

Special Days for March 7-13th

Ok - so I'm STILL running a little behind.  I'm barely keeping my head above the water right now.  Think I'll repeat Thursday's Thought - Whew!  Praying for this week to be a little calmer...

 )()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

This is GIRL SCOUT Week!  This is the season for Girl Scout cookies.  Yum!  Be sure to support your local troops and stock up your freezer so you can enjoy those cookies ALL year.

 

Wednesday, March 10th is Harriet Tubman Day

 

I'll have to say I've only touched on Harriet Tubman each year during Black History Month.  So, who was Harriet Tubman?  She was a Civil War Spy that helped slaves get to free areas of our country.  Click here for a nice biography that is kid friendly.  Here is a very kid friendly site with all sorts of activities regarding Ms. Tubman.  I like to read Follow the Drinking Gourd since this book is about slaves escaping to freedom.  Teachervision.com has a several pages of Harriet Tubman printables for the younger students.  (You can get 3 items free, but anymore and you have to sign up.)  Please, share how you study about Harriet Tubman!

Thursday, March 11th is Johnny Appleseed Day

The resources for an apple day are endless...

Please, everyone share YOUR apple day fun!
Don't forget to include some links!

Thursday's Thought AND Friday's Finale

Yay for the SuNsHiNe!!!

My thought for Thursday goes along with our Finale...

WHEW!

I can't put it any other way...our FIRST FULL WEEK since before Christmas break!  And, it's been a doozy...  I'm glad to be back on a predictable schedule, but we end the week with news of having to change our "predictable" schedule because of the many snow days.  Our school board voted to extend our school day for the next 13 days.  We will now go from 7:45-3:15 for the next 2 1/2 weeks - all to make up just ONE day.  WHEW...again!

I've had so many WHEW moments...and I've been SOOOOOO pooped...I've been behind ALL week at posting!  Oh well, I'm sure all things will return to normal soon.  

^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!^!

MORE HANDWRITING POEMS:

The Letter D

Dd Dd Dd

D is for dinosaur,

Skating on the ice,

Eating a donut

And a dish of rice.

The Letter E

Ee Ee Ee

E is for elephant,

Beating on a drum,

Wearing purple shorts

And chewing bubble gum.

The Letter F

Ff Ff Ff

F is for fish,

Swimming in a lake,

Blowing out candles

On a birthday cake.

Tuesday's Tip AND Wednesday's Website

Calling ALL parents!!!

I get an email newsletter from education.com and enjoy reading the tips they offer for all learners, from preschool to high school.  This particular newsletter I get contains tips/activities for learning at home.  Since I stay involved with my own four children at home, this gives us ways to interact and learn WHILE having fun. These activities can also be included on your classroom newsletters to give parents at-home learning ideas.  Our school system requires parent involvement opportunities...so, these activities are a GREAT way to meet this standard!  Below is a small snippet of my most recent email newsletter.  You can also visit education.com and click on the "Tips from Teachers" in the right column to subscribe.

3rd Grade

Cook Up Some Science!

by Julie Williams, a credentialed elementary, middle, and high school teacher from Palo Alto, California.

As winter days continue, remember that there’s lots of warm and cozy third grade learning available right in your kitchen! Third grade math includes extensive work on fractions and measurement. In science class, students transfer these skills into early experiments that show what happens when you blend ingredients.

Cooking helps all this science make sense, often with delicious results. While we may take it for granted that eggs, flour, butter and sugar can be mixed with baking soda, heated up, and eaten as cookies, the chemistry behind all that is really quite sophisticated. One batch of chocolate chip cookies, for example, may require just one teaspoon of baking soda. But try a little practice with the scientific thinking processes of prediction, cause and effect: in part of a batch, leave out that baking soda. It's the ingredient that makes cookies spread: see what happens without it!  Click here for another of our favorite kitchen chemistry experiments: making marshmallows you can drop into your hot chocolate.

Monday's Moment

Monday went VERY well!  With all the activities around my building this week and it being only the second full day to use my new Promethean Board, I thought for sure we'd have a Monday Moment of some sort.  But, to my surprise things worked out great!  I'm so thankful to have had a prosperous, yet uneventful day.

Quote - When prosperity comes, do not use all of it.  ~Confucius

So, if you had a Monday Moment that made you want to hit the rewind button and write a new script...please, share it!