When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels. -author unknown

We've had our fair share of snow in Minnesota this year with two feet on the ground and piles up to four feet lining sidewalks and roads.  Along with the snow have been record cold temps, so the prospect of going out to either shovel or make snow angels - is, well, unappealing. So if you're like me and stuck in an icy cold rut - the only thing to do is find what comforts you best and indulge.   I walked this morning at an indoor arena where the ice is where it's supposed to be:  inside the rink.  Now I'm headed for a second cup of coffee and good book.  If you're in a classroom, remember to find great filler activities on tpt.com.  In this era of too much testing (forced labor - like shoveling) and too little creativity (snow angels) there's got to be a little fun in the day's weather forecast! Inside looking out Be well today and always,

 

The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Paying attention to each and every student isn't such an easy thing these days!  This latest trend (hope to God it's a trend, anyway, so it will move on) of overtesting and data collecting  has created classrooms that look more like factories than families.  Kids turn into numbers and teachers become testers and evaluators -  much like the business world we're supposed to be emulating.

So how much attention can we pay to individual kids - as kids - when we have to pay attention, first and foremost, to the numbers?

When our district first started following the "edicts" of No Child Left Behind - putting up data walls to measure progress and scripting teachers and kids alike and taking creative and personal interactions - the hallmarks of successful teaching and learning - completely out of the picture, I wondered what could be next -  Family metrics?  Collecting data at home on conversations at the dinner table? (Remember now, the standard requires complete sentences to answer our questions by age 5.  One syllable responses not allowed!)  hand washing? turn taking?  milk spills?

But no matter what they say, our classrooms aren't factories and our best teachers try hard to maintain warm, safe, "family-like" classroom environments, amidst the micromanaging.  And paying attention to each student - either by listening to what she says or watching what she does - will always be the most important thing teachers do, our "most precious gift."


Be well today and always,

Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will really hurt me.....

All the judgments we adults openly share and then broadcast about one another in the media and social media - too fat, too thin, too brainy, too vague, too self righteous, too Democrat, too Republican, too sweet, too sarcastic, too rich, too bossy, too talkative, too dumb, too quiet, too whatever! 

Just wondering how that behavior impacts our kids.  We tell them not to tease or bully kids who are different and then we rant on facebook about people whose views and lifestyles are.......different!  Isn't that the same as name-calling?  And taken a step or two further, bullying?

Bullying is a big deal, but not only in classrooms.  I made this sign to add to my own collection of words posted here and there around the house - just as a reminder.  Click here if you'd like a copy, too!

Be well today and always,

My shadow! My very own shadow! ...and it's all mine. - Peter Pan

I looked for a worthy quote about shadows/winter/Groundhog Day and got sidetracked by this voice inside my head: Mary Martin singing about finding her (his) shadow after meeting Wendy at the Darling Residence.  And wondering why I know every word of every song in that show....

Back to shadows and winter and Groundhog Day!  If you live in the Midwest, you don't anticipate an early end to this particular winter - one of our harshest in recent years - but the legend still brings a smile, or more likely a roll of the eyes when we hear its pronouncement.

If you're a second grade teacher, click here for a freebie for days leading up to Groundhog Day  It includes groundhog clipart from Morgan Ramsay at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cute-Groundhog-Clipart-FREE-FOR-COMMERCIAL-USE-501664  She has great stuff!

Here are some other products that might help you get through the winter grind - whether you use them for yourself or for the sub:                                         

 

 Stay warm wherever you are and remember to do whatever it is that brings you peace of mind.

 

Be well today and always,



 

Still working on that dream! -us

It's Black History Month and we all look to our great African American leaders in this ongoing battle for civil rights. Much as I revere MLK, Rosa, and others  - including President Obama -  I always taught my kids first about Abraham Lincoln, the man who got us started towards equality.  I know many others contributed and should be given credit for change, but for me, it's Abe.

It's because of the Emancipation Proclamation, of course.  Parts of it are included in these free comprehension passages on Civil Rights.  Click here to download:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-i62PVJovVednBsblVJQ2NjUDA/edit?usp=sharing

These passages challenge 4th-6th grade readers to imagine an America today without the contributions of MLK, Rosa Parks, and Lincoln.  Readers also decide which of these Civil Rights leaders was the most important and give reasons why they think so.  Everyone's opinion counts!  Might be worthwhile for teachers to set up informal debates in the classroom.  Students learn pretty quickly that without solid reasoning their opinions won't get much play.

This is a month when we as teachers and adults are reflective about how far we've come and how far we need to go.  When we allow students to see a bigger picture; form opinions about civil rights issues and then learn how to support them -  we allow students to become reflective as well.

WOW Teaching!

For a full literacy center on Civil Rights, check out my Black History Month Activity Center (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Civil-Rights-Activities-for-4th-5th-and-6th-Graders-488915)

 OR for a full day of Civil Rights activities for your sub teacher (or for you), click here http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Civil-RightsFull-Day-of-Activities-for-5th6th-Grade-488784

There are TONS more civil rights activities at www. teacherspayteachers.com.
For younger readers check out this teacher's offering: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Activities-second-and-third-grade-1045024  And for secondary students, look at this comprehensive power point http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Civil-Rights-in-America-Black-and-White-World-117627 



P.S. Maybe you can tell I'm from Illinois.  Once while visiting Salem, Ill. when I was about 8 or 9, we adopted a stray border collie and named him - can you guess?  Abe.  Our family has an antique mahogany bed that is similar to one in his Springfield house.  We call it our Lincoln Bed!  I figure he's one of the cousins.... in my dreams!

Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up. -A.A. Milne

Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm not organized.  And the beginning of a new year is the time for putting our lives and our things in order, right? set up new goals? find new energies and challenges?  Organize shelves, closets, drawers? 

Well, I've never been able to do it even though I know  my life would be so much easier if I did.  In my classroom I always looked pretty good at the beginning of the day with stacks of activities neatly arranged and ready for distribution.  The trouble started as soon as papers were returned for correction. 

Actually, the trouble with me in general, in life, is that I love to set up and do stuff, and hate to put away.  I mean really hate.  So back in the classroom when students complained that a paper was missing, I wasn't the teacher who could look back knowingly and make accusations of unfinished work.    I was the one who started frantically going through my desk drawers!

Another trouble with me is being around friends and colleagues who are fastidiously well-organized - and that's most of the people around me!   I get peevish.   "Who cares about that?" I think to myself. "Obviously not spending their time doing seriously important things like I do."  HAH!  If only I really did do something worthwhile instead of look for what I'd just lost.

So, I won't even try to offer suggestions for a more organized world - at home or school.  You should definitely be relieved.

I do have some products to tell you about, though, that could help your day run more smoothly.  For starters, download this freebie for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to read and make predictions about four potential Winter Olympics athletes.  Click here for this free product! OR how about reading comprehension passages on Civil Rights Leaders - again for free:  Download it now!

 For a full day of activities on the Winter Olympics, go to http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/2014-Winter-OlympicsOne-Full-Day-for-your-5th6th-Grade-Sub-Plans-991354

And a full day on Famous Americans for 3rd graders:   http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Famous-AmericansFull-Day-of-Activities-for-3rd-Grade-874791  to supplement your upcoming Black History Month or President's Day Units.

The bottom line here is that you can save a lot of time in your day by checking out products on teacherspayteachers.com.  What to do instead of writing lesson plans?  Clean out a few drawers or shelves and get yourself energized for the rest of the school year. 

p.s.  just so you know I'm not exaggerating about my lack of organization, here's what my desk looks like.  The papers piled to the right have to get filed in my 2013 tax file.  Sometime later today, maybe. 

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Be well today and always,

Joyful, Joyful.......

Click on:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBaHPND2QJg
It's not just the amazing music in this flashmob scene from Spain but the look on every face - performers and audience alike.  Such joyfulness!  The perfect message for this Holiday Season. 
Find time to rest, reflect, and refuel during your vacation

..... and have a very Merry Christmas.

Be well today and always,