A Teacher's Daze

A great book can ignite a love of reading for a lifetime.   However, it has been my experience that getting some students to read is the equivalent of dragging an ornery horse to water, and although dying of thirst, the horse refuses to drink.   As all good language arts’ teachers do, I have taken my class to the library and with pride, watched students eagerly walk straight to the book or series they cannot wait to read.   Equally often, I have seen students, who have no real intent to check out a particular book, but do an excellent job looking absorbed, scanning shelves, eyes squinted, looking at book spines, while stealthily whispering to the friend next to them who is doing the same scan, squint routine about the latest drama fluttering around the halls of a typical middle school.  Of course, as a teacher, I know this is normal behavior, any time students are outside the structure of the classroom and their regular routine, so often I have watched with a mixture...

"Moving on up...." "My 'Teacher's Space'" This is a simple canvas of city lights that I enhanced by using an old desk lamp with a bendable neck.  It's perfect to spotlight this scene! Growing up watching the sitcom, The Jeffersons, I couldn't help but think of this song when creating my "Big City View" or "Going Places" theme for my middle school classroom.  In fact, the theme song to this sitcom has been stuck in my head, for days.  :-D...  I find myself singing "Moving on up/ to the East side...... I finally got a piece of the pie...."  If you aren't familiar with the show, then it is hard to imagine why this song fits perfectly with the underlying idea behind this classroom theme. First, I have to admit something.  I didn't start out thinking, "Okay, I'm going to create a theme that shows big skyscrapers, bright city lights, and famous places across the world."  Actuall...

During my family's recent vacation, I was browsing through a gallery of hundreds of posters when I came across the above picture.  My first reaction was to read the caption again, to make sure I read it correctly.  My second reaction was to smile at the irony of the words, especially considering the "dated" illustration chosen to accompany it, and "yes" I have to admit, my third reaction was to take a picture, so I could share it on my blog, as well with my students.   Now, please don't over react and assume I "agree" with this humorous statement.  Obviously, the suggestion of the mother is in direct contrast to what a mother would "normally" say to warn a child of danger.  The author of this illustration and caption combination is simply identifying with a harried mother of small children by using a gross exaggeration, to say the least.   I walked away with a wistful smile remembering days when I was a sleep-deprived mother...

As I was checking out at a store, I noticed these little packaged boxes with "Boogie Board" written on it.  (okay... OKAY... I admit it... I fell victim to the oldest trick of getting people to "notice" things for sale:  Putting it near the check-out counter....)  Anyway, in this case I consider it to have been advantageous, not just for the store owner, but for me, the consumer.   Basically, a "Boogie Board" is about a 1/4 of an inch thick board a little bigger than a 5X7 photograph.  It comes with a stylus, a screen cleaning cloth, and a clip-on for the stylus.  Also, it features an ion battery that never needs replacing.  The way it works is very simple.  You write something on it, and then you push a button, a light flashes, and you have a "clean slate."   Possible uses in the classroom quickly came to my mind, as I was standing there at the check-out counter.  So, what do I do?  I buy it.  The more I got to thinking...

It's sad, really, but I just can't help myself!   That is-  I can't help myself from thinking about "school," even when I'm in a theme park!  LOL... I found myself snapping pictures of potential ideas to use in my classroom during the coming school year.  I was particularly impressed with the various crafts that can be made with handprints.  So, what do I do?  You guessed it.  I took some pics to share with everyone.  :-).  My family had a blast today.  It's great to have some refreshing days before school begins!   A Whole Family..... Daddy, Mama, and babies! Awwwww..... "Libby's 5 1/2 (so says this pic I copied).... Aren't the penguins adorable? Interesting ...... I think this sheep is adorable!!!