It’s time. Let’s take the bull by the horns and talk about New Year’s resolutions. Do you have one? Do you plan to keep it? To me, making a resolution always sounds like a good idea, but I hate to break promises—especially ones I make to myself!

I’ve put a lot of thought into this. Instead of making a resolution this year, I plan to concentrate on one word. That should simplify things, don’t you think? Want to know what the word is? My word for 2010 is spend. Want to know more? Here’s what I mean.

• I plan to spend less money on things I really don’t need.
• I hope to spend more time with my young nieces. (Somehow, time with them makes me feel younger too!)
• I want to spend less time in front of the refrigerator.
• But I’d like to spend more time learning how to cook at least one new family meal each week. Okay, okay, if frozen entrées don’t count, I’ll learn to cook at least one new meal each month.
• I hope to spend more time reading the books I want to read instead of the books I know I should be reading.

The other night, I talked to a couple of my teacher friends about my idea for 2010. They caught on right away but had other thoughts about how to apply the word spend. One friend hopes to

• spend some time planning activities she can use to fill those extra minutes so she can make the most of every minute with her students
• spend more time getting work done during her planning time so she can spend less time working on schoolwork at home

Another teacher friend said she wants to

• spend time packing her lunches the night before so she can be more organized in the morning
• spend more time reading her favorite teacher resources looking for fun, fresh ideas to use in her classroom

“Hey,” I told her. “That’s where I come in!” Of course, I just happened to have a couple of the latest issues of The Mailbox® magazine in my bag, so I shared them with my friends. They both thanked me and agreed to spend some time with those magazines that very evening!

How about you? Is there a word that sums up your hopes for the new year? Please share it with us!

Here’s wishing you and your students the happiest of new years!

Hope

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Does this happen to you too? A few Saturdays ago, after running errands for several hours, I decided to pick up dinner on my way home. I’m sure I was looking fairly tousled. I don’t remember exactly what I was wearing; however, my usual Saturday attire this time of year is tennis shoes, an oversize sweater, and some comfy pants. Oh, and on weekends I usually keep my contacts in their case and sport my spectacles. Anyway, I was paying for my takeout and making idle conversation with the cashier—a pleasant twenty-something male with a big grin and a few piercings—when he asked, “Are you a teacher?”

Whenever this has happened before, I have confirmed the person’s suspicion and then walked away wondering what it is about me that shouts, “I’m a teacher!” Is it the way I dress? Is it my mannerisms? What is it? This time, I asked.

“What makes you think I’m a teacher?” I inquired with a smile.

“Just a vibe,” the cashier replied.

There was no way I was letting that reply stay unexplained! “Good or bad?” I asked.

This is when the cashier flashed his big grin and revealed yet another piercing. “A bit of both,” he clarified. “You know, like you’re someone I could really relate to; but, you know, I think you’d set me straight when I got out of line.”

After that, I didn’t have the heart to tell him he’d miscalculated my change. After all, it was only a dollar short, and I had gotten my answer.

Yes, I’m a teacher!

Diane

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Our holiday greetings to you!
From your friends at The Education Center, Inc.

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I have stolen a pair of gloves! No, no, the winter-wear police aren’t going to clap me in irons. I stole the gloves while playing a game of Dirty Santa at The Education Center’s annual holiday potluck! Each employee wraps an inexpensive gift. (Because we’re a quirky bunch, we’ve had everything from stuffed Grinch toys to framed Godzilla pictures.) We write our names on slips of paper and put the slips in a basket. Then a designated person draws a name and that employee opens a gift. The next person whose name is drawn can either open a new gift or steal the first person’s gift. Inevitably, there is one gift that is coveted by all and stolen repeatedly. This year I stole a pair of gloves that were quite popular!

How do you celebrate the holidays with your coworkers? Do you play games? Have cookie exchanges? Partake in banquets or potlucks? And how do you celebrate with friends, family, and neighbors? Drop me a note and let me know.

Happy holidays!

Kim

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Writing this blog is an interesting experience. When I’m writing about a topic I feel strongly about, I have a hard time stopping. I just want to keep writing! The trouble starts when I can’t think of a topic. When I know that a blog post is due and nothing is coming to mind, my nerves start to get the best of me. That blank screen can be very intimidating!

Having writing deadlines has given me a much greater understanding of the reaction some of my students had when I gave writing assignments. I can still see their faces staring blankly at me as they said, “But we don’t know what to write about!” That’s one of the reasons I am so excited about the Prompt, Plan, Write! series. I know the books in this series will give your students more guidance when they’re writing.

Check out this page from the grade 1 book: the prompt is one a child can relate to, the plan is clear, and the irresistible art is sure to inspire even the most reluctant writer.		When I look at this page from the grade 3 book, I’m ready to write about riding in a hot-air balloon. I’m sure your students will have the same reaction!

My first thought when I saw this page from the grade 5 book was that the art is so funny! Your students will just love it. Then, when I read the prompt, my mind started racing with ideas about being stranded on a deserted island. By the time I got to the first writing space, I was raring to go! Your students are sure to feel the same way!

The Prompt, Plan, Write! series offers a different book for each grade level from 1 to 5, so you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for your students. On a selfish note, maybe we should have written a Prompt, Plan, Write! book for blog writers too. I know it would come in handy for me!

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I was recently looking through a box of items from my childhood. There were lots of cool things that took me down memory lane: a hat my grandmother knit for me, my kindergarten diploma, and even my first spelling test. (I’m not quite sure why my mother saved the test!) But the item I was most excited to find was my favorite childhood book, The Sweet Smell of Christmas. This scratch-and-sniff book by Patricia M. Scarry instantly brought back wonderful Christmas memories. Of course I took a few minutes to reread the book. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw all the scratch marks on the pages. As a child, when the scents disappeared, I just scratched harder to try to smell them.

I threw away a few things from the box, but I kept the book. I’m sure you understand. Don’t you have a favorite holiday book that you look forward to sharing each year with your students? For me, I’m currently expecting my first child and initially figured I would one day share the story, if not the wonderful scents, with him. But then the best news of all came when I discovered that the book is still in print. I had no idea that this book I treasured as a child is still popular after all these years. Needless to say, I rushed online to buy the book. Now I’m counting down until I can share it with my son, scents and all! I think I’ll practice reading it to my dog tonight. Who knows, maybe Baby Tresino will hear it too!

Happy holidays!
Sharon Tresino

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I sing a lot—not because I have a great voice (I don’t) but because my three-year-old daughter learns so much through songs. Grace and I sing about nearly everything (and I mean everything) from routine tasks like brushing our teeth to skill-based topics such as letters and numbers. I’m amazed at how quickly she catches on to new vocabulary and concepts through songs. She’s pretty proud of herself too. She’s always thrilled when she recognizes one of “our” songs on a DVD and can join in. Last night, I was in the kitchen while she was watching a DVD in the living room. She called me so excitedly that I thought something was wrong. She simply wanted me to perform “Head and Shoulders” with her!

Singing at home with Grace reminds me of the times I sang with my students at school. I wasn’t a good singer then either, but I loved to see kids’ confidence and skills flourish with the help of songs. Their smiles said it all. Isn’t it cool to see kids having such fun as they learn?

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Ah, December! There is nothing like it. Everywhere you look, there are colorful displays and wonderful sights and smells. Isn’t it fun to bring all that seasonal goodness into your classroom? Kids can make red-and-green chains; cotton ball–topped stockings; and all kinds of wreaths, stars, and ornaments.

When I think of December in the classroom, I can’t help but think of the gifts my students brought me over the years. There’s something truly endearing about a child extending a hand-wrapped gift to you. So many of those gifts stand out in my mind, but let me tell you about just a few of them.

During my first year of teaching, a student I’ll call “Jeff” proudly brought me a newspaper-wrapped gift. When I opened it, I was surprised to find a lovely white gold cuff bracelet. I thanked him, but I had a funny feeling about the gift. At lunchtime, I gave his mother a call. The bracelet was hers, and she was as surprised as I was that it was given as a gift to me. After school, we explained to Jeff that, while it meant so much to me that he wanted to give such a lovely gift, the bracelet belonged to his mother. He said he thought it was okay to give me this elegant bracelet because his mother hardly ever wore it. He and his mother had a talk later, I’m sure.

When I was teaching third grade, “Ryan” brought me a brown lunch sack. Inside I found a juice can that Ryan had carefully painted and then stamped with colorful sponge images. From then on, I kept that can on my desk the whole time I was teaching. Now it’s on the desk in my craft room. To think that Ryan would spend an evening making something for me touched me more than I can explain.

The other gift that pops into my mind came from a child in one of my second-grade classes. She brought me a sweet teddy bear from her own collection. Imagine her making a sacrifice like that! That bear is currently displayed on a bookcase in my cubicle at The Mailbox® office.

Have you noticed that I love to talk about my students? I have so many memories. Of course, you know what I mean! I’ll bet you have great student stories to share too. How about if I stop talking and give you a chance to tell your story? I can’t wait to read it!

Enjoy your students today!

Hope

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Is it winter yet? In many ways, it doesn’t feel like it. I’ve only scraped frost off my windshield once. When I head outdoors, I grab a sweater or light jacket instead of a coat, a hat, and gloves. On the other hand, nearly everywhere I look, I see seasonal decorations—snowmen, penguins, or glowing snowflakes—that make me feel as if winter has arrived!

Thinking about winter takes me back to teaching on a snowy day. I got a huge kick out of watching my students’ faces light up when they realized the snow was sticking on the ground instead of melting. (My lesson could wait a minute or two while everyone—including me!—crowded over to the window to check.) I absolutely loved the day my entire class worked together on the playground to roll what students were sure would be the biggest snowball ever. Talk about a cooperative effort! I’m choosing to forget about the soggy gloves, coats, and carpet that were left behind! For now, I’m getting ready for winter. I’ve changed my computer desktop to a wintry scene, and I’ll keep my coat, hat, and gloves handy. I know winter’s on the way!

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Now that it’s December, you’re probably closing in on the halfway mark of your school year. Can you believe it? I remember the buzz in the classroom at this time of year—my students were so excited about the upcoming holidays! But I also remember feeling crunched for time. It was at this point in the school year that my wish for more teaching time would first surface.

Knowing it was up to me to find ways to squeeze in more teaching time, December was when I would think about my plans for the rest of the school year. While I thought about the skills I needed to cover and reviewed the materials I had available to teach them, I’d find myself asking questions: Will the materials I used in years past work with this group of students? Will they be too easy or too hard? Do my materials really address the skills as I intend them to? Are there skills I already covered this year that I need to revisit using a different approach? New materials were always on my wish list!

You probably share a wish list of practical classroom needs (such as tissues, copy paper, or craft items) with your students’ parents. But what about making a wish list for your teaching needs? As you plan the rest of your year, are there skills and topics for which you’d like to have more materials? Is there a type of material, like games or posters, you wish you had more of? Or are you just looking for more ways to find teaching time in your day?

Wishing you season’s greetings,
Jen Bragg

PS: When you respond, please include the grade level you teach!

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