Can you believe it’s already the last day of June? Last night when I realized the month was almost over, I remembered that June is National Dairy Month. So, being a gal who likes to celebrate special events, I decided that today I would dedicate myself to eating dairy products. First thing this morning I gulped down an ice-cold glass of chocolate milk. On the way to work I picked up a toasted Asiago cheese bagel with cream cheese. I think frozen yogurt sounds yummy for lunch. And for dinner maybe a grilled cheese sandwich (or a slice of cheese pizza) and a milk shake. Oops, I left out cottage cheese. Well, rats! There’s always next year!

One more thought about the final day of June: it’s the last day to participate in our birthday gift giveaway. If you missed out on the details, you’ll find them in “What About Student Birthdays?” along with more than a hundred fabulous comments on celebrating student birthdays. Very impressive!

Okay, it’s almost lunchtime, and you know what that means: I’m off to get my dairy!

Happy as a cow!

Diane

3 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

Here’s my take on teaching formal science lessons in the elementary grades: When push comes to shove, it’s the science lesson (or the social studies lesson) that gets moved to the next day and then the next day, and before you know it your science lessons for next week are the same ones you planned for last week. Does this ever happen to you?

Because of my time-management issues, my best science lessons were spontaneous. My students and I were always on the lookout for items we deemed out of the ordinary. I thought I was quite the scientist when I bravely captured and secured a shiny black widow spider inside a mayonnaise jar. Honestly, I was glad when that investigation ended. Then there was the year of the pinecones. It all started with a pinecone the size of a 32-ounce jug of soda. Honest! I’m not pulling your leg. I’ve yet to see another pinecone that large. That year my room was overrun with pinecones of different sizes, shapes, and colors.

So how do you squeeze in science? Tell us what works for you, and we’ll put your name in a drawing for a free science book from The Mailbox Books. In fact, we’ll draw three winners! To be entered in the drawing, respond to this post before July 10.

You know, I still can’t resist noting something out of the ordinary. Check out what I found this weekend. Tree fungus! How cool is that?

Your science gal,

Diane

Congrats to our contest winners: Deanna, Tina, and Debbie!

55 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

Yep, we just had one—a fire drill, that is! Took me right back to my teaching days. I grabbed my checklist and bolted downstairs. As a teacher, I took fire drills seriously and so did my students. Our exit from the classroom was carefully choreographed. We arrived at our destination, found our buddies (an assigned classmate), formed our double line, and waited quietly. I’m not saying today’s fire drill wasn’t taken seriously—it was. We exited the building in an orderly fashion and headed to our assigned locations. Then, as soon as everyone was accounted for, we started gabbing and gabbed until it was time to head back indoors!

Do you remember who instructed you in handling school drills? I honestly don’t. With so much to think about at the start of the school year, new teachers or teachers who are moving to a different school might forget to ask about classroom drills. Maybe we can help them out a bit!

Happy Friday!

Diane

8 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

Here’s my coin-related wonder: does having multiple versions of one coin affect your students’ understanding of coin values?

First, let me say that I support the U.S. Mint wholeheartedly. I love coins! In fact, if anyone connected with the U.S. Mint is reading this blog, I’m behind you all the way and I’ll take any free coins you’d like to unload. I just dumped the contents of my coin purse on my desk and I could definitely use a few more coins! (PS: I like paper money too!)

From a teacher’s standpoint, I’m thankful the presidents associated with the coins don’t change. I’m not sure how I feel about multiple updates to the flip side of specific coins, though. I know from a publisher’s standpoint that it’s tricky to keep up with changing coins.

Does having coin variations add confusion to coin identification or does it increase student interest in coins? On a personal level, I’m eager to start collecting the new national park quarters. What a great way to learn about the United States!

Eager to hear from you!

Diane

11 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

“How do I celebrate student birthdays? And what about students with summer birthdays? I want to be fair. I want to be fun. This is going to cost money, isn’t it?”

On Saturday afternoon, the enthusiasm and concerns of a first-time teacher had me grinning from ear to ear. We were celebrating her uncle’s birthday. It was the first time I’d met Keily and we instantly connected, as teachers usually do. Keily is one of the lucky few who have landed a first-year teaching position for the fall. As we munched on our burgers, Keily sweetly peppered me with new-teacher wonders. Her questions were thoughtful and her demeanor confident—until the moment her aunt emerged with a brilliantly lit birthday cake. “Birthdays!” she sputtered.  “I forgot all about birthdays! How do I do that?” I just had to giggle.

How do you celebrate student birthdays in your classroom? What are your biggest birthday-related challenges and how to you solve them? What about those summer birthdays?

One more thing! Since a birthday often means a present of some sort, all readers who comment on this post (until midnight EDT on June 30) will be entered in a drawing for a “birthday present” from The Mailbox.

Smiles,

Diane

150 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

Today is June 21, and you know what that means. Summer has officially started, and we have the winners of our book giveaway! The two lucky ducks are Pat and Tracy. Honestly, I wish I could give a free book to everyone who responded. I’ve had so much fun reading your comments and ideas. Gold stars for everyone! (Once a teacher, always a teacher, right? )

Have a super-duper day. I’m rushing off to a meeting, and then there’s that little something that I was supposed to finish on Friday that I didn’t get to…gotta love Mondays!

More fun stuff is headed your way!

Diane

No Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

This past week, two of my colleagues here at The Mailbox became dads! Congrats to Gary on the arrival of his baby girl and to Randy on the arrival of his baby boy! Since the two babies were born just days apart, those of us here at the office have already imagined the two little ones going to their senior prom together!

Please share my “Happy Father’s Day!” shout-out with your dad or a dad you know. I have to admit that as a classroom teacher I rarely planned a Father’s Day event. School was out by then, and, though I had every intention of squeezing in a Father’s Day project before the end of school, it usually didn’t happen. I did occasionally have a father who volunteered in the classroom, and that was always a huge hit with the students. How about you? How do you encourage dads to participate in classroom activities?

Love you, Daddy!

Diane

PS: Remember, June 20 is the last day for you to get your name in our drawing for a new book from The Mailbox Books! Leave a comment!

12 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

Happy Thursday to you! How’s it goin’? My day got off to a bit of a shaky start. I overslept, jumped out of bed, and immediately stepped on my cat’s tail. Not a great way to start the morning. However, all is fine and dandy now. Smiles all around—and, Theo, if you’re on the computer, sorry about your tail!

Remember, there are only four more days to participate in our free book giveaway. If you missed out on the details, you’ll find them in “Scoop Alert!”

Arrival time is on my mind today. (Gee, I wonder why!) I’d love to hear your tips and strategies for keeping early arrivers actively engaged until school officially starts. Also, how do you handle late arrivers? You know, the children who dawdle on the way to school or whose rides are regularly delayed. (Or the child who tells you she’s late because she stepped on her cat’s tail!)

Cheerfully,

Diane

21 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

Do you surprise yourself sometimes? I sure do! Recently I went shopping for a new handbag. I wanted something fun and colorful for summer but nothing too flashy. Well, I came home with a jumbo straw bag with shiny orange trim that’s large enough to carry a small cow. What was I thinking? I haven’t a clue. I’m surprised I bought the bag, and I’m even more surprised that I’m lovin’ it!
Something similar happened with a hammock I won. I immediately thought, “When am I going to find the time to relax in a hammock?” Surprise, surprise—I love that thing!
And here’s one more. Bear with me: it’s a doggie-poop bag dispenser. You fill the dispenser with bags and clip it to your dog’s leash, and then you always have a poop bag handy. You can probably imagine what I thought of THAT when I first got it. I’m not embarrassed to say (well, maybe a little bit) that I love that gadget! Actually, that gadget has saved me from total embarrassment many, many times.

So now it’s your turn. What school-related purchase, gift, or gadget have you been most surprised by? Maybe it’s something you thought you’d never want, and now you use it all the time. Maybe it’s something that seemed frivolous at first but turned out to be a huge timesaver. Or maybe it’s something you simply can’t live without and would like to tell other teachers about!

Surprise me!

Diane

PS: Remember, a response to this blog post by June 20 earns you an entry into our new book giveaway on June 21!

15 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This

Wow again! Y’all are awesome! Your responses to “Scoop Alert!” and “Paperwork SOS” are so fantastic. Teachers are the BEST! I hope you’re enjoying the comments as much as I am. And if you didn’t get a chance to respond yet, please still do!

I kept trying to post yesterday, and I declare it just didn’t happen. But it’s happenin’ today! Speaking of happenin’, it’s June 15, and you know what that means: the 15 new books I told you about last week are now on TheMailbox.com for your viewing pleasure. And, of course, you’re probably wondering about today’s blog topic (since a response before June 20 earns you an entry into our drawing for a free book). So read on!

This weekend, as I was meandering between booths at a local farmers’ market, I was reminded of classroom learning centers. I imagine it takes a lot of effort to set up and maintain a booth at the farmers’ market. I know this is true for learning centers, no matter what grade you teach. When I taught third grade, I had free-time centers for early finishers, which I changed out monthly. I also had daily center work, which students were required to complete. The prep was challenging but the benefits were tremendous: lots of skill practice took place, the kids loved going to centers (yes, even in third grade!), and I had very few behavior problems.

So let’s talk classroom centers! What types of learning centers do you have? What set up and management tips do you have for teachers who are just getting started with learning centers? What types of centers do your students like the most?

Waiting to hear from y’all,

Diane

22 Comments | Subscribe |  Email This