Did your ears burn yesterday? I’ve heard that’s supposed to happen when you’re being talked about, and yesterday several colleagues and I were yakkin’ about ya! Yes, indeedy. In fact, we were trying to read your teacher minds. You see, we want to know what’s on your wish list for The Mailbox. What is it that you wish The Mailbox would do for you? Now don’t be shy! After all, how can a wish come true if no one knows what you’re wishing for? Please take this little survey and then wish BIG! Smiles, Diane PS: Respond before the end of the day Monday, November 8, and your name will be entered in a drawing for a free book and a surprise from me! (Look at that! One of your wishes has already come true!)

Survey Questions

1. The teaching area I could use the most help with is

a. literacy/language arts
b. math
c. science/social studies
d. classroom management
e. _____________________

2. I mostly need activities for

a. a large group
b. small groups
c. centers/stations
d. independent practice
e. homework

3. My favorite kind of book is

a. filled with activities and patterns
b. filled with reproducible practice pages
c. filled with centers and games (and printed on laminated cardstock)
d. an e-book
e. _____________________

4. A book I wish The Mailbox would publish is…

5. I also wish…

Hooray for Ruth, our drawing winner! And thanks, everyone, for all the great comments and suggestions.

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Did I just hear a sigh? Writing report cards can have that effect on a teacher!

My biggest challenge with progress reports was writing the comments. I could work myself into a royal tizzy over those comments! Do I sound professional yet nurturing? Do I state my observations accurately? Is my spelling and punctuation correct? Oh, I could go on and on! It’s a wonder I still have a full head of hair!

My best report card–writing brainstorm was to keep a running list of favorite phrases. Some of the phrases simply said the same things but in different ways. Other phrases were those tough-to-write ones that addressed specific sets of circumstances.

What about you? Do you have a report card tip or suggestion up your sleeve? I can’t think of a teacher who wouldn’t be interested in hearing it!

Happily,

Diane

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First of all, thanks so much for your honest feedback in regard to our newly updated website. As I read your comments, I was reminded that not so long ago I had a mini meltdown in my favorite grocery store for similar reasons—everything had been moved, including my cheese!

I checked with our web editors and they’ve assured me that TheMailbox.com still includes all your favorites. Here’s the scoop!

Guest
If you’re visiting the site as a guest, take a minute and register. It doesn’t cost a penny and you get LOTS of free stuff! It will also make your experience much easier every time you come back.

Registered Guest
You can access your free ideas from several spots on the homepage: Click on “My Mailbox Files” in the top right corner by your login. Or click on any of the links in the My Mailbox center. Or click on the “Teacher Resources and Seasonal Ideas” links on the homepage. You’ll immediately be taken to your free ideas. To find your favorite seasonal ideas, forms, and calendars, click on the “Seasonal Ideas” tab. Be sure to scroll down—there’s so much to discover!

Magazine Companion Member
Everything you had before is still there, plus lots more! To find past magazine issues, go to The Mailbox magazine cover beside your editor’s welcome and use the gray arrows to navigate. Clicking on a cover leads you to the corresponding extras on The Mailbox Companion, including your BONUS monthly planning pages! Or simply click on “My Mailbox Files” in the top right corner and you’ll immediately be taken to your free ideas. Another way to find your favorite seasonal forms and calendars is to click on the “Seasonal Ideas” tab, scroll down to the “Classroom Management” section, and use the gray arrows to navigate.

	Registered Guest
If you’re a visual learner, check out these screenshots! Click on each image for a larger version. (If a magnifying glass appears, click on the image again to see it in its full-size version.) Look for the blue boxes with red arrows that show you where to access your favorite content from TheMailbox.com!
Magazine Companion Member	Books With Online Extras

If you have additional questions or comments, feel free to send them my way. If I don’t have the answer, I know exactly who to ask to get it.

Have a super-duper day!

Diane

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Happy November to you! As promised, here are a few photos from Friday’s fall festival. They are definitely worth a grin or two!

We had a costume contest!
Guess who came as a pack rat.

We had a pumpkin decorating contest.

We tricked and we treated!

We got crafty too!

And we ate! We love to eat!

Smiles!

Diane

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