Ho! Ho! Ho! Can you solve this timely blog riddle?

Why is the number 299 significant to The Mailbox blog?

I’ll give you a couple of clues: The number is more important today than it was yesterday. Tomorrow, the number won’t be important at all.

Whatcha think? The first person to guess the right answer wins a prize! And, if no one solves the riddle, I’ll share the answer on tomorrow’s post.

Your merry elf,

Diane

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Wow! We did have a weekend, didn’t we? Mine was certainly a blur—a fun blur—but definitely a blur! I think you’ll get a kick out of one thing that happened this weekend.

The backstory is that I have a relatively new neighbor who travels a lot. I’d been collecting his mail for several days, and on Saturday he popped over to retrieve it. I had ducked into the kitchen to grab his stack of mail when I heard him comment to my pooch, “I didn’t know your mom worked at the post office.” What in the world? Where did he get that idea? I soon found out. He was checking out my Christmas tree! I have several mailbox-type ornaments, not because I work for the post office though! It’s because I work at The Mailbox! How funny is that!

What does your holiday tree reveal about you?
Smiles,
Diane

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Will you be making some holiday purchases this weekend? I know I will. I’m curious—are you a store shopper or an online shopper? I’m a combo shopper myself. Certain items I’m quick to purchase on the Internet. For example, I never hesitate to buy a book online. I frequently make online purchases of items I’m either replacing or have previously scoped out in a store. I’ll also purchase familiar brands online, ones that routinely deliver high-quality goods. Gee, that makes me think of The Mailbox. (I just couldn’t resist!) However, I also love store shopping, especially during the holiday season. That’s crazy, huh?

By the way, you could have some shopping in your near future! To be entered in this week’s prize giveaway, simply share a favorite holiday tip, suggestion, or activity at “Ho-Ho Holiday Favorites” before the end of Sunday, December 12. The winner is sure to receive some bucks from The Mailbox!

Enjoy your weekend!

Diane

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How many times have you been sneezed on today? It’s just part of being a teacher, isn’t it? When a tiny tot rears back his head, you know it’s coming, and yet there’s so little time before that sneeze shows up. Kudos to each of you who regularly encourage students to sneeze and cough into their elbows and arms. This relatively new technique surely reduces the spread of germs!

Why, oh why, am I rambling about sneezing? You just had to ask, didn’t you? Actually, I just replenished my personal supply of tissues and antibacterial hand foam, which (for some reason) triggered a classroom memory. I’ll spare you the details, but my main concern is that we each do our best to stay healthy during the cold winter months ahead. I’d love to hear your tips for achieving this goal. Care to share?

Here’s to staying healthy!
Diane

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It’s Wednesday and you know what that means! It’s time to announce the topic of this week’s holiday giveaway. I’m going to get right to it since I’m pretty sure you’re busy keeping your “reindeer” in line!

This week’s giveaway topic is ho-ho holiday favorites. What is a ho-ho holiday favorite? It’s any favorite holiday tip, suggestion, or activity.

Can’t wait to hear from you! And remember, to be entered in this week’s drawing for a gift certificate from The Mailbox and a holiday surprise, you must post your ho-ho holiday favorite by the end of Sunday, December 12.

Joyfully,

Diane

Here’s one of my own ho-ho holiday favorites. Rather than assign students a page of math problems, write the answers to the problems on the board. (Make sure the page has more than ten problems.) Ask each child to draw the outline of a holiday shape on one half of her math paper and have her write ten answers from the board inside her outline. Then, one at a time, announce the problems from the math page in a random order. Each child solves the problem on her paper. If the answer is inside her holiday outline, she crosses it out. Math practice is over when one student in the class crosses out all ten of her answers. My students loved the fact that they might only have to complete ten math problems. I was tickled that math practice was taking place in an organized fashion and that there were no papers to grade!

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Happy Monday! This morning I’m happily showcasing a sampling of bright and cheery artwork complements of some very talented youngsters at Northern Elementary School!

A couple of months ago, I mentioned how excited I was to be volunteering during a school-wide event called Hawks Hobbies. Well, Friday was my last day as a volunteer, and I couldn’t resist taking a few photos. If only I had also taken a picture at the start of the project! What you would see is a square of bare plywood. That’s right! The kids primed the boards, created beautiful mosaics, and then (after a bit of practice) painted lovely silhouettes of their choosing on their prepared boards.

Sure wish I could show you every single project—each one is absolutely beautiful.

Aren’t kids amazing?

Happily,
Diane

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Hip, hip, hooray for Friday! Remember that through this Sunday we are welcoming ideas and suggestions for classroom parties (see “Holiday Giveaway 3” for details). If you’d like to be entered in the surprise giveaway, all you need to do is share a favorite classroom party idea. Who knows? You might win a trip to Hawaii! (Folks, I’m seriously kidding about the trip to Hawaii. Although you could win a gift certificate and a holiday surprise, which you could then take to Hawaii, if you cared to. )

Have a great weekend!

Smiles,
Diane

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Hi, y’all! How’s your Thursday going so far? Terrifically, I hope! I’m feeling grand myself. I’ll give you three reasons why:

1. The sun is shining! Sure, it’s cold outside, but who can complain about the temperature when the sun is shining?
2. Today is payday. (Yippee for me!)
3. Last evening I made a totally cool discovery!

So what is my cool discovery? Magnetic paint! Have you heard of it? I sure hadn’t. Don’t ask me how it works because I have no earthly idea. What I do know is that you can spray or paint it on just about any surface—wood, metal, plaster—and the surface becomes magnetic. You can even use it as a primer and paint over it, and the surface will still be magnetized! I’m in awe. Of course, you can’t use it around kiddos (yes, it’s stinky). However, you could certainly prepare a surface for student use. My mind is whirling with classroom possibilities!

Whatcha think? Could this product become a teacher’s best friend?

Happily,
Diane

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Thanks to y’all, The Mailbox blog is the place to find great gift-giving ideas! At “Holiday Gifts for Students,” you’ll find gifts your teaching colleagues have given their youngsters. And at “Holiday Giveaway for Teachers!” you’ll find creative and economical gift ideas students can make for their loved ones.

So what’s this week’s giveaway topic? The envelope, please… The topic of week three’s giveaway is “the holiday party!”

Gosh, where do we begin? Let’s start with party activities since they’re a must—at least, I sure thought they were! What are your favorite party-day activities? How do you keep your kiddos busy before and after refreshments are served? And if you have a few sanity tips for party day, please share those too. I’m sure your colleagues will appreciate it!

Time to dish!

Diane

PS: Remember to respond to this post by the end of Sunday, December 5, so your name will be entered in the giveaway drawing. The weekly winner receives a gift from The Mailbox and a holiday surprise from Santa!

Hooray, Debi! You’re our winner!

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