Thanks to everyone for sharing your insights and enthusiasm for your interactive whiteboards and such. I learned so much and I feel certain I’m not alone. Now I only wish I could visit your classrooms and watch you teach using your latest technology! For those of you with Promethean boards, I’ve been given permission to share a teeny, tiny secret! You’ll soon see a familiar name (The Mailbox) offering interactive whiteboard activities. Keep your eyes peeled.

Have a super-duper Monday! Tomorrow is February 1, and you know what that means: today I’m cookin’ up ideas for our first February giveaway! If you have a February topic you’d like to chat about with other teachers, let me know!

Happily,
Diane

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Okay, y’all. Let’s talk about interactive whiteboards, document cameras, and other cool techno stuff you have in your classrooms. (Keep reading. There’s a giveaway coming!) During our calendar chat (”A Monday Giveaway!“), both Nancy H. and Kim F. shared how they use their interactive whiteboards for calendar time. That’s darn cool, don’t you think? So how about you? What opportunities do you have for incorporating technology into your classroom? And if your school hasn’t been able to make these types of upgrades, let us know that too.

So what’s the giveaway? Comment on this post by the end of the day Friday, January 28, and your name will be entered in a drawing for a free e-book from The Mailbox! We have 99 e-books to choose from!

Smiles,
Diane

Lynn, you’re our winner!

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It will be here next week—February, that is! Quite frankly, February is rather full, isn’t it? There’s good ole Groundhog Day. (Note to Mr. Groundhog: there’s nothing scary about your shadow, big guy, so even if you do see it, please still stick around and let us have spring!) There’s Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day. This year, Chinese New Year is celebrated in February. Plus February is Black History Month. Zowie!

I know y’all are masters at weaving seasonal topics into your regular teaching topics, so I’m curious. Which teaching topics will you pair up with this February’s seasonal celebrations?

Thanks for sharing!
Diane

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So, how’s your Monday going? Grandly, I hope. Mine just got a whole lot better. Or make that a “hole” lot better! I just devoured a doughnut (with sprinkles!) in celebration of yesterday’s Steelers victory over another football team. As you can tell, I don’t follow football closely. But, I gotta tell you, that doughnut scored a touchdown in my Monday morning playbook. Thanks, Karen!

I do have a quick question for you today. And since it’s a Monday, I’ll make it multiple choice. Oh, what the heck: I’ll make it a giveaway! (I think I’m sugared up!)

Submit your answer to this question by the end of Tuesday, and your name will be entered in a drawing for a February surprise.

How do you keep the dates on your classroom calendar in place?

1. masking tape
2. Sticky-Tac adhesive (or something similar)
3. pushpins
4. slots in my calendar
5. none of the above (please explain)

Smiles,

Diane

Congratulations, Vickie! You’re the winner.

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So, whatcha think? On February 2, will my favorite furry forecaster predict an early spring? I guess I’ll have to wait and see—but not for too long. Groundhog Day is fewer than two weeks away.

Do you typically celebrate Groundhog Day in your classroom? If so, what are your favorite activities? Please share!

Here are a few groundhog facts for your files: Groundhogs belong to the squirrel family. An adult groundhog is about the size of a ten-pound bag of potatoes. A groundhog makes a piercing whistle sound to signal danger. Groundhogs can climb trees and swim!

Happily,

Diane

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Happy Wednesday to y’all. Your ideas for celebrating the 100th day of school (”Ideas for Your 100th Day“) are awesome! Remember: today is the final day to contribute and have your name entered in the prize drawing. Check it out!

Okay, now for a huge slice of trivia. On my way to work this morning, I learned that Prince William and Kate Middleton are celebrating their 100th day today! However, instead of counting up to 100, they’re counting down from 100 to the day they wed. I know, I know. This has nothing to do with teaching and kids; however, my ears certainly perked up when I heard the phrase “100th day!”

Hope your day is super fun!

Smiles,

Diane

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Is this a four-day school week for you? I’m guessing that for many of you it is. (Insert a tiny whine from Diane right about here. ) Actually, Martin Luther King Day could have been a holiday for me too. It’s one of four “floating” holidays offered by the company. Presidents’ Day is another. Each employee may choose one floating holiday to celebrate, and I simply like to save my “floater” for later in the year.

What I’m wondering is what effect a shortened school week has on your teaching routines. For example, if a routine normally rotates on a five-day schedule, do you leave out one rotation? Do you try to do two days’ worth of work in a single day? Or maybe you have a four-day plan that you reach for? I’d love to hear your thoughts. We could chat about delayed starts and early release days as well. What are your tips for staying flexible and yet still accomplishing your teaching goals?

Curious as a kitty!

Diane

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Happy Friday to everyone! I love Fridays, don’t you? Today’s an extra special Friday for me—it’s my birthday! Yessirree, and I won’t be bashful about it. I love my birthday. I mean, what’s not to like? Happy wishes, sweet treats, birthday surprises? Love them all!

Speaking of celebrations, your 100th Day comments put a fire under my fingers! It’s definitely time to share favorite ideas for celebrating the 100th day of school. And a celebration must have prizes, right? Submit your favorite celebration ideas by the end of Wednesday, January 19, and your name will be entered in a drawing for a prize giveaway. What’s the prize (or maybe that’s prizes)? Well, that’s a surprise!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Happily,
Diane

Congratulations to our winner, Kathryn!

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What’s black and white on the inside and will be given away to one lucky penguin pal? I’ll give you a hint: look for the word Cool in a recent blog title and then check out the blog. You’ll find the answer to my riddle and lots of cool ideas about a very cool bird!

Say, when do y’all celebrate the 100th day of school? I know it varies by school and school district. Is it the last week of January? The first week of February? I’d sure like to know. I certainly don’t want to miss out on an opportunity for a blog celebration.

Thanks a bunch!
Diane

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You know what cool birds I’m talkin’ about, don’t you? Penguins! I can’t explain it, but penguins make me smile. Maybe it’s the way they waddle; or how they toboggan on their bellies. Whatever it is, I like these oddball birds. It’s not like I’ve ever spent time with a penguin. Well, wait a minute—I have! There’s Tacky, the unconventional penguin who saves the day with his silly antics in Tacky the Penguin. And I loved reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins to my third-graders. That story rates a full hoot and a half!

“Waddle” about you? (Okay, that was bad, but I just couldn’t resist!) Do you have a favorite penguin story or activity to share?

Wowee, here’s a cool idea you’ll love! Share a favorite penguin-related story or activity by the end of the day Friday, January 14, and your name will be entered in a drawing for a free black-and-white (reproducible) book or magazine from The Mailbox. Get it? Black and white like a penguin! How cool is that?

Eager to hear from you!

Diane

Hooray for our winner, Sarah!

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