Here’s another peek at your buddies from The Mailbox!

Every year, employees at The Mailbox are recognized and appreciated for their dedication, hard work, and loyalty to the company. You may have read a blog or two about our annual Employee Appreciation Day. I’m probably speaking for most employees when I say this is one of the best working days, if not the best working day, of the entire year!

This year, several employees reached professional milestones of ten or more years at The Mailbox. Congrats to Troy and Xiaoyun (ten years), Sharon and Anne (15 years), Donna (20 years), and Veronica (25 years)!

What’s your best memory from the past year?

Happily,
Diane

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Last week, I promised to share with y’all some photos from the past year at The Mailbox. It’s a merry mix of occasions. Okay, maybe flu shot day was more memorable than merry. But as you can see, it’s pretty easy to wear a smile around here!

And let me note, for the record, that we do work most minutes of every hour. In fact, we’re so busy working that no one thinks to get the camera out! Really! I’m speaking the truth.

Enjoy!
Diane

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Happy holidays to each of you from your buds here at The Mailbox. Our wish is for you to enjoy a fantastic holiday filled with oodles of love, joy, and relaxation. I’ll be touching base next week. Yes sirree! I’ve been busy plucking photos from our 2011 photo file to share with you. You won’t want to miss them! A few individuals have even offered me large amounts of chocolate to reconsider my photo selections. And you know how much I love chocolate, right? Well, I’ve resisted—just for you! Merrily, Diane

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Here’s what happens when an editor from The Mailbox has a holiday song stuck in her head and she’s stuck in traffic! Have a jolly day!

Diane

(sung to the tune of “Up on the Housetop”)

Right in the schoolyard, reindeer pause,
Out jumps good old Santa Claus.
Teachers are bustling; school is out.
Santa winks and gives a shout.

Chorus:
Ho ho ho, Santa knows.
Ho ho ho, Santa knows.
The Mailbox delivers every time
With kids and teachers first in mind!

Additional verses:
First, there are magazines and some books,
Online extras, take a look.
Plenty of tips and ideas too—
Practical and ready to use!

Repeat chorus.

Next comes the digital with topics galore,
A neat toolkit and plenty more!
Call it MyMailbox Idea Center Gold—
A great timesaver, Santa’s been told.

Repeat chorus.

Now it is time for Santa to fly.
But before he says bye-bye,
He has a greeting just for you,
“Merry Christmas from The Mailbox crew!”

Repeat chorus.

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So what’s the countdown, teachers? Three more days until winter break? Two more days?

You can make it! Keep your smile in place and enjoy this wonderful time of year.

Joyfully,
Diane

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Wait a sec! Please don’t hit delete—I really am trying to be helpful. Even though you’re most likely in the throws of holiday projects and all, there’s a good chance you’re also contemplating or planning lessons for 2012. So what’s up your teacher’s sleeve? Will you be introducing a new theme or skill? Or perhaps you have a favorite back-to-school-in-the-new-year tip or an idea to share with your teacher colleagues.

All ears!
Diane

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Last night, I made three stops before I found the calendar on my sister’s wish list. Usually I can find the wisecracking, female cartoon personality who tickles my sister’s funny bone most anywhere. Not so this year. If one more stop was required, dear sis was going to receive a calendar filled with puppy pictures. (When I get in a pinch, I tend to buy for myself!)

I sure hope retailers keep publishing paper calendars. I use an online calendar at work, and it keeps me sane—which is no small feat. Yet each year, I still buy at least one paper calendar with pictures. The pictures make me smile—something my online calendar has yet to do!

Care to share your calendar habits? Anyone collect outdated calendars for classroom use?

Happily,

Diane

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Mark your calendars, teachers! This Tuesday, December 13, is National Cocoa Day. How fun is that? Well, in all honesty, it may be too much fun for this time of year. (That’s the teacher in me talkin’.) However, here’s my idea: make plans to treat yourself to a tasty hot cocoa treat on this very special day! And here on the Blog, let’s share teaching ideas for a Hot-Cocoa Fun Day you can use whenever you like.

I’ll even get you started with a song that was published in the December/January 2007–2008 Preschool edition of The Mailbox magazine!

Hot Chocolate (sung to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”) Pour some milk into a pot. Stir it ’til it’s nice and hot. Take the chocolate—give a squeeze. Add marshmallows if you please. Wrap yourself up nice and snug. Drink hot chocolate in a mug.

Now it’s your turn! What ideas do you have for a Hot-Cocoa Fun Day?

Yummy!
Diane

PS In case you haven’t yet written your letter to Santa, I’m going to let you in on a little secret! When I visited MyMailbox Gold and typed in “hot cocoa,” more than 30 different ideas popped up!

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I have lots of great holiday-related teaching memories. Like many of you, December is a favorite month of mine. One memory I’ll forever keep is the first time a student asked me the Santa Claus question. My kiddos were at their desks eating lunch, and I was grading papers. I remember thinking, “Uh-oh, Toby is going to spill the beans about Santa.” In what seemed like a nanosecond, Melissa, a dear of a child, was standing before me with damp, saucer-size eyes. “Ms. Badden, Toby says there’s no Santa Claus! Why would he say that?”

I can’t recall my exact response. I clearly remember feeling an increased heartbeat and sweaty palms. I think my answer was something like “I can’t say for sure, Melissa, because I’ve only seen Santa’s helpers. But I certainly believe in the spirit of love, and that’s what Santa means to me.” I can’t even remember how Melissa responded. Perhaps I momentarily blacked out.

Do you have a Santa story to share?
Diane

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You may be asking yourself “Why in the world is Diane reminding us about a giveaway that ended last night at midnight?” Well, here’s the honest truth. I thought the “‘How-Do-You Do-It?’ December Giveaway” ended tonight at midnight, not last night! As a matter of fact, today’s blog was to be a reminder about the giveaway. Good grief!

But here’s the good news: the giveaway deadline has been extended! This means if you’d like to get in on the giveaway, you still can. In fact you can comment right up until midnight tonight (December 7). And even if you won’t be commenting, I encourage you to check out the tips your teaching colleagues have shared. Awesome stuff!

Your occasionally flaky blog host,

Diane

Congratulations to Melissa Lee! She’s the winner of our giveaway!

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