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What better way to reinforce skills than with games? Students often get so engaged while playing a fun game that they forget there is learning going on!
As you start a new school year, how about taking Mix & Match Games with you? I have a special offer, blog readers. From [...]

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Some of my favorite times with kids have happened when we were on field trips. I have great memories of trips to the zoo, indoor rain forests, and one special boat ride in Galveston Bay. Why, one day, my students and I even had the opportunity to travel to the Johnson Space Center, where we met actual astronauts (and the Power Rangers!). But, when you think about it, taking your students off campus can be a scary proposition.

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I love Spring! The blue sky, the warmth of the sun, and the newness of the season simply boosts my spirits. For me, Spring has always been a feel-good time of year. As a teacher, I had favorite things that I looked forward to in Spring; and no, spring vacation was not one them. (Ok, that was a lie. I just wanted to see how carefully you were reading!)

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With the last name of Murphy, I’m accustomed to thinking of St. Patrick’s Day as if it’s a national holiday. I grew up believing that it’s not enough to wear a wee bit of green on the 17th—it’s best to dress in green from head to toe. But this year as I celebrate, I feel [...]

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My first graders always looked forward to learning center time. I did too! There’s something refreshing about the variety of activities and the freedom of movement. Often it was a challenge for me to find enough fun ideas on the skills I was teaching, though. It was even more challenging to find the time to come up with quick and easy activities on my own. Do you sometimes face the same challenges? What skills are you looking for in center time activities?

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It's hard to believe that it's February already and Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Some people I know think this is simply a greeting card holiday, but I think it's a nice opportunity for students to share with others how much they care. My second graders were always eager to make and distribute valentines, so each year I found ways to carve out time for students to do just that.

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In my school, celebrating the 100th Day was serious business. We had a kindergarten teacher who had her kids count 100 paper clips, counters, shoes, neckties, you name it! Then they took 100 steps, hops, and jumps; drew 100 objects; and made and wore paper crowns with 100 sequins on them. Her enthusiasm was contagious! I found myself counting to one hundred by twos, fives, and tens all day long. I looked forward to their 100th Day parade as much as I looked forward to any program our children did.

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There's nothing quite like the texture of cotton balls mixed with glue and food coloring! I found myself experiencing this slimy, gooey texture when preparing to write the process art unit in the February/March issue of The Mailbox®, preschool edition. (Look below for the actual idea!)

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Well, the holidays are winding down, and I'm guessing your winter break is almost over. It goes so fast, doesn't it? I came back to work yesterday, and it took me a while to shake off the cobwebs and get back into the swing of things. Not to mention my endless supply of cookies and snacks wasn't within arm's reach--probably a good thing! What finally got me going was grabbing a cup of tea, putting in my favorite CD, and making a list of must-dos by the end of the day. Of course, it didn't hurt that I found some chocolate motivation that had been left in the kitchen by my coworkers. :)

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Well, I pulled out my favorite holiday read-aloud last night, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. It was the first of many readings to come over the next few weeks. My sons love it just as much as my students always did. When I was teaching fifth grade,

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