Change is good, right? I know it is, but here’s my confession—sometimes change scares the heck out of me. And yet I know I embrace change on a daily basis. I guess it’s the big changes that can throw me for a loop. To this day I vividly remember the afternoon my principal informed me that the following fall I would be changing grade levels. My knees went weak and my head began to spin—and not in a good way!

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This time of year can be a whirlwind of activity! There are so many things to accomplish! First and foremost, activities must be wrapped up. But, there is also a room to clean and organize for the next school year, as well as a roomful of students to send off for the summer! To help you as you make your way, I've collected several of my favorite tips from current issues of The Mailbox® magazine.

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Yesterday was a great day. Fellow editor Krystle Jones was working on a reproducible partner game for The Mailbox® magazine, Intermediate. We had talked over the idea and were both sure it was going to be great. Then, when Krystle started working on it, several issues popped up. So we sat down to problem-solve. Boy! We hit one wall after another. Several times, we just looked at each other wondering if there was a solution.

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If you could walk through the halls of The Education Center®, you would see a lot of exciting things happening. In one hallway, you might find editors squealing over the fresh and fun projects they have found in their daily mail (projects submitted by teachers like you!). In the kitchen, you may find an editorial assistant testing a recipe for an upcoming issue of The Mailbox® magazine. (You may also see a line of eager taste-testers!)

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People often compare teaching to a juggling act. Do you think it’s a fitting description? I do. There are so many skills to fit into each day, and of course, there’s paperwork, classroom management, specials, recess, lunch, and all sorts of things that come up unexpectedly. In short, the school day is packed! It’s no surprise that it’s a challenge for teachers to fit everything into each day.

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I love teachers! Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with so many who were really incredible. Let me tell you about a few of those special folks. • Ms. Head was my first mentor and helped me survive—and thrive—during that all-important first year. • Ms. Dunn taught me that the children always come first, and she introduced me to The Mailbox® magazine! • Ms. Anderson taught me to be efficient and to make the most of each moment. • Mr. Rotherham taught me to enjoy every minute with the children.

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If I could give you a quick glimpse inside the editors' heads here at The Mailbox® magazine offices, the one question you would see swirling around everyone's mind is "What do teachers think of THIS issue of The Mailbox?" Our editors love getting feedback from our subscribers. Your comments help us shape the magazines so that they continue to be a useful resource that you will turn to again and again for your classroom needs.

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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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After I had been at The Education Center® for a few months, the first magazine that I worked on was published. I proudly displayed it on a shelf in my office. Now that shelf is populated with all of the books and magazines that I have had the privilege of editing or writing. Each one of those publications holds specific memories for me--memories of testing projects with my coworkers, researching interesting topics for learning center cards, or watching, wide-eyed, as an artist turned my simple directions into colorful, kid-pleasing characters.

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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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