One of the most difficult things my students seem to struggle with at the beginning of every new school year is walking in the hallways. Entering 3rd grade, most have been at the same school for four years. However, from the looks of it, you’d think they’d never walked in a line before. From the…
Inspiration and Motivation
Make a Difference to Children Giveaway!
July is a month every teacher deserves to celebrate with great enthusiasm! Yes, it’s summer vacation for most teachers, and that’s an awesome reason to celebrate. But here’s another first-rate reason for every teacher to celebrate: July is National Make a Difference to Children Month. I’d like you to stop in your tracks right now…
What Are You Reading?
Can it really be this easy? Heck, it’s just four words! Why not give it a try? These thoughts were twirling in my head after hearing a father explain on national television how he encourages his children to read. Simply put, he asks his kids what they are reading. He doesn’t toss the question out…
Happy Fourth of July!
Here’s hoping your Fourth of July report card includes four Fs: family, friends, food, and fun. Oops, better add in some fireworks too. Wow, five Fs! I imagine these are your first Fs ever! 🙂 I wouldn’t normally be blogging on my day off, and yet here I am tapping away at my keyboard. It’s…
Yes, They Were Teachers Too!
If you were a student in Mr. T’s classroom, would you have uttered a peep? Not me! I would have completed every homework assignment too. Yes, Mr. T was a teacher for a spell. J. K. Rowlings worked as an English-as-a-foreign-language teacher in Portugal. Sheryl Crow taught music at an elementary school in Fenton, Missouri,…
Did You Sleep In?
Ahhhhh, the favorite summertime activities y’all posted at “‘Eeee-zy’ First Friday Giveaway” sound relaxing, fun, and simply wonderful. Sleeping in, reading, spending time with family, shopping, sunning, traveling…fabulous! Y’all are so deserving! And now for the news you are waiting for—the winner of June’s First Friday Giveaway is Helena (comment 154) who is looking forward…
Paying It Forward
When I first heard about the money drops in San Francisco and Los Angeles, my ears perked right up. Someone is stuffing bills in envelopes and then giving the envelopes away? Wow, inconceivable! Is it a brilliant idea for a person to share his or her wealth in this way? I can’t decide. I keep…
Drumroll, Please!
Happy Monday, y’all! And a belated happy Mother’s Day. In my mind, all teachers are moms (or dads!) too. One time, I about made a cashier pass out when I told him I had 29 kids. When I realized our misunderstanding, I clarified that I was a teacher! 🙂 Today, I’m announcing six contest winners….
A Golden Giveaway
Today is the first Friday in the month of March, and this means (drumroll, please) it’s giveaway time here at The Mailbox Blog! This month, I have a pot of gold waiting for the winner—seriously! To enter this month’s giveaway, simply share your opinion about the statement below before midnight EDT Friday, March 14. Teacher…
Recharging Dead Batteries
The world is a strange place indeed. One person’s morning pick-me-up is made of hot water filtered through finely ground, roasted (i.e. burnt) beans. Another person prefers hot water filtered through dried leaves. Still others crack open a can of carbon dioxide–infused water and corn syrup for their morning pick-me-up. I always smile when I…