Have you heard of New York City’s Comfort Dog Program? The program, launched in 2016 by the Department of Education, pairs carefully screened rescue dogs with participating New York City Schools. The dogs are welcomed into the schools to work with students and staff to improve school climate and facilitate social-emotional learning. Seven schools participated…
Lesson Planning
A Pot of What?
Whether your students are writing, drawing, or both you’re sure to agree that this easy-to-prepare St. Patrick’s Day activity is golden! After all, what could be more fun than imagining how a leprechaun will use his black pot after its gold is gone. CLICK HERE for a pot pattern. Reduce the pattern size as needed…
A Fishy First Friday Giveaway
There is definitely something fishy about this month’s First Friday Giveaway! The adorable plush and slightly plump fish pictured here caught my eye (yes, that pun was intended!) because of its color and gigantic smile. I then learned that my new finned friend was the main character in The Fish with the Deep-Sea Smile, a…
It’s Programmable!
Let’s get right down to business with this blog. Here at The Mailbox® we love to do things to make your lives easier. So whenever possible, we make the patterns on our site “programmable.” What is “programmable?” It’s when you can type letters, words, numbers, or math problems directly on patterns before you print them….
What About Those Penguins?
January and penguins go together don’t you agree? Actually, next Saturday, January 20 is Penguin Awareness Day, a day to celebrate these unique and fascinating flightless birds. You may know that penguins are among the most social of all birds. After all you’ve probably seen photographs featuring hundreds of penguins hanging out together. However did…
It’s a Dr. King Quiz!
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is just a few days away. So just for fun, I’ve prepared a little quiz in honor of Dr. King. Which statement below is false? He was born Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin had a younger brother and an older sister. At the age of ten, Martin sang with his…
High-Flying Math, Art, and More!
Who’s the most special reindeer of all? Why, Rudolph of course! You’ll be reminded just how special Rudolph is when you discover how easy it is to add this reindeer-related activity to your lesson plans. All you need are large sheets of drawing paper, brown paper strips, scissors, glue, and crayons or markers. The activity…
Run, Run as Fast as You Can!
Today’s December topic is the Gingerbread Man. You know, that brave cookie that thinks he can outrun anyone or anything! Well, he’s outrun me and for now I’m fine with that because I have something even better to offer you. Check out the links below—all follow-ups to that sneaky cookie’s tale! • a cut-and-glue sequencing…
“Hole-y” Cow!
Yesterday was the 131st birthday of the hole puncher! You may have noticed Google’s Doodle of the Day celebrating this artifact of German invention. Even though I’m a day late, I’d like to give a shout out to Friedrich Soennecken, the fellow who on November 14, 1886, filed his patent for the very first hole…
Do You Believe…
Do you believe that asking students to write stories about any topic they choose can turn students on to writing? According to author Bruce Coville, that’s how he discovered his love of writing. For him it happened in sixth grade. By the time he was 17, he had decided he was going to be a…