Really, you’re going to talk about birthdays? (Is that what you’re thinking?) The answer is “Yes.” I’ll make it quick. I have just a couple of ideas to share! I love the idea of plotting birthdays on a coordinate graph. I realize this isn’t appropriate for all grade levels, but trust me, kids grasp the…
What would teachers do without discount department stores, dollar-type stores, teacher discounts, sales, coupons, and such? Honestly, I have no idea. Even though I no longer have my own classroom, I’m always looking for a better deal. So I’m thinking, if we each share one or two ways we save money, we’ll end up with…
What’s 92% water, classified as both a fruit and a vegetable, and is available in roughly 1,200 different varieties? That would be watermelon! In case you’re wondering, the heaviest watermelon on record to date is a 350.5 pound whopper grown in Tennessee by Chris…
Am I right in thinking that every teacher has a locked desk drawer or another out-of-reach location where he or she keeps a collection of just-in-case items? I sure did. The more years I taught, the bigger my collection got. Now I’m not asking you to reveal any big secrets! I’m just thinking new teachers…
Have your students ever tried to guess your age? A teacher friend of mine recently had me in stitches as she described her students’ attempts to guess her age. Their guesses were not flattering, though quite hysterical. Luckily my friend has a hearty sense of humor. My kiddos knew that I played soccer, spoiled my…
Things are hoppin’ here at The Mailbox! We are in the midst of packing up our office and moving to a different location. It’s an exciting time and we are lovin’ some Duct Tape. As you can see in the pictures, we have used different colors and patterns of this super sticky tape to…
“If you’re not making a mistake, then you’re not doing anything.” “In every mistake there is a potential for growth.” And here’s another great one: “It’s not how we make mistakes, but how we correct them that defines us.” Mistakes are made. You’ll make a few, and so will your colleagues. Your students will definitely…
Is there a teacher who doesn’t love brand-new school supplies? Perhaps, but I wouldn’t put money on it. Well, let me clarify. I believe most teachers get a charge out of new school supplies—just like kiddos do. What can be troubling for teachers is what to do with the avalanche of school supplies that arrive…
What do 30 glue sticks, an adorable stuffed toy bulldog named T-Bone (that is longing to become a class mascot!), and a bright orange Mailbox bag have in common? You guessed it! They are mine—but not for long! They’ll soon be on their way to the winner of this month’s First Friday giveaway. To enter…
Believe it (or not)—there are those who think a person can be taught to be a morning person. I suppose if we can teach children, we can teach ourselves to hop out of bed in the wee hours of the morning! Here are five suggestions I gleaned from online articles. Think these will do the…