Most teachers I know have closets and shelves full of sweet gifts from students. Coffee mugs, earrings, ABC pins, perfume, more coffee mugs, etc. Personally, I loved the handwritten notes. They were easy to save, and I still enjoy reading them years later. Once, I received a bottle of perfume that was half empty and stamped "tester". Another unique present was a handmade, giant candy kiss covered with tinfoil. It was made of clay and had an opening for little candy kisses. The girl that gave me this knew that I loved chocolate.
One year the parents had each of my students write me a letter and made a scrapbook with the letters and pictures they had taken throughout the year. The scrapbook was a complete surprise and such a thoughtful gift.
If you are looking for some meaningful ideas for special teacher gifts, Joanne Meier over at Reading Rockets has a post you should read.
Two of Joanne's suggestions would have made my day when I was teaching, so I am sharing them here.
Donate a copy of your favorite read aloud to the class. Teachers are always looking for tried and true read alouds. If a book worked for you, it might work for the class too!
Gather a few kids from the class. Have them look through old magazines and newspapers for words and pictures that remind them of their teacher. Cut and paste to make a gorgeous collage.
Since teachers always need more books for their shelves, parents donating books for that age level could make it into a class project. Perhaps parents and their children could also write short book reviews for their donated books inside the books to be read by other students throughout the years. Imagine the excitement if students saw a familiar name (brother, sister, friend) with a review in a book they had chosen to read.
After posting a list of the five most read books per grade level, my sister called with one of those "get over there quick" messages about a warehouse book sale put on my Scholastic Inc. I immediately changed my afternoon plans and was pleasantly surprised by the large selection of books on sale. Most of the books were 50% off, but I also picked up some for $1.00. Go here to find out when a Scholastic warehouse sale might be in your area. You can also print a $10.00 coupon.
This morning my sister asked, "Did you buy the book Take me out of the bathtub?" She went on to tell me about the book and how silly lyrics are sung to the tunes of old, familiar songs. Yes, great retired teacher minds do think alike. I had also bought the book, and I love it.
Imagine singing "Go Go Go to Bed" to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" or "Stinky, Stinky Diaper Change" instead of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". The "silly dilly" lyrics are hysterical, and the illustrations by David Catrow are delightful and guaranteed to make you laugh. "Ripped My Favorite T-Shirt" follows the melody of I'm a Little Teapot". Of course, I have to memorize the lyrics to this one since it is one of my favorite children's songs.
Take me out of the bathtub by Alan Katz is perfect for all ages. I can just see sixth graders writing more lyrics and creating their own illustrations. As for me, I can't wait to sing some of the songs with my grandsons.
I also found the book for cheap online at abebooks.com if you can't wait for a warehouse sale. There are fourteen songs in all, so it's a great buy.
Children have welcomed the Harry Potter books in recent years like free ice cream in the cafeteria, but the nation's largest survey ever of youthful reading shows that the works of Dr. Seuss, E.B. White, Judy Blume, S.E. Hinton and Harper Lee are still the most read.
Renaissance Learning's Accelerated Reader software was the source of the survey of more than 3 million children.
It quizzes students to see whether they understand specific books, awarding points based on the average sentence length, average word length, word difficulty level and total words.
The five most popular books from each grade level are listed below. You can also download a complete copy of the report by going to the Renaissance Learning website. It's worth a look and has a printable version for a more comprehensive list of books.
First grade
1. "Green Eggs and Ham," Dr. Seuss
2. "The Foot Book," Dr. Seuss
3. "Are You My Mother?" P.D. Eastman
4. "Hop on Pop," Dr. Seuss
5. "Biscuit," Alyssa Capucilli
Second grade
1. "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," Laura Numeroff
2. "Green Eggs and Ham"
3. "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," Eric Carle
4. "If You Give a Moose a Muffin," Numeroff
5. "If You Give a Pig a Pancake," Numeroff
Third grade
1. "Charlotte's Web," E.B. White
2. "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," Judi Barrett
3. "Officer Buckle and Gloria," Peggy Rathmann
4. "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs," Jon Scieszka
5. "Dogzilla," Dav Pilkey
Fourth grade
1. "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing," Judy Blume
2. "Sarah, Plain and Tall," Patricia MacLachlan
3. "Because of Winn-Dixie," Kate DiCamillo
4. "Charlotte's Web"
5. "Stone Fox," John Gardiner
Fifth grade
1. "Bridge to Terabithia," Katherine Paterson
2. "Hatchet," Gary Paulsen
3. "Holes," Louis Sachar
4. "The Sign of the Beaver," Elizabeth Speare
5. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," J.K. Rowling
Sixth grade
1. "Hatchet"
2. "Bridge to Terabithia"
3. "Holes"
4. "Number the Stars," Lois Lowry
5. "The Bad Beginning," Lemony Snicket
Seventh grade
1. "The Outsiders," S.E. Hinton
2. "Holes"
3. "The Giver," Lowry
4. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
5. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," Rowling
Eighth grade
1. "The Outsiders"
2. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
3. "The Giver"
4. "Holes"
5. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," Rowling
Ninth-12th grade
1. "To Kill a Mockingbird," Harper Lee
2. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"
3. "Of Mice and Men," John Steinbeck
4. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"
5. "A Child Called 'It,' " Dave Pelzer
Three of the top five novels for sixth grade were required reading when I taught sixth grade. I do love the classics, but I'm glad to see that a few new books made the list. Plus, let's not overlook the fact that some books are on the "most read" list because they are part of the curriculum.
After reading JTSpencer's post about chocolate helping teachers through stressful times, and Joel's post about writing a post with a list for his Blog Revolution, I decided to share my recipe for Hot Fudge Sauce. This recipe was given to me by a good friend when I was a busy teacher with three young children, and it remains a hit with my family. The warm chocolate is perfect over vanilla ice cream and is guaranteed to add comfort to any day. Plus, Joel, it comes with a list of ingredients.:) Just try out this recipe one time, and you'll be glad you did.
Hot Fudge Sauce
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 pkg. (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 stick butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Combine milk and margarine in top of double boiler. Heat slowly until margarine is melted, and mixture is quite warm. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate chips until melted, add vanilla. Serve over ice cream.
Of course, a little exercise might be beneficial after enjoying this tasty treat!
A lot of my friends have been talking about the 80 year old teacher from Irving who is still teaching. When her picture and story appeared in the paper, one friend shared that she initially thought the woman was a volunteer. Mrs. Martin, a teacher at Austin Middle School, is pictured using a walker as she makes sure her students are on task while working on their laptops.
This dedicated middle school teacher loves the students and her job and has no plans to quit. It seems that she is able to state the rules and class expectations, and the students do what they are told. Since I never found classroom management to be quite that simple, I am in awe of this kind of control.
IRVING – At age 80, Nancy Martin needs a walker or a motorized scooter to get around Austin Middle School, but that doesn't stop her from teaching.
With doses of discipline and lessons on good manners, Mrs. Martin teaches far more than career development at the south Irving school.
"Many of the children see her as a grandmother, and they really do love her," co-worker Judy Hughes said. "It's a mutual respect. They are expected to be ladies and gentlemen."
Each morning, she teaches career connections, an elective course where students learn about various jobs.
Mrs. Martin, who has arthritis, walked around slowly to check on them as they worked on their laptops. She's arranged their desks in a circle so she can make sure they're not on MySpace or YouTube.
"If I could teach them anything, it would be to listen and follow instructions – then they can be 'A' students," Mrs. Martin said. "That's my philosophy."
I like Mrs. Martin's advice about listening. It makes me wonder why people seem to prefer to talk instead of listen. After all, if people already know what they plan to say, wouldn't it be more entertaining to listen?
Mrs. Martin keeping an eye on her students.
When I was in college, I always found something to occupy my time if the lesson didn't interest me. I seldom caused trouble and was only reprimanded once when a professor noticed that I was reading a magazine in class. For the most part, I occupied myself by doodling on my notes.
When students are hooked up to technology, they are often in their own worlds. With gadgets getting so small, teachers may not even notice that their students are surfing the net. The University of Chicago Law School recently banned internet access during class in hopes that the students will listen more and surf less.
The school announced April 11 that the distractions afforded by wireless internet access no longer will be available during class time, although laptops still will be permitted for note taking.
The move comes as educators at schools and universities nationwide have struggled with how to keep students on task at a time when most have personal technology devices they bring to class. Although many professors have taken steps to block internet access during their instruction, the University of Chicago Law School is believed to be among the first to implement a school-wide ban.
Students will always be tempted to engage in off task behaviors during class. I'm glad that I didn't have a distraction as powerful as the internet during my college days. Just think of all of those online magazines!
My grandsons are still young enough to think of their teachers as people who are a notch above everyone else. If they see their teachers outside of school, it is a really big deal. Sometimes I joke with them about inviting their teachers and principals to family events and birthday parties. They can't even imagine such a thing. Of course, I include celebrities on my list too. My first grade grandson will give me all sorts of reasons why these special people couldn't possibly come.
I came across a collection of books about teachers on ReadingRockets.org for young children that focus on life inside the classroom. Teachers are like superheroes and celebrities to a lot of children, especially those in the primary grades. The books on this list look like enjoyable read alouds or night time reading by the students themselves.
Since I am always searching the shelves at Barnes and Noble for books, I will add some of these to my list. One of the books seems familiar to me since I found several objects in the bottom of my coffee cup over the years. Luckily, a bug was not one of them. The Bug in Teacher's Coffee is described below if you are interested. It does make me wonder if any of my former students are out there writing books about me.:)
The Bug in Teacher's Coffee
By: Kalli Dakos
Illustrated by: Mike Reed
Age Level: 6-9
Reading Level: Independent Reader
Teachers and children alike will see everyday school activities and objects in a different way through each short, easy-to-read poem. From the front door to the most everyday object (a pencil), each poem has its own slightly offbeat take on things, echoed in equally wacky illustrations.
Today's paper has pictures of parents drawing encouraging pictures on sidewalks in an effort to alleviate some of the stress students feel about the TAKS tests. Some schools bring in special music, pencils, dancing bears, etc. All of it is aimed at getting the kids upbeat and relaxed about taking tests that they hear about all year long. It occurs to me that if one has the tendency to get nervous, none of the hoopla is going to make one bit of difference.
There are also those students who could care less about the tests. These kids frequently remind the teachers that it's the teacher's fault if they fail. After spending a whopping thirty minutes or less on the test, some of these kids turn their test booklets in without even checking their work. Why should they? They aren't responsible for the results.
One of my gifted sixth grade boys used to agonize over the tests and stay until the cows came home checking his answers. His anxiety was felt by everyone. Normally a bright boy with a friendly smile, his fears about what might happen if he failed the test were more than he could tolerate. Of course, he always sailed through with flying colors and achieved exemplary ratings, but he worried constantly until he learned his scores.
Why is it necessary to do this to kids? Routine achievement tests administered at the end of each year give us all of the information we need to know about a student's progress. Money poured into developing and scoring state tests could be spent on materials for instruction.
Save the dancing bears for the circus.
My sister and I spent the day together shopping and drinking coffee at Starbucks. If you ever wonder what retired teachers do, let me give you an idea.
Both of us are retired Texas teachers and watch our grandsons while our daughters work. Her daughter is a teacher, and mine is a nurse. Her grandsons are four and five, and one of mine is about to turn four, and the other one is seven. Both of us have unusual schedules, but we are always ready for action. That action includes playing baseball, riding scooters, and sneaking in a little learning when they aren't looking.
Today was all about sipping as many free coffees from Starbucks as we could using a coupon only good for Wednesdays. I guess Starbucks is striving to encourage their flavor of the month, so we are giving them a run for their money. It sounds like a TAKS math problem.
Just so you know, living on retired teacher money requires a bit of ingenuity. It's all about the coupons. If it's not on sale, don't buy it, by golly. Never let them rip you off or cheat you out of a good deal!
I used to tell my math students to keep an eye on the register and to count their change. With today's economy, that's not bad advice.
Just by taking a little test, you can find out what kind of punctuation mark best matches your personality. I found this site while reading a post on Bridges. This is a new twist on personality tests and promises to add a little zest to your life. Go to the blogthings site and give it a try. There are only five questions, and you learn interesting tidbits about yourself. For example, I found that I am a Question Mark and get along best with commas. Who knew?
| You Are a Question Mark |
 You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning.
And while you know a lot, you don't act like a know it all. You're open to learning you're wrong.
You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more.
You're naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises.
Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking.
(But they're not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!)
You excel in: Higher education
You get along best with: The Comma |
I won't mention any names, but some of the political candidates remind me of children arguing and refusing to get along. Regardless of what is said, nothing is accomplished. No wonder it is difficult to convince students to work together.
Check out this video of a dog, a cat, and a rat living in harmony. Although the dog seems to be doing most of the work, all of the animals seem content. It's too bad YouTube wasn't around a few years ago. We had a science teacher who loved rats and allowed them to crawl around on his shoulders while he was teaching. Just another example of how it's possible to get along if the desire is there!
The garage sale is over. Stuff I once considered important was sold for a fraction of its original value. The items were shuffled off to be a part of someone else's life and memories. Part of me was sad as I let go of objects that reminded me of the past, and yet, I knew I couldn't get those times back.
My grandsons had difficulty giving up some of their things as well. Their mom brought over toys and baby items that had long been ignored. Even young children have trouble letting go of items that were once their most valuable treasures. Power Rangers that not so long ago yelled commands and saved the world no longer see the daily action and feel the warm hands of a child propelling them through space. Of course, the very special toys are saved and stored, but it's not feasible to keep all of them.
Besides sadness, I also felt guilt as I reduced the prices and attempted to get rid of everything. My mother used to say, "That's good enough for anybody." She was extremely frugal and held onto everything, refusing to replace the old with the new. She was direct, to the point, and was never afraid to let us know exactly where she stood on any issue. When she was appalled at something she saw someone do, she grumbled, "The very idea!"
Anyway, at the last minute I found myself unable to part with a heated foot massager, and now I'm glad I have it. My feet hurt, and it's good enough for anybody. The very idea!
Being messy comes to me naturally. After imitating bees all day and cleaning my office and preparing for a large, neighborhood garage sale, I sat down at my computer and felt pretty proud of myself.
Yes, I felt the freedom to surf the blog world in a totally organized environment, free of nonessential debris.
I do so love that feeling that comes with getting rid of stuff that is only collecting dust, but for some reason, I think I am a born pack rat.
After seeing the picture of Joel's desk, I decided to take a picture of my desk. It is impeccable now, ready to be viewed by many. I am organized, I am woman, I am strong! Okay, maybe it has that layered look that is so popular, including a muffin top.
Jumping on the bandwagon to eagerly take money from those willing to pay for their morning coffee fix, a Blockbuster stands ready to serve. In an effort to reinvent themselves, why not? Not only are they pushing cappuccinos, but Blockbuster is trying a few other prototypes in the Dallas area to creatively stay in the market.
Blockbuster is using a dozen Dallas-area stores to test concepts such as:
*Whether customers want to rent movies as early as 6 a.m. on their way to work, instead of after work.
*Including the option to buy a cappuccino or a fountain drink.
*Offering new technology for watching movies, reading books or shooting video at a Blockbuster.
*Whether customers would stop in more often if they or their children were entertained with a game of Rock Band on a 62-inch screen or they had access to free Wi-Fi.
Market studies have determined exactly what is offered in each newly designed Blockbuster. Only time will tell if a concept is successful, but some of the stores do sound promising to me. Location seems to be the biggest draw. Extra conveniences, luxury, and entertainment just might pull in more customers.
The plight of Blockbuster to stay alive is similar to the job market students are facing in an ever changing world. Being able to step back at any time and take another direction is imperative. Going after a limited degree is ludicrous as jobs in a particular field might not even exist several years down the road.
Has Blockbuster waited too late to incorporate creative, innovative ideas? Only time will tell. This is a lesson for all of us that we must constantly reinvent ourselves and not be afraid of change and new experiences.
Growing up is hard to do. Getting past childhood memories? Impossible. It is worrisome that children are tossed into a system, and as far as friends go, it's pretty much sink or swim. Parents sit back nervously biting their lips hoping that their children will be accepted by their peers. It is heartbreaking when they are not.
Being an unpopular child in school has defined me as a person. I always pull for the underdog and go out of my way to talk to others. My adult friends are skeptical when I describe my school days. They have a difficult time picturing me as the quiet, skinny child without friends because I am such a gregarious person now. I have become the antithesis of my former self. As an adult, I find it easier to make friends, laugh, and not be afraid to express my opinion. Okay, sometimes I hold back a little.:)
I have found blogging to be an exciting way to make new friends. Since I am not the wilting violet I was in school, I do have a lot of close friends that I see on a regular basis, but keeping up with my blogger friends enhances my day. Blogging is like adding another layer to my life. I find myself laughing out loud at some posts and wiping away tears when I read others. Keeping up with other blogs gives me the opportunity to meet people from all parts of the world and to learn what is going on in their neck of the woods. Making friends has never been easier, and I love it.
By the way, Joel is having a Blog Revolution Project over at his place.
