Happy Holidays

From our families to yours, we wish you a very happy holiday!  Thank you for learning, teaching, and inspiring in CSISD.  

December Resources

It is hard to believe that we are already in December!  Two more weeks and we will have a much needed break to recharge our teacher batteries!  In the coming weeks, engage your students with motivating and interesting lessons and ideas.  Check out these resources for the month of December!

Pinterest

The Teachers Corner

Teacher Vision

Scholastic

The Teacher's Guide

Teachnology

NTU Follow Up Finds

After our first grand rounds, we found lots of examples of great teaching, resources, and materials. Below you will find links to cool things you observed, learned, or shared during our session.

Fabulous and Free

Ticket to Read

Boggle

Tools for Teaching: The Amazing Sticky Note

50 Post-it Lessons

35 Uses of Post-it Notes

Sideways Arithmetic From Wayside School

Number Arcs - Really Good Stuff

Krazy in Kindergarten

Volunteer Spot



Guided Reading

Every Kid Needs a Champion! That's YOU by the way!

DEVOLSON

It's that time of year! The Dark, Evil Vortex of Fall!  Don't let fall put you in a funk!  Read this article to motivate you and give you the final push until Christmas Break!

5 Ways of Coping with DEVOLSON

Teacher Tired

You have finally made it to the third six weeks of school and..... you are exhausted beyond exhausted.  Don't fret--this is absolutely normal!  Thanksgiving break will be a much needed time to recharge and refresh your body and mind.

Here are a few helpful hints to keep your batteries charged during the school year:

1) Exercise.  I know that sounds impossible when you don't even have time to go to the bathroom, but take 10-15 minutes each day to get your heart rate going.  The endorphins released will increase your energy.

2) Go to bed.  It is scientifically proven that at least 8 hours of sleep can refresh and reenergize you for the next day.  Put those papers down and take a nap! (Not a school though. ) :)

3) Take care of yourself.  Teachers are so used to taking care of everyone else that it is very easy to forget about ourselves.  Listen to your body and take note of symptoms that can lead to illness.  Drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin to boost your immune system.

4) Read a good book.  A book is a great way to escape for a little bit each day.  Give your brain a break from your work day and get lost in the words of a great read!

5) Connect with family and friends.  Take time to socialize with your friends, family, or colleagues. Sometimes having a great conversation, laughing, watching a television show, or playing a game can motivate you and keep your energy up.

Veteran's Day

Veteran's Day holds a special place in my heart, because it is a day that I get to honor my brother Sgt. John Maldonado who served 12+ years in the army.  Many of the kids in your class may know  someone or may even have a relative who has served in the military.  Use this opportunity to honor your class family and truly showcase the sacrifices that are made to protect and serve our country.

My brother, John, entered the military right out of high school.  As an older sister I could not have been more proud (or extremely worried).  John has served in 4 tours of duty that took him to various locations in the Middle East, including Iraq and Afghanistan.  During his tours,  my brother missed many holidays, birthdays, celebrations, and life events, many of them important milestones in his own children's lives. It was a sacrifice he was willing to make to serve our country. After being away from his family for years at a time, his homecomings will always be some of the most memorable moments in my life.  It was always with such pride, relief, and love that we were able to welcome our soldier, son, brother, husband, and father home!

Veteran's Day Resources:

U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs

Teacher Vision

Education World

Scholastic

The Teacher's Guide

Reading that Leads to Succeeding

Book Recommendations

I have always been a reader.  I have always loved sinking into a new book, devouring it's pages, and engaging my mind in a world of words.  Even in today's technology driven world, which literally puts print at our finger tips, I still enjoy going to the public library and thumbing through the pages of a hardback book. Yep...even the smell of a book gets me every time!

When I became a teacher (not too long ago),  there definitely was not as much time for recreational reading, especially during the school year. But at least I got to read professional literature that was assigned to me at work.  It reminded me a lot of college and textbooks that I would read for class.  It was good reading, but honestly, I was not connected.  I was reading the words, but not taking in the meaning.   It wasn't until a few years into my teaching career that I FOUND reading again.  Actually, I found MEANING for reading in my profession.

At the time, I was teaching at a Title I school.  My kiddos were absolutely precious, but they came to me with baggage that a fairly new teacher was not prepared for.  I remember one particular year that I got my class list and every single child on my list had been retained at some point before coming to third grade.  With 100% of my class being at-risk, I honestly did not know what to do.  That's when I picked up a book.  It was not a book that was assigned to me, but a book that I picked up out of necessity. It was a book that I needed to build an understanding, to learn from, and to guide me.  I took ownership of my learning and from it, I took great meaning.  The book that I picked up that day was, A Framework for Understanding Poverty by: Ruby Payne.  I remember reading this book, and calling my Mom so excited to tell her that it made so much sense to me.  It made sense, because it was relevant to my classroom.  It gave me ideas, understanding, and purpose.  I have gone back to that book many times in my career, but I will always remember that book for being my first stepping stone towards being a reader in my profession. (A.K.A A Professional Reader)

That stepping stone has since led to many other great professional books that I have sought out during my years of teaching. This summer I read a book called, Mentoring Matters by: Orrin Woodward.  He started one of his chapters with a famous quote from Dr. Seuss:
The more that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you learn, the more places you'll go. Makes sense, doesn't it? Thanks Dr. Seuss.  The title to that chapter was called, Utilize Great Books.  One of my favorite excerpts from that chapter states: Great books are the mentors of great thinking, and no skill is more valuable to leadership than effective thinking (Woodward 36). 
So, this book got me thinking...and then I realized--mission accomplished.

I know that time is of the essence when you are a teacher.  Trust me.  I know.  But I challenge you to pick up that book.  Seek out guidance and knowledge in the trusted words of great leaders and teachers from all over the world. Their experiences can only add to your own.

November Resources

It is officially November.  Texas weather is finally inching its way down into the 80's.  The trees are changing colors and the hustle and bustle of holiday events are quickly approaching.  How can you incorporate this time of year into your classroom?

Check out these websites for November resources for your classroom.

        Teachnology

      Teacher's Corner

 Wise Owl Factory

Sometimes You Just Gotta Laugh...

Sometimes you just gotta laugh....
Laughter actually burns calories.  If you laugh for about 10-15 minutes you will burn between 10-40 calories.  Laughing is contagious. "Laugh and the whole world laughs with you."  Research has also shown that laughter may reduce stress hormones and boost your immune function. Laughter also improves your memory and relaxes muscles as well as your well-being and positive emotions.

Sometimes you just gotta laugh...

Halloween Tools and Resources

It is officially the scariest time of the year.  No, I am not talking about zombies, monsters, or even vampires...I'm talking about elementary school kids who are ready to binge eat on every sugar imaginable.  Next Friday will mark the day before Halloween.  Check out these technology tools  and lesson resources that can be used to channel your class' energy into productive, educational fun.  

A collection of interactive sites

Interactive Sites for Education

Kidz Page

Try a free trial of Storyboard That to create spooky tales.

Storyboard That

Mystery Writing with Joan Lowery Nixon

5 Spooky, but not too Spooky, Read Alouds for Children

I'm inviting you to try Go Noodle!

Every class needs an occasional brain break!  Face it...teachers need the occasional brain break!  Go Noodle is an excellent resource for movement in the classroom.  Go to the link below and check out all that Go Noodle has to offer!

https://www.gonoodle.com/s/ajohnson-43

Flocabulary - Educational Hip Hop

Do you want to be the coolest teacher on the block? Up your classroom cred with this fun, interactive, and engaging tool. Flocabulary is a tool that I have been using in my classroom for years.  It has outstanding resources to engage students in content across the curriculum and grade levels.  Sign up for a 30 day free trial and experience educational hip-hop in your classroom!

Sample Video:

 

ARD 101

Attending, collaborating, and participating in ARD meetings are a part of every teacher's school life, and it is so much more than knowing all of those really cool acronyms! Be prepared for your ARD meetings by understanding the process, bringing relevant information, documentation, and data, and being prepared to talk about your student's progress in the classroom.  Below is a link to the TEA Special Education Index.

TEA-Special Education Index

Parent Communication

It's that time of year!  Yes, it is time for parent-teacher conferences.  Many of you may be beginning, finishing, or might be smack dab in the middle of this process for the fall semester.  Regardless, parent communication is an essential and on-going part of your classroom.   Read the articles below for some helpful insights and tools in effective parent-teacher communication.

20 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships with Parents

Parent-Teacher Communication

7 Effective Parent Teacher Communication Tips

Five Keys to Successful Parent-Teacher Communication

Successful Parent Teacher Communication Tips

What Are You Teaching the World?

What are you teaching the world?  How are you motivating your students?  How are you building relationships?  Reflect on your first six weeks of school and share your great moments.


Check out how other phenomenal teachers are inspiring their students in and out of the classroom.

Setting Goals

For years, I have struggled with goal setting.  Even after many years of teaching, I was hesitant to push myself to my next learning step.  But, why?  It took me a few more years to figure that out.  But when I did, I saw it loud and clear.  It was FAILURE.  I was afraid to fail.  If I set out to do something, if I set a goal, if I made a plan, and I couldn't do it...then I was a failure.  Right?  Wrong!

Goal setting is a powerful tool for making our visions a reality.  It is how we push ourselves to meet our full potential and cultivate the talents that each of us hold.  The most important step in attaining your goals is to allow yourself to fail!  Goals are meant to be achieved over a period of time, meaning we must try different paths, make mistakes, make changes, and make progress without giving up. Once we understand that our failures lead to future learning, then we truly can make our goals a reality.

Take the first step.