Isn't education ALL about reaching the kids in the classroom and at home?
Scientific studies have shown that kindness has a great number of physical and emotional benefits. Quotes about Kindness give students “the words” to motivate them to be kind. Kindness is best learned by feeling the emotion of caring for someone else and feeling cared for by others.
Each day we spend with kids is an opportunity to teach a piece of ourselves.
Happy New Year Friends! Welcome 2020!
Yeah! I achieved my 2019 Blog resolution to get the Threeringsconnections’ newsletter posted each month on time! I wasn’t sure if I could do it. However, the many followers and comments that I received throughout the year, motivated me to GET IT DONE! Let’s go 2020!
I hope you have a year filled with your hopes and dreams!
I choose my favorites each month for different reasons. Sometimes it’s timeliness, a hot education topic, student teacher needs or as a family and friends resource. Sometimes, it’s just, BECAUSE. Enjoy!
Why not add some Christmas jokes to your Christmas celebration this year?
As I sit watching the first snowfall of the year, I’m reminded of the snow days that my kids and I would enjoy together. Yes, there was some shoveling with hot chocolate afterwards, but we also played games, hung out in our pajamas and enjoyed the SNOWDAY!
With Thanksgiving behind us we look forward to Christmas a short 24 days away. Why not use some holiday time to teach your kids some Christmas/winter jokes? Joke telling helps kids learn new vocabulary, strengthens comprehension and helps communication skills. Best of all, the holidays are a great opportunity to laugh together as a family. Why not take some time to be silly this Christmas season and enjoy a laugh (or eye roll)? Merry Christmas!
Q. What Christmas song do wild animals sing at Christmas? Answer: Jungle Bells
Q. What happens if you eat Christmas decorations?
Answer: You get tinselitus
Q. What do you call Santa when he stops moving?
Answer: Santa Pause
Q. What comes at the end of Christmas Day?
Answer: The letter “Y!”
Q. What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
Answer: Snowflakes. (or Frosted Flakes!)
Q. What does an elf study in school?
Answer: The elfabet.
Q. What do you get if you mix a vampire with a snowman?
Answer: Frostbite!
Q. What does Santa suffer from whenever he gets stuck in a chimney?
Answer: Santa Claustrophobia
Q. How do sheep wish each other happy holidays?
Answer: Merry Christmas to ewe.
Q. What does Mrs. Claus say when there are clouds in the sky?
Answer: It looks like rain, deer.
Q, What do you call a greedy elf?
Answer: Elfish!
Q. Why wouldn’t the Christmas tree stand up?
Answer: It had no legs.
Q. What kind of ball doesn’t bounce?
Answer: A snowball.
Q. What did one snowman say another snowman?
Answer: You’re cool.
Q. What is every parent’s favorite Christmas carol? Answer: Silent Night.
Q, What do you get when Santa plays detective?
Answer: Santa clues!
Q. What falls but never gets hurt?
Answer: Snow.
Q. What do you call a shark that delivers toys at Christmas?
Answer: “Santa Jaws!”
Q. Where do snowmen keep their money?
Answer: In a snow bank.
Q. What do snowmen like to do on the weekend?
Answer: Chill out.
Q. What does Jack Frost like best about school?
Answer: Snow and tell.
Kid: Knock, knock.
Adult: Who’s there?
Kid: Murray.
Adult: Murray who?
Kid: Murray Christmas, one and all!
Kid: Knock, knock.
Adult: Who’s there?
Kid: Pizza.
Adult: Pizza, who?
Kid: Pizza on earth, good will toward men!
Scientific studies have shown that kindness has a great number of physical and emotional benefits. So what can we do at home and school to promote kindness? Remember, for kids to learn it’s a combination of what we say and do. Sometimes for kids to learn they just need a few simple words to promote an action. Quotes about Kindness give students “the words”. Kindness is best learned by feeling the emotion of caring for someone else and feeling cared for by others.
Next month we’ll post some new Kindness quotes to add to your toolbox. It’s never too early to start building your resources for The Great Kindness Challenge (January 27-31, 2020)
On Opening Day, each year, I gave each staff member an inspirational poem about being a teacher. The poems were typed on decorative paper with a small trinket (heart, shell) attached. Often I would see it in the classrooms, and that made all the printing and gluing worth the effort.
So, as we end our semester together, I want to share with you my Opening Day poem from 2010-2011. How many of the 13 items below sound like you this past semester?
I hope you enjoyed your student teaching experience. It’s time to go out and find the teaching job that is right for you! Enjoy the journey friends. You’ve got this.
Real teachers hear the heartbeats of crisis; always have time to listen; know they teach students, not subjects; and are non-expendable.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING A CAREER THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN KIDS LIVES.
Eleven months down in 2019, how are you doing on those New Years Resolutions? If you are still working on catching up on professional development, take a look at this month’s newsletter. All 12 November posts are below, as well as ALL the posts since I started the blog in September 2018. My New Year’s Resolution to get the Threeringsconnections’ newsletter out on a timely, consistent schedule is accomplished: 11 down and 1 more to go! Have a great month!
I choose my favorites each month for different reasons. Sometimes it’s timeliness, a hot education topic, student teacher needs or as a family and friends resource. Sometimes, it’s just, BECAUSE. Enjoy!
Scholastic Books Warehouse Sale 2019 is Coming!
December 4th – 14th
My local friends the closest location is Danbury, Ct. (Approximately 40 mins. from Fishkill area.
Scholastic Books Warehouse offers for a limited a limited time only deep discounts on books. This holiday you can purchase “Buy One, Get One Box” from hundreds of books, gifts, and school supplies. There is even a Build a Box opportunity! Refresh your school, home, and classroom libraries, and stock up on gifts for everyone.
For every item you buy, choose an item of equal or lesser value for FREE
Coupon is $10.00 off a purchase of $100.00. OR $25.00 off a purchase of $100.00 using Scholastic Dollars.
Danbury, CT Warehouse Sale:
Weekday Hours: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday Hours: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Closed Sundays
The Danbury location is a Build-a-Box event. As many books as you can fit in a box for less than $29.95.
Sign up and get coupon! Enjoy!
Motivating kids to learn? Here’s what I learned a long time ago. Kids don’t always do what you want them to do. I’m hearing parents all over the world saying “that’s certainly true”. Yes, folks and you might experience it from birth to adulthood!
So, getting kids motivated to learn is sometimes a combination of timing, strategies and luck. Check out some of the strategies below that might get them motivated to learn. They may even think it’s their idea!
Learning becomes fun when kids are interested in learning. It doesn’t really matter if it’s dinosaurs, trucks or skyscrapers. If kids are reading, talking and asking questions they are building background knowledge and learning. Getting them to want to learn is the trick.
Why not add some Thanksgiving jokes to your Thanksgiving celebration this year?
Teaching kids to appreciate jokes is a great opportunity to laugh together as a family. Why not take some time to be silly this Thanksgiving and enjoy a laugh (or eye roll). Happy Thanksgiving!
Kid: Knock, knock.
Adult: Who’s there?
Kid: Gladys.
Adult: Gladys who?
Kid: Gladys Thanksgiving. Aren’t you?
Kid: Knock, knock.
Adult: Who’s there?
Kid: Harry.
Adult: Harry who?
Kid: Harry up, I’m hungry!
Q. Why did the farmer run a steamroller over his potato field on Thanksgiving Day?
A. He wanted to raise mashed potatoes.
Q. What is a turkey’s favorite dessert?
A. Peach gobbler!
Q. Why did the police arrest the turkey?
A. They suspected it of fowl play!
Q. What do you call it when it rains turkeys?
A. Foul weather!
Q. What smells the best at a Thanksgiving dinner?
A. Your nose
Q. Why do pilgrims’ pants always fall down?
A. Because they wear their belt buckles on their hats!
Q. Why did the cranberries turn red?
A. Because they saw the turkey dressing!
Q. What did the turkey say to the computer?
A. “Google, google, google.”
Q. What kind of music did Pilgrims listen to?
A. Plymouth Rock.
Q. What’s the best thing to put into pumpkin pie?
A. Your teeth
Q. What always comes at the end of Thanksgiving?
A. The letter “g”.
Q. Which side of the turkey has the most feathers?
A. The outside.
Q. What do turkeys and teddy bears have in common?
A. They both have stuffing.
Q. Where does Christmas come before Thanksgiving?
A. In the dictionary
Q. What do you get when you cross a turkey with a centipede?
A. Kid: Drumsticks for everyone on Thanksgiving Day!
Q. What did the turkey say to the turkey hunter on Thanksgiving Day?
A. “Quack! Quack!”
Q. What key has legs and can’t open doors?
A. A turkey.
Q. Who isn’t hungry at Thanksgiving?
A. The turkey because he’s already stuffed.
Great opportunity to fill your bookshelves at home or in your classroom. The book store has a selection of over 20,000 high-quality used books, cds, dvds and audiobooks. Books are organized and sorted to make shopping a breeze.
Entrance to the Friends’ Book Store is on the south side of the building – just look for the blue awning.
Store hours: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm.
Telephone: 845-485-3445 x 3423
Cash, checks (with valid ID) and MasterCard, Visa, and Discover cards are accepted.
Follow them on Facebook too to check out special sales and events:
Poughkeespie Library Bookstsore
Ten months down in 2019, how are you doing on those New Years Resolutions? If you are still working on catching up on professional development, take a look at this month’s newsletter. All 12 October posts are below, as well as ALL the posts since I started the blog in September 2018. My New Year’s Resolution to get the Threeringsconnections’ newsletter out on a timely, consistent schedule is accomplished: 10 down and 2 more to go! Have a great month!
As regular readers know, at the end of each month I share the three most popular posts from the last month. I thought people might find it interesting to see what everyone else was looking at. Enjoy!
I choose my favorites each month for different reasons. Sometimes it’s timeliness, a hot education topic, student teacher needs or as a family and friends resource. Sometimes, it’s just, BECAUSE. Enjoy!
The Concepts of Print (COP) assessment was created by Marie Clay (1993), The assessment includes items to assess a child’s knowledge of both print and written language skills. These two skills work together to help children learn to read and write.
Many students entering kindergarten understand that a book tells a story (the print has meaning). However, very few understand “how print works”. Concepts of Print (COP) skills involves kids knowing parts of a book (using the correct terms) and understanding the letter/writing concepts included. Since many parents and teachers read to children daily; why not add a few of the COP skills.
Point to the Following Parts of the Book
Show How to Read a Book
Words and Writing in Books: Basics
Research: Clay, M. M. (1993). An observation survey of early literacy achievement. Heinemann, 361 Hanover St., Portsmouth, NH 03801-3912.
I’ve heard about it. I’ve supported the teachers in my school to try it. Now… it’s time for me to sit down for an “Hour of Code”. OK friends, maybe longer than an hour!
The Hour of Code movement is a grassroots movement that has already introduced over 100 million students worldwide to the basics of computer science. The program was started to give every student an opportunity to try computer science for one hour. In an hour anybody can learn the basics of “code” by participating in computer science activities. Computer science helps nurture problem-solving skills, logic and creativity. All skills that are important to pursue a 21st century career path. Our elementary school first participated in an Hour of Code in 2015 during Computer Science Education Week (held in early December each year).
Today, Hour of Code activities are available year-round (tutorials and activities). The one-hour tutorials are available in over 45 languages. The tutorials are self-guided, and all materials are free of charge. Planning guides are easy to read and available for every age and experience-level, from kindergarten and up. Schools can enroll their class and enjoy the fun. The tutorials work on all devices and browsers and there are also unplugged activities for groups that can’t accommodate the tutorials! Code.org is the ultimate resource if you are learning about an Hour of Code or you are already working on it with your kids.
Well, it was longer than an hour but……I worked on an activity to code my characters to dance! See Dance Party. No experience necessary, easy to do and fun! Can’t wait to have my grandkids try it!
Thinking about giving it a try? Computer Science Education Week 2019 will be held December 9-15. Be part of the largest learning event in history. Certainly, worth a look. However, it you can’t wait until December, try some of the links. Have fun!
We all know the importance of marketing in selling things. It’s all around us every day! A great marketing campaign that has entered the school doors is the STEAM movement. Yes, it may be the catchy name but kids, parents and teachers now think STEAM is cool! Some of us have known all along about the cool factor of science but now the word is out. Now, we are all “living and loving” science. And, that’s OK!
The rebranding of Science and Math is a result of the need to better prepare students for higher education. Students in the 21st century workforce need to have the skills and knowledge to be innovators. The acronym was first introduced as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and is now often referred to as STEAM with the inclusion of an A for Arts. STEAM lessons include the following:
STEAM projects aim to spark an interest and life- long love of the arts and sciences in children starting at an early age. Lessons are designed to teach skills to be good learners, therefore, the skills can be translated into almost any career. Teaching kids to think critically and solve problems will help them to thrive in the 21st century.
Nine months down in 2019, how are you doing on those New Years Resolutions? If you are still working on catching up on professional development, take a look at this month’s newsletter. All 13 September posts are below, as well as ALL the posts since I started the blog in September 2018. My New Year’s Resolution to get the Threeringsconnections’ newsletter out on a timely, consistent schedule is accomplished: 9 down and 3 more to go! Have a great month!
Preschool Readers (2 to 5 yrs.)
Learning to read is not easy and takes time. Many parents wonder on the best ways to help their kids learn to read. With 8 grandkids under 9, we have various levels of reading going on in our family. Ranging in age from 7 months to “newly 9” we have readers of all sizes and abilities.
I created the following list to make it a little easier for my adult children to have a few “reading ideas” to help their kiddos. Reading is very comprehensive and therefore, there is a wide range of activities at each level. The important thing to remember is reading builds on foundational skills. Therefore, each level is important for reading success. Don’t worry if your more advanced reader wants to do a lower level. Even advanced readers can continue to learn and grow from some of the Preschool Reader activities. Last week we started with our series with Very Early Readers (Birth – 2 years). This week we continue with Preschool Readers (2 – 5yrs).
Every minute counts in becoming a good reader. Why not set a goal to try to do at least one activity a day? Be prepared to have days when it doesn’t get done. It’s only a goal. Most of all, enjoy the special time with your child.
Very Early Readers (Birth – 2 yrs)
Learning to read is not easy and takes time. Many parents wonder on the best ways to help their kids learn to read. With 8 grandkids under 9, we have various levels of reading going on in our family. Ranging in age from 7 months to “newly 9” we have very early readers to advanced readers.
I created the following list to make it a little easier for my adult children to have a few “reading ideas” to help their kiddos. Reading is very comprehensive and therefore, there is a wide range of activities at each level. The important thing to remember is reading builds on foundational skills. Therefore, each level is important for reading success. Don’t worry if your more advanced reader wants to do a lower level. Even advanced readers can continue to learn and grow from some of the Very Early Reader list activities. This week we start with our very early readers.
Coming Next Week: Preschool Readers (2 to 5 years)
Coming in 2 Weeks: School Age Readers and Writers (5 to 9 years)
I’ve written a post about Overdrive as a database to access free books for adults and kids. However, I was not aware that they also have collections of books on different subjects. One of the listed subjects is Education. The collection includes books for both teachers, parents and students. Books are in both digital and audio files.
Using your library card you can borrow up to 10 ebooks or audiobooks from your local library. Just use your library card for your one time registration and you’re ready to go. Books can be borrowed from 7 to 21 days.
Over the years I’ve collected a collection of education books. Take a look at the list below and let me know if there are any books that you may find helpful in your placements. I can bring them to your placement on our next observation. Access to your very own professional lending library!
For kids in school, knowing historical dates helps them relate to history and builds their general knowledge. Knowing these dates can help teachers engage students in conversations and students may even be impressed by their teachers historical knowledge!
Knowing historical dates provides opportunities for students to learn history and build their general knowledge. Take a look and impress your students!
September
Constitution Week (Sept. 17-23)
National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15)
Sept. 2 Labor Day
Sept. 8 International Literacy Day
Sept. 8 National Grandparent’s Day
Sept. 17 Citizenship Day/Constitution Day
Sept. 22 Ice Cream Cone Day
Sept. 23 First Day of Autumn
Sept. 26 Johnny Appleseed Day
October
Fire Prevention Week (October 9- October 15)
National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15 – October 15)
Oct. 4 World Smile Day
Oct. 8 Yom Kippur (10/08-10/09)
Oct. 9 Fire Prevention Day
Oct. 9 National Bring Your Teddy Bear To School Day
Oct. 14 Columbus Day
Oct. 25 Make A Difference Day (10/25-10/26)
