HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Happy Memorial Day to all. This is dedicated to all those who died while in military service. THANK YOU. It is because of you that I am able to live the life I live.

here’s to 2010!

My 500,000th Hit!

Well, dear readers, it took me a little over three years, but I have hit the 500,000 mark. Here’s looking forward to 1,000,000!

HERE’S TO 2010!

R.I.P. Gary Coleman (1968-2010)

This post is dedicated to Mr. Gary “Whatchu’ Talking ‘Bout Willis” Coleman (1968- 2010). His life was tragic. I am so happy he’s finally @ peace. He’d been in the tabloids in an unfavorable light for the past few years. Although much of it was his own making, he still didn’t deserve for his life to end the way it ended.

I grew up on Diff’rent Strokes. I had the worst crush on Todd Bridges. I was so jealous when he was with Janet Jackson. I, like the rest of the world, has been witness to the child star curse that’s plagued so many child stars. I cried when Dana Plato committed suicide. I cried even harder, just recently, when her son committed suicide.

I sincerely hope that Todd Bridges will escape the Diff’rent Strokes “curse”. No one else should suffer needlessly.

R.I.P. Gary!

Scholastic Warehouse Book Sale!

*** Sorry, I just read on the website that it’s only open to school & District employees. Hopefully you know a teacher you can go with. ***

It’s going on now with thousands of books marked down 50% and other books up to 80% off cover prices.

What: Scholastic’s Warehouse Book Sale

When: Tuesday, May 25, 2010- June 19, 2010 (Closed for inventory Sunday, May 30- Friday, June 19, 2010)

Where: Various locations. Anaheim is the closest location to me @ 2890 E. Whitestar, Anaheim, CA 92806 (On the corner of Whitestar & LaPalma. From the 91 Freeway, take the Kraemer Blvd. exit & go North. Turn left on E. Whitestar. The building will be on your right.)

Go to www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/warehouse to register for your FAST-CART PASS and coupons for $10 or $25 off.

I’ve never been to the big warehouse sale in Anaheim, but I’ve heard about it. The prices are already cheap @ the outlet in West L.A. So, if they’re better than that, I’m all in.

Not Ungrateful, But…

I don’t mean to be ungrateful about job offers, but I want a different job offer. I want a 2nd interview for that great Charter school. I’m happy that I have one and I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but I want the one I want.

HERE’S TO 2010!

BEAUTIFUL!

I think I posted this before, but I’m posting it again anyway. I love this song.

HERE’S TO 2010!

Anxiously Awaiting News!

I’m anxiously awaiting news about this job I want. Hopefully it’s good news and I’ll get a second interview. Wish me luck!

HERE’S TO 2010!

More Goodies @ Barnes & Noble bookstore

Here’s something I came upon that my husband will love this since he owns the Kindle e-reader. While browsing for free summer reading programs I happened upon this informative article. It seems as if Barnes & Noble are bringing their A-game. As well as having the physical book market cornered, they are now seeking to corner the electronic or e-book market. They are offering a free book per week for five weeks once you have the code. The catch, you have to go into a Barnes & Noble bookstore. That’s fine with me since I go there at least twice a month anyway. There’s only four more weeks left. The program started May 18, 2010 and runs through June  ,2010.

There was more information in the article. If you’d like to read it, here’s the link: Summer Reading, Electronic and Free by Roy Furchgott

Free Coloring Pages

I am receiving so much free stuff. I just received my weekly Hedgie’s Treasure Trove from Jan Brett’s website. There are 100 pages offered of:

• The Umbrella
• Honey, Honey, Lion
• On Noah’s Ark
• Hedgie Blasts Off
• The Easter Egg
• The Mitten
• Gingerbread Friends
• The Three Snow Bears

Redefine Your Definition Of Reading!

Hello dear readers. I am asking you to redefine your definition of reading. As a Special Education Teacher, I have had to redefine it myself. Since I am a reader, I tried to make my students readers. Well, that just wasn’t realistic. While most of them did learn to love reading (Which was absolutely fantastic!), there were three of them who never would. I had Mild Mental Retardation (MMR), the other I suspected of having MMR, and the other was so frustrated with all of his years of not being able to read that he simply refused to pick up the habit.

I had to stop myself from getting depressed about the three that I failed. That’s when I thought about the 10/13 of my students who did become readers. That is no reason to get depressed. That is cause for celebration. Accomplishing something like that is absolutely phenomenal. I had high hopes that actually came true. Do you have any idea how that feels?

So, I rejoiced for the ten who successfully learned to love reading, while I made a plan for the ones who did not. I’d known about audio-books for awhile, but was loathe to do anything about it because it wasn’t “reading” as I saw it. I realized I had to rethink that definition. I know I can’t possibly save everyone, but I had to try other methods. I wasn’t going to just give up.

Early Learning With Families @ The LAPL

The LAPL has a great reading program. It’s called Early Learning with Families or ELF for short.

Here’s the information directly from the website: ELF

Because so much learning happens in the first five years of life, every Los Angeles Public Library location offers programs, books, CDs and DVDs especially for preschoolers and their families.

In addition, our 10 Early Learning with Families (ELF) branches offer enhanced services and programs for families with very young children.

This is what you’ll find at ELF branches:

• Storytimes for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers
• Parent workshops and information
• Cozy areas where parents and very young children can read, play quietly and learn together

The ELF@LAPL branches are:

Book Club Information

I’m so excited about my Book Club. Every year, I always make up a packet. This year I’m making my packets up from a combination of sources. Here they are:

• LAPL summer reading program bag & folder,
• Borders reading club flyer for free book [pdf],
• Barnes & Noble reading club (Click on the first button- Download Passport),
• various activities from the internet.

I also printed:

• Ben 10 bookmarks
• Marvel comics bookmark
• Princess bookmarks
• Tinkerbell bookmarks 1, 2, & 3
• Coloring pages
• Mysterious Benedict Society activities which include learning Morse code, puzzles, & discussion guide (Bookmark #2 is actually the study guide, while bookmark #3 is the bookmark with the first book on one side and morse code on the opposite side)

Since I have a laminator and I like for my bookmarks to be thick, I cut the bookmarks and laminate them back to back. I place them opposite each other so, no matter what, my bookmark is never upside down. I know that it may not bother other people, but it bothers me, so I do what I need to do.

Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest

Mr. George Baker (2004), written by Amy Hest and illustrated by Jon J Muth. Can I just say that I loved, love, loved this book?
Age range: 6-100
Theme: You’re never too old to learn; Perseverance
See this man? This one here, sitting on the porch?
That’s Mr. George Baker,
and he’s a hundred years old,
no kidding.

FREE BOOKS!

***WARNING*** This post is very long, but worth it.

Signing up to receive the Reading Rockets newsletter was one of the best things I’ve signed up for. According to their website, “Reading Rockets offers a wealth of reading strategies, lessons, and activities designed to help young children learn how to read and read better. Our reading resources assist parents, teachers, and other educators in helping struggling readers build fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension skills.”

It’s true. There is a wealth of information. Whenever I have a question that needs answering, the Reading Rockets website is one of my first stops. In fact, I recently found an excellent source for free books this morning. I’ve included the list right here, but if you want to see it for yourself, here’s the link.

National book giveaway programs

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, developed in 1995 for her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee, has been replicated in communities across the United States to bring books into the homes of preschool children. Through the program, all children in a participating community are enrolled at birth or when they move into the community. Each month, from the day the child is born until their 5th birthday, a selected book arrives at the mailbox. The Dollywood Foundation has developed the delivery system, negotiated price, selected the publisher and the individual titles, and created registration and promotional materials. Local champions in the community — businesses, school districts, civic organizations, individuals, or local government — finance the cost of the books and the mailing, register the children and promote the program.

First Book

First Book is a national nonprofit that has provided more than 50 million new books to children in need. In neighborhoods across the country, First Book unites leaders from all sectors of the community to identify and support community-based literacy programs reaching children living at or below the poverty line and provide them with grants of free books and educational materials. The First Book National Book Bank, a subsidiary of First Book, provides new books to children from low-income families using generous donations from children’s book publishers. The First Book National Book Bank distributes large quantities of publisher-donated brand-new books to programs serving children from low-income families. There are 25 to 30 book distributions hosted by the First Book National Book Bank annually at a variety of sites across the United States. The books are free to programs that are able to pick them up or just $0.25 per book to have them shipped.

Getting Ready For The Summer!

Well, it’s that time of year again. There’s only a couple of weeks left until school ends. This year, In California- due to budget cuts- school ends a week earlier than usual. That being said, I have found activities to keep my children busy during these long summer months.

Phillise will be taking FREE art classes, an etiquette class, & will begin her guitar lessons. While David will also take the FREE art classes, etiquette class, & karate lessons. I plan on keeping them very busy. Not keeping them busy enough was my mistake in the past. No more though. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. I’ve made some mistakes along the way. Some I’ve been able to correct. Some I haven’t. Letting my children get away with murder (i.e., sleeping late, no schedule, etc.) was one of my mistakes. So, long story short, this year they will be very busy for the summer.

On that note, I’ve made a list of things every kid needs to get ready for the summer:

• Library card,
• bathing suit,
• lots and lots of books,
• a plan to get into something,
• a bus pass or parents to act as chaffeur,
• money for pizza or other fast food,
• summer reading list,
• friends,
• crayons & coloring books,
• a gaming systems,
• & a mindset to relax & party; then do it again the next day, and the next, and the next…

The One I Really Want!!!

I’ve applied for so many jobs over the past couple months. Quite frankly my lil’ ego is bruised that I haven’t worked the whole school year. I thought that I would get a job pretty easily. I guess that was kinda’ egotistical. What I didn’t count on was the layoffs and the terrible economy. I didn’t count on L.I.F.E.!

I figured if I could get an interview they’d see what a fantastic teacher I was. However, I only got two interviews the whole year. One of the jobs I didn’t want but would have taken since my kids have to eat, I didn’t get. I wasn’t terribly upset though. The pay sucked plus I wouldn’t have had my own classroom. I would have had one but it was literally a supply closet. I’m really not exaggerating when I say that.

The other job I interviewed for I got. I’m going to take the physical for it tomorrow. I like it because I can sub in the summer. I’m still looking for a permanent job because I can ONLY sub for this particular district because my credential is Mild/Moderate but they only hire Moderate/Severe.

The one I REALLY want is at a charter school with a great philosophy that believes in promoting from within. I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want it. If I don’t get it there’s nothing I can do about it but move on. As always, I will do what needs to be done. Sometimes you gotta’ do what you gotta’ do!

That’s life!

HERE’S TO 2010!

Rejection Letters!

Well, I’ve started getting rejection letters which is actually a pretty good thing. It means the hiring process has started for the 2010-2011 school year. It also means I’m that much closer to my dream job. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

HERE’S TO 2010!

HAPPY (Belated) BLOGIVERSARY 2 ME!

I cannot believe that I, the original blog-a-holic, forgot to wish myself a HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY on May 11. It’s my 3rd! So even though it’s late, I am happy that I’ve been blogging for 3 years. Here’s to many more.

Fenwick’s Suit by David Small

Fenwick’s Suit (1996), written and illustrated by David Small is a funny, quirky little book. I love David Smalls as an author and as an illustrator. I’ve said this before about other books and I’ll say it again, “I could have written this book.” It is so silly. I mean, just look at the cover of this book. What do you see? You don’t know, do you? But, do you want to find out? Of course you do. That’s the beauty of a combination of a great illustrator, colors, and marketing.

I love the feeling of looking back at a cover once the book is read. That’s when I get a full understanding of the hidden meanings. It’s like it’s a secret the author lets you have access to once you’ve read their masterpiece.

I’m not going to tell you what the cover’s all about. You’re going to have to read it for yourself to find out. What I can tell you is a little bit about the book.

The book is fantastic. The illustrations are fabulous. They are what caught my eye in the first place. As you can see by the picture and can guess by the title, this book is about a suit. Not an ordinary suit though. This suit, Fenwick’s Suit, takes on a life of its’ own. Poor Fenwick. He has no friends, he’s ignored by all his co-workers. He thinks it’s because of the way he’s

FREE Stuff @ Lakeshore

In addition to the free crafts every Saturday, the Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off special they’re running, Lakeshore is hosting a Free (that’s right, FREE) Musical shindig featuring Musical Bob @ their West L.A. store, located at:

8888 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310-559-9630

Testing Miss Malarkey by Judy Finchler

In honor of testing this week @ Phillise’s school, I thought I’d post Testing Miss Malarkey (2002), written by Judy Finchler & illustrated by Kevin O’Malley. I was introduced to this book during a staff meeting last year when the Title I Coordinator (Still don’t know what she did, btw!) got a kick out this as she read it to us. I found it amusingly accurate. It is the cutest little book. This book is a definite MUST READ during testing. It helps to lighten the mood. I’m definitely going to read this to Phillise this morning to get her in the testing mood.

I think I’m suffering from Literature Review withdrawal. If you’ll notice, this review is a little different from my other reviews. It just felt right to do it this way. So, let me include what someone from the American Library Association wrote. The reviewer thought the undertone of this book was sarcastic. REALLY??? Well, duh! Obviously Judy Finchler captured the essence of high stakes test taking. Of course it’s sarcastic. It’s because, for the most part, testing is a load of hooey. It doesn’t really prove anything. Sure it proves that some people can take tests. Some people are very good at taking tests. That includes my children. However, that is not a total measurement of who they are as a person. I’m not taking anything away from those who excel at test taking, but what about those who freeze up during test? Or what about those students who can’t read, but have great comprehension?