DISCRETE VS. DISCREET

Is there a difference between the words Discrete & Discreet? They look the same, sound the same and have the same letters. I don’t think this will be a question that’s asked often. I only happened to chance upon the word discrete as I was reading an article with the word discrete in it in [...]

Classroom Strategies From Reading Rockets.com

Classroom Strategies I subscribe to this newsletter, Reading Rockets. It is so full of resources for parents, teachers and others interested in education. It is one of the best resources I have come across. Do yourself a favor & subscribe. This is taken directly from the Reading Rockets website: Our classroom strategy section is designed [...]

My Summer Reading List

Hello dear readers. I am compiling my annotated summer reading list. I will post it very soon.

Build-A-Bear

Phillise & I went to Build-A-Bear. I love that store & the concept. Getting to build your own bear is one of the best things ever! Well, Phillise had been wanting to go for the longest time, but I couldn’t make myself spend $50 for a teddy bear. But, my baby’s big eyes won me [...]

Leimert Park Village Book Fair

Music and Arts – Exhibit Date: Saturday, June 26, 2010 Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm Location: LEIMERT PARK VILLAGE Street: 4310 DEGNAN BLVD (43RD AND DEGNAN BLVD) City/Town: Los Angeles, CA The Fourth Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010 in Los Angeles. The Book Fair runs from 10 [...]

Literacy Milestones (Birth to 3 Years)

Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com Literacy Milestones: Birth to Age 3 By: Andrea DeBruin-Parecki, Kathryn Perkinson, and Lance Ferderer (2000) Identifying a reading problem is a challenge without a sense for what typical literacy development looks like. Find out what language accomplishments are typical for most children at the following age levels: birth to three, [...]

Mama Elizabeti by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Mama Elizabeti (2000), written  by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen & illustrated by Christy Hale is the follow up to 1998′s Elizabeti’s Doll which I recently reviewed. I liked this book because it celebrates sibling love. In this sequel to Elizabeti’s Doll (1998), Elizabeti has a new sister named Flora. Now that her mother spends all her time [...]

Sitton’s Appleseed Newsletter

Taken directly from Sitton’s Appleseed Newsletter: Word Walls can be an excellent teaching tool and resource to support your students across the communications curriculum. Some basics about best practices with Word Walls: Word walls should be built collaboratively: Literacy leaders consistently emphasize that word walls should be built collaboratively with students. These word collections should [...]

Things I Simply Refuse To Do…

I was talking to my husband yesterday about being a good teacher. I don’t like to brag, but I do toot my own horn when it comes teaching. There are not many things I consider myself excellent at, except teaching & being creative (crafts). I refuse to: water grass that’s already green. By this I [...]

Rediscover Your Public Library

Taken directly from the Reading Rockets website. Here are 9 reasons to visit your public library. Free programs and activities: From author visits to puppet shows to family films, libraries offer programs with kid appeal after school, on the weekends, and during the summer. Ask your librarian for the schedule of upcoming events. Story times: [...]

Graduation Season

I’ve been very busy this week. I’ve had four graduations this week; two nieces & two nephews. First, it was my nephew Christopher’s High school graduation, then it was my nephew Randall’s graduation from Middle school, lastly, it was the twins, Brooke & Ashley’s High school graduation last night. Randall is going to a local [...]

Dial-A-Story Volunteers Needed!

Dear Readers, I have a favor to ask. I contacted Mary @ Dial A Story to see if the list was up to date for a post I was writing. She responded that it was, but she had a simple request. She wanted to know if there was anyone who wanted to help keep the [...]

How Can Something Something So Small?…

Taken directly from Diva Zone Magazine.com: I get this magazine (Through snail mail & e-mail) that one of my sisters-in-law writes for. I love it. It’s full of great articles.Well, today had this fantastic article. I loved it so much because I have vertigo and have been experiencing crises of faith. This article spoke to [...]

CONGRATULATIONS LOS ANGELES BLACK BOOK EXPO (LABBX)!

Well, it’s seems as if congratulations are in order for The LABBX. We’ve just won Literary Event of the Year by the African Americans on the Move Book Club. Here’s the link: http://aambcvoting.blogspot.com

Eight Ways To Get Your Child To Read For The Summer

Taken directly from The New York State Library website. Eight Ways To Get Your Child To Read For The Summer Get your child a library card @ your local library. Sign your child up for the Summer Reading program @ the local library. Read with your child every day. Take advantage of “waiting” time to [...]

LOS ANGELES BLACK BOOK EXPO 2010!

***ATTENTION*** The Los Angeles Black Book Expo has moved from the Expo Center near USC. It will now be held @ the Sheraton Gateway Hotel near L.A.X. WHAT: The Los Angeles Black Book Expo WHEN: Saturday, August 21, 2010 WHERE: L.A.X. Sheraton TIME: 12:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Taken directly from the LABBX website: The Los [...]

Elizabeti’s Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Elizabeti’s Doll (2002), written by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen & illustrated by Christy Hale is the cutest little book. I would recommend it for little girls ages 6- 9. Phillise is 8 years old and she loved it. “This is the best book, Mom,” she said. So, I asked her if she wanted to watch it on [...]

How Do I Determine the Reading Level of A Book?

How Do I Determine the Reading Level of a Book? Well, that’s a good question. I wondered that very question aloud in a classroom where I worked as an assistant before I became a teacher. The teacher was very knowledgeable. As so often happens when you’re around very knowledgeable people, a question is rewarded with [...]

EDUTOPIA Leadership Conference

I received this e-mail from Sabrina Smith, Marketing Director @ EDUTOPIA regarding a leadership conference being held next week, June 18, 2010. This day long workshop, a collaboration between the Educational Leadership Program at the Kalmanovitz School of Education Saint Mary’s College of California and Edutopia, will bring together inspiring leaders and experts who have [...]

Busy, Busy, Busy!

As the title states, I am busy, busy, busy! I am busy putting my children’s pictures in albums that I made with my Zutter bookbinding machine. I am so ashamed to say that I’ve lost some of their school pictures. But, I’ll improvise with some of the pictures I have. I’ll post pics when I [...]

R.I.P. John Wooden (1910-2010)

It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. ** ~John Wooden~ While I was watching E.S.P.N. early this morning with my husband, I heard the news about the passing of one of America’s greatest treasures, Mr. John Wooden (1910-2010). He succumbed from natural causes just shy of his 100th birthday. This is [...]

The Importance Of Summer Reading!

Summer reading is soooooo important.  Obviously, children aren’t in school for the summer. For most, that means no structure. Read: If they don’t have to read, they don’t and/or won’t. But, you have to get your children to read by any means necessary. According to research on summer reading loss, if your child doesn’t read [...]

Dial-A-Librarian or Dial-A-Story

I love the Public Library System. They have so many services available. They have definitely stepped up their game & stepped into the 21st century. They have this great feature called Dial-A-Librarian or Dial-A-Story. Your child is able to call up the number and hear a story over the phone. I called the libraries and [...]

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD!

Mediation: From this day forward…I will listen for the voice of the Lord to speak to my heart and MOVE when HE tells me to MOVE.  I will not block my own blessings with my limited thinking and finite logic.  I will TRUST that GOD is NOT confined to man’s rules and respond by MOVING [...]