I Had The Naked @ School Dream!

I had the Teacher’s equivalent of the naked at school dream. I was there on time, but somehow got lost, so I ended up being late & picking up my class last. I was totally unprepared, didn’t have any of the materials I needed, the Principal was micromanaging me, & worst of all, my students [...]

Nervous Curiosity!

I am eagerly & nervously looking forward to starting this new job. I go for training on Wednesday & set up my classroom on Thursday & Friday! I curious to see what my new students are like.

From a Kid’s Perspective!

I was reminiscing about my children’s first day of school. Specifically David & Phillise. When I took David to his first day of school, I neglected to tell him that it was a continuous thing. You know, that he had to go back day after day. He was so happy when I picked him up [...]

Moriah Read To Me Today!

Moriah read to me today. Not really! I read a book to her today that she absolutely loved. So, she had to read it herself. It was a medium length book, but she remembered what I read her. I was pretty impressed, considering she just turned 3 years old in July. I love that age. [...]

I Got My Wish???

I got my wish, I guess. For the longest time I wondered what it would be like to teach high-performing students, instead of Special Education students. Don’t judge me, just hear me out. It wasn’t a mean thing. I kinda’ wanted something to compare my students to. I do admit that sometimes, my wish was [...]

GETTING TO HAPPY! (Sequel to Waiting To Exhale)

WAITING TO EXHALE sequel “Getting To Happy” Tour dates: I am so happy that Terry McMillan has written a sequel to Waiting to Exhale, called Getting To Happy. She is currently writing the screenplay to be made into a movie. She’s going to be in L.A. on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 @: Eso Won Bookstore [...]

Free Teacher’s Plan Book Coupon from Lakeshore!

Click here for the Coupon Present this coupon at time of purchase. ©Lakeshore coupon code: 51402 Valid on pictured plan book only, while supplies last. Limit one coupon per customer. Offer valid 7/5/10–9/5/10. In-store purchases only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Not valid [...]

Book Sale @ The Paul Roberson Community Center!

Just got this from the LABBX blog: Books, Books, and More Books for You Book Fair / Book Sale Saturday, August 28, 2010 from 10 am to 4 pm Paul Robeson Community Center: 6569 S. Vermont Ave., LA, CA 90044 Info: (310) 569-0657 Admission: FREE The Robeson Center is having its first ever sale of [...]

New Job Jitters!

Hello Dear Readers, Since I’m going to be working @ a private school, I will now be teaching General Education. I am so scared. I’ve never taught General Education. I worked with General Education while I was a Resource Assistant, but have never taught them. You see, my specialty is teaching remedial reading & intervention [...]

I AM GAINFULLY EMPLOYED!

Hello Dear Readers, As the title states, I am gainfully employed. I GOT A JOB! It’s not the best job & I had to take a pay cut, but it is still more money than I was making while unemployed, which was $0. I am so happy. I have been such a slacker. I am [...]

Phillise’s STAR Test Results!

I finally got Phillise’s STAR test results back today. I am so proud of her. She scored in the Advanced range in both English-Language Arts & Math. She was higher in English-Language Arts than Math. In the English-Language Arts category, there are 5 categories (Word Analysis & Vocabulary Development, Reading Comprehension, Literary Response & Analysis). [...]

How to Increase Higher Order Thinking (H.O.T.), Part 7

Here is the 7th & final part of How to Increase Higher Order Thinking Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com Evaluation/Assessment If consistent use of some of the above strategies does not seem to help a student, it may be worthwhile to consider having a comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluation conducted by a qualified professional. Problem identification is [...]

How to Increase Higher Order Thinking (H.O.T.), Part 6

Here’s the 6th part of How to Increase Higher Order Thinking: Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com Think with analogies, similes, and metaphors Teach students to use analogies, similes and metaphors to explain a concept. Start by modeling (“I do”), then by doing several as a whole class (“We do”) before finally asking the students to [...]

UNLOVABLE by Dan Yaccarino

Unlovable by Dan Yaccarino (2001) is a must have book. It’s the story of self-esteem & learning to love yourself the way you are. The book begins: Alfred was unlovable. At least that’s what the cat told him every chance he got. That’s not all, though. The cat taught the parrot to say “Unlovable! Squawk! [...]

How to Increase Higher Order Thinking (H.O.T.), Part 5

Here’s the 5th part of How to Increase Higher Order Thinking: Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com Make methods and answers count To develop problem-solving strategies, teachers should stress both the correct method of accomplishing a task and the correct answer. In this way, students can learn to identify whether they need to select an alternative [...]

How to Increase Higher Order Thinking (H.O.T.), Part 4

Here’s the fourth part of How to Increase Higher Order Thinking (H.O.T.): Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com Elaborate and explain The student should be encouraged to engage in elaboration and explanation of facts and ideas rather than rote repetition. His teachers and parents could have him relate new information to prior experience, make use of [...]

How to Increase Higher Order Thinking (H.O.T.), Part 3

Here’s the 3rd part of How to Increase Higher Order Thinking: Taken directly from Reading Rocket.com Teach inference Students should be explicitly taught at a young age how to infer or make inferences. Start with “real life” examples. For example, when a teacher or parent tells a child to put on his coat and mittens [...]

How to Increase Higher Order Thinking, Part 2

Here’s the 2nd part of How to Increase Higher Order Thinking: Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com Strategies for enhancing higher order thinking These following strategies are offered for enhancing higher order thinking skills. This listing should not be seen as exhaustive, but rather as a place to begin. Take the mystery away Teach students about [...]

How to Increase Higher Order Thinking (H.O.T.), Part 1

How to Increase Higher Order Thinking Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com By: Alice Thomas and Glenda Thorne (2009) Parents and teachers can do a lot to encourage higher order thinking. Here are some strategies to help foster children’s complex thinking. Higher order thinking (HOT) is thinking on a level that is higher than memorizing facts [...]

Happy Birthday Phillip!

My husband & I are only 9 days apart. Unbeknownst to us, at the time, we were even born in the same hospital. We frequented some of the places as teen-agers. Once we talked about it, we wondered if we’d seen each other over the years & not known it. I guess I was meant [...]

A Trip Interrupted!

Today, I am so thankful for love, life, & being in my right mind because I can remember a time when that was not the case. What I am really thankful for is my interrupted trip to see family up north. Sounds funny, but let me explain. We have family visiting from Texas, so instead [...]