Lakeshore After Thanksgiving (Black Friday) Sale!

Present this coupon at time of purchase.

©Lakeshore
coupon code: 39259

Offer valid November 27-28, 2009. Valid on in-store purchases only. Limit one coupon and one bag per customer. 20% discount taken off lowest ticketed price. Excludes tax & shipping charges. Not valid on Super Deals or gift cards. Valid on in-stock items only. No ship-to or special [...]

Books, Books, Books!

I love books. What I love even more than buying and reading books is buying them for cheap. What am I talking about? Well, the ROADIUM open air flea market, sells books for very cheap. How cheap? Today I purchased some books for as cheap as $1 for hardcover books. My latest acquisition:
The Roald Dahl [...]

McDonald’s Trick or Treat Coupons

The cost= $1.50 for a packet of 12 coupons.
What you get?= 3 bags of Apple Dippers, Small Apple Juice or Milk jug, small cone, or Hamburger.
Who it’s for= 12 and under. My McDonald’s a stickler for this. They’re actually kinda’ anal about it.
It’s a limit of one coupon per customer per visit.
I love these coupons. [...]

Free Ice Cream @ Coldstone Creamery (9/24/09)

Thursday, September 24th  5-8pm
FREE 3 oz. Make-A-Wish® Creation™ with a Donation
Donate and receive a 3 oz. sample of Jack’s Creation served out of a ready-to-love pan in a Like It™ Cup. Valid only during published date and time. While supplies last. No substitutions. Limit one per customer. An estimated 85 percent of all donations in [...]

Children’s Place coupon

Here’s a coupon that’s sure to come in handy, to the tune of 15% off. It’s from one of my favorite clothing stores, Children’s Place. I received it today. Enjoy!
Click picture below, save it, and print:

Mission Impossible Assignment #3: School Shopping on a Budget, Part 2

My mission (which I already accepted) was to purchase school uniforms, underwear & socks, and shoes for 2 children for under $150. This was seemingly impossible, but it’s been done before and it can be done again. One of the best ways to save money is to recycle clothing from the previous year that [...]

Good-bye Reading Rainbow (The End of an Era)

The last episode aired Friday, August 28, 2009 on PBS. It’s the end of an era. Reading Rainbow is gone.
The theme song I’ll always remember:
Butterfly in the sky, I can fly twice as high, Take a look, It’s in a book, The Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow aired from 1983-2009, with the last original episodes being taped [...]

A.P.L.E. news!

Anyone signed up for A.P.L.E. will be happy to hear this news regarding A.P.L.E. payments. Someone just left a comment on my page regarding payment. They finally got it. I’m happy to hear that. I was starting to get nervous because I will start getting payments next year. I was beginning to think I wouldn’t. [...]

Inspired me!

I am so inspired. I got a dose of inspiration from last weekend’s Los Angeles Black Book Expo. There were many authors & wanna-be authors there. I am one of them. One of the key things that inspired me was this psychologist/writer/publisher from Texas (I cannot remember her name right now). She gave a workshop [...]

Mission Impossible Assignment # 3: School Shopping on a Budget

Okay, all you shoppers out there. Boy, do I have an assignment for you: School Shopping on a budget. Should you choose to accept this assignment, you may encounter a store full of shoppers, some rude, some not. You may also stop and park @ several locations looking for the perfect deal. Well, lucky for [...]

Classroom Discipline 101

I am very excited. I just found an excellent Classroom management blog. The author is a 20 year veteran of some of L.A.U.S.D.’s toughest schools. I have not purchased this book yet, as funds are low. But, I will purchase it as soon as I can. It looks very promising. I will let you know [...]

It’s all about who you know!

I haven’t so many things on plate, I don’t know where to begin. However, this one problem has been the most pressing because it deals with my being able to get and keep a job. Well, God is working it out for me. At the beginning of summer, boredom was one of my biggest problems. [...]

Info on the L.A. Black Book Expo (L.A.B.B.X.)

Here’s the most recent information on the L.A.B.B.X. direct from Charles Chatmon, director of the L.A.B.B.X.
The date has been changed from Saturday, August 15, 2009 to Saturday, August 22, 2009.
Time: 11:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Location: Expo Center
Place: 3980 Menlo Ave
Email: info@labbx.com
Facebook link

Have you ever heard of Lindamood-Bell?

Have you ever heard of Lindamood-Bell? If you have, then you’re one step ahead of me before I started @ B.N.U.
For my Intervention class, I was required to visit one of their centers. While there, I had the privilege of observing some of their instructors in action. The instructors and the methods were fantastic. One [...]

Pinkberry is fantastic!

I just recently tried Pinkberry and let me tell you that I am hooked! I usually shy away stuff that’s really hyped until it dies down. Well, I decided to try it and am so happy that I did. It is absolutely fantastic! The pomegranate flavor is to die for! The fruit is so [...]

The Chicken or the egg???

Yeah, it’s the age old question. Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
I was just having that discussion with one of the teachers that I work with. She thought that the behavior of one of her students was impeding his learning process. ‘Well”, I said, “is his inability to read a direct result of [...]

Making a difference in your own way…

Many times I have heard people say that they made a difference by doing whatever it is that they do. I have to tell you that I thought that it was a load of hooey! After all, how could teaching someone how to play an instrument make a difference? or how could training someone to [...]

More information for struggling teachers

Someone from the office of Peer Assistance and Review called me back today and gave me the information that I needed to get started. I am, as promised, disseminating that information to you. This is what you do:

Go to lausd.net, go to Offices (up top in red)

An alphabetized list will come up.

When you see it, [...]

Help for new, struggling teachers!

Here is the information I discussed earlier (click here) regarding more experienced, retired teachers mentoring newer, struggling teachers. The name of the program is  Peer Assistance and Review. It is a joint effort between L.A.U.S.D. & U.T.L.A. I have already called and left my contact information. If you would like to join and/or find out [...]

Read to Me L.A.

(Taken directly from Los Angeles Public Library website)

Read to Me L.A. is a free program that teaches parents and caregivers how to read to their preschool children and help them become successful readers. Giving children a head start in reading is important, because kids who read succeed!
Beginning in Fall 2007, librarians will hold Read to [...]

What’s up with that?

I don’t know what’s going on with the feed stats, because I’ve noticed that a couple of people added. Yet, it doesn’t show up to the left. The number of readers haven’t gone up for a couple of months even though a couple of people have added.
I asked this question a while ago, but I [...]

Grants and Funding Opportunities

I found this on Scholastic’s website. I hope that it’s useful.
GRANTS AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
School Improvement Grants for Parent Involvement
Online
Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant program finances school-improvement projects initiated by parents. Maximum Award: $5,000. Eligibility: K-12 schools (including charter, private, and parochial schools) and parent groups associated with a nonprofit, K-12 schools. Deadline: Oct. 17, 2008.
http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/

Struggling…

Have you ever seen a newly formed butterfly struggle out of its cocoon. There are many steps that it has to go through to metamorph to a butterfly.
Now, have you ever heard the story of a man who, seeing the struggle, decides to interfere with nature’s process and help the butterfly out of its cocoon. [...]

Summer Reading w/Barnes & Noble

While on one of my trips to Barnes & Noble, I picked up some flyers for their Summer Reading with Andrew Clements. It’s called “Imagine If You Called It A Frindle.” It’s based on the best selling book, Frindle, by Andrew Clements.
For reading eight books of their own choosing, children are given a coupon and [...]

Tuesday’s puppet show

Tuesday was pretty nice. We went to the puppet show @ the local library, we checked out books, came home and did our Guys Read book club thing.
I was pleasantly pleased with one of my members. She went to the restroom and came back with an armload full of books. She presented me with a [...]

Conscious decisions for your betterment!

I found this quote today that spoke volumes to me: Make a sincere effort to apply resolute effort against the forces of inertia, and good fortune will follow.
Basically what it is saying is get up off your keister and something good will happen to you. Of course, I agree with this. I’m not sure if [...]

Fear vs. FAITH!

Fear imprisons, faith liberates
fear paralyzes, faith empowers
fear disheartens, faith encourages
fear sickens, faith heals
fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable.
Harry Emerson Fosdick
(from Diva Zone-www.divazonemagazine.com)

Getting it together!

I am finally getting it together. I asked for help from one of my teachers @ B.N.U. She showed me how to use the Open Court program. I was very happy about that because there isn’t another training until the summer. Although by then I won’t need it, the training is mandatory so I’ll still [...]

A Huge Warehouse Sale !

F.Y.I.- I received a flyer in my box @ work regarding a sale on Martin Luther King, jr. Day at Teacher Created Resources. Just in case you’re interested, here is the information:
What: Huge Warehouse Sale
When: Monday, January 21, 2008
Where: 6421 Industry Way
Westminster, CA 92683
Time: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Phone number: (714) 891-7895
(888) 343-4335
website: www.teachercreated.com

Educationworld.com

I found this great website as I was searching for some stuff to do with my class. If you would like to go there, here is the website: www.educationworld.com

Ready made math worksheets!

On the hunt for ready made math worksheets, I found this site:
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/worksheets.htm
Go here if you need ready made worksheets in a pinch for elementary.
Check it out!

I threw away a check for $3,999, Part 2

I have gotten many hits on this post. Someone even asked how would they know if it were real or not. Well, for starters, you can check and see if the bank that it’s drawn on is even a real bank. Google it or call 1-800-555-1212. If it has an 800 number, then it should [...]

The I.E.P. deconstructed – Modifications vs. Accomadations (5 of 6)

I am a teacher and up until a couple of months ago, I confused the two. This process can be pretty overwhelming and confusing. I can’t even begin to fathom how someone new to Special Ed is taking in all of these terms. Since I have a better grasp on these terms now, I will [...]

The I.E.P. deconstructed – What is the Least Restrictive Environment (L.R.E.)? (4 of 6)

The Least Restrictive Environment was designed to level the playing field. This goes back to the reason why we have Special Education in the first place.
There was a time when there were an inordinate amount of blacks represented in Mentally Retarded (MR) classes, and/or the kids in Special Education were treated as second class citizens.
This [...]

Leadership is a serious business!

I was just talking to one of my friends about the atmosphere of any given place. Most of it is dependent on the leader. The leader, for the most part, takes their organization in the direction that they want to go; whether it’s good or bad; positive or negative. The leader sets the tone for [...]

What Your First Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch, jr. (2 0f 8)

I am very nervous about classroom management, so I have been asking advice from a lot of the veteran teachers that I know. One teacher whom I have become close with in the last couple of months told me about a surefire way to get the children under control. It is reminiscent of a [...]

The I.E.P. deconstructed- Special Education categories (3 of 6)

This is a continuation of the I.E.P. deconstructed series. There are a couple of different categories that a child will qualify for special education under. This is the L.A.U.S.D. website. It explains some of the terms that you may have been hearing.
**Taken directly from the L.A.U.S.D. website **
Special education is a program designed to meet [...]

The end of the storm!

I have been in a really reflective mood lately. I have been thinking about the trial that I endured in the summer. As always, whenever I emerge from the storm, bruised, tattered and torn, I always wonder what the purpose was. Well, this time I kinda’ knew why I was going through what I was [...]

What is P.E.C.S.?

P.E.C.S. is a technique that I learned about while planning my lesson for the final part of my interview for a Special Education teaching position.

*Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that is typically used as an aid for children with autism.
PECS is a great tool for helping [...]

The I.E.P. deconstructed – The Special Education process (2 of 6)

This is a continuation of my weekly series, I.E.P. deconstructed. In my boot camp at B.N.U., we were introduced to the stages necessary to qualify a child for Special Education services. Although I knew what they were, I just didn’t have the time to write it out. Thank goodness I found this page on the [...]

What Your Kindergartner-7th Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch, jr. (1 of 8)

Next week will begin the first in a series of eight weekly installments. I will be reviewing and commenting on E.D. Hirsch’s core knowledge series “What Your ____ Needs to Know.” You can fill in the blank. In the books, Hirsch explains the core of a good education from Kindergarten to 7th grade. Be on [...]

Mission Impossible #3: Open Court Unit opener

I’ve been tagged by Mathew from Open Court Resources to post my unit opener. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. As we speak/talk/read, I am working on the Unit Opener for Monday.

For those of you who don’t know, I am in the final stages of interviewing for a special ed teaching job. I have been [...]

Handwriting worksheet generator

When I was subbing a couple of weeks ago, one of the teachers that I was working with had these handwriting worksheets that I thought were so cute. She bought the program at Lakeshore. This, however, is better. It’s free! That’s right up my alley. If you would like to create your own custom [...]

Homework help!

I found this great website to help those struggling with school work.
First choose your state and submit. Next, pick your subject. You have the choice of:

Reading/Language Arts
Mathematics
Scienc
History/Social Science
Spelling
Pre-K

Next, choose the grade level that you want. From there, it is a veritable smorgasbord of resources available to you. There are tutorials on the site. There are [...]

Teachable moments!

Hmm… what are teachable moments? These are the times when, unannounced, a moment presents itself to you to teach your child something. It just makes it that much easier to talk to them about something  that you have probably been wanting to talk about, but didn’t know how to do it. It’s up to you [...]

Attention: Upcoming informational meeting for Special education teacher

Special Education Initiative: An informational meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m. on October 8, 2007 for those considering a career in the field of Special Education @ 333 S. Beaudry Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90017. Topics will include the employment process, special education credentialing [...]

What does handicap mean?

While doing research for another post, I came across this interesting article about the origin of the word handicap on:
www.disabilityisnatural.com/peoplefirstlanguage.htm
It’s very long, but it is very interesting. Since it is really long, I would suggest printing this out to read or reference for future use. As always, it’s good information.
Check it out!

God really looks out for me, part II!

Oh. My. Goodness. I cannot believe this. If this were someone else telling me, I probably wouldn’t believe it. Okay, time to stop rambling. I am talking about finding uniforms for Phillise.
My money, like most peoples’, is funny right around school time because of back-to-school shopping. Well, my mother-in-law took care of most of that [...]

Tell it to Mychal Bell’s mother!

**This post is pretty long and it takes a lot of twists and turns, but bear with me, I’ll get you there. **
“Just the facts ma’am. Just the facts,” is something that Sgt. Joe Friday, a fictional character, from Dragnet says. However in real life, there’s a lot more than facts to consider when you’re [...]

High frequency words!

High frequency words are words that appear well… frequently. They are often confused with Dolch sight words. However, there are some differences.
(I found this resource @ http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/res/frequent.html. This is taken directly from the website.)
Simply put, high-frequency words are the words that appear most often in printed materials. According to Early Education expert Robert Hillerich, [...]