Today She’s My Birthday!

Well, people. I am the new face of 40! Today, she’s my 40th birthday! I can’t believe I’m 40! Where did the time go????

Happy Birthday Dakota!

Today is my middle son’s 19th birthday. Happy Birthday Dakota! Here’s to many more!

Happy Birthday Moriah!

Today is my beautiful little niece’s 3rd birthday! She was just a teeny tiny baby. Tee Tee loves shuuu Moriah!

He’s Gone!

My little sisters and brother’s father is gone. He was only 53 years old. He had a stroke on Monday which resulted in an aneurysm. He was declared brain dead @ 6:02 p.m. today. It was really hard seeing my sisters, especially my youngest sister, Dana, taking it so hard. I had to leave her at the hospital because she was laying down on her dad & would not get up. The nurses are going to let her spend a night. It was a really hard day.

Pray for my family!

Los Angeles Black Book Expo Will Be Here Soon!

Here’s the flyer for The Los Angeles Black Book Expo. If you have any questions, visit the website @ www.labbx.com

Elizabeti’s School by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Elizabeti’s School (2007), written by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen & illustrated by Chrisy Hale, is the sequel to Elizabeti’s Doll (1998) & Mama Elizabeti (2000). It is the third installation in the Elizabeti series. This time Elizabeti is on her own. She’s a big girl now and it’s time to go to school. But she is worried that Mama won’t be able to get along without her.

This takes me back to my first day of school. I remember being so scared.

Why did I have to go to school?” I wondered. I was fine at home. I didn’t have to take care of my little brothers but I was wondering how I was going to get along without my mom. I was so sheltered. I’d never really been away from my mother for an extended period of time.

So many questions rushed through my scared little mind. How was I going to make it through the day? What was I going to eat? Did I have to stay there? Would my mother forget to pick me up? Would the others children let me play with them?

All of my questions weren’t answered that day, but they were answered. Anyone should be able to relate to this book. Whether it’s remembering your first day of school or this book is a gift for your child or niece’s first day of school, this book is really a good read. I was actually shocked that it made me remember my first day of school back in… (dare I say it) 1975.

As if  you couldn’t tell, I highly recommend this book. I’m going to put it on my list of books to read the first week of school. Pick it up  @ your local library or bookstore.

Happy Birthday Danielle!

Today is my little sister’s birthday. I cannot believe she is 24 years old. Happy Birthday Danielle!

But God…

Taken directly from divazonemagazine.com

BUT GOD

If we were to ever be totally honest with ourselves, we would be quick to acknowledge that over the course of our lives, we have done some things, been some places and said some things that we wish we could take back and that if it weren’t for God, we’d wonder how we ever made it.  These are our, But God! experiences.

Then there are the times when you wonder how your bills will get paid when your money is already spent well before payday; But God!

Times when your children won’t listen or do right; But God!

Times when you walk into your job only to find a pink slip with your name on it; But God!

Times when you go for a simple check-up only to learn that cancer has invaded your body; But God!

Times when you do all you can to be the perfect spouse or partner, yet to them, the grass always seems greener on the other side; But God!

Times when you work your fingers to the bone for ministry’s sake, and all you ever hear are complaints; But God!

Times when family and friends scandalize your name and call you everything except a child of God; But God!

Times when you just want to throw up both hands, turn and walk away; times when life seems unbearable and too much to face; But God!

Times when our rent or house payment are due and eviction/foreclosure is around the corner; But God!

It is in all these times when it is no one But God!, who reaches down from Heaven, picks us up out of our messes and places us on a road called straight.

It is no one But God!, who wipes every tear away, heals our bodies, protects our children, balances our finances, covers our marriages and relationships, strengthens us in ministry and keeps shelter over our heads.

Whenever we begin to feel down in the dumps, simply say, But God!

Donna Tucker is an ordained minister of the gospel and the founder/visionary of Café Connection for Women & Girls.  Café Connection focuses on establishing divine connections, locally, regionally & internationally, among women and girls who believe in the power of open and honest dialogue within an intimate and comfortable setting, on a consistent basis, created to bring forth inner peace, emotional healing and spiritual growth.  Café Connection simply opens the door for conversation of inner beauty and self-appreciation to begin.  For more information, speaking engagements, workshops or to start a Café, visit www.cafeconnectionforwomen.com or call 804-516-4429.

A New Position????

I was contacted today by e-mail by a local school district. Apparently I’m in the running for a teaching position. I realllllllly hope I make it to the interview stage. Better yet I need to make it to the job. Pray for me. A sista’ needs a job!!!

SOS Million Teacher March

***I received this awhile ago, but forgot to post it. Please forgive me!***

Members of the Shoelaces for Teachers campaign are collecting shoelaces in honor of educators who work hard every day to help students to have a better future.  These teachers understand the true meaning of education and put the needs of students ahead of politics and savory sound-bites.

However, teachers could not succeed if not for the support of the community.  Therefore, shoelaces are also being collected in honor of people who are speaking up on behalf of education-people who demand that teachers receive the support needed to do their job and who insist that public education remains adequately funded and available to all. They also understand that, while some aspects of education (such as creativity, independent thinking, engagement and compassion) cannot be easily measured, they represent some of education’s greatest achievements.

When combined, all of these shoelaces become a “virtual march” in the name of education.

The string of collected shoelaces will be measured and revealed during the world premiere broadcast of the documentary “I Just Keep Going” on July 30, 2010 on Ustreamtv.  The stories of several of our honored teachers and supporters will be featured as part of this documentary.

We would be honored to include a shoelace representing you and your ongoing efforts in our campaign.  We would also encourage you to submit other shoelaces on behalf of other educators who have made a difference in the lives of students or who have worked hard to improve our educational system.  We encourage you to write your name on the shoelace you submit (or on an enclosed piece of paper).  We also would ask that you submit the name of other people being honored, should you submit additional laces.

Shoelaces may be old, new, plain, or creatively decorated. That part is entirely up to you!

Shoelaces should be mailed to: Laurie Murphy, 6414 Foster Road, Sebring, FL 33875.

The Shoelaces for Teachers Campaign is sponsored by the SOS Million Teacher March, an organization made of up teachers, parents, students, and other concerned citizens who are rallying together in support of education. To learn more about the Shoelaces for Teachers Campaign or the SOS Million Teacher March, please visit us at  www.sosmtm.com.  Should you have any questions or wish to discuss this further, feel free to contact me by telephone at (863) 386-4806 or by email at murphylauriet@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and for having such an incredible site.  I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Laurie Murphy

Co-coordinator

Save Our Schools Million Teacher March

If you would like more information regarding SOS, here’s the website: https://sites.google.com/site/sosmtm/

Valuable Lakeshore Coupons for Teacher’s Club Members

The next time you’re in Lakeshore Learning Store, make sure you sign up for their Teacher’s club. It’s free to join. I just received my latest mini-catalog with 3 valuable coupons on back. One is for Buy 1 @ Regular Price, Get 1 50% off, for July 5-31, 2010. (COUPON CODE=40000). There’s another for Save 15% for August 1-September 5, 2010. (COUPON CODE= 40005). Finally, the last one is for a free teacher’s plan book with any $20 purchase, valid July 5, 2010- September 5, 2010. (COUPON CODE= 44796)

Still Working on It!

The “it” that I speak of is my annotated Summer Reading List for grades K-6. I’m plugging away at it & should be finished soon. Look out for it!

Mr. Peabody’s Apple addendum

I found this on A-Z Teacher forum. I thought it would make a nice addendum to my review on Mr. Peabody’s Apples by Madonna.

I use Madonna’s book Mr. Peabody’s Apples on the first day to introduce my glue activity. If you haven’t heard about this book it deals with how powerful our words are. It is an AWESOME book. I heard about it last summer at Great Expectations. 

After reading the book I do the activity.

To do the glue activity:

Each group needs one plate with glue. (I squeeze the glue out for each group)

Each student needs one toothpick.

I tell the kiddos that they have five minutes to get the glue back into the glue bottle using only their toothpicks. This of course is impossible.

After their time is up we talk about how the glue signifies our words and once they come out we can’t put them back in. That if you don’t have something nice to say than CHOOSE to say nothing at all.

I’ve used this two years now and the kiddos LOVE it!

Another activity I use is writing all the bad things we have been called or called someone else on toilet paper and flushing them down the potty.

I also have them decorate hearts and we crumple them as we pass them around. We discuss how we can unfold it but we can never completely smooth it out again and that their actions could damage someone else forever.

I hope this helps! I believe in teaching procedures the first week and mixing in activities like these. I always try to put in an activity like this when I see the kids not using their best manners with each other. I stress “Treating others how you want to be treated” all year long. I think it really helps with discipline!

Literacy Milestones (Age 5)

Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com

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 age five.

Most children learn to read by age 7. Learning to read is built on a foundation of language skills that children start learning at birth – a process that is both complicated and amazing. Most children develop certain skills as they move through the early stages of learning language.

The following list of such accomplishments is based on current research in the field, where studies continue and there is still much to learn. As you look over the list, keep in mind that children vary a great deal in how they develop and learn.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress, talk with your child’s doctor, teacher, or a speech and language therapist. For children with any kind of disability or learning problem, the sooner they can get the special help they need, the easier it will be for them to learn.

At age 5, most kindergartners become able to:

• Sound like they are reading when pretending to read
• Enjoy being read to and retell simple stories
• Use descriptive language to explain or to ask questions
• Recognize letters and letter-sound matches
• Show familiarity with rhyming and beginning sounds
• Understand that print is read left-to-right and top-to-bottom
• Begin to match spoken words with written ones
• Begin to write letters of the alphabet and some words they use and hear often
• Begin to write stories with some readable parts

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to everyone! Be careful!

Literacy Milestones (Age 3-4)

Taken directly from Reading Rockets.com

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 age of three to four.

Most children learn to read by age 7. Learning to read is built on a foundation of language skills that children start learning at birth — a process that is both complicated and amazing. Most children develop certain skills as they move through the early stages of learning language.

The following list of such accomplishments is based on current research in the field, where studies continue and there is still much to learn. As you look over the list, keep in mind that children vary a great deal in how they develop and learn.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress, talk with your child’s doctor, teacher, or a speech and language therapist. For children with any kind of disability or learning problem, the sooner they can get the special help they need, the easier it will be for them to learn.

From ages 3-4, most preschoolers become able to:

• Enjoy listening to and talking about storybooks
• Understand that print carries a message
• Make attempts to read and write
• Identify familiar signs and labels
• Participate in rhyming games
• Identify some letters and make some letter-sound matches
• Use known letters (or their best attempt to write the letters) to represent written language especially for meaningful words like their names or phrases such as “I love you”

Max Elliot Anderson News

Lost Island Smugglers – Book # 1 in the NEW Sam Cooper Adventure Series

Release Date- August 1, 2010

Max Elliot Anderson – Author

Readers 8 – 13 – Especially Boys – Action-Adventure-Mystery

Port Yonder Press – SharksFinn Imprint

ISBN 9781935600022

Paperback – 263 pages – $12.95 US – $15.95 CAN

Distributor – Ingram

Captain Jack’s Treasure & River Rampage next in the series

Synopsis – Lost Island Smugglers

Sam Cooper had just moved to Harper’s Inlet

when he met Tony. Tony’s father owned a marina.

Sam, Tony, and Tyler took scuba lessons together.

Tony got them in for free. After they completed the

course, the boys decided to try out their new skills in

the real world…the ocean. The only problem was,

no one had permission.

While Tony’s father was away on a buying trip,

the boys took one of the rental sailboats out for their

diving adventure. Everything went well until the

biggest storm Tony had ever seen blew up from out

of nowhere, and the boys found themselves stranded

on Lost Island.

But, if they thought the worst had happened, they

were wrong. The boys discovered a secret hideout

that was used by men in high powered speedboats.

Sam and his friends knew the men were up to

something, only they didn’t know what. They had to

find a way to stop them, but how? And, even if they

did, the boys could never tell anyone about it. Join

Sam Cooper, Tony, and Tyler on their scary scuba,

ocean, island adventure.

Flower Girl Butterflies by Elizabeth F. Howard

Flower Girl Butterflies (1998), written by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard & illustrated by Christiane Krömer just happens to be one of the cutest books ever. I really love the illustrations. I reviewed this book for my childrens’ literature class. We had to read & review 25 current children’s books & make a page. Well, I made a beautiful page for this one. It was actually one of the best I made. Here are a couple of pics. I’m not sure if you can see it or not, but it has a 3-D effect. Anyway, on to the review.

The title character, Sarah, is going to be in her Aunt Robin’s & her new Uncle Jeff’s wedding. She’s going to be the flower girl. She is so nervous. Everybody will be watching her & she doesn’t want to mess up. One thing she is excited about is going shopping with Aunt Robin to find her pretty flower girl dress.

She tries on five dresses. She likes the fifth one.

“What do you think Sarah?” Aunt Robin asked me.

“Which one do you like?” I asked Aunt Robin.

“The one you have on now,” she said, giving me a hug.

“Ooooh, Aunt Robin,” I said. I just knew my aunt and I would choose the same dress. I love my beautiful dress so much! But I’m still scared about being a flower girl.

Suddenly Sarah begins thinking about everything that could possibly go wrong:

Suppose I drop my basket? Suppose I trip and fall down? What if she gets a sore throat? The measles? Chickenpox?

She doesn’t have much time to worry as the wedding nears & family members arrive. Spending time with her family makes her forget how scared she is. Well…almost! She’s still a little nervous. I don’t think she’s really going to get measles or chicken pox, but does anything happens to prevent her from being a flower girl? I guess you’re going to have read it to find out. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. I think this would be a good book to give to a little girl who will soon be a flower girl.

Check it out.