Response to Intervention
The September and October classes–Classroom Management and Six Traits–are full! The seats go fast, so hurry over and sign up for November’s class:
Response to Intervention, presented by Theresa Bundgaard
A gold mine of practical, easy-to-use teaching methods to help teachers differentiate the curriculum in all subject areas to meet the needs of all learners, including those labeled as remedial, LD, students of poverty, ELL, and others who struggle to learn.
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Theresa Bundgaard
Theresa Bundgaard’s dynamic teaching style is catching on. She’s opened up the professional development offered by Teaching Stuff to monthly classes at our Glendale store as well as taking it into the schools!
She taught in the Alhambra School District and Deer Valley Unified School District for a combined 7 years.
With an emphasis in math and science, she quickly learned that hands-on lessons take students from the abstract to concrete
She currently works for Teaching Stuff as a buyer and Professional Development Specialist.
She can come to your school. CLICK HERE for details.
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Weekly Wrap Up Plus a surprise . . .
***Update 8.31.10*** Veronica, you’re our winner! Email me with your mailing address and I’ll drop your prize in the mail! SheriB@TeachingStuff.com. Congrats!!***
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So, how have the first days of school been?
Are the students streaming in, eager to learn? Full of polite answers and behaviors?
**smile**
Leave a comment here, telling us how the first days of the school year have been and you’re name will be entered in a drawing for a few random banners and “Best Behavior” punch cards!
You can enter until Midnight August 30th, 2010 (Pacific Time). Winner will be announced August 31st here on the blog!
(One entry per person, US residents only).
Professional Development
Jim Blasingame is set to teach our October class!
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Using Young Adult Literature as Mentor Texts for the Six Traits of Writing, presented by Jim Blasingame
Jim is the author of Books That Don’t Bore ‘em and an ASU professor. In addition, he is a committee member for the new ADE AIMS writing scoring rubric for the state of Arizona.
He will have a new book out with Scholastic in the fall on using mentor texts to teach the Six Traits of Writing to middle school students. Join him for this remarkable workshop: Using Young Adult Literature as Mentor Texts for the Six Traits of Writing.
Upon completion of the class, participants will receive a $50.00 voucher good at any Teaching Stuff retail location. In addition, each participant will receive a completion certificate good for 2.5 seat hours. Refreshments will be served as well. Cost of the class is $78.95.
CLICK HERE to register. Only TWELVE seats available.
Tip of the Week
Charlie Boeyink
Charlie Boeyink has been a Physical Therapist for over twelve years. He currently works with Arrowhead Physical Therapy in Glendale, AZ.
He strives to improve the health of all people and is with us today to share his thoughts on exercising and healthy living in general.
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How many teachers wear high heels during their work day? And by high heels, I mean the ones like the one in the picture to the right, there.
Anyone?
Why not?
I can just tell you’re rolling your eyes, thinking I’m a guy and I have no idea how hard on the legs high heels would be for a teacher to wear.
I do know, actually, because I see patients that have calf pain and Achilles tendon problems from wearing them.
High heels put your feet in an unnatural position that tightens your calf. It can lead to foot pain, Achilles tendon issues when you go back to wearing normal shoes or barefoot.
So, if I might suggest it, stick to the low heels. And thanks for all you do teaching our children!
Professional Development
Did you know Teaching Stuff offers Professional Development classes at their Glendale Location? You can earn up to 3 Continuing Education Seat Hours along with Teaching Stuff dollars!
Monthly classes start September 9th and go each month through December.
CLICK HERE FOR details because registration is open!
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***BUT there’s more***
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Would you rather US come to YOU?
We can provide Professional Development at your school as well!
Besides being convenient, it’s more affordable than you think!
CLICK HERE for details.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment here or email Theresa Bundgaard, Professional Development Specialist at TheresaB@TeachingStuff.com
Tip of the Week
Theresa Bundgaard
Theresa Bundgaard taught in the Alhambra School District and Deer Valley Unified School District for a combined 7 years.
With an emphasis in math and science, she quickly learned that hands-on lessons take students from the abstract to concrete
She currently works for Teaching Stuff as a buyer and Professional Development Specialist.
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Before school starts, make contact with every parent/guardian. While a personal phone call is the most professional form of communication, a postcard, letter or email will also demonstrate your desire to be available for your students’ families. Topics that should be covered include the following:
1) Welcome
2) Personal Introduction
3) First day of school and start time
4) Your work email and phone number and an invitation to contact you with any questions or concerns
5) Suggested supply lists (if your school or district has one)
6) An invitation to volunteer and the specific areas where volunteers are needed
7) Before closing, make sure each parent/guardian knows that you will be contacting them early as situations arise and before a situation has the ability to become a major problem (i.e. not turning in homework, classroom interruptions, rough play on the playground etc.) From past experience, I can tell you that parents are generally very irritated when a teacher waits until a problem has become very bothersome before the teacher finally contacts the parent. They often respond with, “Why wasn’t I informed about this?” Keep your lines of communication open from the very beginning of the year.
While this suggestion seems obvious, many teachers do not take advantage of this opportunity to demonstrate their willingness to partner with parents and guardians. And while it takes time and effort to work your way through the entire class roster, the positive interactions generated with the families will promote their support for you throughout the year.
NeverWas
Keith Utyro M. Ed. is an award winning practicing teacher and student activities advisor with more than 18 years of middle school experience.
He is currently a Ph.D. student in K-12 Leadership. He has created and implemented in-services in instruction, and instructional technology and specializes in the use of technology in a low tech classroom.
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NeverWas
Once-upon-a-time, in the land of Neverwas, sat a school house, Neverwillbe, a tiny building, with small rows of desks filled with the well scrubbed, bright and shinny faces of the land’s children. Each child was well prepared for this yearly journey; Dressed in their finest “school” clothes (never meant to be played in), with their new slate and chalk they were destined to prove their parents right; that if you studied hard and learned well you can become anything.
And, so it was that these children marched off to school each fall, to learn, to experiment, and to become, perhaps, better than their parents had become.
Today children still pour into schools across the land, eagerly await a new school year hoping to meet old friends and maybe make new ones. Unlike Neverwas, a few these students are not all well scrubbed, and some are not well prepared, but they all have one thing in common, they all are social and they all want to be liked.
This is where the first day; the first week of school comes in. Teachers who realize that school is where children come to socialize and it does not matter if it is a public, private, parochial, or home school, use the first day to set the tone for the school year. Children need to know certain things; they need to know if they are where they are supposed to be, with the teacher and students, they are supposed to be with, and that they will be treated fairly. Only then is the content important.
Parents, you can do your part by being social, too. Show up to registration, and meet the teacher nights, make time for conferences, and volunteer one day a semester, if you can, to work in your child’s classroom(s), work in the office, or help-out at lunch.
Education then becomes our way, the community’s way, of socializing and teaching each other how to appropriately socialize. This then allows content to be learned, and taught in actual learning communities.
Add your comments below.
Tip of the Week
Theresa Bundgaard
Theresa Bundgaard taught in the Alhambra School District and Deer Valley Unified School District for a combined 7 years.
With an emphasis in math and science, she quickly learned that hands-on lessons take students from the abstract to concrete
She currently works for Teaching Stuff as a buyer and Professional Development Specialist.
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Walk with Style
After teaching your students the proper procedure for lining up and moving throughout the school, begin adding some more interesting “styles” of walking that are unique to your class. This not only keeps school and routines from becoming monotonous, but also builds a strong sense of classroom community.
Make sure that all walking styles are quiet and will not distract students in other classes. For example, you may have to hold off on “fun style” of walking in lines until you have passed all classroom windows or open classroom doors. Some unique styles may include:
Tip toeing
Bouncing like little bunnies
Walking on marshmallows
Jumping across pretend water puddles
Dramatically swaying the hips
Be creative. Make sure that you have taught, practiced, and mastered your regular line-walking procedure before attempting to spruce it up!!
Frogs . . . .
Classic EcoAquarium **available only in stores**
Classic EcoAquariums are BAAAACK!
By popular demand, we’ve filled our shelves with this quality product that brings nature up close and personal to you and your students!
The kits include: 4”x4” tank with 2 Frogs, Lucky Bamboo Plant, Decorative rock, Living Gravel, care guide and your choice of Colored Gravel.
So swing on by before they’re gone.
Not currently available at the Tucson store, but will be soon.
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But for now . . . We’re curious as to how the first week(s) back to the classroom have been going.
Some teachers had to go back as early as July 26th!
Do tell! We’re thinking of you all as you head back to work wishing you a fantastic school year!
The Mythical Homeschool Room
Kat Heckenbach
Kat Heckenbach is a freelance writer, aspiring novelist, and homeschool mom.
A magna cum laude graduate in Biology from the University of Tampa.
Her interests span the gamut of science/math to art/writing. Enter her world at: www.findingangel.com or www.kat-findingangel.blogspot.com.
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The Mythical Homeschool Room
Kat Heckenbach
I’ve often dreamed of having a room solely devoted to homeschooling. On a couple of occasions I’ve actually gotten to glimpse one at a friend’s house. It was like being transported to an enchanted forest and spying a unicorn. A thing of beauty that is only supposed to exist in legend.
Most of the homeschoolers I know use a dining room, or maybe an office. Or, as in my case, a room that serves as both dining room and office. Against one wall sits my desk holding a laptop, and printer atop a filing cabinet. On the opposite wall are bookshelves filled with homeschool curriculum and manipulatives. In the middle, an expansive dining table at which we do schoolwork and crafts, but rarely eat. The décor: huge maps, a globe, a large thermometer, an American flag…
Other homeschool materials spill out into the adjoining living room, where we play board games and watch educational movies. The kitchen provides a place for cooking and science experiments. The bathroom, a place for the really messy science. And the back yard—the whole neighborhood—becomes a nature walk or P.E. field.
Hm…I guess there’s no way to cram all that into one neatly packaged room. At least not for us. Maybe, for our family anyway, some things are better left as myth.
