"The More That You Read, The More That You'll Know..."

"The more that you read, the more that you'll know.  The more that you read the more places you'll go."  ~ Dr. Seuss

I just love my buddy Dr. Seuss.  He has made my job so much easier.  From rhyming words, to onomatopoeia with Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You...all such great classroom learning tools.  I help my students sequence with Dr. Seuss and his stove top hat...really...where does it end?    My latest TpT lesson has a touch of my friend Dr. Seuss in it because without comprehension my readers will truly never love a good book and certainly will never get past the early elementary Dr. Seuss books.  Take a peek at my latest work.  I am kinda proud of it...I've just gotta say.  Thank you Tanny McGregor, for inspiring me to be a better teacher to my students and for teaching me some important lessons that I can pass along to my third graders.  I love learning, don't you?
~Love and Believe
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-Thoughtful-Readers-DoA-Reading-Comprehension-Study

P. S.  It's 15% off Monday through Wednesday this week...November 19th - 21st.

Who is your Hero?

"And then a hero comes along, With the strength to carry on, And you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive. So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong.
And you'll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you." ~ Mariah Carey

Who is your hero?  Heros come in all shapes and sizes.  They can be old or young, rich or poor.  All heros have one common thread...the goodness they have in their heart and their willingness to help others.  I have many heros; my child, my grandparent, my parents. 

Find out who your student's heros are with this free writing prompt at my Teachers Pay Teachers store Tootsie and Teed.  Just click on the link and download.  Enjoy, my friends.  Stay well. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Who-is-your-Hero.

Place Value...The Mat Has It!

"Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value." ~Albert Einstein

I love third grade.  No, really, I absolutely love third grade.  I think, looking back on my life and all the struggles and challenges and "different directions" and hard stuff, and easy stuff...I really think my destiny has always been to be in a classroom and third grade is the perfect fit.  Yes, there are challenges but really I wouldn't want it any other way.  We don't learn without a challenge; without a good fight.  We get to see what we're made of when challenges happen.  No, it's certainly never convenient, but looking back on my life as I'm sure all can say, the most growth, the more possibilities, the proudest moments are those with a huge challenge.  I continue to look to the days ahead with optimism, strength, courage, determination, and a zest for living.  Happiness...I'm sure I've found it in my personal life and for sure in my professional life through the beautiful eyes of my third graders.  I am truly blessed.  Just had to ramble!!

I posted a freebie on my Teachers Pay Teachers Store entitled:  Place Value...The Mat Has It!  Please go over and pick up a small lil 'ol freebie that I've been using in my classroom for the past few weeks, and truly for a few years.  It never ceases to amaze me that sometimes the simple ways of doing things are the most productive!  Here's the link:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Place-Value-The-Mat-Has-It.  I hope you like this little something as much as I do!

Thanks for being my friends and supporters!

The Very Hairy Caterpillar

"It is like the seed put in the soil; the more one sows the great the harvest." ~ Orison Swett Marden

It's caterpillar time in the third grade room!  Yippee!!  Each year I think, "this is the best bunch of caterpillars I have ever seen."  Then the next year's kiddos come and I repeat myself, "this is the best bunch of caterpillars I have ever seen!"  It amazes me that with a few supplies, sun, water, and patience these great hands-on caterpillars are created!  Here's all you'll need to make your own:
4 cups of soil (I use Miracle Grow plant soil) and 4 tablespoons of quick sprouting grass seed (look for rye grass seed).  Measure and put in a large ziplock bag.  Let your kiddos mix the soil and seed together.  Cut the bottom from a styrofoam cup for a funnel.  Slide a knee-high nylon stocking over it and pour the mixed soil, seed combination into the stocking.  Slip a small hair tie, ponytail holder (at least four of them) over the end of the stocking section to section off the caterpillar.  Repeat this process until the soil and seed mixture is gone.  We made at least four sections.  Tie a knot in the top of the stocking and trim away any excess.  Submerge the caterpillar in water for 10 minutes, then place it on a styrofoam meat tray.  Place the tray into a plastic bag and let it sit overnight.  The following day remove the bag.  Watch and water.  After a few days the grass will begin to grow through the nylon.  Add googly eyes (teachers job with a hot glue gun) and antennae (students had fun winding them around pencils and fingers.)  Tadaaaa.....finished.  The process takes a little over a week.  Below are pictures of the progress we made...from the sprouting to the finished product.  I've done this project for many years and each year the caterpillars have grown.  I put two students together to do this project; they help each other by holding and pouring.  The teamwork is second to none!  Try it!  Blessing to all as we turn our eyes to the beautiful fall season; the harvest and the hard work realized!






The Important Half of Tootsie and Teed

"I am fond of pigs.  Dogs look up to us.  Cats look down on us.  Pigs treat us as equals." ~Winston Churchill

I think Winston Churchill was referring to guinea pigs!  And who knew that Winston Churchill had a passion for animals??  Let me ramble just a bit, my friends, as I confess that I have lost my dear guinea pig friend Tootsie Roll.  He was definitely the important half of Tootsie and Teed.  I truly thought that this fabulous pig, the one that thought he was truly a student in the third grade room, was a forever guy.  Then, last week, I realized that even with guinea pigs all good things eventually end.  My piggy left me last week and to say that I am broken hearted is putting it mildly.  Ok, now that you're all done laughing at me for being so silly I just have to say that he was more than just a pet that I cleaned and fed.  He was the keeper of lots of secrets who went through many many events in my life silently, with love, and above all with understanding.  I think that pets are the most insightful of us all.  They also love us unconditionally and treat us like kings and queens (if he only knew!!)  I got TONS of inspiration from my little furry friend.  He made many, many students smile and feel special.  That was the greatest gift of all...he made my students, all of my special kiddos who don't feel so special sometimes, feel special.  After his passing I tried to decide what would be fair to all including myself.  I decided that my third grade room just wasn't complete without a pal so I did what I'm sure my piggy Tootsie would have wanted...I adopted a guinea from a rescue in Madison.  This little piggy's name is Penelope.  She is a dear...lots of long hair, a peruvian, and very, very calm.  She waits in the wings to be petted and held.  I think it's going to be a perfect pet for my third graders.  My kiddos will continue to learn about love, responsibility, and God's creation.  I am blessed to have this little critter in my room.  I'll post pictures of her and a few new ideas as I venture into a great new school year.  I appreciate your friendship everyone!!

This Is Why We Do What We Do!

I challenge you to be dreamers; I challenge you to be doers and let us make the greatest place in the world even better. ~ Brian Schweitzer

A simple trip to the local grocery store to grab a few things for dinner when all at once I see one of my former students from years ago.  The thing is this kiddo is now a grown-up...really, how did this happen??  Our eyes met and he came over to give me a big squeeze.  I'd been thinking about him and his family for sometime and had recently read that he was a new hire in our local school district; a new Language Arts teacher at our local high school.  When I read that awhile back I couldn't help but feel so many emotions:  pride for the wonderful young man he'd become, sad because he's grown up without even asking me, happy that one of our own has now become a teacher!!  Anyway, after our hug I just began rambling because I seem to do it so well.  We talked about lots in those few short minutes but one of the things that he said practically made me cry.  He talked about how it was people like me, teachers, who had really changed his life and made him who he was.  He went on to say that teachers didn't give up on him when, apparently, there was something to give up on??!!  I told him that it was his turn to do the same...a pay it back of sorts.  Wow...ever really realize the impact one person can make on anothers life?  I thought and prayed and promised all the way home.  I thought about those great memories of my former kiddos, I prayed that I could do a good...oops...GREAT job with this years class, and I promised my Lord that I would give it my all from the tips of my toes to the top of my kinda graying head.  So...here's to a great school year of dreams, hopes, wishes and all those impossible things that just might come true.  Happy new school year to all.  P.S.  Yuppers...more pics of my fabulous room.  There'll be lots of learning here (and lots and lots of love:)

Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs!

"Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles." ~ Steve Jobs

 

Thank you to all who purchased from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  I just posted another lesson that I'm really fond of called Students at Work.  It's a job board with some pretty crazy jobs for your kiddos to apply for.  Please follow this link to the lesson:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Students-at-WorkClassroom-Job-Board

I don't know if you're familiar with Store More Chair Pockets but I'm absolutely in love with mine from Really Good Stuff.  They have held up for four years now.  I wished I had a picture of mine:  they are currently hanging on my clothes line.  Yup, they are washable and very durable canvas.  These bags are truly worth their weight in gold.  If you're interested please take a peek at this link: http://www.reallygoodstuff.com/product/store+more+deluxe+chair+pocket.do.

Happy Tuesday Friends!