Joke of the Week

From Cate, age 9, Charlottesville, Virginia

What is Uncle Sam's favorite snack?

Fire Crackers!

I Love That Teaching Idea!

Late one night while working searching the internet, I came across this website. http://www.ilovethatteachingidea.com/index.htm I chose this site for my next blog because it's filled with practical teacher-created ideas. You, the teacher/provider, are able to search various topics and gain ideas from other teachers. Do you have a tip or favorite lesson plan/idea? If so, you can submit and post your idea too.

Not only can you search curriculum ideas, but also classroom management, character education, and tips for holding class meetings. Do you include service learning within your classroom? There are many suggestions for that too.

A word of caution…do not assume all ideas are developmentally appropriate. Use your own judgment as to what suggestions would be best for your situation. Note: This website is mostly for teachers/providers with children grades K-6.

The Teacher's Guide

The next website on the list for sharing to you is http://www.theteachersguide.com/ I chose this website because it is full of resources for lesson plans, thematic units, book activities, and teacher freebies.

There's a most popular section where you can quickly link to popular (categorized) sites such as Lesson Plans, Thematic Units, Children's Songs, Book Activities, Teacher Store, and Teacher Created. Or check out the 'Just for Teachers' section. You'll find links for Teaching Supplies, Teacher Organizations, Prof. Development, Job Search, and Teacher Magazines. In need of some FREE STUFF? There is a link for that too.

If you're looking more for education resources you'll find links for Class Management, Schools and Violence, Education Psychology, Education Reform, Education Funding, and Dept of Education.

You'll also see many links to other resources as well. I find it useful that there is a calendar with important dates and also a teacher's store if you're looking for items to purchase. This website is created by teachers, for teachers.

Kids' Wings

You may have noticed that I haven't posted for a while. With the holidays, come a packed schedule and Jan. brings the beginning of a new semester at DCTC. Now that I've settled in once again, I'd like to let you know about a website called Kids' Wings. "Kids' Wings was created by educators for educators who care deeply about bringing the best to children."

You can visit Kids' Wings at http://suzyred.com/ I have chosen this website because as I explored deeper and deeper into the website, I found it was a wealth of quick resources! On the homepage, you'll see many different 'rooms.' There's a room for everyone! You can sing in the Music Room, clarify your writing in the Writing Room, multiply your mathematical success in the Math Room, gain inspiration and tools in the Teacher Workroom and there is even a Joke Room! Oh, and of course, the kids' favorite: the Recess Room (filled with Games).

In the music room, I have to admit, my favorite song is The ING Song. What a great learning tool! Some of the songs even have the actual music to listen too.

Make sure you have time to stop in for Recess and check out...Optical Illusions and Visual Phenomena. Wow! School-agers will get a kick out of the Guess My Number Game.

There are MANY links to resources throughout this website! If you're looking for some added fun, curriculum boost, or just something new...please visit http://suzyred.com/.

A Game A Day

Feeling bored? Want to challenge your mind on your lunch break? Maybe you work with schoolagers and need something new and exciting to challenge them. http://www.agameaday.com/ is the website for you.

It's fun and easy for people age 9-99. There are two different levels (I and II) depending on your age/skill. Once you choose your level, you'll see a monthly calendar. Each day of the month has a new game to try. You click on the title of the game for that day, and you play! It's that simple. The directions are given, as well as hints.

I've played some of the games and they can actually be quite challenging. My favorites are Winnie the Pooch and Word Search. The games are interactive and do need to be played online; although you might be able to print off the word search.

The goals of this website are extremely educational: To improve student learning in the areas of:

* Concentration and attention span
* Memory skills
* Hand-eye coordination
* Reading skills
* Writing skills
* Vocabulary and numeracy
* Confidence (through relevant feedback)
* Problem solving and critical thinking

I'd like to tell you about a website that's great for promoting literacy. http://www.sillybooks.net/default.htm is a unique website where children are the authors. Every book on the website is written by children. And every month one story is produced as an animated book, complete with voices, music and sound effects for all to enjoy. There is even a cash prize for the winning stories!

This website has a lot more than just books though. Children can find games, stories, poems, jokes, puzles, etc. Games include memory match, counting, jigsaw puzzles, and numerous other games that stimulate cognitive development. The games are simple, but they're interactive and educational. There are a couple games for older children as well.

CHILD BONUS- Another nice bonus is that all the words, instructions, jokes, etc. are typed for the child to see. They are highlighted as that particular word is read so the child can follw along.

TEACHER BONUS- Click on Classroom to find resources categorized by age and subject. You'll find some animated songs that teach. You'll also find The Dolch high frequency basic sight word list. This list identifies 220 non-noun words that beginning readers should be able to recognize on sight in order to build a solid foundation for reading.

If you know a child between the ages 4-16, encourage them to let their imagination run wild as they author their very own story. The contest rules, as taken from the sillybooks.net website, are below.

Contest Dates: September 1, 2007 through May 31, 2008.

• Children are invited to write a silly book on any topic, but it must be under 300 words. It may be fiction or non-fiction. Books may be written by individual authors or in collaboration with friends or classmates, but all participants must be 16 years of age or younger.

• SillyBooks will choose a winning entry each month, between September, 2007 and April, 2008 (8 total monthly winners).

• SillyBooks' visitors will vote on their favorite entries each month. Individuals may visit SillyBooks.net as often as they like to vote on their favorite entries each month.

• A panel of SillyBooks judges will choose the monthly winner from the top three entries each month.

• SillyBooks will pay a $25 cash prize to each monthly winning author.

• SillyBooks will produce each monthly winning book as a Flash animated picture book. Each winning book will be professionally illustrated, recorded by professional actors, and animated by one of our talented group of animators. SillyBooks pays all costs of producing each month's winning book.

• SillyBooks will post the finished books on the web site (www.sillybooks.net) each month for viewers to read and enjoy.

Ask A Toddler

This post is a more light-hearted post. I'm introducing to you a video posted on YouTube regarding a toddler. It's pretty comical because the toddler is 'teaching' other children how to throw a tantrum. Obviously the child is coached, but it still makes for a hilarious video. She's pretty accurate too in the process.

In case you have a child that needs a little assistance with throwing tantrums, rest assured he/she can get the training needed from Ask A Toddler: How to Throw a Tantrum!!!

You can view this adorable video at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=WLKukwm9ODo