Silent Reading

I'm so excited for today

because we are going to be reading silently

in all periods...

It's celebrate literacy week...

So today we are having a read-a-thon...

That means that I get to read too...

I notice they tend to actually read (rather than getting ancy)

if I'm doing the same thing...
works for me...

So my book today is...

The kids will think it's boring...
But after finishing Mockingjay
(which is the last book in The Hunger Games series
and was seriously disturbing)
I want to read a self help book 
that is not school related...
Happy Reading!


images via:
PicasaWeb
Tobi Fairley
HomeStudio

Book - Fires In The Middle School Bathroom

While perusing through Barnes & Noble

the other day...

I stumbled across this book...

Fires in the Middle School Bathroom...

Of course I flipped through the pages...
and read parts here and there...
and then I decided I definitely needed to purchase it...
Basically the book is things that middle schoolers 
wished their teachers would know and/or keep in mind...
Not things like "let us play all day" but real things that concern them...
Like wanting to feel safe & secure when they're in your classroom...
Wanting us to realize that they have bad days too...
Wanting to know that the work they have to do matters...
Real issues straight from the mouth of babes...
I was definitely intrigued...
and it gave me a new perspective 
on how I could handle things differently...


Take a peek...I think you'll like it!

How Full Is Your Bucket

As you can tell, lesson plans are on my mind...

Another activity that I will be doing 

during the first week of school

is reading this book...

How Full Is Your Bucket?  for kids...

Now I know that already this looks like it is for the little ones...

but the message is great for the big kids...

The premise is that everyone carries around an invisible bucket...

When your bucket is full...you are happy...
When it is empty...you are sad...
But what I like so much is that it teaches about filling a friend's bucket
or even a stranger's...
and how that also fills your own bucket...
It also discusses bucket dippers...
bullies...and those who hurt feelings intentionally...
This is a perfect quote to go along with the theme...

A great website with lots of ideas
 to go with this book and/or theme is
Bucket Fillers...

Happy planning!

The Martha Rules

Have you ever read The Martha Rules?
It really is a fabulous book...I had read it about a year ago
and just picked it up recently and reread it...
(I need to be reminded & reinspired with these concepts)...
I love how her rules are very basic & simple...
My favorite rule is number ten...
Make Life Beautiful...
No matter what you are doing, 
do it with beauty, grace & style...
This goes along with Goosie Girl's motto...
Making Life Pretty...
If you're in the need of some business words of wisdom,
perhaps you'd like to give Martha a try...