The need for funds is a long story, but know it would be going to our 3 Pre-K’s celebration on the last day of school. We’d like to buy a small spread of food and some resources for the kids to take home.
Please e-mail me positivelypt (at) gmail (dot) com or use fan mail!
Thanks!
Hey everyone, as you may have heard the recent sequester will impact many government programs and their funding. My program is getting a cut, but it looks like no positions will be cut from instructional staff at this point. However, other parts of our staff may be.
Each year Pre-K teachers get a modest classroom supply fund. This is not much different than the grade level funds that are often used to purchase take home folders, construction paper, notebooks, etc. except that we each individually decide what to spend it on. This year, I spent mine on art supplies, stuff needed for science and math activities (not reusable), and some books. I am guessing that our classroom funds will be very small next year, as they have gotten smaller every year.
As you know, Pre-K kids play hard and at the beginning of the year are still learning a lot of social skills and rules. So books get ripped and toys break. And, I am sometimes able to replace them through classroom funds or my own, and sometimes I am not.
This year’s class has loved every minute, but there’s things from free choice centers that need to be replaced. Also, this year, I put a lot more focus into using rotating centers for all academic centers. While I do have a number of books that need to be replaced or that are still on my dream classroom wish list. I want to focus on stacking up on materials for literacy, science, math, and social studies.
If you have the funds this month or are a billionaire I’d appreciate it if you could take a look at my wish list (linked above). I partner with another teacher to plan a lot of things and we share materials so you would be helping out two classes.
I totally understand that money is tight for many, but all the reblogs in the world are appreciated.
I can’t pick one. So, I’ll give you three.
1. Document everything. Keep a list of meetings with parents and phone calls. Make photocopies of notes about serious behavior. Keep copies of newsletters, permission slips, etc.
2. If a parent gets verbally abusive or crosses a line, you have every right to end the meeting and reschedule it for a time that administration can attend.
3. Make time for yourself even if you are swamped and going to bed early because you are so tired. You will be no good to the kids if you don’t make time to take care of you.
I’m planning a Chicago trip this summer. I’ll likely go the last week of June or Mid-July. I will likely only be there a total of 3 days. One day will be for hanging out with one of my college best friends, one for my friend that student taught in England with me and one for Chicago area tumblr meet-up. I’d like a show of hands for who will be in Chicago around those times and would be interested in meeting up. I’ll be staying with my college buddy who lives near Wrigley Field. Any and all #education people would be welcome. I’ll probably ask JBIZZ or one of my college friends to name a good meet-up place where people can hear each other talk near where my friend lives. Unfortunately, JBizz will be in Europe, so you’ll have to settle for me and whoever else can come.
Please reply with a reblog or an e-mail as I do not get most messages on Tumblr.
Because its been a week where we need to see the beauty in humanity - PS 22 Chorus - Rihanna - Stay
The newspaper of record for Oberlin College and the town of Oberlin, The Oberlin Review, has compiled a list of the recent racist happenings, including:
Feb. 9: Vandalism in the Science Center included the replacement of “Black” with “Nigger” on Black History Month posters, drawings of swastikas, damage to the “Year of the Queer” posters and reported destruction of the Chinese calendar.
Feb. 12: LGBTQ Community Coordinator Lorena Espinoza found a note in the Multicultural Resource Center that read “Nigger Faggot Center.”
Feb. 17: The Office of Safety and Security released a Special Alert of a strong-arm robbery of a student near West College Street and Cedar Street. The student reported that he was approached by an individual who made a derogatory remark about his perceived ethnicity and then physically knocked him to the ground. Most recently, a person wearing what looked like a Ku Klux Klan outfit was spotted walking on campus near the Afrikan Heritage House.
Rightfully shocked and outraged, the school’s administration formally cancelled class on Monday, and gathered the student body for a “day of solidarity.” According to the New York Times: At an emotional gathering in the packed 1,200-seat campus chapel, the college president, Marvin Krislov, apologized on behalf of the college to students who felt threatened by the incidents and said classes were canceled for “a different type of educational exercise,” one intended to hold “an honest discussion, even a difficult discussion.”
Because of this attitude and approach, many new student action and support groups have sprung up recently — tasking themselves with addressing the issue, and creating a safer, inclusive environment. Although located in a rural town about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland, Oberlin has built its reputation on its progressive attitude and curriculum. Responses like this reflect those values. It’s a welcome surprise to see a school tackle this head on, and some of its educators believe that’s the key to stopping these incidents.
I’m trying to find some children’s books with Asian characters to put on my wishlist and be on the hunt for at used book sales. I am only familiar with Tikki Tikki Tembo, which I believe people on Tumblr have pointed out are not a good reflection of any Asian culture. Is any one familiar with the other books on this list? Are they any good?
Teachers take on a lot: in the classroom, in the school community, and outside school all together.
If you could take one thing off your plate to make your life less stressful, easier, more enjoyable, what would to be?
Would it be something in your curriculum that you feel doesn’t fit/work? Would be it an extra activity or responsibility? Would it be something outside of school completely that would free up your day?
grocery shopping
My favorite thing, as of late, is showing the first 30 seconds of Wall-E, pausing it when the towers of trash come up, and asking the students how that single frame of the movie is a satire.
So. Many. Light bulbs.
It was wonderful.
What about you guys?
Thanks to the wonderful people of tumblr, we have the full content of starfall this year. I love it. I can use it to introduce letter clusters, math concepts, and practice how to write letters. I can use it as a whole group on the mimio or set it to a certain activity on the student computers. The kids love it. They are “getting” things faster and are so proud and excited about learning.
The Home Aquaponics Self-Cleaning Fish Tank features five pots on the top for growing herbs and plants such as spinach, baby greens, oregano, beans, basil, mint, parsley and thyme. The fish waste naturally fertilizes the plants above. So, all you really have to do is feed the fish!
I want this for my classroom! We study ecosystems in life science, so we could observe the plants and the fish and how they interact. Plus we could use the herbs to make our own salsa each year.
I also really want this for my classroom!
She has recently adopted a gluten-free diet and I would love to collect some geeky/pop culture/literary-referenced recipes that are gluten-free already or can be adapted to be gluten-free.
To get some ideas flowing, we’re teaching One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Kite Runner, Jane Eyre, Big Fish, In Cold Blood, myths (including Hercules, Gilgamesh, Ramayana) if you can think of anything. I will also be changing names for recipes to make them more literary-themed.
For example, I’m adapting a Lembas Bread recipe for her. I’m interested in multicultural recipes, desserts, breakfast, snacks — EVERYTHING! I’d also be willing to send out the completed cookbook file to anyone who wants it!
Any ideas?
Hey, I’m a little late posting this. Annie has always been a good friend to me. If you can help her out, I’d appreciate it!
~PPT
