Teacher's Lounge Radio Episode 12

Thank you for tuning into episode 12 of teacher's lounge radio!


Uncommon Uses for Common Things

Cereal boxes as mailboxes

Book of the Week
If You Don't Feed the Teachers They Eat the Students: Guide to Success for Administrators and Teachers by Neila A. Connors

Song of the Week
They Might Be Giants: No!

GATE Guru
Here is an example of a Tic Tac Toe sheet I made for sixth grade students

Website of the Week
World Atlas

Feature Teacher(s) Blog

Teacher Bits and Bobs

Kerri and Lindsay have a fabulous blog.  Here is Lindsay's responses to the Feature Teacher Blog interview questions:


How long have you been teaching and what levels have/do you teach and where do you teach?
This is my seventh year teaching, and my sixth year in kindergarten! I am currently teaching in Newport Beach, California and I love my little kinder kiddos!

What inspired you to begin your blog? How long have you been writing?
Hmmm . . .what inspired me to begin to blog . . . Well, that would be my better half: Kerri B. Kerri and I always say we are like peanut butter and jelly . . . peas and carrots . . . Batman and Robin. (Obviously I would be Batman . . .) You get the idea. So a year and a half ago when Kerri decided to start a blog she invited me to join, and now here we are! It has been the most wonderful experience and I am so thankful to her every day for dragging me along and fulfilling this crazy dream together!

What is the best part of being a teacher?
The best part of teaching for me are the relationships. There is so much more to teaching than
subtraction or reading comprehension or good handwriting. My plan book has a quote on it by Carl Jung that reads: “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.”

What do you find is the most challenging part of our job?
The most challenging part of teaching for me is finding the balance between work and family time.
Unlike most jobs, teachers are always on the clock: answering emails, prepping art projects, planning instruction . . . even cutting yards of lamination on the couch in your PJs at midnight! As the mommy of a 1 year old, I am working on being intentional about how I spend my time when I am at home with my family – making the most of our time together in the evenings, and being far more efficient in getting things done at school. Or at midnight.

What advice do you have for fellow teachers?
My best advice for fellow teachers is to plan, prepare and then be able to laugh when things just DON’T. TURN. OUT. RIGHT. We’ve all been there. No matter how much time and planning went into your lesson you just never know when little Tommy will decide to give himself a haircut in class, or when Suzy will throw up all over herself AND her neighbor. Or when that crazy bird will fly into your classroom, poop on every available surface area and then fly out. It happens. Don’t sweat it. Someday far, FAR in the future you might even be able to look back and laugh at your terrible, horrible, no good, very bad lesson. Tomorrow is another day.

Do you have a favorite professional book?
Even though I read it many moons ago, I love and still refer to Harry and Rosemary Wong’s The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher. It has sooooo much teacherific goodness. If you’ve never read it, I highly recommend it.

Best read aloud?
My favorite read-aloud is Thomas' Snowsuit by Robert Munsch. My class and I enjoy reading and re-
reading this hilarious tale about a boy’s obstinate refusal to put on his snowsuit. The ending is hilarious. A must read to add to your classroom library!

Teacher's Lounge Radio Episode 11

Book of the Week
How to Give Effective Feedback to Your Students by Susan M. Brookhart

Management Magic
Give your students a brain break!

English Language Learner Strategy
Three Step Interview

Website of the Week
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

Feature Teacher Blog

First, some basic information: How long have you been teaching and what levels have/do you teach and where do you teach?

I am in my 9^th year of teaching.  I was a kindergarten paraprofessional for two years, taught second grade for 3 years. I am now in my fourth year of teaching fourth grade!

What inspired you to begin your blog?  How long have you been writing?

I was inspired to begin my blog when I began reading other teacher blogs.  After several months of reading, I thought I had some ideas I could share too!

I launched my blog in February 2012.

What is the best part of being a teacher?

The best part of being a teacher is seeing the light bulb go on for a child.  I love the “ah ha” moments when you find that strategy or trick that finally makes a concept or idea click for that particular child.  Also the hugs are pretty awesome too!

What do you find is the most challenging part of our job?

The things that keep us from teaching or planning for teaching…those tasks that are a necessary evil like money collection, RTI, lunch count, and all that other paperwork stuff.

Also, seeing a child struggle due to circumstances beyond their control.

What advice do you have for fellow teachers?

Don’t sweat the small stuff!  We have so much on our plates…so many mandates and requirements, and demands, but when it comes down to it, do what you feel is best for children!  Just close your door and teach!

Do you have a favorite professional book?

I am constantly reading professional books, so I have many, many, many favs!  For math, one of my favs is Number Talks: Helping Children Build Mental Math and Computation Strategies, Grades K-5 by Sherry Parrish.  My  language arts favs are Igniting a Passion for Reading: Successful Strategies for Building Lifetime Readers by Steven Layne,The Daily Five and The CAFE Book: Engaging All Students in Daily Literary Assessment and Instruction by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.

Best read aloud?

One of my favorite read alouds to share with my students is Rules by Cynthia Lord. I often have an inclusion class, and this book helps to teach students respect and tolerance of others’ differences.

Any other information you want to share?

I enjoy teaching all subjects, but my absolute favorites are math and social studies--math because I want to help my students understand number concepts that I didn’t when I was in school…and social studies because 4^th grade is American History, and I love the exciting adventure of our countries founding!

Song of the Week

The Sing & Read Number Collection CD by Frog Street Press

Teacher's Lounge Radio Episode 10

Thank you for tuning into episode 10!  Thank you for all the support as this podcast continues to grow!

Book of the Week
The book of the week is How the Brain Learns by David Sousa

Song of the Week
The song of the week is Monkey in the Middle off The Learning Station's Physical Ed

Uncommon Uses for Common Things

Need a place to store stuff? I needed a spot for all the things left on the floor at the end of the day.  Here is my lost and found box made from a baby wipe container.  What can you store?

Website of the Week
Get great resources while supporting fellow teachers at Teachers Pay Teachers

GATE Guru
Think like a.... is a strategy developed by Dr. Sandra Kaplan.   Long Beach Unified School District has posted some great graphic organizers and information about different disciplines.

Feature Teacher Blog

I'm so happy to introduce Emily, the author of http://ilovemyclassroom.blogspot.com/.  Read our full interview below:

First, some basic information: How long have you been teaching and what levels have/do you teach and where do you teach?

This is my 13th year of teaching.  I have taught everything from Kindergarten to 8th grade in some manner or another including a year teaching Special Education/Communicative Handicapped and a year of Elementary Science.  I am presently teaching 4th grade in Northern California.  

What inspired you to begin your blog?  How long have you been writing?

I started I Love My Classroom this past May after the teaching aspects of my family blog took over.  I love teaching and I love sharing what I'm doing in my classroom with others.  My teaching friends told me that the information that I was sharing with them would be good to share with others too.  It's also been a wonderful experience learning from so many creative bloggers out there.      

What is the best part of being a teacher?

My most favorite part of teaching is getting the kids from point A to point Z.  I love being a part of the memories they are making and knowing that I'm teaching them things that they need to know for their future.  I get to help build their foundations.  I get to also help them discover their strengths, and to help them learn social skills.  I love knowing that I'm making a positive impact for our future generations.  

What do you find is the most challenging part of our job?

Can I be honest and say lack of a budget?  I want to create the best environment for my students and it's hard to do when there isn't any money.  We have to fundraise for field trips, copies, and school supplies.  We have to ask for donations of kleenex and copy paper.  I'm in a portable that doesn't have water access, so I have to ask families to fill up the 5 gallon water cooler for me.  This year we have been told that we can't even ask for baby wipes, hand sanitizer, or disinfecting wipes because our insurance doesn't allow us to anymore.   It is hard to create something out of nothing and to stay healthy in the process.  I am thankful for generous families that step forward to cover the gap. 

What advice do you have for fellow teachers?

I think the advice that I would like to give fellow teachers would be to simply remember the reasons that you wanted to become a teacher.  For me, I was 3 years old when I told the world that I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up.  I grew up knowing that I wanted to work with children and make an impact in their lives.  When something in the classroom doesn't work the way you want it to, it's not the end of the world - just change it.  You are in control of your classroom environment.  The kids love to feel needed and respected.  The kids want to have fun.  The kids are kids - they need to learn to be responsible and they are not cookie cutter images of each other.  Becoming a mother changed my outlook on teaching.  It's not all about the long to do list in the classroom, it's wanting to learn about each and every child that is in my classroom on a personal level.  By taking the time to learn about them, they want to do their best for you.  By showing them that they are important and special, they start to believe it for themselves.  Just my thoughts.     

Do you have a favorite professional book?

This past summer I reread the The Daily Five, The CAFE Book: Engaging All Students in Daily Literary Assessment and Instruction, and The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child.  All 3 of them are wonderful books that have inspired me to try things that have worked out wonderfully in my classroom.  The past year I have also found so many great resources in the blogging community, on TPT and Teacher's Notebook.  There is so much out there for teachers!

Best read aloud?

For my own boys (I have 3 sons ages 8, 6, and 2) my favorite read aloud over the years has been How Do I Love You? by P.K. Hallinan.  I can "read" it without the book and I can sing it to them in the dark when I have rocked them to sleep.  So many good memories...

In my classroom - I absolutely love reading  Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing for our first read aloud of the year.  The kids love having anything "4th grade" in the title - and they can relate to so much of the book.

Teacher's Lounge Radio Episode 9

This week Teacher's Lounge Radio takes a look at Constitution Day.  September 17 is the day desginated by Congress to celebreate the document that is the backbone of the United States of America.  My favorite idea?  Hold a school wide constitution signing!

Book of the Week
We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States by David Catrow

Song of the Week
Schoolhouse Rock! (Special 30th Anniversary Edition) You can find the song on you-tube as well.

Website(s) of the Week
Center for Civic Education
Education World's Constitution Day Ideas
Congress for Kids
Ben's Guide to Goverment
Scholastic's Constitution Game
National Archives
Constitution Day's Website

Teacher's Lounge Radio: Episode 8

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoy episode 8

Management Magic

HOW I ACT is a behavior plan that is easy to implement with only a pocket chart and colored slips of paper.

Uncommon Uses for Common Things
Not sure who did a piece of artwork because there is no name on the back?  No where for student art work to dry? Solve both problems with clothespins!

Book of the Week
Shouting Won't Grow Dendrites: 20 Techniques for Managing a Brain-Compatible Classroom
 by Marcia Tate

Song of the Week
This song of the week is sold with a book: Tunes That Teach American History - Bk/CD Set by Ken Sheldon "The Tea and the Taxes"

English Language Learner Strategies
Clock appointments are an easy whole class way to introduce partners and conversation.  Really Good Stuff sells pre-made clocks for desks.  However, it is easy enough to use any clock and draw lines to create areas for partners.

Website of the Week
Whole Brain Teaching