Quick Tip ¨C¨: Count your compliments

My former school ran on a Positive Behavior System in which each classroom earned ¨Classroom Compliments¨ for exceptional behavior exhibited throughout the school´s various areas.  Other teachers would notice your straight line or your kind helpers, they would congratulate you on your quiet mouths or your amazing memory for cafeteria protocol.

We were always the last class in the entire school to get to the next level of accumulated compliments.

I know what you´re thinking, but I swear it wasn´t me.  I had a crew.  But we didn´t we need with those stinkin´ compliments anyhow…  Or maybe since we didn´t get them, we learned to live without.

One of my kiddos, the pee-wee ring leader of the crew, was like a little ¨classroom compliment¨ vacuum.  His actions continually sucked that little slip of paper right back into that not-so-generous-anymore-teacher´s pocket.  He wouldn´t behave for a silly piece of paper; I would suspect that sentiment wouldn´t change unless the paper was green and had a president in residence.  No orange rectangles– printed in sheets and subjected to the knife arm of a common paper cutter.  He found no value in them.  Smart boy, but real a pain in the puh-tootie.

One day I got a call from his mother, asking if I had him at school.  He was supposed to have stayed home, but for some reason, he had hopped incognito onto the passing morning bus.

¨Why did you come to school today?¨I questioned him, a bit flattered.

¨Well, Miss.  I figured it was better than picking up poop.¨

That is the best compliment I have ever received as a teacher.  Count the compliments.  Cherish them.  And rejoice in the fact that they are the real currency in which we are paid, the reason we muddle through and can exist in this profession.

Leave a comment about your best compliments.  We´d love to hear them.  Spread the (self) love.

On Having a Classroom Guinea Pig

Source: http://www.schooljotter.com

When I went looking for a classroom pet–which I had rashly promised to a classroom of 21 adorable round begging faces– I naturally went to look for one in its natural habitat: Craigslist.

For those of you who haven’t used the website, you are certainly missing out.  Widely known as a somewhat kinky site that can hook you up with anything from a one night stand to a used car, Craigslist.org has a section for pets.  Families looking for pets or families looking for new owners for their current furry friends can post ads and charge a small fee for the relocation of their animals.  My ten bucks got me a pig, a water bottle, a tube, some feeding tips, and a sad 9 year old boy saying goodbye to one of his 10 precious pigs.

Before I drove to pick up my pig, I dropped by the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore and bought a laminated cabinet without doors.  I turned it sideways and it made a deep, wide cage for just $3.  (The people in the store know me because I am a regular and probably would have donated it to the cause had I asked, so don’t be afraid to plead “teacher” and beg off free merchandise.)  Every month and a half I bought a big bag of guinea pig food and some bedding.  Those were my only expenses.  The care was easy since my students were old enough to want to clean out her cage, and not old enough to know that poop-pickup isn’t all that fun.  Perfect.

I’m happy to say that I got my $10 worth out of that little Miss Piggy girl.  I taught probability when we were picking out her name.  Our school ran on a system of tickets earned in a positive behavior system.  If students wanted to enter a name into the drawing, they wrote it on the back of one ticket and put it in the drawing bag.  The more tickets you put in with the name you wanted, the more likely the pig was to end up with that name.  We kept track of how many tickets went into the bag, the name on the back, and calculated the probability that that name would be drawn out.  To make things a little more fun, we let her have three names.  Selena Charlie Daisy.  That’s a damn good name, if I have to say so myself.

We took her waste to the compost bin in our school garden when I taught about recycling.  We fed her healthy snacks during the nutrition unit.   I used her as an excuse to get everyone to quiet down, since she would set off a squeaking alarm if the noise levels got too high.  I hardly had to teach the basics of domestic animal needs, since they were dealing with one everyday.  She was a reading buddy as a reward.  She got to sit in a basket near certain writing groups who were working hard and deserved a break.  Selena Charlie Daisy popped up in journal entries, fables, and fantasy tales as a steady, heroic character.  We loaned her out to the Kindergartners and the Third Graders who were reading about guinea pigs.  We were the “cool” classroom… all because of the pig.

Before the school year ended, I had the students apply to take her home.  With parental permission and a bit of persuasive essay mini-lesson-ing, I rewarded a kind and responsible young lady the charge of Selena Charlie Daisy.

We want to hear your classroom pet stories.  How have you used them in your lessons in your classroom?  Creative Writing?  Comic strips?  Science?  Math?  Let us know by dropping a comment.  (Even if you’ve never had a classroom pet, what are some ideas about lessons that can be taught by these tiny teachers?)

Quick Tip “Z”: Getting your Zzz’s

A series of posts that suggest quick tips for teachers.  These “Alpha-bits” of wisdom will not appear in alphabetical order.  Click “Quick Tips” in the tag cloud to the right to find more quick tips.  
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z Y Z

It’s 12 AM.  You’ve planned for tomorrow, your clothes are laid out, and you’ve caught up on those missed episodes of TLC’s Hoarders and successfully reassured yourself that you are not all that crazy after all…. In fact, saving all of those binders from middle school, high school, and college was a great idea because now you can use them in an upcoming writing project with your kiddos.

Source: x-iao-em0.blogspot.com

Your alarm is set for Oh Six Hundred, and you can see Friday like a pinhole of light in the distance.  Maybe you should log on to your Facebook profile and update your quotes.  OK, admit it.  Sometimes you avoid going to sleep just because you don’t want to have to get up in the morning…. Yeah.  That makes loads of sense, when you really think about it.

Sleep is important for your little ones, but it is just as important for you.  Some [super] humans can get away with 4 or 5 hours of snooze, but most of us need a solid 7 or 8.  Here are some tips from the experts on how to doze like a champ.

1. Get 30 or more minutes of exercise, but finish your workout well before you plan on going to bed.

2. Stay well hydrated throughout the day.  If you need to down a glass of agua before you hit the sack, go for it, but try to keep hydrated throughout the day to avoid pre-dawn trips to the john.

3. Drink a cup of chamomile or another calming herbal tea before bedtime.

4. Give yourself a massage.

5. Turn off the technology.  Completely shut down your computer.  Set the phone to vibrate or silent.  Try not to watch TV or doodle around on the Internets right before bedtime.

6. Turn off all of the lights before you go to bed.  Natural body rhythms have been tuned to the light cycles of the sun.  Artificial lighting is thought to interfere with your body’s production of these “tired”-triggering hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate your sleep.

7.  Go for two or more rounds of REM or deep sleep.  Most sleep cycles take 3 or more hours to complete.  To get two or more rounds in, you’ll need to be snoozing for more than 6 hours.

8.  Keep a notebook by the bed to jot down those last-minute thoughts that run like a hamster in your brain around bedtime.

9.  Don’t have too much to drink.  Limit yourself to 1-2 glasses of wine or beer.  Resist the margarita mix calling your name in that sexy Speedy Gonzales accent.

What’s Under the Lid… Packing Lunches

Source: thejailbreak.com

Tired of tuna?  Sick of sandwiches?  Cowering at the thought of another cafeteria lunch?

You’re more than halfway through the school year, and your lunch box’s contents are boring you to tears.  Each and every trip to your grocery store is a painful reminder of your lack of culinary creativity and your taste buds’ fight against extreme ennui.   Here are a few suggestions and substitutions that are sure to “soup” up your packed lunches.

Most of these suggested lunches are vegetarian, low-fat, and great for those of us trying to shed the box of chocolates and holiday goodies that your kiddos brought by the bucketful.

Breakfast for Lunch
Frozen waffles, bananas, and peanut butter
Microwave-poached eggs (put a little bit of water into a microwave safe dish, a dash of salt, a pinch of pepper and voila!) and an English muffin
Yogurt and Fruit Parfaits
Kefir- packed with protein and probiotics!

Go Greek Once a Week
Pita bread and hummus
Tabouleh Salad of parsley and couscous
Tzatziki and veggies to dip

Winter Soups
Kale and white bean soup
Butternut Squash soup
Chicken and Dumplin’s

Cheat ‘N’ Eat
Rotisserie Chicken- pick up a pre-cooked bird and you’re good to go for soups, salads, and sandwiches

Soto Ayam Soup
Chicken Caesar Salad Topping
Barbeque Sandwich

Raw Food Day
Sprouted seeds, veggies, unroasted nuts (not cashews)
Salads for a week
Fresh Juices

Drinks
Bring seltzer instead of soda
Try to find Yerba Mate at your local bodega… packed with natural energy enhancers
Or try making your own Italian sodas

Quick Tip ¨B¨: Remember to Breathe

A series of posts that suggest quick tips for teachers.  These “Alpha-bits” of wisdom will not appear in alphabetical order.  Click “Quick Tips” in the tag cloud to the right to find more quick tips.  
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z Y Z

Being back in the mountains in my little Mexican village has reminded me of another important teaching technique I learned in my first years in the classroom: Breathe!

When I arrived at my cabin, solita, I had a lot of unpleasant things to deal with… moldy mattresses, blankets that needed to take baths, an injured kitty cat.  And after a visit to the United States, everything in my little cabin seemed more than a trifle dirty in comparison.  My first reaction was, of course, frustration.  But because of a certain amount of practice in much more pressing situations in the classroom, I was quickly able to detach and tell myself to breathe.

My kids knew that when I said, ¨Excuse me, but I am breathing right now,¨ that meant that they better sit tight and do a little inhaling themselves because whatever had triggered my need for deep breaths was still looming large within my lungs, being swathed in oxygen in order to calm down.

It seems to be a very non-threatening response to an angering situation, and my students got the point quickly.  I taught them (just like most teachers will do when dealing with certain babes and behavior problems) that before you react to anything in anger, you need to take 10 breaths.  My modeling it in front of the classroom killed two birds with one stone: first, it reinforced the actions that they should take when they get angry, and secondly, my deep breaths signaled that something very bad had happened, that the situation would receive attention very soon, but that attention would be given only after a pause to calm down.

I did the same thing when I stepped into my cabin on the afternoon of my arrival, and it has made a world of difference in my perspective on things.  The next time a child upsets you to a point near anger, step back, detach from the situation, and breath.  Make it obvious that you are breathing, maybe even tell him or her that you need a little time to do so, and see the reactions that you get.  They will be scared crapless.  That statement: ¨Excuse me, but I am breathing right now¨, is more effective than any amazingly evil condemning teacher look you could ever muster.

Quick Tip “S”: Teaching how to “Summarize”

A series of posts that suggest quick tips for teachers.  These “Alpha-bits” of wisdom will not appear in alphabetical order.  Click “Quick Tips” in the tag cloud to the right to find more quick tips.  
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z Y Z

Source: littleacorn.typepad.com

Check out this hilarious website that provides short, sweet, and to-the-point summaries for many beloved children book titles.  It is sure to make teaching summaries a little bit more fun.  Use their simple but effective format for guiding students who are having a bit of trouble writing or understanding the concept of “summaries”.

Example from Book-a-Minute (Bedtime category):

The Berenstain Bears and The Bad Habit
by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Sister
I have a bad habit.
Mama
I’ll give you money if you stop.
Sister
Cash up front.
Mama
Ok.
Sister
Done.
THE END

Entries include  titles from authors such as Jan and Stan Berenstain , Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Roald Dahl, Patricia Polacco, and Dr. Suess, and many, many more.

Quick Tip “T”: You Must Have A Cup of Tea!

A series of posts that suggest quick tips for teachers.  These “Alpha-bits” of wisdom will not appear in alphabetical order.  Click “Quick Tips” in the tag cloud to the right to find more quick tips.  
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z Y Z

Source: arborteas

Nothing can change your perspective on life as quickly as a mug of hot tea.

Wanting to do something nice for the teachers on your hall (and something nice for yourself?) Try installing a tea station in a common work area.  Buy a new or used electric water kettle that turns off automatically when it reaches the boiling point (new usually costs $20-$25) and a selection of teas (usually $2-4 a box).

Teachers can fill their mugs with a variety of energizing or calming teas when they have breaks throughout the day.

As teachers, we have to push through a lot of bodily discomforts throughout our day. We can’t be stopped by exhaustion, a headache, a slight cold, or a stomachache. Tea can help us overcome some of our minor daily ailments.

Try…..
*Throat Coat from Traditional Medicinals to soothe sore and irritated throats.

*Theraflu Tea for teachers trying to fight off colds.

*Fresh rosemary tea for headaches.  If a friend you know has an herb garden, see if you can persuade them to bring you a bunch or two.

*Chamomile for a teachers having a hard day.  Herb used for its calming effects.

*Spearmint or Ginger teas to quiet upset stomachs.

*Green Tea for energy and its powerful cleansing effects.

*English Breakfast or Earl Gray for a robust dark tea with a caffeine pick-me-up.

Teachers can also use the kettle to heat water for instant oatmeal for a quick breakfast in the morning or to rehydrate soups like miso or ramen for lunch.

Quick Tip “A”: Apple Cider Vinegar

A series of posts that suggest quick tips for teachers.  These “Alpha-bits” of wisdom will not appear in alphabetical order.  Click “Quick Tips” in the tag cloud to the right to find more quick tips.  
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z Y Z

Source: homeremediesforacne.org

Wintertime blues got your throat red and raw? Try mixing 1 quart of water, two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, and two or three tablespoons of honey into a large container. The result is a tart and sweet liquid that eases throat pain and can help speed your recovery from symptoms of the common cold.

Drink through a straw to avoid damaging the enamel on your teeth.

On Using Grooveshark to “Playlist” Your Day

You Will Need:
A Computer with Internet Access
Speakers
A (fun, fast, free) Grooveshark Account

Step 1: To begin, go to the Grooveshark homepage and create a free account.

Step 2: Once you have your account, you can start searching for music to add to your playlists.

Step 3: Create several different playlists for each part of your school day.

Morning Work Playlist:

Source: steveandcat.net

Try searching for melodies with a bit of energy.  You are trying to wake them up and get them ready for the day.
Search artists such as Steve Reich, Ratatat, or try some classical music with a tiny bit of pep. 

Math Playlist:

Source: sharpbrains.com

Study after study has praised the positive effects of listening to classical music and its impact on a brain engrossed in math.

Try searching these compositions and composers, which are recommended for mathematical thinkers at this site:

-Mozart’s Symphony #40
-Bach’s Anna Magdalena, Notebook #7
-Bizet’s Toreador Song from Carmen
-Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony #6
-Rossini’s William Tell Overture 
-Schumann’s Melody
-Haydn’s Surprise Symphony
-Strauss’ On the Beautiful Blue Danube
-Chopin’s Waltz #18
-Handel’s Harmonious Blacksmith

Writing Workshop Playlist:

Source: dstracywrites.blogspot.com

Make one playlist without lyrics and the other with lyrics.  Why?  Some children might actually benefit from having a few softly spoken, poetic words float past their ears.  They will subconsciously grab onto turns of phrases and words when they are writing, which provide them a spring-boarding platform for ideas they are trying to develop.

Reading Groups Playlist:

Source: ecslibrary.edublogs.org

Try to search music written for a single instrument, like piano.  Because it only has one voice, they will be able to hear their own reading voice inside their heads much better.  Make sure there are no lyrics, since a song’s story might interfere with the one they are “listening” to in their minds as they read.

Consider making a playlist that can be used in a listening center.

Source: randalllearninglibrary

*Search for historical ballads (“Battle of New Orleans”) and print out accompanying lyrics.

*Look for silly songs that can teach rhymes or simple literary techniques (Raffi songs are amazing for this).

*Some learners are more likely to engage with a song than with poetry (try searching Regina Spektor, Fleet Foxes, or Local Natives—check lyrics for appropriateness per song).

*Look for songs that can help you teach imagery (“Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”) or personification (“Lighthouse” by Nickel Creek).
Social Studies Playlist:

Source: xphomestation.com

Download patriotic songs, old ballads, songs that sing about your community or region, or songs written by local artists in the past and present.

Also, during the month of February, look for artists whose contributions help us celebrate Black History Month (Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Louie Armstrong, Duke Ellington…) Go to this site for more suggestions.

Science Playlist:

Source: images.yourdictionary.com

Search for songs that are related to the content topics your class is currently studying.
Start by searching “Intelli-Tunes” by Ron Brown.

Dismissal Playlist:

Source: thatballsouttahere.com

Using a playlist for dismissal time has the potential to make your life a whole heck of a lot easier.  The songs you choose can be staggered to mirror time requirements for each dismissal activity: finishing up their exit slips; packing and cleaning up; dismissing car riders separately from bus riders or after school, etc.
Jeopardy has successfully used a song as a timer for 50+ years.  We’ll take “Why Not Teachers?” for 100, please, Alex.

Energizer Playlist:
Make a playlist with fun, high-energy songs to play during reward times, energizers or indoor recess.

Other Tips on Finding Music

Source: anewmorning.com

 *Search soundtracks (try Mr. Holland’s Opus, Remember the Titans, or Music of the Heart)

*Grooveshark now has a “Similar Artists” feature that works like Pandora’s algorithms or the Genius feature on iTunes to find music with similar tones, energies, and focuses.

*Share your playlists with other Grooveshark account users.   See if other teachers at your school or in your grade level would like to create playlists to share.  Spread out the work.  Standardize certain procedures (like dismissal, for example) by using music across your grade level.

Other “Sound” Advice

Source: catseyewriter.com

*Try to avoid popular, current music when you plan on using that music to develop your classroom routines.  Many of those songs have other habits, emotions, and behaviors already associated with them.

*Music is a wonderful tool.  Use it with your students who have a hard time focusing; but if you know that certain students have a difficult time with auditory interference, make sure to have private conferences with them about their feelings and their productivity when listening to the classroom music selections.

*Make “Playlist DJ” a weekly job in your classroom, one that is assigned to your Star Student or Student of the Week, perhaps.

* As a reward for students with behavior charts and/or special behavior plans, add “Choose a Tune” to their reward list.  They can search the Grooveshark archives and add another song as a reward at the end of the day or the end of the week (after you have approved it for appropriateness, of course).

YouTube Grammar Lessons

Source: xckd

I wouldn’t categorize myself as a Grammar Nazi.  I’m more like a Grammar Marie Antoinette.  I look down my [rather large] nose at the poor, pitiful peons that can’t seem to hang their apostrophes in the right place or choose the proper word among a simple set of homophones.  Most writers loathe the fools that butcher their precious language.  But mine is not a feeling of disdain, really.  Yes, when I see a “your welcome” sign, out slips a haughty giggle, a conceited snigger, a cocky chuckle.

But when it comes to reading YouTube comments, my pride flips into a higher gear.
After scanning the non-sensical rubbish that people have posted, I do tend to believe that I rank among the top 0.13% of the American population in grammatical awareness and perhaps, intelligence.  You, reader, are no doubt ranked with me in that elite tiny percentage of about 400,000 people.  Would you care to use those fools to your advantage?

YouTube Grammar Lessons
Scan YouTube comments for poor grammar.  Then use the comments to teach grammar mini-lessons by copying and pasting the comments onto your interactive white board, your morning work pages, your weekly homework packets, or your newsletters.  Students can work alone or in partners to correct the comments.  The grammar work is more real than any ditto or worksheet, because your students are correcting the grammatical errors of real-life [idiot] adults.  The results are fabulously snobby and engaging.

Good luck breeding your little YouTube-comment Gestapo!