The Night Before the First Day of School
Every year on the night before the first day of school, this teacher is filled with excitement. I’ve done many first days, but it’s always exciting to greet a new class and get to know a new set of students.
And as I am packing my bag for tomorrow, I’m praying….and I will hope you my reader are praying for me too. I’m praying for patience because I need lots of it – not for the first few weeks of school, but for the entire year. And I am praying for my students tonight – that they feel comfortable, loved and they enjoy our school.
Happy First Day to all of you Moms too for I know there are many of you who have waited for this day to have the house to yourself again :D Yep I know your secret!
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August 31, 2012Home Remedy for a Burn that Really Works
Yesterday I burned myself with a glue gun. OUCH! After two hours of holding ice on it for nearly two hours, I looked online for a home remedy for burns. Many people wrote that they peeled an onion. Then they cut the outer layer of the onion and placed the inner side of it on the burn. I tried it and 10 minutes later, the pain and sting of the burn was gone!!
I love home remedies that work!
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August 31, 2012Labor Day 2012 in Bay Ridge Brooklyn
What’s there to do in Brooklyn on Labor Day? There isn’t a lot happening in Bay Ridge this Labor Day Weekend. Brunch on Sunday, September 2nd and then the Labor Day Parade in Brooklyn is on Monday, September 3rd on Eastern Parkway.
- You can head to Coney Island to see the sideshow , Shore Theater Photos or put on your sunnies and catch some rays at the beach!
Sunset Park is having a huge barbecue party – 36th Street! More info here
- There are Cyclone games all weekend.
- Many people love to head to Manhattan or Long Island to gee back to school deals and shop before school stars.
Happy Labor Day 2012 in Brooklyn!
- Oh Yeah and he Atlantic Antic is Sunday, September 30th
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August 29, 2012Mail, Mail,Mail
In the early afternoon in our house, you can hear Lee singing in a high pitched voice, “Mail, Mail, Mail, Mail, Mail.” I love mail and Lee loves to tease me about it. He doesn’t understand that I love receiving letters, postcards and catalogs. My dogs know how important mail is at our house and will bark when they hear the familiar sound of the wheels of the mailman’s cart riding on the concrete outside our home. And of course I love mail delivery people.
Our current mailman is John E., and I love running into him while he is making deliveries. Over the past three years, we’ve gotten a chance to know John, and John has come to know how much I love mail. He always has a huge smile on his face when I meet him at my door. John and I will talk about the neighborhood, schools, our children and my dogs. When I am waiting for a letter, John will ring the bell if he knows I am home to let me know it has arrived. Even when my mail consists of a pile of utility bills, John always looks on the positive and says, “Well it’s just bills today, but they are all things you need for your beautiful home.” His kind words and friendly demeanor give my neighborhood a good feel.
On the first day of Winter Break this past year, I received some terrible news in a letter. Standing on my front stoop, I opened the envelope as I talked with John. He saw my face go pale and helped me sit down. I handed him the letter to read because I was too in shock to speak. John understood and asked me if I wanted him to call someone. I asked him to call Lee and to get me some water. John sat with me and talked until Lee came. He didn’t have to do that, but he went above and beyond his job because he’s a good person and my friend. Work connects us all, and I will always be grateful for the work John does.
Labor Day is almost upon us. I know most people see Labor Day Weekend as a time to party and have the last celebration of summer before school starts. Yet it’s meant as a day to recognize the work that people do. So before you go turn on that grill and grab a cold drink, go to aflcio.org/thankyou to send a thank you card to someone whose work you appreciate. Each of us depends on each other’s work. Our work binds us and weaves us all together. And together, we are better.
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August 27, 2012Happy Anniversary to Our House
Three years ago we purchased our house in Bay Ridge. It is still on my list of one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Each year we’ve done something new to the place and made one big purchase for the house. This summer, we added board and batten molding to the hallway/up the stairs. I’ll post pics when we’re done.
In three years, the only repair the house needed was concrete repair and boiler repair. We have a contract for the boiler so knock on wood – we’re doing good.
And we’re happy here. We laugh a lot in this house. I almost always smile when I walk up my front steps because the house reminds me how blessed we are.
Happy Anniversary House! {Oh and just because I own the house for three years doesn’t mean I don’t love it when you say how much you love my house everytime you come over! Yes you – I want to see if you are really reading my blog or just complaining that I don’t post enough!}
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August 24, 2012Notes Before School
I opened my e-mail and it was filled with the usual junk mail, but it also contained 3 e-mails from students who were off to college. THREE!
One was long and retold the first day of school in my sixth grade class as she compared it to the jitters she was feeling about college. She wrote she knew would be okay because she was okay in middle school. Too sweet!
And two were invitations for coffee from my little boys who are now college men. They are just too cool inviting their old teacher out for coffee. But they were always cool – even as little kids in middle school.
And who would think a few e-mails could make my day or bring so many tears to my face? Yup – it’s a good life.
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August 23, 2012Remember the 18th Avenue Feast starts tonight 8/23
When is the 18th ave feast in Brooklyn in 2012?
The Feast of St. Rosalie (also known as the 18th Avenue Feast in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn starts tonight. THE FEAST IS ON THIS YEAR!
Aug. 23 to Sept. 2nd 2012 on 18th Avenue between 67th to 75th Streets – 7pm – it’s the best street fair in Brooklyn and I am so glad it’s back.
They start closing the streets around 6 pm or 6:15 pm. People who live off 18th Avenue complain about parking, but there is always plenty in the area.
A lot of different vendors this year – Spanish/Mexican food too. The band stage is set up – KTU is not there this year.
See the decorations are up as they are ready for this week.
Stella’s Sausage and Zeppoles – outside the old Cotilion Terrace – 74th Street and 18th Ave.
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August 13, 2012Make It Monday
I’m linking up with the Tara at the Fourth Grade Folics Blog for the Make It Monday Linky Party.
Have you seen the Pinterest management idea with Teaching Blog Addict’s video (if you haven’t, click here to see it)I printed Kathleen’s labels for managing groupwork because it’s such a simple idea and I think it’s actually going to work well. My helpers peeled and placed them on the paper cups. (The cups were from a 99 cent party supply store like Party City, but cheaper).
I made some new locker numbers – the file is here if you need some numbers. The colors are grey, teal and yellow (although the yellow looks orange in this pic, it’s just from bad lighting).
Birthday bags are done. Do you know how awesome I feel about this? Kids love their birthday and it’s good to have something fun for them. I know they really just want the homework pass, but I think the other things are cute too (a card from Vistaprint, a horn, 2 little games, a birthday pencil and the pass designed at Vistaprint). * I have a student who has student birthdays as his/her job because I always forget to check the chart for birthdays!
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August 10, 2012Levi Aron – 40 years in Jail
Last year, everyone in the world heard of Levi Aron. He became known as the Brooklyn butcher who stole a child from his tight community in broad daylight. Brooklynites hoped that the little boy was ‘just lost’ and not abducted. My friends and I went to look for Leiby Kletzky because we grew up in an adjacent neighborhood and we knew where a child could get lost. When we found out that the little boy was viciously murdered we cried because no child should have to go through what he went through and no family should have to endure the pain that followed.
Levi Aron was sentenced today. I’ve been waiting for his sentencing. I was sure that somehow or another that his attorney was going to try to put in an insanity plea and it would be accepted. Yet, Charles Hynes, the Brooklyn DA said early on that he wouldn’t accept an insanity plea. I wasn’t sure if he would be able to stick to it when stories were released that Aron was hearing voices while he was in prison. Aron was deemed to be competent and for a year he sat in jail.
Levi Aron was able to take a plea bargain that will result in him getting 40 years. Leiby Kletzky’s parents, Nachman and Ester Kletzky didn’t want to have to go to court and hear the terrible details of the murder, so they asked Hynes to offer a plea bargain.
Nachman Kletzky, Leiby’s father is suing Levi Aron for 100 million for punitive damages and Levi Aron’s father for 100 million since the incident happened in his home.
I think 40 years is a good amount of time to keep Levi Aron in jail. People say this will allow the Kletzky family to heal. I disagree, I think it will keep Aron safe from the angry society he rocked to the core. The Kletzky’s will never be the same as they were. With time, the pain may become a bit less, but thoughts of their son will be on their mind daily.
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August 10, 2012Fabulous Find Friday for Teachers
Happy Friday! I’m linking up with Elizabeth at Fun in Room 4B Blog. BTW, Elizabeth – thanks for having this linky party all summer and getting me excited and on track with planning for this school year. Good luck on your first week back, Elizabeth!
This year I got:
These cool two-sided Tolsby Frames – 99 cents each! that look like this when they are wrapped:
And like this when they are put together:
I bought a few and plan to use them for my group/table numbers.
Ans I bought one of these Kvill frames for my desk ($4.99)
Last year I got:
Two of these cute hanging planters ($4.99 – now $5.99). The metal has a nice pattern that makes it look like lace.
And these magazine holders (5 for $1.99) I put them all together and then wrapped polka-dot tape around it. I put colored binders in them and they looked great! They were very sturdy which surprised me because they were so cheap.
Every summer, I try to read at least two good teaching books. Sometimes they are good; sometimes they are just a lot of fluff. You know what I mean, right? Well this year I received two great recommendations from teachers online and I highly recommend them both.
The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. I don’t teach reading and I still found the book inspiring!
Ten Things Every Writer Needs to Know by Jeff Anderson. Good writing strategies and examples.
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August 9, 2012Happy Birthday to the Best Dog in World!
The kids planned a party for Reggie’s first birthday! You know when kids are bored and have nothing to do – let them throw a party! They are so good at it. They sent out invitations to owners with dogs. They made party hats, signs and decorations. They made a doggy safe cake in the shape of a bone (dogs can’t eat regular flour).
At the beginning of the day, Reggie loved all the attention.
But after being handled and passed around to everyone he became sleepy.
And then he kept yawning.
But he loved his party. Family, go to the other blog to see more.
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August 6, 2012Make It Monday
I’m linking up with the Tara at the Fourth Grade Folics Blog for the Make It Monday Linky Party.
I made these passes at Vistaprint and I needed a holder for them.
Most of the cards will be stored in the file cabinet, but I want to leave some out to encourage students. I thought of making a paper card holder. And here’s what I came up with:
Then I saw these free printable 3D Letters on Digiprop.
The possibilities are endless (bulletin boards, word walls, word work, etc). My students are going to go crazy over these. All you need is paper, scissor and glue (I like double-sided tape) to make these cute letters. Don’t worry, there is even a tutorial that is very easy to follow to make these letters. I cut them while watching a movie. Some letters are a bit harder to make then others, but it’s fun. I can see a basket filling up with these soon. I may laminate them before I fold too.
Marcus at Digiprop has a lot of other cute things like these dinosaurs. I love the scientist dino.
There is even a very happy Jesus on a dinosaur.
And Marcus has some cute paper finger puppets (a fox & a crow . I immediately thought how cute these would be with the Fox and the Crow Story (Aesop’s Fable).
And there is a sweet dinosaur desk calendar. Marcus has a lot of interesting animals – a sheep, a hippo and a tucan.
There is also a black and white copy for the kids to color too.
I’m up early because we are doing board and batten in the hallway. Installing molding makes me very happy! Have a great Monday everyone. Can’t wait to see all of your great ideas and projects.
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