Mind-Boggling Monday: Indoor Recess

So, what's mind-boggling this Monday? It has to be the weather! Here in NE Ohio we are experiencing a winter that won't quit. The snow began falling mid-December, covering the ground and causing our first snow day. The ground? Haven't seen that since before Christmas! Five more snow days, sub-zero temps, and frigid wind chills brings us to today. Brrrr! Luckily we have the day off from classes in celebration of Presidents' Day.

With all of the cold this winter, we have had few days with outdoor recess. Sometimes it's necessary to organize activities for an indoor recess. Left to their own devices, our students might not make the best choices for indoor recess. Boggle is one activity that allows students the freedom to relax yet still engage in word skills. They think they're playing; we know they're learning! SCORE!

Here's a board perfect for Presidents' Day or other American patriotic celebrations. Simply right click on the image, save it to your hard drive, and project it for your students to use.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Throwback Thursday 2.12.15 Valentine's Day

Welcome to...

What is Throwback Thursday? How does it work, you might ask? Simply look through your PURR-fect Previous Posts, perhaps a particular favorite of yours, and re-post it! Then add the TBT badge to your post and include your link below! Purr-fectly easy and simple! Your post doesn't have to be from LOOOONNNGGG ago; it can be from last month or even earlier this week. And if you don't have a post to share, perhaps an old photo or two from WAY BACK will do! Even a favorite pin is PURR-fect! Just join in the Throwback fun!

This post first appeared on The Teacher's Desk 6 2/14/14.

SAINT Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. Many people enjoy celebrating this fun holiday; they love the chocolates, the exchange of cards, the bright colors, the flowers, etc. However, many people don't realize the origins of this "holy day". Yes, holy day. It is actually a Catholic feast day that honors a special saint whose celebration has crossed-over into commercialized society life.

Each year my sixers are awed by the story of the simple, humble man who lived in Ancient Rome and gave his life in honor and love of Christ Jesus. This year I came across an amazing picture book about this generous, loving saint.

How did Valentine's Day, one of our most popular holidays, begin? 

It started in ancient Rome when a kind physician named Valentine took an interest in a young blind girl. With his healing skill and his deep faith he restored her sight. What we now call Valentine's Day began when he sent the little girl a secret message, which she received after the Christian martyr was executed. For this tale rich in sentiment, master illustrator Robert Sabuda has created exquisite paper mosaics to suggest early Christian art that resonates with both subtlety and power... Amazon.com

There was a stunned silence when I finished reading the book, until my student, the most unruly of them, said: WOW! I wish I could be like that dude. He was so not self-centered.

I couldn't have said it better myself. I asked them all to personally respond with why they thought Valentine was recognized as a saint by completing this simple notebook foldable.

There were such wonderful responses! Many similar to the one that my student had voiced aloud. However, one stood out. This one was from one of my boys who struggles with written communication. He has difficulty with spelling, with the act of writing, with getting his thoughts on paper, and more. In shaky writing, missing letters, and no punctuation,  he simply wrote...

he lovd everon

With just this simple story, my kiddos GOT the meaning and true message of Valentine's Day... SAINT Valentine's Day. It isn't about the chocolates or the cards or the flowers, it's about putting others before ourselves, it's about being a light for others, it's about our call as goodly(Godly) people...

Now it's your turn for a THROWBACK!

Tuesday Writing PaWs 2.10.15

A few weeks ago on Tuesday I began my series about Paragraph a Week (PaW), a writing program that was first developed by a group of 5/6th grade teachers in 1998 via a listserv. Since that time other programs similar to it have cropped up. I often wonder if that group's idea was the springboard for these newcomers.

Here are the original 70 topics of the PaW program divided into two categories: single paragraph and multi-paragraph compositions. The single paragraph topics are in the left column while the multi-paragraph topics are in the right. I screen shot the list as it appeared on The Teacher's Desk website back in 2012, thus the titles appear as links. Over the course of many weeks, nearly all of these topics will appear here on The Teacher's Desk 6 blog for FREE.

This week's FREEBIE PaW is all about the upcoming holiday, Valentine's Day. You'll notice that this particular topic focuses on several of the Six + 1 Traits of Writing all at once. The PaW program was cumulative, covering many skills over the course of two years. Now and then a topic would take on a review nature. This is one of those. Click HERE to download your copy of the PaW direction sheet for use in your classroom.

Other PaW FREEBIES currently available can be downloaded below.
Leprechauns
Earth Day
Mother's Day
Finish the Phrase
Nice
National Pencil Month

Topics soon to appear during the Tuesday Writing PaWs:

Parent Introductory Letter

Journey of a Snowflake

Color

Signs of Spring

Mind Boggling Monday 2.9.15

My entire week has been mind-boggling, let alone just Monday! When stress starts getting to me, I do one of three things: read, blog, or play games. The game that can really get my mind off of my problems is Scramble with Friends via Facebook. It is a Boggle-style game that you can play alone or with friends. After playing a game or two I can actually feel myself begin to relax and my mind to focus.

Our students are no different. They often become stressed. It might be from things that happen at home, but more often than not, it happens due to things in the classroom... too much homework, lack of understanding, a reprimand, social issues. Stress can distract them from tasks at hand and prevent them from learning and practicing necessary skills. Experts recommend brain breaks to help solidify learning and remove learning related stress.

I've found that playing Classroom Boggle is a great brain break that can erase the mind-boggling atmosphere. If you haven't tried Boggle as a brain break yet, here's a fun board for you to try this week. You can download it to your computer and project it for your students to see and enjoy.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Sunday Scoop 2.8.15

Time to join the Teaching Trio for...

Here's my scoop for the week...

I am FAR behind with teachery things because of my sweet Daisy. She is my crotchety, sweet sixteen year old fuzz baby. She has had a chronic problem with her teeth for several years, and this past week she was exhibiting some of the typical tooth problem symptoms. I was off on Wednesday due to a family emergency. Since I was home, I called the vet and got her in. An exam and antibiotic/pain shot and we were home where later in the day she appeared "normal". Thursday was a downhill affair. Poor little thing was moaning in pain and feverish so I took Friday off to take her back to the vet. The news was a bit unsettling and serious. We are trying to determine exactly what is happening. She is in the hospital doing better on a new antibiotic but still is not 100%. I hope (pray) that she is better and can come home Monday.

While  I was at the pet hospital I saw a notice that they were running a Sweetest of Them All contest for Valentine's Day. I entered my two beauties. Please consider voting for them by visiting the hospital's Facebook page (see link below) and liking their picture. The prize is a gift certificate.

Post by Edgewood Veterinary Hospital.

Before you click on over to the Teaching Trio for more Sunday Scoops, take some time to enter a couple of giveaways I am having. Zombie Zania ends this evening just before the return of "The Walking Dead" and you have through this coming Wednesday to win the World's Quietest Pencil Sharpener.

Throwback Thursday 2.5.15 GIVEAWAYS

Welcome to...

What is Throwback Thursday? How does it work, you might ask? Simply look through your PURR-fect Previous Posts, perhaps a particular favorite of yours, and re-post it! Then add the TBT badge to your post and include your link below! Purr-fectly easy and simple! Your post doesn't have to be from LOOOONNNGGG ago; it can be from last month or even earlier this week. And if you don't have a post to share, perhaps an old photo or two from WAY BACK will do! Even a favorite pin is PURR-fect! Just join in the Throwback fun!

On Tuesday I blogged about Paragraph a Week, a weekly feature here at The Teacher's Desk 6. The topic that I shared was "February: National Pencil Month." That made me remember a fun little freebie that I received during the month of August 2013. This post first appeared on The Teacher's Desk 6 8/13/13.

I just had to share a great product that I tried this week from Classroom Friendly Supplies, a company owned and operated by a teacher. My pencil sharpener arrived in the mail last Friday and I couldn't wait to try it out! I quickly opened the shipping box and found...

a nicely packaged green (my favorite color) pencil sharpener. OK, nothing extraordinary yet. The next step was to remove it from the box. I found two pieces: the sharpener and a clamp.

I did not want to take the time to use the clamp since my sharpener is intended for my classroom and I am test-driving it at home, so I dived right in. The sharpener has four small grips on its bottom and does not slide on a smooth surface. I figured I could just hold it with my left hand while cranking it with my right.

It took me a moment to figure out that I had to use the levers at the top of the sharpener to allow the pencil in. Once the pencil is in the sharpener, it is held securely by the sharpener itself. You do not need to hold the pencil.  The crank turns easily and stops when the pencil is completely sharpened. Here's where the pencil sharpener gets extraordinary!

Tell me... aren't these the sharpest pencils you've ever seen?

And the sharpener is indeed the quietest one you'll ever use. How do I know? Because the nosiest, most curious cat who comes running at every new sound slept through the entire process of me sharpening my pencils, and she was not four feet away. It will be GREAT to have no pencil sharpener noise in the classroom! I can't wait to show off my new sharpener and have my kiddos try it!

To learn more about this terrific teaching tool and order your own just visit Classroom Friendly Supplies online.

That same pencil sharpener is STILL going strong, all these months later. I've recommended the product to countless colleagues and parents. I was even able to offer one of the sharpeners as a giveaway in the month of November 2013. Since this is the month of my blogiversary, and I had a few little giveaways planned in celebration, I decided to give away a Classroom Friendly Supply sharpener. Just complete the Rafflecopter entries below before Feb. 13, 2015, for a chance to win your very own "World's Quietest BEST Sharpener!"

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I mentioned a few little giveaways that I was hosting this month... There's still time to enter a pin-it-to-win-it giveaway that ends this Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, before 9:00pm EST. Click HERE to read more about how to enter...

Now it's your turn for a THROWBACK!

An InLinkz Link-up

Wordless Wednesday SNOW

I'm joining Miss DeCarbo for her fun weekly linky...

Anyone else over the snow as I am? 

I just cleaned out today's to make room for tonight's! UGH!

Tuesday Writing PaWs: National Pencil Month

When you think of writing, of what do you think? For me, the first thing that comes to mind is paper and pencil. Pencils? Probably the most common of all school tools right? There is nothing that sets my heart a-pitter-patter more than a brand new yellow, sharpened pencil.

Did you know that February is National Pencil Month? In honor of this most notable school tool, this week's Tuesday PaWs is all about the pencil.

Click HERE to download your copy of this Paragraph a Week topic.

Other PaW FREEBIES currently available can be downloaded below.
St. Patrick's Day
Leprechauns
Earth Day
Mother's Day
Finish the Phrase
Nice

Topics soon to appear during the Tuesday Writing PaWs:

Parent Introductory Letter

List of ALL the topics

Journey of a Snowflake

Valentine Memory

Mind-Boggling Monday 2.2.15

So? What's mind-boggling this Monday, Groundhog Day? The weather, for sure!

I am OVER the snow, and sick-to-death of shoveling! I am sure hoping that Punxatawney Phil does not see his shadow today. In fact, I am fairly certain that he won't be able to see it; he probably won't be able to get out of his burrow.

Phil can just stay inside, forget that old shadow, and play a game of Boggle. Here's a Boggle board just for him and for YOU! Just click on the pic and download to your computer. Then project it for your students to try their hand at locating as many hidden words as possible. Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original rules.

If you like playing Boggle with your students but would like to select your own letters, please check out this set of editable Boggle Boards with background themes suitable throughout the school year. Included are 15 boards that are "user friendly" in that they contain no specific holiday clip art only colors and textures suitable for various seasons and holidays. There's even a blank board that you can program both background and letters. You can read more about the packet HERE or by clicking on the pic. I'll be adding more boards to the packet as time goes on. The price will increase with each set of additions, so be sure to grab the set now and you'll be able to download the additions at no extra charge.

Sunday Scoop... Zombie Zania

Can you believe that it is Sunday already? Even though I had an extra day to my weekend (can you say SNOW DAY on Friday?) the weekend seemed to be shorter than ever!!! Here's the Scoop...Sunday Scoop, that is, with the Teaching Trio.

I am just not going to say too much about those dishes that I mentioned above, nor am I going to speak about the nasty weather we are experiencing here in NE Ohio (think: out of sight, out of mind!), but I am going to shout out the return of...

My favorite TV show returns next Sunday...

...combine that mini-fest, with my second blogiversary later this month, and you've got a series of fun giveaways throughout all of February. What better way (in my mind) to start the fun than with a pin-it-to-win-it with all of my Zombie teaching items. My sixers are wild for all things Zombie!

Just visit the product that you would like receive and pin-it! Copy the pin address and post it in a comment below no later than Feb. 8, 2015 at 8:00 PM EST. Like more than one item? Pin-it as well. The more pins you post, the better your chance of winning. Just before the return of "The Walking Dead" I will select a winner at random who will receive the product of his/her choice. Please be sure that I have access to your email address so that I can send you your prize. You may want to check back here during the week as I have two BRAND NEW Zombie products that I will be uploading SOOOOON!

Here are the products currently available for Zombie Zania:

Zombie Snowman Grouping Cards
Zombified Sentences Proofreading Practice
Zombie ZAP Parts of Speech
Zombielicious Valentine Grouping Cards
Zombielicious Love ZAP
Zombie Grouping Cards
Zombie Homework Management System
Zombie ZAP Simple Verb Tenses
Zombie I Have, Who Has Degrees of Adjectives

Updated 2.8.15 And the Winner of Zombie Zania is...

The zombie product that Mrs. Decker won is...

Have a zombielicious time using these task cards!