Sunday Scoop 1.31.16

I'm so glad that you could join me for this Sunday's Scoop.

Be sure to hop over to the Teaching Trio to read more Sunday Scoops shared by teacher bloggers.

It's a great way to spend a Sunday!

Tuesday Writing PaWs 1.26.16

It's good to be back after our quick little break. Hopefully you all enjoyed the new Show and Tell linky that pre-empted the Tuesday Writing PaWs last week. This week's PaW is the thirty-first Paragraph a Week topic shared with you here at The Teacher's Desk 6! I think this week's topic will be perfect for those of you in NE Ohio and all along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. You can download your free topic sheet HERE.

If you are using the Tuesday Writing PaWs topics in your class, I'd love to hear from you. Have the topics impacted your writing class? Has PaW changed the way you teach writing? Please leave a comment below or send an email message to me. I'd like to include your impressions and opinions in an upcoming blog post.

Mind-Boggling and Markdown Monday 1.25.16

It just wouldn't be a Monday without a little boggle. Here's your weekly Boggle board. Just download and project it for you and your students to have a little mind-boggling fun!

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 blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen boggle boards that you can program yourself.

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It also wouldn't be Monday without a little markdown fun. Markdown Monday is a fun little linky hosted by Kelly and Kim's Kindergarten Kreations. Participants select one of their Teachers Pay Teachers products and mark it down so you the buyer can earn substantial savings. 

This week I am marking down one of my most popular products, Editable Punch Cards Monster Theme.

Contained in this packet are 5 pre-programmed punch cards and 5 editable punch cards with 7, 14, or 20 punches. Use the punch cards to track student behavior and provide rewards. When a student performs the behavior you are seeking, punch a space on his/her card. When the student earns a particular number of punches he/she receives a reward.

These punch cards are larger in size than typical ones. They easily fit in a pencil pouch or toolbox and are harder to lose or misplace.

The brag tags referred to on the pre-programmed punch cards are simply small cards with positive messages. Brags tags are a little like trading cards; they are sometimes called behavior beads. Students collect them and store them on a metal ring, cord, or thin chain. They are a visible/concrete symbol of student success and achievement, something a student can brag about. There are several styles of these available on Teachers Pay Teachers with many in my own store. A simple search using “brag tag” or “behavior beads” will lead you to them. A few are even free.

The blank punch cards are editable. You are able to add your own text and graphics and determine your own goals and rewards. Simply use the “insert” feature. Then select “text box” or “picture or clip art.” I have included text boxes on each blank card for you to begin with. You are free to use your choice of font(s) and graphics. However, please be respectful of copyright.

You'll have to  hurry if you want to save on these fun, engaging punch cards because their special markdown price only lasts until this Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. It will then return to its regular price.

Be sure to check out all the other Markdown products over at Kelly and Kim's Kindergarten Kreations. There are always terrific deals to be found each Monday!

Sunday Scoop 1.24.16

It's another Sunday, so it's time for another scoop with the Teaching Trio.

Have a great week, everyone! Be sure to stop by the Teaching Trio to read more Sunday Scoops. It's a great way to spend your day!

Weather in the News

If you live in NE Ohio or NW Pennsylvania the big news is the weather! We've had several days lately that looked like this. As a result we have more than 18 inches of white stuff on the ground (and there are surrounding communities with MUCH more) and have put in three snow days in the past two weeks...sigh! Unfortunately there is MORE to come next week!

It is not all gloominess, however. There are some bright spots and beauty among winter's nastiness.

On my way from the car to the house after school I had to pass under the huge pine tree in my yard. I happened to look up and noticed this unique site... bare branches underneath with snow laden branches on the top. It made me smile; something that rarely happens during our snowy winters.

Something else that makes me smile on snowy winter days is shopping on TpT! There's a great sale going on now through January 21st. Grab some terrific teaching products while gaining great savings. Everything in my store, and many other TpT stores, is marked at 28% off. Just remember to use the special promo code START 16 during checkout. Start Your Year Inspired!

Show and Tell Tuesday

I just loved Show and Tell days when I was in school. I would spend time each week thinking of something that I could bring to school to share with my classmates, and I waited eagerly to see what my friends chose to share. That's why I jumped on the chance to join this BRAND NEW linky hosted by Stephanie from Forever in Fifth Grade.

I have always wanted a document camera. I had begged and begged for one and FINALLY over the summer my school purchased one for me that I was to share with the teacher across the hallway. PROBLEM... I was moved more than six classrooms away over the summer. SIGH... I left the document camera with the other teacher (who has yet to use it... double SIGH).

 BUT... in mid-September we were invited to peruse materials that were being rehoused by a school that had recently closed. JACKPOT... I found a SMART Document Camera in the materials and grabbed it. PROBLEM... There was no power cord. After a long, exhaustive search, one of my parents came through, finding a special adaptor that allowed me to use a power cord that I already had. This past Friday I was able to have a working document camera! YAY! Please ignore the messy desk. I just shoved everything out of the way I was that excited!!!

We LOVE to do STEM activities in Science class. I try to incorporate a STEM activity every other Friday. This is our latest: building a tower with just 15 pipe cleaners. Although the original activity was designed for younger students, a STEM activity is easily adapted for any age. This particular STEM activity introduced constraints, additional problems, as the students were constructing. WHAT FUN! BTW, I had this lesson be my annual observation/evaluation. My principal was quite impressed with the entire process and the learning involved...SCORE!

I made THE BEST dinner the other night! I had some leftover fried chicken that I did not want to go to waste. I also had some sweet potatoes, red potatoes, yellow potatoes, turnips, and carrots that someone had given me. I peeled and chunked the veggies and spread them on a cookie sheet next to the chicken. I drizzled some olive oil on the veggies, then sprinkled some herbs and seasonings (rosemary, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, parsley) on them and popped the whole tray into the oven. An hour later... YUM!

It was SOOOOOO good that I decided to make it again this week, ONLY BETTER! I added onions and green peppers... DOUBLE YUM! If you haven't made veggies like this yet, give it a try!

My Show and Tell just would not be complete without a picture of at least one of my fuzz girls.

Miss Daisy, my nearly 17 year old Tabby, is thoroughly spoiled. Here she has appropriated my BRAND NEW throw (I happened to drop it when I went out to check how dinner was cooking). Daisy NEVER sits on the floor. She is the princess of the house who always sits regally on the couch, in my chair, or on my lap. So, why is she on the floor for the FIRST time? Not just because of the new throw, oh no! What you can't see is that she is directly in front of the couch. I recently purchased a furnace vent extender that allows the hot air to pass under the couch and out into the room. Smarty Miss Daisy discovered the heat and has now claimed this spot as HERS. Her poor sissy, LuluBelle, is not permitted to sit there. BTW, the new throw is permanently in front of the couch on the floor always ready for Miss Daisy.

Be sure to stop by Forever in Fifth Grade to see more Show and Tell posts.

Better yet, why not join in the party and do a little Show and Tell yourself!

Something else to stop by is my TpT Store tomorrow and Thursday where everything (yes, even my already low priced bundles) will be on sale. Start Your Year Inspired! Just be sure to use the special promo code START16 during checkout to earn those extra special savings!

Mind Boggling Monday and a Remarkable Week!

Today my mind is boggled by a remarkable week ahead!

What makes this week remarkable?

*Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day... We have the day off in honor of this remarkable American.
*There is a Lake Effect Snow Warning in effect through Tuesday afternoon in fear of remarkable weather and expectation of snow day(s). This is the current view from my back window.

*TpT is throwing a huge sale on Wednesday and Thursday so we all can earn remarkable savings! I've got my cart loaded and ready to go, HOWEVER... I just discovered a great linky over at Mrs. Mc's Place that is featuring the BEST TpT products. Head on over with me to check out some new materials... just in time for the Start Your Year Inspired Sale!

What to do with this boggled mind? Play a little boggle! Here's a fun boggle board to share with your students. Just download the game board and project it for all 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 blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen boggle boards that will be on sale at a remarkably low price on Wednesday and Thursday!

Have a REMARKABLE week, Everyone!

Sunday Scoop 1.17.16

Another Sunday has rolled around so it is time for...

Here's my scoop for this week...

Be sure to stop by the Teaching Trio to read all the fun Sunday Scoop blog posts!

UPDATE: I REALLY, REALLY tried to work on my TpT products, but this is what happens EVERY TIME, up in my lap they climb! How can I resist these beautiful girls?

Out of This World Tuesday Writing PaWs

This week's writing prompt for the Tuesday Writing PaWs is out of this world! You can download your Paragraph a Week topic sheet HERE.

If you are using the Tuesday Writing PaWs topics in your class, I'd love to hear from you. Have the topics impacted your writing class? Has PaW changed the way you teach writing? Please leave a comment below or send an email message to me. I'd like to include your impressions and opinions in an upcoming blog post.

Please note: The Tuesday Writing PaWs will be on hiatus the third Tuesday of each month. I will be joining a BRAND NEW linky party: "SHOW AND TELL" hosted by Stephanie from Forever in Fifth Grade. I hope you will join us for this fun new venture.

Mind Boggling Markdown Monday 1.11.16

Are you ready for some mind-boggling fun? Then play a little boggle with your students and earn substantial savings at the same time.

Just download the boggle board and display it for your students to see.

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 blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen boggle boards at an especially low price in honor of Markdown Monday hosted by Kelly and Kim's Kindergarten Kreations... but hurry since this special discount price is only good until Friday, Jan. 15th.