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Sharing strategies for student success, college readiness and academic coaching

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Wanted: Happy Teachers

For all the amazing educators who help make the world happy! It’s about that “Back-to-School” time around here and…

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The energy we bring to the classroom makes a profound difference on our students and their learning outcomes. The brain “at positive” is 31% more productive than at negative, neutral, or stressed.

What can you do to be a Happy Teacher? I write, share ideas with colleagues, and mentor as ways to stay focused. I also employ “playful learning” strategies, because a place of learning needs to be welcoming and inspiring. Oh, and don’t forget to smile, laugh, and share a little bit about yourself with your students.

How about you? Can you share one idea in the comments for being a “Happy Teacher?” Post your suggestions, tips, and hints here, please. Merci!

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Food for Thought: Harper Lee, on the Power of Books

Always~

"The Book to Read is not the one that Thinks for you but the One which Makes you Think." ~Harper Lee | College Ready

“People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.”~To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

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On Teaching a Love of Reading.

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On Teaching a Love of Reading.

“We shouldn’t teach great books; we should teach a love of reading.” B. F. Skinner

This is my truth…always has been. Always will be.

AND, it’s why my son, in 2nd grade, read the entire Captain Underpants series. Even though the school library wouldn’t stock the books, (something about the word booger and/or atomic wedgie in every title, I guess). Even with a mom with an MA in American Literature. Yep. I encouraged him. Heck, I even bought ’em for him!

Because when you want to read…when you love to read…when you can’t wait to turn that next page to see what comes next…You Read.

And that’s all that matters, in the end. The reading.

B.F. Skinner had it right!

           Teach a love of Reading.

                  Amen & hallelujah.

Oh, and PS: Full disclosure–I had to look up the correct spelling of “booger.” Guess it’s been too long since I have read a Dav Pilkey EPIC novel! 🙂

So, tell us…how do you make sure your students or your children want to read? Are there books they would read again and again? Books they love but you hate? We’d love to hear from you in the comments. 

Sept. 2014 Postscript since this post was originally published: Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series has claimed the top spot on the Most Frequently Banned Books list for two years in a row, 2012 and 2013. All the more reason to live dangerously…read!

Feel free to follow me here, or on Facebook, Tumblr or Pinterest, for more short but sweet posts, freebies, teaching ideas and fun images about literacy, reading and education, with a side serving of inspiration. Because we could all use a little more inspiration. Right? Right!

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Checklist: 10 Ways to Make it a Super Saturday that are Good for the Soul

A quick and easy “Checklist for a Lovely Day.” And, I agree with almost all 10 on this list…

How to have a lovely day...

I have a little bit of an issue with “Wear Perfume.” Smelling nice is great, but I would replace that one with “Drink Coffee,” or even, “Read a Book”!

But perfume is ok, too..I suppose!! How about you…what is on your checklist titled Nice Day?


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“It’s Like My Whole World is Coming Undone, but When I Write, my Pencil is a Needle and Thread, and I’m Stitching the Scraps Back Together.” –Julia Alvarez


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Wise Words: Be You

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5 Ways to Have a GOOD Mornin’

Improve your Morning! Hint, just add coffee. Problem solved, right?! Ha!

Ok, we all know the benefits of the mornin’ cup o’ joe! Here are some suggestions beyond coffee to add to the mix:

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One of my go-to ways to improve my morning is by waking up earlier than everyone else in the house.  It is so quiet and peaceful. So mornings, it even gives me the chance to watch the sunrise while I drink my coffee.

That quiet time–whether it’s 30 minutes, or even 5–really gives me the opportunity to get focused for the day. I end up feeling relaxed and ready to tackle the challenges of the morning routine–whether it’s prepping kid lunches, hectic school drop-offs, or taming an unwieldy stack of essays that need grading!

Is your a.m. routine listed here, or do you have some other suggestions for making the most of your morning? What helps you wake up with a smile on your face?

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Weekend Wise Words: Think Outside

It’s Friday. Time to unplug and recharge.

Hope you’re able to enjoy some time outside this weekend.

Thinking: Optional.    Relaxing: Mandatory.

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There are a lot of amazing hiking trails nearby where I go to reconnect and recharge. The great outdoors requires very little of us, other than showing up. I feel a little lighter and stay in the moment a little longer when I’m among the trees & sunshine.

How about you? Does nature help you feel replenished & refreshed? What’s your favorite way to recharge on the weekends?


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Books, Bedtime and Beyond: Why Family Reading Rocks

Even MORE reasons to read to a child. Reading aloud “builds a child’s WANT to read.” Think your kiddo is too old for you to read to them at bedtime? Think again. Check out the difference in a child’s interest in reading between Kindergarten and Fourth Grade! What was the key difference? Parents stopped reading to kids.

By 12th grade-only 19% of kids asked said they were interested in reading! When you consider that higher levels of college readiness are linked to reading skills, I have just one word for that statistic: Noooooooo….but what can you do about it?

One thing our family started last summer was family reading time. We picked a classic-The Wind in the Willows-and each of us would read a few pages at a time. We read it together each night and enjoyed the simplicity of the words, the comfort of the timeless message and the beauty of the illustrations. Yes, even my Minecraft lovin’ middle school boy unplugged long enough to take part! He loved doing accents and really cracked up at Toad’s antics. So get silly, have fun, and share the joy of reading at any age!! What types of family reading do you do with your kids?

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This beautiful infographic was produced by usborneusa.com and Nancy Ann Wartman

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11 Ways to Do a Random Act of Kindness This Summer

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11 Ways to Do a Random Act of Kindness This Summer

OK, you got me!! There are only 10 items on the list. The 11th one is up to you! What ideas do you have for performing a Random Act of Kindness this summer? May I suggest “Read to a Child“? It is simple, costs nothing but a little bit of your time, and can make all the difference in the world.

But, hey, anything you do is gonna make you feel all warm & fuzzy inside…so, go for it…

Start a Kindness Chain…

Because once you start it…kindness ripples out like water in a pond, spreading farther and farther. And that’s 100% scientific fact. Yep, I swear!! Kindness is contagious!

So what’s YOUR #11?? Let’s add some ideas to this list. Add your suggestions here. Thanks! 🙂