Let's Salute the Week!!

I just realized that I haven't posted in almost a week on this blog.  That is not a good thing, I have so much that would like to share with you all.  My mind has been going a mile a minute and then some!!

As you can see,  this is my dream job, my job that provides a paycheck is well, is.  I will be evaluated tomorrow.  Deep Breath!!!

Educational News:

There is a lot of news in the world!  President Trump has been moving very fast!

Business News:

My TeacherPayTeachers store will open at the end of March.  My facebook group will be beginning around than too

Everyone have a great week!!!

Let's Salute this Week

This is a new week.

I read three books this weekend and one of them was By John Maxwell . He discussed how we must learn from our fallers and keep on keeping on.  I have been experiencing failure in all of my careers since I have moved here.  Those failures have always been someone else's faults.  No matter what I was not to blame.

Great philosophy if it's true, most of our failures are our fault.  Some our are 100% our fault.  I have come to realize my issues are the result of fear, lack of faith and diligence.

Change does not come in a day, it comes in years.  Satan wants us to fail and fail again.  That is why when you are making gains he hits you hard.  He hits you through all aspects of your life, through your children, family, jog, money.

It won't be easy, but the next five years will b interesting!

Merry Christmas, Dear Dragon (Beginning-To-Read) Kindle Edition by Margaret Hillert and Jack Pullan

Synopsis

A boy and his pet dragon enjoy winter activities and prepare for a very merry Christmas. This book uses high frequency words and repetition, within the book so that the readers gain confidence as they read the book.  The student really enjoy the every day experiences with a boy and his imaginary pet dragon. There are educator resources which include reading reinforcement activities and a word list in the back. The activities focus on foundational, language and reading skills, in addition, the resources include phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. There are teacher notes available on publisher's website which will help with the lesson planning and small groups.

Summary and rating of 4.7

This series was first introduced to me in 2014.  It was one of the first books I reviewed and I have really enjoyed them.  I have read them to my students who have really enjoyed them.  The illustration, text and addition pop up words are really wonderful.  I highly recommend this book. 

This ARC has been given to me by Norwood House Press via Netgalley

Just a Normal Tuesday Hardcover by Kim Turrisi

Synopsis

What begins as just a normal Tuesday becomes a day that will shatter sixteen-year-old Kai's life,  Jen has committed suicide.

Kai is heartbroken and furious and life getting worse; That's when her parents shock her: they're sending her to the Tree House, a summer camp for grieving teens.

Just a Normal Tuesday offers a road map for anyone who has been touched by loss and anyone who is looking for hope in a broken world. 

Summary and rating of 4.7

Middle school teachers will like this book as a way to introduce and discuss suicide and all of its ramifications.  The reality of suicide is heartbreaking for everyone connected, this book will deal with this a topic starter.

This ARC has been given to me by Kids Can Press via Netgalley

Spork by Kyo Maclear, Isabelle Arsenault

Synopsis

Spork is half spoon and half fork, as a result he feel as if he doesn’t quite being on the silverware drawer. One day, a baby arrived and there wasn’t a utensil for him to be fed with, but the spork turned out to be just what he needed to be fed.  The story relates to the positve portrayal of “mixed-race” character, which is so wonderful. 

Summary and rating of 4.5

The great use of words to provide a great storytelling experience, with the mixed-media illustrations which bring the readers into the story.  This book provides teachers and parents with a great conversation start on topics of race, difference, and acceptance.  This would be a great book to use during the African American and Mexican American month.  This is a Kindle Edition.

This ARC has been given to me by Kids Can Press via Netgalley

Happy Valentine's Day

Let's salute the week,!

The road has been bumpy and painful

The true enemy has been busy at work.

Forgiveness is the only way out.

How do you forgive?  When it hurts.

Thy will be done.

Forgive us our debts 

As 

We forgive those debts against us

That is why I like technology, things can be erased so quickly and completely, until it can't. Don't let Satan burn your soul Be obediant and let your gifts from God shine!

Book Review: Animals Do, Too!: How They Behave Just Like You by Etta Kaner and Marylin Faucher

Synopsis

This visual aspects (aka the illustrations) of this nonfiction book, even in the ebook, are wonderful! The text and illustrations are wonderfully connected through a rhythmic question and answer format in the book. In addition to the comparison between the animals and how we handle our family.

  

Summary and rating of 4.5

Wonderful! Wonderful!  This was a really good book and a great mentor book to illustrate rhythm and comparison to the students.  I think that teachers will have a wonderful time with this book. 

This ARC has been given to me by Kids Can Press via Netgalley

Let's Salute the Week!

Well, we finally had a our first full week of school with the students and I had to take a half day off.  I though how much easier it would be if I could have had everything on video for my students and subs.  The good news I am a lot closer than I was yesterday.  Next week I will discuss it with you!

Procrastination

I have look at my most visited sites.  They include:

• Amazon
• Home! Daily Mail Online
• TMZ.com Celebrity Gossip
• Facebook
• Find Titles/NetGalley
• News/People.com

None of the "most visited sites" do not include an educational site or educational technology site.  I must admit I wasn't surprised to see those sites. They are one that all I have to do is enter the first letter and the rest of the site comes up. I will say that none of these sites have an app on my tablet's home screen 

My word is Diligent.  I will be diligent because I want to be a Google trainer and Apple Distinguished Educator.  This will happen!

Show Me Interactive Whiteboard

That is all there is to it if I am going to continue to work as mild moderate and multi intensive teacher, I need to have a least one more teacher to work with me. As a result, I will be starting with an app that I had used in the past when I decided to leave for four days and go to a convention. Sh. . . I didn’t tell the administration, I just took time off.

The app is called Show Me Interactive Whiteboard by Learnbat, Inc.  It worked well!  Also, to writing out what I wanted to accomplish, I was able to complete a video and attach them to the lesson.  I will be doing that this time as well. The only problem that I am running into is that the I need to figure out how to show it onto the smart board.

This post is not a sponsored post; I am not receiving any compensation for the app or its promotion.  I just like the app.  Here is a link to the website:  http://www.showme.com/

Show Me Interactive Whiteboard is fantastic.  I don’t remember if I paid for the ShowMe app because it was an app I was trying out for the company.  However, at this point, if you want all of the features it costs $5.99 a month, but to get it initially, it is a free app and does give you a lot of features.  ShowMe allows you to record voice-over whiteboard tutorials and share them online. It’s an amazingly simple app that anyone can use, no matter how young or old!

The app was great in setting up a class lesson for the students while I was gone.  The substitute provided information for her when she was unsure about how to process an experience for the students.  She would put the iPad on the table for the student to watch, while she had the materials in place.  Also, I recorded the routines and rituals for the classroom and a complete set up for the classroom management system.

What I liked was that I could easily edit the material on the app.  After I returned I update the class lists, the classroom management, the individual behavioral plans and the lessons as they progressed. I also used the app for centers and other small groups when the paras were absent.

All in all, I like the app and use it regularly.  I do encourage its use.  Finally, I have never paid for the upgrade, not that I remember but for those of you who have larger iPads it might be something to consider.