DaVinci’s Classroom presents the Virtual Classroom
Submit your images here and we’ll share with zillions of educators.
We’re checking out the hallways for bulletin board ideas. The bulletin boards double as art and writing assignments. Send your images to terri@devokids.com
Who’s in the barn?
Mr. Big Fish
Spring Flower Stories
Thank you, Peggy, for contributing to DaVinci’s Classroom!
Submissions: terri@devokids.com
DaVinci’s Classroom presents the Virtual Classroom.
Today we’re meandering through the hallways for bulletin board ideas.
If you’d like to submit your classroom images, please send submissions to terri@devokids.com
When I grow up . . .
Beary Good Writing
Paper plate frogs and ducks
April Showers
Cloudy With A Chance . . .
Buy A Boy A Book On Valentine’s Day!
Participate in our “Buy A Boy A Book On Valentine’s Day!” campaign and spur their imagination.
Create within them a desire to read and set sail for a life of adventure, wherever that journey may take them.
Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones is a full time freelance writer and author of five non-fiction books, one young adult novel, and an adult romantic comedy. He has written over one hundred articles that have appeared in 20 different publications. He serves as Acquisition Editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and is a contributing writer for CBN.com, Christian Devotions Ministries, Living Aboard Magazine, The Ocracoke Observer, and Carolina Currents.
He has taught writing classes from Pennsylvania and the Carolinas to Colorado. As a book consultant, he has helped clients place completed projects with literary agents, book publishers, and magazine editors. Eddie has a keen eye for evaluating manuscripts and can advise clients on the marketability of their work.
Telling Tidal Tales
I’m a boat swab at heart, and a thief and liar when honest work proves unprofitable. This is why when my boys were little (and by this I mean we could still feed them without maxing-out our credit cards at the grocery store or causing a world-wide food shortage) I’d tell them pirate stories on our sailboat. I no longer have a sailboat. What I have instead are two boys in college. This is way better than a boat because unlike owning a boat, college tuition payments end—if not upon graduation then when the free frat parties stop. Boat alimony, on the other hand, goes on forever. I’m sure in some way, Noah is still paying on the Ark. B.O.A.T., by the way, means: “Break Out Another Thousand.” But if you’ve ever owned a boat you know this.
Anyway, at night, before I’d tuck my small boys into their bunks (a storage locker where we kept the anchor), we’d sit on the bow of our sailboat and I’d make up stuff. Today I do this as a writer but editors have shorter attention spans than my tiny tots. At least that’s what my agent says. So I’d tell these tidal tales and the hero of the story was this guy named Captain Stinky Foot. Captain Stinky Foot was named after my youngest son. If you’ve ever spent any time on a boat in August with a crew of unwashed young males then this needs no further explanation.
Telling pirate stories came naturally to me. I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of boys snatched away from London and Bristol and forced to serve before the mast. Seems to me life at sea was more fun than peeling potatoes. And more dangerous.
I’d use whatever props I could spy from the bow—a channel marker, boat fender, or crab pot—and I’d work it into the story. A few times every year my boy’s school would invite me in to tell pirate stories. My talks followed a predictable pattern. The teacher would ask everyone to sit quietly and listen, but know how it is with kids. There’s always some smart aleck who insists on cutting up. The teacher would interrupt, scowl and eventually nod for me to continue. Almost immediately, she’d have to stop me again: this time raising her voice. By the third time I knew she meant business. I also knew I’d get sent to the principle’s office if I didn’t straighten up.
Now, when I’m asked to describe The Curse of Captain LaFoote, I explain that it’s a pirate tale awash in buried treasure, romance and dead men’s bones. The truth is, this book and the ones that follow in the Caribbean Chronicle series are love stories. Ricky Bradshaw, the hero of the book, the story is a quest to find his soul mate and manhood. There are a lot of other deep and important themes explored in the book too.
There are a lot of other deep and important themes explored in The Curse of Captain LaFoote. Things like what the poop deck is and why cruise ships no longer use them, the secrets inside Davy Jones’ locker, and why you shouldn’t walk downwind of a pirate who’s just eaten turtle soup.
Seriously, my main goals in writing this book was to spur the imagination of young readers. Boys especially.
According to KidSay Market Researchers, teen and tween online video and virtual gaming increased from 65% in 2007 to 91% in 2010. I’m a writer, not a math whiz, so I have no idea what those numbers mean but they sound really scary. So part of my goal is to give boys a compelling story they can fall into. I want to create within them a desire to read and set sail for a life of adventure, wherever that journey may take them. Even now I can see Ricky standing on the sugar-white sands of that island just south of Hispaniola. I am that boy. And so are a lot of other boys.
As part of our Buy A Boy A Book! Campaign we are encouraging parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, Oprah and the President of the United States to buy a book and give it to a boy. That’s right. We want you to give a book as a gift.
We’ve test marketed this concept and our research shows most boys, given the choice between reading a book and visiting the dentist, will run away from home. But as a responsible adult you know dental hygiene is key to a happy mouth. Think of this book as dental floss for the mind.
Reading is key to learning. Learning increases a young boy’s chances of gaining admission to college, earning a degree, landing a job and pursuing the American Dream.
Please, won’t you give a boy a chance to dream? Boy A Boy A Book On Valentine’s Day!
Print Edition $9.95
Kindle eBook $2.99
Social networking has changed the way young people communicate. Can we keep books in ìtheirî loop? According to KidSay Market Researchers, Facebook is now the favorite website among tween (8-11) boys and teen (12-15) girls. Over 90% of tween boys and girls play games online. Could a pirate tale be the perfect antidote to the adolescent blank-stare fascination with video games?
http://bit.ly/fscQrN
Young Adult Pirate Author Seeks to Raise $10,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation
Raleigh, NC— Social networking has changed the way young people communicate. Can we keep books in “their” loop? According to KidSay Market Researchers, Facebook is now the favorite website among tween (8-11) boys and teen (12-15) girls. Over 90% of tween boys and girls play games online. Could a pirate tale be the perfect antidote to the adolescent blank-stare fascination with video games?
“My goal in writing this book was to spur the imagination of young readers. Boys especially,” says Young Adult author, Eddie Jones. “I wanted to create within them a desire to read and set sail for a life of adventure on the high seas.” Note: Eddie sails and surfs and sometimes works. “I also want to help kids (and adults) who suffer with epilepsy. My goal is to raise $10,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation in honor of Ricky Bradshaw, the hero of the book.” (Ricky suffers from epilepsy.) “For each book sold, the publisher will donate a few pieces of eight—half a sandy dollar—to the Epilepsy Foundation.”
Jones says, regardless of how well the book sells, if it helps others become “Seizure Smart!” and raises money to fight epilepsy, it’s a success.
About the Book
RICKY BRADSHAW has never sailed the Caribbean Sea, searched for buried treasure or battled pirates on the deck of a Spanish Galleon. He’s never fallen through the floor of Davy Jones’ locker or watched an old fisherman morph into a porpoise. All Ricky knows is his lonely life with his widowed mom in a tiny apartment overlooking a marina on the Chesapeake Bay. But all that changes on a snowy Christmas Eve when Ricky’s apartment building burns down and he falls into the chilly waters while trying to save a dog with shrimp breath. Suddenly Ricky finds himself thrust into a world where there is surprising beauty on every island, danger around every corner and great honor and glory ahead of him… if only Ricky can summon the courage to survive the curse of Captain LaFoote.
About the Author
Eddie Jones is a full time freelance writer and author of five non-fiction books, one young adult novel, and one adult romantic comedy. He sails, surfs and freely admits: “I’m a boat swab at heart and thief and liar when honest work proves unprofitable.”
A Young Adult / Tween novel, Rated PG13
eBook ISBN – 978-1-935600-05-3 Available in Kindle
Print ISBN – 978-1-935600-04-6 Available on February 14, 2011
Reviewers say:
“Eddie Jones has 15-year-old angst down to a science with his warm and witty style of writing.” – James Watkins.
“The Curse of Captain LaFoote is the perfect fix for some swashbuckling fun! Eddie Jones brings his time-travel pirate adventure to life with humor, adventure and thoughtful moments that boys will enjoy and their parents will appreciate!” – Christopher P. N. Maselli.
“The Curse of Captain LaFoote by Eddie Jones is a rollicking adventure filled with humor, mystery and the sea.” – Doris Fisher.
“This imaginative, Caribbean adventure and colorful characters will hook readers and take them for a tremendous ride! Eddie laced courage, bravery and a tad of romance together for a fresh and fun read!” – Jill Roman Lord.
“Fresh funny fantasy…a book young readers are sure to enjoy.” – Max Elliot Anderson.
“Teaser Chapters leave you wanting more! Quite a beginning for the troubled teenage kid. This is a must buy…” “Jones intertwines the foundation of good characters into a cleverly written storyline. Middle school kids will drop quickly into the life of Ricky Bradshaw and relate to the situations and antics he’s thrown into…” “I laughed and sped my way through this book. Great characters and a wacky adventure with a wonderfully dry sense of humor.”
www. CaptainLaFoote.com
www.EddieJones.org
www.WritersCoach.us
Follow Eddie on Facebook
Become a Facebook Fan of the Caribbean Chronicles series. Learn more about The Curse of Captain LaFoote at www.captainlafoote.com. If you’re a teacher, home school parent, or young lad or lass who loves adventure and romance, contact us. Maybe we can speak to your school or group.
Apply to be a pirate! Weíre also lookiní fer crew to sail aboard the Black Avenger in our next novel, Dead Calm, Bone Dry. No experience required. Weíll teach ya how ter talk like a pirate, sail like a crusty seaman and steal from the devil. We may even invite ya to go treasure hunting with us on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Join our crew for a chance to win prizes AND (maybe) be a lead character (or a dead one) in our next book.
Follow Eddie on Twitter
Listen to Eddie on He Said, She Said Radio.
Read Eddie’s Blog Here you’ll read the “un-edited” thoughts and prose that prompt Eddie’s novels, devotions and humorous boating columns.
Send Eddie an email: aground@mindspring.com
www.captainlafoote.com/category/book-tour/
If you drowned and the sea spit you out, thrusting you back into an age of pirates, buried treasure and beauty beyond beliefÖ would you stay?
www. CaptainLaFoote.com
www.EddieJones.org
www.WritersCoach.us
Follow Eddie on Facebook
Become a Facebook Fan of the Caribbean Chronicles series. Learn more about The Curse of Captain LaFoote at www.captainlafoote.com. If you’re a teacher, home school parent, or young lad or lass who loves adventure and romance, contact us. Maybe we can speak to your school or group.
Apply to be a pirate! Weíre also lookiní fer crew to sail aboard the Black Avenger in our next novel, Dead Calm, Bone Dry. No experience required. Weíll teach ya how ter talk like a pirate, sail like a crusty seaman and steal from the devil. We may even invite ya to go treasure hunting with us on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Join our crew for a chance to win prizes AND (maybe) be a lead character (or a dead one) in our next book.
Follow Eddie on Twitter
Listen to Eddie on He Said, She Said Radio.
Read Eddie’s Blog Here you’ll read the “un-edited” thoughts and prose that prompt Eddie’s novels, devotions and humorous boating columns.
Send Eddie an email: aground@mindspring.com
Writing Conference for Children's Writers
February 18-19, 2011
Tigerville, SC
Hurry and register!
If you’re looking for inspiration for Valentine’s decorations, Julie submitted these photos.
Many thanks to Julie in South Carolina for contributing to DaVinci’s Virtual Classroom.
Please contribute your classroom or homeschool digital images to terri@devokids.com.
This site offers…
A virtual classroom: Teachers around the country are submitting classroom photos. DaVinci’s Classroom is your go-to place to visit each other classrooms for organization ideas, decorating ideas, activities, and more. Submit your photos or ideas to terri@devokids.com.
Teacher Tips: Management for the Elementary Classroom and a few lesson plans sprinkled in for flavor. Scroll to the comment section and write to me: tell me what you’re looking for in education. DaVinci’s Classroom is here to serve you as a educator, as a homeschool teacher, as a mom with children any age!
Bulletin Board: Woman to Woman Information and mom to mom. What do you want to talk about? Let me know.
Writer’s Resources: Writer’s may guest blog by contacting terri@devokids.com.
COMING SOON: DaVinci’s Classroom will soon be offering advertising and product recommendations, after the blog is updated. If you would like to buy advertising space in 2011, please contact terri@devokids.com.
Computers and Time
Does a computer save time? As a teacher, I consider the value of my time vs. the value of the product. I’m convinced not everything has to be a computer generated product.
Letters to parents: Which can you produce faster–handwritten or typed? My daughter’s fourth grade teacher hand wrote a letter for parents every Friday. Endearing. The mom in me loved the handwritten letters, but the teacher in me can type faster.
Class Lists: Class lists are a necessity and thank-you to computers for making this task neat, quick and useful . Type student’s names; keep a fresh stack handy for yourself, for substitutes and for specialists who appreciate the organization.
Worksheets: Try creating a worksheet by hand first. Then, if the activity proves effective, convert it on the computer.
Lesson Plans: I’ve tried it both ways–hand written in a plan book and computer generated sheets. It’s a draw: creating computer lesson plans is all-consuming at first, but later saves time.
LESSON: UTILIZE COMPUTERS TO SUPPORT YOUR WORKLOAD, NOT INCREASE IT.
Question: How do you effectively manage computers and time? Please share a comment.
Our Desk, Our Throne
Teachers, do you like your desk? When I see a teacher sitting at their desk, sitting up their throne, I wonder, “Does she/he stay there all day?”
Most teachers don’t sit at their desk all day. I know my diploma doesn’t say, “Thou hast earned the right to sit all day.”
Our best teaching includes moving. As we circulate among the children, we’ll observe our student’s needs. When I see a teacher mobile, I think–committed, interested, and professional. (In seventeen years of teaching, I never sat at my desk, not once. Okay, okay ….I exaggerate.)
There are exceptions. Tired? Use a student’s chair to travel throughout the classroom. Sick? Working anyway? (Bless you.) You can stay at your desk.
LESSON: MOVE AROUND THE ROOM TO WORK WITH YOUR STUDENTS.
Question: If we rule like a monarchy, will we produce anarchy?
To Laminate or Not to Laminate…?
Teachers produce bulletin boards, educational materials, and organizational systems in addition to a full day of teaching, planning, and grading. How can we prevent the time-consuming, cut-n-paste jobs year after year? Laminate.
Laminate everything.
Wait… Are students wearing sungalsses? Seriously, the laminate glares and the wonderful, functional bulletin board may produce squinting and blinking students. Squat to their level, survey the classroom, and if you need sunglasses, consider slowing downing on the laminate.
LESSON: Laminate less.
Question: How have you learned to preserve teacher made products?
Chewing Gum Writing Lesson
Teachers: Would you like a copy of this writing lesson? Adapt the Chewing Gum Lesson for any subject, any grade. In the picture, I taught report writing to a sixth grade history class. Please share this site with five teachers (be sure they open it), and I’ll send you a copy of the lesson. Just comment below, include your email, and I’ll send it as an attachment. Thanks!
Clap patterns during transitions to grab students’ attention. (I’m trying to figure out how to demonstrate this for you. Hm-m.) The students respond by clapping the pattern back, their attention captured pass on the verbal directions.
Jill, a home school mother, is concerned. Of her three children, one exhibits hesitancy with math problems and often changes her answers.
My suggestions to boost her math confidence:
1. Use natural objects as counters: rocks, leaves, sticks
Resource: Barbara Meister Vitale
2. Choose specific objectives for a math lesson and allow your child to teach.
3. Teach math as sets with straws (or other objects) grouped by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s and 10’s. Allow her to use counters to help her figure or check her answers.
4. Games. Games. Games. Marcy Cook is an excellent resource. http://www.marcycookmath.com/
5. Connect and integrate math with subjects he/she loves: science, cooking, history.
6. Collect menus from local restaurants and create math activities from the menu.
7. Practice math with real money then write the problems on paper.
8. Learn what your child is thinking. To understand the thinking behind your child’s approach to computation, observe as she works on math. Let her know you want to ask questions. The answers provide valuable insight into her individual learning approach.
Why do you think the answer is __?
Why did you change your mind?
9. Excellent resource: Grayson Wheatley, Coming to Know Number and Quick Draw
Wheatley uses cards with black dots similar to dominoes. Flash the card and let your child shout out the number. “Shift student’s thinking to collections.” Grayson Wheatley
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/people/65
http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ14l
Enjoy teaching.
Writers and teachers of writing: read the links to learn the more about the writing craft. Excellent information on each site.
http://www.noveljourney.blogspot.com/
http://www.wannabepublished.blogspot.com/
http://www.vondaskelton.com/
http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/
http://www.christiandevotions.us/ Their blogtalk radio interviews writers.
Reading and writing go together like peanut butter and jelly.
What are you reading? Let’s share.
I just finished reading:
The Shack by William Young Yes, I’ll join the chorus and say: It’s worth reading.
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer My daughter read the enitre saga in one gulp. I felt left out until I discovered ”who in the world is Edward?” I’m still digesting this one.
The Sovereign’s Daughter by Susan Warren & Susan Downs This is excellent–read it.
Currently reading
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
A Light in the Window by Jan Karon
And…this is what I look like if I don’t have a good book to read. “I WILL NOT SIT DOWN UNTIL YOU GIVE ME MY BOOK.”
What are your latests reads?
Curl up with a good book this weekend.
From your friend,
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Picture: The Vintage Moth
Integrate: Dental Health Month and Valentine’s Day Activity
Writing Prompt
The boy wiggled his tooth. He hoped the Tooth Fairy read the letter he wrote. He hoped his tooth came out in time.
What was his wish? For Valentines Day, he wished to give his first tooth to his Granny. You see, Granny munched away on her chocolate chip cookie, but crack. When Granny looked in the mirror, she realized the pecans in the cookie included the shell. Instead of crunching a cookie, the cookie crunched her tooth.
ACTIVITY
Assign your class to write the letter to the Tooth Fairy.
Expand this lesson to teach letter writing, creative writing, dental health, tooth identification, and the care, love, and respect of grandparents or elderly. (Visit a retirement home.)
This is a “seed idea” for you teachers. You’re brilliant, creative, and smart, so take this idea as an inspiration to create a unique lesson. I’d love to know what you did. Please comment back and share your activities. Look at the bottom of this post and in teeny, tiny letters you should see: Comment. CLICK the word and a box pops open. PLEASE WRITE TO ME.
NOTE: This is a true story with the circumstances changed. My son wants to give his first loose tooth to his Grandmother who happened to break a tooth during Thanksgiving. (And her tooth is fixed by now.) Of course, he wanted Santa’s help to arrange the tooth exchange. Isn’t it sweet? True stories are charming.
Yours truly,
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Bulletin Boards
Do you have a million to cover? Keep these thoughts in mind to save time.
1. Functional boards —math board, calendar, and schedules. Functional boards support your teaching and change little during the year.
2. Art boards– cover with kids work. Isn’t student art the best anyway? It’s what everybody wants to see. Cover with pictures by all the little artist in your room.
Utilize the boards to work for you, so you aren’t working extra hours coloring and cutting pictures to cover a board.
Look at this bulletin board. The teacher sketched the pond and the students filled in with sponge paint. Easy and cute. The class is studying the pond, so later the children will add pond stories to their bulletin board.
Keep reading–you have two tips today! My gift to you just because it’s Monday.
Here’s a quick idea for you to throw together in the spirit of: THE DAY AFTER THE SUPER BOWL
Here’s your tip: The kids might be sleepy with all the Super Bowl Hoopla. (Or maybe you….). Add something fun to the day: music, interesting worksheets, or role-play a lesson instead of a hum-drum worksheet, or serve refreshments (leftover Super bowl party food…)
If you’re more inspired to work on a new activity than watch the Super bowl, here’s a quick idea for tomorrow morning. (Adapted Mailbox Magazine, Oct./Nov. 1987)
Materials: Do you happen to have any football gear sitting around the house? Great! Grab two each: jersey, helmet, and jeans. No football gear, no problem: draw your outfit on brown grocery bags and cover a t-shirt. (Avoid perfectionism.)
Activities
Goal: Stuff a football player
Divide class into 2 teams.
Each teams chooses a position for the “football player”
Offensive Players: quarterback, receiver, center, guard, tackle, end, full-back, tailback, wide-receiver, kicker
Defensive Team: Nose guard, tackle, defensive end, middle linebackers, outside linebacker, defensive back, corner back, safety
Line the two teams up in relay teams. One player on each team positions the football gear as each player runs up to stuff the outfit with newspaper. The teams are racing to see who can stuff their football player first.
(You may need to connect the shirt to the jeans with safety pins yourself.)
Now, wasn’t that fun?! (Keep those kids quiet so the teacher next door doesn’t get mad at you.)
Assignment: Write a story about your football player
Goal: review capitalization
Students cut out words and sort into helmets: capitals or lowercase. You could also make a list of words on index cards. (Be sure and write all words in lowercase.)
I know how creative you are and I’ll just bet you’ve thought of several variations for each of these activities. Go for it—you are super!
Luv,
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Student Desks: Call their desk an ”office”. Personalize the office according to the individual needs of each student. Does the child need a schedule posted on their desk? Does he/she need a privacy mat (laminated file folder)? Ear plugs? Extra activities? Provide whatever the child needs to work efficiently.
SPELLING
-fun ways to practice words-
Be sure your child says the letters out loud as they…
bounce a ball saying a letter with each bounce
“write” the letters on palm of hand with a finger
trace the letters in the air saying them outloud
write the letters in a tray of salt mixed with a bit of glitter
A BRILLIANT IDEA
THE BRILLIANT HAT
Honor students by crowning their verbal achievements. Students in this kindergarten class wear a brilliant crown when their teacher catches them saying something just too brilliant to ignore. 
Remember…(I know you will…) crown every child throughout the year. Keep a checklist.
Every student needs the opportunity to feel like a gem!
Just so you know. The teacher on Romper Room never, never-ever, said my name. I watched Romper Room faithfully and she never saw me in her mirror–what was wrong with her????? How about you?
See–it’s important to acknowledge every child. And if you never heard of Romper Room–I love you anyway.
Decorating a Classroom
Look at the quilt. The quilt absorbs sounds, especially in acoustically hard surfaces.
Relaxing blues, greens, and whites.
How about lamps?
Fabric. Child-level counters.
Materials labeled in color coordinated baskets. Plants.
More labels. Utilizing every space–see the clothespins on the louvered vent?
More lamps. An uncluttered desk to work.
Inspired? This classroom is a dream. The colors are soft and relaxing and the children are relaxed and learning.
Tip: Are you ready to make changes in your classroom? Plan, implement small changes, and complete your classroom makeover during summer.
Can’t wait? Try to hold off until your next workday or weekend.
More decorating tips coming…. .
Your friend,
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Please comment and share your tips for creating learning environments.
Thank-you Michelle.
(Note: This is a true story. Details spared and names changed to protect privacy.)
Mrs. B writes to DaVinci’s Classroom. Her second grade son, Rob, is disinterested in school after loving school up to now. His teachers report disruptive behavior, particularly in art class. Rob observes school policies enforced for some of the children, but not all of the children. “It’s unfair,” complains Rob.
After talking with Rob, Mrs. B believes his complaints legitimate and plans to confront administration. What should her next step be?
DaVinci’s Classroom’s Tips
Communication is key: please remember to talk with the teacher first, before going to adminstration.
Home Work
1. This is a marvelous opportunity to share one of life’s lessons—life is not fair. Use respectful and age-appropriate dialogue to discuss this concept to help Rob understand.
2. Continue the conversation to gather objective information. As Rob talks, write his questions down.
3. Mirroring is an effective strategy, which may resolve the problem
sometimes people need to talk and be heard. Mirror everything Rob
says by repeating his words.
4. Gently and firmly go over your expectations: respect adults, obey school rules.
School Work
5. If necessary, arrange a meeting with the teacher(s) and include Rob. Approach the meeting with a positive attitude. During the meeting, allow Rob to lead the discussion using the questions written at home. Be sure to prepare Rob for the meeting—“I want you to ask the questions, so we can understand what is happening.” Often, this communication clarifies circumstances and the problem resolves.
6. One more suggestion: Attend school with Rob especially during art class if the disruptive behavior continues. Your attention to Rob may settle everything.
This is a starting point. If handled well, Rob benefits by witnessing adults communicate maturely.
TEACHERS: If you would like to quote these tips in a newsletter, website, or blog please contact DaVinci’s Classroom for permission.
I’ll say, “Yes,” as long as you list the blog and author.
Thanks, terri@devokids.com
Altered Art Fun
Tip
Sprinkle magic fairy dust (mix salt and glitter) on clean desks. Set a fairy on the dust and a note: “The Clean Desk Fairy Visited Here”. Find pictures of fairies on greeting cards or draw you own.
Please comment and let me know how you tweaked the idea for your classroom.
Pictures: Compliments of www.alteredartfun.blogspot.com
History Lesson Ideas
How can history class come alive? Well, invite the historical figures to visit, of course.
Please meet my friend, Hercules.
Another friend, Poseidon.
Now meet Hermes.
Oh, I almost forgot I’m not sitting at the Parthenon in Greece. My second grade friends are studying Geek mythology.
Tip: Employ this idea to suit your curriculum. Choose a unit, assign students a historical figure, and create a list of questions.
Let’s make-up an example history lesson.
History Lesson: The Constitution of the United States of America
1. Choose the writers/signers of the constitution as a historical figure to study. Assign one per student or allow choice. (Tip: I give any student who needs a boost-socially or educationally-the most coveted figure. Then, I monitor the student’s progress to ensure success.)
2. Contact parents and give a minimum of three weeks to prepare costumes (no need to be elaborate). Include suggestions for the costumes and presentation guidelines (see 4). You’ll love the creativity birthed on presentation day.
3. Research in class or as homework. Be specific assigning the information you want students to report —the W’s and H. Usually, I work on part of the assignment at school and part as homework.
4. Decide format for presentations: written report, oral report, and poster.
5. Invite parents to watch presentations.
6. Send reminders to parents several times before presentation day.
Other ideas: Study a unit with an older class and spend a theme day to culminate a unit: play games, music, food, read, educational videos, and guests.
Please comment and share your history teaching tips.
Your friend, DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
DaVinci’s Classroom features a Mt. Rushmore president every day this week.
Washington and Lincoln from public domain clip art
Lesson Plan Idea and Quiz
Here’s a quiz for, you, teachers.
1. Carved into Mt. Rushmore are presidents________, _________, __________, and ________.
2. Where is Mt. Rushmore?
Teaching Tip: Focus history lessons around Mt. Rushmore, integrating geology and geometry. At the end of the week, play the Mt. Rushmore computer game as a reward for completing assignments. (See link)
Links to plan lesson:
Mr. Rushmore game
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/game/rushmore_game.html
Mt. Rushmore
http://www.nps.gov/archive/moru/park_history/carving_hist/carving_history.htm
Geometry:
http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=U122
http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L406
Geology
http://geology.about.com/od/more_igrocks/a/granite.htm
http://geology.about.com/library/bl/images/blgranite.htm
Quiz Answers: 1. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, T. Roosevelt 2. South Dakota
John F. Kennedy
Lived: May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963
Served in office: January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963
Quotes:
Those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly.
http://members.ncss.org/se/7301/730110.pdf (teaching with documents—child’s letter to the president John F. Kennedy)
What kind of ideas do you have now? How will you use this in your classroom? Please share. I’d love to hear your comments.
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
public domain clip art blogspot
Theodore Roosevelt
Lived: October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919
Served: 1901 – 1909
Quotes
Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.
Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.
I am a part of everything that I have read.
I am only an average man but, by George, I work harder at it than the average man.
I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character.
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.
Interesting Facts
Roosevelt authored twenty-five books and is credited for creating most of the National Parks. The river, “Rio Roosevelt” in South America, is named for Roosevelt after he traveled there on an expedition. Most of his traveling companions died from a fever during the trip.
Teaching Plans
Study the National Park System
Write about one of the quotations
Geography: study South America
Check out a collection of books written by Roosevelt
Use the courtesy quote and teach manners.
LINKS
http://www.theodore-roosevelt.com/
ttp://onlineroom.blogspot.com/2008/09/unusualfactstheodorerooseveltfacts.html
Search Google Images for a video of T. Roosevelt
Abraham Lincoln
February 12,1809 –April 15, 1865
Served: 1861 – 1865
Quotes
All my life I have tried to pluck a thistle and plant a flower wherever the flower would grow in thought and mind.
Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.
Everybody likes a compliment.
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
I will prepare and some day my chance will come.
If this is coffee, please bring me some tea; but if this is tea, please bring me some coffee.
Knavery and flattery are blood relations.
Teaching Tips
Use the quotations to launch several studies:
Vocabulary: thistle, knavery (look up Lincoln speeches and writings for vocabulary words)
Encourage kindness: Collect compliments in a top hat. When it’s full, have a celebration with pretzels dipped in melted almond bark.
Plans: Abe Lincoln believed in plans. Teach students how to make daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.
Have a tea tasting. (Guess you ought to avoid serving coffee to elementary students).
Science: plant flower seeds
Book: Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt Civil War Era Story appropriate for fifth grade
LINKS
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/history/2009/02/10/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-abraham-lincoln.html
http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/proj/lincoln/index.html
www.freeclipartnow.com
Lincoln: compliments of karenwhimsy.com
Thomas Jefferson
Lived: April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826
Served: 1801-1809
Quotes
But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.
Delay is preferable to error.
Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness.
Interesting Facts
Jefferson often welcomed people at the White house in slippers and a robe.
Thomas Jefferson, an intellect, knew several languages.
A public figure, but a very private man, burned letters from his wife and himself after she died.
Jefferson lived and died in debt due to weak money management skills.
President Jefferson is responsible for the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-1806.
Teacher Tips
LINKS
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/pres/jefferson/
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/facts-on-thomas-jefferson.html
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Lived: October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969
Served: 1953 – 1961
Quotes
Worry is a word that I don’t allow myself to use.
Interesting Facts
During Eisenhower’s administration created the Interstate Highway System (1956).
In 1957, as president, Eisenhower ordered Federal troops to Little Rock, Arkansas during integration.
President Eisenhower returned spent seven weeks hospitalized from a heart attack in 1955.
TEACHER TIPS
Assign students to interview the oldest person they know. Ask the individual if they can remember the United States before the interstate system developed.
Can you find someone old enough to remember WWII? Invite this person to speak to your class.
Honor military people currently serving or veterans of any war.
How has medicine changed since 1955?
The beach at Normandy
message to soldiers, sailors, and airmen.
Psalms 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.
pubic domain clipart blogspot
Become a master of the fifteen minute job. Henry Ford believed in the power of breaking large tasks into small tasks and created the mass-production line for the automobile.
Marla Ciley, FlyLady, says, “You can do anything for 15 minutes.” I know you have a million jobs to conquer today. Prioritize your list and work on each item for fifteen minutes.
www.FlyLady.net
Photo courtesy of altered art fun blogspot
Start singing with your class.
No I haven’t heard you sing, but go ahead. If your students are little, they won’t say a thing if you aren’t pitch perfect.
Or use your best tricks—CD’s, internet, YouTube, and all those new gadgets. Sing. Sing. Sing.
No sassing the teacher, start singing.
The Virtual Classroom
We can visit and learn from each other here at DaVinci’s Classroom. We’d love to take a peek at your study places. Would you take some photographs?
I look forward to hearing from you. Spread the word..send this site out to other teachers. THANKS!
Submissions to: terri@devokids.com
You’ll love this. Read and enjoy. By the way, I love Dooley. I do. I do.
The scene: Dooley’s tutor, Father Tim, and Dooley sharing a meal after a tutoring session. A Light in the Window, Jan Karon, page 379
“She looked so stern he thought he’d warm up the introduction. “Louise…” he said, extending his hand.
“I don’t believe you should call me by my Christian name.”
“Of course…”
“We wouldn’t want your parishioners to talk, since we’re both unmarried and thrown together in the intimacy of the home environment.”
He felt a positive wrench in his stomach. What was worse, he had to make dinner for this person.
**
“I got a stomach cramp,” said Dooley, whose eyes looked bloodshot.
“Me, too,” said the rector. They were still sitting in the kitchen, unable to move since Louise Appleshaw had risen from the table and insisted on seeing herself to the door.
“I hate ‘at ol’ bat.”
“Let me ask you something,” he said wearily. “Can you say ‘I hate that old bat’? Try it, just like I said it.”
“I hate that old bat.”
“Well done. Who needs a tutor?”
……
He was exhausted. And since Louise Appleshaw was allergic to anything with barley, oats, raisins, nuts, pineapple, white flour, sugar, cow’s milk, carob, chocolate, dates, leeks, cabbage, lima beans, beef, pork, and tomatoes, what in the name of heaven was he going to do about dinner on Friday?
The Mitford Series Books by Jan Karon are delightful!!! Read them.
Don’t be an old bat today. You might give someone a stomach cramp.
Just a thought…….DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
TEACHER TIP: After you read a Mitford Book (At Home in Mitford is the first book), choose one character to share. Read sections of the book to your class, allowing them to discuss, draw, and delight in this person. You may introduce writing class with this activity once a week or so, “Okay, it’s time for a Dooley reading…..” or Father Tim, or Sadie, or Emma. There are many personalities to choose. FUN for all.
(Look out for Dooley’s conversations–some of it’s….raw. Funny, but raw.)
Draw maps of Mitford.
MOTHER TIP: Are you reading with your chldren? “No, my children can read.” Please don’t overlook the joy of reading together even when your children become independent readers. I’d recommend reading the Mitford Books with a ten year old, elevenish, or possible twelve year old.
Are you familiar with The Simple Wife? (see the links). This lady plans so well she reads with her daughters at breakfast before they go to school: fed and read. (get it??)
WRITERS: Study Jan’s characters and humor. (I’m surprised half the world hasn’t move to Mitford (Blowing Rock, NC) after reading the books.
As promised my lass and lads, plans for St. Patrick’s Day or whenever.
I plan—you decide. (Like the soundbite?—kinda newsy, huh?)
Cheers. “Sláinte”
Did you know?
Once upon a time, St. Patrick’s Day began as a religious holiday, but morphed into a secular celebration in 1903. And in the 1990’s, the Irish government promoted the holiday to teach Irish culture and country.
Irish Saying
About a gossiper: She has a tongue that would clip a hedge.
Lesson Plan: Eat green. Wear green. Kelly, Chartreuse, Lime, Fern, Emerald, Moss, Olive, Grass.
I’ll send you more recipes the remainder of this week. Plan to display the wonderful world of “greens”. The recipes are mighty fine—top of the morning. You’ll need to choose which recipes to assemble at school and which recipes to delegate to prepare at home. Then have a potluck for lunch or after school party. Invite parents.
Lesson Learned: Let’s promote healthy and delicious foods. Children don’t know much about fresh foods these days. Greens are good—for your health, for your taste buds, and for your Great Uncle Ralph. (????Why did I say that?????)
SPINACH SALAD (adapted from allrecipes.com)
Salad:
1 bag of spinach, rinsed
10 or so strawberries, sliced (substitute: mandarin oranges)
Optional: pecans or slivered almonds (CHECK FOR FOOD ALLERGIES)
Optional: thinly sliced purple onion (keep on the side for the kids)
Dressing:
½ c. sugar
1 teas. Salt
1/3 c. vinegar (wine vinegar preferred)
1 c. vegetable oil (I prefer cold pressed olive oil)
1 Tab. Poppy seeds
Directions: Mix spinach and strawberries together in large bowl. Assemble dressing in blender then pour over salad.
Comment:
At our school it is popular to have the children make Irish Soda Bread on St. Patrick’s Day. This is a relatively simple recipe that can be mixed and baked at a classroom party with minimal kitchen appliances. See a link to the recipe here and some other ideas for St. Patrick’s Day fun. http://tinyurl.com/a9u8fq
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher here: Great idea! Thank-you for sharing.
Here’s the link to the Irish Soda Bread Recipe everyone.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Irish-Soda-Bread-13189
St. Patrick’s Plans
Part II
Irish word: Hello “Dia dhuit”
Irish Saying
The Way We Tell a Story (Pat McCarty 1851- 1931)
Says I to him, I says, says I,
Says I to him, I says,
The thing, says I, I says to him,
Is just, says I, this ways.
I hev’, says I, a gret respeck
For you and for your breed,
And onything I could, I says,
I’d do, I wud indeed.
I don’t know any man, I says,
I’d do it for, says I,
As fast, I says, as for yoursel’,
That’s tellin’ ye no lie.
There’s nought, says I, I wudn’t do
To plase your feyther’s son,
But this, I says, ye see, says I,
I says, it can’t be done.
http://islandireland.com/Pages/folk/sets/sayings.html
Try chanting with your class in appropriate dialect.
Kielbasa Kale Soup
6-7 potatoes
¼ c. butter
10 cups water
2 ½ lbs. kale, clean and chopped
Approx. 2/3 lb kielbasa sausage, sliced
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Boil potatoes in water and butter until tender. Drain, save liquid, and mash potatoes. Return potatoes to the potato water, simmering about 15 minutes. Add kale and kielbasa. Cook 30 more minutes.
Adapted from Allrecipes.com
Kale Chips
1 bunch kale
1 Tab. Olive oil
1 teas. Seasoning Salt
Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper. Clean kale. Pull the leaves from the stems and tear up into bite size pieces. Dry kale, then coat with the oil and salt.
Bake approx. 10-15 minutes. Watch. Edges may brown, but do not let burn. Allrecipes.com
Irish Saying
Very wet weather: “It’s a fine day for wet ducks.”
Irish Words (listen to the Irish dialect spoken on the internet)
Word: One
Irish: Aon
Pronunciation: Ay-on
Word: Two
Irish: Dó
Pronunciation: dhoh
Word: Three
Irish: Trí
Pronunciation: three
Word: Four
Irish: Ceathair
Pronunciation: ka-hir
Word: Five
Irish: Cúig
Pronunciation: coo-ig
Word: Six
Irish:Sé
Pronunciation: shay
Word: Seven
Irish: Seacht
Pronunciation: shoch-edh
Word: Eight
Irish: Ocht
Pronunciation: uchth
Word: Nine
Irish: Naoi
Pronunciation: knee (or in Munster Irish – nay)
Word: Ten
Irish: Deich
Pronunciation: djeh
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/Lessons2.html#Gael8
SHOW-N-TELL
Bring in a variety of fresh greens, lettuces, and vegetables.
RECIPE
The best collard green recipe is a secret. (A certain relative won’t give out the recipe. Imagine that.) I can’t be mad this certain relative is not selfish. So, you’ll just have to prepare the recipe I clipped out of the newspaper.
Collards
There are several ways to prepare collards, so you can pick-n-choose the ingredients. Use fresh collards even though the recipes say you can use frozen.
Sauté bacon, onion, garlic, and carrots. (Or skip the bacon and use olive oil.) Add a splash or two of vinegar. Add a cup of chicken broth, the collards, salt and pepper to taste. Some suggest adding a couple tablespoons of sugar. Cook approx. 30-60 minutes or desired consistency.
More…
Try Broccoli Salad or Seven Layer Salad (both easy recipes to find on the internet)
Ready, Set, Go…. You have your St. Patrick’s plans!
EVERYBODY. I N S P I R A T I O N !
Don’t we need it on Friday afternoon….ah-h-h.
Open the address below for an eye opening video.
Why do we teach?
Why are we here?
Who do we interact with everyday?
http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=b2e45d2a30cb0f5cad38
Sorry, I can’t embed a video from Tangle, but be sure to copy this address and watch.
Morning! Forget to shave? Don’t worry-shaving cream’s waiting for you at school. Or….you can practice your letters.
March Bulletin Boards
Treasure Chest: Cover a box and paint to look like a treasure chest. Fill it up with bling: covered checkers with foil, fake gemstones from art store. Spray paint bottle tops gold, silver, or glitter. Go for sparkle.
Add the students’ names, pictures, and a catchy title to the board. Example: My Treasures
BULLETIN BOARDS
Are you looking for a bulletin board idea? I know. Many of you searched for bulletin board ideas…so… Here are tips for your bulletin boards.
1. Decorate bulletin boards with themes rather than holidays. (You know what I mean if you’ve followed a holiday theme. Around comes Valentine’s Day smack dab in the middle of the month and you have to change the board on the 15th. Bummer. Stay away from this trend.)
2. Plan the bulletin boards for an entire school year. Schedule the date in your plan book so not all bulletin boards switch out on the same day.
3. Cover the hall bulletin board with children’s work. Only. Always.
4. Decent looking is the goals for bulletin boards. You don’t have to worry about winning a design award. Focus your time on lesson plans.
5. Everybody, everywhere enjoys eyeing children’s art and writing. Ideas: watercolor pictures, stories, drawings with crayon or colored pencil, construction paper cut-n-paste pictures.
6. If you teach an older grade, 4th or 5th, allow the students to plan a bulletin board. Make a schedule of groups so everyone is involved one time during the year.
TIP: Please give assignments like bulletin boards to everyone, not just the best behaved or the A students.
7. Holiday Bulletin Board: Refer to number one, but you can plan a few holiday themed boards. I wouldn’t allow holidays to be the catalyst for every bulletin board. (Smile.)
Map Bulletin Board
Cover a bulletin board with brown butcher paper (substitute: cut back of grocery bags). Students make people with construction paper and/or pipe cleaners, trees, and buildings. You draw the roads in the scene or village on the bulletin board.
For fun, add real items: twigs, moss, leaves, or pebbles.
Look below on the tiny word and click on the word comment. Please let me know what you need for your classroom, your home school, your children’s bedroom… . Also, I’d be happy to post digitals of your bulletin boards. Send a comment! Send your images to terri@devokids.com and see your classroom pictures on DaVinci’s classroom: The Virtual Classroom.
WRITING LESSON: STORYBOARDS
WHO: First Grade (This lesson could apply to any grade level—even adults.)
WHAT: writing class synopsis
Characters: My three puppet friends: Firefighter, Queenie, School Marm and me
Me: Well, how’d I do?
Firefighter: You talked too long.
Queenie: You were majestic, dear.
School Marm: You did well explaining how to write using a storyboard. I was proud, but there are a few areas you could improve.
Me: Thanks ya’ll. You’re right. I did talk too long. But it’s so much fun being in charge and looking at those sweet faces. Why don’t you go ahead and explain how the lesson went and I’ll fill in if I need to. Take it away….Firefighter.
Firefighter: Great. The first visit you spent time telling the kiddos to create a problem for the main character. Now firefighters know about problems, so I got excited and thought of all kinds of problems to write in a story. Like the time…
Queenie: Excuse me, for interrupting, but I can tell you no one’s experienced more problems than a queen. Have you any idea the issues I’ve dealt with? But don’t forget the importance she placed on choosing the characters. You must have high caliber characters people can relate to for a good story.
School Marm: Now, now settle down friends. We can all agree your story can be full of characters and problems, but planning is essential. You must know how the story is going to end.
Me: You’re all right. In fact, every aspect of your discussion is vital. That’s why the storyboard is so important. The board gives children a visual guide to plan and write the story. Thanks for the summary.
Firefighter: Oh, oh I have to tell them what I said the second visit. It was cool.
Me: Okay, why don’t you fill in for all of us.
Firefighter: We introduced the second lesson. The children had finished their storyboards and were ready to write. So, I reminded them to “just let their words flow.” Isn’t that the coolest?
Queenie: Ahem.
Firefighter: Queenie told them to “remember the rules” and School Marm said “do your best and have fun.”
Me: Yes, I didn’t have to talk as much this visit. I found out the classroom teacher taught a lesson on characters a few days before our second visit. She read Frog and Toad are Friends. The class discussed personality characteristics. What a great way to expand the storyboard lesson, prepare, and excite the writers. Once we got started, the first graders wrote over an hour before stopping.
DO YOU WANT A COPY OF THIS LESSON PLAN?
Please share this site with five people and I’ll send the lesson plan to you. Email: terri@devokids.com.
Great way to introduce Geography Class.
GO Mother Figures!
TBC …To Be Cherished, DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro?
I know why.
I recently attended a Creativity Colloquium. (colloquium: a conference for scholarly people to present scholarly papers—I checked the dictionary.)
Back to your ears. Can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie them in a bow? How about the tag on the back of your shirt? Does it bug you? I’ll bet you cut it off, don’t ya? Are you sensitive to sound or light?
Do you often fend off the procrastinating bug? You see the end result of a project and now your motivation vanished? Breathe a collective sigh because you may be creative—highly creative. (Don’t let the procrastination bug sicken you. DaVinci managed to create many masterpieces and left many undone. We’re in awe of DaVinci for the projects he accomplished and call him brilliant.)
Dr. Bonnie Cramond, professor of educational psychology at the Torrance Center at University of Georgia, studied creators similar to DaVinci, Renoir, and Tesla. Dr. Cramond addressed why creativity is important to teach in the 21st Century, citing the report from the National Center on Education. Skills needed in the 21st century in America are “creativity and innovation, facility with the use of ideas and abstractions, the self-discipline and organization needed to manage one’s work and drive it through to a successful conclusion, the ability to function well as a member of a team, and so on.”
In other words, our future depends on the creativity of our workers to be competitive. The world needs to solve everyday problems. Dr. Cramond believes we are “suppressing creativity. If we want to retain some power in this world we’ve got to go back and define our strengths—creativity. We are poised on the brink of a brand new millennium.”
How do teachers support creativity? Cramond, a former middle school teacher, knows good teachers use creativity everyday. As teachers, we can encourage and cherish to better understand inventive creativity needed for problem solving. Could the drop out rate drop as our acceptance of creative individuals develops? Hm-m-m.
So, listen up–with those wobbling to and fro ears– because Dr. Bonnie has something to say worthy of attention. I’m keeping my ear to the ground on this topic. How about you? 
There’s more to learn. http://www.coe.uga.edu/torrance/pdf_ppt/10.pdf
Bonnie Cramond, Ph.D., is a professor and the director of the Torrance Center for Creative Studies and Talent Development in the Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology at the University of Georgia. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Gifted Children, a former editor of the Journal of Secondary Gifted Education, and on the review board for several other journals. An international and national speaker, she has published numerous articles, a book on creativity research, and teaches classes on giftedness and creativity. She is particularly interested in the identification and nurturance of creativity, especially among students considered at risk because of their different way of thinking, such as those misdiagnosed with ADHD, emotional problems, or those who drop out. She is a former school teacher and the parent of two. http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/jaa/BCramond.html
Math Bulletin Board
Money Tally
Guess what the round objects are? Stove burner covers. Plastic coins with a strip of magnetic tape adhere to the metal. The tally marks are Wikki Stix. http://www.wikkistix.com/
Hello. We’re celebrating in green with money, honey. Yes, we’ll be talking money all week.
1. Learn how to handle money: Budget
Golden Nugget “Spend less than you earn.”
“A budget that is not used is a waste of time and effort. The most common reason a budget is discarded is that it is too complicated. A simple, yet effective, budgeting system is one that uses either envelopes or individual account pages. Keep it Simple.” Quote from Crown Financial
Crown Financial http://www.crown.org/ This is the best resource.
Envelope budget system: http://www.crown.org/pamphlets/pdfs/ESI01.pdf
Budget Form: http://www.crown.org/pamphlets/pdfs/BudgetAnalysisForm.pdf
Teach children how to budget: 80/20 Rule: Save 10%, Give 10%, live on 80%
BULLETIN BOARD: Cover an entire board to create one giant dollar bill. Then, add whatever suits your curriculum.
Learn how to live without debt and invest money
Golden Nugget “Avoid the use of debt”
DAVE RAMSEY: http://www.daveramsey.com/
Look money curriculum available!
Dave Ramsey has curriculum for elementary and high school
“Dave Ramsey’s elementary school curriculum provides entertaining education that is vital to teaching children basic financial principles, reading, math, and life skills.”
Help Fill a Need in Your Local Schools
“Young people desperately need personal finance education. A prime target for credit card companies and predatory lenders, they are burdened with debt at an early age. To make things worse, most don’t even have a basic understanding of money. In fact, the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy conducted a survey in 2008 and found that high school seniors correctly answered only 48.3% of the questions.” Adopt a School Program on the Dave Ramsey Site
To place an order, get a quote, or get more information, contact us or call toll-free 800-781-8914
Financial Education Matters
29% of teens are already in debt
34% (only) teens know how to balance a checkbook
85% do not want to rely on others for money
88% want to learn to stay out of debt
89% of teens want to learn how to make their money grow
quotes from Dave Ramsey website
Investments: All links, Dave Ramsey and Crown Financial, provide debt and investing information
Time: Invest your time in your family. Spend time in the library and borrow the free videos, DVD’S, music, and of course books. At most libraries, you can check out back issues of magazines for a week.
Mary Hunt’s site full of information: http://moneyrulesdebtstinks.com/
More Money, Honey.
3. Learn how to save money
Golden Nugget: “Have an emergency fund”
Resources
FRUGAL MOM, by Jonni McCoy
Have you heard of the ‘Bake your own bread for a year movement?’
http://bakersbench.blogspot.com/2009/01/2009-year-of-byob-bake-your-own-bread.html
http://www.ismyblogburning.com/byob-bake-your-own-bread
Bake Bread: Artisan bread in five minutes!
http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/?p=195 This link takes you to an easy recipe for bread you keep in the refrigerator
Quote from artisan bread site.
“Our book had great coverage in “The Week” magazine on April 18th (page 30 in the paper version). But their version of our recipe has you throwing in 4 cups of water, rather than the correct 3 cups (see the fine print on the right, above). Please use 3 cups, or you’ll have pancake batter! The correct version of our basic recipe in the book (page 26) is:
3 cups lukewarm water
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated yeast
1 1/2 tablespoons kosher or other coarse salt
6 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
Cornmeal for the pizza peel
And then, you know the drill. Mix with a spoon in a food-safe bucket, let it rise at room temperature for 2 to 5 hours, then into the fridge for two weeks. Tear off chunks, shape, rest, and bake as needed. And you all know you can decrease the yeast (http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/?p=85) and the salt if you like it. Details in the book.
But there it is, pretty much.”
See you tomorrow for more food savings ideas.
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Learn How to Change Money Habits Part II
I’ve been trying to find a story I read eight years ago of a lady in Philadelphia who started a walking campaign for the city. The article also shared her experience helping a family in their home. While she visited, the family told her they had nothing to eat. The lady showed the family how to make vegetarian oatmeal patties from ingredients they had in the cupboards. The grateful family was amazed. I loved this story.
I know there are hungry people and those of us with full stomachs need to share. No questions, no judging, share. However, knowledge is a wonderful tool and it’s surprising to discover how delicious, easy, and economical foods like beans-n-rice or oatmeal patties taste. Did you know that? Sprinkle the beans with some chopped onions and um-um.
Could you share your cooking skills? Could you learn to cook? Yes, yes you can.
Teachers: Include cooking in the classroom: this may be the only time the children learn the skills. How about having a Cooking Class in the evenings for the families in your class? Put on your Thinking Cap everybody.
Golden Nugget: “Have an emergency fund” (Whatever you can save counts!) 
Here’s how to start changing your spending and drop the savings into your piggy bank.
Pour Mans’ Supper Suggestions
Beans: Buy dry beans, soak, and cook. Directions on the back of the package. Cheap!
Oatmeal Patties
Egg Dinners: Frittata’s or Omelets
Vegetable Plate
Potatoes: Bushels of potato recipes available–Who doesn’t like mashed potatoes?
Cabbage: Soups, casseroles, fried
RECIPES
Cabbage Rival Soup (From a WWII recipe booklet–they had to save some do-re-mi, don’t ya know)
Cut head of cabbage up real fine.
Cover with water
Salt and pepper
Add 5-6 TABS of bacon or ham
Rivals: 1 cup flour, 1 egg, 1 teas. Baking powder
Oatmeal Patties
1 Tbsp Butter
1 Cup Chopped Onion
2 Large Eggs
1 Cup Rolled Oats (not instant)
1/2 tsp Worchestershire sauce
1/8 tsp Garlic powder or fresh garlic chopped
1/8 tsp Thyme
(Optional: chopped walnuts or pecans)
Melt the butter in the frying pan. Sauté onions until soft.
Beat eggs in bowl until frothy. Add next five ingredients. Add onion. Mix and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
Now you’re ready to fry: heat oil. Drop mixture by 1/4 cup into pan. Press with back of spoon to shape into a patty. Brown both sides. Makes 6.
Do you need to scale down your living expenses?
Look for a local beauty school: manicures, pedicures, massages,
Shop for quality products at better rates: perfumes, make-up (I’ve dropped perfumes.)
Hair: try a vinegar rinse instead of conditioner
Brown Bag: Pack your lunch
Buy water bottles and fill you water bottle at home
Shop a year in advance: clothes and holiday needs
Shop on full stomach with a list and no kids (if possible)
Change fast food eating habits 
Fast Food
Question: Is a car an investment?
See you tomorrow for the answer and more money tips! Stay tuned–great information coming tomorrow for anyone from highschool, college, 20 year old, 30′s, 40′s, 50′s, 60′s, 70′s, 80′s, 90′s…!
Learn to pray for provision
Golden Nugget: “Plan your saving and spending”
Resources: www.christiandevotions.us posts Faith & FINANCES, Bible-based devotions aimed to help readers apply God’s financial principles in their lives—every Tuesday a new finance devotion posts.
Also listen the interview with financial minister, Chris Stocklin: http://www.christiandevotions.us/radio.html
Ron Blue teaches simple saving principals.
1. Patient Savings Plan: Save $21 a week or exactly $83. a month with 8% yield = $259,000 in forty years.
Now, right now you may not find 8%, but save your money in an account (CD possibly).
Older than 20? Save more than $83.33 per month to catch up, if you can.
2. Ron Blue also teaches a principal called: Opportunity Cost
This means the item you purchase for $20 cost you more because it’s a lost opportunity to earn money. How much more would the twenty dollars mean to you in 20, 30, 40 years? The item doesn’t cost $20, it cost the money you could have earned if the money had been invested instead.
Links to Ron Blue
http://www.ronblue.com/weblinks.php
“Disclaimer – Ronald Blue & Co. provides the names of other financial organizations and/or vendors of financial products as a convenience to its web site visitors. Ronald Blue & Co. may not agree with, nor does it make any warranty as to the accuracy of the information supplied by these organizations or vendors. It is not intended to be a substitute for personalized legal or financial planning advice.”
College Savings Plans: Check the 529 plan in your state (Tax advantage savings plan)
Work: Sell handmade products on-line 
http://www.madeitmyself.com/terms.aspx
More ways to stop spending so you can save
Use the library
Sew: hem your pants, sew on buttons, alter clothes
Does it mean you can never spend? No, but it you delay or reduce spending, the long term outcome is financial security.
There are creative ways to save money that you may like to share. Please comment and share your money saving ideas.
ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S QUESTION: Is a car an investment? (NO)
Today’s question: Is jewelry an investment? 
Goodmorning! I hope you visited last week and read the money tips. The green week was loaded with money resources. I learned something. Did you know how far saving $3.00 day will go?
Saturday night our family added up the savings we had by working around our house mowing, cleaning, cooking, and not shopping. It hovered over $100 and that’s enough for the monthy contribution towards the $259,000 fund. Curious?….read Friday’s post.
This is not the way to start the day. These people need some coffee. Actually, I think the babies need a diaper change and the air is ….! “Please someone snap this picture now.”
Start your teaching day out with this chant written by Dr. Linda Michell Baron
THE WAY TO START THE DAY
This is the way…hey! we start the day…hey!
We get the knowledge…hey! to go to college…hey!
We won’t stop there…hey! go anywhere…hey!
We work and smile…hey! cause that’s our style…hey!
We love each other…hey! help one another…hey!
There’s nothing to it…hey! Just have to do it…hey!
this is the way …hey! we start the day…hey!
cause we “don’t play” …hey!
Now, what you say…hey!
The next ditty is for all big brothers and sisters, especially Ariel’s kids www.moabclub.blogspot.com
Choral reading or daily chants are fun and educational
The Donut Song
Oh, I walked around the corner
And I walked around the block
and I walked right into the bakery shop
And I picked up a donut and I wiped off the grease
And I handed the lady a five cent piece
Thanks for the donut, good day
Well she looked at the nickel
And she looked at me
And she said, “Hey mister, can’t you plainly see?
There’s a hole in the nickel, there’s a hole right through.”
Said I, “There’s a hole in the donut too!”
graphicsfairyblogspot
How do you like that?
Wouldn’t it be nice to meet at the bakery for some coffee and chat? Have a great day.
Poor Solomon Grundy
Washed the left side of his head on Monday
Washed the left side of his neck on Tuesday,
Washed the left arm on Wednesday,
Washed the left hand on Thursday,
Washed the left side on Friday,
Washed the left leg on Saturday,
Washed the left foot on Sunday.
Poor Solomon Grundy,
He’s still half dirty!
Hi! Here’s another morning poem to recite aloud with your class. Jack Prelutsky’s written lesson plans for you, so I”ve included links.
By Jack Prelutsky
I am freezing.
I am freezing.
I am absolutely cold.
I am shivering and shaking like a pudding in a mold.
I’ve got glaciers in my stomach.
I’ve got sleet inside my bones.
I am colder than the contents of a million ice cream cones.
http://www.jackprelutsky.com/flash/pdf_docs/HowToWriteAFunnyPoem.pdf
http://www.jackprelutsky.com/flash/pdf_docs/PoetryActivities.pdf
http://www.jackprelutsky.com/flash/pdf_docs/TipsReadingYoung.pdf
Jack Prelutsky, America’s First Children’s Poet Laureate 
alteredartfun
Goodmorning, April Fool–Fool’s Day
Well, I forgot about you. I was so busy getting my kids up and getting them dressed to rush to school because we were late. At least that’s what the clocks said. One hour late. Every single clock.
But, really. Um-m-m. Some April Fool around here set the clocks ahead, rushed everybody out the door, and drove to Chick-Fil-A for breakfast. Some April Foolery, huh? Sorry, to my east coast friends. It’s a great trick and I didn’t tell you in time.
But, wake-up West Coast. WAKE UP. W-a-k-e-u-p…. Hurry. Change the clocks. Dress. Wake up the kids and rush them out the door. To a restaurant.
Let me know how it went.
CELEBRATE MISTAKES
Mistakes are opportunities to learn. Create an atmosphere for your students to see errors as the stepping stone to learn.
What Does a Writer’s House Look Like….in April?
It looks like Valentine’s.
And…it’s been looking like Christmas here since November.
Excuse me. I’ll be right back.
Okay. The floor is clear now. I promise that “decor” just appeared.
Here are words of writing wisdom from master writers. Read.
I’m going to take down a few decorations before the Easter Bunny skips my house.
Quote from The Random House Guide to Good Writing
“It isn’t reasonable to expect that every sentence we write will be brilliant or even that it will be good, at least not at its first appearance. ‘The first draft of anything,’ said Hemingway, ‘is ____.”
by Mitchell Ivers
timeenoughblogspot
Resources for you.
Ann Graham Lotz is marvelous. Here’s a link for free resources.
http://www.annegrahamlotz.com/newsletter-signup/
Then, of course, there’s Beth Moore with Living Proof Ministries.
Here’s a link to her blog and LPM.
http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/
The chick’s hatching from real eggs shells– a yellow fuzz ball is glued inside a shell.
Celebrate spring break with a breakfast snack.
Now that’s the way to study.
Did you plant your Easter grass?
Enjoy your week.
More pictures tomorrow.
Your friend, DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Holly drinks.
I mean, Holly drinks green tea.
Holly’s secret is ginger–She adds crystalized ginger to her tea.
I say….look at her skin.
Ellen knows the cure.
I mean, the cure for headaches.
Ellen’s secret–foot massages.
I say…listen to Ellen.
Teachable Moments 
My son and I walked around an inlet, held hands and discussed yachts, schooners, sailboats, barnicles, estuaries, and pedestrians.
I listened to him.
He listened to me.
I experienced the teachable moment.
Some time ago a wise man told me to take walks with my children. Do I ? Yes…I intend to after I finish folding clothes, chopping vegetables, answering the phone, and checking the computer. Suddenly bedtime’s arrived.
Be inspired by a simple walk. Don’t miss your moments.
CLASSROOM TIPS
Design estuaries with clay.
Create a barnicle with flour and salt dough.
Build an inlet with toy schooners and yachts on cardboard with paper and paint.
Go for a walk and be a pedestrian.
Educators: Use this photo to inspire a lesson using the vocabulary words.
Send your teaching photos, classroom images, or teaching tips to terri@devokids. We’ll post them here at DaVinci’s Classroom.
I HAVE A PET ROCK
Are you brave? Pets–in the classroom–are for the brave.
All my school pets ended becoming home pets. Not my home–I gave the critters to students.
Fish, hermit crabs, gerbils, and hamsters. Oh, don’t ask about the hamsters. They were so cute and produced a family. A crop of baby kidney beans. Then tragedy…the moma. OH, I can’t tell you what THE MOTHER did. I loved those little critters.
Another year a rabbit joined our classroom and we called her Miss Kitty. (I really wanted a cat but didn’t think I should have one in school.) This adorable white bunny bit. Bit hard. We loved her and pet her, but she bit. Bit us. Bit cords. And left bits….ahum….on her strolls.
I put Miss Kitty up for adoption and she moved in with one of my second graders.
And she was happy.
And I was relieved.
However, there are teachers with more successful pet stories than mine. Allow me to introduce you to perfect classroom pets. Sorry–I don’t know their names.
I admire all you owners and lovers of fish, birds, quinea pigs, hamsters, lizards, pet rocks, and stuffed animals. You’re great educators.
I have a pet rock named Sam I Am.
publicdomainclipartblogspot
|
Natural Dye for Easter Eggs |
|
|
|
Fresh beets, cranberries, radishes or frozen raspberries |
Pinkish red |
|
|
Yellow onion skins |
Orange |
|
|
Orange or lemon peels, carrot tops, celery seed or ground cumin |
Pale yellow |
|
|
Ground turmeric |
Yellow |
|
|
Spinach leaves |
Pale green |
|
|
Yellow Delicious apple peels |
Green-gold |
|
|
blueberries or red cabbage leaves |
Blue |
|
|
Strong brewed coffee |
Lt. Brown |
|
|
Dill seeds |
Brown-gold |
|
|
Chili powder |
Brown-orange |
|
|
Purple or red grape juice or beet juice |
Grey |
|
Directions: Boil in water, add couple tablespoons of vinegar, and then allow to sit at least 15 minutes. Oh—be sure you use boiled eggs. Color varies with natural products. Start early so you can experiment with the results.
From: www.aeb.org/kidsandfamily/eastereggs/naturaldyed.asp
How important is the Land of Make-Beleive? Remember Mr. Rogers?
Incorporate role-playing into your curriculum. This is a kindergarten class dress-up area which changes with the theme. Any grade can include role-playing to jazz up a lesson. How about the teacher dressing up?
Miscrosoft Chairman Bill Gates : Part I
Bill Gates spoke before a group of high school students and gave them eleven rules of life, an excerpt from the book “Dumbing Down our Kids” by educator Charles Sykes. The list of eleven things you did not learn in school is directed at high school and college grads.
Here’s number 1: Life is not fair. Get used to it.
Here’s number 2: The world won’t care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Here’s number 3: You will NOT make $40,000 a year right out of high school. You won’t be a vice president with a car phone until you earn both.
Here’s number 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn’t have tenure.
Here’s number 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger-flipping: opportunity.
Here’s number 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault–so don’t whine about your mistakes…learn from them!
….to be continued PASS IT ON
Start a Kids’ Gardens
Here are some links for you…if you need help. Me? Dirt, seed, water, sun, pray.
http://www.kidsgardening.com/
Chef Alice Water believes in edible education. Would you like to join her academy training? Here’s the link. You have to travel to California and applications are due by April 15th.
http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/esy-academy
READ THIS:
Edible Education:
Bringing The Delicious Revolution to America’s Schools, Universities, and Institutions
by Alice Waters, January 2005
Here’s the link: http://www.chezpanisse.com/pgdrevolution.html
http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/
SALARY
Parade published the annual What People Earn report yesterday, April 12, 2009. The unbalanced earning scale in the United States is not news. What caught my attention was the math teacher, Ann Sin, from Clovis, California earning $66,000. Does Parade paint an accurate picture of teacher salaries? According to the chart below, in North Carolina you would have to teach for 31 years and have a Masters Degree to top out at $64, 750.
What are the salaries in your state? The information is public–look it up and see. Please comment. I’d love to hear from you.
North Carolina 2008-2009 Salary Scale
Years Bachelor’s Teacher Bachelor’s w/ NBPTS Certification
of
Monthly 12 Monthly Annual Salary Monthly 12 Monthly Annual Salary
Exp
0 $3,043 $2,535.83 $30,430 N/A N/A N/A
1 $3,085 $2,570.83 $30,850 N/A N/A N/A
2 $3,129 $2,607.50 $31,290 N/A N/A N/A
3 $3,264 $2,720.00 $32,640 $3,656 $3,046.67 $36,560
4 $3,404 $2,836.67 $34,040 $3,812 $3,176.67 $38,120
5 $3,538 $2,948.33 $35,380 $3,963 $3,302.50 $39,630
6 $3,667 $3,055.83 $36,670 $4,107 $3,422.50 $41,070
7 $3,771 $3,142.50 $37,710 $4,224 $3,520.00 $42,240
8 $3,819 $3,182.50 $38,190 $4,277 $3,564.17 $42,770
9 $3,868 $3,223.33 $38,680 $4,332 $3,610.00 $43,320
10 $3,918 $3,265.00 $39,180 $4,388 $3,656.67 $43,880
11 $3,967 $3,305.83 $39,670 $4,443 $3,702.50 $44,430
12 $4,018 $3,348.33 $40,180 $4,500 $3,750.00 $45,000
13 $4,069 $3,390.83 $40,690 $4,557 $3,797.50 $45,570
14 $4,122 $3,435.00 $41,220 $4,617 $3,847.50 $46,170
15 $4,176 $3,480.00 $41,760 $4,677 $3,897.50 $46,770
16 $4,231 $3,525.83 $42,310 $4,739 $3,949.17 $47,390
17 $4,286 $3,571.67 $42,860 $4,800 $4,000.00 $48,000
18 $4,345 $3,620.83 $43,450 $4,866 $4,055.00 $48,660
19 $4,403 $3,669.17 $44,030 $4,931 $4,109.17 $49,310
20 $4,461 $3,717.50 $44,610 $4,996 $4,163.33 $49,960
21 $4,523 $3,769.17 $45,230 $5,066 $4,221.67 $50,660
22 $4,584 $3,820.00 $45,840 $5,134 $4,278.33 $51,340
23 $4,650 $3,875.00 $46,500 $5,208 $4,340.00 $52,080
24 $4,714 $3,928.33 $47,140 $5,280 $4,400.00 $52,800
25 $4,779 $3,982.50 $47,790 $5,352 $4,460.00 $53,520
26 $4,845 $4,037.50 $48,450 $5,426 $4,521.67 $54,260
27 $4,913 $4,094.17 $49,130 $5,503 $4,585.83 $55,030
28 $4,984 $4,153.33 $49,840 $5,582 $4,651.67 $55,820
29 $5,055 $4,212.50 $50,550 $5,662 $4,718.33 $56,620
30 $5,153 $4,294.17 $51,530 $5,771 $4,809.17 $57,710
31+ $5,255 $4,379.17 $52,550 $5,886 $4,905.00 $58,860
NOTE:
” stands for National Board for Professional Teacher Standards.NBPTS”
2008-2009
BACHELOR’S DEGREE CERTIFIED TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE
Salary Installments (10 months) Salary Installments (10 months)
The Red Siren
By M.L. Tyndall
An informal, unsolicited Book Review by a school teacher in quiz format. Enjoy.
YES
2. Will the book cause sleep loss?
YES
Absolutely, I read well past bedtime flipping pages until I surrendered to sleep.
3. Would you recommend this book?
YES
I do. I recommend the book to women of all ages except under age girls. The romance is tasteful, but full of fire.
4. Do you have a comment?
YES, certainly. The dictionary definition for siren:
1. Greek Mythology One of a group of sea nymphs who by their sweet singing lured mariners to destruction on the rocks surrounding their island.
2. A woman regarded as seductive and beautiful.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Source: www.dictionary.com
Did Marylu Tyndall weave the story of a beautiful, enticing, sassy sea-maiden into a captivating pirate-love story? You bet! If you are on spring break this week, run and pick up a copy. Wal-Mart stocks this book. If you’re working, treat yourself this weekend to the charming Captain Waite and The Red Siren.
Tyndall’s site: www.mltyndall.com
Tyndall’s blog: www.crossandcutlass.blogspot.com
I won this copy from MLT. Thank-you! Aye, I shall read all your books now.
Hair Tip by Roxy
Though the snow is falling in April, it doesn’t hurt to dream of swimming pools and beaches. When we do finally get to sink our feet into the sand and dive into the pool, it’s easy to let the excitement distract us from doing what’s best for our hair and hair color.
If you’re going to be spending time in a pool with chlorine, be sure to wet your hair with regular water before diving in. Chlorine strips hair color and turns buttery blondes a nice shade of green. By wetting your hair beforehand, your hair absorbs the clean water and not allow the chlorine to penetrate as much.
The sun is great for adding natural highlights to the hair, but if you have color, beware. You may experience fadeage or blondes blanch too white. Prevent problems– Wear a hat or choose from SPF salon products to guard against the rays.
More tips coming soon from Roxy. 
GEOGRAPHY
Can you identify a Cataract?
When I returned from a Europe visit, I knew how to speak profanity in German and I knew I didn’t know enough about geography. I determined to teach the arrangement of our earth to my students better than I had learned. Then came the geography bee… OH, more about this tomorrow.
By the way, a cataract is a great waterfall or series of falls, if you’re talking geography. If you’re discussing opthamology, then a cataract is not a waterfall.
See ya tomorrow.
DaVinci’s Classroom
Question: What is a loess? (egad!!!! a what????) See end of post for answer
How to teach geography
· Begin with what the student knows: mountains, desert, ocean, rivers, plains, valleys, plateaus, hills, loess, glaciers. Make connections to unknown through comparison of features.
· Teach concrete skills first through observation and manipulation of concrete objects: clay, salt-n-flour models, puzzles.
· Introduce maps and globes. Visual trips via the internet.
· The last step is to transfer the skills to paperwork such as workbooks and worksheets.
HOW IS GEOGRAPHY TAUGHT IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS? Author: Haas, Mary E.
“Personal experiences begin with children interacting with their own environment. Children begin by recording their observations from walks and fieldtrips in essays, pictures, or simple maps. Children decide what is important to show on their maps and what symbols to use. At first children show things rather crudely, using sequence, approximate size, and location. Interactive formal instruction in the cardinal directions begins by learning left and right and locating north through observations of the movement of the sun. By interacting directly with people from other places or vicariously through stories and pictures, children begin to recognize both the common and unique attributes of more distant locations. They offer explanations for locations and differences in the environment. Such interactions result in descriptions and definitions of places.
Most geography is taught as a part of social studies and, to a lesser degree, in science. Only a small portion of the school day is spent in the study of these subjects. Teachers are often concerned with the shortage of time to teach what they perceive as more important subjects, and when they do teach geography feel pressed to cover material in textbooks and curriculum guides rather than to work toward comprehension (Thornton & Wenger 1989).
In 1984 the National Council for Geographic Education and the Association of American Geographers took a major step toward helping to improve the organization of the geographic curriculum with the publication of GUIDELINES FOR GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION. These guidelines provide help in the selection of objectives and organization of geographic knowledge for elementary students. Five themes of geography are recommended for study by students at all levels: location, place, human and environment relationships, movement, and regions.”
ERIC Identifier: ED309133
Read the complete article: http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-9212/geography.htm
A light-up globe….
Five Times Five: Five Activities for Teaching Geography’s Five Themes http://www.proteacher.com/
“How many of your students could identify the location of their home country on a world map? U.S. education officials were shocked when a nine-nation survey found that one in five young Americans (18- to 24-year-olds) could not locate the United States on an outline map of the world!
That study represents one of the turning points in geography education in the United States. Although most U.S. students still don’t take a “geography” course in school — as students in many other countries do — increased emphasis on the development of geography skills is more widespread today than it was ten years ago. Organizations such as National Geographic and the National Council for the Social Studies have created materials to aid teachers in teaching geography skills. And about ten years ago, the Joint Committee on Geographic Education of the National Council for Geographic Education and the American Association of Geographers developed five specific themes to help focus teacher and student thinking when it comes to geography. Those five themes follow:
• Location — Where are things located? A location can be specific (for example, it can be stated as coordinates of longitude and latitude or as a distance from another place) or general (it’s in the Northeast).
• Place — What makes a place different from other places? Differences might be defined in terms of climate, physical features, or the people who live there and their traditions.
• Human-environment interaction — What are the relationships among people and places? How have people changed the environment to better suit their needs?
• Movement — What are the patterns of movement of people, products, and information? A study of movement includes learning about major modes of transportation used by people, an area’s major exports and imports, and ways in which people communicate (move ideas).
• Regions — How can Earth be divided into regions for study? Regions can be defined by a number of characteristics including area, language, political divisions, religions, and vegetation (for example, grassland, marshland, desert, rain forest).”
http://www.edu.pe.ca/southernkings/loesssp.htm
Answer
“Loess is a geologically recent deposit of silt or material which is usually yellowish or brown in color and consisting of tiny mineral particles brought by wind to the places where they now lie. It is a product of past glacial activity in an area. It is a sedimentary deposit of mineral particles which are finer than sand but coarser than dust or clay, deposited by the wind. (Did you know this? Yikes…I never heard of a loess.)
Random Geography Lesson
I’m on a random tangent. Here’s trivia for you today. If you don’t want to teach the Latin America lesson posted today, then close your eyes, twirl the globe, and put your finger on a spot. Look up the place your finger touched on the internet and take a virtual trip. Actually….let your students be the ones to close their eyes…..(Please, never, ever close your eyes in the middle of a room of children. Oh, my. That could be harzardous to somebody’s health.
The Random Geography Lesson from your friend DaVinci’s Classroom
Latin is a dead language and not spoken as the mother tongue (native language). Historically, Latin was the language of Rome, but never the language of Latin America. Today, Latin is one official language of the Vatican.
Languages spoken in Latin America, known as the Romance languages—French, Romanian, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese–descended from Latin. http://wiki.answers.com/
Throw a geography party. Be spontaneous. Be random. Grab salsa and chips and find the Latin American countries on globes/maps. Do something. (Hint: Mini-lesson on Latin American Countries.)
Then, give a quiz. (ha-ha-ha….throw-head-back-devious laugh) You’re a teacher, aren’t ya?
And, here they are…………… the Latin American countries! Clap.
• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Columbia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Uraguay
• Venezuela
http://www.latinamericans.com/
Take a giant step and teach Latin to build vocabulary skills.
I found a wonderful website today and I know you’ll enjoy your visit.
http://montessoribyhand.blogspot.com/
She crafty. She’s a teacher. She’s a mother. She’s writes. Just what we want here at DaVinci’s Classroom. Look her up.
I’ll be back……..you should see this house……No, you shouldn’t see this house.
Attention: Funeral Announcement
Bury the red pens.
Please.
And thank-you.
More tomorrow…..
Love, DaVinci’s Classroom
Another Funeral
publicdomainwikimedia
Hello Everybody,
So good of you to visit again.
I’m thinking of another funeral. Yesterday red pens. Today fruit flies.
A wee bit warm and they swarm, even in the bathroom. Who wants to fly in a bathroom all day with the comings and goings, ahum Not me. If a lavortory won’t kill ‘em, what will? I”ve tried all I know to try.
First, I tried talk. Communicate when you have an issue, right?
“Come here, little fruit fly. You see, I need you to take up residence somewhere else.” They weren’t charmed.
Then I fed the moms, the dads, and the abundant offspring.
“Here. Here. Here’s some juice. Go ahead and take a dip. A deep dip. Dive bomb.”
Rice vinegar, apple-cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, red-wine vinegar, and wine available. Drink. Indulge. Get light headed. Die.
They prefer the apple-cider vinegar and balsamic vinegar, but very few fatalities. Pesky and persnickety creatures.
My husband sucks the varmints with the vaccuum.
How do you exterminate the critters?
My son wants a pet. Should reconsider an insect collection?
TEACHERS: Link to Biology Studies of Fruit Flies
http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=4002
Read this:
Explore math: http://www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org/aunty/index.html
Look around here: http://www.drjean.org
Create lesson plans: http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/lesson_plan/
Teach outside
(Sing the lyrics to tune “Found a Peanut”)
Found a Q-Tip, Found a Q-Tip
Found a Q-Tip just now.
Just now I found a Q-Tip
Found a Q-Tip just now.
And…..Stop.
You probably don’t want to sing this to your class….
Unless you’re teaching health class. (See links below)
Q-Tips on the mind today—we’re out.
Can you believe it? Don’t you keep a backup supply like I do?
There’s a rule around here: If you take something off the supply shelf, the add the item to the grocery list. Somehow we hit a glitch in the plan.
Ear wax is a problem around here-my son produces earwax by the ounces.
Sorry, don’t run away. That was ….gross. That’s the worst of my rant this morning.
I’m sure earwax production = brain cell production. (There has to be a plus side for earwax.)
My husband is truly distraught over the lack of cotton swabs, but I came to his rescue.
I offered him the stash from my make-up bag with a wee eye shadow stain on the tips.
He refused. What’s wrong with him?
The following link is a “moderately easy” on the Difficulty Scale: (Ahum…What would they label moderately hard?)
How to Use Q-Tips Swabs Safely
http://www.ehow.com/how_4735890_use-qtips-swabs-safely.html
Ear Safety Tips: “Dr. Brown also reminds parents that neither they nor their child should attempt to remove an object on their own. Cotton swabs, bobby pins or tweezers may seem like a harmless way to take out a foreign body, but they are not.
”Tissue paper, candy, English peas and beans may sound like items on a grocery list, but they also are just some of the things physicians at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas have removed from the ears and noses of some curious toddlers and preschoolers.” http://www.yourchildshealth.com/safety/ear.html
Activities-Senses: Hearing
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/articles/early-childhood-ear-hearing-science-teaching-tip.html
Tips for Swimmers’ Ear
“Do not poke anything into the ear canal in an effort to loosen wax and let water out. Many serious ear injuries occur when well-meaning parents stick something in children’s ears.” http://www.life123.com/parenting/young-children/water-safety/water-safety-tips-how-to-prevent-swimmers-ear.shtml
Read this article: safe sound level of toys
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article751160.ece
And for you, my friend: 29 Beautiful Ways to Use a Q-Tip
http://thebeautybunny.com/beauty-uses-for-q-tips/
peanut picture courtesy of: www.publicdomainpictures.net
Try this for handwriting
http://www.meddybemps.com/SpinnerPad.html
How do you teach handwriitng?
vintagemothblogspot
Are you ready for next year?
Now if you’re a veteran teacher, you’ve already started. The tip today is for the new folks who marvel over how teachers set-up their classroom in the fall.
Everything you can prepare ahead saves time during the crunch week before school begins.
Ready, Set, Go…..but don’t neglect your May/June duties. Busy…………
Do you know a mother of the year?
Sister, you deserve the mother of the year award too!
And mom, of course you do.
Thanks for making homemade macaroni and cheese, keeping the house spotless, fixing my hair, sewing my clothes, and teaching me to write thank-you notes. If you’d like to nominate a Mother of the Year go here:
http://news.cnnbcvideo.com/taf.html?p=
Salt your coffee? Yes. Read the post at Brownie Points Blog for better coffee ideas.
Not Martha: anyone claiming this title deserves a look. Her site is sugar-n-spice nice. How about a guest post here at DaVinci’s Classroom, Not Martha?
The Organizing Junkie features Responsibility Charts for her children. Wonderful idea! Will you make some for my children? And, will you drop by and watch to make sure they follow through? (There’s the key, friends–follow through. Minutes disappear for moms due to Follow Through Duty.)
Teachers….there’s a tip for you, too. Giving directions doesn’t work unless you watch to make sure the kids actually do what you say. I knew that, you say? See, I’ve been saying you are a great teacher!Honey, if you’re reading this.)
Do you want to try the No Spend Challenge here.
Frankly, I’ve been on this challenge for six years now….Kinda. Have you ever heard of a “spending budget”? Send in your questions and I’ll share our family’s money saving tips.
There.
I blogged.
It’s May. My Stay-At-Blogger status is compromised. Please, don’t tell my husband I call myself a Stay-At-Home Blogger. He’s sure I’m a Stay-At-Home Mom. (Joking…..Joking…Joking…..)
Writing conference is around the corner and- and -and -and and……I can’t tell all today.
Please… share this link with 10 friends today. And your 10 friends will say, Thank-You.
Do it in the next 10 seconds and something will happen–the clock will tick, the sun will shine, the grass grow green… (Ever get those kinds of forwards? The difference is my promises are real. Ha. Ha-Ha. I’ll be grateful if you just share this site.)
And there’s a wee little COMMENT section at the bottom of each post. I’d love to hear from you.
Your friend,
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Please visit all my friends today. Read the JenX67 post. Book lover. A book lover is my friend.
Dr. Tom’s stories of a Bluegrass Road fill your belly. Satisfying. Music lover. A music lover is my friend.
This blog is my secret. But, alas I shall share with you, my dear friends. You see, she can take a piece of worn-out junk and turn it into art, function, and beauty. I’m sure I can do all she does, so I’ve started my collection of “junk”. My husband has declared a moratorium on junk purchases till I finish the current projects. Darn-it. It’s easier to look for the junk. But this lady finds it, does it, and displays it.
talk to you later……..DaVinci’s Classroom
Oh, oh, oh…………! Exciting. Yes, this site has made me so-o-o-o-o-o happy. Would you like flashcards to make math games? Pictures for crafts? Pictures for bulletin boards?
Would you like beautiful, colored flashcards? No nonsense and all practical for supporting your teacher made products.
Go here: Lesson Sense
You’ll be glad you visited!
DaVinci’s Classroom
Share-n-Tell
Hi Ladies, Gents, Teachers, Moms, Writers!
How are ya? I’ve been thinking I know the signs of old age, although I can not reveal how I discovered them. Here’s the top three.
I know what you're thinking...another old age benefit.
1. Food lingers on the side of your mouth–you neither feel or notice. And, NOBODY tells you there’s salad dressing on the side of your lip until you look through the rearview mirror two hours later. Hm-m-m. (Maybe your friends are getting old, too.)
2. Staring out the window identifying birds. Bird talk, to me as a twenty-something child, was an absolute hallmark of old people. My grandparents held conversations over fried eggs about the wren building a nest in the bird house on the locust post. (“Boring”…thought the twenty year old.)
My husband and I discuss the gorgeous finches and cardinals perched in our yard. Fascinating.
3. I can’t remember.
What about you? What’s the signs of old age for you and are any creeping into your life? I heard Flax Seed helps, but they don’t sell it in barrels.
Have a great Friday. Your kinda-old friend, DaVinci’s Classroom
Teachers: How do you manage Show-n-Tell? Do you require educational sharings? Recently, I visited a class that laminates a Show-n-tell bag with directions on the front (laminated for durability). The object has to fit into the bag and then goes into an assigned box in the classroom. (Kids have all week to bring in their sharing.) Then, the teacher turns the sharing into an lesson writing sentences on chart paper about the sharing. Good idea.
Library
Fill in the blank: You know you’re a ____________ because you love libraries.
ttp://content.lib.washington.edu
DaVinci’s Classroom will feature libraries next week. Please take a picture of a library you love. Send a comment to me and I’ll reply, so we can post your favorite library.
I look forward to a glorious collection of library pictures next week, don’t you? Please participate. Thanks…..
My answer: You know you’re a teacher because you love libraries.
Boston Public Library
You should see the interior!
If you live in Boston, please photograph and send DaVinci’s Classroom.
Days of Children Reading Books ‘are numbered’ Read the article here
What do you search for during a library visit?
If you’re studying for the SAT, The Grammar Guy offers free SAT test preparation for reading and writing.
Top Ten List of Things You Would Not Want to Do Alone
1. Change a tire on an 18 wheeler. Change all the tires on an 18 wheeler. Without a tire jack. On the side of a six-lane interstate.
2. Encounter a grizzly bear.
3. Breathe.
4. Pull the hair out of the mole in the middle of my back. (This is fiction and you will never know the rest of the story….. Repeat with a deep Transylvanian accent.)
5. Watch my child suffer a terminal disease.
6. Hike the Himalayas.
7. Have open heart surgery.
8. Navigate Mars in a doon buggy.
9. Waltz.
10. Write a book.
And…accept an award from the president of the United States for the Top 10 List.
(I’m expecting an agent and contract for this work!) Amen and Amen!
Your sleepy friend,
DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
This is what I know about this literary agent: NOTHING
EXCEPT: The blog is one of Writer’s Digest, 101 websites for writers and she sponsers contest and that’s it. EXCEPT…I enjoy reading her posts. Now, that’s it.
Upcoming Post will be either more on literary agents, 007 agents, FBI agents, chemical agents, insurance agents or whatever I want to write! You’ll just have to drop by the classroom to see. I promise I won’t take away your recess.
Your friend, DaVinci’s Classroom Teacher
Eavesdropping…..
“Girl. You spell girl, “g-o-o-l”. Giirrrl“
“No, you don’t. Ga. G-i-r-l-e. Girl.”
Cooperating….
“Moma, come play with me.”
So, I’ve been on duty. Here’s your summer recipe which I read the on a great craft blog: www.kidscraftweekly.com .
Recipe for Preserving Children
1 grassy field
1 half-dozen children (or more)
several dogs (and puppies, if available)
1 brook
pebbles
Method
1. Into field pour children and dogs, allowing to mix well.
2. Pour brooke over pebbles until slightly frothy.
3. When children are nicely brown, cool in warm bath.
4. When dry, serve with milk and fresh gingerbread.
Playing…..but I’ll be back. Tomorrow. Really.
Yes, it’s almost time to begin again. I’ll start up DaVinci’s Classroom with the school schedule. I’m excited to announce DaVinci’s Classroom is accepting Guests Posts!
If you are an educator, writer, mother, or woman we want to learn from you. Please send a comment to DaVinci’s Classroom if you want to post.
What is DaVinci’s Classroom? Just what it says… a place for educators, writers, mothers, and women.
Our focus this school year will be: VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS DaVinci’s Classroom is the place to send in images of your classroom, so we can all visit. Teachers love to learn from each other. Send ‘em in and I’ll post the pictures for everbody.
Writer’s: We’re looking for clips and tips from you–a quick tip, a commentary, a lesson, anything you can share.
Bookworms: I’ll be sharing my summer reading with you and you can, too. Let’s talk about what you’re reading.
Here’s where I’ve been all summer: www.devokids.com It’s the NEW site for kids, so spread the word. It’s loaded with material and updates weekly. Kids and adults enjoy reading DevoKids.
Can’t wait to hear from you!
Your friend, DaVinci’s Classroom
Writing Announcement: Teachers, Writers, Mothers, Women
As Red Writing Hood strolled through the woods, she came across a wonderful opportunity. Eddie Jones, writing coach, teaches you to write scenes, plot, develop characters, and improve dialogue.
If you’re a teacher, this class will improve your teaching skills.
Here’s an excellent opportunity http://www.writerscoach.us/
Red Writing Hood knows all about scary dialogue, scene development, and a mysterious plot–just ask the big, bad wolf.
(PS: Grandma, I won’t be visiting during Writer’s Coach class time.
Writers, come to a great conference! “The Write2Ignite! for Christian Writers of Children’s Literature is a gathering of writers, storytellers, illustrators, communicators, editors and publishers working together to create literature that points children to the heart of Christ.”
March 16-17, 2012 Greenville, SC (Tigerville)
$90 adults, $45 students (teens)
www.write2ignite.wordpress.com
I’ll be there and I hope to see you! DaVinci’s Classroom Be sure to comment or email me: terri@devokids.com
Here are resources for you.
Free Resources at Teacher Tools
And…What is real fear?
Sitting on the toilet in the teacher’s bathroom and hoping you locked the door. Amen? What about you? Any horrible school bathroom stories?
Why do they always place the teacher’s bathroom with a vulnerable toilet and no barrier, other than a door, in a visual school hallway?
Great day to you! Love, DaVinci’s Teacher
Here’s a math website for you.
Looks like they also have a blog. I know teachers are always
on the lookout for new and improved. Let me know what
what you think about this site and I can post more information
here for readers. Have a lovely, lovely day! DaVinci’s Teacher
Pop me an email: How do you get every big, every little, every necessary task done? Davinci’s Teacher: terri@devokids.com
Reading: If you’re interested in Lexile Information, link here.
Websites for kids:
DogEared from National Geographic
Contact terri@devokids to have your educational website listed here.
Father’s Day Gift: Win a Free Book
Are there any super dads around? I think so. Meet Armin Brott, father and best-selling author. Wondering how to be a dad and not finding resources, Armin created his own. Now, as author of eight books, Armin trains men for the most important job: fatherhood. Allowing dads the opportunity to learn creates an independent father. From struggling to braid your daughter’s pigtail to changing a diaper, “Dad does things his own way,” and mom’s should give them the opportunity to learn. This creates an independent father, not “just mommy’s little helper,” Brott says.
This super dad has designed a Seal of Approval program for products/services that “build and strengthen father-child relationships.” Real dads test the products for fun, safety, and usefulness. Products that earn the seal must be a resource, tool, or information to help men be the fathers they want to be and need to be.
Armin Brott has donated a book to DaVinci’s Classroom and you could win. To qualify, write a comment or email DaVinci’s Classroom at: terri@devokids.com. Your email/comment automatically qualifies you to win by a random drawing. Deadline: Thursday, June 17, 2011 at midnight. The winner will be notified, June 18, 2011.
Here’s the free book: The Military Father, by Armin Brott
Check out Armin’s website for yourself: www.mrdad.com
Thanks and Happy Father’s Day, DaVinci’s Classroom
Ladies,
I’ve met a great journalist last week, Rusty Wright. I’m going to link you to his article, Is Casual Sex Losing its Zing?
Here’s the beginning…
Hot news from CNN: Some university students are giving up casual sexual…
Ka$hing, Ka$hing. How much cash have you spent on your classroom? Somebody is actually counting. Brad’s Deals reports teacher’s spend 1.3 million personal money every year.
Okay, you and I know that’s only what’ reported. Who knows how we really spend. But Brad’s batting for you. He’s listed businesses that offer discounts to teachers. So here’s the link for you. Brad’s Deals.com.
I hope this helps and you have some $ left for your IRA accounts. Don’t forget to save…for yourself.
Have a great beginning of the school year. Classroom pictures are coming soon. Send your digital classroom pictures to terri@devokids.com and I’ll post them here at DaVinci’s Classroom.
Your teacher and friend,
DaVinci’s Teacher
The Virtual Classroom: DaVinci’s Classroom is the go-to place for educators. We love to visit other classroom, but don’t have time. You can visit classrooms here at DaVinci’s Classroom.
Please visit my other blog: www.davincisgallery.blogspot.com
Thanks…send me your classroom pictures. terri@devokids.com.
Win an iPOD! Link here for a press release of iBegat.com and find out how to win an iPOD Nano.
FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:
“iBegat.com is a website where teens can minister to teens in a fun way…their work, their interests, and the topics that are important to them. This is a place for teens to come and relax a bit, read current news and trends, hang, and join a new online community of friends. iBegat.com seeks to give teens enjoyable reading and offer the resources that will support their needs on hot topics.” (copied from press release)
The virtual classroom
Please enjoy your trip down the hallways of our virtual classroom. Why don’t you participate in DaVinci’s Classroom? Send images of your classroom to terri@devokids.com and I’ll post them here. Share this site with your teaching friends. This is the go-to place for educators to learn from each other. Save time and money…visit the virtual classroom: www.davincisclassroom.wordpress.com!
Utilize the hallways for beauty and space.
(Remember to check the fire safety guidelines for your school.)
Rainbow Jello
5 small boxes of Jello (different colors)
Follow directions on Jello box, mix a new flavor each day. Each day, layer the jello mix over the one from the previous day. By Friday, you have an edible rainbow.
(You could use the recipe for Jello Jigglers instead.)
*To vary the shade, add a wee bit of evaporated milk in the water.
Listen. Here’s book worth reading. Can’t you tell I stay home and read all the the time? So listen…here’s a great book. Order it today: He Said, She Said
by Cindy Sproles & Eddie Jones
 |
Kindle eBook
|
He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion
By Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles
Do you sense something vital missing from you relationship with your spouse, children and God? Try He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion. This compilation of 54 devotions includes scripture verses, space for journaling, individual prayers and words of wisdom from two of today’s funniest and insightful Christian authors. This heart-warming collection of stories will inspire you to reach for the true source of joy: a life lived for and through God. These deeply personal devotions offer biblical insights and spiritual truths from the perspective of one man and one woman. Perfect for your quiet time. No matter if you are newlyweds or newly retired, this book of devotions will help you put the spark back into your love life and explore the precious relationships God desires for you. Begin this new year committed to spending a few moments each day connected to God. He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion touches the heart, tickles the funny bone and brings you to your knees in worship.
The concept of He Said, She Said devotions introduces the readers to looking at one scripture, from two perspectives—his and hers. The beauty in this unique type of devotion come when a man reads the perspective of a woman suddenly grasping a new outlook on the scripture; likewise the same for a woman to read the thoughts and views from a man’s perspective. The reader can then mesh the two together for a deeper and more intimate learning experience.
Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles have captured the essence of scripture through the heart of a man and a woman, addressing the passions of loving your spouse, your children and ultimately loving the Father deeper than ever before.
He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion is available on Amazon Kindle now!
Reviews:
From Gina Holmes, author of Crossing Oceans
Cindy and Eddie are not only good friends of mine, but a regular source of my spiritual renewal. It’s a great idea, the he-said/she-said concept and I always enjoy their devotionals. Both are not only grounded spiritually, and super nice people but they both keep me laughing. It’s that humor and heart that makes the spiritual more relatable in the most practical sense.
From Ane Mulligan, Editor of Novel Journey
I’ve know Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles for a few years. Each has a way of tickling my funny bone, so I wondered what a devotional book by them would be. I can heartily recommend it. The humor is there, but it’s coupled with deep truths that go straight to the heart of the problem. You’ll find a path that winds closer to God through He Said, She Said.
From Scott McCausey, Radio host, Christian Devotions Speak UP!
This devotional series is how I discovered God’s gift through Christian Devotion Ministries and all the talented writers who grace their web site, [...]. The relationship between Eddie and Cindy will remind you of the brother or sister you grew up with, full of bantering and love for His word; they will guide you on a spiritual journey full of incite and humor. Don’t miss the next He Said She Said, I know I won’t!
From Reader, Nancy Dutton
I enjoy the male and female approach to the heartfelt, refreshing and thought-provoking devotionals. Reading these devotionals helps me draw closer to God. “He Said, She Said” is available and may be delivered to you in various formats, for your convenience.
From Reader Matt McCurry
My Mom and I both have read the book which is a great collection of devotionals and it’s not just for married people; I’m single and can use it in my life as a Christian man. Great reading, I really enjoyed it!
He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion LINK
Listen to this interview on Michael Hyatt’s blog Tuesday, March 15.
More about the great new book, The Curse of Captain LaFoote
Link here to see the buzz: http://www.mycarolinatoday.com/2011/03/the-curse-of-captain-lafoote/
Here’s a link for you. Write2Ignite Blog features Thursday Thrift for writers shares tips for children’s writers. write2Igniteblog.write2ignite.com
Any wolves in the forest? None
A word for Granny? Granny says you can write a classic, just keep writing!
A Red Writing Tip from Little Red Writing Hood at DaVinci’s Classroom
