April Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

It's April already, the school year is almost over.  Now it's time to look forward toward spring vacation if it hasn't already come and gone. Stop by our blog linky and see what great tips and advice are there just for you.

If you're interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here....The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, be sure to mention one of our names.

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 Spring Activities

By Retta London of Rainbow City Learning

Begin with mud and splash into fun learning this Spring.

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Music to Calm the Soul and Enhance Learning

By Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

“Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.” –Ludwig van Beethoven. Why is it that for many of us, music is an essential part of our personal lives yet when we go to work or school we turn it off?

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 The Elephant in the Classroom

By Gini Musmanno of Reading Spotlight 

 Where is the elephant in the classroom? The recent college admissions scandal might give us a clue.

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 Scaredy Squirrel - Mentor Text

By Alison Monk of The Literacy Garden 

 What happens when Scaredy Squirrel visits YOUR home? This free writing activity will get your writers excited!

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 I Feel Bad for People Who Say They Feel Badly

By Charlene Tess of Charlene Tess 

 Do you know how to decide between the words bad and badly? Many people don't.

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 7 Tips to Help Students Revise Their Essay

By Sally Hansen of Purposeful Plans 

 Try out these 7 helpful tips to guide your students during the revising phase. Your writers can use these tips throughout during the writing process.

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 How to Start Book Clubs in Your Classroom

By Marcy Howe of It's a Teacher Thing 

 Are you considering using book clubs in your classroom? Learn five things you should do before you introduce book clubs to your class.

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 Make Mistakes on Purpose

By Erik Arndt of Insights to English

 When students have the opportunity to correct the teacher, it reinforces that language point, assesses the students' understanding of that language point, gives the learner confidence, and teaches students to problem-solve.

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 Exploring Patterns With Project-Based Learning: Rotations, Reflections & Translations

 By Tracy Willis of Mossy Oak Musings

Explore 4th and 5th grade geometry concepts with project-based learning. It's always surprising who excels with this type of project, and who finds them challenging. This one doesn't disappoint!

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Whole Body Learning

By Kathie Yonemura of Tried and True Teaching Tools

 Geometry was a daunting subject for me in high school. So when I started teaching, I was determined to think of a way to teach geometry that was fun and interactive.

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 Be sure to visit all of our teachers for some awesome ideas to use with your students.

 

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Celebrate Good Times with a Podcast Giveaway!

Exciting happenings at Wild Child Designs! I've teamed up with 3 teaching friends on a new endeavor! WE TEACH SO HARD...A podcast for teachers who love to talk shop, talk trash, and talk life. Enter our CELEBRATORY GIVEAWAY & CLICK THE LINK BELOW!

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April Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

It's April already, the school year is almost over. Easter and Passover have come an gone, now it's time to look forward toward spring vacation if it hasn't already come and gone. Stop by our blog linky and see what great tips and advice are there just for you.

If you're interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here....The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, be sure to mention one of our names.
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April Activities Just for You
By Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

Turning my thoughts to sunny days and warmer weather!!! Can’t you just smell spring in the air? Daffodils beginning to bloom, Lilac trees starting to flower, and Lilies of the Valley popping up. I just love the aroma. Not only is my birthday in April but it brings us Passover, Easter, and one that you may never have heard of, can you guess? If you said Jelly Bean Day, you’d be right.  I don’t know about you, but I looove jelly beans. They come in so many awesome flavors, no I don’t like the black ones, but I had an aunt who used to love them.
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STEAM: From Sandbox to Spectacular
By Retta London of Rainbow City Learning

How to take your STEM activities to the nextlevel for upper elementary students.
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Tone
By Gini Musmanno of The Reading Spotlight

A message to Myself: My tone of voice has a greater influence on children than I might think. Remember the time...
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C-Stem
By Lisa Robles of LisaTeachR's Classroom

Learn about C-Stem and tools for coding!
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The Hidden Curriculum
By Michelle Webb of Teaching Ideas for Those Who Love Teaching

Finding books to read with your class that tell more than a single story.
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The Teacher's Role in Classroom Book Clubs
By Marcy Howe of It's a Teacher Thing

Simplify using classroom book clubs by understanding the role of the teacher on meeting day. Learn key tips to ensure your classroom book clubs will run smoothly.
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Now that you've come to the bottom of the page, make sure you hop on over to read the rest of the posts in our April Teacher Talk.

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It's Teacher Talk's FEATURED AUTHOR!

It's TEACHER TALK'S Featured Author

April 2017

Kathy Simpson

of

This is my family. My husband and I have been best friends and married for 45 years…we met in high school in 1967.  I know…I am dating myself, but I mentioned this because in today’s world this does not happen too often!  We have 3 children who are all married and 4 grandchildren…so far…fingers crossed for a few more! Marra is my maiden name so I am thrilled that one of my granddaughters is named after ME and my middle name is Joy, which is also my younger granddaughter’s middle name…another score in the name department! I have also included a picture of our newest and youngest granddaughter. She is 2 months old and was not in our family photo this year... next year you will see her sparkling face right with the rest of us.

PS. We have 5 teachers in the Simpson Clan! Can you find them?

I taught full time and part time for 34 years.  Most of my career I taught first grade and looped from first to second for a total of 25 years. I have also taught pre-school through high school (Spanish) in some capacity through subbing for many years. I have written curriculum, served as Team Leader for first and second grade, and facilitated workshops for Everyday Math and Literacy Stations as well as co-teaching.  My Non-fiction writing methods are featured in a book by Dr. Sharon Kletzien published by the International Reading Association entitled Informational Text in K-3 Classrooms. 

About 3 years ago I embarked on a new adventure...after 34 years of teaching full and part time, I retired. After the dust settled on the dance floor from the many retirement parties that were celebrated, I sprained my ankle walking out a door and that, my friends, was the beginning of my TpT journey. I sat day and night unable to move and then it hit me...my colleagues always told me I should sell my resources on TpT.  So I dug out my plethora of files and the rest is history.  PS I LOVE creating!!

My Resources

My resources support grades Pre-K through 2^nd grade in all areas of the curriculum. They range from Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science as well as Behavior Management, Social Skills, Special Education, English Language Learners and anything any teacher requests. My resources bring the understanding and knowledge that each child is unique...unique in the way they learn, what they need to succeed and the diverse qualities that make them who they are. My resources reflect the differentiation that is needed to meet the needs of each child in the classroom. When I create a resource, I try to think of my self, as a student, learning the concepts and skills included in the lesson.  How will a six or seven year old react to this?  I try to focus on what teachers need to support their learners.

One of  my Best Selling Resources  and one of my faves is Behavior Classroom Management: Stop thatBlurting Grades K-3!

Stop That Blurting and Interrupting is a Behavior Classroom Management resource, which was created to support students who have difficulty with calling out.  I would say that in the beginning of the year, that is pretty much everyone especially in the younger grades! This packet can be used with any book on this topic or it can stand-alone. It is meant to be used with grades: K-3, but can be adapted for older grades as well.  Strategy cards, role playing cards, differentiated writing frames and an award is included for use as needed for your class! 

 My all time favorite resource is  Be a Superhero and Save the Earth.

When I created this resource, I was so excited that I gave it away free to all my teacher friends!!  Be a Superhero and Save the Earth integrates Writing and Science. Children make themselves as this adorable superhero and write what they will do to save the earth. The writing frames are differentiated to work with various levels.

Everything you need to complete this craftivity is included. Just copy pieces on to colored cardstock or construction paper and you are ready to go!  I would have the students do the writing first and then make themselves as a superhero. PS This would make a great Bulletin Board...Oh and it's my #2 seller!

Where can you find me?

TBOTEMC’s Teacher Talk has encourage me to stay on top of my goals in that gentle reminders are sent to let you know what is ahead. It allows bloggers to share their posts with many more viewers in that it is linked with other bloggers and with this site as well. I feel that this group has enabled me to be my best teacherpreneur self because it has opened many avenues and opportunities for success. I LOVE being a part of this group and the entire TBOTEMC .  Thanks everyone!!!

TpT Store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Sunshine-And-Lollipops/

Blog:  http://joyssunshineandlollipops.blogspot.com/

 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kajoyson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyssunshineandlollipops/

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/kajoyson

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyssunshineandlollipops/

Email Address: sunshineandlollipops2014@gmail.com

April Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

It's April and so many groovy things are happening this month, Easter, Passover, spring vacation and so much more. Be sure to stop by and see what these teachers are doing in their classrooms and gather some great tips and ideas.

If you're interested in joining this unique group of teacher entrepreneurs, blogging buddies and/or our blog linky, sign up here....The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. If you decide to join, be sure to mention one of our names.
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If You Love Jelly Beans
By Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

Can’t you just smell spring in the air? Daffodils beginning to bloom, Lilac trees starting to flower, and Lilies of the Valley popping up. I just love the aroma. Not only is my birthday in April but it brings us Passover, Easter, and one that you may never have heard of, can you guess? If you said Jelly Bean Day, you’d be right. It's April 22nd.
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Plan a Portfolio Party
By Retta London of Rainbow City Learning

Plan a celebration for your young writers as they bloom in the Spring!
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April Math FUN!
By Sara Snyder of Snyder Classroom

Make Math FUN this Spring! These spring math riddles are great for reviewing previous topics or practicing current skills. These riddles can be helpful in your classroom at this busy time of year. (And sneak a little fun into the classroom) I have made these math riddles to combine fun and learning for this time of year.
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How Many Ways are Words Related?
By Susan Berkowitz of Susan Berkowitz

Individuals who use AAC need to learn to take a conscious path to the words they need. If they want an apple, they need to think about how to navigate to categories -> to food -> to fruit -> to apple. SLPs can help them learn how to do this.
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6 Tips to Support English Language Learners in Your Classroom
By Kathy Simpson of Sunshine and Lollipops

Do you have English Language Learners in your classroom? If you do...you will want to take a look at this post and discover 6 easy and fun tips to support your ELL students. I am sure you will LOVE #1!
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Apollo 13: The Ultimate STEM Challenges
By Kerry Tracy of Kerry Tracy

The Apollo 13 mission shows how seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome with scientific reasoning and problem solving. Specifically, the carbon dioxide filter fix shows why STEM Challenges are so much more than just "fun."
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The Magic of a Circle
By Kathie Yonemura of Tried and True Teaching Tools

Using only a circle, students fold and learn a multitude of geometric terms. This is a fantastic way to teach geometry and for students to experience more than just shapes!
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Increase Engagement and Maintain Rigor-Hands-on Fun in the Upper Grade and Middle School Classroom
By Marcy Howe of It's a Teacher Thing

Maintaining student motivation is important during any time of year, but it's even more crucial when they return from a break. I save several of my "great" activities for those Mondays after a week off.
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Poppies & Pantoums: Poetry Comes Alive with Georgia O'Keefe
By Tracy Willis of Wild Child Designs

4th and 5th grade students explore the life of Georgia O'Keefe via a biography and her fabulous artwork. We look closely at the natural world using photographs and author Pantoum poems, a cool poetic form from Malaysia. We recuperate from our testing angst with a poppy craft.
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Painting Poetry: Children's Voices
By Virginia Musmanno of Reading Spotlight

We hope that you will take one minute out of your busy day to enjoy a slideshow of our paintings of poems. We hope that you enjoy seeing them as much as we enjoyed painting them!
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