January Teacher Talk

Posted by Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

It's 2017 Time sure flies. WE have some great ideas for you in our January edition of Teacher Talk. So hurry on over to see what these creative educators are doing this month.

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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Is Vacation Over Already?
By Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern

I don’t know about you, but at one time, it was a real downer for me to return to school after vacation. Stress was my middle name, I'd spend time worrying what I was going to teach, wondering about the lessons I'd have to reteach and thinking about that parent meeting scheduled after vacation. I'd get really bummed out the day before until I learned a few tricks I'd like to share.
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Gifts of the New Year

By Retta London of Rainbow City Learning

Some gifts you can share with students this month.
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(Star)bursting for Rocks!
By Kathie Yonemura of Tried and True Teaching Tools

Party accessories make setting New Year's goals the perfect connection to a healthy, whole student.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Prompts
By Kerry Tracy of Kerry Tracy

Use MLK's brilliant quotes all month long to inspire quick writes! ***********************************************
Make Math FUN this Winter!
By Sara Snyder of Snyder Classroom

Engage your students with these Winter Math riddles worksheets! I began creating math riddles to make math more fun in my own classroom. I love hearing my students giggle as they solve the riddle at the end of the worksheet. Students solve problems, each problem has a letter assigned to it and the letters help to solve the riddle. It is a great way to combine fun and learning! Make math FUN!
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What is ACC?
By Susan Berkowitz of Susan Berkowitz

Do you know exactly what AAC is? Here is an informative post to help guide you.
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Tech Talk - The Online Subscription Dilemma
By Michelle Webb of Teaching Ideas for Those who Love Teaching

Stop worrying about how to pay for online subscriptions for your classroom.
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Fact or Fantasy? Organization 101 for Teachers
By Tracy Willis of Wild Child Designs

A humorous exploration of systems organization in an elementary classroom. This post explores ways to organize and support word study.
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Check out these blog posts from other teachers in our collaborative.

An InLinkz Link-up

New Years Math and Literacy (English & Spanish)

Ah, Christmas break is nearing an end! Need some emergency plans for Back to School? Check out my No prep Math & Literacy New Years packets available in both English & Spanish.

Ease back into the New Year by discussing your own celebrations, counting down, and enjoying some themed writing and drawing.

Click the images below!

 

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FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON -- New Year's Resolutions

                              Diet! Exercise! Save money! Spend more time with family!

As their parents are making New Year’s resolutions, you can help your students make resolutions to become better students and/or better readers.

                                     EASY TO USE!    HELPFUL!    EFFECTIVE!

This series of self-help tests are designed so that students can easily recognize their weaknesses in reading and/or study skills. They include simple instructions; space for a resolution is provided at the end of each test. The self-help tests can be used in all grades, but an easier version is provided for grades 1 and 2.

                                    Always useful! Always FREE!

Study Habits Self-Help Test  (Grades 3 & Up):

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Study-Habits-Self-Help-Test-Grades-3-Up-2036795

Reading Habits Self-Help Test (Grades 3 & Up):

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Habits-Self-Help-Test-Grades-3-Up-2036982

Reading Habits Self-Help Test (Grades 1-2): 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Habits-Self-Help-Test-Grades-1-2-2036957

Visit my TpT Store @ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Reading-Spotlight

Visit my blog @www.readingspotlight.com/blog/

Did You Know That Writing New Year's Resolutions Are Ancient History?

By Deann Marin of Socrates Lantern


Did you know that writing New Year’s Resolutions dates back to around 4000 years ago?

At the beginning of the new year, the Babylonians made promises to their gods to return borrowed items and to pay off their debts.  Back then, the new year didn’t begin on

January first, it started in mid-March because that’s when spring begins and crops are planted.  It was important for them to keep their promises and please their gods so that the crops would grow and they would have a good harvest.  The Babylonians believed that an angry god would cause hardships and they didn’t want to take the chance so they made sure to keep their resolutions.

This practice was carried over to the Romans who offered resolutions of good behavior to their god Janus who represented “beginnings and endings. “ Janus looked back at the old year and forward to the new. 

During Medieval times, the knights started their year by taking the “peacock vow,” which

acknowledged their commitment to chivalry.  The Christians  understood the first day of the new year was to be spent pondering their past mistakes and vowing to improve during the next year. The majority spent the night praying and making these promises at their Watchnight Services.

There are other parallels found throughout the world. One example cais in the Jewish religion. During the Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashanah, and  Yom Kippur or Day of

Atonement, they are to think about their wrong doings and hope for forgiveness of these sins.

Now-a-days, we make promises to ourselves, rather than to the gods. Though many of us have the best intentions, we rarely are able to keep our resolutions. Perhaps because we know that the gods won’t punish us for our failure..

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With this in mind. I’ve created a  No Prep New Year’s Resolution Writing Activity for Middle School.  A great way to start to begin the first few days of the new year with yourstudents.   If they make resolutions that they know they can keep, they will feel as if they've accomplished something throughout the year.

 http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-news-general/ancient-history-new-year-s-resolutions-001185

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