New Release

We're decorating cupcakes here today!

What Fear?

"The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything," by Linda Williams

This story works perfect for an interactive read aloud! In the story, an old lady walks home one night and is followed by shaking clothing, amongst other things. Everything that follows her ends up being the perfect makings of a scarecrow. Bring in articles of clothing that match up with the story and encourage your students to wiggle and shake their props as the story is read again, or retold by another student.

Click on the Posting Title for a link to a Readers' Theatre that goes along with the story as well or check out this post reading activity that encorporates Science.

FIVE SENSES REPORT
Under each heading, list at least three words to describe a forest:
Sights
Sounds
Smells
Colors
Tastes

Use the words in a five senses report

The forest is (color)_______________________
It sounds like____________________________
It tastes like_____________________________
It smells like_____________________________
It looks like______________________________
It makes me feel like_______________________

Walk to School Day

International Walk to School Day - October 8, 2008
This day encourages students to exercise and communities to create safer walking and biking routes. For ideas on how to organize an event, promotional materials, and more, visit the link that is attached to the posting title!

E-Mentoring Program

Free for Title 1 Schools
In2Books is an e-mentoring program that pairs students with adult pen pals to correspond about books they read. New to the site is Student Place, which is designed to help students choose books they would like to read based on genre, reading level, and more. It's all for grades 3-5. Visit the site attached to this posting title to learn more.

Family Day

Studies show that the more kids eat dinner with their families, the more likely they are to get better grades and the less likely they are to smoke cigarettes and use drugs and alcohol. Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children reminds parents that what kids really want at the dinner table is to spend time with them! This year's celebration is September 22, 2008. Learn more by clicking on the posting title listed above!

Create a Winning Classroom Contest

Use Carson-Dellosa classroom decoratives to create an inspiring, fun classroom design and you could win a shopping spree! The Create a Winning Classroom Contest awards one PreK-8 teacher a $1,000 shopping spree for Carson Dellosa materials at a teacher supply store. Twenty first-prize winners receive $100 shopping sprees, and 100 second-prize winners receive $25 shopping sprees. Get entry forms by clicking on the posting title above. The deadline is September 15, 2008.

Teaching Economics with Children's Literature

Visit the link attached to this posting for ideas!

Creative Fundraiser

Looking for a creative fundraiser? Consider ArtStamps, a program in which students have their original artwork turned into real U.S. postage stamps. As a bonus, students who submit artwork by December 31 will be entered to win the National Artistic Achievement Award. Winners in each of five groups win $50 to $500, receive their artwork in a custom frame, and have it displayed on the ArtStamps Web site. To learn more, visit the link attached to the posting title.