Special needs students are special needs all day, not just for 90 minutes per day.
~ Bill T.

When I decided at age 5, in kindergarten, that I wanted to teach so I could be in charge of the glitter, I had no idea what an adventure I was embarking on.
~ Cloe

Keep in mind that punishment is not your most effective behavior management tool.
~ Mary/PA

Rejoice and be glad that you are in school where the teachers pay attention to their work rather than to one another.
~ L. Swilley

Ability is that which we have in us. Achievement is that which we show.
~ Sharyl

If the schools stand back and essentially say that since they didn't create the problem it's not their responsibility to find the solutions, then school violence and the fear it creates (which interferes with the academic program) will only increase.
~ Nelda

States have huge deficits because they operate on short term solutions.
~ Ann HS/WA

We do things differently, and I like it like that.
~ Alison/Aus

I don't have any illusions that I'm convincing anyone, but ideas grow from seeds.
~ Lev

Snickerdoodles are marvelous for dunking in hot chocolate!
~ Magoo

Posted by Jan on the Second Grade Mailring

Last year someone posted an activity that has helped my students understand which words are guide words.

The students write a dictionary entry using their first name: John (noun) 1. Brown hair 2. blue eyes 3. boy etc. Then I put the entries on a poster in the hall to look like a dictionary page. The children are real interested to see who gets to be the guide words. (First and last child on each page when listed in abc order.)

by Kim in Southern California

My class has a real problem with LOUD voices. I thought I'd go nuts for a while. One thing I have tried that is working for most of them is our "Favorite Voices."

I put up a chart with a list of "voices"--inside voice, shouting voice, whining voice, Mom voice, cowboy voice, etc. When we are reading short poems, I ask the helper to choose one voice, and then we read the poem again in that voice. If they do a good job, they get to choose another mathematical sentences (like 4 + 1 = 5). It is a really fun way for them to actually HEAR the difference between the voices. MY favorite voice is "No voice" which means they have to mouth the words without ANY sound.

by Alisha/2

A fun activity I did last year came from the Bag Ladies. You show the class Time Magazine's Person of the Year issue and read snippets about why they were so important.

Their writing assignment is to write an article for Time pretending they are the Person of the Year, either for last year or for in the future.

My class wrote about what they were doing in their future professions- teachers, vets, policemen, pilots, inventors. After they wrote the article, they had to draw a picture of themselves with TIME (like the magazine cover) at the top. They turned out so cute! I posted them on red paper-portrait on one side, article on the other.

Posted by Lisa/PA on the First Grade Mailring

1. Hat (image of a top hat)
   GREEN - I am a girl.
   RED - I am a boy.
2. Mouth: On a cold day, I like to...
   (image of pieces of coal in shape of smile) drink hot chocolate
   (solid smile line) eat soup
   (squiggle line) have something else
3. Gloves or Mittens: In the winter, I like to...
   (image of mitten) wear mittens to keep my hands warm
   (image of gloves) wear gloves to keep my hands warm
4. Boots: In winter, I like to...
   (image of boots)
   PURPLE - go sledding
   RED - build snowmen
   BLUE - throw snowballs
5. Buttons: When it snows, it's best when school ...
   (triangle shape) - is closed
   (square shape) - has delayed openings
   (circle shape) - closes early
6. Scarf: Winter is...
   SOLID COLOR (image of solid colored scarf) - my favorite season
   STRIPED (image of striped scarf) - not my favorite season
7. Broom or shovel:
   (image of broom) I like snow.
   (image of shovel) I don't like snow.

Another version:
short nose/long nose- boy/girl
buttons= number of siblings
eyes- same color as yours
scarf- favorite winter activity r-snow ball fight, y- snow men, g- snow angels
smile/no smile- did you like the activity hat/no hat- enjoy school

Posted by Various members of the Teachers.Net Community

We will be at day 84 when we return which will put our 100th day on the 29th of January. Have a few things planned - 100 object collections, collecting 100 buttons for me to wear on a vest, copies of $100 dollar bills to use in math, but nothing beyond that yet. I know there are all sorts of activities floating around - anyone have an absolute must do favorite?
~ Susan

I did sew 100 buttons on to an old white t-shirt that belonged to my husband. It is a once a year wear and the kids love it. It took me about an hour to do it and is very interesting to wear.
~ Celia