Lessons Learned and Interesting Discoveries

I learned long ago that I do not work on school work at home.  It took years to come to this discovery.  I'd pack up my bag of papers to grade, lesson plans to write, projects to create and IEP goals to update with the best intentions of working on it at my kitchen table.  I think in my 11 years in education I can count on two hands the amount of time I actually sat at my table and did school work.  I'm a person who does work...at work.  I come in early and stay late, because there is just something about working at home that does NOT work for me.  I'd rather go to school on a Saturday and finish something than take it home.

Which leads me to my post. While at home, in an effort not to become a drone to reality tv I've become addicted to StumbleUpon.com.  I check my Facebook, celebrity gossip sites, update my netflix cue and then I click that magical Stumble! button on my browser.  It takes me to all sorts of interesting blogs and websites. Some of which have awesome ideas for the classroom others just made me smile on stressful days, so I decided to share a bunch with you!!!

I've linked just a few of my favorites! Click and Enjoy!

1. Top 10 Ways to Wake-up Students
      From having students answer questions in British accents to sneaking Chuck Norris into your power points, great ideas for Middle and High school teachers.

2. Knowing Poe
    Edgar Allan Poe Museum
     Excellent Edgar Allen Poe sites!

3. Crazy Paper Thing
       I'm going to try this soon...maybe at camp read or camp math.

4. BrainPOP
      If you have not tried this...YOU MUST. Wonderful site! For those of you with iPads there is an app for this with free movies daily!

5.  Ancient Civilizations
     Info on ancient cities, religion, writing ect...all in an interactive website!

6.  Maps of War
     Timeline video showing who controlled what in the world.

7.   Sistine Chapel
     For the student that read the Read Naturally passage on Michelangelo.   Let him/her take a look at this!

8.  The AOLer Translator
      Need to translate what you are saying in modern terms your students will understand?  Try this. ;-)

9.  Murphy's Laws of Teaching
      I don't know if they are funny because they are true...or sad....

10.  Otter & a Toddler
      I dare you to watch this and not laugh, smile or at least grin!

11. Michelle's Tech Site
       Have you checked out our GCSEC tech goddess Michelle George's Tech Website? You should...

12. Transition Talk
       Questions about transition paperwork?  Check out Kate Ross's blog!

13. REACH Greetings
       Did you know our REACH program is starting their own business?

Marion Blumenthal Lazan

Thank you to all who were able to come and listen to Marion's powerful message!  Her husband Nathaniel will be sending me a CD of the pictures he took from that morning and I will send those onto teachers who attended!

Just a Reminder...

Deadline to RSVP your class to see Holocaust survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan is this Thursday the 15th! After that date all available seating will go to the host school.