Keeping Pets Safe During a Huricane

During a hurricane, it is extremely important to remember that your pet is relying on you.  The ASPCA says "If you're not safe, neither is your pet."  Keep your pet with you or close by at all times.  Be sure to have a leash handy and a carrier.

The ASPCA has issued the following tips for pet owners:

• Always bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster.
• Make sure all pets wear collars and ID tags with up-to-date identification. Micro-chip your pet as a more permanent form of identification.
• Keep a pet emergency kit and supplies handy with items such as medical records, water, pet food and medications, and pet first aid supplies. Take this with you if you evacuate.
• Arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation. Do not leave your pets behind.

12 hours till the "eye of the storm hits" New Jersey.

During the storm, depending on the intensity (which seems will be high), try to keep your dogs relaxed.  If you are tense, they will be too.

Upgrading Curriculum & Assessment w/ Student Blogfolios

Day 2 - edJEWcon - Session 4: Curriculum & Assessment with Student Blogfolios

Side Note: The header for this post is one of the topics I will be discussing on my new Wiki.  iBark in the Classroom It is still at the developing stages, so if you take a look, be aware that it only has some of the topics so far and no content.

Blogs + Portfolios = Blogfolios

WordPress
*give option to parents about public accessibility*
-- allows password protecting
--no student last names

Blogging = Writing = Following the Writing Process (Drafting, Revising, Editing, Publishing)

Blogging allows for creative expression.  It allows students to put themselves out there and express their opinions.

Digital Citizenship -- no cyberbullying

Developing Digital Skills

"Remember It is A Process"

Week of Training & Conferences

Microsoft Innovative Educator Trainer Certification


Two days in Garden City, New York for the MIE training course and now I'm back and am certified to train other teachers!  The course began with an introduction into using Microsoft products in the classroom and for professional development.  I have to say, the word "FREE" really got my attention many times.

Microsoft OneNote was a big discussion point for the conference, especially because it is so versatile.  While it is not "Apple friendly" (I did ask), OneNote is available via a web app version once you sign up with Windows Live -- which I will talk about more in a little bit.


I am a devoted Apple girl, even though my school uses PCs.

So what did I learn at this conference?  TONS, which I will go into more later.

edJEWcon Conference 2012


Three day conference in Jacksonville, Fl completely centered around Jewish education and using 21st century tools!  Today is Twitter, tomorrow hopefully I will get to go to the session titled "Improving Student Writing Through Blogging" -- something which my students are already doing, followed by Blogfolios, and lastly on Tuesday, Pinterest which I am super excited for since I already use it!

I'll keep you all posted.  We got some great new technology for the school; a flip camera, an iPad, and an iPod Touch.

I'm Bark...I mean BACK!

Sorry everyone that I have been MIA for awhile.  I'm sure you read my last post that I got engaged and got a new puppy, but I also went on a vacation to Disney World over Spring/Passover Break, grades are due, and am now in the process of planning my wedding.  I'm back now, and I'm super excited to share with you some new ideas I have.

Last Friday I taught both 5th and 6th grades, and because we are nearing the end of the year, but also starting our 4th and last quarter, I decided to do something a little different.  The students have had tons of practice with learning Microsoft Word and have been tirelessly practicing their typing skills using Mavis Beacon, but now I want them to use what they've learned.  Using Kidblog, a safe blogging website that teachers can set up for their students (and monitor) I have created accounts for each student and organized them by grade/class.

Each week the students will alternate between a list of prompts to choose from or time for "free-write."  While they all can't be dog themed, I will include at least one prompt that has something to do with dogs.  Today's doggy prompt is: "What would happen if it really did rain cats and dogs?"  Today a few of my students chose this prompt, but the rest of them favored "If you had $1 million what would you buy?" and   "If you could have a superpower what would it be and why?"  Incorporating blogging into the computer curriculum has so far proven to be beneficial.  The students are using technology that they have not used before and they are practicing their keyboarding skills by typing.

Engaged to the love my life! I'm PAWSITIVELY ecstatic!

Friday night, March 9th, 2012 @ 5:45pm after my hair appointment, I walk in the door to my apartment and I see the most adorable little puppy at the door going crazy with excitement (when his tail wags, his whole body wags).  I look up at Scott and say "Is this for me?"  He says "Yes."  He did tell me that he was getting me an anniversary present WE would both love, but I did not expect a puppy (since we were planning on getting one over the Summer).

Engagement Ring

Will You Marry Us?

While getting tons and tons of doggy kisses, I look over and my boyfriend (now my fiance), he tells me to look at his tag. So I do, well actually I try, the little furball is still super excited and just wants to keep kissing my face.I can barely read the tag with the dog moving so much. As he gets down on knee, I see him pull out a gorgeous ring, out of the most perfect box, and says "Will you marry me?"  My heart was beating so fast!  Of course I said "Yes!"  I love him soo much and his proposal was perfect!  After putting on the gorgeous ring and giving him many kisses, he tells me to look at the dog's collar (The dog has finally calmed down enough). Finally, I see it says "Will you marry us?"  Isn't that the sweetest thing ever!

Filly -- my Shih Tzu/Terrier

It gets better.....awhile back I had shown him this cat commercial with the proposal on the collar, but apparently, he had already thought of doing this before I had even shown it to him!  He is such a romantic.  What's amazing is that he was able to keep it from me this long.  He actually bought the ring back in December!  The funny part is that we went to look at rings again in February, and were planning to go again in March/April.  I had no idea that he had already bought it!  He had convinced me that we were going to get engaged on my birthday!

As for the adopting a puppy, apparently he has been visiting the puppy for the past 3 weeks (telling me that he is working late) so he could get him ready to take home!   I am soo excited to be engaged to the love of my life!  Scott is an amazing fiance and my best friend.  Someone I completely trust and am soo excited to be able to spend the rest of my life with him. <3

Ring Balloon -- Bling Bling

Who, What, When, Where, Why, How...WOOF....

Back from my trip to Florida....I apologize for not posting (it was also parent-teacher conferences & report card time)

After reading, whether silently or as a whole class, it is important for the students to be able to discuss and recall the events that happened in the story.  What happened, where did it take place...etc...  The 5 W's (+1 H) is a great tool that is commonly used as a graphic organizer in many classrooms.  It is also a great resource for students to use after reading articles/current events.  

The 5 W's

• WHO is the story about?
• WHAT happened?
• WHEN did it happen?
• WHERE did it happen?
• WHY did it happen?
• HOW did it happen?

My design utilizes my "dog theme" and can be copied onto student handouts.  This is a miniature size of the 5 W's.  I have one that I also enlarged and laminated to hang on the wall in my classroom.  You can also even let the students color their own copies to make them more personal.  I've noticed that when kids personalize a notebook or a folder, they tend to be more excited to use it!

The Flat Dog Collection

Ever heard of Flat Stanley? Flat Stanley is a book series about a boy who until one night when his bulletin board fell on him, was normal. Now, he is only 1/2 an inch thick and can mail himself across the world in an envelope. Here's the linking point. Envelopes - Letter Writing - Teaching.

Letter writing is an important skill for students to learn. Nowadays, while I am all for technology, writing an email and mailing a letter just aren't the same. Think about it, would you prefer a handwritten Thank You letter or an email? Using Flat Stanley as a "hook" keeps the kids interested. So now you're probably wondering WHERE ARE THE DOGS? Every teacher I've talked to has the kids create their own flat friend and mail him to a family member, in hopes that they will take a picture with him/her and mail him/her back. So why not instead of creating a flat human friend, how about a flat canine friend?

In my post "Personalize your own paper dog" I talked about having the students decorate their own dogs to look like them if they were transformed into a pooch. This "Flat Dog" activity is very similar so it would be best to choose between the two. I would still use the Fashion Angels Design a Heavenly Wardrobe but I would give the students more freedom. Suggest to them to go with their parents to the local A.C. Moore or Michaels and pick up some glitzy or themed paper, gems, stickers...etc.. and decorate their dog. If they are lucky and have extra fabric or wallpaper, those work perfectly too!

Moving back to the lesson --- the IMPORTANT PART

When teaching friendly letters, it is vital that you have an example for the students and a template for them to follow. We know very well that everyone learns differently. For my 3rd and 4th graders I created a template, a list of ideas/topics to include in the letter, and an example.

As you can see from the image, I kept up with the dog them by using stationery I found online, and proceeded by labeling each part of the friendly letter. Next, I gave my students a list of what to include, and finally an example letter to my "pretend" Uncle Frank.

Example Letter

February 9, 2012

Dear Uncle Frank,
We are learning how to write friendly letters in computer class following the book Flat Stanley. Enclosed is my flat dog, Koko. he is a 13 1/2 year old chocolate lab with grey eye eyebrows and a big head. Koko is a bit of a troublemaker. ONE DAY........

ADVENTURE GOES HERE

When he was a puppy he could sit in my lap. Today, even though he still thinks he is a puppy and tries to sit on my lap or sleep in my bed. I end up being pushed off. 1 point Koko, 0 points Miss Lindsay!

My family spoils Koko! I expect you will do the same. Nobody can say "no" to his cute, chubby face. He loves to play tug-of-war and clean the dishes in the dishwasher.

Love,
Miss Lindsay

P.S. His favorite food is pancakes!