It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

I have been shopping NON stop for family & friends this holiday season, and my family members have started asking me what I want for the holidays? Well, they obviously did not read my post on Gifts for GRAND teachers! 😉 So… I’ve decided to edit my list and add a few goodies that I am craving for my December break! Here’s my gift list:

BOOKS

I love spending my December break curled up with a good book. This season I’ve got a few book ideas on my list:

1. I wish my teacher knew…

One day, third-grade teacher Kyle Schwartz asked her students to fill–in–the–blank in this sentence: “I wish my teacher
knew _____.” The results astounded her. Some answers were humorous, others were heartbreaking–all were profoundly moving and enlightening. The results opened her eyes to the need for educators to understand the unique realities their students face in order to create an open, safe and supportive place in the classroom.

2.  Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness: A Guide for Anyone Who Teaches Anything –

“Author Deborah Schoeberlein pioneers the practical application of mindfulness in education.The book follows a teacher from morning to night on a typical school day, at home, during the commute, and before, during, and after class. This book is perfect for teachers of all kinds: schoolteachers, religious educators, coaches, parents-anyone who teaches anything.”

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Gifts for GRAND teachers!

2018 UPDATED POST HERE! 

*It’s the most wonderful time of the year *

Many parents and students always want to give me a little thank you at the holidays or end of the year. While I am always grateful for these kind offerings, I try not to take anything of true value from my
students. Usually a lovely well written thank you card suffices and is just as meaningful as something tangible.

However, if my school did allow it (and not all do!), here would be my
top 5 teacher gift choices for the grand teacher in your life (or that
recent graduate of education)- in ascending price order.

1. A personalized pen or notepad. This shop on etsy has the cutest
note pads for just $6.00 that you can inscribe here.

2. For any pregnant teachers or mamas to be, I love this
apple onesie. It reads “When I grow up I want to be a teacher”. Well
who doesnt?! (13.00 here.)

3. Also on Etsy the most accurate Teacher Coffee Mug with
“I’m a teacher, what’s your superpower?!” on it- ($14.00 here.)

4. This cute framed crayon with your teachers initial featured in crayons and a
terrific thank you on the bottom($16.00 here).

5. The Tiffany ELSA PERETTI® APPLE PENDANT. The classic pendant for the classic educator ($175.00 here.)

Source: Gifts for GRAND teachers!

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Color the Past

I’m inspired by the transformation of black-and-white photos into color recently by Photo colorization specialists at Dynamichrome  featured by Buzzfeed. So inspired that I’ve decided to have my students color the past (literally).

The Dynamichrome folks colored portraits of the “12 million men, women, and children who arrived at Ellis Island, New York, between 1892 and 1954 to start a new life in the USA, often dressed in their finest clothes. The portraits show immigrants wearing the national dress of their country of origin, including military uniforms from Albania, bonnets from the Netherlands, and clothing of Sámi people from the Arctic regions. The photographs were taken between 1906 and 1914 by amateur photographer Augustus Francis Sherman, the chief registry clerk at Ellis Island, then the country’s busiest immigration station. In 1907 some of the photos were published by National Geographic.”

Have your students paint monochrome photographs from the past into color.  As Paul Simon shared

“When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It’s a wonder
I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn’t hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall

[…]

Everything looks worse in black and white
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day”

Check it out:

ellis island.png

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