1.) Key at least ten words that are synonyms for the word “waiting.”

2.) Have you ever waited until the last minute to do something? What/When was it?

3.) List at least 5 incidences when it is not good to wait until the last minute.

4.) On the other hand, list at least 2 situations when it is smart to wait.

5.) Key your advice to someone regarding what to do when waiting in line.

Warmups inspired by a blog post from Seth Godin.

 Robert Redford…the popcorn movie heart-throb of my generation. <Sigh>  Do  you remember the resurgence in all things cowboy after he starred with Paul Newman in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid?” Well, he put those movie residuals to great work with the Sundance Film Festival and especially the Sundance Catalog Store! (cue clapping>  With every order “Bob” includes a catalog with his picture on the inside cover!

This week, the catalog store has super duper great markdowns on apparel, jewelry, gifts, shoes, bags, etc…

For instance, skirts @ $9.99; luxe purses for pennies, cashmere sweaters @$39.99!

Sweaters? You say? Sweaters? The season is changing and it is much too hot.

Well, I have been meaning to tell you…when I visit your classrooms the air is freezing in there. David Letterman called…he wants his Freon back!

Order soon to take advantage of the sale prices…and make “Bob” happy as well.
Sundance Catalog   

Create a student store where students spend “digital dollars” earned from a variety of appropriate behaviors such as:

• questions answered correctly
• first to arrive at class and get started working on WarmUp
• most questions answered correctly
• first to seek out resources
• begin a task without prompting
• offer help to another
• take a risk to be the first to answer a class discussion question

What other behaviors do you want to reward?  Leave a comment!

Post your classroom price list with either tangible or intangible items for sale such as:

• School supplies
• Assignment “Do Over”
• Choose “X” amount fewer problems to complete
• 5 extra minutes the learning center of your choice

What other items should be included on your price list?  Leave a comment!

That is where my laptop comes in.

Until recently when right at the end of the beloved classic “Must Love Dogs” (with my fave John Cusack), the laptop, she decides to die.

Battery out! The battery has been losing more and more power but I never thought it would fail me outright.

At this point I must love Best Buy and Agent Nelson (they all use the word “agent” before their surnames…is that cute or what?) Agent Nelson told me that my service plan covers a replacement battery and power cord.

Must love this little known detail of the service plan. Check your service plan today (by “check your plan” I mean go to Best Buy or wherever you purchased your laptop and given them your name and they will do the rest.)

More great tips for extending your laptop’s life may be found in David Culpepper’s post from Daily Tech Bits

1. If you were a robot, and I knew but you didn’t, would you want me to tell you?

2. Guess in what year the word “robotics” was first used and give a reason for your prediction.

3. Read the the Three Laws of Robotics. Which one is unnecessary and why?

4. Was your prediction yesterday correct? Go here and find out! Are you surprised at the answer?

5. Read and finish the dialogue below (click on “More”) Add a line each for Wolowitz and Sheldon.

(more…)

Order Mom a beautiful organic arrangement at Organic Bouquet. The website also has gifts and chocolate!!! 

Tell Mom you appreciate her Creativi-TEA, Sinceri-TEA,
Originali-TEA, and her Abili-TEA with the No Other Like Mother Tea Tin  ($11.95)
from the great folks at Kim and Jason.

 While at Kim and Jason, order a Moms Can Fix Anything Greeting Card ($2.00). The Card includes a free Chocolate Chip Cookie. 

Need More Ideas? At Your (Mom’s) Service:
Click through to see the plexo

Just in time for Mother’s Day (jk)!

Betrayal follows the heroes of the new Jedi order and the second generation children of Anakin Skywalker. It is .  Click here for more details: Special Powells.com offer

Also, Hallmark has new, spiffy eCards just in time for Mother’s Day.

Why not encourage early finishers to create an eCard for moms, grandmas, aunties, etc…

And they also may scare us to quivering mush!

Why? Because our perception is that questions may lead us away:

From the “right” answer-
From the prescribed time allotment-
From our plan and our pacing-
Toward a realm where the teacher is not the all-seeing, all-knowing Carnac of the Classroom.

Thank Goodness! What a Relief!

Realize this and you will live longer and have more fun!

And you will have time to sit down, rest a bit, and read, “Why Are School Buses Always Yellow” by John Barell, Professor Emeritus, Montclair State University. (Corwin Press and Amazon)

“Why Are School Buses Always Yellow” encapsulates years of theory into workable practice. I probably would have saved thousands in college tuition loans if this resource had blessed me decades ago! (virtual “Wish I’d had a V-8″ moment)!

Barell reiterates that questions signal higher-order thought processing which is the goal of effective classroom interaction and innovation. He reminds us that student questions are the attainment of the highest thinking skills. It is what we trained for people!

Too many books declare WHAT an important concept inquiry teaching is. But, after the studies are noted and the experts quoted, there are very few pages left for the actual implementation: HOW TO DO inquiry-oriented teaching. It’s about time that a book came along that speaks to “HOW” to reach and develop inquisitive questioning.

Barell’s visits to classrooms and discussions with both teachers and students form a dynamic role-play model. You will no doubt relate to the student responses and learn from modeling Barell’s effective inquiry teaching practices. I also appreciate the structure of the chapters. Barell allows space for reflection, an often overlooked phase of learning. 

Granny Newlen always admonished us kids to “Learn, discuss, then then get up and move.” She used such a phrase to get us up off the couch for learning-walk where we would tell her what we had learned at school.

Go on your own “learning walk” to the bookstore, online or F2F, and buy this book.

Week of April 28:

1. Read and solve each of these math poems. Can you write your own math poem?
2. In your opinion, can a sentence be a poem? Why or why not?
3. Read these samples “The Red Wheelbarrow”  “When You Are Old”  “The New Dog”  What do these poems have in common?
4.  Choose one of the following pictures and write at least six descriptive words specifically about the colors you see. Cape May Lighthouse  Horse swing Snowy Woods  Maple Tree in the Spring
5. Read 4 or 5 color poems written by 3^rd graders at this site Which one do you like best? Try adding a line anywhere in one of the poems.

The (Eco) Blogger Wears Prada

This Eco-friendly post goes beyond itchy hemp clothing. The focus is on the great Eco-Friendly accessories.

 Be Eco-Friendly with a dash of style in these great Dots Gloves from Kim and Jason’s wonderful Lemonade Stand. Stay and click awhile at this site for sweet cartoons, insightful articles, and reaffirming stories from two creative innovators. (but get the gloves first).

Michelle Kaufmann on her blog showcased these next two accessories. Instructions included for each one:

Nifty clutch purses, iPod, and/or cell phone holders.

Plantable Paper Journals 

 Ok, This beautiful Waterwall is not an accessory but literally a cool home or classroom alternative to the sweltering heat that is just around the calendar corner.