Bulletin Boards

Saturday I went to the UMLA (Utah Middle Level Association) conference. There are pros and cons involved in attending a conference. Cons include the loss of time, especially on a Saturday, getting up early, and the possibility that the event is lame. Pros include the gaining of new knowledge, feeling fired up, and new resources and materials.

UMLA's annual conference is actually pretty good. This year was no exception. I learned loads of practical things and came away with lots of new ideas. One of the ideas i got was from a book I purchased at the conference which was authored by one of the keynotes. He suggested making a classroom both the teacher's room and the students' room. As I reflected on this I realized that my classroom definitely belongs to me. So today I changes that. The changes included a bit of rearranging as well as new bulletin boards. One board is about me, that way studets can get to know me. Another is for student use. Another for student work. The last board features the rules and regulations.

I took pictures of two of the boards so there is photographic evidence of the change. I was amazed at what changing the bulletin boards in a room can do.





-- Post From My iPhone

Diversity Week

This week is Diversity Week. My PTSA Reps wanted to spotlight the unique talents and characteristics at SJMS.

This is the week's breakdown:
Black Out Day-blacking out prejudice
Hollywood Day-because we are all stars
Color Day
Twin Day
Team Sports Day-because we are all on the same team.









-- Post From My iPhone

The Plea

I have a substitute today. As always, I worry about my students. I left them a little note. Hopefully they actually read it.



-- Post From My iPhone

A Day Off!

On my day off, I spent an hour doing aerobics. It nearly killed me.

Then I helped a friend paint. We also changed a light fixture.

It was a great day!!








-- Post From My iPhone

Nieces & Friends

I found this picture of two of my nieces the other day and can't resist posting it on my blog. It's just cute.

Booknapped!

I enjoy reading. It's probably my favorite hobby. As a teacher, I also like being able to provide books for my students. For 7 years, I've enjoyed being able to do that. This year, providing books for my students has become something I no longer enjoy. Why? My books have been booknapped. Several of my books have disappeared off my shelves this year. I have spent a lot of money to replace them, created a book list so I can record who's borrowing them, and purchased extra copies of certain books as well so more than one student can enjoy them. Little by little, as the booknapping somehow continues, I have tightened security and finally, yesterday when another book went missing, I snapped. That's it. I'm done. Students will no longer be allowed to have a book from me. Alternative choices will be made available.

Today as my students come into my room, this is what they will find...a little note from the books on the shelf. Books who miss their friends. They've taken a stand and so have I.

(I realize the note is next to impossible to read. Here is what it says: HELP! Our friends have been booknapped. Please don't take us too. We won't let you borrow us until our friends come home. WE MISS THEM!!)

Spirit Week@SJMS-White-Out Day

Huh? White-out day? What could that possibly mean? Well, if you were wondering, so were we here at SJMS...but we figured it out lickety split. If you roam our halls today, you'll see an awful lot of people wearing white.