Being born in 1960 and living in Massachusetts, I'm old enough to remember the last time Daylight Saving Time was abolished in 1974 to 1975. It was stopped due to the energy crisis so there would be more daylight and less need for electricity. Well, we walked to school in the dark. Knowing how distracted drivers are today, I wouldn't want students walking to school or waiting for the bus in the dark. Plus, it's hard enough to wake up now that it's so dark in the morning. I hope each state (especially northern states) can still opt to keep Daylight Savings Time in place. I understand how difficult the days are when it gets dark at 4:00 p.m., but overall, I think it's safer to have daylight in the morning.
Speaking of morning...
Morning Messages
Even though these messages are old, they still have important information:
I love to write Morning Messages that spiral back and review what we've learn. I also try to review new material like the Friday one - identifying Massachusetts as one of the New England states as well as singular and plural nouns. Plus, my father was a mailman so I have to ensure that my students know the zip code for Woburn. They didn't even know what a zip code was - it's a good thing I taught them!
Here's another thing I remember from the past: memorizing phone numbers for my friends' landline phones. I still have my landline and hope to keep it. Have you managed to keep your landline or are you a cell phone only household?
Adora Hazzard has it all figured out. A Stoic philosopher and divorcée, she lives a contented life on New York City’s Upper West Side. Having discovered that the secret to happiness is to desire only what you have, she’s applied this insight to blissful effect: relishing her teenage daughter, the freedom of being single, and her job as a moral tutor for the twin boys of an old-money family. She’s even assembled a "coven"—like-minded women who live on the same floor in the legendary Ansonia. Adora’s carefully curated life is humming along brilliantly until a chance meeting with a handsome stranger.
This was an enjoyable book because it was light-hearted, and it took place in NYC. I liked that the main character was older and had a solid group of friends.
Listening Center/Book Buddies
Get ready for another blast from the past! I have been retired for a little over two years, and I bet teachers don't use CDs anymore! Anyway, here's what our Listening Center looked like. It includes one of my favorite books - Art Dog - by Thatcher Hurd. Our Book Buddies thoroughly enjoyed the book, too:
If you've never read Art Dog, you're in for a treat! It's such a fun book, especially on CD because it includes music and sound effects!  |
| Click on the above image of check out more on Amazon! |
Here's some of the summary from Amazon:
Oh, no! Someone has stolen the Mona Woofa from the Dogopolis Museum of Art and the police don't even realize that they are barking up the wrong tree when they collar their number one suspect. So it's up to Art Dog, the mysterious, masked painter who roams the streets of Dogopolis, to find the missing masterpiece. Zip! Splash! Smoosh! He paints himself a Brushmobile, and he's off––on a wild and funny chase to capture the dastardly crooks.
This is an all-around amazing book!
Introduction to the Water Cycle
On Friday, I introduced the water cycle with a Powerpoint presentation which you can check out for free here: My children learned the Water Cycle song on the slide while in Middle School, and they still remember it many years later. Of course, I had hand movement to help the kids remember the whole process. Plus, it's a break to stand up and sing!
The Real Reason I Miss Teaching
I used to receive notes like this from my students. I actually saved all the student notes and still have them.
I just LOVE getting a short, sweet note like this!Happy Halloween!
What are you thankful for these days? Do you have any must-read Thanksgiving books? Please share in the comments!
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