Lucy's Library Blast
October 13, 2017
Book Club Meets this Thursday
at 8:00 am in the library. We will be discussing Brave Like My Brother by Marc Tyler Nobleman. It is the story of an American soldier in WWII England who shares his war experiences (including a historic, dangerous secret mission) by letters with his 10-year-old brother, who shares his experiences with bullies who are making his already difficult live more difficult. This is a very short book and would make an excellent class read to accompany a unit on WWII.
We will not meet in December but will return on the 3rd Thursday of January when we discuss Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin, the story of Jason, an autistic 12-year-old living in a neurotypical world.
The Importance of a Morning Routine
I often post blog information from different sources. One of my favorites is Upper Elementary Snapshots. Although in theory, this should only apply to 5th and 6th grades, I believe it offers good resources and can be adapted to any grade.
This post deals with the value of routine, specifically a morning one. Starting the day off right can set the tone for your entire day, especially when returning from the weekend. As this article suggests, it's not always an easy thing to do. Click here for the site. http://www.upperelementarysnapshots.com/2017/11/classroom-morning-routines.html
Green Hills Go Club
Join NPL as they teach and explore the game of Go, a strategic board game that predates chess by more than two thousand years! All ages and skill levels are welcome to play one of the first board games ever created. Please share with your "gamey" students.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Green Hills Branch Library
3701 Benham Ave,
Nashville, TN 37215
Contact: (615) 862-5863
And a Child Shall Lead Classroom Resource
I saw JT Moore's production of the true story of the children in Terezin detention camp during WWII. The script would make an excellent class activity for a unit about the Holocaust. Told from the kid's POV, it deals with coming of age without parents and under the control of the Nazis. Terezin was used as a propaganda film site with playgrounds, fresh paint, and hidden atrocities. The script is worth a read. Here is a link to the entire script free of charge. https://www.playscripts.com/sample/1242
This site has hundreds of FREE scripts that you may want to use as resources.
The Book Fair
The book fair surpassed last year's fair by 17% in income and proceeds. Thank you so much for your support. Next year, I plan to ask for two registers so I can open them both in the busy morning time. I will also target parent and grandparent volunteers for heavy use times. The proceeds go back into the library with purchases for the book club, maker space, and of course, books for the shelves.
We had ten parent and grandparent volunteers, thanks to our awesome PTSO. It was a hectic week but everyone agrees it's one of the most fun weeks of the school year.
Five Ways to Be a Happier, Healthier Teacher
I lifted the following from a recent article in Teacher Education Week.
Here are a few practical strategies that can help teachers live a life of joy:
1. Take field trips with your family. During a quick break or while eating lunch, plan out an out-of-town adventure for the upcoming weekend and put it on your calendar. One study referenced in the book The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor found that participants' endorphin levels rose by 27 percent after just planning and thinking about their next family vacation.
2. Write student thank-you cards. We have to write students up for bad behavior. Why not for good behavior, too? For a few dollars at Target, you can buy a stack of colorful appreciation cards. When you notice a student who's working extra hard on an assignment, asking and answering a lot of questions in class, or helping out another kid, write them a note that uplifts their spirits.
3. Avoid 'vampire teacher' attacks. Associate with positive teachers at school. Stay away from negative teachers who seem to suck your joy.
4. Take school email off your phone. A recent research study revealed that on average, adults check their phones 85 times a day. 85! Scrolling through your inbox on the couch may not seem like a big deal, but what if you read a spiteful message from a parent that gets you fired up? That email can drop your mood, increasing your anxiety for several hours while you're with your family. Check your email first thing in the morning when you get to school and before you leave each day. You don't check for mail from the post office 20 times a day and you don't have to check your email more than once or twice, either.
5. Take your own recess. I practice boxing every day after school. Find your favorite form of exercise and stick with it—basketball, soccer, jogging, yoga, nature walks, whatever. Research shows that 30 minutes of daily exercise has the same positive effect as the strongest anti-depression medications on the market.
The library will be closed this Thursday afternoon as I will be at the Martin Center in a Curriculum Update Meeting.
Some Wonder(ful) Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources, Including One From the Author
Recurring News:
- Please send in a title of a book you're thankful for. This includes administration and front office folks.
- Remind students we have a short month and to be sure to log their books into the reading log. http://lucydixon7.wixsite.com/westendlibrary
- Battle of the Books application is live online for students who are interested in joining. http://lucydixon7.wixsite.com/westendlibrary