GIVEAWAY! 101 Kids Activities Book Opportunity

There are so many blessings with doing what you love. 

1. Getting paid to travel and meet others passionate about offering the best for children is at the top of the list.

2. Spending time with women who are making things happen in their own lives comes in a close second. 

3. Being with other authors and illustrators and learning from their journey is the definition of awesome. 

These two young, brilliant, funny/quirkie minds have a MILLION followers on Facebook. 

Deservedly so! 

If somehow you've missed their contribution you can be in their second million! 

Hurry. You don't want to say that you were in their third million. 

Oh. Yes! And they parent! 

Between them they are responsible for loving and adoring of NINE children! 

Let me be very clear for the FTC. 

I get no fringe benefits from recommending this resource to you and giving away this copy. 

Also. 

It is also not because MY NAME IS LISTED AS THE FIRST ENDORSEMENT 

that I recommend this encyclopedia of fun. 

HONEST!!!

It is truly because this is the perfect book!

From the moment you pick it up. 

It is the perfect size. 

It feels good in your hands. 

The paper is sumptuous. 

The photographs are simply incredible. 

The activities are obviously delightful! 

I look at a LOT of books. 

Trust me. 

It is like a calling to turn pages. 

These are glossy, indeed, BUT it is more than the brilliant layout

that will having you turn the pages over and over again! 

CONTENT PEOPLE! 

You've heard that elsewhere on the web?

I wish my photography skills and camera were better. 

You get an inkling of how much awesomeness is packed between these covers.

If by any chance it is gray where you live right now...... 

LOOK NO FURTHER!

INSTANT DAY BRIGHTENER. 

You don't have to be Martha Stewart or Steve Spangler to make these ideas come to life.

Holly and Rachel were kind enough to give me a copy to give away from my podium. 

I have made a super easy-peasy entry form. 

Hoping the genie at Raffelcopter selects a very deserving candidate! 

Get thyself entered! 

***UPDATE FROM LATER TODAY!*** 

In an extreme "God Wink" of what can only be heavenly timing........ 

I have returned home from our daily beach walk to see that MY BLOG has been selected as one of the 

TOP 25 ECE Blogs in all of cyberspace!

I am honored, humbled and encouraged. 

Guess who they have as #1?

You guessed it! 

KIDS ACTIVITIES BLOG 

This just blows my mind! 

On so many levels! 

-------------------

Have you heard that I now represent Younique? 

Yes, they are the crazy cool mascara that everyone's talking about. 

I have signed up under my daughter to offer opportunity

to other women to chart their own course.

We would LUV to talk to you

about joining OUR Team! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Twitter PRACTICE Chat on Differentiated Instruction!

TWITTER TEACHER TUESDAY! 

We continue to learn a *LOT* about Twitter together! 

We continue with new 'authorities' in the spotlight each week. 

This week we invite Marsha McGuire to share her expertise on: 

Differentiated Instruction. 

***Double check the map. 

This week I'll be in the Eastern Time Zone. 

I'll have to keep pinching myself to remember! 

Here's our line up for the coming several weeks! Mark your calendars now...... I hope that you're as impressed as I am as to the caliber of our upcoming #GuestEduCelebrities! Each will be sharing from their unique perspective and expertise. ALL while we learn to connect with one another! 

Marsha has a GREAT article on the basics from her perspective. 

I know that she'd be grateful if you come to support her! 

If you've been with us for a while now, 

this article may be just the type you're looking for: 

"10 Twitter Hacks to Help you Rethink your Social Voice." 

Last week was Dr. Danny Brassell.............

You can still read the storify version of the entire chat. 

[That's our archive of the entire conversation.] 

It would behoove you to check to see how you can still 'earn' his newest book, 

for FREEEEE! 

Teacher Tuesday Twitter Practice Chat: Dr. Danny Brassell

It's Tuesday! 

Time to TWEET to your #TeacherFriends about all things Teacher! 

Tonight we welcome Dr. Danny Brassell! 

Here's the two of us last summer out in Vegas! 

He is hilarious. 

Kind. 

Big-hearted. 

Informed. 

Deeply caring. 

He is going to conquer the topic of "Reluctant Readers" 

and will address supporting struggling readers.

As if that is not sufficiently exciting.......... 

In an amazing {quasi-rare} fete of organization, 

LOOOOOOK at this LINE-UP! 

We have guests lined up for the rest of the month! 

Our little practice chat continues. 

We welcome experienced tweeps to come and support the newbies! 

If you are seriously *NEW* to Twitter, 

by all means arrive early and we can help sort out questions. 

There so many amazing people in this line-up! 

They have each volunteered their time 

as 'incentive' to bring teachers to Twitter. 

It takes a team! 

We're all cheering for you! 

Kim from Educators Spin on It! 

Kristen from Kristen's Kindergarten! 

Maggie from Maggie's Kindergarten! 

Brain Resiliency: Building Better Brains!

It's Tuesday! Time to Tweet with Teachers! 

What? Don't 'get' Twitter? 

Have we got the chat for you!  

A PRACTICE Twitter Chat!

Tonight marks the ninth Tuesday in a row, where we have been 'practicing' chatting together with our #TeacherFriends. 

We have had between 50 and 100 fellow teaching peers meeting, tweeting, supporting each other, in real time every week. 

Let's just say, it/the chat/your twitter stream -- moves fast!

I LUV LUV LUV Michaele's analogy of a dinner party! 

You're not going to get every tidbit of all of the contributions in real time. Unless of course you're bionic. 

Never fear! Kim of "Educators Spin on It" has taught us how to 'storify' the chat. Here's the entire conversation from last week when we discussed classroom design under Erin Klein's direction. 

Now the happiest part of this story is unfolding in real time as I type. Our guest tonight is Deborah McNelis of "Brain Insights." Guess what? She's sitting in our little living room in real, actual time! I could call out her name, but she's editing her next project for Redleaf and I am not going to disturb her. We totally need to take a picture of ourselves together! That's on the agenda for today! Promise! We totally forgot last night when we went running down to our sunset and nearly missed it! 

Join us! You'll be glad you did! You'll learn some of the recent brain research as it relates to resiliency and you'll learn how to chat on Twitter. PLUS! You'll build your PLN {Professional Learning Network} for your future growth and development by meeting and following some Teacher Tweeps! Join us. You know you want to! 

What Teachers Wish Parents Said to Their Child (Night Before School)

SCHOOL is STARTING! In more + more districts!
Can you feel the pulse of your favorite teacher beginning to race? Ever faster? 

I thought it would be fun to ask some of my favorite teachers what they *WISH* parents were saying to their children -- the night before school begins. Here. In the order folks responded are their 'unedited' teacher-responses. From profound, to nitty-gritty, including the pithy and the tongue-in-cheek, with everything in between! 

"You totally are ready for this. You are going to have a great time and make so many new friends. Remember to listen to your teacher she/he is there to keep you safe and help you learn. I know that you will listen carefully so you can show the other kids how kindergarteners behave on the first day of school. And no matter what, if you have to go to the bathroom and you think you're going to have an accident..... just go. Your teacher won't be mad and she/he doesn't want you to have an accident." ~~from Marsha at "A Differentiated Kindergarten"

"School is going to be so much FUN! You are going to love (insert name of grade)! I can't wait to hear all about it when you get home!" ~~From Vanessa at "PreK Pages"

"You'll have so much fun!!Try not to be nervous and know that I will be thinking about you all day long! Listen to your teacher, be nice to your friends and be prepared to tell me all about your adventures when you get home!! I love you. ~~ From Elizabeth at "Mrs. Hodge and Her Kindergarten Kids" 

"Your teacher love you just like mommy and daddy love you. If you need help you can ask your teacher. You will have an awesome day and I'll see you soon! Try to be the best you can be so that other kids will copy you doing good things!" + the bathroom part like Marsha said! ~~ Laura Armstrong of Teacher Laura 

"You have nothing to prove.... you are more than school. We love you and believe in you." ~~ Becky from my FB fanpage

 

"Assure them that their feelings are normal and ok." ~~ Jennifer from my FB fanpage

"If you are going to throw up find a trash can." ~~ Matt from MattBGomez He later added: "This quote is a great one, 'You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.' -Christopher Robin."

***Matt is our Mystery #GuestEduCelebrity during our weekly Tuesday Twitter-for-PRACTICE-newbie-Chatters. He will be directing the tweeps in a chat on all things TECHNOLOGY in the classroom! Plan now to join us! 9:00 PM EST! True newbies are encouraged to come at 8:30 when the chat is slowest. Join us on August 12th. Leave your glitter in the drawer. 

Now back to the teacher advice for parents!

"Remember to go potty when the teacher tells you to." ~~ Jennifer of "Teaching with Grace"

"You can do this....all by yourself. Then smile and wave (after a hug and a kiss.) Then turn around and walk away. Parents never let your kids see you cry as they head off to kindergarten." ~~Terri of "KinderKapers"

"You are ready for this! Think of school as your second home and your teacher just like your mommy. She is there for you if you need anything! Have a fun day and enjoy it!!" ~~ Cheryl of "Crayons and Curls" 

"Your teacher is so excited to see you and has wonderful learning activities planned for you. I can't wait to hear all about it when you get home!" ~~MaryLou from my FB fanpage

"Asking a child how they are feeling about starting school, provides the parent with the child's perspective on what the child may be worried or excited about. Acknowledging whatever that feeling is would be a very supportive way to help a child be ready for the first day." ~~ Deborah at BrainInsights

"You are going to have so much fun and learn so much! Be sure to do your very best, show your teacher what you already know and don't worry if you don't know something, your teacher will help you. If your teacher doesn't tell you where the bathroom is at the beginning of class, ask where it is and what you should do if you need to go. Remember to share and to smile!" ~~ Melissa at "Transitional Kinder with Mrs.O" She later added: "The number one thing I want parents to tell their child is who will be picking them up/how they will be getting home. Also if the child can't say their last name and you can't be with them that first day PLEASE write their full name on a card and pin it to them."

"Be the very best you, YOU can be! It is okay to have all kinds of feelings. We are in this together. Listen carefully to your teacher and all the adults in the school. They will help you. Don't be afraid to ask questions about things you aren't sure about. I/we are very proud of you." ~~ Principal Peggy, retired

"I love all of the above." ~~ Deanna of "Mrs. Jump's Class"

"Be yourself! Be happy! Have fun! RESPECT the teacher and your classmates! LAUGH! DANCE! Do the very best that you can everyday! ~~ Greg of "Kindergarten Smorgasboard" 

"Your teacher will take care of you. Mommy and Daddy trust her/him to take good care of you. He or she will know how to get a hold of me if they need to. You will meet many new friends and do a lot of fun things with them at school."........ Try to give your child some type of measurement in regard to how long the school day will be. For instance, if your child is only going to school for a half day, then measure it against the lunchtime. 

I am a kindergarten teacher and I find that when parents spend too much time talking about 'not worrying' about who will pick them or up or not worrying about who will play with them at school or not worrying about how nice their teacher will be, those are the children that spend the day being worried. Their parents gave them way too many things to consider worrying about by doing this. Perhaps a good idea would be to get the book, 'The Kissing Hand' from the library and read it to them at home the night before. It is ok if the teacher reads it again the next day at school, it wil be something familiar for the child. If a parent is confident in dropping off the child and pointing out all the fun things about the morning and then leaves quickly, the student has a chance to become engaged immediately and the day will swim by. A hug and a quick 'I love you' go a long way."  ~~ Christina of "Sea Bears Kindergarten"  

"You are going to have so much fun, make new friends and have lots of adventures. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Your teacher is there to help you and wants you to be (emotionally comfortable and secure." Ayn of "Little Illuminations" To the parent I would give this advice: Don't linger or let the child see YOU having separation anxiety. If you seem worried that the child won't fit in, they will sense it. Also especially the first several days: don't be late for pickup!!!! Give your child a plan of when you pick them up. Stick to the plan. Last but not least, talk positively about the school, classroom teacher etc. Help your child discover school as a positive place. Ask them each day what their favorite thing about the day was or to name something new or exciting that happened to them that day. 

"Have the best day ever and have super fun!!" This is something I told my daughter every day last year when she was in kindergarten and "I love you!" ~~ Tami from FB Fanpage

"Ask your teacher if she/he can play some Rocking Dan Teacher Man songs on YouTube." ~~ Dan of "Rocking Dan Teacher Man" [Note from Editor: applause for shameless promotion from DownUnder, only because my bucket list includes a trip to YOU! BRAVO!!! LOL]

"I love you and I will come back. Remember school is different than home -- use your restroom breaks." ~~ Jada of "Daisy Days for Learning" 

"I am going to drop you off at the door and leave. Understand?" ~~ Emily, "Education to the Core"

"Stay and play and I will come back to get you at the end of the day." Simple but to the point. ~~ Emma of "Clever Classroom"

.

I have to admit, I saved my favorite insight till last. This is my favorite suggestion, not because she brown-nosed me into it. I think her suggestion has TRUE potential to make an impact. Of course we music-people need to stick together! Here's what Miss Carole {of Macaroni Soup fame} has to offer....

"I suggest singing something positive at bedtime -- put a positive little tune in their heads that can surface at any moment the next day! Make one up! 'I can do this, yes I can, yes I can, yes I can. I can do this, yes I can, my mom said so!' To the tune of London Bridge!" ~~ Miss Carole 

What's your favorite? 
Do you have additional suggestions?
By all means leave a comment below! 

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