The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work!

I got a chance to check out the dance on Friday after school and it looked like everyone was having a great time! It was fun to see them so excited about getting dressed up, doing their hair, and getting out on the dance floor. I was looking forward to showing them a couple of my classic moves, but our daughter has forbidden me from dancing in public. I think she's jealous because I'm so smooth. I tried to explain to her that the key is to pretend you're guarding Michael Jordan in the last three seconds of a championship game and keep your arms and legs going in different directions. Smooth.
Speaking of smooth, some of the students have quickly gotten the hang of letting their cursive handwriting flow across the page with ease. The school had three ring binders for any teacher who wanted some, so I grabbed one for each student. They got to decorate the cover of "My Cursive Journal", and this gives them something else to focus on when their assigned work is completed. Attractive handwriting is a lost art, but they loved practicing their names once I reminded them about all the autographs they would have to sign after they wrote their first book, appeared on television with their latest invention, or became a famous ballplayer or singer. Works every time!

Success is the result of good planning!

The title of today's blog is just one of the quotes I put on the board last week. I put one up everyday for them to think about, and use for a class discussion. I've found that using quotes is a great tool to encourage them to always do their best. Part of my job is to inspire children to always look to the future and the importance of education. I got a good laugh on Friday, when I was talking about how they are all going to go to college, and one girl said, "My mom said college is just for hippies!" I was quick to point out that college is indeed for everyone, and that part of the great experience of going to college is meeting people from all walks of life. Sure has been a long time since I heard anyone called a "hippie"!
Here's a sampling of our Quote of the Day:
"The only real failure in life is never to have tried."
"Surround yourself with people who believe, you can!"
"Hard work and perserverance bring reward."
And one of my favorites, "Try to be a ray of sunshine in someone's cloudy day!"

Critters

The class will be doing a lot of work on their animal research paper this week. The book we use at school, "Critters", is a wonderful source of information, but I'm encouraging them to use the internet, and other library books. Everyone got to choose an animal they were interested in, so I'm sure it will be a fun project.
Spelling word are much easier to read this week. I know some of the copies had been awfully hard to read, but please don't let them fool you if they every say they don't know the words, because we use them for Bell Work every Monday! They are also up on the board until Thursday for everyone to see and copy. The words this week are months of the year, and days of the week, so they can find them on a calendar, too.
Please return the library form that went home in everyone's Homework Folder, so that your child can check out books from our school library.

Labor Day Holiday Extended Through Thursday!

I'll bet that got your attention! We had a great turn out for our Open House. I've always left paper on the desks so parents can leave a little "love note" for their child to read the next morning. It is always amusing to watch the expression on their faces as they read them. Some can't wait to share it with the entire class, while others feign embarrassment when you just know they loved getting it.
I used two of my favorite quotes on the board this week. The first was, "Teachers open the door, but you must enter." This one gives us a chance to talk about the idea that you have to make the effort to learn and become a great student. It's not going to be easy, and there are always things you don't understand at first, but you can never give up.
The other quote was,"Books are the one true magic carpet." I want to share with them my love of reading, so they know that there is so much to gain by enjoying a good book. A public library card is free, and it can be your "ticket" to anywhere your imagination wants to go.