Learning strengths combine your child’s talents and abilities with his existing skills and knowledge to help him take in new information. Talents and abilities are ways of thinking, feeling or acting that can be used productively.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Educational Links 2/3/17

How Small Steps Can Create Outdoors Experiences In Schools

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/02/02/how-small-steps-can-create-outdoors-experiences-in-schools/

5 big takeaways from redesigning learning spaces

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/02/02/redesigning-learning-spaces/

More Important Resources For Black History Month

http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2017/02/02/more-important-resources-for-black-history-month/

28 Must-Share Poems for Elementary School

http://www.weareteachers.com/28-must-share-poems-for-elementary-school/

Tch Tips: Strategies for Giving Meaningful Feedback

https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2017/02/02/tch-tips-strategies-for-giving-meaningful-feedback/

Understanding Auditory Processing Disorder

http://special-ism.com/understanding-auditory-processing-disorder/

The Middle Way to Happier, Smarter Teens

http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/allstate-2016/the-middle-way-to-happier-smarter-teens/1127/

By addressing their students’ developmental as well as academic needs, America’s middle schools are easing the trials of adolescence and turning out lifelong learners.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

STEM Activities For Your Classroom

Urban Community and School Gardens http://ucanr.edu/sites/UrbanAg/Community_and_School_Gardens/

Best cheap easy STEM? Go outside. Grow a garden.

And these folks in Nevada are in Nevada gardening! No excuses now! Plus, your student may live in a food desert, and learning to grow easy veggies could literally save lives. Just a laundry basket of potatoes would help. Growing Potatoes in Containers http://containergardening.about.com/od/vegetablesandherbs/ss/ContainerPotatoes.htm

School Gardens

http://gardenfarms.net/school-gardens/

Check EarthSky News every day! Assign a student to report!

Moon, Saturn, Mars on March 27-28

http://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-and-mars-before-dawn-march-28

Classroom Activities (Science)

http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/classroom_activity_resources.shtml

http://www.usnews.com/education/technology-in-the-classroom

Engineers in the Classroom

http://www.classroomengineers.org/?ar_a=6

20 Ways Teachers Are Using Legos in the Classroom

http://www.edudemic.com/legos-in-class/

Classroom Math Games That Will Have Your Students Begging For More!!

http://www.priceless-teaching-strategies.com/classroom_math_games.html

8 Ordinary Things That Look Insanely Cool Under a Microscope

http://www.cracked.com/article_20386_8-ordinary-things-that-look-insanely-cool-under-microscope.html

Please, please, teacher, let us do something cool we can post on Instagram!

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Sick of Winter? Plan a School Garden

East Harlem schools to get green roof http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/east-harlem-schools-green-roof-article-1.2089951

Spring will spring! How about researching a school garden? The students can start seedlings indoors now. So many positives about a garden--and the anticipation of joy and above freezing weather is a plus in itself. STEM and fun in the garden!

School Gardens

http://growing-minds.org/school-gardens/

How to Build a Straw Bale Garden

http://modernfarmer.com/2013/07/straw-bale-gardening/

REAL School Garden

http://www.realschoolgardens.org/

School Garden Checklist

http://www.letsmove.gov/school-garden-checklist

Keyhole Gardening Tips

Keyhole Gardening

http://www.hgtvgardens.com/raised-garden/keyhole-gardening-tips

Welcome to School Garden Wizard

http://www.schoolgardenwizard.org/

Collective School Garden Network

http://www.csgn.org/

School Garden Resource Center

https://www.wholekidsfoundation.org/resources/school-garden-resources/

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Autumn Activity: Planting It Forward

Daffodils (February) We can all use some Screaming Yellow Daffodils during the dreary winter.

Flowers outside in the winter? Isn't it too cold? Not for the bulb variety. And it's time for the family to give a gift y'all will begin to receive in about February by planting bulbs now.

A daffodil bulb; see you in February!

In my zone, I start planting daffodil bulbs in fall so I can wander lonely as a cloud and come upon daffodils dancing spritely (reference to Wordsworth's poem.) There are other early spring bulbs, too. Children of all ages can participate and be astounded when such beauty comes up from something that looks like an onion. And they make an appearance every year. Bulbs are inexpensive, directions are not complicated; it is well worth the effort. Something to anticipate during the let down of grey, blustery days after the major holidays.

Tulips (March)

Hyacinth (March) Great scent.

I am always so thrilled to see the little plants coming up.

As Spring approaches, it is as if the flowers are playing Vivaldi, it is so joyous and lovely, straight through to summer. It is amazing every year.

Of course, I'm not alone in this celebration, even if I'm posting these pictures of my flowers as if they are my beloved children.

This is a sentiment I share with Vincent. (Van Gogh, that is.)

Van Gogh, Flower beds in Holland

Van Gogh Irises

Iris (March/April)

Children can help grandparents or auntie and uncle plant some bulbs in their garden--what a lovely memory that is.

Lilies, Easter and Tiger (June)

Some flowers are associated with holidays, like Easter Lilies--but spring flowers are always good for Mother's Day or even Father's Day (lots of dads, grandpas, uncles and cousins are gardeners. It is America's favorite hobby.)

Matt's Ongoing Garden Gift to his mom.

Red tulip.

My nephew was a wonderful gardener, and put several winter bulbs in his mom's (my sister's) garden.

Sadly, Matt is no longer with us, but his gift of flowers comes up every year. What a lovely way to be remembered.

I added a red tulip to my sister's garden in Matt's area last year to honor him.

Bulbs will multiply every few years, so they will need to be separated and replanted, which expands your garden. Or, you can share the bulbs with friends or family. They can also be planted in small containers as gifts.

Gladiola (June)

Some of my earliest memories are of my grandmother's garden, particularly the gladiolas. And my grandpa took time to tell me the names of all the flowers and plants when we would take walks around the neighborhood. So--it's now your turn to plant some precious memories!