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May 2009
9th Issue
 
In This Issue
Teacher Quote of the Month
Monthly Tip
Laugh Out Loud!
Teacher Tip
Great Resources
Upcoming Conferences
A Smooth Transition
Announcements
Quick Links:
Videos:
 
Teacher Quote of the Month...

"I am completely SOLD on the program with only using it one day. I showed it to a co-worker and I hope she will do the trial as well. I'm hoping we will be able to write this into our Title 1 budget for next year. Thank you for being so helpful."   
 
~Vicki Bickford, Ansted, West Virgina 
   

light bulb
 
Monthly Tip:
 
The Class Totals Report uses the "school year dates" to display growth over time.  The "date learned" for each test question (which is recorded when "Y" is clicked), determines in which marking period each question was answered correctly, according to the school year dates.  The Class Totals Report then shows the cumulative number correct for each test, for each marking period.  If you would like to reset your school year dates (which were set during registration), click on the "Profile" button at the top, and click the "School Info" tab.  You will then see your "Track".  You can click on it, and choose "Edit Selected".  It is here that you can change the dates for which-ever type of school year you chose at sign-up (semester, trimester, or quarter).   
 
*If you are on a school or district license, you will not be able to change your dates.  Only the administrative account can do this.
 
**Editing your dates will affect the Class Totals Report, which uses the dates to determine the total correct for each marking period.  The last number column for each test has the current total correct score.
 
 
Laugh Out Loud!
 
"I was taking my kindergarten class to the art room one day. After walking in the door, one of the little boys said, "It smells like marker breath in here!"
 
~ Vicki Wells, Stuart, Florida
 

To share your story, e-mail it to [email protected] with your name, city, and state.
 
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Teacher Tip
 
Saying Good-Bye
 
The end-of-the-school-year can be very difficult for young children. Try easing the transition by reading Goodbye House and Goodnight Moon. Do a compare and contrast of the two books. Then have the children draw pictures of the things they would like to say goodbye to in your classroom. It is good "therapy" because we know how hard it can be to say goodbye to our familiar room and friends. Once complete, bound it into a class book entitled GOODBYE ROOM. 

Goodbye House

Goodnight Moon

 
To share your favorite teacher tips, e-mail them to [email protected] with your name, city and state.
 
Great Resources: 
 
June
 
Excellent template for a Memory Book! 
 
Father's Day 
 
Spring
 
Writing
 

Do you know of a website with great resources you could not live without?  Send us a link at [email protected]

Upcoming
Conferences
 
June
Kingwood, TX
June 18-19  
 
July
Las Vegas, Nevada
July 13-16
 

Widening Your Perspective

 

It wasn't long ago that finding solutions, new ideas, or feedback required teachers to speak face to face or over the telephone.  How limiting!  Nowadays discussion forums are the global way to share opinions and information quickly and easily. Organized in an easy-to-follow format, discussion forums are designed so you can quickly locate information, find Connect with othersother knowledgeable teachers and participate in conversations about any number of educational topics. Forums differ from chat rooms and instant messaging in that they are non-intrusive, and forum participants do not have to be online simultaneously to receive or send messages. Messages posted to a forum are publicly available for some time, making this communication tool ideal for busy educators. 
 

Why you would use discussion boards?

  • To get/post ideas for activities
  • To ask/give advice on how to handle a difficult parent
  • To find/share resources for teaching certain skills
  • To vent/commiserate (outside of the teacher's lounge)
  • Anything else you would like feedback on; someone out there will answer

How to get started:

  1. Sign up for a Yahoo account (if you don't already have one).
  2. Join a group.  (We have listed some recommended groups below, with links to join them.  You can also search for groups after you register for a Yahoo account.)
  3. Once you join a group, you can then view the posts, see what teachers are asking/talking about, answer their questions, or post your own.  You check the group whenever you have time or feel like it. 
  4. You can choose to get an email every time a question is asked or answered, or you can choose to get 1 email a day with all of the updates, or choose to get no emails at all if you just want to view the discussions online at http://groups.yahoo.com.

**Recommended Groups**
*You must create a Yahoo account to view/join the groups.  You will be prompted to login when you click on the "Join this Group" links below.
 
Teaching Heart
Teaching is a Work of Heart
K-4 teachers share ideas, tips, lessons, links and much more.
Join this Group
 
Making Learning Fun 
Making Learning Fun

A group aimed at finding and sharing ways to make learning fun for PreK-2nd grade kids.
 
Teachers Anonymous
Teachers AnonymousAre you constantly on the prowl for just one more great idea?  Do you like to create and share your own materials?  Do you sometimes need the support of friends to  help you make it through the  day?  If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then you may need to join Teachers Anonymous.
Join this Group

Pre-K Fun Themes
Resource for themed activities to assist you with your lesson planning. 
Join this Group

 

Discussion boards allow you to reach beyond your circle to find new ideas and stay in touch with what is happening in primary education around the world, straight from the classroom!
 

 

Happy Collaborating!
~The ESGI Team

 
 

A Smooth Transition

Making the Most of the Last Days 
 
As the school year comes to a close it can be challenging to keep your students engaged in learning, while also controlling their excitement for summer. We know what an intense time this can be, so we assembled expert advice that will help transition your student into summer break in a healthy way, and prepare them for the changes they will face entering a new grade.

Kimberly Moore Ph.D., an author and consultant for Scholastic News, says teachers should be especially sensitive to the emotions their students experience at the end of a school year.  Change can lead to feelings of insecurity and dread of a situation.  Early Ed teachers should help children develop positive self-image and "love of learning," which will ease them through the change of a new grade or a new teacher. 

Here is a roundup of some of Moore's suggestions for eliminating the uncertainty that leads to an emotional year-end.
  • Provide continuity in routines, don't make drastic changes
  • Ask their new teacher/teachers to visit your classroom
  • Let students see you express positive emotions relative to change
  • Give students as much information as possible about the coming school year

Especially if you teach pre-K, it is a good idea to give your students an explanation of what will happen after school ends.  Seasoned public school administrator Robin McClure says preschoolers sometimes think they will start the next grade the very next day.  Explain that there is a whole summer ahead before they return to preschool or move on to Kindergarten. 
Moore also suggests strategies for establishing a transition policy that teachers can agree on and share.  For more advice from educators Kimberly Moore PhD and Robin McClure read their articles at the following links:  

Successful End-Of-The-Year Transitions 

Saying Goodbye to Preschool

 

hornAnnouncements 

 
 

ESGI's "New" Website 
We are preparing to update our website, and would love to include links to great resources.  Please take a second to tell us your favorite resources for lesson ideas, products, news, student games, collaboration, grade books, class website, etc.  Click here to contribute!

Past Newsletters
Did you just start getting ESGI's Monthly Newsletter?  Would you like to browse past issues?  Click here!
Quote of the Month:
 
"Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children." 
 
-Sitting Bull

 
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