An inch of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Today more than ever our students need skills to control impulses, problem solve, manage stress, and effectively deal with emotions.  The overworked parents, instant and scary world of technology, and expectations on our kids to grow up too fast brings about extra pressure.  Year after year I wonder who is going to teach these skills to kids before they get into trouble-before it's too late.   Sadly, we're in a system that doesn't provide help until it is too late.

Why should it be our job as a school system to teach students these non-academic skills?  Newtown comes to mind as does the simple fact that students ability to learn is deminished if they have uncontrolled emotions.  As SLP's I find that we can be a valuable resource to build awareness around this topic and teach strategies to students.

Parent choice?

My kids are anxiously awaiting their report cards to see who their new teachers will be.  I work at a school which doesn't allow parents to choose teachers and my own children attend a school where parents have the last vote as to which class their child is in.

The teachers take roster building very seriously at my pubic school of employment.  A large team of counselors, classroom teachers, and specialists spend hours grouping students according to gender, friendships, learning style, educational need, etc.  Administration oversees the process and gives the final roster approval.  Parents are able to complete an input form with the above stated information but are asked not to make teachers-specific recommendations.

My children attend a public school which allows for parents to choose teachers.  The classroom teachers also meet with the specialists/counselors to make placement decisions but the parents' choice is the final placement decision.   I learned this first hand because I have a second grader with attentional issues who has had a very tough last two years of school.  I wrote a letter to her current teacher and the principal with educationally relevant information and made my first teacher request.

The team did not agree with my choice of teacher for my child.  They asked to meet with me and explained why my choice was not their choice.  They clearly articulated my child's strengths and weaknesses and asked me to reconsider my request.  I believe that the team had my child's best interest at heart and was able to be open-minded, revoke my placement request, and trust their opinion. 

I feel fortunate that the small schools in my area usually know the students well and have the best interest of each child in mind when building rosters.  Unfortunately, I know that this is not the case in all districts.

Personally, I worry about a system that trusts parent requests as the final decision.  Many of my students with special needs come from poverty and homes in which the parents are not involved in their child's education.  Most likely the teachers being requested are more hand-on/visual teachers which, as we know, our students with learning challenges need the most.

So while my first and third grader wait for the mailman, I'll wait to hear your opinions on this topic.  

Ice Cream Anyone?

It's getting hot in VT.  My office is on the third floor and is the hottest room in the school.  What better way to cool down than have ice cream!!! 

Our cooking class made single serving ice cream in plastic bags.  It was such an easy activity and I was certain it wouldn't turn out- but it did!   

Freebie- excellent recipe for language skills.  Step-by-step following directions, visuals, sequencing.  

Click HERE for Rachel Lynette's awesome freebie:  

Free common core with writing ideas from Ms. Beetie-samantha blog HERE! 

This all went well with Ice Cream Emotions, my latest product which helps students learn feeling vocabulary.  I've added some higher level vocabulary words (i.e. parched, famished, astonished) which makes this activity most appropriate for learning levels grades 4-8.  There are also many "create your own" cones for more activities.  Check it out HERE! 

Winding down for the end of the year.  I'm starting to make my purchasing list for next year which made me reflect on the items I bought for this school year.   

These Elementary Photo Cards by Lingui Systems have been a great time-saver since they target many goals with varying leveled students, and engage my kids again and again.  I love the up-to-date photos and ability to work on a variety of expressive and receptive language skills including vocabulary, sequencing, concepts, and logical thinking. 

  The cost is around $89 which is a bargain if you compare to similar other photo cards on the market.  You can also find codes and sales if you check the website often.  Here is the link if you are interested.  

http://www.linguisystems.com/products/product/display?itemid=10678

What are your favorite "go-to" materials?  

What a cool day!  The Shires of Vermont Marathon was this morning.  My husband ran in it and the Boston Marathoners were able to run for free.  It was very inspiring so I wonder why I made chocolate cake instead of getting my butt out to exercise.  I'll get out tomorrow, I promise.   
I did, however, complete a new product called Ice Cream Emotions.  Here it is for 50% off first 24 hours:   http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ice-Cream-Emotions-An-activity-for-describing-feelings-701999

My mind is on sweets this weekend!  Maybe it's the end of the year stress.  Am I the only one?

Saving the trees

I'm a tree hugger.  I try to be good to the environment by recycling, composting, and repurposing.  It is important for me to teach my children and students about caring for the environment so I try to be a good role model.

My school in Vermont recently purchased filtered drinking fountains with a water bottle filling spout.  They show a digital number of the thousands of bottles saved from landfills.  I feel fortunate to live in VT and work in a school with administration and staff whose values align with mine.  

Here is something simple that I do to save the trees from all of the wasteful photo copies:

There are sheet protectors over my color pages for students to work on.  They wipe clean and are able to enjoy the color markers as well as color copies of worksheets.  



This works for lamination as well but I find the sheet protectors wipe cleaner.  They are also a snap to assemble and remove easily when coping is warranted.  You can even organize materials by placing some black and white copies behind the color copy in the protector sleeve.  

Think Green!

Happy Mother's Day

What a beautiful time of year.  I spent the day with my husband and three little girls at the park.  We are splurging on Delmonico Steak for dinner and my 8 year old and I made a lemon cake for dessert.  Thinking of my mom and mother-in-law in PA today.   How did you spend your Mother's Day?