~Thank You~

Well, I have survived my first week of teaching second grade!  It has been quite an adjustment having students that are not as independent (I dropped from 3rd to 2nd)...but I think I'm off to a good start!  As I was faced with finding resources to use this week, I used Teachers Pay Teachers more than ever before.  By the end of the week, I was so incredibly grateful for the many amazing resources that are out there, some free and others offered at affordable prices.  

As a way to say THANK YOU, I am having a SALE on ALL the items in my store this weekend 
(August 3-4/2013)

Again, to all who contribute their talents and time to TpT, THANK YOU!

~Cheers!

FREE Clipart provided by: wwww.digitalclassroomclipart.com

Picking Your Brain

At the beginning of each unit, I typically begin with the exercise "Picking Your Brain".  The students usually chuckle when they hear me utter those words, hehe.  This week during one of these sessions, they were talking in their groups about what they thought the word liter meant, and how it's used in every day life.  I wanted to share one of the responses with you because it simply brought a smile to my face during a highly stressful week.

This is an explanation from one of the students to the other:

"Yes, the word liter (which he pronounced, litter) is something that describes a bunch of puppies that were born.  The mother of the "liter" tells her babies that they are all in one "liter".  Sometimes there can be 4-5 puppies born at one time.  That must hurt the mommy, but she doesn't care.  Oh, and it could also mean trash on the grass near a road.  We shouldn't liter."

hehe (the teacher had to chuckle to herself...)

I knew from that moment that this young boy was going to learn something new today.

Teaching.  What a blessing.

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

Craziness!

Yep.  It's been a few weeks of nothing but, GO-GO-GOOOOOOOOOO!  I'm sure if you're reading this, and you're a teacher, you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.  Is it just me, or is April CRAZY?!  The normal routine consists of waking up, showering, getting breakfast ready, getting out the door, dropping my child off at preschool, going to work (run around like crazy), tutor after school, pick up my child, make dinner, play, bath time, story time, lesson plans, make lunches, bed.  REPEAT. :)  LOL  Then, factor in t-ball practice and games, as well as Awana.  I'm so ready for a DO-NOTHING day...I know, I know...highly unlikely.  But hey, a girl can dream right?  While I honestly do love my profession, I still need to take the occasional mental health day (a day off to do NOTHING).

What does your daily schedule look like?  If yours is crazy too, I'd love to read about it!

Compassion

If you haven't seen this video, you're in for a real treat.  These are the things no standardized test will ever show/measure.  To me, the compassion and love shown here are the most valuable set of skills humanity needs.  I hope you enjoy this clip - it's also a great discussion starter for the classroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bsv5kZ-gYmg

How do you incorporate activities to help develop different character traits in your classroom?

Thanks for reading!
~Desi's Classroom Cafe

Provide your feedback!

Hello!  I hope you have been enjoying the contents of this blog.  I always like to try and reach out to the people reading this - YOU! :)  Below are the questions you can leave a response for.  You don't have to answer all of the questions...you choose, if any, which ones you'd like to provide feedback on. 

Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions!

1.  What subject do you need the most materials for?  (I know that I am better at making certain types of products for particular subjects...)

My response:  I struggle the most with creating fun writing activities/rubrics.

2.  What types of items/topics would you like to see on this blog?

My response:  I am in the process of trying to find more inspirational teacher stories, either from parents/teachers/admins etc.  I think, especially in today's world, that sometimes we feel undervalued and unappreciated at times.  I hope that through reading stories on here it helps you remember why we truly have the best job.

3.  (For fun!)  Since I am a coffee lover, hence my blogs title,  tell me about your favorite types of coffee...I know there are people on here from all over the place and it would be interesting to see what's out there!

My response:  As lame as it may sound, I am a Dunkin Donuts person...hazelnut coffee is my all-time favorite.  Cheers!

Inspiration

Each week I will be searching for inspirational teacher stories!  This weeks winner is TpTs own,
All Things Elementary! This teacher is currently working with children in Guatemala - how awesome is that?!

Her post is about what inspired her to become a teacher in the first place - enjoy!

When I was 8 years old, I made a promise to myself to become a teacher in honor of my stellar second grade teacher and my grandparents (of who 3 out of 4 were teachers). My second grade teacher captured my heart through her love of reading and deep understanding of my individual needs.  She inspired me to love learning not just in second grade, but also for the rest of my life. To me, that is the mark of a superior teacher.

I was so inspired by her that, on career day, when she assigned us to dress paper dolls to look like what we wanted to be when we grew up, I made a doll to look like her.  Ever since that day, I have kept that doll and that dream to be just like her. 

Her inspiration was so deep that I kept my focus on my dream to be a teacher through high school and college.  I graduated in May of 2012 from Kent State University summa cum laude with a degree in Early Childhood Education.  It was then, 14 years after second grade that I looked up my second grade teacher.  Though she had retired, the elementary school was still able to pass my email along to her.  After waiting a few weeks, I finally received an email from her and an offer to meet for coffee! Seeing her and sharing teacher talk and resources with her was a dream come true. 

Not only am I living my dream of being a teacher, but I have also kept the passion for learning that she gave me.  As I have been looking back on my career as a student and looking ahead to my career as a teacher, I have noticed that I have always been a teacher.  I always offered to help my peers that were struggling.  I often started study groups in college.  Since my junior year of high school, I have been employed as a tutor.  Teaching is so deeply ingrained in my nature that I have always been and will always be a teacher to those in my life.  I believe that we learn most deeply when we teach others and in order to teach others deeply we must be willing to be continually learning. As teachers, we are always learning new information and new ways to explain content to students.  My passion for teaching will be forever fueled by my lifelong passion for learning.  Forever a teacher,forever a learner!

Go check out her awesome products on TpT by clicking the link below:

All Things Elementary


If you have an inspirational story regarding anything involving education, send me a message via TpT, or add to the the forum discussion titled: Facebook and Blog Offer!

Desi's Classroom Cafe

What's in a name?

I've had several people ask me why I named my blog, Desi's Classroom Cafe.  The answer is actually quite simple....you ready for this....

I. LOVE. COFFEE!  

I drink a cup of coffee every single morning in my classroom.  My classroom has become my cafe :)

The Desi part is what my students' call me because they struggle with pronouncing my full last name - but I really don't mind.  

So there you have it!  Exciting stuff, right?!

Have a FANTASTIC FRIDAY everyone!

Thanks for stopping in! 

FREEBIE!

We all like FREE stuff, right?!  Well, if you're looking for an activity to do with your students about describing characters, I have the PERFECT digital download for you!  All you have to do is go to my store using the link below! 

Enjoy!

My TpT Store Link

Show your Support!

If you or someone you know is on the spectrum, check out this beautiful scarf you could wear to show your support!  Also, there are many other amazing products on this site.  

Happy shopping!

Rainbow Scarf!

Facebook Friends!

Hi all!  I have just created a facebook page for everyone to check out.  There you will find blogs that I enjoy reading, educational materials, sales at my TpT store, and much more!

Now, click on the link below and go hit the LIKE button already!  ;)

Thank you!

Desi's Classroom Cafe now on FACEBOOK!

Goats in the Classroom

Most educators I know have their students take "brain" breaks and/or do energizers during the day to keep the kids well, awake, and to let the wiggles out.  I do all of those things, but I also do "laugh" breaks.  I mean, who doesn't love a good laugh?  I have found that it really brings stress levels down, especially when the big "T" word is near.  This is the latest you tube video I used for one of my laugh breaks.  And boy were they rollin'!  After all, they are still kiddos and need to have a good laugh from time to time.  Laughter is the best medicine, right?!

Enjoy a good laugh,
Desi

Come check out my store!

Ready, Set, GO!

Ah yes, the first post...no pressure at all, right?!  The intention of this blog is to provide a space for teachers/parents/students and/or anyone else interested in education to ask questions, give advice, share great stories, and provide support for those wishing to help educate today's youth.  This can be a place to share ideas, lesson plans (even those that flopped so we don't make the same mistakes), clipart, latest research findings, helpful websites, and the list goes on.  If it's about education, I'll take it! This is NOT a place to bash teachers, administrators and things of that nature-thanks!  It's a place for positive sharing, questioning, and recognizing the many great people that educate our students-including parents (afterall, you are THE most important teacher in your child's life).

Thank you so much for visiting my new blog!  I look forward to hearing from you!  Oh, and please be patient, this is my first "REAL" blog. :)

Yours truly,
Desi

Visit my Store!