Video: Days of the week with a twist

Recently, while substituting, I was shown a "Days of the week" song that was to the tune of the The Adams family theme song. I fell in love with it and thought I'd share. It's really catchy and I thought I'd share it with you. It was used in a Pre-K classroom, first grade, and a Special Education (elementary) classroom.



Days of the week with a twist

It's amazing & scary...

how many pre-teens know about different types of drugs!

Today, I taught my tweens (4&5th graders) in Sunday School. We talked about how talking about and to Jesus is not freaky and what encounters they would come to in middle school. We talked about Romans 12:1-2 where you "do not conform but be transformed" and how, in Middle school, they would have to stand up for what's right.

We talked about what they would do if something "wrong" were occurring and how it is okay to ask for help, from an adult at school, if they can't handle a situation. We started to play a game on how the students would respond to a situation by completing a sentence with one word. Each student had to think of a word to fill in the sentence with to make sense. We had about 15 kiddos so we went around in the circle and came up with an answer sentence by building upon each word. One situation/question was asked "How would you react if someone was smoking dope behind the school?" This is what let the cat out of the bag!

Some knew what dope was while others had not a clue. But the other boys and girls had no problem explaining to the clueless. Then one of my co-teachers gave examples of other drugs (like cocaine, pot) and they got it. Their responses were "I'd get a teacher or call for help." Then they asked "What if the bully tries to retaliate on me?" I explained that teacher are pretty good about protecting the identities of others and will not oust you. The discussion changed to a "don't do drugs" pretty quickly but wanted to know more so we obliged.

Not only were the tweens asking questions but they were learning to stand up for themselves and not "conform" with the crowd. It is easy to fall witness and be a follower. But these kids learned today that it is good to stand up for what you believe in, don't just be a follower, and do the right thing. This was all in an hour of Sunday School. I stand in amazement at what they took out of the one hour and what I learned they know already.

It is amazing at how much fourth and fifth graders know!!!

Use your imagination & questions

Use your imagination on this post as I can't take pictures and will be describing the room that I am in to you...ok? Here we go!
The room that I am in is like a classroom yet with a teacher's workroom inside and a library all in ONE. You see, ACU has this room that is set up like BIG people centers with die-cuts, computers, library books, tables, BIG books, and printers. This place is my new haven. There is color on the walls, pictures galore, and a "pretend" classroom to teach in. This place allows in the process education majors to come in and use all of these AMAZING materials. I am so jealous that my college does not have a room like this! Of course we have an early childhood classroom, but NOTHING like this...! This is like a teacher to be's dream room...or it could just be my dream!
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Now I have two questions for you...ready? Here we go:
1. What was your favorite thing in elementary school that was labeled "teachers/staff only?" Come on, did you not like the work/mail room or office? Time to be real here :)
2. If you could go back in time and change something about elementary school, what would it be and why?
3. What was/is your favorite thing about the classroom setting? It could be the colors to manipulates or the games played :)
4. What was your least favorite thing about the classroom setting?
5. Did you have a good classroom teacher in elementary school that impacted your life? If so, tell me!

After a few days, I will compile all the answers, including mine, and post them! I want your opinions first :)
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Hope you are having a great Wednesday!