Primary Inspiration: Soccer Sentences - Freebie!

I love it when I can find a free download to use with students!  Head on over to the link below and check out the awesome Soccer Sentences freebie.





Primary Inspiration: Soccer Sentences - Freebie!: Hi, Friends! It is a totally gorgeous day here in NJ, and that means the soccer fields will be buzzing with activity. Kids have so much e...

4 Steps to Better Writers | Edutopia

4 Steps to Better Writers | Edutopia



This is a good article on how to teach students to be better writers using four steps of P.O.E.T.  Head on over and take a look at what the writer has to say.

Transitional Reading and Writing Goals for Second Grade.

I was over on the Reading Rockets webpage and found a good article for second grade teachers.   The article discussed transitional reading and writing goals for second grade.  Most children spend the first grade year making all types of new connections with their learning.  They make amazing growth during that year.  Second grade is the time for that growth to really take root and grow.  Head on over to http://www.readingrockets.org/article/goals-second-grade-transitional-reading-and-writing and learn their suggestions for some second grade goals.  I know I learned a few new things!

My Pinterest fascination

About six months ago I heard about this webpage named Pinterest.  Hmmmm.....what could that be all about.  At first you had to have an invitation to join, but now just a Facebook sign in will do.  I signed on and pow!!!!!  Hours of my life were sucked in as I explored and pinned all types of wonderful ideas!  A reading board, math, special education, and several more were created as I discovered more and more wonderful things on the internet for work.  Here is one example:

Before I would bookmark sites and rarely go back to see them.  I'm a very visual person, so this type of bulletin board of ideas is perfect for me!  Have you joined Pinterest?  How have you used it in your professional life?  When I present professional developments for teachers, I often mention my Pinterest boards for education, reading, or even behavior.  Share in the comments!

(Pssssttt.....come visit my Pinterest at Dena Oneal)

Do you have an app for that???

These days people seem to trade app names like kids used to trade baseball cards.  "Do you have this one?"  "What about this one?"  Those are statements I hear frequently in teachers lounges lately.  The National Center for Learning Disabilities recently published an article on apps for Androids.  It is titled, "Our Community’s Favorites Android Apps".  While I'm more of an Apple person, I don't want to leave out apps for those who use PC based apps.  What are some of your favorite apps?  Right now I'm loving Timer Touch 2 for my iPad.  It is a great visual timer for students. 

Starting school: New rules and procedures!

Starting school is exciting! It is also a time for students to learn new rules and procedures from their teachers.  These rules and procedures will help students have a smooth and successful day.  It could be anything from "how to sharpen your pencil" to "how to walk in the hallway".   The questions teachers ask themselves is....how do I encourage my students to follow these rules and procedures?  This is where Class Dojo can help!  Class Dojo is a behavior management tool online where teachers can award students points for positive behavior.  The best part is it is free!!!  WOOHOO!!!  Teachers can take attendance, award points, and even run reports on behavior.  Parents can use a code to sign in and check how their child is doing in class.  Students can even get a code to check their own behavior and design a personal aviatar to be displayed with the class.  So take a few minutes and head on over to Class Dojo and see how it can help.

SYNC 2013 Titles Revealed

Head on over to http://www.audiobooksync.com/2013/04/13/sync-2013-titles-revealed/ and download the latest and greatest in adolescent audiobooks for FREE!!  I love finding stuff for free and this resource was recommended on the AdLit website.  So click the link and let your preteen/teen have some great audiobooks to listen to as they wait for school to start soon.  Do you have any other audiobook website recommendations?  Let us know in the comments section!