Funny Moments in Teaching and Great Music

Humor First

Art by Ron Leishman Digital Toonage

Since we're all at home, I figure it's time for a little humor in our dark days. Here are a few teaching situations to make you chuckle. One of my favorite stories was of the seventh grade teacher who came to class without her glasses. She had a most persistent student in the back of the room who kept his hand raised but refused to answer when called upon. After repeatedly calling on this silent student, she became angry and yelled at him, until one member of the class told her that her "student" was the overhead projector.

I also recall the teacher who went to the theater. Periodically throughout the show, she waved to a man who continually waved at her. At the end of the show, she approached the man to learn that she didn't actually know him, like she thought. He was merely flirting with her. She said, "I'm sorry. I thought you were one of my children's fathers." The man turned red and abruptly took off.

Stories are best told in three, so here is another favorite from my gifted and talented classroom. We were partaking in a Jeopardy Game in honor of Black History Month. The following conversation gives you a peek into the bright students that I've had the pleasure of teaching.

Girl: Who was Collin Powell?

Boy: His name is Colin!

Girl: I don't like names that sound like body parts.

Boy: Really? I have an Uncle Pancreas.

I hope you enjoyed the laughs and find ways to make new ones, even in our at home situation!

Distance Learning

If you are stuck at home, here are my newest resources for distance learning. All of these are being offered in Google Applications for student downloading.

I just love David Shannon's picture book, 

A Bad Case of Stripes! 

Your students will be able to complete distance learning with this resource!

Inside this easy to use resource, you'll find:

• Introduction to Story
• Meet the Author
• Vocabulary Activity
• Vocabulary Fill Ins
• Critical Thinking Questions
• Book Review Directions
• Answer Key

You need to give students grammar practice whether online, at home, or in

school, but you do not have an easy resource to capture kids' attention. Find this beautiful and useful resource right at your fingertips in Google Drive!

Inside this easy to use Google Slide presentation, you'll find:

• "I can" Statement
• Core Standards
• 38 Lessons
• Practice Identifying Basic Parts of Speech

1. Nouns
2. Verbs
3. Adjectives
4. Pronouns
5. Prepositions

• Practice Writing Sentences with Specific Parts of Speech
• Complete Answer Key

Are you looking for an easy to use historical fiction passage with vocabulary work and questions that can be shared through remote learning? Look no further. This resource in Google Drive will motivate your students through a reading passage just for them!

Inside this easily shared Google document you'll find:

• Six page historical fiction story
• Twenty vocabulary words
• Fifteen vocabulary fill in sentences
• A word search puzzle
• Eleven high level discussion questions
• Complete Answer Key

Musical Monday Moves Me

Now, it's time for some musical selections. This week is a freebie. During the lockdown, my daughter, husband, and I were painting Erica's old bedroom. Since my husband hadn't painted a room since 1966, he put on the oldies station to reminisce those times. Here are a few of the songs we heard from the 1966 countdown.

First up is a timeless classic from The Mamas & The Papas, "California Dreaming."

Next, enjoy Simon and Garfunkel with, "Homeward Bound."

Finally, The New Vaudeville Band with "Winchester Cathedral" was a fun song of the past!