Super Bowl Savings

I woke up to a wonderful Super Bowl tradition. A lox box with a poem was waiting outside my door. This is a local synagogue's fundraiser that has been going on for years. My mother-in-law used to send these out, but she died in September. My husband sent boxes to several in her memory.

Once again the big game is here

Wake up the family and have a cheer

Go to the door, pick up your box

Full of bagels, black-and-white cookies, 

cream cheese and lox

Or instead of lox, you might find a pack

Filled with popcorn, pretzels and other

delicious snacks

Patriots vs. Rams, we can't wait

Super Bowl LIII is sure to be great

Even if you team doesn't win

You'll still enjoy the 

yummy treats within

After devouring my delicious bagel and lox, this morning, I started work on another Super Bowl tradition. I posted for our sale. I've joined with several Teachers Pay Teachers authors in TWO game day sales. 

First, we have the #halfpriceuntilhalftime hashtag sale. I'm featuring my Black History product at 50% off. To be honest, I wanted to make it half off of it's normal 30% off, but TpT does not allow us to give away products, so it's on sale for $5.40, which is half off what it would be if you were to buy all of the products inside of the bundle, individually.

I'm also participating in the #sbdollardeal hashtag sale.  I'm featuring Multiplying Decimals and Writing Dialogue, each for just a dollar, today only.

So go to TpT and search the hashtags for some great bargains!

Here's a closer look at what I have for sale:

Inside this standards aligned lesson you'll find:

•Review of multiplying whole numbers by whole numbers

•Models on how to multiply decimals by other decimals

•Student practice of their skill

•Likert scale to assess students' feelings about mastery of skill

Inside you'll find:

•Rules for writing dialogue

•Examples and practice sentences to punctuate

•Examples of dialogue from novels and

•Questions about passages

•Picture prompt

Inside you'll find:

• Underground Railroad Close Reading Passage

Take your students on a reading adventure about runaway slaves with this original story from Catch My Products. Through this close reading passage, students will learn what it was like to be a runaway slave from around 1860s, America. Students will remain engaged with the story and intrigued with higher level, critical thinking questions.

• History of Slavery

Although slavery was an embarrassing mark on American history, students need to learn about this chapter of history. This packet will engage and challenge your students with standards based lessons from multiple subject areas.

• Black History Research

Eight individuals are highlighted in this research page. Once students match the individual to his or her description, they must unscramble letters to reveal the occupation of the famous person.

• Black History Logic Puzzle

It’s February, which means time for the boys––Randy and Tylis, and the girls––Aundrea and Jasmin––to complete their black history reports. Each kid had someone special to write about, so they visited to the library to learn about their famous Americans. Students will read about four trendsetters from Black History and determine who researched which person.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Crossword Puzzle

January marks the birthday of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. To celebrate, answer the questions below, using the word box to complete the crossword puzzle.Students will enjoy researching the answers to this fun and engaging puzzle.

Shadow or Spring

Groundhog Day is right around the corner and legend asks, "Will he see his shadow?" If the groundhog sees his shadow, he gets scared and runs back into his hole in the ground, giving us six more weeks of winter. I don't believe in groundhog forecasts, but it's a fun media stunt. . . well maybe not so fun for the poor scared creature that is surrounded by the camera crews.

This week's musical challenge is to find songs with "shadow" in them. An obvious one, from my childhood, comes to my mind. I'm sure others in our group will think of this one, too, but here goes Cat Stevens with "Moon Shadow."

In looking for "Moon Shadow," I had a choice on what to post. I could post a blurry tape, words on a moon, Spanish subtitles blocking the picture, or the whole dang concert with Moon Shadow being the first song. I chose the whole dang concert but only listened to the first song. Hopefully Cat Stevens doesn't do anything horrific later on, but I wouldn't know.

Whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not, spring will still get here, so I'd like to show you my newest spring product. Spring Primary Activities is now available for sale at Catch My Products!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Activity-Worksheets-4316429

When spring is right around the corner, and you have nothing fun and challenging for your class, here is just what you need. Your kids will have a lot of fun with this Spring Activity Pack! This resources is especially good for your gifted and talented primary students or early finishers.

Inside you'll find:

•FIVE spring themed logic puzzles

Four Leaf Clover Hunt

March Winds

The Rainy Season

Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Bunny's Helpers

•THREE spring Sudoku puzzles

•ONE spring letter jumble

•TWO spring writing prompts

April Fools Day Joke

Earth Day

•COMPLETE answer key

Logic puzzles involve higher level, critical thinking skills, and are great for early finishers, for use in centers, or even to reward students with a fun and engaging activity. Students may complete these problems independently or in cooperative groups.

Want to Know a Secret?

I've been selling products on Teachers Pay Teachers since 2013. I have to admit, some of my early products are not too good, and I've been working on updating these. In fact, I'm so unhappy with some of these early products that I cringe when they sell.

I have found two similar dollar products that are in the works to be something new and wonderful! While one of these will be deleted from my store, the other will gobble up the deleted product along with many more pages added on. 

So here's the deal. This new twenty page product will sell for $4.95. Anyone who bought the bad product for $1 will have access to the newly revised copy once I download it.

Do you trust me? 

If you trust my work, go on and buy the horrible product for $1. Although, you must promise not to leave a rating until the new, more expensive product is downloaded! Here is a link to the "crappy" product. It doesn't even have a cover.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Creative-Problem-Solving-Puzzle-1401246

I am in the process of printing out my revised product and looking for mistakes. After that, it will be posted on this link and available to you . . . after only paying $1. Not a bad deal! But, PLEASE, do not leave a rating of the old product!! That's the promise. If you trust me to post the revision, I'll trust you not to destroy the product with a low rating of what exists now.

Here is a preview of what is coming:

I hope you'll save money by taking advantage of my secret!

Please note, a poor rating will force me to post the new product on the page about to be deleted. That would be totally unfair to the buyers. However, if that happens, email me at: jlansky@comcast.net, and I'll make things right, as I always do.

Guess what? In proofing this product, I caught and fixed my misspelled word, "flexibility." Did you catch it? That's why this product is not yet listed, but I believe it's ready, now, so get it for a dollar, quickly. By the end of today (Friday), the offer will probably be gone.

#MMMM Elvis Week

Our challenge this week is to play an Elvis tune and then to play a tune from the same era. Here is an Elvis tune. Enjoy that hunka, hunka, burning love!

For my first error song, here is Elvis, again.

Do you like my error songs? 

Here's another for the king.

Tee hee hee!

Ring in the New Year

It's fine! It's grand! It's $1 each for TWO top selling products 

for TWO days, only.

I've joined up with Shelly Rees's Focused Success group to present $1 deals.

Search #Ringin2019 on Teachers Pay Teachers, and you can find some bargains!

Here is what I have to offer:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Harry-Potter-Logic-Puzzles-2790762

AND

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Making-Inferences-Reading-Passages-1806477

Note to Sellers - I am participating in this sale because I have joined Shelly's group. If you want to grow your store and have many great sales, too, don't just hop in (that's rude) but join the Focused Success Group. You won't regret it!

https://the-focused-teacherpreneur.thinkific.com/?ref=e9dd11

Cartoon Music Fun with December Holiday Songs

I found some cute cartoons to go along with songs!

Remember this one by the Looking Glass?

Surely everyone remembers the Eagles!

I love the Grateful Dead even though 

I don't understand why anyone who is dead would be grateful.

And since it's Chanukah and Musical Monday Moves Me 

has a December theme, I present the Doors!

Happy Chanukah to those who celebrate!

Win TpT Gift Card for Cyber Sale!

Guess What?

AND if you want to make Cyber Monday even better, here is a great contest 

for SIX chances to win a $10 TpT Gift Card! Just click on the Raffelcopter and you're good to go!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f4a8c3a55/?

Also, don't forget to shop Cyber Monday. Catch My Products will be 20% off! With the code #cyber18, you can receive an additional 5% off!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Catch-My-Products

Congrats to the winners!

Bohemian Rhapsody

Yesterday, my husband and I went to see the new Queen movie, "Bohemian Rhapsody." As a long time Queen fan, I soaked up every minute of it!

Rami Malek played Freddie Mercury as if we were seeing the real deal. The movie has motivated me to watch Queen documentaries to see how much of the movie matches reality. It seems like musicians are an interesting breed with their own sense of sorrow as they experience the world. I'd always read that "Bohemian Rhapsody" was a way of Freddie dealing with his parents' rejection of his gayness and flamboyant self, that clashed with his religious upbringing. That's not what the movie indicated.

Either way, Queens' unique style and brave step to be original catapulted them into stardom. Here are several of my favorites from the band to celebrate the newly released movie and the unbridled talent that was Freddie Mercury.

I saw Rami Malek on the Late Show talking about the iconic teeth he wore for the movie. He wanted to do the most ostentatious thing that Freddie Mercury would have done, so he had them cast in gold.

I remember seeing Rami Malek in "The Night at the Museum" and thinking he's got a special something about him. I'm not surprised to see him go on to fame with this career setting role!

The Live Aid scene of the movie was especially fun. Mercury had a way of grabbing an audience and not letting go. That talent is especially seen in this clip. Oh, how I wish I could have been in London at that concert. Many of the best talents were there but clearly Queen stole the show. Little did I know, Mercury was sick with Aids and hadn't been with the band at the time of this production. I even read that he was having trouble with his voice and that a doctor told him not to sing. He hid that, and the rest of his pain, well.

Seeing this movie and listening to documentaries about Queen has got me thinking. I have very little in my store that deals with music. I wonder, is there a market for this? In other words, should I write an educational story or create an educational products about Queen? I just might!

Daylight and Duets

Although I've never considered myself to be a materialistic person, I do have one possession that is especially dear to me. This morning I spent a good 15 minutes rotating her loving hands through the hours and allowing her to sing her beautiful songs, at each quarter hour, while taking a short rest inbetween. I am happy to say that my grandfather clock is no worse for wear when I gently took her an hour back . . . and then moved her moon one click backwards––which shouldn't bring her harm. I had wanted her ever since I was a child and saw her relatives lining the walls of my father's furniture store. Last spring, she became mine, and although her music may be old to Mitchell, but I never grow tired of her song. Love that clock! Thanks to everyone that had a part of bringing her to me. 

This week's Musical Monday Moves Me theme is unconventional duets. Not sure how unconventional these are, but I love these duets, so I'll share!

Also, here is one more song that has been on my mind this week. 

I love Alanis Morisette! 

Her song is so raw with emotion while having a 

stick-in-the-head sort of rhythm.

A Message About The World

I know I've been absent for a long time. We have had a hard month and family has come first. I see a lot of bloggers air their dirty laundry as they write personal details that shock and surprise. That is not me. Just know, my husband and I will be fine, as well as the rest of the family. 

I am deeply saddened by the anti-Semitic attack in Pittsburgh. As a Jew, this hits too close to home. I am also mortified that Mike Pence would see it as appropriate to comfort Jews with a Messianic "rabbi." That was horrendous! I pray for the world and our country because we are currently in a very bad place, as our POTUS spreads hate and fear that has energized the crazies. I also see him trying to strip away our basic human rights and constitution. It is vital that our country provides checks and balances on the monster in office.

Joyce

A MESSAGE FROM RABBI SKOFF

October 29, 2018

Rose Mallinger, 97 years old, born in 1921. Her eyes had seen anti-semitism and had also experienced renewed hope. Her Judaism had been tested and she had found her way back to Shul, to Shabbat, to prayer. And Rose Mallinger was killed, murdered in the Sanctuary, at prayer, during the Shabbat, her day of rest.

We bow our heads in sadness and grief for the families of Rose and the other 10 murder victims whose lives ended last Shabbat in Shul. Like the martyrs in our High Holy Day Prayer Book, they died because they were Jewish. We extend our support as well to the families of the four police officers who came on the scene and tried to apprehend the murderer and were wounded in that noble mission.

My sister lives one block from the Tree of Life Synagogue. From her front door, one can look out and see the building. One passes three or four different synagogues on a walk through that neighborhood.

A few years ago, the synagogue where my sister belonged was damaged because of a fire, and for her son, my nephew's Bar Mitzvah, Tree of Life Synagogue opened its doors and hosted the Bar Mitzvah. I sat in that Sanctuary; I took an Aliyah on that Bimah; I went downstairs to that basement; I entered and exited through those doors. It was a house of worship and love and community on that day. On Saturday, it turned into a graveyard.

Ironically, we at Park were reading Torah at 10 a.m. last Saturday and answering questions on the separation of milk and meat. Milk and meat are separated in Jewish religion, but why? Because milk represents the human instinct to preserve and nurture life, just as a mother's milk serves to sustain her infant. Eating meat represents the human instinct to destroy life, as we do each time a cow is slaughtered to produce the steak that appears on our plate.

To eat an animal that was once alive and is no longer, and to wash it down with milk, the substance meant to keep that animal alive, is ugly, cruel, gross, vindictive. It is Treif. Separate them! Don't trespass life with death!

On Saturday, a synagogue, a place meant to nurture, elevate, sustain and enhance life, was trespassed and became a place of murder, of death, of slaughter.

Anti-Semitism is alive in America. The Anti-Semitic feelings of racists and bigots have now translated into actions. The Anti-Semite appears to feel more empowered in 21st Century America, emboldened, feeling somehow protected in the "mission" to "kill all the Jews," to quote Robert Bowers, the Pittsburgh assassin.

I was born with a figurative "third ear." It is an ear inherited from a Jewish tradition that has lived on every continent and in countries all over the globe. It is a 3rd ear which I inherit from my ancestors, and it hears not only the words spoken but what the words symbolize or imply in a deeper sense. My 3rd ear keeps me up at night, and it has left me sleep deprived since Saturday.

I applaud that President Trump called this act "hateful poison." Needed words. The President said this is "something you wouldn't believe could still be going on," and reminded us all that "Jews have endured terrible persecution for centuries." Necessary and strong statements. However, my 3rd ear began to ring when the President suggested that "an armed guard at the synagogue would have been able to stop (the murderer)," and that "maybe nobody would have been killed." My 3rd ear began to ache when the President repeated this four and five times in those first hours, placing responsibility for the deaths on the lack of synagogue security, implying that a synagogue guard would have been able to stop a gunman with a semi-automatic AR-15 rifle, a weapon used in the military.

While every house of worship would do well to increase security after Saturday, the suggestion, intentional or not, that responsibility for these deaths rests on the synagogue and on synagogue security - - what I hear with my 3rd ear is what Jews have sadly heard throughout our history:

YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

Anti-Semites around? It's tragic, it's poison - - YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

Anti-Semitism on the rise, neighborhood feeling unsafe? Very sad, but, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

Unable to practice your faith freely without fears, sorry to hear that, good luck - - YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

Maybe I misunderstood, maybe I'm overly sensitive, but I have inherited the 3rd ear of my grandfather in Poland, when pogroms attacked Jewish villages and our people were told, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

Next week we observe the anniversary of Kristallnacht, when Jewish stores and synagogues were looted and burned down in Germany, and our people were told, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

That is why our ancestors came to this country from Europe, because in Europe, the message to us was YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

We expect more in America. We assert our right to more in America. We expect, we demand civility from our leaders in a land where tolerance is supposed to be promoted and diversity celebrated, where violence and hateful words are challenged and punished, and disagreement doesn't need to lead to cruelty.

What is needed is far more than adding a guard to every building, it is to guard against speech that bullies, insults, mocks and vilifies everyone who is different than you or disagrees with you.

By the time violence reaches the guard at the door, it may be too late. Needed is to guard against labeling every other group as your enemy, reducing the world to "us and them." Stopping the crime of murder means first stopping the anger that preceded it and which is being fueled today by angry public dialogue.

Rose Mallinger, Jew, became Robert Bowers' "enemy" the day she was born 97 years ago. Why? Because someone told him so. And he felt emboldened to act upon it. She deserved better, as do we all, in the United States of America. She expected more than "YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN."

We are America. Our condolences and deepest thoughts and prayers go out to the families of our American Jewish martyrs.

Sincerely,

Joshua Skoff,
Senior Rabbi

October Sale & Music

I know I've been gone awhile. 

Things have been busy, and my mind focused on life.

I'm back for today, and we'll see about tomorrow. 

While you're here, please check out my Teachers Pay Teachers sale on seasonal items. From Oct. 1 - Oct. 4, find seasonal products at 10% off! 

I hope you'll stop by.

Stop by my store to find 10% off of seasonal products!

Seasonal: October Sale Items

Products for Halloween:

Products for Fire Prevention Week:

Back to School & SALE

Back to School season is near or here. Depending on who you are, you are either celebrating, crying, or indifferent. For those of you crying, I hear ya. For many years, I'd always get a little weepy around the fourth of July. Seeing those beautiful fire crackers let me know that my summer vacation freedom would be drawing to a close. Since I retired, and teach part time, I don't feel that way anymore.

Good News, though! Teachers Pay Teachers is having a Back to School sale. My store will be set at 20% off for both sale days, August 1st & 2nd! PLUS if you enter the code BTSFRESH at checkout, you will receive an EXTRA 5% OFF!  I have a lot of new bundles that are already at 30% off. Between the sale and the code, you can get a great deal on these!

As for your thoughts on back to school . . . 

You will Survive

         Thanks to Educlips.

For those of you crying, here are some thoughts to keep in mind as you start the new year.

You WILL survive. I've had 31 years of teaching - some good, some bad - but I got through them all.  Some survival tips I've learned over the years are:

1.) Stay out of the Teachers' Lounge.

Teachers' lounges can be a great place to discuss problems with others, but they can also be a hornet's nest of trouble. Be careful not to spend too much time there because conversations can lead to negativity, or you might just say something you'll regret later. I remember a group of sixth grade teachers who became incredibly negative as the year wore on. Being around them made it hard to keep a positive attitude, so it was better to just avoid them. Nice people, but real Debbie Downers!

2.) Keep up with Your Work Load.

I admit, this is easier said than done. There are teachers who stay after school for hours and those who go home as soon as the bell rings. I can't tell you what type of teacher to be because we all have different situations in our lives. On multiple occasions, I'd try to take my work home, only to never do anything with it! I know teachers who will be up all night grading papers, after they get the kids to bed, but I could never do that. I was the one who would stay at school late and bring nothing home. As long as the work gets done, it doesn't matter how you do it. But the important thing is to stay focused! You can waste hours day dreaming by looking around your room or visiting with coworkers. You need to get your work done and maybe have a life. Mom warned you not to be a teacher. Too late. You're a Teacher.

3.) Try to Have a Life.

We've heard, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." 

That's not to mean you're going to run out on a murder rampage, like in "The Shining" if you work all the time. Of course, then again, there are those politicians who want to arm teachers. That would put a whole new meaning to "behavior management." But, it's easy to get into an emotional rut if you never do anything with your family or that is fun. You could see the latest movie in the theater, if your husband doesn't teach, too, or how about a downtown ghost tour.  Did you know that I am also a ghost tour guide in Memphis? If you're ever in town, come see me!

https://www.historicalhauntsmemphis.com/haunted-memphis-bus-tour.html

I love the Woodruff Fountaine house! It's so beautiful and spooky at the same time. Definitely haunted! I even saw the ghost cat one night. And, I saw Mollie Woodruff's butt print on the side of her bed.

Check us out!

#MMMM Two Songs in Sign Language

When I was in college, I majored in Speech Pathology and Audiology. I actually took a sign language course and consider it another language that I partially speak. My friend and I used to love walking through campus signing to each other. It was worth it for the funny looks.

As I searched for songs with signs, this was the first one to come up. I like it. I'll bet others do too. I'm going to post it and pay attention to my visits. Kathy and I never could sign this quickly or understand something that fast, either.

Here's another good one that I dance Zumba to. 

Have a great week!