Teachers Making a Difference Issue 4 November 2022 Attitude of Gratitude

TEACHERS Making a difference

Welcome to Issue 4: Attitude of Grattitude Refresh, Renew, & Refocus Is Teaching a Young Persons Game?

A Lesson on Gratitude From a Student.

The magazine by teachers for teachers November 2022

What Ever Happened to Student Behavior?

Physical Abuse towards teachers Threats of Harm Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022 No consequences.

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The Science of Teaching

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Be Grateful for all that you have accomplished and all that you will accomplish.

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Editor’s letter A Letter of Gratitude Dr. Cathy Coker The holiday season is just around the corner and before I forget to say Thank you, “Thank You Educators for all that you do for our children”.

I also want to give a HUGE shout out to all the Paraprofessionals, office staff, custodians, cafeteria workers, and administrators. Thank you for keeping our schools running safely and on time. Thank you, paras, for filling in for us when we can’t make it to school on any given day, also I want to give a special thank you to all custodial staff for cleaning our classrooms which we tend to leave a little messy at times and thank you cafeteria staff for providing us with nutritious meals. I especially love Enchilada Wednesdays.

Thank you for keeping us safe, admin. Thank you for guiding us to Excellence. It is in this profession that I find my peace. It is in this classroom that I find my happiness. When I walk into my school every day, I am Thankful knowing that I have a special title. “Teacher”. No, it is not CEO, CFO, or Executive of some big company. I am the CEO of my classroom and Chief Educator of 21 screaming meemees. But they are mine and I am happy to be their teacher. I am also their CFO – Chief Fundraiser Officer, and Executive of my small company called Dr. Coker’s 2 nd graders. I would like to give a shout out to all the educators that are in the trenches with our students just like me.

student’s smiling faces walk into our classes every morning. I wish the world could experience how it feels to see the light bulb go on when a child finally understands what it means to borrow when subtracting using disks.

Life is good knowing that all is well with my students, and I live to see another day to do it all over again. I am truly happy to be a part of this great profession. I hope that someday you all will be told, “You have done a great job. It is time to relax and let the next generation pick up from where you have left off.”

I am Thankful to be your Editor. Enjoy this Thanksgiving Holiday with your friends and family knowing that all is well with our profession!!!!

No, we don’t make six figure incomes, but I do go home everyday full of joy knowing that I helped my students understand how to compose and decompose numbers. I also go home with a tummy full of cupcakes and candy. But the best thing I go home with is the knowing that I am loved by my students.

Teaching does not pay us a six-figure income, but we are Millionaires when we see our Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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CONTENTS Published by: C&P Educational Consultants Editors: Dr. Cathy Coker Rivette Pena Designers: Rivette Pena Stephane Bowker Contributing Photographers and Stock Libraries: Adobe Stock Unsplash Andy Dominguez

6 A Lesson on Gratitude From My Students

18 What Happened to Student Behavior?

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Advertisements: Dr. Cathy Coker Marketing: Alicia Grace Thank you to Stephane Bowker at Working Dog Resources for providing tailored training for the layout of Teachers Making a Difference.

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I Love Being a Teacher Because...

24 Refresh, Renew and Refocus

Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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Editors Letter

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Attitude of Gratitude Activities

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Brown Bagging It

22 The Timid Rabbit Series® Book 7:

The True Meaning of Thanksgiving

By Cathy Coker Illustrated by Pratip Bhattacharya

A Letter of Gratitude

Acorn Treats for Thanksgiving party.

Math Thanksgiving Worksheets Middle School/High School worksheet.

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Calendar of November Holidays

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Teacher Authors

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Is Teaching a Young Person’s Game?

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Fun Fall Classroom Activities

Lot’s to celebrate in November

Pig and Rabbit are nervous about their first Thanksgiving Feast.

Sweet Classroom activities.

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A Lesson on Gratitude From My Students Dr. Cathy Coker Gratitude means taking time to remember the good things that have happened to you in the past, whether it is an event, a person, a good thought you had or resolving conflicts with others.

As a teacher we have many of these moments when you have a classroom full of seven-yearolds. Sometimes these moments are good and sometimes they are not so good.

For Example: On Friday October 14, 2022, three of my students got into a dispute in class which led to the three students sobbing with remorse for what they did to each other. In times like these I get so frustrated with them when they are mean and rude to each other at such a young age. I teach 2 nd grade and that day they made each other cry alligator tears and in turn I too wanted to cry. But I knew this was a lesson of gratitude for us to learn.

Children are great at letting go of their hurt feelings, but on this day, Izabella taught me a lesson. When I asked the boys to apologize to each other Izabella commented that she needed time to reflect on what had just happened. I am grateful for what I learned from Izabella. She said

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

to me when I asked her to forgive her classmates for being unkind to her and to each other. She responded, “I will need three days to let go of my hurt that is in my heart before I can forgive him.”

One of the boys called her a “snitch”, which hurt her feelings because she was standing up for another student.

I’ve noticed that bullying starts at a young age now. Trust, a student, was upset because Ken had thrown away his new marker after he told him not to touch his stuff. But Ken did not care and threw it anyway. Ken is not known for his kindness, instead he is harsh and rude to others. A bully. He has often revealed that he is like that because his brother treats him that way. My heart goes out to Ken. I pray that Ken learns sooner than later that being a bully isn’t the right way to be. Having to defend himself from his brother prevents him from forming long lasting relationships with his peers.

Today is Monday morning October 17, 2022 and Izabella came up to me and said that she was ready to forgive Ken. I was floored when I heard that. I remember days that I had a heart that

hurt and the only thing that help me through my hurting heart was Netflix and ice cream. I learned that time away from those that hurt you is what we need. She spoke up first and said to Ken that she forgave him, and in response he apologized and accepted her apology and they gave each other pinky promises to never bully each other ever again. Ken talks a lot about Izabella every chance he gets.

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I don’t know if its love or not at such an early age, what I do know is that he has to change how he shows others that he likes them. He likes her and I pray that they never break their pinky promise. I am grateful to have learned that time away from those that hurt you helps heal the wounds of words from your peers. The best part of being a teacher is seeing how a child forgives and forgets the wounds of their peers. May we learn from our students to have an open heart for our peers. If you ever get bullied at work, tell them and then let time and Netflix heal your heart! I love being a teacher.

These are trying times for teachers Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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Attitude of Gratitude

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THANKSGIVING PUZZLE 5 1

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ACROSS

DOWN

1 The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day ______ was in 1924. Four hundred Macy employees marched from Convent Ave to 145th street in New York City with animals from the Central Park Zoo. 4 Jingle Bells was originally a Thanksgiving song composed for ______ to sing in a Boston Sunday School celebration.

5 Thanksgiving Day is the busiest ______ day of the year.

6 It took 66 days for the Mayflower to travel across the ______ Ocean. There were 101 men, women, and children on board.

1 It wasn't until a fictional account appeared in the bestselling Standish of Standish (1889), a story about the Pilgrims, that the Pilgrim's "first Thanksgiving" became associated with the holiday. However, this idea did not become ______ until after WWII. 2 The Pilgrims were also called ______ because they wanted to purify the Church of England from Catholic influence. Those that wanted to separate from the Anglican Church were called Separatists.

3 A 15 pound ______ usually has about 70 percent white meat and 30 percent dark meat.

Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

Empowering Educators

Curriculum Ideas

Need help?

Career Counseling Emotional Support Classroom Management T-Tess Strategies Contact Information

drcathycoker@gmail.com (210) 313-7739

Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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Brown Bagging It

Acorn Treats INGREDIENTS 1 package of mini nilla wafers

1 bag of chocolate hersheys kisses 1 bag of pumpkin hersheys kisses 1 tube of chocolate icing 1 food color pen or food color and paint brush Directions 1. Put a dollup of chocolate icing on the bottom of a nilla wafer.

2. Place the unwrapped kiss on top of the icing and press down.

3. Put a dot of chocolate icing on the top of the nilla wafer.

4. Make lines with food coloring pen or paint on with a paintbrush and food coloring.

Can be used to decorate cupcakes, cakes or just put into goody bags for a little treat. Great activity for the kids to make on their own.

Please submit any recipes you would like to share by sending them to articles4magazine@gmail.com subject: recipes visit www.testprepcertification.com for submission requirements

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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What Happened to Student Behavior?

by Rivette Pena Over the last 30 years, I have definitely seen a decline in student behavior. The lack of student accountability for their own actions is by no means the only reason for the decline. But it’s a great start.

Facebook groups are filled with story after story of student’s outrageous behavior. A common thread among these groups is that teachers feel helpless and unsupported.

Often times teachers are blamed for student’s behavior. “If you weren’t out for the day, they wouldn’t have been disruptive for the sub.

An Anonymous teacher posted, “I was assaulted by a student today. I can not describe the feeling.

[It was] a TikTok challenge. I feel so violated. He wanted to jump over me, but he hit my head so bad. I don’t know if you know the feeling but the sensation lingers in the back of my head. I pressed charges. Any advice or share your experiences with similar matters?

Thank you all guys. I really find confort and support in this group.”

Another teacher posts, “Has anyone else ever had a violent student who has been escalating to the point where I haven’t been able to teach

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

really anything for the past 2 weeks?(I document everything) This student hits, kicks, throws etc. On Tuesday, he grabbed a book and hit me in the face with it to the point I had to go to urgent care. Later I find out my principal is refusing to put anything in the students file because he gets to make the decision if things are bad enough. So far none of the behavior I have been documenting has been put into this kids file. The principal also was having the kid come back the day after he hit me in the face. Please help. ... I’m at a loss.”

Yet another teacher begs for help because her students are so disruptive. She became desperate and created a small reward system with a spinner and Plinko board. She spent her own money and time putting together what she thought was a fun review activity. The students were cooperative at first. One student won a popcorn ball and they complained. It went downhil from there. Students expressed disgust at the “cheap” gifts.

One student asked “Why didn’t you get better treats?” Pencils were broken and left on the floor.

Candy was eaten and wrappers strewn about the room. This teacher was so heartbroken and humiliated. .

It goes beyond hurt feelings. One more teacher posts, “Feeling all kinds of emotions tonight. A teacher in my school district at one of the high schools was sexually assaulted and almost killed by a 16 year old student last Thursday. The violence in our high schools have gotten worse, and our union and the teachers are demanding something be done about this. ...This teacher was so traumatized she might never set foot in a classroom again. This punk not only attacked her physically, but might have ruined her livelihood as well.”

facebook” How old is your daughter. At the time she was still in elementary. Each action in itself seems harmless. However, he would stand up in class and point at me. Not say anything just point.

I can’t tell you how unsettling that was. He even approached my daughter once she got to the high school.

I had another student write a very disturbing composition about my son being molested and my whole family murdered. Administration refused to do anything.

Enough is enough! Protect your teachers. We don’t deserve to be treated in this fashion. We are constantly being belittled by students. Second guessed and blamed by parents and admin. We have to prove ourselves over and over again.

So many of us are terrified to go into work, not knowing if it will be our last day. Gun violence and school shootings are the things nightmares are made of.

Teachers are threatened everyday by students and parents. In the few years of teaching, I had a parent threaten to “break my back” because they didn’t like my plans for the school dance.

I had to set my facebook to private and take down all my pictures of my family. I had a student who wanted to scare me. He went out of his way to say creepy things such as “Nice family. I saw them on

Speak up for yourself. You mental health is important. Your personal safety is imperative. The safety and well being of your students is your responsibility.

Keep talking and campaining for safety until it manifests into reality. And Please no more “Kids are just being Kids BS!” Kids need to learn consequences or we will have adults who don’t know consequences.

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A Teacher’s Blessings

By E.L.Mendes A recent Facebook post, posed the question “ I love being a teacher because...”

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I get to be there for kids. When no one else is there for them. I can be that person they can come to. If there is ever a dark time. I can be that sunshine.

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I love the look in a kids eye when they finally get it. Also I just enjoy being silly and having fun most of the day. Every day and every year is something new

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I truly change some worlds...

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I love seeing the kids light up when they receive the encouragement that they can do anything

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It’s the only thing I’m good at, besides being a mom and they both go hand in hand

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Every day I get the opportunity to help a child feel heard, seen and a sense of belonging.

Children are natural learners; I am so lucky to be part of their growth. I am surrounded by laughter, energy and a whole lot of hijinks.

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Because I love to be challenged. Every day I am inspired to become better and better ti make sure my student get my best.. they are worth it!

The responses were amazing. ◊

“That child” every teacher don’t want, finds genuine love with me!

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Because I like kids better than adults most days 😂 #socialanxiety

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I was born to teach! I love it! Even through the pandemic, I found it challenging and exciting!

I teach Kindergarten and the progress they make by the end of May is nothing short of a miracle! I look forward to it every year! Teach on, my friends! 💜

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Because the kids crack me up! Never a dull moment.

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Weekends off!

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I get to have a Kuereg in my room.

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It’s the only thing I’m good at. It’s the thing that makes me.

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I can make a difference in the life of a child.

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My 1st Grade kids make me feel special every single day. I have been out sick for a few days and I keep hearing they are asking when I am coming back and how I am doing. Just love them!

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What i do impacts my students in ways I never knew possible.

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Observing the growth of the students and seeing them reach understanding and respond is magical... it’s life changing and inspiring.

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I love the subject I teach and want to share it with my students. Summers, holidays, and weekends off don’t hurt either

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A freshman asked me today why I stayed with this job, knowing I don’t make a lot of money. I said “Because I get to spend my day with you.”

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I can play with colored pens all day long if I want!

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You get to change and impact lives and they get to change you

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I love to see the light 💡 bulb turn on when a child finally understands how to do something.

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I love being a teacher because of the relationships I build with my students and their families.

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It brings joy to my life!

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…Because by the end of the year, we’ve all learned something and grown a little. Myself included

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Every day is different, every year is different, every kid is different and best of all, I get to stay sharp and connected to the current generation/our future.

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It is a ministry for me…to take care of God’s special children

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I get to teach kids how to live life with a disability and teach them how it makes them better than people without one!

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I’m literally interacting with the future of the world daily.

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I get to work with some of the hardest working, most determined students. I see kids work really, really hard at what does not come naturally to them because of their disability. I get to see these students make progress and get so happy and proud. They literally accomplish so much like learning to read, toileting, social skills, behavior, writing a paragraph, or completing multiplication word problems and adding fractions in such a short amount of time in elementary school. It makes my heart so happy to see their progress, and self-esteem and selfacceptance grow throughout elementary school.

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Name

Date

Period

Adding & Subtracting Integers 1. -4 + 7

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2. 15 + (-3)

1

3. -5 +(-7) 4. -4 + (-3) + 2

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5. 2 + 8 + (-4) 6. 9 + (-4)+(-7) 7. (-8) + 7 + 2 8. (-3)+(-8)+(-4) 9. -4 + (-2)+(-7)

4 13

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10. 16 + (-4)+(-12)

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15

14 19

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13. 10 - (-12)

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16

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11. -4 + 8 12. -14 -(-5)

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14. -4 -(-19) 15. 7 -(-10) - 8 16. -14 - 29 17. 20 +(-5)- 2 18. 13 - 8 + 2 -(-12)

Blue (15,19,12), Brown (-43,9,1), Green (-5,-11), Orange (4,-15,-9), Purple (22,-12,18), Red (6,3,13), Yellow (-13,-2,0)

19. 1 -(-5)- 17 20. 23 + (-8)-(-3)

c

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

A Mathmindset 2022

Thanksgiving Add&Sub v.2

Observance Days In November

Nov 1 All Saints’ day/ Dia de los Muertos Nov 2 All Souls’ Day Nov 3 National Sandwich Day Nov 4 National Candy Day Nov 5 National Redhead Day Nov 6 Daylight Savings Time Ends Nov 7 National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day

Nov 11 Veterans Day

Nov 25 Black Friday

Nov 13 World Kindness Day

Nov 26 Small Business Saturday

Nov 14 NatIonal Family PJ Day

National Cake Day

Nov 15 America Recycles Day

Nov 27 First Sunday of Advent

Nov 16 National Fast Food Day

Nov 28 National French Toast Day

Nov 17 National Hiking Day Nov 18 National Princess Day Nov 19 International Men’s Day Nov 20 Future Teachers of America Day

Nov 8 Natioanl STEM/STEAM day

Nov 21 World Hello Day

Nov 9 World Urbanism day

Nov 23 National Adoption Day

Nov 10 Marine Corps Birthday

Nov 24 Thanksgiving Day

Cyber Monday Nov 29 Giving Tuesday Nov 30 National Personal Space Day

Nov 22 Go for a Ride Day

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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Refresh, Renew and Refocus

For most educators, this holiday is a much needed time off. Use this time to Refresh your relationship with family. Renew your reasons for teaching and Refocus yourself to regain mental clarity.

Plan an unexpected family outing, event or activity.

It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive it just has to be time together. Make memories with those you cherish and who cherish you.

Refresh This has been an intense semester. Everything after the holidays is intense. You may have let things lapse when it comes to family. Working nights and weekends to catch up with school work means that time with family and friends are cut short. At the very least, if you are anything like me, you only gave your kids half the attention because you were always grading or planning when you should have been 100% focussed on your family.

You convince yourself that you can do it all. Take a moment to put your work away. Spend time watching, listening, enjoying your friends and family. Laugh, cry, and talk until the wee hours of the morning. Do something nice and unexpected for those your love.

Renew Renew your spirit. Remember why you went into teaching. Watch a movie, read a book, watch some touching videos.

Don’t focus on the stress and negativity. Journa about your students and your wins. Relish in the memories of children’s smiles and maybe even tears of joys.

Know your worth. Know that your students are lucky to have you even on your worst day. You are best for them even if you are not at your best.

I was lucky enought to have a wonderful administrator, Her name was Ms. Viginia Kinney and one staff development day she bought the teachers lunch and hosted movies in several

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rooms. I saw “To Sir, With Love”. That was the best staff development I had ever attended. I saw a movie I had never seen before. I renewed my spirit and shared in the moment with fellow teachers. I highy suggest it.

Practice mindfulness and meditation. Be in the moment. It can strengthen well-being and mental fitness. During the meditation process, our brain becomes calmer and our whole body becomes more relaxed. We focus on our breath during the process so that we will not be distracted by our minds. With practice, we can learn to use our breath to bring our attention back to a particular task so that it can be done well even if we get interrupted.

Refocus Prioritize. Multi-tasking is not your friend. You may be not be able to do it all but you can do the most important things. Make a list, I love lists. Check things off as you go along. It keeps you focussed and motivated.

Refocus your mind and body. We all know that excercise is important and has its benefits. It will help you sleep better. Which is good for everyone?

It can boost the brain’s dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels and all these will affect focus and attention.

Physical movement helps relax the muscles and relieve tension in the body. Since the body and mind are so closely linked, when your body feels better so, too, will your mind.

So during your break please take a moment or two to Refresh, Renew and Refocus.

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Teacher Authors

by Cathy Coker

The Timid Rabbit Series® Book 7:

All excerpts are taken from this delightful children’s book about The True Meaning of Thanksgiving from the Timid Rabit Series ®.

The True Meaning of Thanksgiving

Available on Amazon

By Cathy Coker Illustrated by Pratip Bhattacharya

Submit Teacher Author information to articles4magazine@gmail.com Subject: Teacher Authors visit www.testprepcertification.com for submission requirements

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

An excerpt from

The Timid Rabbit Series Book 7: True Meaning of Thanksgiving Rabbit wanted to plan a feast to honor Mother Earth and show his gratitude for all that she provided for them. So he held a meeting with all the animals to plan the event. He started by discussing all the hard work the animals had put into the crops. Rabbit asked all those that were at the meeting, what do workers gain from their toil in the field?

“Ugh, I don’t know,” said Turkey under his breath.

“I know”, murmured Pig. “They get bacon for breakfast and turkey for dinner”.

Immediately Turkey and Pig looked at each other and in a murmur both Turkey and Pig said, “We are the feast. They get to eat us”.

“Oh No Way! That is never gonna happen to us!! They will have to catch me first,” said Pig. “They will have to find me first” said Turkey, and off they went.

Rabbit continued his speech, Mother Earth has made everything beautiful in its time. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil, this is the gift of Mother Earth. I know that everything Mother Earth does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. We must show Mother Earth how much we appreciate her. Go now and prepare her a festival like one she will remember forever. Before Rabbit finished his last words Turkey and Pig began to do the moonwalk like Michael Jackson in his music video “Beat It”. They did beat it.

They began to run as fast as their little legs could carry them. Both critters loved Rabbit but they did not stay long enough to hear Rabbit say that this Thanksgiving Feast was going to be a Vegan Celebration. Vegan means that they were going to eat the vegetables they harvested. No animal was going to be sacrificed. That was not her wish. Mother Earth wants all the critters big and small to enjoy eating the fruits of their labor. Pig and Turkey were to have fun eating all the food they could eat tomorrow. Pig was huffing and puffing running trying to catch up to Turkey. Turkey was losing feathers leaving a path in the direction he was going. For sure anyone and everyone would find him because his feathers were very distinguishable. Everytime Turkey flapped his wings, feathers flew off of him. He flapped so hard his wings began to hurt.

Looking back every now and then Yelling at Pig, “Run Pig Run”. We need to leave this place. I know Rabbit is only doing what Mother Earth asked him to do but I want to LIVE! I do not want to be anyone's dinner for tomorrow”.

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An excerpt from

The Timid Rabbit Series Book 7: True Meaning of Thanksgiving

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Where does the story take place?

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What does the word toil mean?

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Rabbit wanted to plan a feast. Who was it for and why?

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Why were Pig and Turkey concerned?

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What did Pig and Turkey do after they heard the announcement?

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Were Pig and Turkey wrong to do what they did?

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An excerpt from

The Timid Rabbit Series Book 7: True Meaning of Thanksgiving Where do you think Pig and Turkey will go? Will there be problems? How will they be found?

Write a story about their adventure. Make sure to include where they went, what happened along the way and how they were found. ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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Dear Ms. Weaver, I am a first-year teacher and I just got engaged to my high school sweetheart. My problem is not about my students it’s about my future mother-in-law. My mother-in-law is coming over for Thanksgiving Dinner and she is expecting me to bake her favorite pumpkin pie. She often tells her friends that teachers are great cooks because we have a degree. I do like to cook but baking pastries are not my cup of tea. What shall I do? I do not want to disappoint my fiancé or his mother. What shall I do?

Yours Truly, Stephanie Wilson Dear Stephanie, This is a very calamitous question. I usually answer questions related to issues related to a teacher’s classroom, but I will make an exception for you today because your future is in this special pie you have to bake.

Follow these steps and you will do just fine.

Ingredients

Easy Pumpkin Pie

Believe it or not, you can make this bakery-worthy pumpkin pie with just five easy-to-find ingredients: · 1 Pie Crust: · 1 Pumpkin Puree: 16-ounce can of pumpkin puree. · 1 Sweetened Condensed Milk: · 2 Eggs · Pumpkin Pie Spice: A teaspoon of aromatic pumpkin pie spice gives this pumpkin pie all the aromatic, cozy flavor you need.

Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make this easy pumpkin pie: 1. Mix: Combine the pumpkin puree, condensed milk, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl.

Mix until smooth, then pour into the prepared pie crust.

2. Bake: Bake in an oven preheated to 425 degrees F for about 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and continue baking until the filling is set.

Stephanie, after thinking about your situation I think that it would be better if you go to your nearest grocery store and buy that pie. I would not want you to disappoint your future mother-in-law and fiancé.

From our home to yours, Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day! Mrs. Weaver

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Is Teaching a Young Person’s Game?

After 27 years of teaching, I chose to leave. That many years in a position that asks more than you can give takes it’s toll on an individual both mentally and physically.

I say “I chose to leave” but honestly I had no other choice. I couldn’t come back to school not even one more day without breaking down. I was experiencing the loss of a child and I felt that my employer could care less. I felt that all the time, energy and devotion I had bestowed upon this school was unappreciated. I was just someone who could be replaced by a newer less expensive model

extra-curricular activities. Senority didn’t have the same respect as it used to, it only meant you were closer to retirement. I noticed that the young teachers moved faster than I did. My health was deteriorating and I was becoming tied to my desk more and more. Between my hips, my knees, and other health issues, I found that I needed to make accommodations so I could reach all my students. My students always learned a great deal in my classroom and my scores were always comparable. My growth numbers were very good.

Wait, let me take a step back and explain, I felt a shift in the working dynamic on campous. I began to notice the lack of patience with the more seasoned teacher. I noticed a division of the teachers. I noticed that admin was asking newer, younger teachers to take over lead positions or

Yet, I was beginning to feel less and less relevant.

I didn’t have the discipline issues other teachers had. My classroom management was easy for me.

I could do it with my eyes closed. It was who I am. I was respectful and expected the same in return.

One day, my principal came into my classroom and told me that I had missed too much school. I

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

was hospitalized for a week and my daughter was hospitalized for a week before she died. She said if my test scores were declining she would have no choice but to fire me. She made it very clear that I was not to miss anymore school.

they cost less. They put less demands on health insurance. They get sick less and miss school less.

What’s not to like about young teachers?

I could not have felt more helpless and unappreciated as I did in that moment. I had given countless hours of my time to this district over the past 20 years without compensation. I had taken time away from my family. I had trained many teachers who went on to bigger and better things.

Well, what they don’t have is experience. They don’t have the answers to problems that may arise. They don’t know how to handle the pressure. And most importantly they don’t know how to teach.

I worked side by side many of the people who work above me and this is the appreciation I get.

Ok. So maybe it was jut me. At least that’s what I thought. But school districts are the most toxic member of an abusive relationship with a teacher.

They monopolize your time. Isolate you from family and friends. They try to gaslight you into believing school can’t survive without you. You must give your school all that you have, mentally, physically and financially. Then when you become vulnerable they replace you with a younger model.

The younger new teacher is “hungry”. They want to create change. They have that fire in their belly.

They have an endless amount of energy and time.

They are relatable to the students. Best of all

More and more I’m seeing curriculum that is scripted. The more experienced you are the less you need a script, I can’t teach from a book. I never have and I never will. I teach people not robots.

Experienced teachers are your mentors. They embrace the first time teacher. They are the ones helping those teachers any way they can. Their experience enable them to answer questions and offer suggestions that you don’t always see in a text book. Which ,inevitably, would help with retention of teachers.

The more experienced teacher is worth the extra money. Use them to guide and mentor your new teachers. Use them to establish a process to help those teachers that need more instruction. Use them to close the gaps that have been created in some students. Allow them to shine.

Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

33

Sweet Classroom Activity

by Rivette Pena The Holiday season is upon us and our students are finding it difficulty to stay on task. The crisp in the air the thoughts of vacation days on the horizon.

They are pretty ansy. It’s time to get creative in the classroom.

Fall begets carnivals and festivals. Candy Apples, cotton candy, games, rides and snack food. All the things good memories are built upon. So why not bring those games and treats to your classroom. Here are a couple of ideas.

You can have the problems/questions on the desk, wall or with the students. You will tell them which question to answer. They will work on a clipboard, whiteboard, or tablet. You will randomly call out a number. If they are on the number, you will check their problems to see if they are correct. If they are correct they get to pick a snack cake. If they are wrong, they don’t get one.

Make sure everyone goes home with at least one snack cake. Everyone will be engaged with every question. Modifications can be made as needed.

Cake Walk A good old fashioned cake walk. Music, walking around in a circle and solving problems. Who could ask for anything more? Place numbers 1-10 or 12 on the floor a number for each of the children you have in class, even if you have to repeat numbers I would use at half the number of kids in your class. Each turn you will call out a number and you don’t want 4 or 5 of the same number. Place the numbers in a circle around on the room on the ground, the walls or the desks.

After each problem, play music and have kids walk to the next spot. Have them keep walking until the music stops that way they are changing numbers in between.

One teacher suggests using different colors as well so you can say “ all reds step forward with your answer.” or “all multiples of 4”, or “all odd numbers”. The students really enjoy this game a lot.

Another review game that kids love is called Fly-Swatter game. Now this game works a little

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

Digital Escape Rooms

Fly Swatter Game I use slides to write my questions on. Each question is multiple choice or True False.

The class is broken into two teams. Each team sends up a representative to answer the question.

I have my students stand several desks away from the board. Make sure there is a clear pathway to the board. You don’t want kids being pushed into desks or tripping on backpacks.

Digital Escape Rooms are easy to make and simple to assign. I usually create 3 levels with 10 questions.

Level one 3 questions, Level two 4 questions and Level three 3 questions. If the answers are multiple choice have the letters of the answer be a combination to a safe or a code to break the barrier to the next level.

Identify this relationship.

Function

Not a Function

The question is revealed. The teacher gives the signal to answer. The students rush to the board to get swat the correct answer with their fly swatter.

The kids really get into this. If the first person gets it wrong then the other person gets to steal the points.

For the first level, I created 3 questions. Each question is a multiple choice and worth 10 points. The student must answer these questions to be able to move on.

Identify this relationship.

Proportional

Non-Proportional

After the points are tallied the next couple of players steps up to answer a question.

One more review activity always seems to be hit at least with my students. My students loved an escape room. I’ve made several escape rooms over the years but nothing is simpler than creating a self checking, self grading computer based google forms escape room.

The code question is not worth points but if it is not entered correctly the student may not move on. They must get those 3 questions correct before moving on. Perfect time for partners or small groups. If you are interested in this activity visit the TPT store https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/ Sellers-Im-Following/Add/A-Math-Mindset Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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Name

Date

Period

Multiplying & Dividing Integers 1.

-3 x 40

2.

-12 x -6

3.

4 x (-7)

4.

-5 x 8

5.

-16 x -11

6.

-14 x 12

7.

-7 x -3

8.

-4 x (-2) x 5

9.

16 x (-4) x (-2)

4

16

15

17

9 5

13

10. 12 x (-18) 12. -55 ÷ (-11)

10

6

19

15. 36 ÷ (-9)

19. 32 ÷ (-8)

7

12

14. 144 ÷ (-12)

18. -56 ÷ (-7)

2

1

18

20

13. -27 ÷ (-3)

17. -48 ÷ 2

3

8

11. 16 ÷ (-8)

16. -96 ÷ (-6)

11

14

Blue (16, 72, 128), Brown (-216, 176, -4), Green (-120, -28, -168), Orange (-7, -12, 5), Purple (-2, 9), Red (8, -40, 21), Yellow (40, -24, -4)

20. 14 ÷ (-2) c

A Mathmindset 2022

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

Thanksgiving Mul&Div v.2

c

8

10 12

9

5

A Mathmindset 2022

11

4

1

3

D

C

B

0 5 10 15 20

400 300 200 100

x 4 8 12 16 y 9 18 27 36

Joe collects 7 stamps the 1st week, 14 stamps the 2nd week, 21 stamps the 3rd week.

A Alexis runs 4 ½ miles a day.

Date

What is the constant rate of change?

What is the constant rate of change?

What is the constant rate of change?

Fall Walk C.R.O.C. v2

11 Based on the information in the table, write an equation that can be used to model the relationship between x an y.

12 If x = 100, what is the value of y?

10

8 Based on the information in the table, write an equation that can be used to model the relationship between x an y.

9 If x = 10, what is the value of y?

7

4 If he continues in this manner what is the constant rate of change?

5 Based on the information in the table, write an equation that can be used to model the relationship between x an y.

6 If x = 15, what is the value of y?

2 Based on the information in the table, write an equation that can be used to model the relationship between x an y.

3 If x = 17, what is the value of y?

1

Period

Constant Rate of Change: Fall Walk

Blue (105, 2100, 4.5), Green (22.5, y=7x, 2.25) Orange (20, y=4.5x, 7), Red (y=2.25x, 76.5, y=100 + 20x)

7

6

2

Name

Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

37

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

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Earn six hours of continuing education hours. You may leave with some very engaging activities and methods. You will learn how to integrate reading into other

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Teachers Making a Difference | Issue 4, November 2022

Roy R. Es trada Accountin g Tax Serv ices Business Start Ups ph: (210) 723-5389 email: ro y.estrad a84@gm ail.com