January Lesson Plan Ideas

January Lesson Plan Ideas
By: Teachnology Staff

Here are some January events to keep in mind when planning your lessons this month.

1. January is Remember the Rainforest Month.
2. January is National Eye Health Care Month.
3. On January 4, 1643 Isaac Newton was born.
4. January 8th - 14th is Universal Letter Writing Week.
5. January 11th is Amelia Earhart Day.
6. On January 17, 1706 Benjamin Franklin was born.
7. January 18th is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
8. January 23rd is Measure Your Feet Day
9. January 23rd is National Handwriting Day
10. January 29th is National Puzzle Day
11. On January 31, 1919 Jackie Robinson was born.

Inspiring Teacher Quote
"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth." Dan Rather

Teachers: Planning Ahead?
Here are some resources for teachers who are planning ahead:

- February Monthly Guide http://www.teachnology.com/monthly/feb/

This newsletter is brought to you by Teachnology.com, the online teacher resource center.
http://www.teachnology.com/

http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/ See January Themes and Resources!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Click on this link or copy into your browser to send a New Year's Card!

http://www.123greetings.com/events/new_year/new_year_wishes/newyear85.html

Stress Busters

Stress Busters

Try getting up at least 15 minutes earlier each morning to have some time to yourself. You can make coffee or stretch before anyone else in the house gets up.

Prepare for your next day the prior evening before you go to bed. Waking up in the morning knowing that you are ready helps make things run more smoothly.

Instead of trying to remember multiple things in your head, write them down. " Practice saying "no" to people. No one expects you to be able to do everything, so don't even try.

Keep a journal. Writing out your feelings is a great way to reduce stress. Seeing your problems on paper often times leaves them there.

Think of ways to practice preventative measures, such as making duplicate keys to avoid being locked out of your car or house, and fixing things around the house or classroom that have the potential to breakdown on you.

Prepare meals on the weekends and freeze them to be used during the week. Simple meals can be just as nutritious as extravagant meals.

Know your goals in life and set priorities. Having direction makes situations more worthwhile.

When given a large task to complete, break it down into smaller steps. It won't look so overwhelming if you try this.

Reduce clutter in your home and classroom. Get rid of things that you know you will never use again, or at least find a way to neatly store them away, if you cannot come to throw them away.

Uplift other people in your life. Say nice things about them. This goes a long way in making you feel distressed, too.

Say positive things about yourself. Believe in what you are doing, and remind yourself that you are making an impact on kids who rely on you. You are pretty important, eh?

Take a warm bubble bath to ease tension. " Develop a hobby that makes you feel good. Some people like to read as a hobby, while others prefer to do something with their hands. Find your niche.

Give your appearance a new makeover. Getting a new hairstyle or treating yourself to a new outfit is okay!

Consider joining a gym or practice meditation. Breathing exercises are also recommended to reduce stress.

As long as you are a teacher you will feel some effects of stress in your life. You have to make a personal decision that you will take measures to reduce your stress. The people around you may not change, so you are the one who has to do the changing. Stress is not only a mental factor, but a physical factor as well. Taking care of your body and mind is paramount. Eating a healthy diet and putting optimistic thoughts into your head is certainly beneficial. It takes practice, but you're worth it!

Remember you matter, educators make the world go around!

Cynthia Hughes & Carol Bailus (Newsletter Editors)

Worksheet Library

http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/reduceteacherstress.html

New Year Quotations

New Year Quotations

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey

One resolution I have made, and try always to keep, is this: To rise above the little things. ~John Burroughs

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. ~Author Unknown

A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

Source and More Quotes: http://www.quotegarden.com/new-year.html

New Year's Theme Resources: http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/newyear.htm

Boxing Day Dec. 26

Boxing Day By: Alecia Dixon

When is it?
December 26th, Boxing Day takes place on December 26th or the following Monday if December 26 falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

Where did it come from?
Boxing Day began in England, in the middle of the nineteenth century, under Queen Victoria. Boxing Day, also known as St. Stephen's Day, was a way for the upper class to give gifts of cash, or other goods, to those of the lower classes.

Where is Boxing Day celebrated?
Boxing Day is celebrated in Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and Canada.

How is Boxing Day celebrated?
There seems to be two theories on the origin of Boxing Day and why it is celebrated. The first is that centuries ago, on the day after Christmas, members of the merchant class would give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude much like when people receive bonuses, from their employer, for a job well done, today. These gifts, given in boxes, gave the holiday it's name, "Boxing Day".

Source and rest of the story:http://holidays.kaboose.com/xmas-around-boxingday.html

Weather Lesson Plan Ideas

Teaching Tip: Specific Weather Lesson Plan Ideas
By: Teachnology Staff

Here are some great ways to incorporate weather in your class.

1. Look at recent storms and the damage they have caused.
2. Track a storm from start to finish.
3. Using the scientific method, have students make predictions about storms.
4. Have students make precipitation graphs for your area.
5. Make windy things- windsocks, pinwheels, weather vanes.
6. Check out live cloud/weather cams.
7. Create a weather station.
8. Track and graph moods and weather.
9. Learn to use a barometer.
10. Compare the weather in areas of the world that have volcanoes to areas that don't have volcanoes.

Weekly Tips for Teachers
Issue 493: December 21, 2009
This newsletter is brought to you by Teachnology.com,

the online teacher resource center.
View it at: http://www.teachnology.com/newsletters/493.html

For More Resources:

http://mrscjacksonsclass.com/weather.htm

Christmas Card

http://www.123greetings.com/events/christmas/merry_christmas/christmas65.html


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