Free Teacher Joke: First Day of School Note

A schoolteacher sends this note to all parents on the first day of school: "If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home."

Product Review: Winther Viking Tricycle

One of the perks of owning a school supply company is that I am able to get up close and personal with thousands of truly wonderful educational resources. I then get to introduce those products to parents all over the world.

When I was at the annual product expo for the National School Supply and Equipment Association (NSSEA), I came across a company out of Denmark called Winther. They make high-quality tricycles and strollers for preschoolers. I was totally impressed with their products and decided to offer their complete line on our website. I also decided to buy their small Viking Tricycle for my son.

Anyone who has boys knows that they are rough with their toys. My son pounds his Winther trike into trees, drags it across the driveway, and beats it with sticks...he also rides it, too! The trike is so well crafted. No matter what my son dishes out, the trike will take the beating well. I will be able to save the trike for his younger brother to use next summer, which makes it an excellent value!

I encourage parents, daycare providers, or preschool teachers to take a good look at the Winther family of products. They are priced higher than other tricycles, but the quality is worth every penny. To help lower the costs, SchooDoodle offers free shipping on all Winther tricycles and strollers.

Our family loves the Winther trike. I promise that your family will to. If you are not 100% satisfied with the quality of the Winther products, you can call me direct at (630) 214-9695 and I will pay to have the trike sent back.

Enjoy these last few days of summer,

Mike Ockrim
Founder

Teen Talk: What you need to know about your teen and drugs & alcohol

Do you suspect that your teen is using or abusing alcohol or drugs? Is there nagging feeling in the back of your brain that you really need to check this out? Are you afraid of what you might find? Do you worry when your son or daughter is out with friends for hours on end and you really don’t know where they are?

Then join the ranks of parenting teens today in America. In almost every interaction I have with parents of teenagers this topic comes up. Parents don’t know what to do.

Should I search his room? Should I confront her? Should I demand a drug test? Will I drive an even bigger wedge into our already distant relationship? Maybe it’s just normal that she is experimenting…but her moods have changed. Are you frightened for your teen’s safety?

Then read on...

The warning signs of teen alcohol or drug abuse:

• Missing school or work.
• Not saying where he or she is going; or being vague about where he or she has been.
• Lying about where he or she has been.
• Stopping activities that he or she used to enjoy and not replacing them with other fun activities.
• Borrowing money from parents or friends and unable to explain loss of money or valuables.
• Sniffling, runny nose, dilated pupils or red eyes.
• Losing appetite or eating too much
• Associating with a new group of friends, often those who use drugs.
• Hiding things that would show alcohol or drug use, liquor bottles, rolling papers or pipes.
• Moodiness, change in personality, avoiding you.

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse

What you can do:

Parental Monitoring: Supervise your teen or know where your teen is and what they are doing.

Make a Plan: Decide what you will say before you talk to your teen if you suspect alcohol or drug abuse. (Avoid negativity, express your concerns, caring and love.

State the Facts: State what you know from the above warning signs.

Be Open: Listen to what your teen has to say.

Set and Enforce Rules: With care and concern, let your teen know that you will not put up with drug or alcohol use/abuse. “I know you can’t stand it when I make rules, but I am your parent and it my job to keep you safe.” Hold your teen accountable for his or her actions and set clear consequences for not obeying your rules.

Be Prepared for Obstacles: Many teens will become very angry and defensive and walk away from you. Take a deep breath and go back for round #2.

Keep Talking: Any chance you get, make an attempt to talk with your teen. Don’t give up or lose your temper no matter how uncomfortable the situation might seem.

Design a Contract: About rules and their consequences. Both you and your teen sign it. Be clear, firm and concise.

Follow Through: Be consistent. The minute you back off or avoid your teen will run with the freedom.

Know this: Your teen wants you to rein him or her in. It is scary having so much power and no one noticing that you are getting away with breaking rules. Being out of control is not that much fun for your teen either.

CLICK HERE to read a related BLOG that I recommend.

Free Teacher Lesson Plan: I Imagine!

Download Worksheet

Language Arts, Writing, Writing Process, Oral Language, Listening, Speaking

Grade 1- 3

Objective:

Students use descriptive and imaginative language to encourage a response.

Directions:

Discuss with students the importance of using sensory words to describe objects. Share with them an excerpt from a book or poem they know that uses a sensory description of objects. There are countless good examples.Review sensory words used to describe objects.

Talk about words referring to size or weight, shape, texture, sound, and smell. Select a few objects around the classroom and have students use sensory words to describe them.Tell students that they will write stories about animals. These animals can be real or imaginary.

They will be reading these stories to the class. They will have to write good descriptions so that when they read their stories, the other students in the class will know exactly how to draw the animals that are being described.

Resources:

• I Imagine activity sheet (one for each student)
• pencils
• paper
• crayons