My Home Page

My Yahoo account was hacked so if you get an email asking for money because I am in the Philippines and broke, please ignore it! Someone in Nigeria had some extra time on the computer and thought we all had plenty of money to share with them. I am sorry and think I have it fixed now. Joanne

My goal for this website is to get teachers to try new things and use lots of hands-on manipulatives. Even if you don't use my ideas, maybe they will spark ideas you can use in your classroom. Use your imagination...what did you like when you were a child? Use your creativity...what turned you on to learning? Use your visualization...what did you love to see in your classrooms? Use your senses...what made your favorite classroom a place you wanted to be? Use your instincts... what helps the students in your classroom become better readers and leaders?

Feel free to use anything I have on my website. You can change it to meet your needs and the needs of your students. If you need something you don't see, let me know...I probably have something that you can use on my computer. I love to hear from other teachers!!

Nov. 23-My son just got engaged this week so we will be having a wedding on June 21st. They want to have it on the beach and just the family there. And fortunately for me she is a teacher too.

Dec. 31-My hard drive crashed and I lost a lot of my work. That'll teach me to save my work more often. Fortunately I have a genius son who is very computer savy and somehow made a mirror image of things on my crashed iMac hard drive and saved a lot for me. Martin, THANK YOU! So take a lesson from me....save your work in more than one place!! Of course, with all bad things, some good came of it...I got a new 24 in. iMac and I love it! But I am having trouble figuring out all the differences in the 2003 and 2008 Microsoft Office. And of course, there was the problem of explaining to my husband why it was vital that I spend all that extra money right at Christmas time for a new iMac. But we made it through the year! So here's hoping you and your family have a prosperous and fantastic new year! And keep trying new things with your students...we'll get those math and reading scores up!!!!!

Jan. 17-We celebrated our 40th anniversary! We invited a bunch of friends to eat steak with us at the Salt Grass. My kids decorated it in red roses and surprised us. It was beautiful! We all enjoyed steak and shrimp. My present to my husband was a limo to take us to and from the steak house. We really enjoyed that! It was a great anniversary!!!!

June 21-The wedding was fantastic! I now have a wonderful daughter-in-law. After the wedding we went to Galveston to have a meal. We finally got home last night at 11:30. We were covered in sand, but it was a wonderful experience and my son was so happy!!

August 28-Whooeee! The first week of school has finally passed! I got a great group of kids but they sure like to talk! Do you suppose their parents never let them talk at home? LOL! I've been working all week on their talking in the classroom, the hallways, and the cafeteria...They were really excited today as no one got in trouble for loud talking in the cafeteria! So we're making progress! I apologize for not putting things on during the summer. I had some health issues and spent my summer going doctor-ing! But things are looking up & I have one final visit in November. By the way, we had "Pillow Friday" today...the kids got to bring pillows to sit on. They really enjoyed that! At least no one whoped anyone else...see, we're making progress! LOL! Next week is going to be "Ball Friday" and they can bring different kinds of balls to play with at recess. I'm not sure what the following Friday will be, but I'm sure to think of something! Later!

September 14-I had an email from Liz Tilles who is with a group of a dozen math teachers who have put a website online. It costs to join, but you may want to check it out. It's for K-12 and has over 12,000 worksheets...some are free. http://mathworksheetsworld.com/

September 17-I've had several emails from teachers who were having problems with some of my pages. I've contacted the staff about this and when they tried it of course it worked. So if you can't get into some of my pages...shut it off and try again. I'm not sure what the problem is, but let me know if it continues!

I'm getting emails from so many teachers who are using my ideas. Doesn't it feel good to try something new and succeeding at it? There are so many things I've wanted to try and worried about the time, noise, etc. But I finally figured out that the things I really want to do I will do! So go for it!!!! Try something new. (Make sure you make some notes for next year...what worked and what didn't with your class.) Try out fresh new ideas you hear or read about. That is what is so great about being a teacher! Your imagination is your best teaching tool!

September 19-Our Apple Friday turned out great! The kids brought apples, etc. and I bought a few things...so we extended it to include Monday as we had so much food left over. We used the apple chips to make a graph to show our favorites (golden delicious, cinnamon, sour, or caramel). We had fried apple pies with whipped cream and of course several different kinds of apples. We got about half of our Johnny Appleseed booklet completed. We're reading the stories they wrote on Monday. What a wonderful way to celebrate fall and Johnny's birthday and also to get some tall tales in my lessons. And to top it off, they started making lists of other foods we could do during the school year to go with holidays and themes. Higher level thinking skills!!! YA!
p.s. Have you been on Facebook? I love their games, but you can find me there trying to beat my assistant principal's FARKLE score! LOL!

October 26-We're still doing Friday things...this Friday we are going to do "Show & Tell & Write". They will bring something from home & share it with the other students. Then they have to write how they got it. Have you noticed how students want to do Show & Tell like in kindergarten? I kept thinking how I could use that enthusiasm for creative writing & I came up with the Show & Tell & Write. I'll let you know how it works! Or maybe bombs!!! LOL!

You may have noticed that I'm not really good at the Blogging! I decided I'd rather just write a short paragraph so everyone can read it. Is anyone else having problems with talkers this year? Mine want to talk all the time. The teacher down the hall has a really needy class, but mine are talkers! I am trying to keep my patience, but sometimes I want to just leave the room...do you think that would work??? I know what you are thinking...they'll just get louder! And you are right...of course, I've tried it...didn't work. I've been trying boys against girls...who ever has the most good behavior points get 10 minutes extra recess...that works to a certain degree. So I've decided to go back to an old faithful...on Friday I choose four good behavior students. They write a note to a friend in another class inviting them over for popcorn. I pop some popcorn and let them share it while the other students work. I've had good luck with that in other years. If you have any ideas, please, I'd love to hear them. I think I've already tried everything I've done during other years.

Today I gave them all neck chains. They got to pick out their initials (beads) to put on the chain. For each 10 points in AR they get to put on another bead. Some of them already have four beads. I hope that encourages the rest.

Today we finished our pumpkin decorating for the cafeteria. We turned the little pumpkin sideways, drew a face on it, added glasses & then added a bunch of brown curly pipe cleaners for hair...I stuck three pencils in it & put it in a water bottle with sand in it. Then I took material and made a dress & sleeves. One of my students made a book to hold in it's hands which another student drew for me. It was so cute...the kids said it really looked like me...so I made a name tag & put on it. It may not win first prize, but the kids had a ball making it!

For Halloween look on my list for Jar Writing. After the students draw & color their monsters, tear off Siran Wrap and have them tape it over the jar...looks great! And don't forget to make them write how they caught the monster. Then when they are finished...let them share their hunting monsters. Then hang them out in the hall...they look great!

Have a great Fall Season!! Joanne

Nov. 11-I saw some success today with all my talkers...I've been having them hold up their thumb signifying "I'm done!" instead of shouting out. Today for the first time, everyone used the thumb...it was great! Then I hold up my thumb meaning, "That's great I am so glad you are finished!" You will notice it was a small victory! LOL! In one more week we will have finished the second six weeks. I'm usually a lot further along with behavior, etc. by now...this group is making me very frustrated. I think this happens a lot when you have a low class. But they are reading and taking tests like mad on the computer to gain those beads. I've got sports beads for 50 points and already have two students with them. Now I need to find something else for 100. Anyway, wanted to share my little bit of success with you. Enjoy your students because next year they will belong to another teacher. Joanne

Nov. 20-

This is my classroom. We are doing math using the clicker system.
I'm sorry the picture isn't bigger, but I've tried and tried to put some pictures on here. You'll notice I put the cleaner side of my room for you to see. The other side is a mess...Our math person, came & took pictures of all the math going on in the building and this is one of her pictures.

Have a great Thanksgiving!!! Joanne

Dec. 9-

This year I decided to have the students write to Santa's elves instead of Santa Claus. The letters turned out great...who knew my kids had so many questions about elves, where they lived, and where they worked. I decided to do this because for years one of my best friends has taught 5th or 6th grade at another school, and I send her my letters and her students write my students back...but they always wrote as Santa's elves. So I thought we'd just write to them. I can't wait to get the letters from the 5th graders. Years ago our high school English teacher had her students write our students. But she retired and I guess no one has asked for Santa letters since then. Anyway, I thought you might like the idea and could figure out how to do something similar. It's worth the time and effort! Joanne

April 18-

I always thought this last year would be easy. But I seem to be working harder than ever trying to get my students ready for the TAKS test on the 27th & 28th of this month. They do a wonderful job in reading, but math just doesn't seem to soak in. Oh well, I've got another week! LOL!

We had our Rock Museum on Friday and I forgot to take my camera. But it went better than ever. The group this year were really interested in rocks and were really giving great lectures to all the classes. We had 20 classes go through our room...from kindergarten to fifth grades. I am so glad to have that over. I gave them a choice of doing a Readers Cafe or a Planets Report for our last project. Most of them had come to the Readers Cafe last year and wanted to do that. We'll have it the first week in May. Then I have to start packing up my room. I have official papers now saying I am retiring...it's thrilling...but I don't know if I would have retired this year if my husband hadn't already retired. He loves doing what he wants and going where he wants. But I love working with kids and helping teachers.

Just in case you study planets...here's a neat way to do it. Put the kids into groups of two. They work together to write a short talk about the planet they choose. They draw their planet on large construction paper and color it as closely as possible to the pictures of them. We tape them up close to the ceiling all around the room. We turn out the lights and use two flashlights. One will be used to flash on the planet & the other by the reader so they can read their report. We practice this several times and then invite classes in to hear our reports. One year we used the blow up planets but I don't think it was as good as them drawing their own. You can add things if you have a lot of students.

I hate to give up this website, but I won't be able to afford it next year. My family and I have been discussing different options open to me. I want to still help teachers in their classrooms. My daughter thinks she and I could work together to make a website that would pay for itself. We are throwing around ideas that we think you need. We are discussing a twenty dollar fee for the year. Could you please email me & tell me what you think? Your feedback will heavily weigh in our decisions on this website.

jologriffin@gmail.com

April 24-
I am so glad to get your responses.   I am trying to compile the answers so I can tell you the results. Please keep emailing your responses. I appreciate your help in this! Joanne

April 30-
I have gotten several positive responses. Now let me know what you would like to see on a webpage. What do you need in your classroom?

May 13-
I have gotten about 20 positive responses to my question. So I am going to try to have the new website up by August when school starts. There may not be much there at first, but I will add new pages all the time. I've had things mentioned that they want me to include in the website:
1. Smart Boxes
2. work stations
3. rotation stations
4. task cards
If there's something you need, or you have an idea for me, please let me know! Joanne

July 20-
I love being retired! But I can't seem to get out of the habit of getting up around 6:00. I am trying to go through all my boxes I brought home from school. My husband is tired of them being all over the formal living room and dining room. We bought a new shed to put them in, so that part is good. And for the last few weeks I have been getting ready to do a workshop in Louisiana on guided math. (Now you now why I am going through all my boxes!!) If you have any great ideas or things that didn't go right for you in guided math, please share with me. I love hearing from you.

My daughter and I are working on the new website, but can't give you a date when we will be ready to share it with you. I renewed this website for a year so that gives us time to get everything done.

Enjoy your summer! Joanne

October 13-
We are having beautiful weather in Texas. I have made the back porch my enjoyment center...I love getting up early and taking my laptop and sitting out there. I love playing some of the games on Facebook....Frontierville is my favorite...so if you play, look me up. I also play Farmville & Farmtown & a bunch of fish games.

I told you I was a guest speaker in Louisiana and had a wonderful time there. There was a fantastic group of teachers who were eager to know more about learning centers. I hope they learned as much as I did. I was nervous and they just didn't look like my classroom of students! But I made it through both days. My husband drove us there & we enjoyed our time away from home. Our cat wouldn't have anything to do with us when we got back...but my fish were glad to see me!

My daughter & I are still working on things to put on our new website (coming in 2011). It is taking a lot of work and I would like to know what you want or expect to see on the website. I've turned on my blog again and hopefully you can write on it. We need to hear from you and would love to hear your ideas!

I hope you have a great class this year and a very successful year teaching!   Joanne

February 16-
So much has happened in the last few months. My sister in MO died with cancer and I've had a rough time with that. Then my hernia got infected and I spent eight days in ICU. I'm finally feeling more myself now & got to drive for the first time this week. But the good news is that my daughter is pregnant....we are so happy for her (and excited about being grandparents). But of course, we are really behind on working on our new website...so just hang in there...we'll eventually get everything ready for you and hopefully have it up & going sometime soon.

Just wanted you to know that I am getting all your notes you are putting on here & trying to answer them as quickly as possible. Take care and I hope your school year is going great!!! Joanne

March 24-
Melissa sent me the following webpage to share with all of you. It's for Christmas in case you are working on next year's lesson plans.

"Christmas Flowers" - http://www.proflowers.com/flowerguide/popular-flowers-christmas-time-1

Have you ever had a twitching eye? I had to go to the doctor as mine was driving me crazy. It's so simple...just start taking magnesium for the twitching...the doctor said I was low on it & needed to take it for a month...my eye was better in about four days...why didn't I got see her before the twitching drove me crazy? LOL!

I am trying to be more healthy & am walking at least a mile a day...for some of you that's nothing, but the majority of us plan on doing something but never get around to it. I've lost 30 pounds & am trying to keep it off. That's the hard part! I hope you all start doing something to keep your heart working good & to be more healthy!

Enjoy your spring! Joanne