As a third-grade teacher in NJ, I have always taught my students that sharing is caring, so now I have adapted that to my professional life as well. Using this title I have presented (with Meg Griffin) at 2011 ISTE and Virtual Con Discovery Education Network. By sharing, I have also learned so much from others with whom I have come into contact. As well as being an educator, STAR with DEN, part of the NJEvent Planning Team and Leadership Council, I also enjoy traveling, tennis, and tech...oh, and really really good bargains.
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Stacy Kasse
Caring is Texting Parents to Send Reminders
This week I am trying out Remind101.com as a way to remind parents of things going on. Maybe this will help communication even more than I already do with my:
homeroom page on line
my website
my classroom blog
phone calls
notes sent home
and now this.
Communication is important, but just how far should I go?
Caring is Sharing...with People 50 and Over Some Discounts
Restaurants Applebee’s: 15% off with Golden Apple Card (60+)
Arby’s: 10% off (55+)
Ben & Jerry’s: 10% off (60+) Bennigan’s: discount varies by location
Bob’s Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
Boston Market: 10% off (65+) Burger King: 10% off (60+)
Captain D’s Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
Chili’s: 10% off (55+) CiCi’s Pizza: 10% off (60+)
Culver’s: 10% off (60+) Denny’s: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
Dunkin’ Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
Einstein’s Bagels: 10% off baker’s dozen of bagels (60+)
Fuddrucker’s: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
Gatti’s Pizza: 10% off (60+) Golden Corral: 10% off (60+) Hardee’s: $0.33 beverages everyday (65+)
IHOP: 10% off (55+) Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
Long John Silver’s: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
McDonald’s: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
Shoney’s: 10% off Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
Steak ‘n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
Subway: 10% off (60+) Sweet Tomatoes: 10% off (62+)
Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
TCBY: 10% off (55+) Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+) Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
Wendy’s: 10% off (55+) White Castle: 10% off (62+)
Retail And Apparel Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
Belk’s: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
Big Lots: 10% off Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
Clarks: 10% off (62+) Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kmart: 20% off (50+) Kohl’s: 15% off (60+) Modell’s Sporting Goods: 10% off Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)
Grocery Albertson’s: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
Fry’s Supermarket: free Fry’s VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
Rogers Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
Uncle Guiseppe’s Marketplace: 5% off (62+)
Travel Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+) Alamo: up to 25% off for AARP members American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount)Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
Best Western: 10% off (55+)
Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
Cambria Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
Continental Airlines: no fee for Cont. Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
Greyhound: 5% off (62+) Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
Hertz: up to 25% off for AARP members
Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler’s Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
Myrtle Beach Resort: 10% off (55+)
National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+) Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount) Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up
United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
U.S. Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
Activities And Entertainment AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
Busch Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
U.S. National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services including camping (62+) Regal Cinemas: 30% off Ripley’s Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
Cell Phone Discounts AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+)
Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+).
Miscellaneous Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+)Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)
•••••••••••••••••••••Stacy Kasse
Md.E.
third grade teacher
Taunton Forge School
Medford, NJ 08034
Discovery Educator Network Leadership Council - NJ
STAR educator for Discovery Network
HaddonField Tennis Club Membership Chairperson
Camden Charities for Children
Sharing is...sharing FREE Items for a Saturday
FREE Kindle Book: A Terrible Beauty Book about the education system and those who try to change it.
FREE breast cancer awareness pin 1saleaday.com
FREE Museum Admissions for Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders (10/1 & 10/2)
FREE This weekend, 10/1 and 10/2, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch offers its cardholders FREE Admission to over 150 museums for FREE. Please noted that a photo ID and Bank of America credit card, ATM card, or Check Card must be presentedFREE 8x10 canvas picture...but pay for shipping and handling. http://www.canvaspeople.com/create-your-canvas?coupon=fall20118x10 ... I did this as a holiday present for my dad.
If you have not checked out friend, Laura Candler's newletter on line, here is a great time to do so.Laura always has such great and well tested ideas (I know, my class tested one of her books before she went to publication) http://www.lauracandler.com/
Sharing a Point of View
Today was payday for the employees of my district. In fact it was the FIRST paycheck for our new assistants. I was talking with my two grade level assistants, congratulating them on their first paycheck. "Were you surprised by the amount?" I asked, thinking for sure they would be disappointed in the amount of taxes, the low rate of pay, etc.
"No, it was great," responded one of them."This is my first "grown up" paycheck. I am so thrilled."
I thought of the other comments I had heard while I walked through the building.Veteran teachers who were concerned about the lack of a pay raise (we are negotiating our contract), the state health benefits that are being taken out for the first time, and other deductions. Everyone has their own feelings about their checks, but I smiled as I thought about the first person I had spoken to and remembered my first check as a "grown up" teacher.
Mine was a whopping $3,000.00 for the entire year.I was working in the United States Virgin Islands and my salary was being supplemented by two very generous people; my mom and dad. Now, granted, they had a vacation spot they could come to at any time that year (in fact, I think they were paying for that as well), but I remember being so independent and thrilled with that paycheck.
Luckily, my assistant doesn't have to deal with that type of paycheck, and granted, she still isn't getting paid enough, but she did become a "grown up" today. Just wait until April 15...then she'll REALLY have to grow up.
****
A product I am testing at this time Reviva Labs stem cell booster. (no payment by company). I'll let you know if I see any results after the month is up.
Sharing a Point of View
Today was payday for the employees of my district. In fact it was the FIRST paycheck for our new assistants. I was talking with my two grade level assistants, congratulating them on their first paycheck. "Were you surprised by the amount?" I asked, thinking for sure they would be disappointed in the amount of taxes, the low rate of pay, etc.
"No, it was great," responded one of them."This is my first "grown up" paycheck. I am so thrilled."
I thought of the other comments I had heard while I walked through the building.Veteran teachers who were concerned about the lack of a pay raise (we are negotiating our contract), the state health benefits that are being taken out for the first time, and other deductions. Everyone has their own feelings about their checks, but I smiled as I thought about the first person I had spoken to and remembered my first check as a "grown up" teacher.
Mine was a whopping $3,000.00 for the entire year.I was working in the United States Virgin Islands and my salary was being supplemented by two very generous people; my mom and dad. Now, granted, they had a vacation spot they could come to at any time that year (in fact, I think they were paying for that as well), but I remember being so independent and thrilled with that paycheck.
Luckily, my assistant doesn't have to deal with that type of paycheck, and granted, she still isn't getting paid enough, but she did become a "grown up" today. Just wait until April 15...then she'll REALLY have to grow up.
****
A product I am testing at this time Reviva Labs stem cell booster. (no payment by company). I'll let you know if I see any results after the month is up.
Caring is Showing How To...
Today my students posted to our class blog site, http://tfroom15.posterous.com. They posted three word phrase summing up last week's classes. They were so cute doing this, and I'm happy I started out with something this easy. They had immediate success and were happy to see their blogs instantly. After that they went to bighugelabs to work on the motivator. Each month they do a poster with their favorite quote of the month. I had taught that lesson two weeks ago so that was a review.
Both times, the students use my log in and password. Eventually, they will write longer blogs and have their own space, but for now it was fun showing them how to do this. Now, to get the word out to their parents.
Sharing Knowledge
I was totally surprised when I shared the information that the school's reading specialist was actually coming into my class to teach. There were many from other schools who were in awe, some sarcastic and some envious, but that is what makes our school so great. We care. We share.
Walking the Walk...Talking the Talk
Whenever parents ask me what they can do to find out what is going on in their child's life, I always suggest they go for a walk. Just the two of them. Not a drive, too many distractions, not a shopping trip, but a walk..just around the block.
This year I decided to "walk the walk" and do what I had always suggested. Each day I have a Student of the Day. That student does almost all the jobs in our classroom from passing out papers to answering the phone to running errands, but this year I added something more. At the end of lunch, the student of the day comes to the staff room to get me and the two of us go off for a short walk around our school's parking lot.I could have done this in the classroom, but that's still "my" turf. I wanted a neutral ground, and I also wanted to stress a bit of exercise as talked.
To say this has been successful is an understatement. From the minute a little hand grabs mine (the girls always do this), the talking begins. My first question of "what did you do this summer" segues to "what is your favorite subject? what do you want to work on this year" and "how is it going? Is anyone bothering you? Any problems you want to tell me?"
The walk is over before I even know it, and my little munchkin goes running to the recess field where the questions come flying, "What did you talk about?" Even if they don't share it with the other students, they have shared with me, and as I walk another lap around the parking lot, I reflect on what was said.
When the weather turns cold, I may have to change my plans, but for now, this “walking the walk, and talking the talk” is one of the best ideas I’ve come up with this year.
Sharing is... a Poem for the "New Year"
'TIS the night before school starts
And all through the house
There were bags filled with everything
Even a computer mouse!
Lunch has been made
With fruit and a snack
The car was all ready
With materials all packed
But I in anticipation
Will probably not sleep
Filled with the worries and thoughts
Of the week
The students, I hope, will want to have fun
And learn lots and lots when the day is done
For each and every year in September
Since kindergarten I can remember
That I have gone off to school
Which I think is very cool
So here's to my "New Year"
Let's start 2011-2012 with a cheer.
Caring is...Listening to New Things
The other third-grade teacher looked at me and asked, 'How much longer?" We were all sitting in a meeting, the first of three, today, learning about NJ's new state law about bullying. It wasn't that s/he wasn't interested (okay, maybe just a bit), but it was the second day we had to work in our classroom and, once again, it was being taken up with meetings. This one was mandatory (heck, they all are mandatory), but this one was new to us because this law has just been implemented. We were all a little worked up about what is about to happen and the reporting that has to be done, but we all listened to learn and will see how it works out.
The next meeting was about our newly revised reading unit. I love how our district has written their own reading curriculum. A new teacher can come in to the district and it's all right there for them to use...word for word..they've even written a script. I'm not saying I use it every day, but there's always something new to learn so it was great listening to our supervisor and reading specialist.
Back to the meeting about bullying...were we bullied into having to go again...probably, but listening to our school counselor (yes, I listened and learned to say counselor and not guidance counselor), we learned we will hopefully save students from unneeded grief.
After school, I took another one-to-one class at the Apple Store in Marlton. I am determined to master imovie so this year my students can make more and more movies for assessments and fun. Or, to be at that store so much, people will just assume I work there and then get a discount. Brad, my instructor, was patient, and showed me a few new things which will help me next week.
We insist that our students listen to us in order to learn, but days like today remind me that I need to practice what I preach, so today was a listening day for me. What did you hear and learn?
