Love Going Back to School with the Literary League! PLUS a Freebie!

Hello Teachers, Readers, Writers, and Social Media aficionados.



Did you...are you, enjoying your summer? I mean REALLY REALLY TRULY enjoying it? If you went swimming, attended a concert, a craft show, or a berry or fruit festival of some sort, I can guess that yes, you are probably on the right track. 

While so many teacher-authors were out in Vegas learning new things and making new friendships. . . 


I have been staging my house. . .I mean each room....like an 

                                       




So that me and my husband can put our house on the market and hopefully, ONE DAY...... 

                                          

MOOOOOVE! Ta-DAH!
                               

Wish me well during this arduous but happy process...

If you haven't heard much from me, this is why. ANNNND, this is why I look like this....

BUT, my house looks like this!

                   

                                                                                     
             

I won't be having much fun at all (you know....packing) so I can't wait until the fall gets here. I need a vacation FROM my VACATION! Plus, Back to school might just mean settling in to a new place! I've always found being good to others is the best antidote to feeling BETTER! 

THANK YOU to all my readers and customers. Because of so many of you, I love writing, blogging, and creating more than ever.  

Starting AUGUST 3, I am offering 20% off everything in the PerfettoWritingRoom Store . And you all know you can always get those freebies, so feel free to just pop in and visit, too! Leave a little note below, or in my Q and A section in the store. I love hearing from you.

What to do the First Few Days of School?

Some GREAT IDEAS for YOU

1. FOR YOU. Always get a writing baseline. Why? You'll be FAR ahead of the game if at the very beginning  of the school year you know the writing strengths and weaknesses of your students. Once you know all of your lessons will be TARGETED ONES! 

           A fun, relatively easy writing prompt on the second or third day even on something as simple as: A. Discuss the MOST exciting thing you did this summer. If you did nothing exciting, you have permission to invent something. Make sure you use your best writing style and obey spelling and grammar rules. 

2. For YOU, and For Class Team Building. Set Firm Expectations but Make STUDENTS a Central Part of it. Why? Students are far more likely especially in the upper grades to get hung up on the idea of fairness. When they are able to argue, explain and rationalize the reasons why a rule is a "good" rule and the class can agree to it, the rule is much more likely to meet with agreement and COMPLIANCE, by both students. Later on, there will much less stress for you should an infraction occur.

What is more convincing than: "Every single student debated, then agreed upon, then wrote up, and then SIGNED this class rules agreement. Then, you as a parent signed it!" We all know you'd love to GET started on your year.... I'm telling you....TAKE THE TIME to set up your rules.

3. For Student Character. Do a Class Bonding or Get to Know You Activity. - Especially in Grade 9, or in classes where new students are coming in on the first day, it is important to focus on "how we are all similar." Sure, this seems "like a waste of time." I am ADAMANT and can assure you that is it NOT. As humans we are herd animals. When frightened and uncomfortable, we tend to pick on the weak to solidify our own position. I have seen GROWN people do this. As teachers it is our job to remind students of our unity, and to "demonstrate uniqueness in a positive way."  The middle of the year, the"anti-bullying assembly" is just TOO LATE.  

             A. Have Students Stand up. Ask questions they will agree or disagree with. Please note you can add as many extra questions as you want.

You can also see this freebie in greater detail below. 

GOAL: To find they have more in common with each person in the class. 

Directions: Divide class in two so that each half in on the left or right side of the classroom. AS you read each provided statement, students will move towards the CENTER of the class when they relate to, or agree with the statements posed.  You or the students may ask additional questions after the provided section concludes. Hopefully, students should find the information about each other revealing and interesting.  

            B. Once Finished with the Main Activity, Move on to the Discussion Question Section. 

                 Please note that despite the directions provided here, do whatever you feel most 

                 comfortable with. Here is what it looks like:

   

Directions: Students will fill out the Comment Section individually. When completed, hold a while group discussion. This is an opportunity for students to bond, explain what most surprised them about what makes similar. More importantly there is a section regarding the ideal behaviors they would like to see and model in the class during the year. This reinforces class character, rules and management (see #2).

   

If you see fit, use the questionnaire as a rewrite opportunity (see#1). Students take this discussion worksheet home after discussion day, rewrite and polish it as the writing sample mentioned in #1 above.

Would you like this for FREE? Available here at my Blog...

 

Download a GREAT First Day Back to School Team Building Activity HERE

Other Great News.....

MOVE ON To meet OTHER Great Educators, also have a sale. View their freebies...and get ready for the best next school year of your career.

Danielle Knight (Study All Knight)
Darlene Anne- ELA Buffet
Mrs. Spangler in the Middle
Created by MrHughes
The Classroom Sparrow
The Daring English Teacher
ELA Everyday
Juggling ELA
Nouvelle
Literary Sherri
Making Meaning with Melissa
2 Peas and a Dog
Secondary Solutions-Simply Novel
Addie Williams
Linda Jennifer
Fisher Reyna Education
The Creative Classroom
Stacey Lloyd
Room 213
Brynn Allison
Open Classroom
Perfetto Writing Room
Secondary Sara
Tracee Orman
James Whitaker
The Superhero Teacher
Created for Learning
Brain Waves Instruction Danielle Knight

PerfettoWritingRoom Goes Back to School!

           

So glad to be linking up with amazing secondary folks for a back to school Blog-Hop 

and Giveaway. It's fun, a great way to learn about fellow teachers, their ideas for 

"Back to School" and perhaps pick up some great tips and tricks along the way! 

The first week of school is crucial,  and if you are anything 

 like me, it can feel a little nerve-wracking. 


So what do I do? I over prepare. I love the saying "It's better

 to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it."



A Little Bit About Me:

Gina Perfetto

Teaching since: 1997  (yes, it really has been that long...)


Grades and subjects? Genre, American and British Literature,  Creative Writing, Essay 
                                      and Expository Writing, the Humanities, SAT, and more!

My Favorite Writers and Novels? Don Delillo (have you read White Noise? It's a fantastic satire and commentary on modern-day society);

 The Sun also Rises by Hemingway (a fantastic commentary on Post World War I society, plus, you know, Hemingway);

 and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (just genius writing all around about the self-conscious meta-cognitive awareness of your own intelligence in relationship to other people and how they view you...and how heart-wrenching that can be. Plays fantastically with the third person objective narrator, and also, to some degree, dramatic irony in that the reader often knows what will occur in order to heighten reader emotion).  



PerfettoWritingRoom

The Person!!! 

The LOGO and the Store! 

What to do the First Few Days of School?

Some GREAT IDEAS for YOU

1. FOR YOU. Always get a writing baseline. Why? You'll be FAR ahead of the game if at the very beginning  of the school year you know the writing strengths and weaknesses of your students. Once you know all of your lessons will be TARGETED ONES! 

           A fun, relatively easy writing prompt on the second or third day even on something as simple as: A. Discuss the MOST exciting thing you did this summer. If you did nothing exciting, you have permission to invent something. Make sure you use your best writing style and obey spelling and grammar rules. 

2. For YOU, and For Class Team Building. Set Firm Expectations but Make STUDENTS a Central Part of it. Why? Students are far more likely especially in the upper grades to get hung up on the idea of fairness. When they are able to argue, explain and rationalize the reasons why a rule is a "good" rule and the class can agree to it, the rule is much more likely to meet with agreement and COMPLIANCE, by both students. Later on, there will much less stress for you should an infraction occur.

What is more convincing than: "Every single student debated, then agreed upon, then wrote up, and then SIGNED this class rules agreement. Then, you as a parent signed it!" We all know you'd love to GET started on your year.... I'm telling you....TAKE THE TIME to set up your rules.

3. For Student Character. Do a Class Bonding or Get to Know You Activity. - Especially in Grade 9, or in classes where new students are coming in on the first day, it is important to focus on "how we are all similar." Sure, this seems "like a waste of time." I am ADAMANT and can assure you that is it NOT. As humans we are herd animals. When frightened and uncomfortable, we tend to pick on the weak to solidify our own position. I have seen GROWN people do this. As teachers it is our job to remind students of our unity, and to "demonstrate uniqueness in a positive way."  The middle of the year, the"anti-bullying assembly" is just TOO LATE.  

             A. Have Students Stand up. Ask questions they will agree or disagree with. Please note

                  you can add as many extra questions as you want.

You can also see this freebie in greater detail below.

GOAL: To find they have more in common with each person in the class. 

Directions: Divide class in two so that each half in on the left or right side of the classroom. AS you read each provided statement, students will move towards the CENTER of the class when they relate to, or agree with the statements posed.  You or the students may ask additional questions after the provided section concludes. Hopefully, students should find the information about each other revealing and interesting.  

            B. Once Finished with the Main Activity, Move on to the Discussion Question Section. 

                 Please note that despite the directions provided here, do whatever you feel most 

                 comfortable with. Here is what it looks like:

   

Directions: Students will fill out the Comment Section individually. When completed, hold a while group discussion. This is an opportunity for students to bond, explain what most surprised them about what makes similar. More importantly there is a section regarding the ideal behaviors they would like to see and model in the class during the year. This reinforces class character, rules and management (see #2).

   

If you see fit, use the questionnaire as a rewrite opportunity (see#1). Students take this discussion worksheet home after discussion day, rewrite and polish it as the writing sample mentioned in #1 above.

Would you like this for FREE? Available only here at my Blog...

 

Download a GREAT First Day Back to School Team Building Activity HERE

And now Great Peoples of the Blog Hop.....HOP ON.....HOP ON!!!!  and thanks for reading...  :) 

An InLinkz Link-up

Looking Ahead & Sale

One of my SCARIEST, but best teachers  EVER - did we not all have one of those? - had above her chalk board, in large cut out stencils:

"FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL."

In addition to being an antimetabole, and incurring a nearly "audible eye roll" from students, it just so happened to be true. She was a mentor, not my actual English Teacher, but she sure did teach me a lot. And every student she taught went in to her class hating her GUTS, but left smarter, and somehow, loving her. 

Me and Sister Alice, fundraising

# 1. In honor of Sister Alice Boyle, who is still kicking butt and taking names, let's do a little "Planning Ahead" - Here is a TIP:

***Use Your August wisely***** - make a "macro," semester schedule, and a "Micro" first month, or, first week schedule. Set aside just ONE WEEK to do it. But make sure you do.

WHY? 

The amount of time it takes to organize a semester schedule, and to then break down what you will do the first week (or the first four weeks) will NOT take that much time. But, it has the following benefits:

Did you ever feel this way? 

A. Eases the August "ughs." - you know, the creeping dread surrounding all the work you KNOW you have to do? Stop procrastinating, sit down, do the work. Then go back to your vacation. 



B. Builds a foundation for organization. Just a little bit of work now will improve the beginning of the year, and sets a good habit for the rest of the year, too.

C. May lead to inspiration! Once you sit down and have an overarching schedule you may break through the "writer's block" of simply dreading your task, and find great ideas on the other side of that wall. 

And #2. An essential, "Start the School Year Off 'Write' " Resource! 

The Complete Writer's Workshop - Grades 6 - 8 - 10 -12. My favorite all-time resource! Fully Common Core Aligned, it teaches students how to properly implement and use the Writer's Workshop Model. When done at the beginning of the year, the instructor can look forward to an entire year of student-centered writing growth and progress.  

                                                    

Keep on Learning and Teaching, Gina @ the PerfettoWritingRoom

Enjoy your SUMMER, and be sure to visit other great teachers who are LOOKING AHEAD and have great ideas and tips for you! 

SEE BELOW to join in the BLOG HOP FUN!

An InLinkz Link-up

Favorite Things Linky and SALE to say "Thank You"!

It is the Monthly "Favorite Things Linky" Hosted by the wonderful Teaching Trio, and joined by MANY effective and hardworking teachers in states across America, and across the pond, too!

Before I rattle, and prattle, on, here's some of MY favorite things!

In honor of the end of the school year....

PerfettoWritingRoom is having an ENTIRE STORE SALE. Just click to see some lovely low-to no-prep items to close out your year. 

PROPS AND KUDOS 

Thank you to Teaching Trio. Click their link to go back to their "Home" site. Once there, go to "Favorite things" and visit other great teachers and participants. 

AND THANK YOU for being a teacher, instructor, professor, homeschooler, or tutor, and so much more. What you do matters even more than you know. 

Gina, PerfettoWritingRoom

Sunday Scoop with Teaching Trio and SALE!!!

I'm so happy and feel blessed to join with the Teaching Trio in the Sunday Scoop. I know, it's Tuesday. What am I thinking? I am thinking that there's a lot of catching up I have to do! So without any further ado.... :

Three Things I Have to Do?

* Laundry, Laundry and more LAUNDRY.... pass the "Fels-Naphta" please (extra points for anyone who knows what that is!) 

*Whip up a homemade lentil soup with some uncured bacon from Aldi. If anyone shops at Aldi, give me a hollar. Is that place amazing or what?

*Finish planting and fertilizing the garden - I really want the honeyberries to fruit this year. 

Two Things I Hope to Do?

*Research information for my next Teachers Pay Teachers resource!

* Have some time to scope out some ranch homes in our area.

One Thing I am Happy to Do!

Throw a Sale, right now for all of my readers,

at my TPT store.

God Bless and happy teaching.

Sailing Into Summer Blog HOP-GIFT

Say Goodbye with this Fun 

and Thoughtful GIFT-IVITY!

AND DID I MENTION THAT IT IS FREE?????

If you love teaching like I love teaching, you often come across students that not only need to learn Shakespeare, Hawthorne and their tenses, but they need to learn kindness and how to express themselves. 

This one day resource will let students say good bye to your class, relive some class memories and reminisce with friends. 

                                             STEP ONE

For the Students - Grades 6-12, Hand out page 1, and of course page 2......

 THIS IS TOTALLY FREE for BLOG HOPPERS!

AFTER Students Fill OUT -  START

PART 2 - LET STUDENTS Discuss and Share!

. . .

VALUE and RATIONALE for USING

Otherwise known as the Benefit!!!

• Easy to use, print and go
• Lasts an entire period
• Use for craft/art
• Can be used with a computer - download photographs/collage
• Serves as a memento/ encourages closure

PART 3 - TEACHER's GIFT TO STUDENTS

Close the class with these short and sweet, personalized versions of exit tickets. Be sincere, make a joke, or be encouraging. Short and sweet, but do it your way!

Do you want it? Download this special freebie available only during the Sailing into Summer Blog Hop!  :) 

Thanks for stopping by on your way through the SAILING INTO SUMMER BLOG HOP!

- Visit my Store! PerfettoWritingRoom - Follow and Check out my Sale Going on DURING the SAILING INTO SUMMER BLOG HOP!!!



AND NOW..... HOP ON...HOP ON to the NEXT Wonderful Blog!!!!!!

Thanks for reading, as always, 

Gina at the PerfettoWritingRoom!

  

An InLinkz Link-up

TPT Collaboration! NY Meetup, & GIVEAWAY!

Collaboration is one of the many things setting TPT folks apart from other entrepreneurs in the cybermarket. (Yes, I coined that). Our willingness to create interstitial bridges of friendly competition, pure collaboration for mutual gain is what makes us unique and raises high the flag that says "we all succeed together." 

I'm pulling the plug. BLOWING THE WHISTLE on myself. Let's get to to POINT!

Collaboration Extraordinaire- (Hurry before you MISS IT!)

The MAY 2  New York Meet-Up!

In case you have not visited forums, FB, and have been otherwise engaged in the tomfoolery and stuff-and-nonsense that we call life. . . there is huge shindig in Binghamton, New York where meeting, collaborating, learning and overall idea exchange will be taking place. This is IDEAL for those who cannot make the huge haul out to the VEGAS event, who prefer a smaller venue, or who want to do multiple events. While I most sadly cannot make it, I want to get the word out to the rest of you!  Here's the INFORMATION!

The above is a JPEG. Sorry folks, DON'T CLICK YET.  Rather, let me take a quote from Sherri's last FB notification... At last update, on the 7th, Literary Sherri says that:

"collaboration is not only invigorating but essential for TpT success. We're so much better when we flock together! So let's get together to exchange ideas, network, connect, collaborate and take home loads of effective tips and strategies to grow our TpT businesses!"  

I couldn't have said it better myself. 

 Organizers Include:

• Literary Sherri  
• Ellen Weber 
• Brain Waves Instruction 
• Kinders in NY 
• The Math Spot
• Selma Dawani 
• Yay for Pre-K

With sessions and expenses tax-deductible for business purposes, this makes the trip to Binghamton truly enticing. 
Sherri says some sellers are coming from Ohio and Michigan, and spots are currently 1/3 filled, HOWEVER  . . . 

SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE, SO FILL OUT the GOOGLE FORM HERE!!!!

PART ONE TAKEAWAY

If you would like to join in on a wonderfully helpful and inspiring day with other teacher sellers, my advice is this: GET a MOVE ON, SALLY! Click on the Google docs link above!

. . . 

Let's take a walk 

*PART TWO - GRAND GIVEAWAYS!!!!

Collaboration is really fun when you host giveaways, participate as a seller, or are buying in and get to learn about sellers. Of course it's great to win, too. I want to trumpet and laud the latest giveaway hosted by Julie Faulkner and the Language Arts Classroom.

                                                   

                                 Language Arts Classroom                  Julie  Faulkner

Though it is too late to enter as a seller AS a buyer, you have many options to win, So what is being offered? In THIS PACKAGE......

IF you teach at a lower grade... how about Middle School? 

And of course... let's not forget MATH. 

THE GOAL of this PROMO? Consider entering.

There are myriad uses for these products if you win, plus fantastic opportunities for you learn more about Teachers Pay Teachers, and if you are a seller, about your fellow sellers and the work they do. 

ENTER MARCH 15-29      http://languageartsclassroom.com/

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS  APRIL 1, 2015 

 The Second Goal?  If you're reading this, you probably are wondering "Gee wiz, I sure as sass would love to enter my resource in a giveaway." And then, you're probably wondering "How did I end up in a Lassie episode?" 

Well here's a question. . . 

Why give away a great product for free?  I was in the dark about "Giveaways" for a while. At first I knew nothing about giveaways. Then, I was skeptical. 

BENEFITS are that you may get: followers who learn about your store and actually realize they could use your products; a residual or secondary purchase from a few of those followers who looked around your store while "admiring the beauty therein;" and best of all you slowly meet others and become familiar with the TPT-seller landscape.  For all of this? and probably more, the free product you offer is a small price to pay.

Keep your EYES to the sky... or more accurately to the forums for giveaway opportunities that match YOUR products best. 

Julie Faulkner says to look our for "more collaborative blog hop opportunities in the next months and our 2nd annual, secondary Back to School Giveaway in August 2015."


HEY READERS - Remember this, in order to COLLABORATE you must PARTICIPATE. So Let's Get Going! 

God Bless!
Gina, PerfettoWritingRoom

P.S. MY PICK OF THE WEEK!!!

Let's Start the Shakespeare Feud! PowerPoint Icebreaker Game!