This is a sample email I have recieved from Works4me.com since I joined their listserv!!

This week's Works4Me, brought to you by the National Education
Association includes:
1) Daily Check In, 2) Trick or Treat Boxes, 3)Classroom Chuckle,
and 4) Worker Bee Note

1) Daily Check In
From Monica McDaniel (JM102074@aol.com), a fourth grade teacher
at Cedarhome Elementary School in Stanwood, Washington:
"At the beginning of the year, I laminate each child's name on
tag-board and put a magnet on it. On the white board, I put up a question like, 'Do you have any pets?' Each morning the students 'check in' by placing their magnet in the appropriate answer column. My students have expanded this process by coming up with the daily trivia questions from a wacky trivia book I have. It's a big deal to be able to write the new Daily Check-in along with a couple of wrong answers and one correct answer. The students learn an interesting fact each day and I can easily see who has and has not checked in."

2) Trick or Treat Boxes
From Vera Crisafulli (angelo@midrivers.com), a retired kindergarten
teacher from Glendive, Montana:
"Recycle half gallon sized milk cartons to make trick or treat boxes or
have each child bring a milk carton and cut orange construction paper
to fit around it. It helps to tape it on and also to staple the 4 sides at the top. The children can draw pictures all around the box and then
color them or make eyes, nose, and mouth on it to resemble a jack-o-lantern.  Very small children can also lick Halloween stickers and place them all over the box. Punch holes on two sides at the top and put in a handle made with long pipe cleaners or cut pieces of string. They also make wonderful decorations to hang from the ceiling or lights in your room before sending them home."

3)Classroom Chuckle
***Want a classroom chuckle delivered to your E-mail box once a week?
Subscribe to NEA's "In the Light Lane" mailing list. Just send an
E-mail to join-lightlane@list.nea.org (no subject or message needed).***
From Amy Harris (migoose@voyager.net), a first grade teacher in Battle
Creek, Michigan:
"As a first grade teacher, I often find that students are eager to use
new big words in their vocabulary, but aren't always successful in using them correctly. In my nearly empty room one day before lunch I was having a conversation with a student about a behavior issue when another student started to approach with his now completed work. The other student finishing work in the room saw this and called out a warning, "Don't interrupt! Can't you see they're having a concentration?"

From Julie Settle (RandySettle@Home.com), a sixth grade language arts
teacher at O.P. Earle Elementary School in Landrum, South Carolina:
"When talking to a new sixth grade student about writing in cursive on
a composition, I received an unusual response. The student told me that
he didn't do cursive. I then asked him at what grade level cursive was
taught at his old school. His response was that his third grade teachers had warned them about cursive, but they did not teach cursive!"
 
4) Worker Bee Note
NEA Today needs help with a dilemma question. If your answer is chosen
For publication, you will receive a token of appreciation. Please send your answers to (ajehlen@nea.org) by Nov. 2nd. In addition to your response, please include your name, job, and the city and state where you work.
Thanks!

How do you get your students back to work after a holiday?

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WORKS4ME RESOURCES

Works4Me publishes tips each week year round to subscribers. The
Works4Me library on the Internet includes tips that we've sent out and tips we have not been able to send out yet. Here's where you'll find these tips: http://www.nea.org/helpfrom/growing/works4me/library.html.  We also offer other free resources to instructional staff. You can join a threaded discussion online to get acquainted, exchange classroom ideas, ask questions about Works4Me and tell us how you like W4M. Here's the web address for the threaded discussion:
http://www.nea.org/helpfrom/wbworks4.html.

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Works4Me is a vehicle for instructional staff to share their ideas with
other instructional staff. As such, it does not constitute an
endorsement of any particular curriculum or teaching method by the National Education Association or any of its affiliates. You may contact the list owner at owner-works4me@list.nea.org or 202/822-7714.

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