She's Got that Glow

For those of us not blessed with caramel colored skin year round, and those of us who would rather die than sit under the tanning bed lights, there is hope for some semblance of tan! Minus the UVA/UVB rays of course.

Jergens has a new Natural Glow moisturizer, in a foam instead of a messy, streaky cream! Showing here. It comes in two formulas for Fair to Medium and Medium to Tan skin tones.

I love this stuff because it dries SUPER fast, and doesn't feel tacky afterward. It's a foam so it's easy to spread and smooth. It doesn't make you look orangey if you use a light hand. Plus, the coloring lasts for several days, even after showers and shaving.  If you make a mistake, a little lotion on the spot moves the color around better and evens things out. It's great stuff, inexpensive, and great for those of us who want a Just-Back-From-Cabo tan without the harmful rays!

You can find it at Target, Walmart, or any drugstore.

... And I Slaved All Day.

My dear friend Mrs. M over at Tiers of Joy blogs about her cooking adventures and recipes all the time. I, on the other hand, detest cooking, and usually write about meals I've eaten, not cooked.

However, I was feeling adventurous today, and decided to... wait for it... COOK! I know, I know, she must be ill or something. But I was feeling particularly domestic because I had spent the morning browsing Target for linens, the afternoon planting impatiens in my garden, and doing laundry. I thought, why the hell not, go cook thyself something instead of having leftover pizza for dinner! (That leftover pizza will be breakfast. I'm not Martha Friggin' Stewart, all right?)

I checked my fridge and freezer contents, finding frozen meat (and not quite enough time to defrost them) and settled my eyes on salmon. I used to hate salmon (too much at Roanoke College, where we ate like Kings, my friends!) but I am gradually growing used to it again. Easy to defrost, salmon was my pick.

Now, we just bought a new grill... and I don't know how to light it or make it work. So grilling was out. I'm not a fan of pan-seared salmon so I decided to poach it. I'd read in my various cooking magazines  (and I am a subscriber of quite a few... don't ask me why. It's not like I actually cook the recipes in them!) that poached fish is quite delicious, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I Googled (thank God for Google, right?) how to poach salmon and found a delicious sounding recipe for poached salmon with a Dijon-dill sauce. I liked the sound of it, and began making preparations. I made my poaching liquid and set about preparing my Dijon-dill sauce, when I realize I don't have heavy cream. No problem, I happen to know that if you mix melted butter with milk (and a tablespoon of flour if you're using non-fat milk like I do) and combine, they become the same basic idea as heavy cream. It's just a thickening agent in my sauce anyway. No fear.

Then I realize I don't have dill, either. Well shit, the piece de resistance. Who the hell doesn't keep dill in their kitchen spice pantry? Me apparently. So I scramble through my spices and discover Parisienne, a nice little blend of chives and dill and other things. Ta Da! I make an executive decision that it will have to do (because hell, I've already made the poaching liquid and the fish is poaching along nicely).

Turns out, my executive last minute decisions were spot on, and the dish was a divine success. Served along side some rice pilaf (don't wet yourself, it was from a box, bless it's little Rice-A-Roni heart) it was a tasty treat.

So congratulations to me.


And now I have to clean up. Shit.

Poachedly yours,
Nay

Here is the recipe I used:
Poached Salmon with Dijon-Dill Sauce from cooks.com

A Tome on Why the Virginia SOL's Don't Suck

I tell people that I'm a teacher, and usually the first thing they ask me is "Wow, don't you hate the SOLs?"
Sometimes the first thing they ask me is "Wow, how do you not hate kids after that?", but that is another blog post altogether.

My answer to the first question is usually a resounding "NO!!" And it really irritates me how people who are not in the education field (and some who are) think that the SOLs suck. People, THEY DON'T. And here's why.

1. The SOLs are a standard. They are designed to make life easier by saying "here, this is the skill/idea/concept you should teach at some point in your academic year." That is all they say.
2. NOWHERE in the SOLs is it written "Thou must teacheth this way...." Nowhere. Period. It doesn't say it. So anyone who says they can't be creative because of the SOLs isn't doing it correctly. Either that or they were trying to teach underwater basketweaving and that got nixed by their administration because it's not an SOL. Friends, teaching to the SOL standards is not a bad thing. It means you are aligning your instruction to what the state says the kids must know, understand and be able to do. It doesn't say anywhere in the SOLs that you can't supplement with interesting information or concepts. That's ok too.
3. To reiterate, teaching to the SOL standards is a good thing. Teaching to SOL test is not. But teaching to ANY test is not the way to teach. Good teachers know this. Mediocre teachers think it's the easy way out. DO NOT BE THAT TEACHER.
4. The SOLs leave plenty of room for creativity. If you feel stiffled, it's not the SOLs, it's your districts pacing guide. And the VA Dept of Ed. has NOTHING to do with your county's pacing guide.
5. Using the SOLs as a jumping-off point is a great way to start. Think of them as the backbone of your teaching. Everything else can be muscle and tissue. That's what makes the body have form anyway. And that's what makes your instruction have form- the extras. They are important too. Align them with the standards, and you're golden.
6. Bottom line, the state REQUIRES that you teach them. Why bitch about it? They aren't going to go away. Yes, they change. Change is good. Embrace it. Think of it as an opportunity to start fresh.

Friends, this doesn't mean that I think the SOLs are the be-all-end-all. I don't. They are standards, they are imperfect and flawed. Guess what. So are teachers. You work around the flaws, you teach the big ideas and you align the standards in ways that suit you and your students. That's what good teachers do.
Yes, it's hard work. And yes, it might interrupt your Glee or American Idol time. Guess what. Deal with it. You signed a contract. Now give those kids the best that you can. The standards will be there to back you up.

And no. They don't suck.


Standardly yours,
Nay

The Return of Our 90's Childhood!!

Interesting developments on the book front: They are re-releasing one of my favorite book series: The Babysitters Club!!

Gosh, when I was growing up, I read every single one of those books, some of them over and over. My faves were the books about Claudia and Dawn. I didn't care for Mary Anne much (too goody-goody) and Kristy was pretty bossy and too into sports (which I'm most definitely NOT). But I loved the books anyway, and was always trying to start new "clubs" of my own, though not babysitting clubs.

The Washington Post put out an interesting article about the re-release, showing here. Apparently, the new books are updated to include more modern societal references and technological advances- read: no more Walkmans or VCRs. While I understand that the publishers felt it was necessary to modernize the BSC to suit their more modern audience, the question remains: will these still be the same BSC girls we know and love?

The answer, in my opinion, will be a resounding "yes"! Here's why:

• we are living in a material world and I am a material girl. No joke, it might be awkward to read about Stacy and Claudia listening to a "boom box" or riding to school with their "Walkman". References to iPods or Claudia's new Uggs/Sketchers/insert-popular-shoe-brand-here will make us more comfortable, and won't be a jog back into reality- our current reality will be in-text.
• Updating some content will be refreshing because girls today are MUCH different than girls were in the late 80's and 90's when these books had their (first) heyday.
• In order for a story to be believeable, you have to believe that the story could actually happen- thus the genre "realistic fiction". Keep the books the same as before and you have "historical fiction". Publishers are looking to SELL books, not have old readers experience nostalgia. That's not why they are re-releasing the books.
• The girls are the same girls we love: Kristy, Claudia, Dawn, Stacy, and Mary Anne. They're still the Baby-Sitters Club, and they are still the same. Just had some work done, that's all.

Bottom line?

I'll buy the whole set when it comes out, prequel and all. I loved the books then, and I know I'll love them now. And as a teacher, I know that my students will enjoy the stories because they are easy to read and easy to relate to. And as my students head into middle school, reading something that touts middle school as a fun experience, not a traumatic one that society seems to paint, will ease their minds and give them something to look forward to.

Granted, middle school in America these days is a nightmare. But why scare the kids so early?

Nostalgically yours,

Nay

Getting More Ink Done

In keeping with the family (ok namely my sister's) tradition, I have decided to get another tattoo, and one to match the Shel Silverstein "Giving Tree" one she got. Here's what I am thinking:

On my right shoulder blade, minus the title and author information, just the image with the giraffe facing to the right the way it is in the picture.

Here's why:

Shelley and I grew up reading Shel Silverstein stuff. "The Giving Tree" and "A Giraffe and a Half" were two of our favorites. I've always loved the story and I thought it would be a poignant tribute to our childhood.

Thoughts?


Inkedly yours,
Nay

Movin' Out. Sadly.

Friday will be a sad day for me. It's the last day of my student teaching, and I'm leaving my kids. I'm sort of torn between emotions: sadness and happiness.

You know what, I'm not going to lie to myself. I'm not happy to return to Flat Rock. I really can't stand my job and I've really enjoyed being with my third graders from student teaching. I've actually used some of the techniques I've learned at Mary Baldwin, and I've been able to try out my teaching wings. Going back to Flat Rock means that I have to relinquish all authority and be an assistant again. Instead of making decisions and planning, I go back to being a coat rack and a babysitter. It sucks and I am NOT happy about it.

Sure, I'm happy to be giving my cooperating teacher her class back. I can't say I've been thrilled with her class 100% of the time, but for the most part, I've really enjoyed myself and I will miss the kids and her. I just hate going back to Flat Rock. I'll be the most educated assistant there and that just grates my nerves. Here I am with a Masters degree, doing lunch duty and parent pick-up. Grr.

Next year. Next year I'll have my own classroom. And no, don't give me any of that bullshit "You should be thankful you have a job." How can I be thankful for a job I hate. Oh go ahead and say it- you're an ungrateful bitch, Nay. Yep. Sure am. I just can't justify settling for something less than I deserve or have earned.


Whew. It feels good to get that out of my system. Thanks for letting me vent.

Frustratedly yours,
Nay

Dogs Rule.

I have always loved dogs, sometimes more than people. Dogs are more forgiving. They are unconditional. They are everything we wish we were. Going overboard, maybe a little. Who cares.

Anyway, I found the FUNNIEST web series ever for dog lovers like me, and you. It's called Puppy Love and it's really really funny- http://www.lstudio.com/puppy-love/puppy-love.html

The first webisode is called Puppy Love, and it stars Famke Janssen. She is going out with a new guy, and they come back to her place. He cuts the date short when her dog Owen farts and grosses him out- she doesn't notice or react the way he does, and he leaves. Her gay friend says that her dog is her boyfriend. Anyway, watch the webisode and fall in love like I did!!!

Doggily yours,
Nay

A Wicked Case of Writers Block

I am suffering from serious writers block on my seminar paper. It's about assessment alignment and why teachers should focus on aligning their assessments to their students and their learning goals, rather than just using the canned tests from the textbook or from some exam writing software. It's better for the kids if you do it yourself, and ultimately, it's better for you the teacher.

But I just can't get it out on paper!!! I have research, and I have an outline and a semi-decent thesis, but I just can't figure out where to start, and what to say! I'm sitting here crying because I'm so frustrated!

This is a monster paper for me because it is what is going to decide if I am a good candidate for a Masters. It's sort of like writing a Masters thesis, but it's not as long. But it's just as serious, and I think that is starting to wig me out. I know I'll write a good paper, but will it be good ENOUGH for the panel to think I deserve a Masters?

I'm freaking out and I need love and support. And maybe some writing advice.

HELP!

Nay

I'm a Sucker for a good ad

TV marketing has changed the way Americans live, it is so true. And we often buy products just because we like commercials. Guilty as charged.

Case in point, Progresso soups. I love their ads these days- with the cans on the string "Ring Ring!" - so cute!

Check out their website for all their soup ads Progresso Soup ads. My favorite is called "Going Out" and the one about the wife and the husband losing weight.

Not only do I like their ads, but I also like their soups. A can of their soup is enough for lunch and they are quick and easy. AND TASTY!! My favorites are the Traditional Chicken Noodle and the Clam Chowder. YUM-O!

So yes, the commerical makes me remember to buy their soups. And the taste of the soup reminds me why I buy them in the first place- pure comfort food goodness.

Score one for the marketers at Progresso. Another consumer bites the dust :)

Soupily yours,

Nay

Mommy Says Share... Just Not Germs

An interesting thing happens the longer you are a teacher. When you first start teaching or are around elementary age kids a lot, you get sick ALL THE TIME. I mean, you pretty much have a cold the first 6 months of your job. But as you work there, your body builds up an immunity to their germs. And believe me- these kiddos are GERMY.
Perfect example? Swine flu season last year. We had 600 kids out over a 2 month period. And here I am right in the thick of it with their snotty noses, their phlemy coughs, fevers, you name it. I saw it. And I didn't even get the sniffles. Didn't get the H1N1 shot either. (thats a whole other story)
My point is, you build up a tolerance to the germy wormys. Which is good, until you change schools and encounter a whole other set of germs.

Ergo, the bronchial infection I now have, thanks to my 3rd graders. We've had students out most of last week with these god-awful coughs, and now look who has a cough- Miss N. Way to go 3rd graders.
And you know, when I go back to FRES after student teaching is over, I'll probably get sick from their germs too.

Le sigh.

Coughingly yours,
Nay

Not so big Apple.

So I did it. I went to New York. I saw the sights. I heard the sounds. I smelled the... smells? Yes, I did that too. Those street vendors smell like Heaven. And the subway manholes smell like Hell.

Our trip started on a sour note- the city was pelted by 9 inches of snow Thursday night into Friday morning. The plane was supposed to leave at 10:45, was delayed until 12:45, then didn't take off from Richmond until around 3:30. We barely got there, rode the AirTrain and the subway to Manhattan, checked into our hotel, dressed, and scooted out the door at 7:30 to make our 8:00 Broadway showtime.

The Broadway was the best part of the trip, hands down.

And that's about it.

It didn't thrill me. I wasn't in awe, I wasn't blown away, I wasn't swept off my feet by the grandeur that is Manhattan that is New York City. In fact, I was rather disappointed. I don't know if it was because I was bummed about missing half of a day in the city because of our delayed flights, but I just wasn't feeling it.

It didn't really help that my travelmates and I argued pretty much the whole time. Snap here, snipe there, sarcastic comment everywhere. That really put a downer on my trip. I know I was just as bad as they were, but in my defense (and I can say that because this is MY blog), I'd never seen New York before, and so my questions were genuine, and I didn't appreciate hearing a snide or sarcastic retort to my statements or questions. Moral of this story? Travel alone.

Secondly, it really wasn't all it's cracked up to be. There was no glamour- about the only thing glamorous were the pictures I took of Prada, Gucci, and Ferragamo storefronts on 5th Avenue. Truth be told, it looked a lot like a taller version of DC. Well, been there, done that. DC is prettier- more monuments, more history. There, I said it. The city I couldn't wait to move away from is now the city I prefer.

Would I visit New York again? Of my own accord, no. If I was cajoled and begged, told I'm a bad friend, or that this was someone's dying wish, yes, I would go.

But let me forewarn you- if I go again, I will do what I want to do, when I want to do it, and if you don't want to come, fine. Let me find my way around this place. If I can figure out DC, I can figure out NYC.

That being said, I want to thank my best friend and travelmate for the birthday gift of a lifetime- Lion King tickets. Truly, that was the highlight of my trip and it could not be topped, not in a million years.

Ok maybe Europe. But that's another milestone birthday.

Honestly yours,
Nay

New York, New York?

I'm following a tip from my sister, and writing about my upcoming trip to New York City. I've never been to NYC before, and I'm leaving Friday with my best friend and my sister. It's also my birthday weekend, and this trip is my present to myself. Lisa also bought tickets to see The Lion King on Broadway, which I am so excited about.

Shelley, my sister, suggested that I write about my preconceptions of New York. We are conditioned to believe that a place truly is what it's like on TV or in books or magazines. I am a huge fan of Sex and the City, and so I believe that NYC will look and feel like it does on my favorite show- fashionable, sexy, glamourous and effortless.

I have a feeling I'm in for a rude awakening.

Monday night I started looking for restaurants to make reservations at for this weekend so that we would at least have a place for dinner. Just doing this stressed me out. Which restaurant? What neighborhood? Is this a good place? Is it too expensive? Will we look out of place? Am I too Virginia for New York? I'm not cool enough, am I? Suddenly all these thoughts were swirling around in my head and I began to doubt if I was ready for New York. I definitely was not in an Empire state of mind, Jay-Z.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I have put NYC up on a pedestal- this idea of urban perfection, and that I've set myself up for a fall. Because I'm so excited about this trip, because I have this picture in my mind of what New York is going to look and feel like (look, there goes Carrie Bradshaw and Samantha Jones, off to their lunch date!), I'm afraid that I won't be able to see New York for what it really is- just another city. Yes, it's quintessentially American, and fashionable, and nearly every movie or book is set there or has a character who longs to return to the Big Apple, but we have to remember that it's also a place of business, and that it is someone's home.

I'm trying to be pragmatic and realistic so that I'm not intensely disappointed by the city that never sleeps.

However, I'm also a big tourist and I can't wait to squeal like a little girl at the sight of the Statue of Liberty and Bergdorf Goodman. And Fifth Avenue. And Broadway. And Manolo Blahnik. And Wall Street. And... sigh. Oh New York. I can't wait to meet you.

Urbanly yours,

Nay

The Friendly Games

Normally I don't watch sports. They don't interest me, and I'm not a fan of competition and what it does to people.

However, I am LOVING the Vancouver Olympics this year. I'm watching it constantly and checking stats and live feed on NBCOlympics.com all the time. I'm all about Team USA, and if there are no American athletes in an event, I'm cheering for Canada.

I think what got me hooked was how welcoming and beautiful the Opening Ceremony was on Friday. I was mesmerized all evening. I loved how the Canadian aboriginal people were part of the ceremony as the Four Host Nations, with tribal dress and dancing, it was tasteful and exciting. I loved the music, and the Parade of Nations, and the gorgeous choreography. I was moved, and also felt patriotic, but not just for America, but for the world.

This year, it feels like the world is one team, cheering each other on and supporting each other. Sure, it's fierce competition, but its not unfriendly.

I don't know much about winter sports. But I know good sportsmanship, and that's what I've seen so far. So, GO TEAM USA, and GO WORLD!

Olympically yours,
Nay

Happy is as happy does

So I've started reading this new book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, and it's very insightful. The author is a mother of two living in New York and decides that though she is happy with her marriage and her life, there is more she could be doing to be happier. So she embarks on this quest to change her life, one resolution at a time. She gives herself one year and does one resolution (with about 4 to 5 changes per resolution) a month, and documents her progress.

The writing is very enjoyable, with just the right amount of facts and statistics. She is also funny and her exploits make you chuckle sometimes because you empathize, even if your life situation is different. Ultimately, everyone can benefit from these resolutions that she proposes.

Things like "Boost Energy", "Lighten Up", "Make Time for Friends" are just some of her twelve resolutions, things that we could, and should, all try to do to improve our outlook on life. Her book is punctuated with these "Ah-ha" moments she calls "First (or second, etc) Splendid Truths" that are revelations for her and her quest to be a happier more content person. She practices restraint, being slow to anger and quick to love, and gentleness- things all of us could work on.

This makes me wonder- what makes YOU happy?

Happily yours,

Nay

Bike Training- Day One

Training Day One

I didn't get on the bike this morning but I did get in some cardio on the treadmill before yoga class. The cardio was the easy part. Yoga, on the other hand, killed me.

Some people think yoga is a bit, well, sissy. You stretch, you breathe, you pose.

YOU SWEAT. Trust me.

The thing I like about yoga is that you go slow. You start out slow, you move through the poses slowly, you end slow, you rest. But don't let the low impact fool you. You sweat, you stretch and your breathing becomes labored, your heart beats a little faster simply because you're moving your body around.

I've always enjoyed yoga because its kind. You're not jarring your muscles or slamming your joints, pounding the treadmill pavement. You're just moving and flowing. And if you need a break, you take a break in Child's Pose, knees tucked under you, forehead to the mat, arms by your side. You breathe, you relax, you take a minute, then you get back up and into Warrior II.

You feel like a warrior when you're finished.

Your body thanks you afterward, with blood flowing, muscles loose and ready, if not a little shaky- it's hard work to hold a pose!

The best part? When done right, yoga doesn't hurt during or after. You just feel loosened up.

So, on my off days of training for this bike ride through Virginia wine country, I'm going to do yoga to keep my body limber and to stretch my sore, cardio ass kicked muscles. You should too.

Namaste,
Nay

My Take on the State of the Union

President Obama made his State of the Union speech tonight, and I have to say, I am quite energized. The man is a gifted public speaker, and I am proud to call him my President (I voted for him too)

The President made some very important announcements during his speech, and highlights that I approve of are as follows:

- stimulating small business is the best and only way to rebuild the economy in America. Tax credits for small business hiring new workers and who raise their salaries will be granted. Money returned to the government from the bank bailouts will be sent back into small businesses in the form of making it easier for these businesses to borrow money.

- NO TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY AND BIG BUSINESS. There is absolutely no reason why fat cats on Wall Street and big corporations should receive a tax cut. The President was adamant about this.

- Freezing federal spending starting in 2011. This may seem like a bad idea, but in practice it will help decrease the deficit.

- STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS- Thank you Jesus. The President is proposing that students who graduate from higher education will only be required to fork over 10% of their income to pay back their student loans, with loan forgiveness after 20 years, 10 years for people who go into public service. THAT MEANS TEACHERS, y'all.

- The government will reward businesses and citizens who utilize clean energy through clean energy incentives. The President also reminded us that clean energy creates jobs, and with a 10% unemployment rate, WE NEED JOBS.

- Healthcare reform. Enough said. It's time to put the bipartisan politicking and bickering aside and do what is right for the American people. The President asked that if anyone on either side of the aisle can come up with something different that lowers premiums and does not deny people insurance or destroy Medicare/Medicaid, then show him. He's all for new ideas.

- And lastly, a call to end bipartisan shenanigans. Shooting down a bill simply because you can is not governing, its cowardice. The President is calling for all members of government to hold themselves accountable, and to become more transparent. He wants the American people to start trusting government again, something the American people haven't been able to do in 8 years.


The President also reminds us that the problems that his administration are facing today were inherited, not created by him. The facts stand for themselves, he says. He owns up to his administrations mistakes and pledges to fix these problems and the larger ones like the deficit and the economy.

Overall, I thought it was a great speech, and I am looking forward to seeing the President walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

God bless America.

Politically yours,
Nay

Bicycle!

I hope I remember how to ride a bicycle, because I've entered a bike-a-thon against Multiple Sclerosis. This event is called the Tour de Vine and it is being held in the wine country of central Virginia, in Charlottesville.  That's right, your dear Nay is riding 25 miles a day over hill and dale to raise money to find a cure for MS.

But the best part is, I'm not alone. Me, my sister, and three of our dearest friends, are all doing this together. We are a hodge-podge of all body types and energy levels and we're gonna make it!

Our goal is to raise $250 as a team to help fund the combat against MS. In the next few weeks, I will begin fundraising. Help out if you can, if not, that's cool too, your emotional support will be just as greatly appreciated. And believe me, I'm going to need LOTS of support. Last time I rode a bike, I was about 15.

Here is more information about this great event. Bike Against MS

Gotta go, time to start training. Gag.

Bicycly yours,
Nay

Help.

I'm having trouble coming up with things to blog about. All the ideas I've had I've either already blogged about, or no one would care to read them.

Any suggestions? I'm floundering here. I've got Blogger's Block.

Nay

The Art of Speaking Frenchly

I have discovered recently that I miss French desperately.

I've been reading Julia Child's memoir "My Life in France" and I can't help but feel a little left out when she writes little asides in French or simple vocabulary en Francais. I hate that I can't remember simple verb conjugations and nouns. I was practically fluent! Now look at me.

Well, no more. I am resolved to learn French again, starting from scratch.

I'm well aware that the best way to learn a language is to immerse onself totally into the language by speaking it all day, hearing it all day- basically living in the area where the language is spoken.

That poses un problem. I do not live in France, I have no means to get to France, nor do I have the time to visit France. Hmmm.

I need suggestions for ways to help myself relearn this language that I love. I don't think Rosetta Stone is the answer. I'm looking for conversational French, not basic French. Besides, do you know any elementary school teachers with $400 just lying around for language software? Me neither, but if you meet one let me know.

I know, this probably seems silly to try and relearn something that I'll likely never use. But there is something so simple and poetic about French- it reminds me of clean laundry flapping in the lavendar and wine-scented breeze.

Now to go find and dust off my French/English dictionary.

Linguistically yours,

Nay

The List, Part One

Because I really don't have anything to post about, here is my teacher wish list.

1. Everything Crayola. SOOO useful.

2. Copy paper and LOTS of it.

3. Classroom set of pattern blocks

4. Overhead projector pattern block set

5. Fraction circles

6. Overhead projector fraction circles

7. Cuisenaire rods

8. Clorox wipes
9. Paper towels
10. Tissues
11. Hand sanitizer
12. White out
13. Boxes of pencils, unsharpened
14. Eraser tops
15. Scotch tape
16. Time, Fraction, Multiplication BINGO
17. Large blue pocket chart
18. Dry erase markers, blue, red or black ONLY
19. Marble composition notebooks in Green, Black, Red and Blue
20. Rocking chair

21. Large carpet or rug

22. Poster board in many colors

23. Anything from Lakeshore or Really Good Stuff.

That's all I can think of for now. Send donations to Heather N.... lol

No, that's not my classroom.