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August 2009, Vol. 2

	Dear Teachers, Preparing for back to school isn't only about curriculum planning, it also requires personalizing and organizing your classroom, learning to manage your time, and setting goals for your students' progress and your own teaching. Did you know that September is Roald Dahl Month? Celebrate the splendiferous author of so many beloved children's classics with your students! Find tons of fun, educational celebration ideas with our free activity guide, calendar of events for September 2009, literature guides, and more! Labor Day (September 7) is a time to celebrate the American workforce. Teach your students about the history of the holiday, then engage them in brainstorming about their future careers. Your first open house of the year is a major event; it's a great opportunity to introduce parents to your teaching methods and outlook for the year and to elicit their help in the classroom for the remainder of the year. Use our suggestions for encouraging parent involvement. Young students may have a difficult time transitioning back to school. Ease them into the school year with a comforting lesson about homes and habitats. They'll learn that "home" ranges from houses to wetlands to rain forests. Cover them all! Best Wishes, The Editors of TeacherVision.com FEATURED THEMES Back to School Prepare your classroom – and yourself – for the first day of school. Time Management Tips for Teachers FAQs for the First Day of School The Ultimate Organized Classroom Homework Checklist Llama Llama Activity Kit Favorite Bulletin Boards Slideshow Personalizing the Secondary Classroom Top 10 Free (& Cheap) Rewards for Students Laying the Foundation for Positive Classroom Behavior Thinking About the First Day of School Icebreakers: Printables Slideshow A Back-to-School Conversation Assessing Academic Expectations & Formulating Goals Easing First-Day Jitters Parents' Back-to-School Guide More Back-to-School Resources Roald Dahl Month Celebrate this classic children's author with a month of reading and activities. September 2009 Roald Dahl Calendar Teacher's Guide to the World of Roald Dahl Matilda's Word Mastery Word Scrambles and Riddles for The BFG Charlie's Chocolate Factory Challenge The BFG's D.I.Y. Dream Catcher Colossal Confections Egg Carton Critters Guide to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Projects & Tests Guide to James and the Giant Peach More Roald Dahl Resources Labor Day Labor Day is the first Monday of September; this year, it falls on September 7. The Story of Labor Day Labor Day Activities Labor Day Newspaper Labor Day Puzzle Labor Day Fill-in-the-Blanks Favorite Labor Day Activities Popular Jobs/Careers Printables Job Fair Creating Your Own Career Poem Community Helpers Jobs Galore Career Survey More Labor Day Resources Homes & Habitats Every animal needs a home. Find information about many of them here. Building a House Big Book Building a House Filmstrip How to Build a House Shelters Literature Guide: On the Far Side of the Mountain Daily Journal Topics: Shelters Kingfisher Young Knowledge: Animal Homes Teacher's Guide Be a House Detective Homes for People Making a Woodland Habitat Model Houses of the World What Are Habitats and Niches? Edible Houses What Is a Habitat? More Resources on Homes & Habitats TEACHING TOOLS Open House Start the year off right with a successful open house. Parent Volunteering Survey Getting to Know Your Student Open House Slideshow (Grades K-6) Getting Parents Involved Tips on Dealing with Parents Kindergarten Open House Invitation to Open House: Sample Letter Second-Grade Open House Fifth-Grade Open House Create a Meaningful Open House Hosting a Successful Open House Teacher-Parent Collaboration More Open House Resources				New Content   Check out our most recent additions to TeacherVision®! You're sure to find a new and innovative lesson to incorporate into your curriculum. The History of Mobile Phones Classroom Guide to the Ranger's Apprentice series An Introduction to Shakespeare's Language Waste-Free Lunch Historic Massacres Women's Suffrage Timeline Classroom Trading Post Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points: Writing Exercise Caring for Sick Loved Ones Design a Roller Skate More New Content   Patriot Day   Commemorate September 11, 2001, and the symbolism that accompanies Patriot Day. Children's Literature on September 11, 2001 Discussion Guide to September 11: A Testimony September 11, 2001: Attack on New York City Teacher's Guide America Shall Not Perish Poster Understanding September 11: Answering Questions About the Attacks on America Understanding Different Points of View More September 11 Content   Dealing with Technology in the Classroom Do you have a hard time dealing with technology in the classroom? You're not alone. Whether you're facing cell phones and "sexting," social networking and cheating, or cyber-bulling, we have the advice to keep your students safe and focused on their schoolwork. Suicide Prevention Week   September 6–12 is Suicide Prevention Week. These resources will help you better understand the relationship between suicide and teens, risk factors, and warning signs. Teen Suicide Prevention: Myths and Frequently Asked Questions Teen Suicide Prevention: Information for Educators Preventing Teen Suicide: Information for Parents Teen Suicide Prevention: Warning Signs Preventing Teen Suicide: A First-Person Message for Teens Intervention Strategies for Suicide More Suicide Prevention Resources   Timely Topics   There's something to celebrate every day of the year, with our timely topics. Each link features an activity or a collection of activities that will tie historic events into your normal lesson plans! Davy Crockett's Birthday (August 17, 1786) National Aviation Day (August 19) Mona Lisa Stolen (August 21, 1921) Women's Equality Day (August 26) Hurricane Katrina Devastated Gulf Coast (August 29, 2005) Back-to-School Month (August) Inventor's Month (August) Suicide Prevention Week (September 6-12) Labor Day (September 7) Patriot Day (September 11) Grandparents' Day (September 13) Constitution Week (September 17–23) Rosh Hashanah Begins at Sundown (September 18) Banned Books Week (September 26-October 3) Yom Kippur (September 27) Library Card Sign-Up Month (September) Classical Music Month (September) National Sickle Cell Month (September) More August Events More September Events