Sunday

National Diabetes Month and addressing it in the classroom

National Diabetes Month

Did you know November is National Diabetes Month?

National Diabetes Month

Diabetes affects more than 30 million people in the United States so chances are many of our students are touched by diabetes in some way-

they may even have it themselves.

There are two types:

Type 1 (T1D) and Type 2 (T2D).

T1D is an autoimmune condition cause by the T cells destroying the pancreatic beta cells. Then your pancreas stops producing insulin. So you have to take insulin to manage your blood sugar.

You can get it by genetics or viruses

and it can happen at any age.

There is no cure.

T2D also affects your pancreas which is not producing enough insulin. It can happen at any age but usually affects adults. Losing weight, eating well and exercising can sometimes help with managing it but if it doesn't, a person may need meds or insulin.

Why is diabetes important to me?

In 2009, I was diagnosed with T2D. No matter the medications and lifestyle changes, my glucose was out of control. I finally changed doctors and my new doctor sent me to an endocrinologist. First thing she asked was if I wasn't T1D. After various tests, it was determined I was a type 1 diabetic and therefore needed to be on insulin therapy.

Now that I am on insulin and using my Dexcom which lets me know my glucose numbers continually, my sugar is finally under control and I feel better.

It will always be a struggle but at least I have the tools to control it now.

Mommy Beeps by Kim Baillieul

As I said, I use a Dexcom continuous glucose monitor. It gives real time glucose readings. It also beeps when my sugar is getting too low.

As a teacher in the classroom, it's important for kids to know what's going on so they don't get alarmed when I beep.

Besides myself, our students are connected with diabetes in their community or

maybe even within their own family or themselves.

This book will help them understand what is going on.

I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about diabetes and how to address it in the classroom.

What ways will you teach students about National Diabetes Month?

You can find me on these platforms (as well as my blog!)

How can I make your job easier this year? Let me know in the comments. If I use your ideas for a blog post, you will win $10 to Teachers Pay Teachers. Even better, if I use your ideas to make a resource in my store, LisaTeachR's Classroom, I'll send you a free copy of that resource!

Studying Plot Structure

Every story has some sort of a structure.

Today we will talk about teaching two types:

circular and cumulative story structures and how to use teach them to your students

Cumulative story structure

A cumulative story structure adds repeating plot elements or characters until it topples over! That's why sometimes it's called a toppling story. Some classics are The House That Jack Built and There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.

Circular story structure

A circular story structure follows a circle. It has various events but always come back to the beginning. Some examples are If you give a mouse a cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff or Long Night Moon by Cynthia Rylant.

Using them in the classroom

To use them in the classroom, first your kids must understand them.

Read them various stories using the structure and break them down together.

After that, have kids write their own tales!

I love having the kids do this and then they read them to the little ones and give them their books.

Need some help?

I broke it all down for you here.

Just click on the image to go to my store.

As you can see, I like to do them as a holiday activity to keep my holiday work academic!

What ways will you teach story structure

in your classroom?

Check out these amazing bloggers for more ideas!

You can find me on these platforms (as well as my blog!)

National Kindness Day!

Did you know November 13th is World Kindness Day! Here are some ways to celebrate kindness.

Kindness Cards

Kids can learn about kindness and friendship through complimenting each other. Kindness cards are the way to do it. Find kindness cards here. I still have the one we made in high school.

Kindness to the world through SDG's

Do you know about the SDG's? They are 17 goals to make the world a better place! They were created by the United Nations. There is a website to help teach the SDG's and a project in January every year.

The SDG's and Art

Art is one way to teach understanding of the SDG's.

I used glass art as a way in.

What ways will you promote

kindness in your classroom?

You can find me on these platforms (as well as my blog!)

Ideas for a spooky Halloween or Dia de los Muertos

Ideas for a spooky Halloween or

Dia de los Muertos

I know! It's around the corner!

Halloween is October 31st and

Dia de los Muertos is November 1st and 2nd.

Your Door

Your classroom door is the first place to

set the mood for your decor.

Here is my pinterest board for ideas.

I love to set the mood with a beautifully decorated door. I use my dia de los muertos decor set

for the interior.

Read Alouds

Here are my favorites...

-Creepy Carrots

-Halloween Hustle

-There was an old lady who swallowed a bat

-Calavera Abecedaria

-Funny Bones: Posada and his Day of the Dead Calaveras

-Just a minute: A trickster tale and counting book

Any of these books would be a great addition

to your classroom library.

Activities

Tissue box monster: One fun activity is to have kids turn a tissue box into a scary monster. Just use white construction paper to make the teeth for the opening. Decorate the rest. Use egg cartons parts to make eyes for the top!

Halloween in France: Take this opportunity to learn about other cultures! Use this book to learn about how it is celebrated in France.

This a fun time of the year to learn about other cultures. Have fun!

You can find me on these platforms (as well as my blog!)

Latino Heritage Month ideas and resources

Latino Heritage Month

is here!

The dates for Latino Heritage month are September 15th until October 15th. September 16th is on Mexico's independence day.

Museums and Cultural Centers

One good thing about the pandemic is that it made everyone look outward and consider how to share knowledge with the world. Virtual field trips abounded. Two local places (for me) I want you to be aware of are La Plaza and the Museum of Latin American Art. La Plaza focuses on Mexican and Mexican-American culture. Molaa is the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin and Latin-American Art. Also, there is a federal site dedicated to this month!

Check them out!

Researching famous LatinX people

What better way to celebrate than to research some famous Latinos? People like Frida Kahlo, Eva Peron and Lin Manuel Miranda! As a matter of fact, there are 34 pennants to choose from in both color and black and white.

Great picture books

I have a lot of favorite LatinX authors I read aloud to my students. Some of my favorite authors and illustrators are:

Yuyi Morales
Rafael Lopez
Gary Soto
Isabel Quintero
Pam Munoz Ryan
Alma Flor Ada
Margarita Engle
Matt de la Pena
and many many more

If you need some help using these books, here is a link to my store. There are a lot of resources to help you this month.

What ways will you promote

this month in your classroom?

Check out these great bloggers!

You can find me on these platforms (as well as my blog!)