"Charity sees the need, not the cause." German Proverb

 

                                                                            JuicyQuotes.com 

                                                                

I am a person who donates to St. Jude Hospital, which costs about $1.7 million to run each day.  Just thinking about a child with cancer is enough to make me cry, and that urge to cry has become even worse since my husband died from cancer. Cancer is so mean - it doesn't care who you are or what your age is. Everyone has been touched by the hand of cancer, whether it is someone you know or yourself. 

A little boy named Calvin was a cancer patient at St. Jude's Hospital.  He was feeling so many conflicting emotions during his treatment - the love of those caring for him, the fear of the disease, the happy emoji, as he tried to stay happy.  Calvin was in treatment with both chemo and radiation treatments, and then he relapsed and had to return for more treatments. Calvin is also a boy who likes monster trucks.  He drew a monster truck with his selected emojis, and MonsterTrucks.com made his drawing into a real toy!  How exciting! For each of the toy trucks purchased, $10 will go toward St. Jude Hospital.  If you are interested in purchasing a truck, here is the website: https://www.monsterjamsuperstore.com/searchresults.asp?Search=calvin%27s+emoji+truck

Last week, Monster Trucks surprised Calvin and his mother during an interview on FOX News. They made a REAL (not toy) monster truck from Calvin's drawing, and Calvin and his mom will get to see that truck in action when they are guests at the Monster Jam World Finals. Here is the link to the interview, where you can meet Calvin and see the giant truck with Calvin's emojis! 

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/st-jude-patient-designs-monster-jam-toy-truck

Our world is filled with so many bad news stories right now, so I wanted to share a good news story.  I also applaud the Monster Trucks organization for their contributions to St. Jude, and for making the public aware of the needs of the hospital. They saw the need and stepped up to help save lives. 

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Please invite GRADY GETS GLASSES (and me) into your school, in person, or on Zoom. Email us at GradyGetsGlasses@gmail.com

I do college and university presentations for student teachers with my practical "Dede's Three C's for Classroom Success: Confidence, Communication, and Creativity" in person or via Zoom. Please email me at DedeRittman@gmail.com

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with groups called Field Trip Zoom and Streamable learning . We will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM. GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 and 2018 (new edition) from The Authors' Zone. Grady also won a 2018 prestigious Moonbeam Award for Best Children's Book with Merchandise.

Visit Dede's web page for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37

years. I remain inspired! 

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom.  Check them out!  http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/ 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!

 Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman

Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules

LinkedIn   Dede Rittman

Google +   Dede Rittman

Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher

Instagram   GradyGetsGlasses

Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ® . 

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing." Dale Carnegie

                                                                 The Littlest Golfer 

I know many entrepreneurs, and I love to be around them.  Although they work long hours and work hard, they have passion for what they are doing and they have FUN working toward their goals. I felt the same way about teaching.

When I was in the classroom for those 37 years, teachers were required to present some rather dry information.  I always tried to make it interesting for my students.  I remember when I was a newer teacher, and I wanted to impress the importance of the trial scene and the testimony in TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.  The trial chapters are crucial to the full understanding of the book. My late husband and I were both active in local theater groups, so I decided that the two of us would play all the parts in the trial using different voices - including me, with my normal voice, as the narrator.  Scott was Tom Robinson, Jem, Atticus, Mr. Ewell, and others.  I read the judge as John Wayne, and I was Scout, Mayella, and th prosecutor.  We had such fun with this, and I used these tapes for years.  The students loved hearing the trial - and I could stop the tape at important times to review the testomony and make sure that everyone understood the finer points.  On the days that students were listeneing to the trial scene, no one was late, and kids would actually say things like, "Everyone be quiet!  Miss Rittman, start the tape, please!"  Helping students to enjoy the learning experience helps them to learn and retain knowledge.

Although it is near the end of the year, what enjoyable and memorable activity can you add into your classroom?  And what can you improve for students next year?  Teachers who have fun with teaching are usually very successful. 

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Please invite GRADY GETS GLASSES (and me) into your school, in person, or on Zoom. Email us at GradyGetsGlasses@gmail.com

I do college and university presentations for student teachers with my practical "Dede's Three C's for Classroom Success: Confidence, Communication, and Creativity" in person or via Zoom. Please email me at DedeRittman@gmail.com

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with groups called Field Trip Zoom and Streamable learning . We will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM. GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 and 2018 (new edition) from The Authors' Zone. Grady also won a 2018 prestigious Moonbeam Award for Best Children's Book with Merchandise.

Visit Dede's web page for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37

years. I remain inspired! 

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom.  Check them out!  http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/ 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!

 Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman

Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules

LinkedIn   Dede Rittman

Google +   Dede Rittman

Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher

Instagram   GradyGetsGlasses

Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ® . 

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." Winnie the Pooh

Good Morning Quote

This week, I received a 9 x 12" big brown envelope of thank you notes from the students in grades K, 1, and 2 at Trafford Elementary School.  I presented there a few weeks ago with a program based on my children's book, GRADY GETS GLASSES.  Trafford is a "kind" school, and their staff spends time teaching the importance of kindness, so my program "Bunnies Don't Bully, and Neither Should Kids" was a great fit for their school.  

I present at lots of schools, and not everyone sends a thank you note, so to be the recipient of all the notes plus pictures of the kids with their books, and a picture with my "Win Lunch with the Author" group was very special.  (The librarian had the second grade students write a little answer to a prompt, and the best answers won lunch with me.) 

I love to send and recive both cards and thank you notes.  I feel happy when I am writing a note, and happy when I am reading one as well.  I think the Trafford librarian helped kids to understand how special it ican be to write a thank you note  Teaching students to send notes of appreciation when appropriate is another skill involved with being kind.  To return their favor,  I sent a picture of Grady the rabbit standing in the midst of all the notes to let the kids know how much Grady and I appreciated their efforts. 

Below is a picture of one of the notes, and a picture of Grady and the beauitul multi-colored notes! 

 

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Please invite GRADY GETS GLASSES (and me) into your school, in person, or on Zoom. Email us at GradyGetsGlasses@gmail.com

I do college and university presentations for student teachers with my practical "Dede's Three C's for Classroom Success: Confidence, Communication, and Creativity" in person or via Zoom. Please email me at DedeRittman@gmail.com

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with groups called Field Trip Zoom and Streamable learning . We will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM. GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 and 2018 (new edition) from The Authors' Zone. Grady also won a 2018 prestigious Moonbeam Award for Best Children's Book with Merchandise.

Visit Dede's web page for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37

years. I remain inspired! 

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom.  Check them out!  http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/ 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!

 Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman

Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules

LinkedIn   Dede Rittman

Google +   Dede Rittman

Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher

Instagram   GradyGetsGlasses

Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ® . 

"If you can read this, thank a teacher."

 

                                                                        coolnsmart.com 

This week is TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.  I know that during my 37 years in the classroom, I was always so grateful for a kind note, a flower, or even a heartfelt thank you. My school was North Allegheny Intermediate High School, which was a building for students in grades 9 and 10. We had a very active student council led and sponsored by a very caring teacher.  one year, for Teacher Appreciation Day, we were invited to a special event after school.  We sat in a circle and we were blindfolded, and a student read a letter to each one of us aloud, citing our best characteristics and outlining how we made a difference in the school.  Each person's letter was unique to that person.  At the end, we took off the blindfolds and saw the student who wrote about us.  Each teacher was presented with a T shirt that said "Teacher Appreciation Day" on the front, and listed characteristics of a good teacher.  The shirts had the names of each teacher printed on the back. What a special gift that was!  Although I have been involved in both the recieving end and the planning end of teacher appreciation activities, none has ever touched me the way that one did.  I would guess that event probealby happened around 1995.  I wore that T shirt for year - every Teacher Appreciation Day.

During my experience, I saw teachers work so hard to provide for the needs of each individual student. No one in my school had a workday that ended at 3:00.  Teaching was and is a never-ending job.

I am thankful to all the teachers who helped me to become a teacher, and all those who mentored me in my career.  I am thankful for all my former students who became teachers, insuring that the mantle of excellence in teaching was carried forth.  Please remember to thank a teacher! 

P.S.  Although I retired some years ago, I still have every thank you ever given to me. 

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Please invite GRADY GETS GLASSES (and me) into your school, in person, or on Zoom. Email us at GradyGetsGlasses@gmail.com

I do college and university presentations for student teachers with my practical "Dede's Three C's for Classroom Success: Confidence, Communication, and Creativity" in person or via Zoom. Please email me at DedeRittman@gmail.com

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with groups called Field Trip Zoom and Streamable learning . We will come into YOUR classroom via ZOOM. GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 and 2018 (new edition) from The Authors' Zone. Grady also won a 2018 prestigious Moonbeam Award for Best Children's Book with Merchandise.

Visit Dede's web page for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37

years. I remain inspired! 

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom.  Check them out!  http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/ 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!

 Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

Connect with Dede!

Twitter       @dederittman

Facebook   Dede Faltot Rittman or Rittman Rules

LinkedIn   Dede Rittman

Google +   Dede Rittman

Tumblr      The Bunny Teacher

Instagram   GradyGetsGlasses

Pinterest   Rittman Publishing, LLC ® .