family

Be Thankful. Be Pleased. Be relieved.

November 25, 2025by adampetersoneducationLeave a Comment

thankful

thank – ful /ˈTHaNGkf(ə)l/

to be pleased and relieved

As we enter Thanksgiving break I encourage you to focus on the two words above – pleased and relieved. There’s no denying that the start of the school year is an extremely stressful time. Somewhere between the sight words, the science experiments that almost went according to plan, and the coffee that went cold on your desk (again), something incredible happened.

You made it. (and so did your students)

You made it through the whirlwind of the first part of the school year—those early-morning pep talks in your car, the endless name-learning, the curriculum juggling, the parent-teacher conferences, and the marathon of guiding little humans through big emotions. For that last sentence alone you should be extremely RELIEVED.

And if you pause for one little moment—right now, before the next thing calls your name—you might notice something:

You’ve done a lot.
Like… a lot a lot.

And that’s something worth being thankful for, or, PLEASED.

Thankfulness isn’t always loud. It doesn’t always look like pumpkin-spice-everything or perfectly decorated bulletin boards with cutouts that took two hours longer than they should have. Sometimes “thankful” is simply this:

A deep breath.
A nod to yourself.
A moment of “Hey… look at everything I’ve carried, created, and cared for.” Teachers are natural forward-lookers—always thinking about the next unit, the next data collection period, the next holiday party that will require twenty-seven glue sticks and a prayer. But, it’s worth noting how calming it can be, before you rush ahead, to take a second and soak in what you’ve already done. Doing this on a daily basis can help you focus on the success instead of the stress.

Your impact this year is already written into the smiles, the confidence, the notebook pages filled with brave new attempts, and the classroom routines that magically run smoother than they did in August.

That’s worth celebrating. Right now. Before Thanksgiving break even starts.

AND…all of this is important to remember EVERY SINGLE DAY going forward!

You tell your students to be proud of their growth.
You celebrate their progress.
You remind them that rest is part of learning.

So go ahead… take your own advice.
(Yes, I know. Easier said than done. But try it. Your future self in December will want to high-five you.)

Be pleased.
Be relieved.
Be proud of the teacher you’ve been so far this year and thankful for this much deserved break. Then, remember ALL of this when school starts again. Happy Thanksgiving. -Adam

🔥Fire Prevention Month Fun!

September 14, 2025by adampetersoneducationLeave a Comment

Fun, Fire Safety, and Learning All October Long!

October isn’t just about pumpkins and costumes—it’s also Fire Prevention Month, and that means it’s the perfect time to mix safety education with fun, engaging lessons across your curriculum. From read-alouds that spark great discussions to science activities that light up curiosity (without actually lighting anything!), here are some ways you can bring the heat—in the safest way possible.

📚 FIERY READ-ALOUDS THAT TEACH AND INSPIRE

Start Fire Prevention Month by igniting curiosity with a few great books that blend storytelling with important fire safety messages.

“No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons)” by Jean Pendziwol
🐉 A silly but smart book about a girl who invites a dragon to tea… and things get toasty. The book delivers fire safety lessons in a super kid-friendly way.
“Miss Mingo and the Fire Drill” by Jamie Harper
🔥A colorful, character-packed read about how students (animal ones, of course) react to a fire drill—perfect for talking about emotions and preparedness.
“Stop Drop and Roll (A Book about Fire Safety)” by Margery Cuyler
🔥 Full of relatable school scenarios and packed with safety strategies, this one is always a hit during read-alouds.

Activity Tip:
After reading, create a class anchor chart titled “What We Know About Fire Safety” and let students add facts throughout the month as they learn more.

🔢 MATH THAT’S 🔥HOT🔥

Yes, even your math block can get in on the fire prevention fun! Try these ideas:

Firefighter Word Problems:
Use firefighter-themed story problems like: “Fire Station #2 has 3 trucks. Each truck holds 5 firefighters. How many firefighters are there in total?”
Fire Station Math Centers:
Set up stations with tasks like:
- Counting fire hoses (unifix cubes or pipe cleaners)
- Sorting fire hats by color/size
- Graphing favorite emergency vehicles
Estimation Station:
Fill a firefighter boot with red pom-poms (“fireballs”) and have students estimate and count how many are inside.

Bonus Tip:
Use firefighter clipart or plastic hats as math manipulatives to keep little learners engaged.

🔬 SCIENCE SPARKS: FIRE PREVENTION-STYLE

You don’t need flames to ignite scientific thinking. Here’s how to integrate fire-related science safely:

1. What’s Hot and What’s Not?

Create a sorting activity using images of items that are hot (e.g., stove, toaster, candle) vs. not hot (e.g., pillow, book, crayon). Talk about heat sources and how to stay safe around them.

2. Smoke Detector Science

Invite a local firefighter to show how a smoke detector works! Then talk about the science of smoke—why it’s dangerous, how it moves, and why we “stay low and go.”

3. Fire Needs Fuel!

Demonstrate the Fire Triangle (Heat + Fuel + Oxygen = Fire). Ask: “What happens if we take one part away?”

Book Pairing:
Read “Firefighters A to Z” by Chris L. Demarest and tie it into your science talk with facts and vocabulary.

🔥FIRE SAFETY LESSONS THAT STICK

Let’s be real: fire drills can be scary for some kids. Use these activities to make preparedness feel safe, familiar, and even a little fun.

🔥 Build a Fire Safety Plan

Let students draw a map of their home and mark two escape routes.
Practice “stop, drop, and roll” with stuffed animals (less scary and way more fun!).

🔥 Role Play: Firefighter to the Rescue

Set up dramatic play with helmets, walkie-talkies, and firefighter vests.
Act out what to do when you hear a fire alarm: stay calm, line up, no talking, etc.

🔥 Home Connection: Fire Safety Checklist

Send home a Fire Safety Challenge checklist for families to complete together:

Test smoke detectors
Identify two ways out of each room
Practice a family escape plan

🎨 WRAP IT UP WITH ART

Let creativity take over with:

Handprint flames with safety rules written around them
Fire truck directed drawings for hallway displays
Tissue paper flames with student-written fire safety tips on water droplets
Blow Paint by putting drops of red and orange on paper, and letting kids blow it around with straws to make flames
Fire hats for kids so they can wear their craft home

🔚 Final Thoughts

At the heart of every great classroom is a teacher who makes learning feel safe, exciting, and unforgettable. Fire Prevention Month is the perfect opportunity to teach real-life lessons while still having a blast (again, not literally). From read-alouds and role-playing to math centers and science talks, you’re not just teaching—you’re helping kids become prepared, confident, and aware.

So go ahead… make it fun, make it meaningful, and most importantly—make it safe. -Adam

October Fun for Everyone!

October 2, 2024by adampetersoneducationLeave a Comment

Happy October, teachers! The leaves are falling, the excitement for Halloween is building, and there’s a crispness in the air that just makes kids (and teachers!) feel alive. It’s the perfect month to incorporate fun, engaging, and educational activities with an autumn twist. Whether you’re looking to sprinkle in some Halloween fun or just embrace the season, here are some easy-to-implement ideas that will keep your students learning while having a blast.

1. Pumpkin Math 🎃 + ➗ = 🍂

Nothing says fall quite like pumpkins, and they’re a great tool to incorporate math lessons into your October activities. You can use small pumpkins for each student (or group) and have them:

Estimate and Measure: How many seeds do they think are inside? What’s the circumference of the pumpkin? Kids can make estimates, then check their predictions by counting the seeds or using measuring tapes.
Weight Comparisons: Weigh a variety of pumpkins and compare their weights. Create graphs of the class’s findings.
Seed Counting & Multiplication: Once the seeds are scooped out, use them for math! Have students group seeds by tens, fives, or ones to practice place value, or create multiplication problems based on the number of seeds they’ve found.

This activity combines tactile learning, estimation, and math concepts in a memorable, engaging way!

2. Spooky Story Writing 🕸️✍️📚

October is the perfect time to spark your students’ creativity with spooky (but not too scary) story writing. Here’s how to get started:

Story Starters: Provide prompts like, “One stormy night, I heard a strange noise coming from the attic…” or “The old, creaky house at the end of the street had been abandoned for years until…”.
Character Creation: Have students design their own “spooky” characters, such as friendly ghosts or magical creatures, and build their stories around these creations.
Spooky Soundtrack: Play some eerie background music (think gentle wind and creaky doors) to get your students in the mood. Encourage them to focus on descriptive language to set the scene and create suspense.

This activity is a wonderful way to encourage creative writing and expand vocabulary while celebrating the spooky fun of October.

3. Candy Corn STEM Challenges 🍬🧠🔬

Who says candy can’t be educational? Candy corn can be used in various fun STEM challenges that encourage problem-solving and teamwork:

Tower Building: Give students a pile of candy corn and some toothpicks. The challenge? Build the tallest candy corn tower they can! It’s a simple engineering task that helps develop fine motor skills and critical thinking.
Candy Corn Catapults: Provide popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a spoon. Have students create their own candy corn catapults, then measure how far they can launch their candy.
Candy Corn Graphing: Use candy corn to create math graphs. Have students sort and graph by color or size, then analyze the data.

These hands-on challenges incorporate STEM principles while tapping into kids’ love for sweets!

4. Leafy Literacy Centers 🍁🔠

As the leaves fall outside, why not bring them into your literacy centers? Here’s how to make literacy seasonal and fun:

Word Building with Leaves: Collect leaves and write letters on them. Students can use the lettered leaves to build spelling words, sight words, or even practice their phonics skills.
Fall-Themed Reading Comprehension: Incorporate autumn-themed stories or passages into your guided reading groups. Follow up with comprehension questions that help kids dig deeper into the text.
Writing Prompts with Nature: Take your class on a mini nature walk to observe the changing season. Once back inside, have students write about their walk, focusing on sensory details like what they saw, heard, and felt.

This is an easy way to take something seasonal and connect it to your literacy curriculum.

5. Classroom Decorating Contest 🏆🎃🕸️

A little classroom spirit never hurts, and a decorating contest can help build community while getting your students excited about October! Here’s how you can turn this fun event into a learning opportunity:

Teamwork and Collaboration: Assign students to small groups, giving each a section of the classroom to decorate. They’ll need to plan, collaborate, and execute their ideas together.
Creative Problem Solving: Set limits—like only using construction paper, scissors, and glue—and see what students come up with. They’ll have to think outside the box to make their vision a reality.
Voting and Graphing: Once the room is decorated, have a class vote on the best sections. Create a graph or chart to tally the votes and analyze the results.

Decorating with a learning twist keeps things festive while reinforcing social and math skills!

6. Halloween Read Alouds 📚👻

Nothing beats a good read-aloud to get students in the Halloween spirit. Some of my favorites for October include:

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson – A fun, rhyming tale that students love!
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams – Great for building suspense and helping students make predictions.
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds – A hilarious story with just the right amount of spooky fun.

Pair these read-alouds with comprehension activities, discussion prompts, or even a quick craft to tie it all together.

October is a month full of opportunities to bring seasonal excitement into your classroom. Whether it’s through math, literacy, STEM, or creative activities, adding a little autumn flair makes learning even more engaging for your students. Try out some of these ideas, and watch your classroom come alive with October magic!

Keep it fun, keep it spooky, and keep the learning going strong! 👻🎃 -Adam