So What Do You Do?
Visit the So What Do You Do? Page
A book about empathy
When sixth graders Charlie and Colleen discover that their beloved third-grade teacher, Joseph Adams, is now homeless and living on the streets, they set out to make friends with the deeply troubled man and inspire him and members of the community to support him in his time of trouble.
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So What Do You Do?
Steps Place de Vosge
What a joy it is to watch people passing.
Rules: Once the camera is rolling I won't stop.
I do wait for people to appear before hitting the record button on the iPhone,
but there are no edits afterward.
Visit the Steps page
Lucky To Have Been a Teacher
Lucky To Have Been a TeacherHow many times have I faced a class of children,
With bright happy faces,
Yearning to learn,
And I wanted to be a better person?
ChatGPT Poem
Whose tales of wonder captivate and renew,
With words and illustrations, he takes flight,
On adventures that are both dark and bright.
His characters leap from the page,
In stories that are never cage,
From dragons to princesses, they all come alive,
Through Evans' pen, they truly thrive.
His stories are filled with magic and glee,
That spark the imagination and set it free,
For young readers, they are a treasure trove,
Of adventure and wonder, that they'll always love.
So let us raise a glass and toast,
To Douglas Evans, the children's host,
Whose stories will be passed down through the years,
And bring joy to countless eyes and ears.
The Noise Expert
The Noise Expert
We each have special talents.
That is what our teachers tell.
Matthew is a whiz in math.
Sabrina does spelling well.
Drew’s the best at Double Dutch.
Sam spits farthest of the boys.
But Tammy’s skill tops them all.
She’s a pro at making noise.
She slaps her cheeks, clicks her teeth.
Her belches are seconds long.
And with hands in her armpits,
She trumpets a catchy song.
She whistles through her fingers,
Or into a blade of grass.
She can blow on her forearm,
Imitating passing gas.
Her knuckles crack like gunshots.
Her two palms squeal with a squeeze.
Fingers snap like castanets,
She plays drum rolls on her knees
My report cards show straight A’s,
I play soccer like a star.
What’s that to Tammy’s talent?
Someday that girl will go far.
🎼Hear the song The Noise Expert! (video) Listen and watch
🎼Hear The Noise Expert! music by Matt Van Brink performance by Concordia Conservatory Listen
MVP: Magellan Voyage Project Quotes
“Home is where the battle lies.” 
“Home is where you can call the bed your own.” 
“Home is the place that makes you homesick.” 
“Home is where you know what to do and how to do it.” 
Visit the WT Melon Quote page
The School Day Begins
The School Day Begins
It's Monday morning at 7:01.
You’re still half asleep; your homework’s half done.
Your shower is cold; your oatmeal’s dry.
Your mother forgets to kiss you good-bye.
You’re walking to school; it’s thirty degrees.
Your fingers won’t work; your toes and ears freeze.
Your zipper is stuck; your left sneaker squeaks.
Your backpack strap snaps; your soup thermos leaks.
You slip on school steps; you trip in the hall.
The toilet floods in the bathroom stall.
The gym door is locked; library’s the same.
The principal greets you by the wrong name.
Your classroom is hot; the coat rack is packed.
Your bean sprout is dead; your clay pot is cracked.
Your pencils are dull; the sharpener jams.
Your fingers get crunched when your desktop slams.
Your math partner’s gone; your neighbor is rude.
Your teacher’s again in a crabby mood.
The morning bell rings; it's 8:01.
Come cozy up to the whiteboard,
Another school day has begun.
🎼Hear the song The School Day Begins (video) Listen and watch
Download pdf
Elevator Family Musical
Elevator Family Musical
Song Demos
1. Otis--Wilsons (video) lyrics
2. Way the World Works--Mr. Brown (video) lyrics
3. Sometime--Gavin & Cathy (video) lyrics
4. Oui, Oui-Oui—Mrs. Golden Gate (video) lyrics
5. Party Song-Wilsons (video) lyrics
6. Never Kidnap a Kid-Kidnappers (video) lyrics
7. Best Things in Life-Ensemble (video) lyrics
8. Elevator Music (incidental music)Visit the Elevator Family Musical page
Steps Luxembourg Garden
What a joy it is to watch people passing.
Rules: Once the camera is rolling I won't stop.
I do wait for people to appear before hitting the record button on the iPhone,
but there are no edits afterward.Visit the Steps page
Classroom Creature Stuff
Classroom Creatures Posters and Handouts
Classroom Creatures prints pdf
Field Guide to Classroom Creatures Coloring Book pdf
Classroom Creatures poster pdf
Official Dilly Dally doodle page pdf
Classroom Creature poem posters pdf
Parents Overbored
Parents Overbored
They lay around all day and stew.
They argue, mope, and whine.
They gripe about what they can’t do,
And drink a lot of wine.
They get up late and later snooze.
They binge watch our TV,
They shout at what is on the news,
And Web surf endlessly.
Locked down parents are never fun.
How they need to be freed.
I wish they’d do as I have done,
Grab a good book and read.
The King Seeks a Friend Musical Fable
Fire Drill
Fire Drill
Recess is a chaotic riot.
No recess is ever quiet.
When did the playground give its biggest thrill?
When we stood still in a fire drill.
I saw circles and square designs.
Passing jets drew more lines.
I saw stripes of streets on the hill,
When we stood still in a fire drill.
I heard the breeze strum tetherball strings.
I heard rattling chains on the swings.
I heard the monkey bars toot and trill,
When we stood still in a fire drill.
I felt the sunshine bounce off my nose.
I smelled tacos from the gym windows.
Who knows the wonders you miss until,
You stand still in a fire drill?
🎼Hear the song Fire Drill (video) Listen and watch
Download pdf
Opra at the Met
From Elevator Family Does the Big Apple:
“That was excellent singing, madam,” Walter said to the driver, as he paid the bus fare. “Only the best.”
A bald man in the front seat leaned forward. “Sure was,” he said. “You’re now riding on the bus of Opra, the Opera-Singing Bus Driver.”
The driver closed the bus door. “My next aria will be Un Bel Di from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly,” she said.
The Wilsons found four empty seats in the middle of the bus. The bus took off, and Opra started singing again.
“Un bel dì, vedremo. Levarsi un fil di fumo sull'estremo…”
Her voice was first-rate. High, clear, and warbling. It filled the bus from front to back. None of the passengers made a sound. No one moved. Everyone sat spellbound listening to the wonderful singing. Even Cat sat on the floor, silent and still, with his floppy ears perked.
As the bus pulled up to the next stop, Opra ended her aria.
“…fede lo aspettoooooooo.”
The people on the bus clapped again. “Bravo! Bravo!” they called. “More! More!
Natacha Siri Stars
From The Elevator Family Does the Big Apple:
During intermission, Mr. Brown leaned toward Duncan. “Walter tells me you write musicals,” he said.
“You’re a composer?” Natacha said, beaming. “That’s wonderful.”
Duncan blushed. “I haven’t been too successful,” he said.
“Send me some of your work,” Mr. Brown said. “I have an idea for a musical. If I like what you do, I’ll commission you to write the music for it.”
“Wow, sure,” Duncan said. “What subject do you have in mind?”
“The subject everyone in New York has been talking about all day,” the manager said. “The Wilson family. I want to produce the Elevator Family Musical.”
“I can do it,” said Duncan. “My mind is full of tunes and lyrics.” He shot a glance at Natacha. “I just need the right inspiration.”
“Only the best,” said Walter. “I wonder who could sing the part of Walter.”
“Natacha would make a wonderful Winona,” said Winona.
Natacha cleared her throat. Then she repeated the sentence in a perfect imitation of Winona’s voice.
Everyone laughed.
The Pixels
The Old Gray Chair
Read the short story The Old Gray Chair
🎧 Listen to Old Gray Chair produced by Read Me A Story, Ink.
Six Feet
Two Hula-Hoops side-by-side,
How far four-square courts are wide.
Two giant steps, a gym mat,
Our teacher wearing a hat.
The height of the monkey bars,
The width of our parents’ cars.
Ninety Legos in a row,
Twelve of our shoes heel to toe.
A bathtub, the refrigerator,
My bunk bed, an alligator.
By this time we sure can tell,
How far is six feet very well.
X
X
Behold the excellent X,
It expects no excuses.
Dictionaries give it one page.
But it has many uses.
In math it means multiply.
It fills squares in Tic-Tac-Toe.
Romans counted it as ten.
It’s a kiss when with an O.
On bottles it says don ’t drink.
Coaches draw it for a play.
And when written before mas,
It becomes a holiday.
On treasure maps it marks spots.
With Brand X you can not tell.
Sign on the line beside it.
It’s jumbo before an L.
It names a generation,
Or sports that daredevils do,
It’s the last name of Malcolm,
And a ray that sees straight through.
So if math problems stump you,
Don’t sit at your desk and pout.
Use this exciting letter,
And X the whole thing out.
Download pdf
49 Ways to cross your t's and dot your i's
49 Ways to cross your t's and dot your i's
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Download 49 Ways to Cross T's and Dot I's Blank Sheets pdf
Always remember to cross your t's and dot your i's!