The first step is taking a look around with Mom in mind.“By this point you’re probably pretty familiar with the interior of your home,” says Morowitz. “Start collecting any little items you might have and get them all in one place, and then you can get creative,” says Morowitz, who identifies as a “hot-glue guru.” Many households already have obvious art tools like scissors and glue as well as empty food packaging — milk cartons, paper bags and bottles — which, when paired with a small sentimental object, can be used to make an array of giftable items.“So long as there’s one thing in there that’s very special to you that you can give back to your mother, that’s really all you need,” says Morowitz.

Here’s how to make a few quick but meaningful gifts for Mom.

Necklaces are likely the simplest to make in terms of jewelry crafting, artist Tara McManus tells The Post. You’ll need a chain, a trinket and, ideally, eyehooks (earring hooks can be repurposed and used) — although a safety pin can suffice in a pinch.“It can be as simple as weaving a decorative ribbon through a chain or a belt and then adding a little charm,” McManus says.

Candles - “You don’t even necessarily need to buy a fresh block of wash if you have a lot of candles at home,” says McManus. But, you’ll just need to purchase a wick if you don’t have any. “You can melt down the last bits of old candles on a stove,” McManus adds, pour it into a metal coffee can, put it back onto the stove, reheat it and pour it into a tin with sentimental value — or one you later decoupage to have some.There are also kits.

Masks - “There are a lot of patterns online,” McManus says. While some are slightly more complicated, there are also plenty of ways to make one without sewing at all. To personalize it, consider using nostalgic fabric like a set of sheets, a costume from your childhood or an old but beloved T-shirt.

Rings - Even a total crafting newbie would have a hard time messing up creative freelancer Jessica Delfino’s minute rings. The sweet bling can be made in just three steps. “I use jewelry wire to shape the band — though I bet even a paper clip would do — write a word on construction paper, use a hot-glue gun to attach it to the band and then seal the word with hot glue so it doesn’t get damaged,” Delfino tells The Post. There are also visual instructions on her Instagram, and she sells the rings on her Etsy.

Writing Prompt: Please set your timer for 15 minutes, and please write for the entire time.

Mother’s Day this year will be spent in quarantine; however, that doesn’t mean that you cannot celebrate your mom and show her how much she is appreciated. Take this time to write your mom a heartfelt letter to show how much you deeply appreciate her. Especially during this time of quarantine. Give this letter to her on Mother’s Day.

Thoughtful Thursday

AUTHOR: CHRIS GRABENSTEIN

Book Title: -Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzFr9rZkvZE

Tuesday's Poetry Responses

Read the poem below. Zoom in on one specific line from that poem. Set a timer for 3 minutes and write.

“Nobody” by Shel Silverstein

Nobody loves me,

Nobody cares,

Nobody picks me peaches and pears.

Nobody offers me candy and Cokes,

Nobody listens and laughs at my jokes.

Nobody helps when I get in a fight,

Nobody does all my homework at night. Nobody misses me,

Nobody cries, Nobody thinks I’m a wonderful guy.

So if you ask me who’s my best friend, in a whiz,

I’ll stand up and tell you that Nobody is.

But yesterday night I got quite a scare,

I woke up and Nobody just wasn’t there.

I called out and reached out for Nobody’s hand,

In the darkness where Nobody usually stands.

Then I poked through the house, in each cranny and nook,

But I found somebody each place that I looked.

I searched till I’m tired, and now with the dawn,

There’s no doubt about it-

Nobody’s gone!

https://youtu.be/f7P8wusL1Z0

Click on the link above and listen to the song. Zoom in on one specific line from that song. Set a timer for 3 minutes and write.

What’s Going on in the World Wednesday

Firefighters extract teen who got stuck in washing machine during hide-and-seek Shamar Walters, 4 days ago – NBC News A Virginia teen is having a good laugh after a poor decision during a family game of hide-and-seek required a fire department rescue.

"We already had hid underneath the bed, in the closet, and we couldn't go down into the basement," Amari Dancy, 18, said. "So, I was like 'Oh, OK, let's just hide in the washer machine. "Dancy was playing with younger relatives Sunday when she got stuck in the appliance. A cousin found her and alerted other adults, who then called for help. The Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue arrived to Woodbridge, Virginia, home about 11 p.m. April 19. "So the fire department came in and introduced themselves and then asked her name and what happened," said Suni Dancy, Amari's aunt who documented the rescue effort on Instagram. "She said, 'Well, I was playing hide-and-seek,' and he said, 'Well, did you win?'" First responders were able to remove the top of the washing machine and make enough space to pull Amari out without injury, according to her aunt. "I was really worried to see if they were going to get me out or not," the teen said. "Once they figured out what to do ... I just felt relieved. I just wanted to be out of there."Suni Dancy said her relatives found the situation funny. "She doesn't even normally play with the younger kids," Suni Dancy said. Once she made it out of the laundry machine, Amari Dancy was able to see the humor in her predicament as well. "I mean it's pretty embarrassing, but all I can do is laugh it off," she said. "I had a laugh out of it, my family had a laugh out of it, I'm OK. As long as I'm OK, that's all that matters to me." Writing Prompt: Set your timer for 15 minutes. Please write for the entire 15 minutes. Write about a time you did something embarrassing in front of a group of people. How did you handle it? Did you laugh it off like she did or were you too embarrassed?

Writing Prompt: Set your timer for 15 minutes. Please write for the entire 15 minutes. Write about a time you did something embarrassing in front of a group of people. How did you handle it? Did you laugh it off like she did or were you too embarrassed?

Thoughtful Thursday

AUTHOR: COE BOOTH

TITLE: BRONXWOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUbLQZ7isN8

Click on the link above and watch. Students will then respond to whether or not they would like to read that book. Be specific in your responses. (Not simply writing “No, because I don’t like to read.” or “No, because it doesn’t look good.”) Cite specific examples from the excerpt or book talk that does or does not interest them. Finally, tell me what you are reading on you own and what you would like to read next.

Free Write Friday

STUDENTS WILL WRITE ABOUT HOW THEIR WEEK HAS BEEN. SOME EXAMPLES TO HELP YOU GET STARTED ARE LISTED BELOW:

Discuss how your daily life has been disrupted. Capture how this virus has disrupted your school year—including sporting events, concerts, assemblies, dances. Share the effect it has had on your friends and family. Discuss the situation with a friend or relative and write about this discussion. Respond to any seed about the crisis you find interesting. A “seed” can be an article, a TV broadcast, a Ted Talks, a tweet, a photograph, a podcast, a film, an Instagram (or another online) post, a TikTok video, a political cartoon—anything that spurs some thinking about the crisis. Write across genres: poetry, dialogue (just capture a conversation between people), description, etc. Zoom in on a moment you experience; discuss songs that capture these events for you. Find and respond to charts and graphs worth thinking about. Think about drawing or sketching your ideas and writing from those.

Tell me about a movie, television show, or a video game you have recently played or watched. Movies can be from Hulu, Netflix, Disney +, or regular television.

CREATIVE WRITING:

This week we will look at dramas. A drama is a piece of writing, which is artistically presented with dialogues. A drama is attractive, impactful and real as it presents characters, along with natural and credible aspects. It is very similar to a short story as it also comprises characters, plot, and setting, as well as symbolism. Dramas are used for plays or television shows. Dramas are meant to be performed in front of an audience, give stage direction and tell the characters how to perform a line.

DRAMA SENTENCE STARTER:

Emily (said angrily): “Can you stop thinking about yourself for once?!” 

Andrew: (replies with a tone of sarcasm) “I’m not even sorry; I know you lied to me.” 

Now continue the story; be creative!

Introduce new characters! 

Tuesday's Poetry Responses

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jQIIXuhsC8&feature=youtu.be

Cllick on the link above and listen to the song. Zoom in on one specific line from that song. Set a timer for 3 minutes and write.

Now, read the poem below. Zoom in on one specific line from that poem. Set a timer for 3 minutes and write.

“Don't Worry, Be Happy” by Jim Yerman

We live in a world that doesn’t slow down, it’s seems everyone’s in a hurry

Which causes us lots of stress, lots of anxiety, and an abundance of worry.

We worry about money, our health, our children, we worry about being late

We worry about getting older, about our jobs and gaining weight.

I imagine amidst all this hustle, all this bustle, all this hapless hurrying

There are even people out there who worry about worrying!

Worrying can be debilitating, it can be an enemy and a curse

And everyone knows telling someone not to worry, only makes it worse.

So what do we do for our worriers, what can we tell them that would suffice?

How ‘bout if we scour the Internet and offer them other people’s advice.

For there is something everyone knows whether you’re 7 or 92

If you find it on the Internet then, by God, it has to be true.

OK all you worriers, and you know who you are.

Here’s sage advice from the Internet to add to your repertoire.

Don’t worry be happy is good advice we should never disavow

When you worry ask yourself this question, will this matter a year from now?

Worry doesn’t help with any future tribulation

At best it is a misuse of ones imagination.

Worry never robs tomorrow of it’s sorrow, no matter what people might say

All it does is zap the joy and happiness from today.

And a big mistake we can make in life when all is said and done

Would be not acting because we’re worried about actually making one.

How many of us gather bundles of sticks, think of all the time we’ve lost

As we use those sticks to build bridges which we’ll likely never cross.

Yes if we think about it how much of our lives have to this point been blurred

By all the misfortunes we’ve had, that never actually occurred?

By the looks of all the people giving advice it seems that worrying has grown

If nothing else, isn’t it nice to know that as a worrier you’re not alone?

Does any of this help? Some of you may say yes others of you will doubt it

Did I just plagiarize a bunch of people? I shall not worry about it.

Because it won’t change the outcome, no matter how I worry or complain

And there ain’t no use puttin’ up my umbrella...that is, until it rains.

What’s Going on in the World Wednesday

Bored, Favre Let His Daughter Dye His Hair

Author: Nick Porr, 22 hrs. ago

Without the privilege of being able to go to local barbershops and hair salons, we've all had to get creative with our hair care while in isolation due to COVID-19. For his part, Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has taken that creativity to the next level, and the results are something to behold.

On CBS Sports HQ Friday morning, Favre showed off his new hairstyle to the world. The mustard-colored hair was reportedly dyed by his daughter and her friends, who were bored in isolation.

Favre, a longtime star who will live on forever in Green Bay Packers lore, is beginning to look a lot like another Midwest icon: Eminem.

It's clear that quarantine boredom is getting to Favre and his family just like it is to the rest of us. He even noted having tried to do TikTok dances with his daughter, which sounds like way too much for fans to handle.

The most intriguing point of the interview came early on, as after removing his hat to reveal the blonde 'do, Favre stated that he may switch to pink next week.

So... there's that. There has been a lot of upsetting news flying around the sports world of late, as leagues have been forced to cancel and postpone games, events, and entire seasons. So, with all the crazy going on, at least we can stop and forget about everything else for just a moment to unite in laughter over Brett Favre's ridiculous new look.

Writing Prompt:

Set your timer for 15 minutes. Please write for the entire 15 minutes.

What are some things that boredom from quarantine has you doing or your family and friends doing? Has the boredom sparked a new hobby or interest? Have you learned a new dance from TickTok, colored or cut your own hair, and or started doing your own nails? Cleaning and organizing your room? Home Décor? Mastering a video game? Creating your own YouTube channel?

Thoughtful Thursday

AUTHOR: NEIL SHUSTERMAN

THE SHADOW CLUB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgvYrk4rfKY

Click on the link above and watch. Students will then respond to whether or not they would like to read that book. Be specific in your responses. (Not simply writing “No, because I don’t like to read.” or “No, because it doesn’t look good.”) Cite specific examples from the excerpt or book talk that does or does not interest them.

Finally, tell me what you are reading on you own and what you would like to read next.

Free Write Friday

STUDENTS WILL WRITE ABOUT HOW THEIR WEEK HAS BEEN. SOME EXAMPLES TO HELP YOU GET STARTED ARE LISTED BELOW:

Discuss how your daily life has been disrupted. Capture how this virus has disrupted your school year—including sporting events, concerts, assemblies, dances. Share the effect it has had on your friends and family.

Discuss the situation with a friend or relative and write about this discussion. Respond to any seed about the crisis you find interesting. A “seed” can be an article, a TV broadcast, a Ted Talks, a tweet, a photograph, a podcast, a film, an Instagram (or another online) post, a TikTok video, a political cartoon—anything that spurs some thinking about the crisis.

Write across genres: poetry, dialogue (just capture a conversation between people), description, etc. Zoom in on a moment you experience; discuss songs that capture these events for you. Find and respond to charts and graphs worth thinking about. Think about drawing or sketching your ideas and writing from those.

Movie Review Monday

Tell me about a movie, television show, or a video game you have recently played or watched. Movies can be from Hulu, Netflix, Disney +, or regular television.

CREATIVE WRITING:

This week we will focus on the genre of fairy tales. Fairy tales are short stories that include magical creatures like dwarves, dragons, giants, or mermaids. In fairy tales, animals can usually talk. Here is your sentence starter! 

I will give you a sentence starter and you will take that and stick with the genre of fairy tale literature.

FAIRY TALE SENTENCE STARTER:

When the dragon emerged from its long slumber...

Pick up there and finish the story!

Be creative!

Tuesday's Poetry Response

Read the poem below.  Zoom in on one specific line from that poem. Set a timer for 3 minutes and write.

The Wind
by Robert Louis Stevenson 

According to Sandlin, her family has been in quarantine before it was mandated because their kids, who are 5 and 3, are high-risk. They do their best to keep their children safe while also keeping them busy with fun activities, including having exclusive time with the Easter Bunny. “They love the Easter Bunny and were so excited!” she says. “After the event, the bunny did bring them some special candy and gave them hugs, which was extra-special for them, since no one else could touch the bunny due to social distancing.”

Sandlin says that she and her husband will be driving around later this week to bring the Easter Bunny to even more people before Sunday. Jennifer Blair of Haddon Township, N.J., also decided to bring Easter to her town early last Saturday. The mother of five dressed up as the Easter Bunny and rode around town waving at quarantined families. Blair tells Yahoo Lifestyle that the idea of kids not being able to see the Easter Bunny kept her up late one night.

“I thought to myself ‘wait a minute, this is some baby’s first Easter or the first time a toddler recognizes the bunny and it could also be an older child that this may be their last year feeling the Easter Bunny magic,’” she remembers. “For those special moments to be lost due to the pandemic seemed like something I could easily fix. Right then and there I decided to not stop ‘til all of the families in my town of Haddon Township got a visit from the bunny.”

After posting about it on Facebook, Blair sought the help of two mothers, Jennifer DiMarco and Erin Fitzpatrick, who were able to drive her around in their Jeeps. Fitzpatrick’s husband, Colin, also helped with mapping out their route so they made sure they spread some Easter joy to every house in the city. “We had such a range of reactions. We had little ones in shock that the bunny was in front of their house, babies that hadn’t had a chance to see the Easter Bunny before, so they just took it all in,” Blair says. “We saw adults that were just as excited or sometimes more excited than the kids, we had people on laptops, iPads and phones Face Timing people who were either quarantined somewhere else due to being a healthcare worker, at work or traveling.”

Despite suffering from a spinal condition and other health concerns, she continued visiting houses for four more days. Blair was approached to make this an annual tradition, but she says she will have to see if her health will allow her to do this again. She still cannot believe that her Easter Bunny stint came to fruition. “When I started this it was just a small thing in my head. Once we started and I saw the excitement from everybody I realized I did the right thing,” she says.

Writing Prompt: How does this article make you feel? With so many children missing out on the Easter Holiday, do you think this was a good idea? More and more people are doing the “new drive by” for birthdays, and teachers across the nations engaging in car parades to see their students. Do you think doing things like this boost people’s spirits. Set your timer for 15 minutes and write for the entire time.

Thoughtful Thursday

AUTHOR: PHILIP PULLMAN-THE GOLDEN COMPASS

https://youtu.be/v0K06Ojq_cw

Click on the link above and watch. Students will then respond to whether or not they would like to read that book. Be specific in your responses. (Not simply writing “No, because I don’t like to read.” or “No, because it doesn’t look good.”) Cite specific examples from the excerpt or book talk that does or does not interest them.

Free Write Friday 

STUDENTS WILL WRITE ABOUT HOW THEIR WEEK HAS BEEN. SOME EXAMPLES TO HELP YOU GET STARTED ARE LISTED BELOW:

Discuss how your daily life has been disrupted. Capture how this virus has disrupted your school year—

including sporting events, concerts, assemblies, dances. Share the effect it has had on your friends and family.

Discuss the situation with a friend or relative and write about this discussion. Respond to any seed about the crisis you find interesting. A “seed” can be an article, a TV broadcast, a Tedtalk, a tweet, a photograph, a podcast, a film, an Instagram (or another online) post, a TikTok video, a political cartoon—anything that spurs some thinking about the crisis.

Write across genres: poetry, dialogue (just capture a conversation between people), description, etc. Zoom in on a moment you experience; discuss songs that capture these events for you. Find and respond to charts and graphs worth thinking about. Think about drawing or sketching your ideas and writing from those.

Movie Review Monday

As schools across the nation close because of the coronavirus pandemic, millions of students are stuck at home with their classes on hold. But before your child gets too excited about not having to study, rest assured, parents, Scholastic has got your back. The educational company has launched a "Learn at Home" website that has daily courses for students from Pre-kindergarten to grades 6 and higher. From learning about why zebras have stripes to math lessons based on K-Pop stars, Scholastic's learning plans cover all the subjects your student would be taking at school. "As more and more teachers, students, and families around the world are affected by the coronavirus, our priority is to support them in the best way we know how -- by providing them with rich stories and meaningful projects that will keep kids academically active," Lauren Tarshis, senior vice president and editor-in-chief of Scholastic Classroom Magazines said. The website, which is divided into four sections based on grade level, currently has five days' worth of content. An additional 15 days of content is on the way, Scholastic said in a news release. The courses provide approximately three hours of learning per day, including writing and research projects, virtual field trips, and geography challenges. The website is accessible on any device that has internet and no sign up is required. It will remain free and open indefinitely, Scholastic said.

Writing Assignment: Due to COVID 19 more and more schools have closed to keep students, and teachers safe. Please set your timer for 15 minutes and write for the entire time. What are some advantages (good things) to online learning? What are some disadvantages (bad things) to online learning?

Thoughtful Thursday AUTHOR: MELISSA GREY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exqj_tOUa3A

Click on the link above and watch. Students will then respond to whether or not they would like to read that book. Be specific in your responses. (Not simply writing “No, because I don’t like to read.” or “No, because it doesn’t look good.”) Cite specific examples from the excerpt or book talk that does or does not interest them. Finally, tell me what you are reading on you own and what you would like to read next.

Free Write Friday

STUDENTS WILL WRITE ABOUT HOW THEIR WEEK HAS BEEN. SOME EXAMPLES TO HELP YOU GET STARTED ARE LISTED BELOW: Discuss how your daily life has been disrupted. Capture how this virus has disrupted your school year—including sporting events, concerts, assemblies, dances. Share the effect it has had on your friends and family. Discuss the situation with a friend or relative and write about this discussion. Respond to any seed about the crisis you find interesting. A “seed” can be an article, a TV broadcast, a Tedtalk, a tweet, a photograph, a podcast, a film, an Instagram (or another online) post, a TikTok video, a political cartoon—anything that spurs some thinking about the crisis.

Write across genres: poetry, dialogue (just capture a conversation between people), description, etc. Zoom in on a moment you experience; discuss songs that capture these events for you. Find and respond to charts and graphs worth thinking about. Think about drawing or sketching your ideas and writing from those.

What’s Going on in the World Wednesday

How is Tik Tok Affecting the Young Generation?

By Versha Gupta (April 25, 2019)