I would love you to visit :)
And then a bird flew around my classroom
Unexpected teaching moments and too good not to share stories
Monday, July 14, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Summer Reading Enchantment
One of the most precious gifts summer can give a teacher is
time. Time to sleep, time to eat lunch in more than 20 minutes, time to go to
the bathroom whenever you want…I know, it’s exciting. It also gives me time to dive into the
enchanting world of novels.
So far this summer I’ve covered a few different novels.
- · House Girl by Tara Conklin
- · The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- · Room by Emma Donoghue
- · Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok
It’s been fantastic traveling between different time periods
and into the minds of characters, seeing and experiencing things that I would
never be able to if it weren't for the mystical words of a book.
Teachers tell kids and parents to read over the summer. We
send them home with their book bags from the school year, stuffed with material
learned throughout the year in hopes that some of it will be retained over the
next two months.
Well, we’re right. Kids can and usually do lose a lot over
the summer, especially young readers. Usually my August students come in one or
two reading levels lower than they were as May students. This could be reason
enough for parents to encourage their kids to read, but just like anything, if
we’re asking kids to read to just be good at it what’s the point?
If you’re already reading with your kids, thank you, but I
would encourage to go the extra step and love to read with your kids. I will
never be able to live in Virginia in 1852 or know what it’s like to be a
Chinese immigrant, but Tara Conklin and Jean Kwok showed me glimpses.
Your kids can go anywhere when they read. You can go
anywhere. So go to the library, get the summer reading program rocket ship or
treasure map and start filling in those game board pieces.
Yes, your kids can lose reading ability over the summer, but
they can lose more than that. They can lose the opportunity to become things,
experience things that many of us are never able to except through the black
ink of a stark white page. So my question for you is, where do you want to go
this summer? Who do you want to be? Chances are there’s a book that will help
you get there. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to let your kids in on the fun too.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Bring a Bunny to the Office
Secretary (over the intercom): Can you send Piper to the office?
Me: Yes
Secretary: With a buddy
Student 1: With a bunny?
Student 2: A buddy, like a friend
I don't have bunnies in my classroom, but I've had a bird...
Where it all started
Public Domain Pictures |
Secretary: With a buddy
Student 1: With a bunny?
Student 2: A buddy, like a friend
I don't have bunnies in my classroom, but I've had a bird...
Where it all started
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Ants in your stomach
Quote of the Day: I think there's ants in your stomach because it's itchy and ants are itchy...I had ants in my stomach once.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Giving Away Brothers
Math Word Problem
Teresa has 3 siblings.
Annie has 1 sibling. How many more siblings does Teresa have than Annie?
Me: What is the problem
saying?
Marvin: Annie's
going to give her brother to Teresa.
Where are our listening
ears people?
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Teachers Have Toes
You're minding your own business shopping in Wal-Mart when you turn the corner, and what do you see? The shocked expression of a student who can't believe you actually go out into the world. It's my third year of teaching, and I've gotten two questions quite often. You go home? You have a mom? No children, I sleep here on my desk with an endless supply of Lean Cuisines in my mini fridge.
One day when I was trying to make a point in front of class, I learned a new thing they were surprised to learn about me. I have toes.
Any primary teacher out there can probably attest to the multitude of things children find to distract themselves on the rug. My biggest enemy is the shoe. Whether it's tying and untying the laces, picking the rocks out of the bottom, or my favorite coloring on it...there seems to be an endless amount of footwear distraction possibilities.
During this particular lesson, shoe fascination was running high and in attempt to make a point I took off one of my flats and started playing with it. While I was trying to be all dramatic and make a point, I heard one of my kids whisper to another, "I saw her toes."
So maybe they didn't get the whole you shouldn't play with your shoes thing, but at least now they know I'm a little more like a normal human being.
One day when I was trying to make a point in front of class, I learned a new thing they were surprised to learn about me. I have toes.
Any primary teacher out there can probably attest to the multitude of things children find to distract themselves on the rug. My biggest enemy is the shoe. Whether it's tying and untying the laces, picking the rocks out of the bottom, or my favorite coloring on it...there seems to be an endless amount of footwear distraction possibilities.
During this particular lesson, shoe fascination was running high and in attempt to make a point I took off one of my flats and started playing with it. While I was trying to be all dramatic and make a point, I heard one of my kids whisper to another, "I saw her toes."
So maybe they didn't get the whole you shouldn't play with your shoes thing, but at least now they know I'm a little more like a normal human being.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Clouds in Phoenix?
Now Phoenix isn't known for its weather diversity but I think my kids are even more sheltered than I thought...
Me: What are some kinds of weather?
Student 1: Cloudy
Student 2: What's cloudy?
Me: What are some kinds of weather?
Student 1: Cloudy
Student 2: What's cloudy?
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