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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.

Summer Reading Tips for Students and Parents

Summer Reading Bingo

Bring a Bunny to the Office

Secretary (over the intercom): Can you send Piper to the office?

Public Domain Pictures

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

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.

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?

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.

 

 

 

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?

Breathe

Before I left school for Christmas vacation, I told a co-worker I was excited to go on break so I could breathe. She looked at me a little confused until I explained it meant I wanted to relax. I had been so wrapped up in school and holiday activities, I couldn’t remember the last time I sat and did nothing.

While I was on vacation, I had the opportunity to work on a writing project. With a soon approaching deadline, I had to switch from teacher mode to full blown writer mode. Although this required a lot of work, it was one of the best things that could have happened to me because it reminded me of something: I’m not just a teacher.

I consider it a privilege to be able to have a job that I also feel is my calling for the moment, and it has become a lot of my identity. Submerging myself in my writing the past two weeks has helped me remember that it’s not my only one. I’m also a writer, a sister, a daughter…a child of God.

In order to be a better teacher in 2014 I need to remember my other identities. Teaching is a rewarding profession, but like any job, if you let it consume you, it can leave you drained. And who wants an overtired teacher who’s only keeping her eyes open because she’s drank 3 cups of coffee that morning? Not this lady. And probably not the kids either.

I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions, but I do want to start my year differently. I want to be able to breathe. With prayer and determination I move forward to be a better time manager, to be more organized, and to mentally leave school at the end of the day.

What are you doing differently this year?