Love

I found this poem written on my chart paper.

Written with their English teacher.

My most favourite line is “As colourful as a rainbow.”

Love it.

Another Week

It seems as if we never left. One week in. I have 10 new little darlings, and 8 leftover from last year. I have 3 boys. Many of them are very shy – that however, may be a result of my students last year scaring the incoming grade 3s. Insisting that I throw chairs when I get mad. haha.

I have been trying a new way to “structure” my Reading Workshop – based on the Daily 5 and Café Menu. It seems to be going well. I have never modeled a strategy so explicitly in my life. I was laughing the entire time in my head- but they seem to have gotten it.

The best part is that after I modeled how to “Check for Understanding” (or on our strategy board – “Arrête et pense à ce qui est déjà arrivé”), I noticed some of the kids are actually using it when they are reading independently! They read a bit of their books, physically close the book, close their eyes (lifting their head) and remembering what they just read. They smile, then reopen the book. So hilarious.

Tomorrow I will model how to choose a “good fit” book with shoes.

Back to School

It is Labour Day. Tomorrow is back to school. I have neglected this blog, yet again. So much inspiration has passed through my hands, many weddings to talk about and new babies and new friends. New crafty projects, new classroom ideas. Yummy food, yummy drinks. Bad weather. and a NEW HOUSE! But, for some reason I just didn’t write about them. Perhaps this will change. I have a feeling that with only one car and me getting dropped off to school extra early, I will try a bit harder.

Two books that I am basing my Reading block on this year are as follows:

The Caf̩ Book РBoushey & Moser РThis is a book of literacy strategies, how to conference better, make flexible groups based on strategies instead of reading levels, student ownership. (The picture above of my classroom makeover shows the headings for the strategies)

Notebook Connections – Aimee Buckner – online free – http://www.stenhouse.com/emags/0782/pageflip.html I really like her approach to writing this book – she has the same “concerns” with her teaching as I do. The kids talk the talk of reading strategies. They can tell me that they are visualizing and they can make connections out the wahzoo, but are they *really understanding what they are doing, and is it *really helping them become better readers? This book is about how to use a Reader’s Notebook effectively (straying from F & P Blackline masters)- having the children write for THEMSELVES, and not to please the teacher. She also has some teaching strategies/minilessons in here linking writing to reading that I quite like. I will be using this. I really need to find some good French Immersion Mentor Texts. I know I have the books, I just have to figure out how they can help the kid’s writing.

For writer’s notebooks: The kids were asked to bring in hilroy spiral notebooks. They will then decorate as they please with photos and words and inspiration. Next year I might have them buy any kind of notebook/blank journal they’d like. The more you like your notebook, the more readily you are to write in it. At least, that is what I think.

For Reader’s Notebooks: in the past I used binders, but the pages rip out too easily for the 3s/4s. This year I just grabbed some of the cahiers from the stock room. I am not sure if I will have them make tabs, but if I do, they will just use stickies sideways.

The countdown is on.

*smile. Compliments from students

.

"Mme, you are an artist."

“We are all artists”, I say.

“Yeah, but you are a real artist!”

I love this. I don’t know why. But it makes me smile really huge.

wake me up when september ends…

It has been 2 weeks and I still love my teensy class of kids. They are a super bunch. The kids that I had last year just love being the “oldest” in the class this year. They know the routines and are great leaders. The grade 3s are still so little. I will whip them into shape in no time. hehe. I only have 2 boys. That will be an adjustment.

it is almost that time of year again.

My artwork for the past little bit has consisted on classroom decorating. I ‘ve been in to school the past little bit getting ready for my eager grade 3s and 4s that will come on Tuesday. I only have 14 students this year – smallest class ever. I wish I had more. At least more boys. I’ve been reading teacher websites like crazy and trying some new stuff. I am really excited.

August was relatively lazy. We’ve been busy visiting friends & family, talking about mortgages and contractors and life, planning for school and playing on our macs.  The summer has been cool, but still nothing beats our backyard.

Trying to find the right time of day to blog. I still have not found it.

Ode to my Grade 5 Teacher

In grade five, M. Pelland told us that we would have to take a very important test that was government mandated. A government official by the name of Loo Flirpa would be evaluating these tests and if we did not follow all of the instructions, we would not pass grade five. He told us right before morning recess. I remember Kristy and Danielle planned to skip school to avoid this test at all costs. We came in from recess very scared. We took the test - which in the instructions said "read all questions carefully before beginning the test". The very last question on the test explained that it was an April Fool's joke, to not answer any of the questions and not to reveal the secret.

Fast forward to today. Last night Ashley, Laura and I composed a test very similar to the one described above. We made an official School Board cover page and printed the test on coloured foolscap. We had the principal remind teachers about the "academic achievement" test that would take place at 10:30 am over the announcements. My students didn't catch on (even though they had being trying to pull an April Fool's prank on me). After recess, I spoke to them about the importance of the test. It is very serious - everyone would see their results - including the government! We went over the instructions on the cover page - 40 minutes only to write the test, teacher cannot give hints only read the questions out loud for you, read all questions carefully before beginning and use a pencil. We separated the desks and went over the instructions 3 times orally. I repeated the instructions about 25 times during the 40 minutes stressing the reading of the questions first instruction. They totally bought it. They were sweating and some were almost in tears. I told them the government official, Loo Flirpa, would be in to evaluate the tests at the end and he doesn't like to be disappointed.

Only 2 students actually read all of the questions before beginning. They got to question 10 at the same time, looked at each other, smiled and then just waited for the others to catch on. They didn't write a thing.  Little by little students started catching on. Only two of my students didn't catch on at all. At the end of 40 minutes, they hadn't even finished half of the test. We went over the instructions on the cover page. I explained that the last question was the most important question on the test and had one of the unfinished students read it out loud to the class. He turned completely red and the other one was totally embarrassed too.

hahaha.

that ruled.

ps. Loo Flirpa is April Fool spelled backwards.