Slice2012 6 of 31: What to write about...

 I'll be honest and tell you that I was having a hard time thinking about what I wanted to write about today. My mind has wandered from topics like the stress relief that comes from getting my hair colored to posting about a newer book by Kevin Henkes,  Penny and Her Song (which Cathy posted about here) to the frustration I am having raising a soon to be teenager.  But I didn't feel passionate enough or want to think through my ideas further with these topics.  So, I am not posting about these.

I really just wanted to post something fast and be done.  And then I realized how kids have days where they feel the same.  They are distracted by something happening in their lives, by an event that is imminent, or they just don't feel it for the day.  I noticed this happening to one of my own students today.  This student has made 2 How-To-Books (how to draw a tree and how to draw something else but I can't remember right now) and was challenging himself use a mentor (If you were a Penguin) that we have been studying to help him write about something he knows about and loves: his Cat.  He shared his idea with me last week and had two pages written but today was stuck with what he wanted to say next.  I was meeting with 3 other writers so we didn't talk.  I did notice he went back to his old books and added background and then added detailed pictures to the ideas he started in his "If you were a cat book." He didn't write words today.  He made about decisions for his pictures and created a beautiful scene for his page "If you were a cat, you could sit outside and feel the breeze." I've tried to teach my students to honor their pictures and be thoughtful with how they create them to match their text. He did just that today. Other observers might think he just colored but I know that he was thinking and writing.

I asked him to share what he had been working on and the other students immediately wanted to give him feedback about his illustrations.  Someone asked about what he was thinking he might write next and he said he didn't know.  So, we all turned into a cat for a moment helped him think.  He called on some students to hear what they could do if they were a cat. He began to smile.  "My cat does that!" And I know he would be filled with some ideas for tomorrow.  Hopefully, so will I.

Slice 2012 5 of 31: Wonder Posts

 It was a busy day today at school, as always. As we slowed down to reflect about what went well one little girl said library went well because she found a new Biscuit book she hadn't read (Biscuit and the Baby).  One student said writing workshop because she finished her book about the planets. But many of my students spoke about their experiences in the computer lab. Today was exciting because my students learned to access pictures online at Pics4learning. It was complete happiness as they found pictures that matched a wonder post they had worked on last week in kidblog.  They loved looking at the options they had and deciding which picture best matched their post. One student kept repeating how anxious she was for everyone to see the cute dog picture she found to match her post. They needed me quite a bit even after modeling but I also found some experts at maneuvering through the site and back into kidblog. I knew it would require patience on my part for the 30 mins it was new. The pay off though will be worth it. I know the more they practice and we talk about their decisions, the more creative and engaging their posts will be. Here are a few pics of their wonder posts:

Digital Learning

On Wednesday after school,  I'll be sharing my thoughts about enhancing student learning with digital reading, writing and creating. I convinced Tony to volunteer his time and share about how his 4th graders have been impacted by digital storytelling as well.  I have been thinking about this topic for the last few years and I have too much to say. I only need to speck for 15 minutes but I could share for more like and hour.  It has been hard today to figure out how to condense my thoughts and narrow my focus.  

I feel like what I am really trying to share is how we need to be the leaders in guiding kids towards digital learning. We have to pursue interesting and purposeful digital learning places where they have opportunities to read, write and connect.  We need to  also lean on what we already know about good teaching (models of instruction, big ideas and messages) and embed digital opportunities along side traditional reading and writing.  There are digital pieces that allow us to illustrate points in mini lessons that take students into knowing learners ( authors, scientists and mathematicians) deeply.  There is an unending amount of material in cyberspace for learners to access. For example, video clips that show author's purpose and help kids identify with a writer (Bob Shea). There are sites that connect us to real scientists and help us think about their authentic work (Beyond Polar Bears).  And there are math games that can introduce kids to mathematical behaviors (like estimating and rethinking after estimating (hiding ladybug)) so we can illustrate a point in a lesson digitally before asking them to practice independently.  Digital opportunities like blogging naturally lends itself towards independence and sharing in writing and reading (both parts of our workshop structure).  I am sure you could add to the ideas and examples that would support digital learning because you value it as a blog reader yourself.  This may be too much to share in 15 minutes but I am going to try.

Our students will be living in the digital world far more than we do now. I want my students to be learning how to find places for learning instead of just playing ( club penguin, minecraft, tv show websites). I want them to understand how to communicate and connect digitally as they learn instead of just connecting socially.   Our students and parents need us to show them where safe and purposeful learning can take place digitally.  If we don't guide them , who will?

Happy Napping

It's Saturday and I have been spending much of the day deep in report cards. Knowing that my brain is tired of thinking,  I thought I would post a quick image appropriate for Saturday napping. Though I am not napping at the moment, I only hope to gently close my eyes and lay down on the opposite side of the couch ready to turn off my brain for 10 minutes. Sadly, I know this probably won't happen for me.  I try too hard when it comes to napping.  My mind often disagrees with me when I want a nap especially during the school year. Summer napping is a breeze because I am not clouded with a list of must-do's by Monday.
So, I  figure I will just continue to look over and envy the boys (including my husband as a boy) who can so easily turn things off. I wish I could do the same!
Happy Saturday and happy napping if you're the napping type:)

Be Happy: Be LuLu

One of the best parts of teaching primary students is their inherent love of song and pattern. They easily pick up simple poems wanting to act them out and continually recite them. Using quick repetitive and memorable excerpts from text and poetry can easily tame an otherwise rambunctious group when one needs to refocus their attention.  Watching their wide eyes turn and smile while chanting and listening to their energetic voices become captivated by a familiar line or song, makes me happy.

This afternoon, before packing up, my students finished listening to LuLu and the Brontosaurus  (the first chaptery book read aloud this year).  Their was much excitement as we finished the last few chapters by Judith Viorst (in which she gives her readers 3 ending choices).  I  had always loved her voice in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day so I was thrilled a few years back when I found this fantastic easy- to-understand read aloud for first grade.

Throughout the story LuLu (a spunky little girl who is determined to get a brontosaurus for a pet) repeats the phrase:
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, wanna get.
A bronto, bronto, bronto, brontosaurus for a pet.

As Lu Lu's character changes and the events in the story unfold, the phrase also changes but just slightly so the students can join in and be LuLu as they participate in the reading if the book.

Today we finished the day with:

I didn't, I didn't, I didn't didn't get.
A bronto, bronto, bronto, brontosaurus for a pet.

We sang it when we read it in the last few chapters, we sang it as we stacked our chairs and we sang it as we walked out the door into the weekend.  Kids were smiling at the ending, at each other and there was a happiness because of the simple words and message Judith so gently taught us through a book.

Be Happy

Today begins the Slice of Life Challenge!  I have finally been in the mood for setting realistic goals that will help me get back into writing and Slice of Life is one of these goals.  I've been surprised by how much stress can influence how I feel about myself as a writer and a reader. I decided in January that I needed an attitude change.  I  have gradually started to take care of myself again by rereading books that remind me why I decided to be an educator (like Educating for Human Greatness). I've started to write  articles and most recently spent the day at the Dublin Literacy Conference. I even have a date set to meet a writing partner! These little steps are re-energizing me and reminding me how much I love to read, write and learn.

To help me embrace my own teaching this month, I quite simply introduced my students to blogging.  I had reservations all year about jumping in with my group, but I shouldn't have.  The outlet of blogging has helped the writers who already love to write, write more! It has also allowed me to see kids (who I was worried about) build stamina and explode with ideas as well as comments on the blog. Blogging has created more happiness in the classroom and I think each day kids need something to think about, read about or write about that makes them happy.   So I've been asking them throughout the day, what book put a smile on your face today?  What are you writing about that makes you happy?  I think tomorrow I am going to ask what would they be happy learning about (since I had a student ask me on our way in from recess, "When are we going to perform another experiment?")?  Their answers will help me with integrating science, find non-fiction titles and prepare baskets of books as we study non-fiction writing.

 I realized I need to get back to bringing a slice of happiness back to the classroom each day.  This month I look forward to sharing some of the slices of happiness that occur in my life and classroom.  Here's to catching happy moments!

Pete Happiness

This Friday, we are excited to welcome Eric Litwin to our school for a day of fun and excitement to celebrate a loved character these days, yep- Pete the Cat! I remember blogging about Pete after getting his arc in the mail the spring of 2010. Since then so many classrooms have enjoyed Pete and learning to read with his catchy tune and feel good message. Pete has also evolved into a series and I know my kids are looking forward to the 3rd book this spring: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.

To build excitement for our author visit, the kids had a chance to stamp Pete book marks, create Pete puppets, and listen to Pete read alouds at our local Barnes and Noble last Saturday. It was a happy day and a nice break from the stress I am feeling in the classroom with testing and data collection. After spending time with teachers who are under the same pressure, we decided that we have to find time (even if it is just small moments during the day or in this case even on the weekend) to keep connecting kids authentically to learning by modeling our love for books, characters and conversation. Even if we have less time, more students and more demands placed upon us, we can't let our kids down. We have to keep inviting them into to love learning.

So enjoy these Pete the Cat creations, maybe even be inspired. That's what we want to do for our students. Inspire them to pursue their interests, nurture their weaknesses, teach them to persevere, show them the value in community and, quite simply, to show them love.

The secret of education lies in respecting the pupil.

It is not for you to choose, what he shall know,

what he shall do. It is chosen and foreordained,

and only he knows the key to his own secret.

Ralph Waldo Emerson