Is it already the third week of school? My, how time flies!
I can already say that this year is definitely turning over a new leaf for me. Coming upon my FIFTH year in elementary, I am finally feeling more secure and less like a "new and young" teacher. I spent my summer voraciously reading teaching books, reviewing my portfolio from college, trying to redefine who I want to be as a teacher.
It's easy to become jaded - to feel so buried by state accountability, standardized testing, new programs, and you just give up. You decide to give more worksheets, you decide that there is no time for creativity...no time to give your students rich experiences in the classroom.
This year, I have found passion. I have found a zeal for what I do, and I feel it every day in my classroom. I enjoy planning out my lessons now. I can't wait to cover certain topics, I can't wait to dive in headfirst and get these kiddos writing. But the kids haven't changed... I have. I have realized that as teachers, our calling is monumental. We cannot allow students the excuse of "I don't like _____________," or I can't think of anything." We must teach them that from the moment they walk in the door, they are transformed into someone who does hard things.
This week - what's my plan?
We will be discussing ways to map out ideas by completing an emotion box in our writing journals.
We will be completing a "quick write" and beginning our first personal narrative.
We will dive into building great sentences, first focusing on subject/predicate, then moving into 4 types of sentences.
We will continue reading The Indian in the Cupboard and work on some characterization maps. :)
Stay tuned, folks. Pictures/Lessons coming soon. <3
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Sunday, September 1, 2013
First Week Re-Cap
What an inspiring first week of school. (photos to come)
This year, I have the opportunity to teach ONE subject instead of TWO. I was thrilled when my principal informed me I'd be teaching the Reading/Writing subject ONLY, without History! While I enjoyed teaching Texas History last year, I have always favored the English Language Arts section.
I spent summer going through several different workshops which set my heart and mind ablaze with passion for teaching kids to LOVE to read and write. I also read a book called The Book Whisperer (Donalyn Miller) which helped me to realize how much our society is crippling kids by not teaching them to read for enjoyment.
This week, I welcomed three classes of sweet fourth graders into my room, thrilled to have an opportunity to inspire them with what I have learned this summer.
We began our week practicing class procedures and getting used to the rigor and pace of an older grade. In my elementary school, fourth grade is the oldest group, so our kiddos have QUITE an adjustment this year as leaders on our campus. We are rolling out a school wide PBIS behavior system, and it's been thrilling to watch its success so far.
On Wednesday, we began switching classes and discussing academics. We create a "Why do we write?" anchor chart, as well as a "Good Reading Looks like: Feels like" T-chart. We began to discuss how reading affects our writing, and began our first read aloud of the year with one of my favorites, The Indian in the Cupboard. My students are HOOKED!
Thursday and Friday were spent discussing elements of fiction in reading, and how to brainstorm in writing. I introduced the "seed idea" from Lucy Calkins' units of study, and we created a "heart map" for inside the writing journal. Inside their heart maps, my students were to write/illustrate things/people that are important to them. Then we co-created an anchor chart in our writing journals about where writers find ideas.
Next week, we will begin to discuss how to craft a personal narrative essay. We will start with how to use a heart map/jot page for planning, and then go into the actual craft of the essay.
In reading, we will be creating our interactive journals for reading skills and will begin with elements of fiction. This will probably include a flip book to be glued into their new journals.
Watching my students feel successful this week and feel that they CAN become readers and writers was really inspiring. I can't wait to watch them grow!
Enjoying a looooong weekend,
Mrs. C
This year, I have the opportunity to teach ONE subject instead of TWO. I was thrilled when my principal informed me I'd be teaching the Reading/Writing subject ONLY, without History! While I enjoyed teaching Texas History last year, I have always favored the English Language Arts section.
I spent summer going through several different workshops which set my heart and mind ablaze with passion for teaching kids to LOVE to read and write. I also read a book called The Book Whisperer (Donalyn Miller) which helped me to realize how much our society is crippling kids by not teaching them to read for enjoyment.
We began our week practicing class procedures and getting used to the rigor and pace of an older grade. In my elementary school, fourth grade is the oldest group, so our kiddos have QUITE an adjustment this year as leaders on our campus. We are rolling out a school wide PBIS behavior system, and it's been thrilling to watch its success so far.
On Wednesday, we began switching classes and discussing academics. We create a "Why do we write?" anchor chart, as well as a "Good Reading Looks like: Feels like" T-chart. We began to discuss how reading affects our writing, and began our first read aloud of the year with one of my favorites, The Indian in the Cupboard. My students are HOOKED!
Thursday and Friday were spent discussing elements of fiction in reading, and how to brainstorm in writing. I introduced the "seed idea" from Lucy Calkins' units of study, and we created a "heart map" for inside the writing journal. Inside their heart maps, my students were to write/illustrate things/people that are important to them. Then we co-created an anchor chart in our writing journals about where writers find ideas.
In reading, we will be creating our interactive journals for reading skills and will begin with elements of fiction. This will probably include a flip book to be glued into their new journals.
Watching my students feel successful this week and feel that they CAN become readers and writers was really inspiring. I can't wait to watch them grow!
Enjoying a looooong weekend,
Mrs. C
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