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