Small Steps

So, I've been trying lots of new things this year:

• reading conferences


• writing workshop being more fully implemented


• not using the basal as much


• reading professional books during the school year


• bulletin boards


• sushi (although not with fish, so technically it doesn't qualify)

Tonight, I'm actually going to attempt to make my own sushi...I'll let you know how it goes. And as promised, I've included 2 pictures to show the bulletin board.

Bragging

Okay, so I am going to brag just a little. But I'm bragging about God, so hopefully that cancels out the bad notion of bragging. I love getting ideas and knowing there was no way that I could come up with it myself.

Example: Today in writing workshop, I didn't know what I was going to do (sorry Ruth!) and lo and behold, thought about how we could stretch emotions. I had the kids write down an emotion before library and then during writing workshop, I went to work. I walked in (okay, stomped) threw my papers down, and then made an angry face and yelled at them. I quickly changed my temperament and then talked to the kids about how they knew what I was feeling. They gave me lots of descriptions and then some of them got a chance to play Emotion Charades...it was a neat lesson, I think.

Also, another example (I'll post the picture later.) was a spring bulletin board that came to me as I was laying in bed (another brilliant idea by the Teacher) and thought how I could use word families to create a board. My students came up with a word family and then based on their color used the circles to create clouds, flowers, caterpillars, and even butterflies (although they look like birds). I, personally, like it very much! I'll do that one again for sure!

I Think It's Working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just when I think I'm not making a difference, God goes ahead and makes a difference! In my reading workshop materials, it talked about students should learn to transfer what they do in class to home...Today, in writing workshop, one of my students wrote me a letter. It states, "Miss Laker you are the best teacher ever. And when I'm home I throw my eyes ahead of my voice all the time. My sister doesn't know how." I changed the spelling and punctuation so you could read it.

I used her letter to teach the kids to take their reading home with them...their mission? To read everything in sight this weekend, even the closed captioning on tv, dvds, and video games. We're having a community circle on Monday to share their findings. I'm kind of excited.

btw - throwing your eyes ahead of your voice means your eyes are further along than your mouth (we do it naturally, struggling readers need to learn how.)

One Down...Too Many To Go

Well, the first reading conferences seemed to go smooth. I know next year will be better because I will have read all of my books that I am purchasing to help teach reading in a better way. Most of the conferences seemed to go over tricky words, which I know is important still in second grade. I learned my lesson in writing workshop that there is more to a conference than editing and spelling...that's kinda my view of reading workshop, there's got to be more than tricky words. I know it will come, but if you have any topics and ideas, post away!!!

Comfort Zones

Today marks a new day in my teaching. I am going to try for the first time, reading conferences. I must admit, I'm a little scared. That's probably why I haven't tried it yet...I'm hoping to set it up well by talking with the class before about what they expect of me during a conference and what should I expect of them.

It made me think this morning as I drove in (btw, saw the sunrise, so beautiful) that I'm stepping out of a comfort zone. I've done this a little more each year...talking with the athletically fit at the Y (yes, they can be intimidating) and asking them for ideas in lifting, joining the drama team (you'd be surprised how easy it is to act like a fool in front of your class but incredibly difficult with adults), and even starting this blog (I was traumatized in college when a teacher told me I didn't write well, because I wrote how I talked...gee thanks).

But if I never step out, then God never gets the chance to show his glory and show his splendor in my weakness...so, what are your comfort zones and where are you willing to step out?

Loving Kindess

So I always hear this term in the Bible about God toward us...but I got to experience it in my class the other day. It had been a rough day (a precursor to this lovely snow, my kids are great barometers) and I was at my wit's end regarding their procedures and how they were working. So after chewing them out (although, it's only a few that cause all of the problems) for what I felt what the 100th time...a boy comes up to my desk and hands me a page of small stickers. He told me they were for our 100 % papers...his kindness and generosity to me was unbelievable. It was so sweet that he had thought of me and gave them to me, especially on a day where I felt like Miss Viola Swamp (Miss Nelson is Missing, if you haven't read it). Kids are great at showing how God feels towards us...always loving, always giving, always generous...May I remember this lesson and extend it back to the kids in my classroom.

What have I created?

Okay, so I've been trying new elements of Reading Workshop and trying Writing Workshop this year in a more productive way. Yesterday, one of my boys told me about how he uses the writting workshop lesson and looks for it when he reads during his choice time. I had him share this idea yesterday with the class...it was already bad to begin with. Bad meaning, kids come up constantly to me during their reading to tell me what they think about their book or something that they notice or parts they find funny...well, yesterday, I had kids showing me conversation (we're studying dialogue), the -er and -est words, and connections that they had a book because of other books we've read this year.

I know it's a good thing and I'm going to have to work on managing their comments and thoughts during Reading Workshop. I've created little reading monsters. Got to love it!