As I read others' blogs, I say to myself...why aren't there any new posts...duh...I wonder if anyone says that about mine.
Anyways, just looking for new books to share with my class. Do you have a favorite text you like to use to teach connections in reading workshop or small moments in the writing workshop? I like using Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe (spelling of last name is not right I'm thinking, but I'm trying to do this in a hurry. I also like using Gooney Bird Greene to teach sensory images...
Anyone else?
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Connections
I am finally beginning a deeper level of focus lessons. We have talked about how stories remind us of things from our own life. Today, we relooked at our connections from Fireflies by Julie Brinckloe and talked about which ones were helpful in making meaning and which ones were "shallow" connections. They were kinda getting it, so I set them out for their own reading...in my first conference, we talked about how you need to know what in the text helped you make the connection (strike one). In the second conference, we talked about how the connection needs to help you understand the story in a more meaningful way, just having the cat sit on a plate is not a connection (strike two), and in my third conference, he didn't have any connections whatsoever (strike three).
During sharing (which, Ruth, I write down their comments in my Becoming journal to keep track of where I'm going to go with lessons and future ideas and to see their growth), one of the last speakers said, I made two connections in my book. Could there be a light at the end of this tunnel? She said, "a monkey and max." When probed by the kids (whew, at least there was this glimmer), she explained a little more...she can sound like a monkey and she has a dog, Max. Well, I guess there's always tomorrow!
Any ideas for great books that your children were able to make deep, meaningful, text-to-self connections? I am going to try Today I Feel Silly tomorrow.
During sharing (which, Ruth, I write down their comments in my Becoming journal to keep track of where I'm going to go with lessons and future ideas and to see their growth), one of the last speakers said, I made two connections in my book. Could there be a light at the end of this tunnel? She said, "a monkey and max." When probed by the kids (whew, at least there was this glimmer), she explained a little more...she can sound like a monkey and she has a dog, Max. Well, I guess there's always tomorrow!
Any ideas for great books that your children were able to make deep, meaningful, text-to-self connections? I am going to try Today I Feel Silly tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
What to do about conversation?
This might be a long post, but I am seeking advice and opinions. After we have our independent reading time in reading workshop (and I conferenced), we have a sharing time where after seeing it modeled at an Ellin Oliver Keene conference I attended, students share anything they learned about themselves as a reader or something other readers should know. Then students can respond to the speaker before moving on to a new topic.
Question - Is it wrong for students to then ask the speaker, what their favorite part was, favorite page, why do you read those books? I guess these questions won't always come up, especially after we start some deeper comprehension strategies...maybe I'm just expecting too much right now and these questions really do go along with the sharing.
Today I didn't necessarily pay attention to the clock and almost 20 minutes had passed while we were in our sharing time. Some of it, I am loving...I just wonder if asking those questions all of the time is defeating the purpose? Any ideas???
Question - Is it wrong for students to then ask the speaker, what their favorite part was, favorite page, why do you read those books? I guess these questions won't always come up, especially after we start some deeper comprehension strategies...maybe I'm just expecting too much right now and these questions really do go along with the sharing.
Today I didn't necessarily pay attention to the clock and almost 20 minutes had passed while we were in our sharing time. Some of it, I am loving...I just wonder if asking those questions all of the time is defeating the purpose? Any ideas???
Monday, September 24, 2007
Deviation
Today I am deviating from my normal classroom talk. Sarah over at Amick's Articles did this and I am copying her because I liked the questions too. They also say that copying can be the biggest form of flattery.
How would someone find you in a crowd? Probably my laugh...or even the fact that I was in a crowd, they would know I was there. The joke is among my friends that they can't go anywhere without me knowing someone.
If you had a secret room in your house what would be in it? I would have a cozy chair, a bookcase with lots of my books that I am currently reading, probably a masseuse too...and you know those chairs at the chiro that you can lay and put your face straight down and rest your arms? one of those too! Basically anything to relax me...
Where do you like to walk to from your house? Normally I run from my house...down a mile and back. But I do like to walk and rollerblade in Winona Lake...a beautiful town that has lots of charm.
How will you change as you grow? I hope I continue to grow in my relationship with Christ, lean on Him more than myself, continue to keep running and pursuing goals that way and become a better teacher. One who reflects and is able to continue to do what's best for my class.
What sort of animal would you like to be? orangutan - they are so cute and I love their expressions...I could sit for hours and watch them.
How would someone find you in a crowd? Probably my laugh...or even the fact that I was in a crowd, they would know I was there. The joke is among my friends that they can't go anywhere without me knowing someone.
If you had a secret room in your house what would be in it? I would have a cozy chair, a bookcase with lots of my books that I am currently reading, probably a masseuse too...and you know those chairs at the chiro that you can lay and put your face straight down and rest your arms? one of those too! Basically anything to relax me...
Where do you like to walk to from your house? Normally I run from my house...down a mile and back. But I do like to walk and rollerblade in Winona Lake...a beautiful town that has lots of charm.
How will you change as you grow? I hope I continue to grow in my relationship with Christ, lean on Him more than myself, continue to keep running and pursuing goals that way and become a better teacher. One who reflects and is able to continue to do what's best for my class.
What sort of animal would you like to be? orangutan - they are so cute and I love their expressions...I could sit for hours and watch them.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Oh Happy Day!
During our sharing, one of our students (who has fallen in love with the Liberty Bell) shared that the bell was rung on special occasions. Another student asked, which occasions? He replied, "When the Constitution of Pennsylvania was signed, the Declaration of Independence and George Washington's b-day." Another student said, "Did you know that George Washington built the bell?" He didn't...although he was pondering it.
About 3 shares later and 10 minutes later...he asked if George Washington was a craftsmen...I wanted to know why...to which he replied and blew me away. His reasoning - his books said that two craftsment built the bell and if George Washington is not a craftsmen, then he didn't build the bell. Wow!
Funny of the day - As I was counting for the kids to FINALLY get to sharing, I was close to 10 and the kids chimed in with 9 and 1/2, 9 and a quarter (they don't get the order, but you know their parents have said it). One girl then chimed in with 9 and a penny, 9 and a dime...how funny!
About 3 shares later and 10 minutes later...he asked if George Washington was a craftsmen...I wanted to know why...to which he replied and blew me away. His reasoning - his books said that two craftsment built the bell and if George Washington is not a craftsmen, then he didn't build the bell. Wow!
Funny of the day - As I was counting for the kids to FINALLY get to sharing, I was close to 10 and the kids chimed in with 9 and 1/2, 9 and a quarter (they don't get the order, but you know their parents have said it). One girl then chimed in with 9 and a penny, 9 and a dime...how funny!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Am I Even Needed?
Today, one of my students brought in a plastic butterfly to show the details on the wing...we studied bees and this connects because of the insect family. As he shared, he talked about how he would show the butterfly. He gave the class two options...he could pass it or he could walk around showing it. One of the boys said, "Let's take a vote." (sounds a lot like me when I give them choices). Then after they decided...the boy overruled their vote and walked around showing the butterfly. I love that this class already has begun to be in charge of discussions and conversation. For a few minutes, I just sat and watched the class in action. They just absolutely amaze me!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sharing Time
I am really excited about how our sharing is coming together. Our assistant principal stopped in during the beginning of it and I asked him to stop and stay to observe it...I'm hoping he enjoyed it as much as I. I love that my students are using kind words...Can you speak up please? And asking questions already to the speaker...what book did you get that from? Why were you thinking that? How did you come up with that?
I absolutely love it!!! Although, I do get tired of the same question, can you speak up please being asked to every speaker, even if people could hear them...Focus lesson on that tomorrow.
Student quote of the week - I read Poor Puppy to the class, same author of Bad Kitty, which the kids love and as I read the part about the puppy dreaming about football in France, one of my boys chimes in..."yeah, France is a great place for golf." Huh...never thought about that.
I absolutely love it!!! Although, I do get tired of the same question, can you speak up please being asked to every speaker, even if people could hear them...Focus lesson on that tomorrow.
Student quote of the week - I read Poor Puppy to the class, same author of Bad Kitty, which the kids love and as I read the part about the puppy dreaming about football in France, one of my boys chimes in..."yeah, France is a great place for golf." Huh...never thought about that.
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