Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Saturday, December 3, 2011
How's It Going?
Someone asked me last night (at Tech Night) how I was enjoying my new position and here is the answer. I'm enjoying my position as a Title 1 Teacher and working with small groups of children teaching what I love best...reading. The perk of my position is that while I'm working with a small group, I do not have to worry about what the rest of the class is doing. All you kindergarten teachers know what I mean! Although when I go into kindergarten and first grade classrooms, I sometime have feelings of...aw I miss that! Everyone has made me feel welcomed to my new school and into their classrooms. I feel like the children that come to my room are indeed "shared" with me by their classroom teachers and I'm enjoying collaborating with the teachers and sharing antidotes. The leadership at my school is wonderful and they have made sure that I am included in school activities and committees and they value my many years and experience as an educator. I am also enjoying meeting new people and teaching writing before school to 3rd and 4th graders in our Morning Programs.
And how many people can go to work everyday knowing that their day is going to be filled with joy? I know everyday that some child, book, story, or situation is going to make me laugh out loud. This past week we had visitors in our classroom. One of them was a PhD from our Central Office. When I introduced her as Dr. ___to my small group, one of the children immediately pulled up his pants leg and said, "Fix me." When she explained that she wasn't that kind of dr. he replied, "Then what are you good for?" Of course he was very dramatic and I can't possible put into writing how funny the situation was.
And here is my sermon for this post...
This week I was reminded by an article shared by our Director of Curriculum Instruction that good teachers are always learning and growing. They never say, "I already do that." Whenever you are involved in professional development whether it is a speaker, professional learning team, book study, or conference, think about how you can incorporate what you are learning into what you are doing. If it sounds familiar, think about whether or not you have done that in a while. Maybe it is time to take it out of your teacher tool box and use it again. Instead of saying, "I already do that," let it validate you as an educator. Appreciate the speaker, conference leader, or your colleagues and appreciate yourself.
And how many people can go to work everyday knowing that their day is going to be filled with joy? I know everyday that some child, book, story, or situation is going to make me laugh out loud. This past week we had visitors in our classroom. One of them was a PhD from our Central Office. When I introduced her as Dr. ___to my small group, one of the children immediately pulled up his pants leg and said, "Fix me." When she explained that she wasn't that kind of dr. he replied, "Then what are you good for?" Of course he was very dramatic and I can't possible put into writing how funny the situation was.
And here is my sermon for this post...
This week I was reminded by an article shared by our Director of Curriculum Instruction that good teachers are always learning and growing. They never say, "I already do that." Whenever you are involved in professional development whether it is a speaker, professional learning team, book study, or conference, think about how you can incorporate what you are learning into what you are doing. If it sounds familiar, think about whether or not you have done that in a while. Maybe it is time to take it out of your teacher tool box and use it again. Instead of saying, "I already do that," let it validate you as an educator. Appreciate the speaker, conference leader, or your colleagues and appreciate yourself.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Fostering Independence
Fostering Independence
From Catching Readers Before They Fall blogpost
http://t.co/t8WBTa1n
From Catching Readers Before They Fall blogpost
http://t.co/t8WBTa1n
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Books That Heal Kids: Book Review: Beautiful Oops!
Books That Heal Kids: Book Review: Beautiful Oops!: Beautiful Oops! Author/Illustrator: Barney Saltzberg Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up Publisher: Workman Publishing Company From the Boo...
I've been following this great blog where the author recommends books related to children's feelings, hardships and diversity. I have this idea for my book club for our December meeting. Everyone choose a book recommended on this blog and bring it to book club. We'll share the books with the club members and then donate them to a charity or needy school. Be sure to check out this blog and get your own group of friends, church members, or teachers to buy and donate books this holiday season.
Merry, merry!
I've been following this great blog where the author recommends books related to children's feelings, hardships and diversity. I have this idea for my book club for our December meeting. Everyone choose a book recommended on this blog and bring it to book club. We'll share the books with the club members and then donate them to a charity or needy school. Be sure to check out this blog and get your own group of friends, church members, or teachers to buy and donate books this holiday season.
Merry, merry!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
It's All Crazy!
Why does the beginning of the year have to be so hard? We've done this for so many years you'd think someone would come up with the perfect way to start the school year. Would it be this crazy if we had year round school? Just asking...
Part of my craziness this past couple of weeks has been moving to a new school to a new position which I LOVE! But as anyone who has moved to a new school knows, it's still unsettling being in a new environment. I know how new kids feel when they move to a new school. Excited but nervous at the same time. This is my 3rd school in my 21 years of teaching and all three schools do things differently; which I think is a good thing. I enjoy the fact that our school system supports individual schools' autonomy to do the things that meets the needs of their students. Something I have enjoyed at my new school this week is being able to pop in to classrooms and to be welcomed so kindly by all the teachers who barely know me. They have been gracious to share their precious children and time with me. I'm also getting to know the ins and outs of being a Title 1 teacher. Can anyone say "TINA Survey?"
I've also been reminded this week about how precious life, friends, and family are. My mother-in-law continues to have her memory lapses and she asks the same questions over and over. We love her so we keep answering them over and over. One of our little cousins was hit by a car this week and we are praying for her recovery and that she has not been brain damaged. One of my sweet book club friends, Beverly Grisham, died of a massive heart attack this week. I'm so going to miss her enthusiasm over books and teaching. She has been a great mentor to many new teachers. Her family and friends are going to miss her terribly. She was also a friend to Dr. Lynn Kirkland who wrote this status update on Facebook, "life is too short to sweat the small stuff. Find the good in friends, family, and colleagues and tell them!" That is my goal this week. What is yours?
Part of my craziness this past couple of weeks has been moving to a new school to a new position which I LOVE! But as anyone who has moved to a new school knows, it's still unsettling being in a new environment. I know how new kids feel when they move to a new school. Excited but nervous at the same time. This is my 3rd school in my 21 years of teaching and all three schools do things differently; which I think is a good thing. I enjoy the fact that our school system supports individual schools' autonomy to do the things that meets the needs of their students. Something I have enjoyed at my new school this week is being able to pop in to classrooms and to be welcomed so kindly by all the teachers who barely know me. They have been gracious to share their precious children and time with me. I'm also getting to know the ins and outs of being a Title 1 teacher. Can anyone say "TINA Survey?"
I've also been reminded this week about how precious life, friends, and family are. My mother-in-law continues to have her memory lapses and she asks the same questions over and over. We love her so we keep answering them over and over. One of our little cousins was hit by a car this week and we are praying for her recovery and that she has not been brain damaged. One of my sweet book club friends, Beverly Grisham, died of a massive heart attack this week. I'm so going to miss her enthusiasm over books and teaching. She has been a great mentor to many new teachers. Her family and friends are going to miss her terribly. She was also a friend to Dr. Lynn Kirkland who wrote this status update on Facebook, "life is too short to sweat the small stuff. Find the good in friends, family, and colleagues and tell them!" That is my goal this week. What is yours?
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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