Photo Friday!

I decided I wanted to share some stuff I've been doing in my room. I finally tried out the ipad our school has and took some pics, Here's a peek of what we've been up to :)

It's not the best shot, but this is our fictional narrative unit, I decided to turn half my wall of fame into a writing focus board, on the board is the covers of two mentor texts we used, a small anchor chart that each student keeps in their notebook, a huge "Somebody Wanted But So Then" chart where I read a mentor text and students filled out all parts, we then came together to discuss what we thought we should put down for each category. I am breaking down my unit as much as possible to really focus on character creation and give more value to the planning stage. I feel I have been skimming it over and not giving it the time it deserves.

This is a photo of my class using my smart board with a Les Plan article that we are labelling all the text features. Of course the interactive feature would not work for some funny reason so we kept right on going and labelled all the text features we could find and started a discussion about how they help our comprehension, a big focus at a professional development series I am attending every few weeks. My next step is to have the kids come up and re label it with our stickies. I should mention they also have their own copy and this is Day 3 of our shared reading.

This is a photo of my bathroom system, I know it looks complicated, I used to do the put the pass on your desk, no need to ask, put the pass back on door knob when done, always can tell who is out by where passes are, BUT this year I had some students who literally were rotating who was out of the room. So with the help of an Educational Assistant friend, Misty Hutchison, came up with this. All students start the day on green, there is a "boy" magnet and a "girl" magnet. When you need to use the washroom, you don't ask, you just place the appropriate magnet over your pocket. You also flip your card to red. When your card is flipped to red you have no more bathroom trips. I reset it each block of the day. It is working out very well but looks complicated I know!

This is the web we created to go with the shared reading that is in the above picture, on this day, the second day of the shared reading we looked at not just one reading strategy but I put up a few different strategies and had students share if they did ANY of them, as not everyone interprets or comprehends a book the same. Again this is taken from "Journeys In To Literacy" Professional Development I am attending. I really enjoyed the discussion that took place because more people seemed engaged, suddenly if someone didn't have a visual it was okay because maybe they had a connection, or a question they came up with. I am leaning towards focusing more on inferencing as very few people had something to contribute for this one.

Hope these ideas are helpful for someone!

Kat :)

PS How LONG was this week!!!! Happy weekend :)

Light Bulb!

Wednesday, November 27 2013

So today I had saw something today in my classroom that was awesome! Here's the scoop:

As a read aloud I read Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton. The story is about Olemaun, an aboriginal girl who attends a residential school and struggles with the transition as well as the cultural shock.

So we finished the book, I kept the class engaged by scanning in all the pictures from the novel in to my Smartboard and we were able to have some discussions about the artwork in the book. There was also photos from Olemaun's childhood to discuss as well.

After we finished the book I wanted students to show me what they had learned from the read aloud, key moments, themes, extending activities that express their understanding of it. I decided to create a choice board which I have done other times, this time was different though. I am attaching the choice board we used in case anyone is using this read aloud and it may be helpful!

Fatty Legs Choice Board


Two days ago we discussed the options, yesterday I gave some more detailed information about the different tasks and they decided on one. I photocopied organizer sheets for each choice and today was our first "work" session of 40 minutes.

It was magical. . . .as much as that happens in Grade 5/6! There was a hum to the room as students spread out, some grabbing laptops for their residential school research, others working in small groups to discuss what they wanted on their mural. One group starting to write their script for their play, another student using her assistive technology to begin writing a speech Olemaun will give to siblings. I was worried though, would students rush their mural, would they skim over their tasks as they sometimes do, not today.

I finally saw how differentiated tasks can change the room. Everyone was focused, I had students who NEVER check in with me about their work hailing me over to check out what they had written, one group started planning for the next few days, wondering when they could use the ipad to tape their performance (another challenge, another day)

I was thrilled with my students work ethic today and engagement, I have never used a choice board and got that response, which begs the questions, was it the topic before? Was it my choices? Was it the combo of both? They are usually successful, but not like today, there was no bickering, no arguing, I had lots of time to walk around and speak to students as there was no fires to put out! I can only hope for the same tomorrow!

Kathleen :)

A New Year-New Challenges and New Learning!

November 17, 2013

It's a new year and I'm a shade late with my first post but better late than never! It's a new year, a new class and a new set of challenges!

The year has been a blur so far, it could be because I'm busy. . . very busy. . . .between Senior Soccer, Senior Volleyball, Junior Intramurel Futsal, PD and the new experience of a task force at the board office life is busy BUT I wouldn't want it any other way!

This brings me to my other news, for this school year, many of my posts on this blog will be a journal of sorts based on my work on a Grade 6 Task Force focusing on social justice. Other topics that have already come up include the new Ontario social studies curriculum, inquiry and the connection to literacy.

We had our first meeting about a month ago, a half day meet and greet, I was so nervous! It was wonderful! There was so many great ideas and amazing discussions going on in classrooms around our board!

We were given some readings to get started and I thought I would mention my thoughts on the first reading I did. We have another meeting next week and I can't wait to see how that day goes. Here are some thoughts from the readings I did so far :)

We were asked to read Comprehension and Collaboration by Stephanie Harvey and Harvey Daniels, Chapter 4: What We Know About Inquiry.

Here are my thoughts:
-There is a chart comparing the Inquiry Approach vs the Coverage Approach, as I read this part I had an overwhelming feeling of uncomfortableness (is that a word?) as I am not well versed in the inquiry approach. The ideas of the ambiguity and open ended activities is difficult for me, I like to know how to follow a path, lesson, vision. The idea that I'm not sure where the learning could take us is new. . . .one that will take me some time to be comfortable with. I have tried some inquiry tasks in class and they have gone okay, it could just be the chart :)

-In another section the discussion focuses on how students should leave the classroom with lots of questions and the yearning to explore so I thought how can this translate to my classroom, my plan: to have a board that is a question board, students can put questions they want answers to on that board and each day we'll pull a pair of names to have students search to find that answer, it could lead to a discussion of research and reliable sources amongst other things.

-Burning question: there is discussion of small inquiry circles, my question: are they ability based or interest based?

-There is discussion about collaboration and how even as adults it is challenging at times, I am so glad they mentioned this, my classroom deals with this hurdle every day and I realize that even as adults some struggle to work with others.

-Tangents: I breathed a sigh of relief when this was mentioned, I always worry that tangents are bad and I realize it's okay, we can veer off, especially if students are engaged!

-Internet: it's a great thing but there is so much junk, there was actually a post on our board conference about some activities to get students examining the sources they use, I think this would be great to use with students, especially after the other day when we got out the netbooks to do some research and I could hear all over the room, "I'm on Wikipedia. . . . ."

-Lastly: Simulations were mentioned as a curriculum model for inquiry oriented instruction. As you might remember we did several simulations last year and I discussed those in some earlier posts. I am currently planning on doing a G20 one with Grade 6s as well as one to model what it feels like for 3rd, 2nd and 1st world nations based on an activity I did at a HOBY (Hugh O'Brien Youth Foundation) conference. I am thrilled to think I was doing something with a connection to inquiry and didn't even realize it :)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you use inquiry in your classroom, are you embracing it or is it challenging?

Kathleen :)

It's Been Awhile!

I am ashamed to say it has been a month since I did a typical post. Life is busy and work is busier and I have no good excuses of why I haven't kept it up this last month. My class is continuing to do amazing things and March Break should have been a great time to do some sharing but I didn't. The goal is still the same, to post once a week but it just hasn't happened. Moving on:

I went to workout this week with a group I started with about a month ago, I have some knee issues and have just finished physio about a month ago, and haven't done any real workouts or sports in about 6 months. Needless to say the workouts are grinding but to reach my goals I continue to go, even if while I'm there I am continually saying I hate this. I came home this Thursday, especially discouraged after the last part of the workout I literally could not finish. (Apparently I can not run for five minutes, then hold a kettle bell for the 6th minute of running and then continue the running). Long story short, I came home upset that I couldn't do it, embarrassed that the other people in the class had witnessed it and generally feeling my own LIMITATIONS. How does this apply and relate to education you ask?

I'm getting there, so I come home upset, and I mention to my significant other that I hate knowing my own limitations. It got me thinking about my students. . . .and their struggles, what do they feel are their limitations, what do they become upset about? Am I supporting their struggles enough, understanding what it is they need, and the encouragement and support necessary for their success? Am I doing enough to change their mind that they don't have limitations?

So going back to my discussion with the significant other, I mentioned to him about my own limitations, his response? "What limitations? It's not a limitation Kat, you can't say you have limitations because you can't do something YET. You will get there, it just takes time to get there."

I am going to think of my classroom the same way, when students are frustrated or upset about what they don't understand or haven't mastered I am going to remind them of YET. It will happen and they will get there! I also think I need to think of my own discouragement and make sure that I am being that cheerleader for each student, they can all get there, it just might not be YET.

I have some pictures I thought I'd post of some cool stuff my kids have been doing:

I teach 4/5 Drama and I found an activity in the Drama Schemes, Themes and Dreams about sequencing involving a wordless picture book. I colour copied 8 pictures from the book, made sure they were randomly stacked and had groups decide what story was being told, writing up their own story. I wasn't sure how it would go, it's a high energy group but they really got into it and the discussion was excellent! Each story was different, the coolest thing was seeing how each group interpreted the pictures! Here are some shots:

 

 

Our school parent association came up with the cool idea of a book swap. Students bring in any books they are done reading to donate, each class has their own total, depending how many books each class donates decides how many new books each student could choose. It was crazy how many books were donated at our school with 300 students. My class got to all pick 4 books each, amazing :) Can't wait for next year!

 

Last thing I wanted to show you was the anchor chart my class created after a read aloud called "The Streets are Free," we used the reading strategies we've already covered this year for several days to create a chart about what the book meant to us. I am actually considering having students do their own mini version after another read aloud, it would be a great assessment opportunity and may be an excellent discussion starter. We are moving on to inferencing this week and I am excited to see what the kids will think up!

 

 

 

 

Have a great week!

 

Kathleen :)

 

My Very First Linky Party!

Not very much to say, I joined a Linky Party, I was supposed to be doing some marking but got side tracked. I hopefully will have some new images to post this week about Twiducate and some other stuff going on! I hope everyone had a great weekend and if you are a Canadian Blogger, join up to the All Canadian Linky Party!

Apologies as I don't know how to use the image to link right to the blog, so you'll have to click on the All Canadian Linky Party words, it's baby steps right!

Have a great week :)

PS I need to make a button so I have a cool image when I join Linky Parties!

Twiducate and Persuasive Feedback

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a long time! It was report card season and shortly after that life just got super busy in my classroom, tonight I finally have some down time and want to get back to the blog. I want to thank everyone who is reading/supporting/pinning my blog. It's the best feeling in the world!

So what is new in Room 108?

The newest activity we've taken on is using Twiducate, a program created by a teacher from Blenheim Ontario, you can follow him on Twitter at @MrAspinall. The program I stumbled upon after it was suggested on a resource board I follow. I had spoken to my students about twitter after we looked at a reading from Teaching Kids News (one of my favourite resources at the moment!) about protests, including Idle No More. We discussed how the movement got its name and what the movement is truly about. We also discussed how various movements can be confused because of the media and what we have to do to ensure we get the whole picture. Long story short we ended up discussing hashtags on Twitter, leading to a discussion about social media and pros and cons as students. After mentioning Twitter I harmlessly mentioned Twiducate and that I was considering using it in the classroom. Students immediately were hooked and began inquiring as to when this would happen, I signed us up a week ago, sent home a permission form allowing students to bring in phones and other electronic devices to use and dived in! (We are using classroom computers and school netbooks for students who do not want/have an electronic device to bring in).

Twiducate is a twitter like program that creates a "walled garden" where only students in the class are allowed. No outsiders can join, the teacher controls passwords and can monitor all discussion and look up what each student has typed. I set mine to not allow edit and deleting to teach students how their comments and statements on the internet can not be taken back. We have only used it once, allowing students to try it out, with several persuasive prompts to start a conversation. I am in the process of figuring out how I can weave it in to class more often. The good and bad: my students LOVE it, are totally hooked, love that it is a spot for just our class to chat and have conversation. I have been able to explain that comments on Twiducate are similar to classroom discussions. If you wouldn't say it in the classroom then you should not say it on Twiducate. The bad? They LOVE it, if I had a dollar for every time a student asks if we are using Twiducate each day I would be a rich lady! I will keep you posted on how it goes this week!

Okay here is the part of the post with the pictures! (The next time we use Twiducate I'll post some so you can check it out :) ) We have been working very hard on our persuasive writing. I have really been making an effort to use the gradual release of responsibility. We examined persuasive writing pieces, created a success criteria for our persuasive writing and then created a rubric for our persuasive writing. Sidebar: A great way to create a rubric that students take ownership in! So the next step after co-writing a persuasive letter was to write one in groups, students used their success criteria and rubric to assist them, you saw those letters in an earlier post. So the next step was to write one in pairs (or the odd group of 3). Students were again reminded to use the success criteria and rubric as a guide. Groups were allowed to choose whatever they wanted and wrote their persuasive writing either on chart paper or letter size. Groups then handed in their work, I then took the rubric we co created and shrunk it so there was four to a page. I placed the pieces of work around the room, each with a envelope, pieces that were on smaller paper I put in plastic sleeves to keep from ripping. I instructed students to go around and choose 4 other pieces of writing other than their own to mark, using the rubric we had created. After they had marked a piece of writing, they put their rubric in the envelope and placed a checkmark on the outside of the envelope to let people know  how many rubrics were done on that piece. This was to ensure that each work had many "markers."

The next day each group was given their work back along with the envelope of rubrics from friends. Students could also write feedback on the back of rubrics and did not have to sign their names. Students were given time to read over the feedback, and were anxious to see what others thought of their work!

Then students were given a post it each (so one post it per student) to decide on one thing they would change to "bump up" their work after looking through the feedback. Students were then asked to place their finished post its on the smartboard so a discussion could take place about what were the major items our persuasive pieces were missing.

I should point out this less than half my class's post its on the board. It went really well, we had rich discussions about what we are doing well and what we are forgetting!

This feedback activity was two weeks ago and we are one week in to our final work, we've had two days in the computer lab to look for info to back up our opinions, and 2 days of writing workshop, students are to have their argument organizer completed for tomorrow as we move on to the draft/conference phase of writing.

I will admit that it has been difficult to be patient with the process. I will be the first to say I am usually someone who probably taught writing styles too quickly and let students be independent too fast. After speaking with a colleague with their approach I am taking a much slower approach but I am finding the quality of work is much better and students have a much better understanding of what their work needs to achieve a Level 3 (B).

I'm sorry about the big break from blogging but I'm hoping that life has got a little more calm and I can get back to sharing my classroom adventures!

Have a great week :)

Kathleen :)

PS I would love to hear any ideas you have for Twiducate or feedback for your writing program!

RESET

Last week was a long week. . .which was disappointing because it started with a snow day! I wasn't sure what had got in to the munchkins but the week went from bad to worse. By Friday they had rotary with two other teachers that went very badly. Instead of going to gym right away I thought we needed to have a little community chat time. I spoke to my class about how to treat others in the classroom, other adults in the school, other people in the community. . . I spoke to them about how much I love them and tell my friends and family about how amazing and wonderful they are in every thing they do. I spoke to them about how they are awesome kids and their behaviour that day was disappointing to say the least.

I hate to have those chats with the kids. You realize there are kids sitting there who had nothing to do with it, and other kids who you wonder if they took anything in.

Sometimes when I give little pep talk/"I'm disappointed" speeches I'm not really sure where I'm going, this was one of those times. At one point I said "We're going to start over." I mentioned that it doesn't always happen in life but we would start again on Monday. We would "RESET." We finished our conversation and quietly walked down to the gym. Slowly students came up and whispered "I'm sorry for disappointing you Ms. Bond" and after several students, one put up his hand for a high five and I said "RESET".  After that moment I high fived each student, repeating "RESET." It was so random but meant so much to me and the kids and our little classroom community.

I knew that today could go just like last week had so I met them at the door today with another high five and an echo of "RESET." I might start all my days with high fives now, it was such a small gesture the word and the high five together but the kids bought in and we had a wonderful day today! Days like today remind of why I do what I love :)

Okay now for a couple pictures to even out the overly emotional post for today!

This first pic of an idea given to me by literacy coach Jackie Sweeney, we read the book We Are The Elders and as a "Before" activity for shared reading I colour scanned the pictures and broke students in to pairs to comment on whatever came to mind looking at their picture, writing down ideas all around the picture. They then presented their ideas to the class. It resulted in a rich discussion and I loved students' expressions when they were given their picture and they exclaimed, "YES, WE GOT A GOOD ONE!!!"

 

This next picture is a variation on an idea taken from Jennifer Runde's Site "Runde's Room" (see button on right hand side). The idea is simple, you look at a piece of work for peer feedback or teacher feedback and anything that is done well or deserves praise is highlighted in yellow or "Glow." Then you use green highlighter to highlight parts for "Grow." Grow meaning areas for improvement. I loved the idea but didn't have yellow or green highlighters so we decided to use neon post its I received in my staff sock from a teacher elf I still have not figured out! We posted all our persuasive letters on wind turbines around the room. I reminded them to use the success criteria we already had posted and had students fill out two GLOW and GROW post its to put on someone else's work. Myself and then an occasional teacher the next day discussed the post-its and we levelled each piece of work during a discussion. I glued the post its on to the letters to ensure none would fall off in the hall. I was really happy with the conversations students were having about their group letters and even more delighted to see the debate over what changed one piece of work from a Level 2 (C) to a Level 3 (B)!

 

 

 

Have a great week everyone :)

 

Kathleen

Some Visuals To Check Out!

I'm going to post some pics that I've meant to post before but haven't been able to! They are the anchor charts we used this past week and last. Any questions, ask :)

The 5 Ws of Persuasive Writing, idea suggested from Melissa Hughes

January Choice Board, containing various writing forms, used during our independent writing time.

My first attempt at success criteria with students, didn't go too bad and it's definitely helping us understand what we need to include!

This was taken from our first reading on Wind Turbines, examining text features.

 

The next pics are the beginnings of our lapbooks, they are really coming along!

 

This is from the Grade 5 Ancient Roman Lapbook

This is the outside of the Grade 6 Lapbook

This is the inside of the Grade 6 lapbook

 

This last one has to do with our making connections reading strategy we are working on. Each time we make connections we put them on post its and ask ourselves "SO WHAT!" to make it clear that just making a connection isn't enough. The idea of SO WHAT was given to me from our school literacy coach Jackie Sweeney. Each connection we decide if the writer gave enough of a connection to take the idea further than the literal. The goal is to get my students to make a connection along with explaining how it helped them understand the text or what the bigger idea is. We are working on it but this is what our board looked like after Day 1, I'll post what it looks like now, it's a slower process than first thought!

 

 

Okay I'm officially done for tonight!

 

Kathleen :)

All lapbook resources come from Dynamic 2 Moms website :)

Student Empathy and Anchor Charts!

I feel like it's been forever since I posted. . . .maybe that is because this week was one of the longest I've had in a while! I hurt myself at soccer on Sunday and struggled this week, not only physically but emotionally as well, unsure of how bad I had hurt myself. I went to work Monday not only because I wasn't done a unit that needed a mark by Friday for reports but because I knew my kids would cheer me up. They did, and reminded me of why I love my kids. Their empathy and caring is unparalleled. Whether it is worrying about me walking around the classroom (when I should be resting my knee), discussing how we could raise money for homeless people(after we finish a shared reading) or spontaneously deciding we must honour Martin Luther King (after a read aloud) their empathy is amazing, in a time when many claim youth have none.

Where have I been? Report cards were due yesterday and I go in to a hermit mode, thank goodness for the support of my spouse! I basically teach, do reports and sleep the whole week, but they are done! Unfortunately there has been no blog posts so hopefully I can get back on track! I had an interesting week, ending with a visit from the superintendent to our school and a visit at another school in the county, it's always so cool to see how other schools and classrooms run things!

What have we been up to this week? We have continued our work on wind turbines as we try to write persuasive letters explaining our position. We started a new shared reading this week as a front load lesson before reading an article about protests, specifically Idle No More which has been in the news a lot. I scanned the pictures from the picture book in and got a copy of the text to give as a shared reading. I actually think my students were more engaged with a smartboard size pictures and a copy of the text to highlight/write on, and follow along. It's definitely something I'm going to do more of! I saw that some of the bloggers I follow were doing an anchor linky party. I wasn't sure how to join up but took some pictures of the anchor charts we used in our room the last couple weeks, they may be good ideas for someone! On a side note, if someone could show me how to link up to a linky party that would be super cool!

I can't get my blog to upload pictures so I'll have to do a whole post of pictures later!

That's all :) Hopefully back to doing a couple posts a week :)

Lapbooks and Wind Turbines

I haven't posted in awhile and thought it was time to let people know what I've been up to this week with the kids! The last couple days of the week were busy and chaotic with a smaller class on Friday. Two major things have started in my classroom:

1. Lap Books

I started looking for something different online for my students to do, the social studies units we finished up but it was dry. Last year I did more rich tasks including an election simulation. I decided not to this year as some students would be repeating the same activity and there wasn't an actual election this year. That being said, if there is any chance of one, we'll sign up again through a great organization in Canada called Student Vote. Okay back to the main subject, we started lap books on Friday, the Grade 5s working on Ancient Romans and the 6s working on the Iroquois Confederation. The lapbook consists of small foldables all contained within a folder. The best part is the kids who were absent Friday will be led through the process by the kids who were present Friday, a cool opportunity for students in my class to be the teacher. I wish I had taken a picture of what we did so far but I will take one this week and put it up. I googled social studies lapbook and came up with a ton of resources, I can take NO credit for the idea or work we are using, just some google searches leading to some awesome websites! Best part of starting the lap books: students, after gluing in their piece were re-reading the information and admiring their work (that never happens with normal notes and handouts!)

2. Wind Turbines

I did a shared reading last week based on the reading strategy of making connections, we used a shared reading promoting wind turbines, discussing the persuasive opinions and text features of the reading. I was going to move on to something else when a visiting literacy coach suggested we look at the other side of the issue and pulled up some article suggestions.  This week we will examine the other side of wind turbines, look at the persuasive techniques used and try to make connections again, explaining our ideas fully. I am really glad I decided to go with this topic as there are wind turbines in our county, many students mentioned they had driven by them, or knew someone that lived by one. The best type of discussions are the ones students can relate to on some level and is relevant to them. I can't wait to see where the discussion leads us this week!

3 A couple resources that I mentioned and bookmarked, check them out!

Click here for a great lap book blog!

Click here to check out Student Vote!

Can't wait to see what this week brings, have a good week everybody :)

Kathleen :)

PS I may not be posting much for the next little while....it's report card season :)

Back At Work

Well two days down, I've been easing my class back in to things literacy wise, yesterday doing some review of what we've focused on and today we started back in to our shared reading, doing a probable passage activity. I was surprised by how many did not remember how to complete one, it's amazing what they forget after a few weeks! We started up our guided reading today, with a small group reading about cliques, I feel like the topic could be used for a broader discussion involving character education and how friends should treat friends.

Yesterday we started a new art piece: pastel resist snowflakes. I got the idea from two teachers I admire very much, the idea of the resist came from Runde's Room but I got the idea of incorporating not only blue but whitewash from Zack Ambridge, a teacher I met through a social networking group. Another thing I'm learning: the ideas found on Pinterest, internet or blog never look the same or turn out exactly how you expect, so just remember that, it allows for creativity and let's your students shape the activity in their own way.

We also dived into persuasive writing today, creating a list of what we think persuasive writing should include after we looked at several pieces, I have posted the anchor chart we co-created, it's still a work in progress, as we will read two more examples tomorrow and try and add some more. There was been more of a push to create anchor charts and notes with students, so they take more ownership of their learning. I really took this idea to heart and this year when I put up my bulletin boards left them all empty, ready to be covered with chart paper and our ideas!

We are off to a good start and everyone is happy to be back, let's see what the rest of the week holds :)

Here's a few shots from my room.

Goals for 2013

So I decided that I needed to come up with some goals for this new year. . . after fiddling with my blog appearance for days I have something I am happy with. . . for now. . . .

1. Writing

My writing program is a little weak. I have never been as comfortable with writing. Math I was able to figure out with lots of guidance and reading I am still being guided by colleagues and our school's literacy coach. Writing I always feel like I'm not sure where to start, I struggle to find a shared reading that shows the example of the writing form. I am using a great resource called Write Genre written by Lori Jamison Rog has been an amazing help but I need to go farther. . . . 

The only thing I'm proud of in my writing program is the choice boards I came up with. They always surround a theme: Christmas, Remembrance Day etc and usually include examples of activities that touch on all the forms of writing. They are not a choice board that fits different learning styles although the products on them do differ! I am attempting to post one in this post!

Click here to download the choice board!

2. Problem Solving

Last year my class were problem solving machines but this year since it's my first year with the kids all year I've become a little obsessed with making sure I cover everything, problem solving then doesn't happen as much. When I say problem solving I mean the chart paper, different coloured markers and the problem solving model that is encouraged. We still use the Nelson Math problems from the text for each lesson but I want to get back to that place, the kids loved it, I was able to take lots of anecdotal notes so . . . more problem solving is needed!

3. Drama

Include more! I think I am making it too difficult to integrate. . .it shouldn't be this hard! Lucky for me a lovely lady at the board office was clearing out some resources and I was able to scoop the book Drama Schemes, Themes & Dreams by Larry Swartz and Debbie Nyman has given me some great ideas to get going.

4. Sensitivity

Anyone that knows me know that I may or may not wear my heart on my sleeve 24/7. . . for better or worse, although I have got much thicker skin in my few years teaching. . . there's still farther I can go. Easier said than done!

That's all, first day back tomorrow, I'm excited to see my kids and hear about what everyone has been up to on holiday.

That's all for today, have a great day tomorrow everyone :)
Kathleen :)

The Best of 2012

I have to say the input I have gotten for my first blog post was fabulous! I honestly thought I might get about 10 people to read it! The biggest piece of feedback I got was from my own loved ones who said they loved it. . .and in the next breath said they had no idea what I was talking about. Lesson learned: yes my blog is for teachers and those interested in education  but I don't want my ideas to be so technical that a regular person couldn't read it and understand the teacher babble. Anyways I decided since school isn't back in for another 5 days that I would review my year in education, my top ten that is! My next project will be figuring out how to post something because I have a choice board I'd like to share. Here we go :)

Number 10- Student Vote

If you are reading this and work at my school you are quickly realizing that Student Vote happened LAST November (I think) but I was so happy with the results I'm going lump it in to 2012. It was a mock election that a non profit group helps with. They sent me everything I needed and my class ran it for the school, super authentic learning experience that I highly recommend to any class that is studying government, elections, Canada etc.

Number 9 -Last Year's Class

They get to be number 9 on this list for being the longest maternity leave I have covered. They were lovely and thoughtful and a moment I will never forget is my last day as I stood at the door to say goodbye and every single one of them hugged me, not that hug we give just anyone but REALLY hugged me. Halfway through the line, a student had tears in her eyes and I was done but it was the coolest thing. . . .I had no idea they would all hug me. Simply amazing and memorable.

Number 8-Funny Class Moments

About a week after the touching moment that was mentioned above, I was back at the school supplying and a student who had been in my class saw me in the hall, this was his response after seeing me "Ms. Bond it's so nice to have you back in the school bossing everyone around, it's like old times!" I love that student, not only for his priceless comment but for the fact he used every polydron I have and made a sphere out of them in one day. . . .that's NOT what they're for :) (Sidenote: a polydron are a math tool that when put together can make different prisms)

Other moments like the day a couple students this year asked how two people each on their own horse could kiss and my response, in my haze of the morning, "Why are two horses kissing?" This was followed by howls of laughter that literally went on for weeks.

There was also the time I was teaching Ancient Civilizations and came across the word Hathshepshut. . . .as you can imagine it didn't go well and was the ongoing joke that has followed me in to this year. . . .that Egyptian Queen puts my class in stitches once every few weeks.

Number 7-My Class This Year

I decided to include my class this year because we had a very successful fall, in a span of three days we won the largest chocolate bar I have ever eaten since our class did so much fundraising and then won for most class spirit for Black and Orange Day. We now have a class down the hall vowing to take us down since we win too much :) They got the trophy for red, green and white day but I know it's coming back for red, pink and white day :) They are also endearing for the fact that even though my library in the classroom is quite large. . .there is still an argument a week about who is taking what book and just when are the "new" books coming in. My students are very aware of my Scholastic Book Order addiction and use it to their advantage whenever possible :)

Number 6-Coaching

In 2012 I coach Girls Basketball, Co-coached Boys Basketball, Track and Field and helped with Badminton. Coaching is a joy I didn't think was in me, the lows are terrible. . . .losing sucks but the Highs. . .even if it is just one win are incredible and makes my heart swell :)

Number 5- District Review

I have the luxury of working at the school I attended as a child and my pride in my school sometimes does cloud my judgment (What do you mean we don't have room on the wall for the 1988 plaques???) but in January of 2012 our school took part in something called District Review, a group of principals and the superintendent walk through the school for a day after seeing a half day presentation about everything that makes our school unique, they do this at schools all over our board. They give feedback on what the school is doing well and what can be improved. Last year as a mat leave teacher I took a gamble and asked if I could be on the committee expecting a laugh from my principal and a "Sorry but No." Then she said yes and now looking back I wonder what I was thinking. . . .it was a fantastic experience and something I'm glad I took part in.

Number 4-My Blog

There isn't much to say, it's too new for that. . .it could be a huge fail. . . .or it may stick with me .. . I'm not sure yet, but it's happening so that's a good thing, I don't leap before I look very often.

Number 3- Low Points

There are always dark days as a teacher, sometimes they aren't the ones we talk about, they aren't the ones we like to remember but sometimes they are the ones that shape who we are for the next day, the next month and the rest of our career. I have had days in my class where I literally wonder what I can try to reach my students, make a connection or engage. I have had days cleaning up ridiculous messes; discovered disappointing actions; and enough unfinished work to keep students in for weeks at a time but then I have those amazing moments where a student draws a desk name tag for me covered in stickers, a parent writes a thoughtful note in a gift or a colleague wants to work together on a cool idea and I remember why I do what I do!

Number 2-Reading Specialist

In our province a teacher may take extra courses which add qualifications. I finished one of these qualifications this summer, a three part course I have taken over the last couple summers completely on reading. They cover what it is, how to teach it, how to understand the student, how to guide my practice and how to lead others. It was fantastic, it has put me on a fantastic literacy kick that was well overdue after two years of a math kick due to some amazing colleagues. I'm proud that I finished it and contemplating what to do next.

Number 1-Permanent Employment

As is the case in much of Canada right now, teaching is a difficult just to acquire, just to get on a supply list can take years. . . .after the supply list is the difficult job of acquiring that first LTO, a temporary position while someone is off having a baby, or for other reasons. Then there is the task getting another one, and beginning to gather enough experience and knowledge that someone will think of you and recommend you for a permanent position. My dream came true this summer when my principal called after an interview days earlier to say I had secured a position. Of course she didn't say it like that, she started the conversation saying I wouldn't be able to do an LTO at another school I was lined up . . . .at which point I started panicking and then she told me. She still teases me for the way she told me :) I am living my dream every day, it's not perfect and some days are bumpy but I wouldn't change a thing.

So I think that's it, this blog post was a little mushy but oh well. . . if you know me you know I'm a little mushy :) Happy 2013!!!

Kathleen :)