So what are you thankful for?

A first grade list of thankfulness.  Who isn't thankful for his Wii??

No matter what grade you're teaching, you're always going to discuss with your students about what they're thankful for in their lives.  Every year when I create this list, it's always fun to hear some of the interesting things they're thankful for...

Along with my mile-long list of personal thankfulness, I'm also thankful to be employed, to be able to work with amazing professionals, and to do what I love...

Check out this blog!

I can't seem to add this blog onto my list of favorites, so I guess I have to post how fabulous it is.  It's called Look at My Happy Rainbow, and it's all about the adventures of a male kindergarten teacher.  He has some very cute stories about his little "sprouts".  Check out the "Turkey Time" song he posted about...my little friends from last year would have loved dancing to this!

Look at my happy rainbow! via kwout

Starting to think about Thanksgiving...

You know teachers, always thinking a little ahead...or maybe frantically trying to catch up.  I'm probably part of the latter group.  Anyway, I was perusing my bookmarks when I found this site with all sorts of Thanksgiving poems and songs.  I remember last year it was my mission to find fun/educational/vocabulary-enhancing poetry, chants, and/or songs for shared reading.  Anyway, my favorite song is "Albuquerque the Turkey" because it's just so darn catchy.  When it's May and I allow students to choose a poem or song for morning meeting, they choose this one (along with Jingle Bells).  You gotta love first graders...

National Novel Writing Month

So thanks to A Purse Full of Cheerios, I found out that this is National Novel Writing Month.  I'm a little bit late to this party, but I figured I'd post about it anyway.  This wonderful site is a cool opportunity young writers to transform themselves into novelists!!

NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program via kwout

Writing Celebrations

How much do I love writing workshop?  The irony is that I really didn't like writing throughout my academic career.  In fact, writing cover letters, essays, blogs, etc. are still challenging for me.  However, this philosophy of allowing students to select their topics rather than assigning a topic is liberating.  The concept that everybody is an author is amazing.  The idea that they can emulate my their favorite authors (ie, Mo Willems) is incredible.  I really do love writers workshop...

Anyway, I was reflecting/reminiscing on past writing celebrations.  Last year, around this time, I had invited the kindergarten teachers to celebrate with us Writing for Readers.  We were showing off our legible writing, stretched out spelling, and neat work.  Each student left his/her writing piece on the desk while we walked around and read each other's pieces, like a gallery.  When the xylophone played a melody, we rotated tables.  Teachers were free to meander as they pleased.  In the end we reflected on what makes a writing piece readable.  So much fun!

Text-to-Self Connections: Sheila Rae the Brave

One of personal favorite comprehension lessons is teaching students to make connections to the text.  Debbie Miller has wonderful lessons in Reading With Meaning.  When I grow up, I would like to be her...sigh...

Anyway, one of my favorite October activities is making connections to Sheila Rae the Brave by Kevin Henkes. 

Supply List

I know that most of you in teacherland have already set up your classrooms, have started off the school year, made your to-do lists...but I just couldn't help but to post this great supply list from Mimi.

It's Not All Flowers and Sausages: Ready, Set, SHOP: Back To School List Del Mundo via kwout

I just discovered her blog, and I really believe she is saying what most teachers are thinking but are afraid to say out loud.  I haven't read her book yet, but it's definitely on my to-do list now.