It's beginning to feel a lot like...

things are hectic.  And crazy.  And the kids want to go on break.  And the teachers NEED to go on break.  However, let's reflect on the fun things that happen this time of year.  First, I *love* making cards for parents/guardians.  This activity is so simple, yet so significant, combining the academic element of how to write a letter as well as the character development aspect, an opportunity for the students to express an appreciation for their parents.  One of my wonderful colleagues showed me this idea of creating a present out of the card.

Math resources galore!!

Switching grade levels is frustrating.  Switching positions AND grade levels is just insane.  Just a little.  It also doesn't help your blogging skills.  Well, anyway, my job is to provide intervention in literacy and math in the upper elementary grades.  In my humble opinion, there are approximately a bazillion (read:  too many to count) resources, programs, and books that talk about literacy intervention.  Because there is a lack of resources for math, it's become my mission as of late to discover these resources that provide some insight about strategies and approaches to reach struggling learners as well as possible resources for parents.  I know there are a few good books on math intervention strategies; however time and money are not on my side, so my best friend Google and I have sifted through many search result pages, and I've created a list of blogs and websites that look promising.  If you know of more resources, please, please share them. 

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!