Read to Write

These ladies are working hard on their writing lessons, incorporating HM anthology readings and mentor texts. I loved teaching at the ASD academy with my new, dear friend Cindy. She is a gifted educator and I learned so much!

The Show Must Go On

I was invited to watch this fifth grade class perform a musical version
of Little Red Riding Hood. It was wonderful - the actors knew their lines,
projected their voices, danced and sang with enthusiasm and looked
like they were having a ball! This teacher has created memories for
her students that will last their whole lives. I can just picture them as
little old men and women telling their grandchildren about the time
they were stars on the grade school stage. :)

Moving on...

Here are three of my work colleagues who are moving on in life -(see my entry below about their retirement party). Jane is going to be a state-wide mentor, traveling all over Alaska to work with teachers and Ann and Colleen are both retiring from teaching. Ann is going to be a snowbird - flying between Alaska and Arizona and Colleen has decided to study to become a preacher, spreading the Good Word to everyone she meets. I wish them all well!

Author! Author!

A kindegarten teacher shared these self-published books created by her students in the last few weeks of school. They are going to have an author's tea and read them to their parents. Look at the detail on the covers! Doesn't it just make you want to crack one open and read it?

A time to say goodbye

Two of the six elementary literacy team members are retiring at the end of this school year. One is going on to be a state-wide mentor. Only three of us will still be here. In addition to saying goodbye to teammates, we're saying goodbye to business as usual- next year our job title and job description is going to change - probably in good ways - but still it will be new, different and a little uncomfortable at first. Goodbye dear friends - I will miss you! Please don't be far away, I know I'll be calling on you for advise and wisdom as I face new responsibilities and new adventures.

Written in Ink

Squids and poetry - a vivid literacy connection! This creative first grade teacher had me assist her during a squid dissection
project and a lesson on poetry. The highlight of the morning was when the kids wrote their names in squid ink retrieved from the ink sac in their squids innards. In between helping kids pop their squid's beaks out and locate the underside of the eyeballs, I wrote down their comments. Later, I read the "found" poetry aloud to them. My poem ended with the teacher's cheery question, "Who wants squid for lunch?" After we cleaned up the slime and disinfected the desks, I started working on a squid poetry link with the kids. The students were just starting to brainstorm sensory words when half the class from next door was shuttled into the room, due to an emergency involving the next door teacher's mother. (Real life - it happens.) So, I didn't get to see the actual poetry get written, but I do have a small slip of paper with my name written in squid ink. (Is that cool, or what?)

What's in a Name?

I was working in a third grade class last Thursday. As I asked table groups to share in one class, I looked up and noticed these great names. Who wouldn't want to be in the "friendly," group? Or the "peaceful," or the "impressive," group?