Scrapbooking supplies courtesy of the Target Dollar Section!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Steps Towards Organization...
I feel like if I spend time making my Conferring Notebook cute I might use it more...
Scrapbooking supplies courtesy of the Target Dollar Section!
Scrapbooking supplies courtesy of the Target Dollar Section!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
New Year, New Room
Here are some "before" pics from my classroom...expect the "after" pics around the end of August
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Trying Again
Ok, so I stink at blogging. But I am going to try hard this year to stay positive and share my funniest and most inspiring stories from room 120...stay tuned
Monday, October 6, 2008
God Bless...
...these people who I am watching on TV who have 14 kids and have only been married 16 years. Literally, they just went to their 14th ultrasound and the Doctor said "See you next year!" and they said "Sounds good!" Seven girls, seven boys...can't even stand it!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
"But I don't feel like Writing..."
No not my students, ME! Monday is the 24th day of school and this is my first post since school began. So many times I have heard "but I don't feel like writing..." from students, NOW I FEEL IT TOO! My day starts at 5:45 when my alarm goes off, I roll out of bed by 6:00 and am out the door by 7:00. In my classroom by 7:15, teaching by 9:00, kids leave at 3:30 and I'm home by 5. And then .... I don't feel like writing.
Anyway, today is different. I've cleaned my house, had my coffee, and am getting mentally prepared for the bills possibly being 5-0 for the first time since 1991. I'm finally ready to write.
For the past 24 days in school I have been dealing with a private situation with a student. I cannot elaborate here but I must say, sometimes I feel as though I haven't conferred with anyone because I spend my day trying to avoid a meltdown. Needless to say, even with all that is going on in my room, I have been able to see many reading and writing lives developing and growing.
Reader's Workshop is in full swing! I may have one or two readers still confused on choosing appropriate books but other than that we are independent reading for 20 minutes and partner reading for 20 minutes. Since I looped it has been much easier to get in to the thick of it. They know what to expect, and most do exactly what they need to during that time. I'm excited about partnerships because I'm already seeing how rewarding they can be.
Writing Workshop is amazing. My 14 from last year are SOARING! Just this week I noticed many students taking ideas from are Shared Reading book and using it in their writing! THEY ARE WRITING LIKE READERS and READING LIKE WRITERS...and I haven't even taught them how to do that yet! It's crazy how following WW for 1 year can create amazing writers (proof that I wanted!). You can see some of our writing soon on www.debaccokrecisz.pbwiki.com
As far as community, I feel that my old friends and new friends are meshing well. As far as the behavior issues...i'm taking it day by day. I'm not giving up.
Anyway, today is different. I've cleaned my house, had my coffee, and am getting mentally prepared for the bills possibly being 5-0 for the first time since 1991. I'm finally ready to write.
For the past 24 days in school I have been dealing with a private situation with a student. I cannot elaborate here but I must say, sometimes I feel as though I haven't conferred with anyone because I spend my day trying to avoid a meltdown. Needless to say, even with all that is going on in my room, I have been able to see many reading and writing lives developing and growing.
Reader's Workshop is in full swing! I may have one or two readers still confused on choosing appropriate books but other than that we are independent reading for 20 minutes and partner reading for 20 minutes. Since I looped it has been much easier to get in to the thick of it. They know what to expect, and most do exactly what they need to during that time. I'm excited about partnerships because I'm already seeing how rewarding they can be.
Writing Workshop is amazing. My 14 from last year are SOARING! Just this week I noticed many students taking ideas from are Shared Reading book and using it in their writing! THEY ARE WRITING LIKE READERS and READING LIKE WRITERS...and I haven't even taught them how to do that yet! It's crazy how following WW for 1 year can create amazing writers (proof that I wanted!). You can see some of our writing soon on www.debaccokrecisz.pbwiki.com
As far as community, I feel that my old friends and new friends are meshing well. As far as the behavior issues...i'm taking it day by day. I'm not giving up.
Friday, August 22, 2008
First Day Of Set Up
Today is the first day I can get in my brand new classroom. I can't wait! I'll post pictures later :)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Guided Reading...Two words I have grown to hate
Ok, don't nail me to the cross yet, just listen.
Lately I've been thinking and I've come to the conclusion that Guided Reading has become institutionalized. I've been trying to explain the Workshop Model to many colleagues and their #1 question, hands down, is " What about Guided reading, How do I fit in all my groups?" I feel that it's become less and less about the READER and more and more about "well we have to fit in guided reading". What does that mean??? Are we teaching "guided reading" or are we teaching READERS?
I guide my students through text everyday in conferences. When I look at their Conference notebooks at the end of the week I plan a few guided groups based on need (NOT ABILITY). I consider this guided reading, but some do not. Just because I'm not with 4-5 kids at a horseshoe table reading the same leveled text, im not "doing" guided reading? Who made it like this? Did we do this to ourselves? Did the Sunshine Guided Reading Kits make us feel this way? It's just madness.
Reggie Routman says it best, "guided reading is anytime a teacher guides a student through a text" It is not about 5 books all the same, going through the motions of the pre-printed lesson (that was made by people that don't know your kids), IT'S ABOUT THE KIDS!
Guided Reading is not meeting with your "low" group 4 times a week, your "middle of the road" kids 3 times a week, and your "high" kids once or twice. Guiding Readers is about knowing their strengths, building on them and guiding them to be life long readers, in ANY WAY THAT BENEFITS THEIR GROWTH!
end rant.
Lately I've been thinking and I've come to the conclusion that Guided Reading has become institutionalized. I've been trying to explain the Workshop Model to many colleagues and their #1 question, hands down, is " What about Guided reading, How do I fit in all my groups?" I feel that it's become less and less about the READER and more and more about "well we have to fit in guided reading". What does that mean??? Are we teaching "guided reading" or are we teaching READERS?
I guide my students through text everyday in conferences. When I look at their Conference notebooks at the end of the week I plan a few guided groups based on need (NOT ABILITY). I consider this guided reading, but some do not. Just because I'm not with 4-5 kids at a horseshoe table reading the same leveled text, im not "doing" guided reading? Who made it like this? Did we do this to ourselves? Did the Sunshine Guided Reading Kits make us feel this way? It's just madness.
Reggie Routman says it best, "guided reading is anytime a teacher guides a student through a text" It is not about 5 books all the same, going through the motions of the pre-printed lesson (that was made by people that don't know your kids), IT'S ABOUT THE KIDS!
Guided Reading is not meeting with your "low" group 4 times a week, your "middle of the road" kids 3 times a week, and your "high" kids once or twice. Guiding Readers is about knowing their strengths, building on them and guiding them to be life long readers, in ANY WAY THAT BENEFITS THEIR GROWTH!
end rant.
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