New Job Title Means New Blog Title

The "Waiting Game" is over.  I am now the media specialist for our school.  Although the previous media specialist tried to convince me that she wears tiny shoes, I know that I have some big shoes to fill.  I am so excited, but nervous because there are so many things to learn. 

I have been trying to get rid of stuff and pack up for the big move.  I can't believe that I kept some bulletin boards, but didn't have pictures of them.  I'm sure that I took pictures, but they must have been saved on our old, discarded desktops.  Here's one of the bulletin boards that I kept. 

Since I'll be the media specialist, I'll be integrating math, science, and social studies with the stories that I'll read. Tops and Bottoms made our plant unit really fun, when I did it about three years ago.  The students labeled the vegetable parts, made a graph, and wrote about their favorite plant parts to eat. I was able to save the bulletin board, because it was done in three different sections. I have already started "pinning" ideas to use as a media specialist. 

Now, what would be a good title for my blog?  I will mostly blog about and share examples of how I integrate different subjects with popular children's stories. I will also blog about how the students use technology for some of the activities.  I don't want to change the blog address, because I've done that before, and lost several followers. I'm open for suggestions about a title and post ideas.

Daily 5 Book Study: Chapter 1

I am following the Daily 5 Book Study that is hosted by Mel at Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations, this week.  I plan to implement Daily 5 in my first grade class this year.

1. On pages 4-6, the authors present two different pictures of their classrooms. In thinking about and reflecting on your own practice, how would you characterize your literacy block? Does it look more like the first or second scenario, or is it somewhere in between? How will you change it?

 While I meet with a small Guided Reading group, other students are "engaged" in Literacy Stations.  There's a Word Work Station, Sight-Word Station, Writing Station, Reading/Listening Station, Grammar Station, Pocket Chart Station, and Miscellaneous Station. These stations have activities that the students need to practice or activities that are related to the current unit or focus skills. 

I wish I could say that it's more like the second scenario, but the students are not as independent and accountable as I would like for them to be. During a major observation, I had to stop working with my Guided Reading Group to help a couple of students who insisted the CD player was broken.  They actually didn't plug in the jack completely.  My student helper must have been nervous, because she couldn't find the problem either.  To the observer, I'm sure it looked like, the students had never used the Listening Station before.

By helping students build STAMINA in the beginning, they will become more independent.  Setting aside time for "Check-in", the students will be accountable for their learning. 

Listening Center

 2. The typical teacher is very busy having students do lots of different activities. How is what you are having students do now in your classroom creating quality readers and writers? 

Although the activities in the stations are meaningful, the students were not provided with enough modeling of appropriate behavior.  Stamina was not built, to create quality readers.  My students grew in reading, but they were not the quality readers that I hoped to create.  Every year, my goal is to create better writers.  I am anxious to begin using Daily 5 to reach my goal.  

3. What sets the Daily 5 structure apart from what you are doing in your classroom?

The Daily 5 structure seems to be more manageable.  By modeling appropriate and inappropriate behaviors and providing visuals, students will know the expectations.

Before school starts for the 2012-13 school year, our district will have an Educator Conference.  I have signed up for the Daily 5 session, in hopes of gaining more insight.

School's Out for Summer

In Front of Charleston City Market

The students' last day was May 25th.  Teachers' last day was Friday, June 1st.  My sister and I took off to spend the night with my sister in Charlotte, and then the three of us drove to Charleston, SC. I loved our last minute getaway.  We stayed in Kings Courtyard Inn, in historic downtown, Charleston.  We were able to walk everywhere that we wanted to go. We ate at Mercato's, an Italian restaurant, and listened to jazz. Then we went dancing at Henry's/NV.

My Own Room

 

 

 

 

The next day, we took a carriage tour, and learned some interesting facts about the history of Charleston and about the buildings and homes.  I must go again and tour the beautiful homes.  I loved the ironwork, shutters, columns, and porches (piazzas as they're called in Charleston).  Notice the red dots on some of  the businesses if you're ever in Charleston.  There were some architectural details that had to be covered, because of their suggestive nature. It is interesting how the houses of ill-repute were in close proximity of the worship houses. Our guide left me wanting to do research about the colors of the houses on Rainbow Row and about Robert Smalls. 

"Magic" leads us through town toward Phillips Episcopal Church

Calhoun Mansion

After our tour, we shopped at Charleston City Market.  I had to buy a small sweet grass basket, when I found out about the history.  One day I'll be able to afford a bigger basket.  The vendors make the baskets themselves.  A few of the vendors were practicing the art while shoppers watched.

Sweet Grass Basket made the vendor's dad

We also rode across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge.  I have a fear of bridges, so this picture was challenging for me, especially since we were in a convertible. The bridge has a pedestrian/bike lane.  That's really awesome, but you will not find me in that lane.

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge

Since there are no workshops this summer, I hope to take more "last minute" getaways and read.  I am going to be following the Daily Five Book Study.  I just got my hands on that series that everyone is talking about.  You know the one, Fifty Shades of Grey?  I'm also going to begin a new venture to make extra money.  I'll tell you more about that when I get started. Right now I'm fighting a hateful sinus infection. That makes it hard to imagine a great summer, but I'm determined to have a great summer break.

Book Character Parade

We had our first Book Character Parade to kick off a week of "Weeks".  The media specialist (aka Wonder Woman) incorporated Teacher Appreciation Week, Children's Book Week, Music Week, and PE Week into the event. 

Students carried signs that read, "I Love My Teacher", "PE is Fun", or "Music Rocks".  Everyone walked one mile around the track, in our costumes, for PE. There were also signs posted around the track about what great teachers and staff we have. We listened to some rockin' music as we walked.  The district's mascot, Rock Star was our special guest. Rock Star had another event to shoot to, so he/she was not available for the picture.  There were some really awesome student costumes, but I want to get permission before I post their pictures. This picture has already made its rounds on Facebook and the newspaper.

I'm looking forward to next year's parade.

Lemonade for Sale

Ready for Business

We were able to integrate social studies and math on Tuesday.  We have been talking about goods and services, needs and wants, and supply and demand in social studies.  I introduced money into our classroom management, so we have been learning how to count money also. Our annual field day took place on Tuesday.

After talking to the PE teacher, I realized that no one was selling snow cones or cotton candy like they did at last year's field day. I had almost an entire bulk-sized canister of lemonade left from my grand-daughter's birthday party.  I saw an opportunity for first graders to make money to get games for the Leapster Explorers or Leap Pads that were obtained from Donors Choose or a Reading Association grant.

During Guided Reading, one group of students read Making Lemonade-a Reading A-Z book.  Another group read Lemonade Stand.  We also used Lemonade Stand during Guided Math groups, since it involved counting coins. 

Sack Race

Parachute

Parents were available to help sell lemonade so the students could enjoy the field day events.  We could see our lemonade stand from the field.  The students got so excited when they saw the long line of customers.  They were even more excited when we counted the money.  We made more money than we thought we would.  We could have made more, but we ran out of lemonade.  That was another lesson that the "little entrepreneurs" learned.