I AM Poems

A few weeks ago we wrote "I Am" poems.  It's a great way to get to know students.  (And a great thing to display for parents and visitors!)

They turned out beautifully and gave me some interesting insights into our young writers. 

Check out the beautiful language, specific details, and creativity in this one! 

(Sorry to scan in B&W...it was lovely and colorful!)

Check out a sample from Read Write Think here.  Also, if you want to use this template, click here.

Happy writing!

ps... sorry for the lack of posts lately...silly cold.  That's what I get for bragging about my excellent teacher immune system!

Pushing the Reset Button

We're three days into school and so far, so good.  And I've been sitting here staring at my screen for an hour now (okay, and watching Property Brothers) trying to decide what to write. 

Isn't that the way the beginning of the school year goes?  There is so much going on and it's hard to keep track of it all.  But it's also so exciting. 

It's pretty magical, actually, to have a job with a reset button.  No matter what happened the year before, we get to try again.  Even if we didn't actually keep up with all the RTI groups we promised we would, or call as many parents to talk about the positives as we had hoped, or do all the projects to extend students as we dreamed about, we get to try again.  This will be the year when all the pieces fall into place.

It's so unique to teaching and this magical promise of a better, more productive and positive year is still hanging in the air at least for a few more weeks.

 

And yet, as I'm writing, I also know it is crazy to actually think that I can finally achieve the near-perfect year.  I know it's a myth and the reality is meetings and common core and grading and parents and 504s and the list goes on and on.

 

So, I guess what I'm really saying right now is remember, in the midst of getting your reading data binders ready and making your room look picture perfect and completely re-levelling your library, that GRACE is so important.  Grace for our students, but mostly for ourselves.  Because at the end of the year, it won't have been perfect.  But, hopefully, with a little grace, we'll have a few moments along the way that remind us why we wanted to be a teacher.

 

And, if you need a little extra encouragement, check out the wise words of Rita Pierson in her inpsiring TED Talk, "Every Kid Needs a Champion."

 

 

 



Meet the Teacher

It's back to school tomorrow, so I'm keeping it quick, but I wanted to share some pictures from our "Meet and Greet" last night. 

It was a really encouraging night and I'm excited already for 2013-2014!

A poem from a former student about me and a half sheet for students to take home and learn more about me.  It led to some great connections with kiddos, too.

Trying to use these pre-addressed envelopes (by parents) to send home more positive notes this year.  

Wishing you all the best for a great year!