Poetry Masterpieces

Check out these amazing masterpieces!  I have been so, so impressed with my poets this year and am loving the gallery that has developed in my room. 

 

 

A close-up of my favorite watercolor:

Beautiful symbolism in her work:

I think this piece is going to inspire a whole separate post later this week.  This little poet blew me away with all of his revision and hard work!  He was inspired by Billy Collins poem On Turning Ten.

This one makes me almost like geese!  (Don't mind the messy shelf in the background!)

Masterpieces for SURE!

How it's Made

I hope you've caught the Science Channel's show, "How It's Made."  I find it completely mesmerizing to see the process that makes so many everyday objects: from laundry machines to apple pies.

As part of our economics unit, we teach the concept of specialization.  In class we do a demonstration of specialization in an assembly line production, but I wanted to let the students see specialization by machines and people in action.

I'll share a few of my favorites with you.


1. Baseballs!  Did you know they take a week to make?

2. Crayons!  (Who doesn't remember the video from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood of the crayon factory?  Classic.  Here's the H.I.M. version.)

 

3. Who knew baseball gloves were SOOO labor intensive?  This one clearly shows how each worker has a unique role in the production process.

 

4. Donuts...I dare you to watch this and not get hungry!



There are so many more on the How It's Made website.  Consider me addicted.

Girls are Running

 

I went to a Girls on the Run training event this week. Sweet student and I are going I rock her first 5k in a few weeks!

It was so inspiring to see these awesome girls training so hard do their race...and encouraging each other so well along the way!

There were so many great touches...awesome mentors, moms and dads running with their daughters, healthy snacks at the finish, and more. The girls also got a styling bracelet for each lap around the track to help keep count.  I mean, is there a better for motivator than jewelry?!

But my favorite touch was the way the coaches had written encouraging chalk messages on the track, including personalized shout-outs to each girl. 

 

The sweeties even called some of them out to each other as they ran by! Nothing like hearing, "We are beautiful!" when you're sweating it out!

 

I'm still pondering how to steal this idea somehow for my classroom, maybe during testing... I'll keep you posted.

 

Poems for Two Voices

My little poets have been so impressive throughout our poetry unit.  So I've been adding some fun challenges as we wrap up our unit and they continue working on a piece to publish.  Up next: Two Voice (or Double Voice)Poetry!

We looked at examples from the master, Paul Fleischman.  Fleischman was the first poet to win a Newbery for his book, Joyful Noise.

 

 

 

Our study mostly focused on the poem "Fireflies."  In order to hear a two-voice poem read aloud we watched this clip read by a high school speech duo (names unknown).

 

 

 

Then students partnered up to create their own two voice poems.  It's always a fun way to hear different viewpoints on a subject.  And even more fun to perform!



Happy Week-Before-Testing-Week Week!

Here's a little gem for you:

How are you getting ready for testing?  Yesterday we created some awesome Show Me presentations.  Check them out!  It was way better than the way I used to review these skills and the students love watching their classmates themselves.

Challenge Accepted

Blogger Chelsea at wheredidthebirdgo.com is incredible. Inspired by her daughter's autism diagnosis, she created a forum for moms to encourage and inspire one another.

She has issued a challenge, not just to moms, but anyone who loves kids, to create letter in just 25 words. It can express love, wishes, affirmations, and more. Whatever comes from the heart! Think of how this simple act and a few minutes can impact the lives of children. And maybe even change the world.

I took the challenge for my students. I'm going to read it to them soon and have them try the activity writing to someone they love as well. Are you with us?

Girls on the Run

I am horrified by what happened today at the Boston Marathon. It is terrible and sad and I have no words. Only prayers!

So I will use the inspiration of Jon Stewart who said after September 11, "The reason I don't worry about the world is nineteen people knocked down two buildings and killed thousands. Hundreds of people ran into those buildings to save them. I'll take those odds every day."

In that spirit, when I heard about the tragedy, I had just finished running with one of my students. She asked me about a week ago to run a 5k with her and I was honored to say yes.

She has been training with the amazing group, Girls on the Run. Their mission is to promote healthy body image, friendships, goal setting and more through running. I just love it and can't wait to be a part of the race in about a month.

So that is how I will try to remember today.