A year ago, I would have never guessed I’d be where I am today.  I suppose a lot can happen in a year.  I left my old school – my first teaching job, after six years for a new school.  There were some amazing people at my old school. They supported me, helped me learn [...]

Oh my students never cease to amaze me.  Calvin did something today that has to rank as one of the sweetest gestures I’ve ever seen. Well today, Calvin hadn’t even walked into the classroom, and he handed me a book.  It was Whistle for Willie. Now we’ve read many Ezra Jack Keats books and I’ve [...]

Joey has an older brother.  In fact, his older brother goes to our school.  Sam is in fifth grade so the age difference is pretty big, but the way he takes care of his little brother is something to be admired. Last week, the book fair started in our school’s library.  The day it began, [...]

Today during Sharing, Joey decided to tell the class what he was doing over our Spring Break, which doesn’t happen for another week. “I’m going campin’ on the ‘cation,” he blurted out. Now, during Sharing, it’s common for me to comment or ask clarifying questions. “Joey, where are you going camping?” I wondered.  This wasn’t [...]

Love really is all you need.  I know, I know, it’s much easier said than done. Trust me, I know.  This year, I have one little guy, William that has really challenged me.  I have tried every trick in the book: preferential seating, behavior charts, positive feedback, and, well, I ‘ve thought about duct tape, [...]

We had an assembly today.  It was a good one, but it was on the loooong side. Like over an hour long.  Which is never good for my sprouts.  Sitting more than fifteen minutes is hard.  Well today, to help out, I ended up with a drum set.  Let me explain. If I notice a [...]

Yes, you read that correctly, Chickerella.  She showed me just how important and powerful our Fairy Tale unit has been. We started with Cinderella and ready many versions… even Dogerella, but I had never heard of Chickerella.  Until yesterday, when Maria, a little girl who is just learning English, came running over to me during [...]

We are winding down our study of fairy tales (I plan to go out with a bang next week, but you’ll have to wait to find out more about that…) and we finished with Jack and the Beanstalk.  After starting with a physical sculpture activity again using some of the action verbs from the story [...]

The creative juices are flowing in my classroom.  Turbo charged.  It’s something to behold. This morning, we started by working in three small groups.  With an adult to guide each group (and my wonderful Ed Tech Ms. C. to guide me), each group worked to make physical body sculptures of things from the Goldilocks and [...]

We all hate it.  I realize a lot of work goes into most professional development (here on out referred to as PD) days for teachers, but most of us (well at least me) are used to being in the classroom.  We love to be active, moving around, engaged in something, anything.  Most PD days have [...]