The teacher and the surgeon

Here is the video from Tuesday's Meeting.  Come back to it often for inspiration and motivation!

Wonderopolis

I added a new web site to our list. It is Wonderopolis.org.  This is a great site to spur questions, build background knowledge, and spark writing ideas.  Each day a new question is posed.  When you click on the question, you are taken to information, videos, etc. that help answer the question.  You can also go back to see previous questions/answers.  This is appropriate for all grade levels and would be a great morning work activity.  Check it out!

Dog Days of Winter

Welcome to the Dog Days of Winter!  This is such a challenging time of year to be an educator: testing is looming in the back of our minds,we worry we haven't done all we can for our students, pressures of student achievement are high, snow days have ruined the routine we've so carefully set in place in our classrooms, and it's darn cold outside!  Last year, we read a monologue about the creation of a teacher.  I found this on youtube and thought it would be a reminder of the important work we do and what we're made of.  We are a special kind of people.  I hope this touches you as much as it does me...

Workshop Model Website

For those of you looking for more information on developing your reading and writing workshops, this site has been created by a teacher in the Troy school district.  It is a great place to look for the basics.  Thank you Kristie for bringing this site to our attention!


http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/index.htm

From this site, go to literacy links...

Math Workshop Instruction Model

The following link is exactly what we're trying to accomplish not only in math education, but in all content areas. Please take the time to watch this entire video and reflect on how your classroom has or can evolve into this workshop model...in math, or in any other content area.  Look for the routines and expectations this teacher has put into place to encourage deep thinking and a safe environment for his students.  If you want to partner after break to work towards this model, let's get together in January!!

Transition Song for Primary

Students have a better time transitioning from one activity/lesson to another when music is used as a cue.   The following alphabet song might be a suitable transition song for primary classrooms as it is mellow and a perfect length - allowing students time to organize themselves for the next lesson or activity.  Let me know what you think...

Beginning a New Book Can Be So Confusing!

I recently read that it is normal for good readers to be confused when they begin a new book.  Isn't that the truth!  I recently read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.  The beginning chapters set the foundation for the rest of the novel.  Many characters, settings, events, and plots are introduced and when I began this novel I almost had to take notes to keep it all straight. I found myself rereading, asking questions, making predictions, inferring, trying to visualize, thinking about what I already knew to draw conclusions...and when that didn't help, I simply kept reading, staying confused.  In fact, I almost abandoned the book several times, but instead muddled through, and I am so glad I did!  It ended up being one of my favorite reads this fall. 

This is such an important message to share with students.  Many of our students think if they don't understand everything when they read, they are not comprehending and end up abandoning books before they reach the meat of the text and perhaps miss out on a captivating read. 

So how do we help students build stamina and perseverance when beginning an appropriate text that may at first seem confusing?

• Model, model, model...think aloud, think aloud, think aloud! (using high interest/quality text)
• Also teach students to use thinking strategies for getting through the first few chapters of a novel, or sections of a non-fiction text.
• Journal to keep track of thinking, questions, predictions, etc.
• Perhaps consider a double entry journal between you and the student
• Talk to peers, or you, about their thinking
• Set goals before abandoning a text or appealing for help

So next time you pick up a new book to hunker down with, think about how you approach the first few chapters. Use that reflection share with your students.

Happy Reading!
Kathy