Ten Blue Ribbon Books -- My Choices for Reading Aloud

Here are ten books that I have recently read and reviewed that would be my picks for reading aloud in an upper elementary classroom.  Click on the links to find out more about each book.  Each book review has a teaching suggestion to go with it and often a printable graphic organizer.

The Gollywhopper Games
Flora and Ulysses
Lemonade and Other Poems Squeezed from a Single Word
Lincoln's Grave Robbers
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Fortunately the Milk
Something to Hold
Have a Hot Time, Hades
Starry River of the Sky
Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor





If you are interested in all of my graphic organizers, please visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store for the paid products below.

 Graphic Organizers for Reading Literature

Graphic Organizers for Reading Informational Text

10 Creative Writing Forms for Narratives

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
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Do you feel stuck?

This year I packed up my twenty-fourth classroom and decided not to return next year.  I submitted a letter of resignation and I'm currently looking for a job outside of education.

This wasn't the first year that I considered leaving public education.  About nine years ago I went to my first retirement seminar to see what options I had.  At that time I decided I needed to teach five more years to reach twenty years of service.  Each year after that I found a reason to keep teaching.  This year I knew by September 12 I had had enough.  I progressed through the year with the goal to make this year the best possible for this group of fourth graders, and simultaneously I made an exit plan.

My first attempt at this blog post was whiny -- detailing all the things I believe are wrong in public education, but I am not really a whiny person.  I like to take action.  I have decided to share in several blog posts how I have decided to move forward.  There are plenty of blog posts encouraging teachers to stay in teaching.  I want to share what happens when you know it's time to move on.

 

This spring I read a book called Do Over by Jon Acuff.  I was encouraged by his four areas of assets people have as they consider a career move: relationships, skills, character, and hustle.  Working through the book, I could see how many abilities I have that will transfer to a different industry.  I am enjoying reconnecting with friends and family.  I am taking an accounting course to learn some new skills.  I have the next few steps of a plan.



Notice that I wrote I have the next few steps.  I'm not completely sure where this path will take me.  What I know for sure is I have peace for the first time in a long time.  I don't want to discourage the teachers who know that education is still their calling.  I want to encourage those who just feel stuck.

I plan to keep blogging this next year to share the ideas that I have collected over the last twenty-four years.  I invite you to keep reading.

Quote of the Week -- June 28, 2015

 

"Don't complain. Contribute."  Simon Sinek

Metric Measurement Review

This post wraps up the series of measurement activities I have been sharing for intermediate students. To find all of my measurement activities, click on the "measurement" tag at the bottom of the post.

 To download the freebie shown below, click here.

 This activity is based on my Odd One Out series of activities.  I give each group a half sheet with four items on it and students write everything they know about the measurements.

The full paid product is available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store and my Teacher's Notebook store.

Happy Friday!

Junior Genius Guides by Ken Jennings

You may recognize the name Ken Jennings as a winner on Jeopardy.  He has also written a series of informational books for elementary students. 

The books are engaging and interactive.  Each book has suggestions for related activities and a quiz at the end.  The books are also infused with the type of humor that grade school students enjoy.  (He has school-aged children.)

Several of my students enjoyed reading his books this year.

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
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I don't need the slide show

 

Recently I attended a gathering for a pastor who has served his congregation for 28 years.  The hosts showed pictures and videos from his time showing his work and how much the people appreciated him.  I've been in my district 24 years, but I've decided I don't need a slideshow.

 

You see I have the real thing.  Every week this year, I have run into my former students out in the real world in their jobs and lives.  They are glad to see me...glad to tell me what they are doing.  I know that I have made a difference in my community.  They are still my kids.

 

I have really needed this constant reminder this year.  I worked with the most challenging student I have ever met.  Her life has been so difficult, I don't blame her defensive posture.  Due to changes in her foster family and her educational placement, she did not finish the year with me.

 

Fortunately, I knew before she did that she would need to move.  It gave me the chance to prepare her instead of just being one more adult that gave up on her.

 

I had told her about seeing former students all year long and telling her that I still think of them as my kids.  On her last day with us she told me that she might move schools.

 

"That's okay," I told her. "Remember that no matter what you are still my kid."  I refused to say good-bye.

Quote of the Week -- June 21, 2015

Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid of only standing still.

Chinese Proverb

Have a good week,