Kid Quote

One of my students grinned at me last week and announced, "My haters are my motivators."  I don't know if that is original to him, but I love it.

Quote of the Week -- December 9, 2012

“Much education today is monumentally ineffective.  All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants.”

John W. Gardner

Have a good week,

 



The Case of the Missing Snowman

You build a snowman and come inside for some cocoa.  While you are warming up, you are looking out the window when you see your snowman come to life.  Write what happens next.

For complete lesson plans using this prompt visit my TpT store for a free download.  Lesson is aligned with Common Core Standards.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

As many books as I have read for the age group I teach, I had not read any of the books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series until recently.  I have a few students who read several years below the rest of the class.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid is challenging for this group.

I was having a reading conference with one of my students and he was struggling through Dog Days (Book 4)  I was trying to convince him that it wasn't a just right book.  He was determined to change my mind.

Over the next several days, he practiced.  He would come back to me and show me how he was reading more fluently and accurately.  I know this series helped motivate him to work harder.

This isn't the type of book I would pick up and read.  My husband describes the series as for boys by a boy.  (My girls read them, too.)  I did understand the attraction and there are some situations that caused me to laugh loudly.

Here is a printable reading log where students can keep track of the books they have finished and recommend them to others.

For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.

Keeping it Real

I belong to a Facebook group of teacher bloggers.  Every now and then one of us writes about when our real life intersects with our online life.  Some situations are awkward.

I am glad that I have a couple of teachers who know me in real life read my blog sometimes.  I know it keeps me honest about what my teaching life is really like.  I can't exaggerate or embellish. 

When I post something, I know the chances of it being read in my real life are pretty good.  I won't be embarrassed by what I write.

Quote of the Week -- December 2, 2012

"Pessimism kills the instinct that urges men to struggle against poverty, ignorance and crime, and dries up all the fountains of joy in the world."

Helen Keller

Have a good week,

 

It's Here! Winter Holiday Teaching Tips and Freebies

I am excited to be a part of this project for the second year.  Fifty Teachers Pay Teachers sellers have posted special freebies for third to sixth grade classrooms.  You can download your free copy of Winter Holidays Teaching Tips and Freebies and see the resources that are available.

Update: I've already read it cover to cover and downloaded several items to use in my classroom the next three weeks.  I hope you find some great stuff.