Charter Schools

Charter schools are not allowed here in Washington State, but we will vote on the issue this fall.   (Read the Seattle Times article here.)  I wrestle with this issue.  On one hand, I would like to see less government bureacracy in my profession.  On the other hand, I don't want to substitute the government bureacracy for a corporate one.

I will keep you posted.

Quote of the Week -- July 29, 2012

Intelligence looks for what is known to solve problems. Creativity looks for what is unknown to discover possibilities.

Simon Sinek

 

A Trip to the Park

Recently I took a friend's children to the park.  The two older children had a great time.  The youngest has some sensory issues and so a change in routine is difficult.  At first he was fighting me and trying to bolt into the street.  Next he through himself down on the ground and became limp -- closing his eyes and looking as though he had passed out.

All of the other parents at the park turned to watch.  I could imagine the collective question, "What is wrong with that kid?"

This was a great moment for me to experience as a teacher.  Parents of children with special needs have these moments in public often.  Their child isn't responding to the park, the zoo, or the grocery store the way other children are.  It may feel like a moment of judgment.

This group of parents were not judging my friend's child or my skills as a caregiver.  They showed caring concern and took my cues for what was needed.  He settled in after about a half hour of lying on the wood chips.  When he was done playing, he bolted again across the field.

When I sit in IEP meetings this year, I need to have empathy for my students' parents.  I'm glad I was able to stick my toe in my friend's sandals for an hour or two.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

Frequent readers of this blog know how much I enjoy reading and sharing Rick Riordan's books.  The Red Pyramid is the first of the Kane Chronicles series.  I just finished reading the third and final book in the series.

When my stepdaughter and I started planning our trip to London, there were two places we wanted to see from the first book: the Rosetta Stone (pictured above) and Cleopatra's Needle.  I didn't get a picture of the second of these two sites, because the tour bus was moving too quickly.

Carter and Sadie Kane have been raised apart since their mother's death.  They are reunited when their dad disappears at the British Museum after blowing up the Rosetta Stone.  Carter and Sadie discover their connection to Egyptian history as they battle the evil that has been released into the world.

Click here for a free story plan for students to chart the elements of this story.  This graphic organizer will work for any book.


I give this book a blue ribbon.  For an explanation of my rating system, click here.

You can find me at Goodreads.

School Trips and Holidays

I traveled to London earlier this month just as their schools were ending their terms and getting ready for summer holidays.  My stepdaughter and I took the trains and noticed school groups taking trips to the museums in Central London.  I hadn't planned to be a part of another teacher's field trip, but I felt right at home.  Children are children in every country.

The museums in London are amazing.  Many of them have free admission.  Public transportation gets you within walking distance.  The exhibits themselves are full of artifacts I had only seen in text books: the Rosetta Stone, parts of the Parthenon, and mummies.
  
I was surprised that they let us carry our backpacks and take pictures.  I could do neither in some museums here in Washington State.  I have to say I prefer to have my bags searched instead of leaving them unattended somewhere. 

I found myself planning my own school trip, although it is highly unlikely I will be taking my fourth graders from Seattle to London.

Quote of the Week -- July 22, 2012

 

Diary of a Word Nerd

Thank you, Julia Tomiak at Diary of a Word Nerd who invited me to be a guest blogger this week.  I wrote about choosing books for my elementary classroom.  You can find my guest post here.

Check out Diary of a Word Nerd for other information for teachers and writers.  Her site is dedicated to building vocabulary through literature and "Word Nerd Workouts".