Two Great Books

Ask a teacher for a good book about reading and writing and I guarantee the will spout off a list with the usual names: Fountas, Pinnel, Fletcher, Caulkins, Graves, Allington and so on. This past year I was introduced to a new name that I keep reading ever and over. Aimee Buckner, writes Notebook Connections: Strategies for the Reader's Notebook and Notebook Know-How: Strategies for the Writer's notebook.. Ive read the readers/writers worksop bibles by the authors who most teachers list but these two books are my go to books. If you want to find out what readers/writers workshop is and want some theory then read from the list but if you want practical advice on how to apply the principals set forth by the gurus then read Aimee Buckner. I suggest reading Notebook Know-how first. You'll want to run to your classroom and try the activities out. Then read Notebook Connections to learn to guide your students towards having deeper responses to their reading and connect their reading to writing. I promise I am not being paid by Aimee but just believe in her work. Both books are short reads but be aware that if you don't sit down to read them with some sort of page markers and a highlighter you WILL get up to get them during your reading. Enjoy!!

First Impressions

Every year in the first days back at school, when teachers get their class lists, reminds me of a snapshot of the NY stock exchange. Teachers in previous grades are offering advice on students. You often hear, "You have a great/ tough class this year." or "He needs to sit right next to you." the stories start being told and the lists are marked up with suggestions for seat placement or tricks. Then every year the kids come in and things begin to change. They all seem perfect at first. You think the other teachers misrepresented them. Then the honeymoon period ends. Some of them begin to show their true colors. I say "some" because I honestly believe that most students are not given a fair shake from previous teachers. Often the student/ teacher relationship is so different each year. In my past few years I've tried to a avoid the "stock market" gathering so I could formulate my own opinions and only seek out previous teachers when I needed validation. This year, on my new adventure, I have chosen to do this with teachers as well. I've been meeting new people everyday and I'm choosing to bypass the unsolicited opinions on other teachers and judge for myself. Stay tuned for how this turns out.

Classroom Before and After

I can't believe it's almost been a year. So much has happened. I've moved to Oklahoma with my two kids (my husband will join us when he sells the house back in Massachusetts). I have accepted a job as a third grade teacher and am excited and nervous. I've never taught 3rd grade or in another state for that matter. On July 5th we packed up an ABF trailer( that's a whole other post) with all my school stuff. 4 days later we unloaded it and put it all in the new classroom. I left a lot behind for a new teacher. I can't believe how many "essentials" I had and anyone who knows me well knows that I am constantly cleaning out my stuff. Well here are pics of the before and after of my classroom. If you notice there are no windows because my new room is also the tornado shelter for our pod.