Thinking Part 3

Thinking about thinking some more.

Chapter 3 in Mosaic of Thought is titled "Mindful Reading."

As I began this chapter I wrote in my journal this--"When reading I don't really monitor my thinking. Only when I read technical pieces/books. Fiction, poetry, songs are all surface levels of understanding. Why would I need to do more?"

By the end of the chapter I came around to understand that I am doing way more than I even thought I was. I didn't have the words to describe what I have been doing, or notice that I was doing it. Hence, the problem with teaching comprehension.

If I do not know what I do or how I do it or why I do it, I cannot possibly be able to teach those skills to someone else.

The authors gave an amazing list of what proficient readers do when reading on pages 63-65. It was this list that led me to understand that I am using those skills and strategies. Hallelujah! I have assimilated the strategies to the extent of using them without even knowing it. Not sure I can teach them yet, but at least I am effectively using them when I read fiction (and nonfiction).

Two long narratives captivated me. I loved the first one about a high school teacher named Cris. She very creatively taught struggling readers about monitoring for meaning and how to do it. After she taught them, they practiced using their textbooks (science, math) and manuals (computer, SAT forms).

I may not have cared about this in high school and might have thought it stupid to be taught this, but I think it would be great to have a school full of teachers like Cris.

The other narrative was set in an elementary class.

Not only do we get to read about her good instruction, we are privy to her thinking as she teaches. That in itself is great to read.

I need no longer fear when a student is not comprehending. I will celebrate the opportunity to learn together.

The Year of the Planner

Last school year has become known as "The Year of the Pencil Sharpener." Remember the craze last summer, August, September? Everyone was posting about this pencil sharpener...

I got mine (in red, of course) on August 18, 2012. (My purchase story is here. Many teachers can relate to it.) The sharpener went to school with me and 9 were ordered by PTO for our classrooms and the office. AMAZING.

My husband refers to the 2012-2013 school year as the "Year of the Pencil Sharpener." As in...

1. Remember, that happened in the year of the pencil sharpener.

2. We took a trip to Disney World in the year of the pencil sharpener.

It is time for the new year to begin. 2013-2014 is now known as "The Year of the Planner."

Love it!

This was by my front door this afternoon. A box from Erin Condren.

(Not sure why the FedEx guy never rings the doorbell, I would smile and be polite to him...)

The fancy packaging.

The week after school was out, as I was blog reading, I came to a blog with a video that went through the planner, section by section. I was SOLD! But the price. Could I really justify it?

(Certainly wish I could remember whose blog I was at...There has to be a way to search--like in Google Reader--but I haven't figured it out.)

I tried to recreate the planner with free pages from TpT. But I still had to bind it, and the wonderful laminated front cover? So amazing.

With one day left in the teacher appreciation sale (15% off) my husband said, sure, order it.

I was hesitant, do I really do it? Will it be wonderful? Is there something better?

Yes, do it. It is wonderful. I have not seen anything better.

So begins the year of the planner.

Thinking Part 2

Time to get back to "Thinking About Thinking,"and chapter 2 of Moasic of Thought.

As a teacher I want to lead my students toward loving to read. What an ambitious statement. If I break it down, what does it mean?

Years ago I was a special education teacher. I took many hours of training in how to teach children to read. I mean, decode. As I spoke with other sped teachers we all agreed on one thing. Teaching children to decode was easy (relatively), but when it came to teaching them how to comprehend we were all wondering how.

Now I'm a first grade teacher. Decoding is fun, exciting, rewarding. Comprehension is what, how, when? So the same questions.

I also work in a district that has not had a basal for 15 or so years. Many of us have been crying this past year, just give us a basal and we will be happy. But that is not in the plan--at least until something is really Common Core aligned.

If we have a basal, will we be able to get the kids to read (and comprehend)? That is what a majority of us thought would happen.

But now I have my own questions about a basal series. The basal will not make me a better teacher. The basal will give me a false sense of security. I need Professional Development in comprehension instruction. I need to know my students and what they need. I need to immerse myself in comprehension lesson design. 

The good news is that I think I am on the right track. I have my group of core teachers that will wrestle with comprehension with me and a plan for next year.

Thinking About Thinking

So many times I think, "How did she know that?" Or, "I never learned about that in college."

Right now I'm referring to reading comprehension.

This year my buddies and I had several conversations about read-alouds, comprehension and good teaching. Mrs. Roux was super pumped about this book.

Find the book on Amazon.

I bought it on Memorial Day and read chapter 1 this morning. 

Can you say, "a bit overwhelmed?" I took notes, wrote down questions that I hope will be answered, and sighed a lot.

When I went to college I had NO IDEA that teaching was this thought-provoking. Or this scary. My job is to teach these kids. Not just sounds and sight words, but how to comprehend a text. Heck, I'm not sure how I even comprehend a text. It just happens (or it doesn't and I put the text away). 

So, I'm thinking I better get on to the next chapters. Get some information, ideas, and learn what I need to know.

What a Week! What a Day!

I'm so tired I don't even want to write this. But I need to write this. So, here goes...

Doodle Bugs Teaching has a great weekly linky party that I like to participate in. It is a fun (and structured) way to share about my day.

1. Our students ran a farmer's market today. The adults helped out also. The adults hauled the goods (baked goods, flowers/plants, artwork and tables) two blocks to the convenience store and set up shop. These kids are holding a sign to encourage motorists to stop and buy. See the orange cones? That was the line to stay behind. US 50 is on the other side of the line. 

2. These sweeties will be in first grade in August. The redhead spent the whole time with me, just hanging out and chatting.

3. Some kids passed the time with sidewalk chalk. This friend got really messy with the chalk, but he had a great time.

4. This farmer arrived on his tractor. After he bought some rolls, he left again.

5. I spent the afternoon putting the finishing touches on my classroom. I may be moving. I'm not sure when I find out. I started to pack, but then decided to wait. So today was the "throw everything into a cupboard/shelf/cabinet day." Guess that will be waiting for me in August or July.

 (And my van packed full of all the STUFF I may or may not need over the summer.)

End of the year happens twice for me. Once in May. And another today. Tomorrow I can take 3 naps and watch HGTV all day long (at least when I'm awake).

Ag Camp was great, and we are already planning for next June and that Ag Camp.

By the way... Remember the cow paintings we made? Every.Single.One. sold today. The paintings were bought by either the child or a parent of the child that created the painting. Even my painting sold. My mother-in-law bought it. That made me smile. But it also made me sad (I wanted to take my painting home with me). But maybe I can see it when I visit her and I have a photo of it.

Take a little trip over to 

and see what my friends have been up to. Leave a comment if you want or follow a new-to-you blog. I love finding a new blog.

Ag Camp

School was officially over May 23. 

Last week was a lazy week. Some reading. Some thinking. Loads of HGTV watching.

This week is "Back to School." The Ag Camp way.

Our students have the option of coming to camp (one week, 8-12) at school. We volunteer to run centers. This year we are lucky to have 6 centers that the kids rotate through.

1. Kitchen: so far they have made strawberry jam, cinnamon rolls, dog biscuits.

2. PE: cup stacking, Wii, Minute to Win it.

3. Wheat weaving: stars and I'm not sure what else.

4. Painting: (This is my center.) We have been working on a cow painting. Tomorrow is a watercolor (I have yet to decide the subject.)

5. Soybeans: making products from soybeans like lip balm, bath salts and hand lotion.

6. Tie dye and garden: they tie dyed shirts on Monday, and then harvested potatoes and onions from our garden.

Tomorrow is our last day of doing the centers, because on Friday we will sell it all at our Farmer's Market. We will walk the two blocks to the convenience store and set up shop. We will be open until we are out of products.

I am totally in love with our cow paintings.

The idea came from Art Projects for Kids. (I love that site, go check it out!)

And because we are selling this art, each child did their painting on a real piece of canvas!

Day 1 (Monday): Draw the cow following my directions. The kids used a pencil. Then went over all lines with a Sharpie.

Day 2 (Tuesday): Paint the cow.

Day 3 (Wednesday): Add Mod Podge to seal the painting.

 (I love this picture.)

This is my cow. I HAD to do one, right? As an example? I loved it.

I'm kinda looking forward to next week when I can be lazy again...

It's June!

Happy June my friends!

Lazy days. Thoughts of healthy lifestyles. Books and HGTV to devour. 

Perhaps some good Writing Workshop reading.

And the June Currently by Farley at Oh Boy Fourth Grade. 

My son watched the movie Les Mis this spring and fell in love with the music. We have a CD soundtrack and he loves listening to it. And singing along. And I love listening to him. He loves Les Mis so much that my husband is taking him to see a production this summer. Just the two of them. I'm so happy for them.

The weather was just right. Cool enough for sweats and a nap. If I had plans to be outside I may not have liked it quite so much.

Knowing that I will be back at school next week for Ag Camp, I didn't find it necessary to really clean up yet. School was out on May 23, and I have spent only 3 hours on cleaning/packing. Not nearly enough.

I ordered an Erin Condren Teacher Planner yesterday. I could have spent a lot of time printing, planning and binding a less expensive planner, but I am getting a dreamy planner. (Erin Condren Teacher Planner)

Needing to pack. I will be switching classrooms. Not grade levels. But holy moly! Two teachers retired in my room, so my stuff and their stuff needs to be packed, moved, unpacked, and ready to go. The good news is that I finally am taking time to see what treasures are hidden in the room.

Vacation: I need my family, I get lonely without them; some books to read; and my phone, to check in on my instagram, blog and facebook friends.

That's my currently. What's going on in your neck of the woods?

Time for me to hop on over to Farley and leave some comments. Want to join me?