March has been a crazy month! It started with some intense review for the MCAS (standardized test). Then we had the actual MCAS test (2 days of Reading Comprehension testing). Now, we have a month to review everything you could possibly want to know about Science (aka what the students learned in grades 3-5 including electricity, magnetism, solar system, simple machines, habitats, plants, etc) and everything we learned in math so far this year (multiplication, division, graphing, fractions, decimals, order of operations, geometry, etc). It is amazing the quantity and depth of information these students need to know. Everyone is counting down the days first to April Vacation (which is much needed and will be even more needed after 8 full weeks with no breaks). After that it will be the countdown to when MCAS are finally over mid-May. Then it's a little over a month to the end of the year.
Have you ever noticed how we always are looking forward to the next thing? Something better coming down the road? I want you to join me in praying to be thankful for the present, although it seems really hard to be joyful now when I am exhausted and feel there is "better coming". I didn't give anything up for Lent this year, but from now until Easter I am going to try to be thankful for the present and not look longingly down the road 3 weeks or a year from now. Join me!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Spring is near (poem)
Wind rushing past me:
not the type that freezes to the core,
but the type that comforts.
Mud and puddles surround me.
Spring is near.
Birds chirp!
Signs of life are everywhere.
Rushing water down the stream;
Children on the beach.
Spring is definitely near.
Soon, the mud will be filled with flowers.
The trees will start to bud.
The thaw has started.
When 55 degrees feels like a summer day.
You know spring is near!
not the type that freezes to the core,
but the type that comforts.
Mud and puddles surround me.
Spring is near.
Birds chirp!
Signs of life are everywhere.
Rushing water down the stream;
Children on the beach.
Spring is definitely near.
Soon, the mud will be filled with flowers.
The trees will start to bud.
The thaw has started.
When 55 degrees feels like a summer day.
You know spring is near!
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Projects
My students are very good at projects! It is definitely a strength for many of them. Today I worked on a model to show them for our upcoming book report on Fantasies.
Here is what happens when I spend most of Sunday afternoon working:
Pretty proud of it, but I feel like I'm back doing book reports again. Luckily, I've read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe at least 7 times
The rest of the project will include taking notes on the story and writing what is called a biopoem about one of the characters. Here's mine:
Here is what happens when I spend most of Sunday afternoon working:
The rest of the project will include taking notes on the story and writing what is called a biopoem about one of the characters. Here's mine:
Lucy
Caring, Honest, Open-minded, Loving
Sister of Edmund, Peter, and Susan
Lover of animals, justice, and family
Who feels teased, scared, and protected by Aslan
Who needs affirmation, friends, and confidence
Who fears the White Witch, death, and rejection
Who gives love, healing, and care
Who would like to see her family united, Mr.Tumnus saved, and the White Witch
defeated
Resident of England and Narnia
Pevensie
It's fun to be able to share some of my favorite stories with my students.
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