Slice 2012 - 13 of 31 Plan

Plan
Plans
Planner
Planned
Planning

I am one who likes to plan.  Spring Break is approaching fast and today, three days away our family plans changed.  So, I am trying to accept changed plans and do the preparation needed for the new plan which involves laundry, gathering clothes from the basement determining who fits what, shopping for a bathing suit, flip flops, sunscreen, more laundry and things to do gathering.  Did I mention I like to have time when planning?  Things are busier than I expected.

Slice 2012 - 12 of 31 Kindergarten Slice

Each day I wait to see what I might be able to find to write more about from that day.  Truly a slice, a moment to capture.  Something from the here and now, in the moment of daily living.  Today it comes from my classroom.  I think because I didn't expect so many little things to happen and make it an odd day.

As the students were entering the room today busily doing their morning routine and settling in, one of my boys burst into tears and I couldn't understand what was concerning this small friend.  I finally figured it he wanted to keep his Star Wars library book for more time.  He wasn't finished reading it.  That was an easy fix.  About the same time, one of my little girls was trying to make a morning explore time choice and was very determined to work with blocks and was equally determined to follow the rules about how many friends could be there which put her at a standstill.  Even with coaching her feet were firmly planted and luckily some friends made some changes and her feet could bend.  

We were sharing some work we did over the weekend on Kidblog and I asked a student to share his story because honestly I couldn't pronounce the ninja names and such.  It was all spelled correctly, he is a proficient  reader and I thought it would highlight some strengths and a shift in his work lately.  He really struggled and started crying, worried he couldn't read it.  His head went on my shoulder and a whisper voice with a quivering lip.  Somehow, I made it through this melt down.

At lunch I sent a student to the nurse for a daily routine he does and he threw up in the clinic.  Yea, not in my room but yuck to have any student get sick and go home.

During independent reading, we've had a guiding policy/routine we don't get up unless it's an emergency for the bathroom.  A small friend was trying to wait to use the bathroom, trying to hold it, trying to follow the rule and couldn't wait anymore.  Had an accident and didn't tell me til reading time was over.  How do you balance that with then the child across the room who now has a distraction from reading each day needing a trip to the bathroom.  It's near the end of the time and I say no only to diligently watch and see the student never goes to use the bathroom.

In general; tired eyes, slow clean ups, chatty transitions were my sweet sweet children today.  Maybe it's the time change my third grader is very in-tune with the time it should be.  We had lots of extra time on February 29th making up for the hour lost.  Maybe we chalk it up to a Monday.  Maybe we chalk it up to anticipation for our first field trip on Wed.  Either way, the day is done.  Another will come.

Slice 2012 - 11 of 31 How to Over Come some Bumps

How to over come some bumps.
-Go to bed early!
-Wake up early and enjoy an early morning walk with two dogs.
-Come back and make a scone for breakfast.
-Appreciate the clean kitchen from yesterdays work.
-Make a list of meals for the week.
-Inspect the fridge for grocery needs and make a list.
-Go to the grocery store, early.
-Tackle and revamp 2 daughter's closets.
-Go to lacrosse practice and watch, not play.
-Go for a run, a little bumpy it wasn't as easy as anticipated.
-Drop off recycling and feel good about making a difference.
-In general, keep conversations simple.
-Play Multiplication tic-tac-toe.
-Read a chapter in the Borrowers.
-Head to bed early.

I have been over extending my waking hours and I know how important sleep is.  It's easier to wake up in the morning.  Patience is easier with more sleep.  Patience is a good word to pay attention to as a parent and a teacher.  Sleep helps stamina for busy days ahead.  One more week of school and then spring break, yea.

Slice 2012 - 10 of 31 Bump

Bump
Bump
Bum-pity
Bump

Just that kind of day.

We Jumped and Landed - SOLS 9

I just finished commenting on 22 Kidblog first blog entries by my kindergarten students!  When I got logged in this evening I wanted to comment in hopes of helping any families figure out phonetic spelling.  I sometimes forget how hard it can be for others to figure this out.  I also wanted to give my students a comment to show them how they would receive feedback from their readers.  

Our first session with Kidblog was a great success!  I had three parent volunteers come in to help us while we posted.  I always have the parents set up the laptops and log us in to the software or website we will be using.  I find this support in getting us where we need to be prevents frustration for myself and my students.  I organized the students into small groups so each adult had 4-5 students to help.  I gave the students a special writing page for writing their story ahead of time.  I wrote the title in a rectangular text box as they would see on page they would post.  I thought if the title was spelled correctly it might be another clue for readers in figuring out phonetic spellings or semi-phonetic spellings.  I had three lines below for the students to draft their blog entry.  I had a friend on twitter share he just started kidblog.org in K and had the students write the ideas first on paper.  This was key in our success.  I think it would be very hard for my students to compose and type at the same time.  Writing and keyboarding are two different students.  We had not really done any typing using the keyboard and I was a bit worried.  No need, they all figured it out.  I ended our session showing them how they could post comments and that was the end of our day.  After seeing a photo on my friend Katie's blog with her students using laptops in various spaces around the room I wondered why I always had them sitting at tables when we work in the library.  Today we were in the room and two groups worked on the carpet which felt just felt better.  I like things spread out and it worked well.

As I was leaving comments from today's entries, I knew blogging was a great thing to start with my students.  One student had already written a new story and posted it.  This same student left a comment on another student's post.  I have another student who comment on two of his friends pieces.  I have a student can read and spell any word.  It's quite interesting but struggles to write any depth beyond a sentence with paper and pencil.  His second entry today was a small paragraph and a story all about a Lego series.  It's all lowercase, with spacing, and correct spelling.  I know his piece wasn't drafted completely using pencil and paper.  I would bet L was able to draft and type as he went.  I wonder why there is such a discrepancy.  I really need to explore my thinking here and fast.  I hope my parents read my letter I wrote last night and join their child this weekend to expand our writing community.  

Jumping In...SOSL 8

Must dash to bed but I have been writing for over an hour as I composed a newsletter to my families about our journey with kidblog.org during our laptop time tomorrow.  I enjoy writing and explaining things to parents in hopes of helping them understand what we are doing, how to do something, or help with understand learning as it develops.  I've never used kidblog.org before.  I am excited to share and distribute our writing tomorrow beyond our classroom walls.  I am hoping to receive feedback from our families to help us grow as writers.  With my student's slightly wacky attendance plan, I will probably need parents to help students follow any comments they receive.  This is my introductory paragraph,

Dear Families,

I’m very excited to share with you a new digital tool we are using to produce and publish our writing.  Kidblog.org was explored today during our time with the building laptop computers.   A blog is defined as a website containing the writer’s or a group of writers’ own experiences and observations.  Kidblog was created by teachers with the intent to make blogging safe for elementary and middle school students.  Kidblog allows the teachers to monitor the publishing and commenting within our community. 

So Nice To Notice! SOLS 7

My girls are each three and a half years apart, making my oldest and youngest seven years apart.  Right now I have one in high school, one in middle school, and a third grader.  Needless to say, life can be interesting at any given moment on any given day.  My middle school daughter, A and my third grader B have been very close but I knew this year with them in different schools and with different stages of growing up there would be some bumps in the road.  It's hard to watch each of them figure this out in their own way and I find myself wondering how can we get back to easier days for them to be together.

Tonight I stepped out for a boot camp session at the Y with a personal trainer in a small group.  I'm sure this will be a slice of life at some point.  While I was gone A and B found each other again.  How did I know?  I noticed.  I noticed after showering, they had the same hairstyle.  A wet up-do with one single pony tail holder.  There was a third grade measurement scavenger hunt completed but written in A's handwriting.  There must of been teamwork for that.  B is our first daughter to share a talent in the school talent show and A was watching and coaching a practice session from the couch.  Then B went upstairs to get ready for bed.  I went up to join her to continue reading The Borrowers to find them snuggled together in bed having A read to her The Lightening Thief.  I asked for my read aloud time and I got a small speech on why not with giggles and smiles.  Thank you girls for finding each other and enjoying sisterhood.