Saturday, September 6, 2014

Celebration Saturday

Discover. Play. Build.


 I'm so happy that Ruth Ayres started a Celebrate Link-Up on her blog!!!  I will be joining the celebration every Saturday!! 

I'm posting a little late on this Saturday evening, but better late than never to celebrate!

 -   This week I felt like we were settling into a routine at school (as close to routine as you can get when teaching).  One of the best things about this week was watching my fifth graders start talking to me about books and life.  This is the third year I've had my sixth graders, so we slipped easily into talking every day, exchanging books, talking about what is going on in their lives, etc., but for the fifth graders are brand new to me.  I only get each class an hour a day  - I am a gifted intervention specialist for language arts, so my students leave their teams for ELA time and come to me.  I knew it would take time before my fifth graders and I got to know each other.  But it's happening now.  A couple girls came into my room during my planning period and lunch time to "shop" for books.  I had recommended A Mango-Shaped Space to one of them, and she LOVED it, telling me she was trying not to cry in her homeroom during "that part."  She wanted to know what else she could read that was THAT good.  Kids are starting to stop and chat with me at the fifth grade locker bay, where I have duty before and after school (I actually like that duty - I get to see the kids as they come in and leave - both opportune times to talk about what they're reading, what they did the night before, and what they're going to do that night.  These kinds of interactions are what makes teaching joyful.  I'm also starting to hear from parents that they are happy their kids are getting challenged and are excited about the class.  I love when I can start talking about reading and writing with parents of my students, too.
 
A Mango-Shaped Space
 
-     My husband and I hosted the first week of a small group series that our church is sponsoring called The Truth Project.  It will be running thirteen weeks.  There were times leading up to Thursday evening that I thought maybe I bit off more than I could chew - thinking about getting the house ready every Thursday evening for thirteen weeks felt a little daunting.  But the evening turned out wonderful, and I'm looking forward to getting to know these folks from our church on a deeper level.
 
-    I wrote last week about the empty nest in my Slice of Life post on Tuesday.  This week, I started to celebrate it. :-)  It's a blessing and great timing that my husband isn't traveling for work right now, and we can hang out with each other and enjoy the freedom that the empty nest brings.  I still miss both girls, but I have to say it's kind of fun to have this time.
 
Sheryl Crow/Rascal Flatts concert last night
 
Off to read about all YOUR celebrations!
 
 
 
 

14 comments:

  1. I am glad your fifth graders are coming to know and love you like your other students. I get mine year after year, too. It makes the transition easier. Empty nest is really fun when you are a couple who enjoys being together, like you and yours.

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    1. Agreed! We like being together, and it's fun to have the freedom to do so!

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  2. I just read Mango Shaped Space this summer and really loved it - I read it on my daughter's recommendation. Sounds like you are building some wonderful relationships right now with your students. Enjoy!

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    1. I AM enjoying it! SO many students have loved A Mango-Shaped Space. I love Wendy Mass!

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  3. I hope you write more as your small groups studies. (What you can...) :) My husband and I have been thinking about "restarting" a small group. So--I start by watching others to see what they are doing. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I will, Kendra! I'll probably be sharing our conversations and things we learn in my Spiritual Journey Thursday posts. :-)

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  4. I'm glad you're having fun with your husband, too, Holly-a blessing. Your Thursday nights will probably get easier as you know everyone better. Love your connections already with the students-it is great to have those casual conversations. A Mango-Shaped Space is beautiful, a go-to book for me to recommend sometimes, too! Have a terrific next week, too!

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  5. Enjoy that time with your husband and look forward to the first time your girls will be home. We read A Mango-Shaped Space a few years ago for a book club. Everyone loved it! I was trying to think of another book just as good - how about Out of My Mind? I miss chatting with the kids, but I'm hoping to meet quarterly at the public library with middle school readers. I wanted to let you know that I stop by on Thursdays even though I haven't posted yet. Thanks for sharing your spiritual journey.

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    1. I'll definitely look forward to the holidays when the girls are home. I'm reading Out of My Mind aloud right now! :-) Thank you for stopping by and reading the Spiritual Journey Thursday posts! Any time you feel comfortable, feel free to link up. :-)

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  6. It has been great to read different blogs and see the excitement of literary conversations from the first week of school. Your year is going to be different with both girls out, you get to build new traditions.

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  7. Just an FYI My husband and I have had an empty nest for awhile now. It just gets better. We are doing many things we couldn't do when the boys were home. We do love when they and their families come and stay, but it's nice when they go back to their own "nests" and we can get back to our routine!

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  8. Love hearing about your 5th graders S they were my 4th graders last year (I had all your SLE kids for math). Please tell them their 4th grade teachers have been thinking about them!❤️

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  9. Holly, just wanted to share my quick thoughts about your wonderful week of celebrations! Keep on enjoying life and growing your learners. Off to combine your poem and pic for the Summer Serenity Gallery now that I finished the DigitLit Sunday challenge.

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