I love linking up to a wonderful celebratory community, inspired by Ruth Ayres, every Saturday!
- I had to skip last Saturday because I was busy creating celebrations! Ed and I visited my parents in their new home in Florida. It was fun to see them settling in to their new life in the Sunshine State!
- I have I said how much I love reading aloud lately? My classes are responding so wonderfully to our current read alouds: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper for 5th grade and A Long Walk to Water for 6th grade. It's wonderful to see how enraptured they are and how much they groan when I stop for the day. This is a non-negotiable in my classroom. I will never give up reading aloud!! It bonds us all together and creates a love of reading and authors/illustrators like nothing else.
- I'm proud of my students for tackling some deep thinking. I teach gifted students, and they get used to academics coming pretty easily. We tackled a precept from 365 Days of Wonder and a poem this week that brought out some great discussion and writing.
- While I'm talking about my students, I love when I introduce a new technology to them. They take it and run. We're going to make Public Service Announcements next week using WeVideo. I also gave them the choice of using another app or site that they want to try out. Some of them are doing that, and love watching them take initiative.
- I'm looking forward to celebrating a weekend with my college daughters! They're both coming home this weekend, and we're having dinner with friends and Skyline chili. The fall temperatures and colorful trees will add to the ambience. That's something worth celebrating! :-)
Life is full of celebrations!
Oh I can feel your enthusiasm in these words!!! Have a wonderful time with your daughters!!! Thanks for your everlasting inspiration! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! It was wonderful seeing them! And right back at ya! ;-)
DeleteLove the line - "I was busy creating celebrations!" It sounds powerful that read aloud is non-negotiable in your classrooms. Lots of energy in your celebrations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terje - it's just a sacred time of day. :-)
DeleteEnjoy your weekend with your girls - so special when they breeze back for a visit, isn't it?!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tara! Yes, it is definitely special. We've planned some shopping time today. ;-)
DeleteHolly, I love that the read aloud is non-negotiable time in your room. Such a powerful way to build community. Very excited that you are sharing these precepts and engaging in the rich struggles to make sense and meaning. Would love to be a fly on the wall.
ReplyDeleteReading aloud definitely builds community!
DeleteYour week sounds very nice, Holly, including this weekend with the daughters! I agree about reading aloud, would never give it up! So much to share in those books!
ReplyDeleteIt's that shared experience that is so powerful.
DeleteBeing a celebration creator could be a really neat challenge! I just love the sound of it. Have fun with your daughters. When I read Katherine's post today, I actually thought of you and your daughters...how funny is that!
ReplyDeleteAw! So sweet of you to make that connection. :-)
DeleteHolly - this is such a lovely post, rich in celebrations! I am happy to hear your parents are enjoying their new home... I remember reading about their move in a previous post. I also love your reference to read-alouds. I am getting asked by many teachers - what's the best read-aloud for grade... so I am thinking of doing a few posts about that! Finally, the great quote you shared from 365 Days of Wonder - another connection! I'm doing the same thing with my students, although they are younger and not all the quotes make sense to them - I am starting each day with one to practice "deep thinking"! Thanks for all of your celebrations!
ReplyDeleteSo cool that you were able to go and create some celebrations. :) I wish you and your students well as you create PSAs. Enjoy time with your daughters!
ReplyDeleteI meant to commit to reading aloud this year. I am doing it but not daily. I need to remedy this! It's hard when the kids come in and out on different schedules. I want to find a time when they are all there to read. I am reading Edward Tulane with one group and about to start A Long Walk to Water with the other one. Thanks for the push to keep reading aloud.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have had a wonderful time with your daughters. We will have a group next weekend. Love having my girls home.