Observation Station

So part of my classroom is going to be devoted to the "Observation Station." I have been collecting things all summer. Pine cones, sticks, shells, Locust shells, and different natualistic treasures. I didn't have many shells to put at my observation station because I always want to keep the best for a dish I have at home. This dish sits on my coffee table in the "pretty" room as my youngest calls it. It is the room that we use the least often. It is quiet and has a squishy couch perfect for reading and being quiet. The tray has wonderful shells but I am not ready to sacrifice them to 25 little paws that are making observations.

Yesterday my luck struck and my wonderful "Newt Ny" (Auny Ny) gave us 3 buckets, yes, I said three buckets... of sea shells. My husband has a salt water aquarium that will be housing quit a few of these shells but, the rest are mine. All mine. Can you just see my observation station? Here are a few shots I took of the precious homes of sea creatures.

iv>

Amick's Blog Thoughts

I found this post at Unabridged Opinions. The writer writes a meme each Thursday that contains Thirteen of something. This Thursday (way back in December) Thirteen has a list of reasons why it is good for teachers to blog. My favorites are:

"2. Teaching can be a lonely profession; it's nice to have another place to find a group of adults that understand what your workday is like!

6. Somewhere, someone knows the answer to all of your questions--or at least a good place to start looking.

9. Reminders that students will be students--no matter where in the world they are located."

#2- blogging teachers don't seem to be the kinds of teachers that are not dedicated. They seem to be blogging to gain information, be reflective about their teaching, and even practice their writing skills. They are not here purely for griping, this teacher community is too positive for that to happen.

#6. I have said to a first grader, "I don't know, let's look that up and find the answer." We cannot know everything, it isn't possible. We can however, coexist in a community that spans many age groups, ethnic identities, and various life experiences. We tap into those different people when we blog. That is so cool!!!!

#9. I have traveled to three different countries in my lifetime. (Mexico, Canada, and England) I find it so amazing that blogging makes the world seem smaller. Even bloggers from different parts of the U.S. seem to have the same troubles regarding public education. We all want to see our students achieve, that's why we are teachers. We experience heartbreak when they don't. That is worldwide. Isn't nice to know that you can tap into that community to ask, "what can I do to be a better teacher for my students' sakes?"

First Kid Lithosphere Conference-here is the link

That's right folks we could all meet in the same room face to face and discuss this stuff! There is a link that signs you up and everything. It may be a great way for Jen and I to take a road trip. We have had several during our friendship and they are always so eventful. Imagine a mini-van loaded down with Twizzlers, Coffee (don't feed Jen caffeine and then go on a long car ride), Vera Bradley bags stuffed with books, and two "natural" redheads shouting, "Go loser Cruiser go!" It sounds like a ton of fun. Perhaps we can invite our other two cohorts, Kathy and Kirsten?

Rain on Sunday...

Rain
by Sarah Amick

Three heads sit gazing,

at rain so amazing,

out the window at the rain,

quenching grass the hue of grain.

The ground opens up,

thunder invades so abrupt

Each blade gathers enough;

clouds like an enormous purple puff.

We rejoice, at the window the thunder has led,

Excited, and hopeful our world of green won't turn dead;

We sit reflecting, silent and still

The rain, the moisture like an uplifting pill;

Flashing, clapping, hear the loud pop,

wondering, waiting, please don't stop.

This poem has been published before but again, summer rain is so uplifting. It cools eveything off and weighs all the plant life down. Tomorrow the flowers will look spectacular. Today they look heavy and full, like my relatives after a Thanksgiving meal!

Marriage Meme

Unfortunately I didn't mark where I found this meme but thought it would be a great distraction from all things school, picture books, Reader's workshop, and school "stuff." As you remember, in my personal policies, "I am crazy about my husband." The rules are simple, just list 8-10 factoids about your marriage. Here they are:
1. I have been married almost for 10 years. August 16, 1997.
2. I married my high school sweetheart. Yes folks, we met in photography class. He was a sophomore, I a senior. I went away to college and he swooned over me. I was just so comfortable with him I swooned back.
3. We both enjoy similar things. We both have a great love for the great outdoors. We love to go for walks, fish, beach-it, etc. My husband hunts, I don't, but I have gone and just sat "still" for a couple hours in the hunting blind. It was a great experience of just sitting and listening.
4. We rarely argue. We used to argue a lot in the first couple of years however, we have gotten to a very comfortable place. I have learned that he doesn't read minds so don't assume he does! He has learned that I am highly independent, driven, and very sweet when treated kindly.
5. We have made an agreement. Don't make fun of one another to others. This is hard to do because we know one another so intimately but nonetheless we give it a whirl. I don't like going to parties or social engagements and hearing others complain about their spouses. We have vowed not to do that to one another. Sarcasm can be too close to the truth. It's not worth the laugh from others.
6. We work at our marriage. We have discussed this at length, marriage is work. And when you know this it can be very rewarding work. We work at spending time together, talking to one another, and loving one another. Marriage is work, but anything that you want to grow and be worth something takes work. Did I mention it can be hard work?
7. We have made a commitment to be a family. Sometimes people don't make a commitment to their children, their spouses, or their family. We have decided that our home is the safe place for everyone. We are going to make sure that others don't harm that. We protect it from harm. For instance, the in-laws, friends who don't have families ("please watch your language!"), our disagreements, and the rest of the world. This is a safe haven!
8. We are crazy about one another. He leaves me notes, says nice things about what I wear, helps me out around the house, dances in the kitchen with me, stands and listens to me when I talk, and asks me out for dates occasionally. I, in turn, tell him I am proud of him, call him when I am running late, make his favorite dinner, watch "guy flicks," give him time to be with friends, and hug him when he is in a "funk." We have decided to be "in-love" for a lifetime. I don't just want to be married. I want to be crazy about my spouse.

So here are 8 things about my marriage. I am tagging:
Jen
Kathy
Ruth
Sarah
Drawing a Blank

If you want to play along you are more than welcome!

A Back to School Book

Each year I do Teacher in A Bag. This is an activity where I gather 10 things about myself to share with my students on the first day. I do this so that they can get to know me better and it makes me seem like just a normal person. I pull things out of my bag, like pictures of my children, my walking shoes, my favorite music, markers ('cause I'm artsy!), some pictures of the outdoors, goggles for swimming, and usually a shell of some kind to talk about the beach.

I've mentioned before that I love the beach. It is an obsession of mine. This year I found the perfect book to start the year off with, The Berenstain Bears Go On Vacation.

We got this book from the library on Tuesday and I have read it every day since. They love it! Who doesn't love the Berenstain Bears? (My aunt says that all her children's moral lessons came from the Berenstain Bears). I will use this book to introduce myself. It follows our vacation to the beach so closely. My girls and I found so many parallels. I also want my students from the beginning to know how much I love books. Why not read a book about something that you love? This will be my first read aloud to my students. I hope they love it too!

How about a book to introduce yourself?

Unexpected Phone Calls...

A colleague called unexpectedly last night. I was surprised to hear her on the other line. I remember going to the All Write conference with her and sitting through all the sessions. I remember recommending books to her as we sat through those three days. (Books like, Mosaic of Thought, Debbie Miller's Reading For Meaning, and Growing Readers) Now, she has questions, now she wants answers, now she is aching for community!
This quest is infectious. When my friend on the Korner was reading Mosaic of Thought I could tell she was changing. It has that effect. When my friend with A Life read this book she became obsessed with her book buying on other titles regarding the Reader's Workshop. It's infectious I tell you.
My phone call was so surprising! We had a very good conversation about what our classroom will look like, we discussed how she felt community was missing from her room last year, we discussed picture books, mentor and touchstone texts, and finally we encouraged one another about the upcoming year. She feels letting the students take control of the classroom will be freeing for her to focus on conferencing. She has decided to give the workshop setting a try.
I am so excited for her, it is contagious. Why? Here are my thoughts:
1. Who doesn't want to be a part of a community? If we have community behaviors will be different. I, as a teacher, can be learning from my students, and vice versa.
2. It allows students to take more control over their learning. Brain research has said that when there is an emotional tie to learning that the information is learned.
3. All things are flexible in the workshop. This creates work for the teacher because things are constantly changing, however, it is good for the students. They are not learning material that is unnecessary for them. They are also relearning material that is necessary, because I know them. I know what they need, because of conferencing.
4. It is cross curricular. Books I read that cross into Social Studies, Science, and Health can be a resource for better writing and reading. Science becomes observational, and poetry can be created too! There are natural transitions throughout my students' learning.
5. Have you ever heard a teacher say, "I wish that teaching were more like when I first started, when it was fun." I have heard this statement and wondered, "when did teaching not become fun?" Now I understand, workshop teaching is fun! It allows you to do creative things. Assessing students statewide has become something that we must do, but we don't have to teach like a test. Many teachers teach to the test, not fun for the teacher and not fun for the students. Beyond that no one is learning anything!

I am so excited for this teacher, she has caught the "bug!"

It's Beginning...

As I check out the blog world I find that people are gearing up for the upcoming school year. Parents are getting their children ready. We already have school supplies sitting in the book bag, new shoes, and a brand new lunch box. I can't believe that my daughter will be in first grade!
Teachers are getting ready for the new year of students that will be filing through their doors. I see questions on blogs asking, "Where do you think I should begin? What books should I start out with?" Check out Becomings post here about how to start reader's workshop. I also note Literacy Teacher has her carnival up and running. I wondered where it all went when I pushed the submit button. She is starting a new carnival about books to start the school year off with, you can submit here.
I am having mixed feelings about the upcoming school year. I have lots of expectations and tons of things on my agenda. I get the feeling that I won't be able to get it all in and do it well.
Here are a few things weighing heavy on my agenda:
1. Reader's Workshop, expectations, procedures, and then what?......
2. A student teacher that arrives in October, so excited, I want to share all that I have learned as an educator. Hope that experience turns out fantastic!
3. Writer's Workshop, 25 first graders and my touchstone text.
4. Getting my young daughters off to school. One starting first grade the other the second year of preschool.
5. Building a community!

Those are big things. They cloud my thoughts constantly. I can't get away from them, and it seems after visiting all your sites that you feel the same way. My word for this year is: Optimism. This is my mantra as the clouded thoughts visit me during insomnia, moments beside the pool, and while reading my professional literature. Anyone else having a hard time trying to file it all into the file cabinet inside your brain?