On The Move...

Last week for Writing Workshop we wrote genres of choice. That is I gave them the option of writing narratives, fairy tales, All About books, poetry, or How -To pieces. I was thrilled to see my pumpkins grab their materials and go off and do their magic. I suppose giving them the choice I had the hesitation that someone would say, "Mrs. Amick I don't know what to write today!" or, "I don't want to write!" My students were thrilled to have the option of any kind of genre they wanted. They were ready! I couldn't believe those people who chose All About pieces, we haven't done those in a long while. While some popped right into a fairy tale mode, we have researched those in Reading workshop and I saw a transfer of knowledge from reading to writing! Wow!
I am taking my current first graders to second grade, we get to spend another year together. One of my "all boy, 100% genuine boys" said, "Mrs. Amick will we be writing more next year?"
I hesitated, what were his thoughts on this? Was he asking so that he could reevaluate if he wanted to be in my classroom next year? I plunged forward with enthusiasm, "Why yes we are and I can't wait to see our growth!"
He beamed, yes, my 100% genuine boy beamed, "I can't wait to write some more, I think we will become even better writers!" I'm so glad someone didn't push me over because I would have fallen flat! My students love this crazy world of writing!
I have so many plans for them, the one I am most excited about is the introduction of: A Writer's Notebook! My students are ready, I just have a lot to prepare myself for this summer. I have Ralph Fletcher's book to read, and Notebook Know How too! I am planning an unveiling at the beginning of the year. Time to stock up on stickers and what not to decorate our notebooks. It will be an exciting ride!
My community is on the move!

Our Class Poem

A Tree
A tree with branches
like a giant paperclip unbent
A tree with leaves
like a piece of paper
a torn piece of paper;

A tree with bark
like peeling an orange
the sound of the leaves
like the crunch of
chips, apples, and crackers

A tree is a giant circle of life
like parents they keep going
the tree keeps producing
a seed...
a new tree is born
a new future
keeps on rotating

We had just finished discussing how poets are like scientists. We charted the different characteristics of a tree from a scientific perspective. We then thought of words to describe these characteristics. I started with the branches and led them this way, "The branches are like...?" At first it was painful, at first, they didn't get it. Then one arm shot up, reluctantly I cringed upon calling him. His answer, "branches are like a giant paperclip unbent." I about blew over! More arms shot up and soon we achieved this poem. My goal was to just expose my pumpkins to poetry, to immerse them, and let them know the purpose. I think we have achieved just that, next year I think that the writing of poetry will even be better because of their exposure.

One year anniversary

Well, I have not been very good about posting lately. We just recently had our fourth round of tonsillitis with little one and now the oldest one just strolled in from the RediMed with the same diagnosis.
Excuses aside, Saturday, May 17, was my blog's one year anniversary!!! I thought I would commemorate the occasion with my top five posts:
1. You Are Special this is a post about little notes I give to my students. My kiddos keep them and I tape them to their table. All over the room you see these little special notes that they receive. They have become treasures in our room!
2. My Thoughts About Your Birth, is a poem I wrote for my first grader. She is the light of my life and wow, I can't believe she's seven, almost 8!
3. The One Who Calls Me Mama is a poem I wrote for my littlest person. She still calls me mama. It is the nicest sounding word to me...
4. Our Deepest Fear is a post about our potential. I wonder, what is your deepest fear that is keeping you from attaining your ultimate goals?
5. My Little Word for 2007 it was optimism, and this year: VISION. Keeping the eye on the prize I am still envisioning my future for this year.
So, today I celebrate a little late my first year anniversary!

Poetry Friday

PONGO A LOT

Black and white rabbit
when he shakes
it means he's scared.
loves my daddy's feet
poops a lot
chews a lot
hides a lot
hops a lot
sleeps sometimes
runs a lot
gets in trouble
A lot


SUNSHINE
Sunshine
Sunshine
Let sun shine
glow in the summer morning
when you wake up
outside
the sun glows in your eyes

SUNSHINE
When you wake up
in the morning
you look out your window
The sun lights up your bedroom
And you run outside

Straight from our poetry notebooks these students really impressed me with their poetry writing! Go first graders!!!

Yikes! Teaching First Graders to Be Poets!

We began our poetry unit last week. I spent Sunday afternoon at the library with my hubby and two children. We checked out 31 poetry anthologies for my pumpkins to immerse themselves. My husband just shook his head as we stood in line with a mile high pile of books. We paid my fine, (I swear, they should dedicate a new wing with the monies I pay in fines!) and then we went off to read some excellent poetry.
Monday morning arrived and I mentioned that I had put some new books in a basket and that each student needed a book to read from during Independent Reading time. We made our selections and began looking through our great poems. You know we couldn't keep those great morsels to ourselves so we spent a lot of time reading them to a partner. We worked all week on how to read poems, how to stop at the commas, and line breaks. We discussed what the author's purpose was during certain poems. We put some poetry in place in our classroom. We reflected on poems and who they reminded us of, always making connections. (How does one curriculum map all of this?) We even sent poems to our fourth grade friends and started a project at our school called, "Poetry in Place." Week one: poetry immersion.
This week we discussed what we notice about poetry. My favorite from a very insightful young man, "Poems say things in very odd ways." How about this one, "the words and lines are simple, but you know what they're talking about." Tuesday, we made a list of where poetry may hide for us. I made a list from simple to more insightful, these things made the list. Wednesday, I chose something from the list and made a list of feelings, and actions. I wrote about my dog Louie. Students did an excellent job with this, I was very impressed! Today, I took my actions and feelings list and modeled my poem about Louie.
Points from the mini lesson:
-poems are skinny
-poem words must be chosen carefully because you can't use a lot of them.
-poets like the sound of repetition, kind of like Keven Henkes!
So, off they went to give it a try. I was so nervous. You know I love poetry, it is my way of writing, it flows through my soul like a river flowing from a mountain. I know poetry, I don't know how to teach poetry. I was treading on uncharted territory...

My Fish

My fish

stopped breathing

stopped swimming

stopped living

My goodness was I impressed, I will post some for you later, especially my favorite poem.

There was a lot of listening today, something that is few and far between during these warm spring months. My kids did terrific. Where to go tomorrow?

My Note

"I like you as my teacher you are the best your the one who taught me how to read great. Thank you Mrs. Amick!"

I got this note the day after my birthday. It was among the many that I received. What I like most was that this one didn't just mention that I was the best teacher, it mentioned that learning to read "great" happened for this child. She is a great reader but I really felt my importance, I opened the world for this child because now, she is a reader. I always think that if they write about it they realize its importance! This is my passion, realizing that reading and being able to read is a gift!

A Blast From the Past

On Monday, the girls and I drove the two hours that it takes to get to Toledo to visit the Toledo Zoo. We go there because our zoo pass gets us in free and it is just a lovely zoo. We see a lot of the animals that the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo doesn't have in their exhibits. My favorite part, and don't laugh, are the buildings. The Toledo Zoo has a lot of indoor exhibits. In fact, when you go there on March 31st a lot of the animals are inside these buildings. It's pretty great though because you can see a lot more of them inside than when they are on display outdoors. Not so great for the animals I am sure but great for viewing. Some of the exhibits are always inside, for instance, the zoo has a wonderful reptilian exhibit and aquarium. These are my favorite buildings, for they were built out of brick and mortar. They are exceptional in their workmanship. A real architectural wonder right there at the zoo! Why?

Most of the zoos buildings were built during the Great Depression! During "the Works" era Roosevelt decided to put men back to work, the federal government created jobs for them. The Toledo Zoo was one such project. On site you can view several buildings that were built for this project, and they are stunning. I always think though, what did those men think as they were building these buildings. Were they just thankful to have jobs? Were they thinking, "who will be able to afford coming to the zoo at this time?" I just wonder what were they thinking?

As I tool around the zoo with my girls I always stop to read the signs. They are there to commemorate a time when people had great need. I wonder, do people stop to read them? Do they stop to think about the men, and their families, and their struggle? Sometimes, in the present, we think that we have struggles with the economy, and gas prices, etc. I am glad that this one bit of history, this architecture is there to help me be thankful for what I do have. Be thankful for what this country has become, and trust that it is still made up of men and women that can work through great struggles.