Spring dip
wishing winter...adieu

Winter break

book... check
snacks...check


YES! I am ready for 3 weeks of holiday.

I guess I have to do some planning as well...but for once, that is not a priority.

Report crunch

Writing reports at the end of each term is always a nightmare... and if I could avoid it, I would.
Its hard to sum up a child in 500 words...and that's perhaps why I try to avoid it.
So while I sit at my lap top...name of a child starring at me- I think about what each child has come to mean to me and to the others in the class
...and I know that I have to press on.

It's good to take stock sometimes- so we can truly value and appreciate everyone in our class
and we can help each other grow.

Pb & J

Math and English go together like peanut butter and jam...some jam better than others. I prefer apricot jam with peanut butter...anyway, I found a really helpful page with wonderful ideas to get started with
Connecting math and English

I have used Ten Black Dots  and Each Orange has Eight Slices both by Donald Crews with Grade Ones before and they loved it. They also enjoyed The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins.

Working on Division with my Grade 3's ...so will post some ideas soon.

Reading strategies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZobdcwO_c8U&feature=related

Writer's Workshop

 Lucy Calkins talks about how writers need to honour their own writing.
It's important to create a community in your classroom that honours writing, so that writing can flourish in your classroom.

Her other piece of advice is to listen to your own writing.
The first clip is very inspirational and I can't wait for my kids to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO29k1-RvsA&feature=endscreen

Lucy Calkins - Conferring