Tuesday, November 4, 2014

One Happy Teacher!

Through a teacher friend of mine I was introduced to Kelly Anne of Appleslices Loving Writing Unit! I have been trying for week to no avail to get my students writing. No matter what I tried I could not for the life of me get them to enjoy writing. I downloaded it and decided what the heck it can't hurt to try it. My students absolutely loved it!!!! Today when they walked in the classroom I had 5 kids ask me are we going to write in our writing notebooks today? I was over the moon by the response.

I told them with my writing program they had to write the whole time, their pencils could not stop the whole time. I figured I would get some moans and groans, but I didn't hear a word. I sent them to find somewhere comfortable in the room and told them they had 15 minutes to write. They wrote and wrote, I had to practically beg them to stop writing so we could move on. After they had completed the writing I asked who wanted to share, I normally have a pretty reluctant class. However, in this case almost every hand in the class shot up to share what they had written.

I am so beyond excited I don't even know how to express it to you. The fact that I have found something I can use all year and they enjoy it is so amazing. I have them hooked and I can only hope that this is a step towards them becoming the strong, independent writers I know they can be.

Miss B.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Halloween Parties and Parades. Scarecrow Style!

This scarecrow survived the first Halloween party and parade of her teaching career and all I can say is oh man I am I glad that is over! My students had a wonderful and busy day, but it made for a crazy and stressful day for this teacher. As all my students returned from getting dressed up we began the parade. Did I mention the parade was outside and the temperature was 33* with the wind chill? It was freezing and in all the madness I forgot my coat, so you can imagine how excited I was to return to the comforts of our warm classroom.

Once we returned to the classroom we made witch hats out of cookies ad orange frosting. The students loved it and was a nice way to get some control over the end of the day! Finally we finished off the day by taking a group picture. My students were so tired of pictures by the end of the day, but I want as many ways to remember the day as I can.

Although I am glad Halloween week and the Halloween party day is over, it was a blast for my students and that is what is important. I am ready to hear all of their exciting trick-or-treating stories come Monday morning.

Miss. B