The Pollyanna Game

My little subarb of Clackamas made the National News yesterday, with the shooting, in the mall food court.  The mall is minutes from our school community.  It is fascinating to watch levels of information students get ahold of.  Some of them had been completely unaware of anything.  Some of them had been watching ALL of the news reports.  Some only knew what others had told them.  Such an awful awful scenario...that only happens in the movies, not down the street.

So, in Pollyanna-like fashion--here are things we can be glad for:
It happened before most of the high schools had been dismissed so students were not their independently.
Gun jammed during shooting...probably protecting many many more people.
The high school's choir had already finished and was back at school.
Mass transit and traffic was blocked quickly...no escape route.
The mall had a lock down procedure in place.
Police and emergency personnel were quick and wise.
The gunman was found...and didn't travel to a new location...or hide somewhere else in the mall.
Strangers helped out strangers.
God is sovereign....even in the awful things.

Feel free to add to the list:-)

Today, I sent my class home with instructions to hug their families and tell them they loved them!

Happy Wednesday,

Tradition Speech

This week, our class is giving speeches about a tradition their family has.  It might be holiday related, but could also have to do with birthdays, or  a special trip done annually, or just a Friday night tradition.  To start, I gave my class two examples. 

I told my class about how, when I was little, we taped the Christmas cards we got on the back of the front door.  When we took all the decorations down, we  put the cards in a basket and left on the dinner table.  Each night before we ate dinner we would take a card from the front of the basket and pray for the family who sent it.  Then the next night we would repeat the process, during the month of January.  I also told them about our weekly Sunday tradition.  Most nights of the week, my mom cooked dinner and we all ate at the kitchen table.  On Sundays, we were on our own.  We could reheat leftovers, eat cereal, make a sandwich AND we got to eat in the living room with Sunday night television.  Life Goes On is the show I remember the most. 

Anyway back to my class....we started speeches and one of my students who struggles a bit academically and thoroughly freaked out by speeches did hers today and I thought this strategy was brilliant....what a great parent she has:-)

Her tradition was about going to get her Christmas tree.  She started with a tree on her presentation tri-fold.  The black dots are velcro. 

Then she had notes on ornament shaped pieces (yes she even wrote them...again how I love parents who assist and don't do it for them.)

As she gave her speech she would use the notes and then add it to the tree.

All the dots filled up....a complete speech from start to finish.  And because the notes were so short, she could read them, add details, and still be able to look at her audience.

Side note...these pictures depict the actual event....I was busy listening and scoring speeches and couldn't get pictures taken.

Happy Tuesday,

Ode to My Brother

This post is really about my brother and a comment that made my week.  However, I suppose it needs some background information so I will try and back up.

You should know that I hate homework?  I really can't stand it and really wish students just read for homework.  If you can read, you can do anything...the more you read, the more you know....reading takes you places...My Chickadees all know how important I think reading is.  Reading Logs are helpful for a home-school reading connection.  I love to check in and see what my kiddos are reading at home, often leaving commentary on the page about their books.  I write questions, comments, and suggestions for continued reading.  Last week, I may have put frown-ey faces on incomplete reading logs....and it may have started an  interesting Facebook conversation going about whether a frown-ey face is an appropriate response to unfinished work.  But I must share the best part of the conversation:

After 30 some comments about the frown-ey face/homework/reading/etc.  My brother commented.  He hates reading!  The Hunger Games is possibly the only book he has actually read since 2001 (with the exception of skimming college text books.)  Here is what he posted-

"From the non-reading brother, I never in the 13 years of public education, K-12, was encouraged to read. I was forced to read books that my teachers chose for us in reading groups in 6th grade, and the books where lame. I remember reading two books in elementary school, Moccasin Trail, and some book about the Ferris wheel in London at the worlds fair and two little kids hiding in a museum taking baths in the fountain. Other than those two books. Nothing. If I had had teachers that were focused on reading like Laurie is, I am 100% positive that I would be a much better speller, I would have a larger vocabulary, and I would not struggle with grammar and punctuation. With that said, if a frowny face, (sad face) should up on a paper, I would think that meant the teacher was sad. Not mad, or angry and upset, but SAD. So Laurie, and other teachers, keep on putting frowny faces on incomplete reading logs."

So sweet!  Loved that he remembered details that combined two different books.  One I knew was From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  The other took a bit more searching, but I am fairly certain it is The Great Wheel.  I have never even heard of that book, but now I am going to have to add it to my "to read" list.  Even if you are not an amazing, life long reader....books stick with you.  Thank you to books that stick with readers!  Thank you teachers that get readers hooked! 

In response to the frown-ey face and comments about how tedious it is to feel about filling our a reading log.  I am doing some thinking about what could be done instead of filling out a reading log.  KidBlog is a blogging platform that allows kids to have their own blog while I oversee what they post.  It is possible that posting and commenting about books could replace filling out a reading log....things to think about.

So there you go...a random-rambling post.  Get reading....get books into readers hands....you never know what they will remember!  And they may finally start reading at age 30....

My brother...or Mal, the Space Cowboy:-)

Happy Sunday,   

Tissue Paper Tornado

Tissue paper tornado!  This is what my room looked like at the end of the day.

I would like to blame it on Holly the Hedgehog's shenanigans, but she is currently here-

Apparently she wanted to have a part in the Ballon Lantern activities...only she ended up stuffed INSIDE the balloon.  How much fun are my kiddos going to have with that!

Happy Thursday,

Elf Schmelf

Your class may have an elf, a hedgehog in ours.  Hedgehogs are adorable and I really want one as a pet.  My roommate thought I should settle for the Beanie Baby version she found.  I put it to use in the classroom.  Check out today's shenanigans!
The letter came from Santa-it was freezing.  Must have been expressed from The North Pole!

 Then Holly found her way up into the ball net.  (It is where we keep our exercise balls when we aren't using them...36 kids take up a lot of space.)

Then she put all of the clip chart clothespins onto the net....and dumped all the Chickadee Cards inside.

 Happy Tuesday,

When I Was In....

Loving the linky party pictures from Second Grade Sparkle.  It so fun to see what teachers looked like when they were the age of the students they teach.  I have taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades.  Well never a full 3rd...just 2/3 blends so here are some pics from those grades.  SO sorry about the quality...they are hanging in my classroom and I don't have them digitally...so I took a picture of a picture:-)



1st Grade School Picture-I love this picture and my mom made the dress. 

At my elementary school, we had a costume parade for Halloween.  More hand-made stuff from mom and my best friend Danielle.

2nd Grade School Picture-Normally my mom would have put my hair in rollers...the pink spongy kind, but I got lice the day before pictures and none of those things were available:-(

My 3rd grade teacher and I.  Her name was Lori and I thought it was SO cool to have the same name as my teacher.

And here I am now--

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, Kate.  For more teacher pics go visit Second Grade Sparkle.

Also, HAD to post this holiday medley.  Jimmy Fallon cracks me up...and hopefully you as well!

Happy 1st Sunday of Advent,

Rockin' December

"And the Grinch, with hit Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons. It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes, or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." -Love the Grinch
Another currently has arrived! Go see Farley! 

Listening:
I am not going to lie....I started listening to Christmas music around Halloween time.  Some of my favorites are Dean Martin, Point of Grace, Chris Tomlin, and Josh Groban, of course.

Loving: 
ALL of you bloggers make me a better teacher.  The greatest group of colleagues all across the country!  I love being a part of the blogosphere.

Thinking: 
I do not have a tree skirt.  I have seen some adoreable DIY ones....can I really do it or will it become a pinterest fail?

Wanting:
Would love to deck out my classroom door...do I have the time?????

Needing:
Mulligan...any of you frisbee golf? My class needs a do-over.  Someone push a restart button!  More than a few of my chickadees were absent, in some form or another, during the routines and expectations part of the year.  Or they just forgot.  Or there are just SO many of us trying to revolve around each other.  Or well, I don't have other excuse ideas.  But January is bringing a redo.

RAK:
CANdy treats for the neighbors.  LOVING this idea and can't wait to try it.  I can not take credit for the idea though.  It's from Tip Junky...click the pic for how to.

And there you have it!  Remember the rule of three and find out where everyone is from.
Happy December,