Just say yes!

April was poetry month

I love poems that rhyme and poems that don't. I love the imagery that poetry can create and the places it can take me.  I wanted my students to have some fun listening to and reading poetry and creating their own.

The 3rd graders were inspired by Shel Silverstein's "One Inch Tall" poem.

The 2nd graders had just finished their animal research, so they created wonderful animal poems.

The 1st grade students enjoyed rebus poems on Jean Marzollo's website (creator of I Spy books).

Kindergarten enjoyed listening to and creating list poems.   We also turned our veggie poem into a chant, after reading "Rah, Rah, Radishes!"

Spring (???) Break

Alright, Spring Break has started and it is NOT nice outside, so I probably should be starting that painting project I said I would. BUT, really, I am having way too much fun doing some recon on some new apps I just learned about (thank you EdTechTeacher videos!).

On my second day of break I got a call to sub in a district I worked in awhile ago.  It was fun to see many of the students I taught and even more fun that they remembered me and were excited to see me!  

Well, I used the opportunity to create a mash up to share with the teacher. I loved that I could create several of the pieces using my phone while waiting for my son at the dentist appointment. It's so easy to create wherever I am, on whatever device I have available.  I sent her a Thinglink of the update.  I created a Google doc with quick recap for each class, included pictures of the students' work on the board, linked audio files of the 7th graders asking questions in Spanish, that I then used with the 5th graders (my Spanish pronunciation is not so great) and I created a ChatterPix of Nemo giving an update for the 5th grade classes.  And finally, I included a corndog (just an image, not the real, tasty thing) for the teacher and the link to Kid President, as a nice reminder  (and chuckle) of 20 things we should say more often, including "Here is a surprise corndog I bought you, because you're my friend."

Check it out:

http://www.thinglink.com/scene/512422514417205249 

Role Models

If we want students to read, to write, to create, we need to model this behavior. I recently attended a conference and came back energized. Well, the day-to-day activities quickly took over. I had a chance to sit in the sun today and refocus. I decided to "create" and "share" what I learned. I used a fun tool that I discovered over a year ago. It's called Powtoon and it is fun, entertaining and it brought me great joy today. Here is my Powtoon creation to communicate 4 things I played with at the conference that I wanted to share with my school. I hope it brings joy to you too!

Post-Conference High

Just got back home from the WEMTA conference in Wisconsin Dells and I am stoked to try some new things and share tools that I learned about!  And, the keynote speaker was inspiring and made us all want to bring JOY into our classrooms.

5 things I want to do:

1) create a QR station in the library (or two)

2) create a how-to sheet for generating QR codes

3) share animal info with 2nd graders on Britannica

4) share Wisconsin Media Lab resources with teachers

5) investigate PebbleGO (30 day trial) with teachers

My hope is that by writing these things down for all to see, I will be compelled to see them through to completion.  All these things will bring joy and fun and authentic learning to the classroom!

A little QR code fun with http://azonmobile.com/en/qrcode-generator.  Try it today! 

Happy St. Patrick Day!

If only it were green outside, instead of brown and dirty white. 

I'm trying to kick this cold of mine and really trying to think Spring!  What better way to liven things up and get the giggles flowing than to read a book written and illustrated by David Shannon!?!?

Mr. Shannon is one of my personal favorites and a go to author when I need a sure thing with the kids.  We have a short two week window before the book fair takes center stage, so I am filling it with "No, David!" and "Duck on a Bike."  There is nothing better to lift your I-am-so-tired-of-this-cold-will-winter-ever-end attitude than kindergartners' laughing at the sight of young David streaking down the street!  If that doesn't make you crack a smile, I don't know what will.  The K5 students are also creating their own "Yes!" book, by illustrating the things they do in the library that would result in me exclaiming, "Yes, Sophia!"

March Madness

Going crazy with the cold weather?  Had enough of indoor recess?  Ready to curl up into a ball and call "uncle?"

I AM!

I was feeling comfortable in my new library. I felt like I was hitting a groove. I was learning my students, beginning to collaborate with the teaching staff and finding my way around the school's processes and procedures.

BUT.....

March madness has set in, with the ongoing bitter cold, the continued snow and the winter days.  How many days until Spring?  I think we have all been affected by the gruel of winter and it's unending chill!

So, I am refocusing.  I am reflecting on how to improve my own mood, so that I can lift the little ones' moods as well.  A little too much togetherness with indoor recess and subzero weather keeping us indoors at home = cranky adults + unruly/rambunctious kids.

Paste on a smile! Say the mantra "I will find a reason to laugh today" and be a positive Pauline to get everyone else on the happy side!