Busy Wednesday for day 2

Lots of classes - photos of our activities to follow. We are filling in the library forms in the library this year instead of at home. Large size form for grade1 and 50% smaller for the other grades. Hurricane necessitates scheduling a classroom visit for tomorrow.

Day 1 of the year

We start right up with the 4th grade Exploratory group, taught by our PE teacher. Board games are the best choice in lieu of chorus. I will take over in about 6 weeks.

All set to go 2011/12

At our staff meeting before a thought provoking presentation on using energy-bursts to activate learning. I can use this with transitions, lining up, and simply to spark some energy.

Smartboard slideshow for the start

The beginning of the year hangs in the air along with the amazing heat wave we are having, and I like to start with a fresh display on the smartboard. I make it a literacy challenge for the students with pictures of signs and other things from my summer travels and travails.

Meteor! click the arrows

Who dares to teach must never cease to learn. ~John Cotton Dana

This quote is true for me - considering the next couple of weeks and the start of school. Today I contacted several local libraries in support of the Patricia Polacco visit and was met with overwhelming support. I hope to invite those generous librarians to one of the sessions.

HCS is going to be so happy with this visitor

Patricia Polacco is coming! Will be herein just 4 weeks time. How? I do not yet know and the school is not yet open to prepare for the first day of school due to roofing project. So the reading specialists and I will confer at Panera this evening to put our heads together and design a school-wide program in honor of this great lady.

Teachers bloggin' for Teachers

Here is a sampling of blogs I am finding worth a visit every now and then:

for bookmaking activities:
http://www.bookmakingwithkids.com/

2nd grade:
http://a2ndgradeadventure.blogspot.com/

This teacher is talented with graphics, subtitle is Confessions of a teachaholic: http://oneextradegree.blogspot.com/

Pre-school ideas for all:
http://www.teachpreschool.org/

Way to sell a spelling initiative

Found at Brimfield Collectables Market. Represents our confounding times.

great contest for library week

Guess how many books are in the library and get an extra book check-out. Could run it for all classes, closest one wins. Would work well to engage students in line at end of class too.