Sharing Books

After some thrift-store finds, I dug into my collection of literature.  I've been collecting books over the summer for the classroom and placing them in a big bin.  I've reached 100!  Yay!  The only thing is 20 of them are from the series "The Babysitter's Club".  Yes....back in the day I was an avid fan of the young pre-teen novels.  The drama of being a pre-teen girl. Even if they weren't that educational, it made me read! So I've thrown in my old books to my piles.  Today I spent my day taking inventory on my books, and labeling them with the title "Mrs. Gorter".  Wow, what authority that brings!  I crossed off old teacher's names and placed in my own thinking "yes, this is mine in MY own classroom!"

After going through about a box, I found a book entitled "Spirit in the Rainforest" by Eric Wilson, a famous Canadian author.  Maybe some of you have heard of it, the "Tom and Liz Austen Mystery books" that take place all over Canada!  Anyway, I opened the front flap and it was signed by Eric Wilson.  I just found this randomly at a thrift store and was already planning on doing an Author Study on him!  Now I have his signature!  

 Next I came to my old babysitter club books which I talked about earlier.    I opened to the first page to find each book labeled "Shena C" followed with my old phone number.  I cared so much about these books I labeled them with a phone number in case they ever got lost!  Some of them I even included my home address!  Other books I went through were given to me from my grandparents - "Dear Shena, Happy Reading with Love from Opa and Oma."  These were the ones I couldn't cross off.  I had to leave them.  I almost treated them like treasure, not wanting to share them.  How could I let others take these off the shelves for Home Reading when they might get destroyed and ripped?  But think about...what good will they do on my shelf?  Like I have the time to read through every book again!  Its time I share my treasure with others.  My students. 

 How often is our faith a treasure that we don't share with others?  We would rather keep it to ourselves because we don't feel comfortable with sharing our story with someone else.  Sometimes its not our story we are afraid to share, but it could be the best book in the World: The Bible.  Let's take our physical books and our spiritual stories off the shelves and share them with others.  And most importantly, in everything, let's share The Word.  

Thrift Store Jackpot

The other day I randomly decided to stop by a thrift store before picking up my husband from work.  Little did I know that I would hit the jackpot!!! It turned out a retired teacher had dropped off a bunch of her old books....perfect for grade 4 and 5!  And with multiple copies!!! I was thrilled!

I spent an hour in the store carefully picking out all of the books I wanted for my new collection.  I came home with five different books, each having multiple copies.  I want to use them for literature circles!

Literature circles are a fabulous tool when it comes to differentiating reading instruction (reading at multiple skill levels)  There are five different groups to choose from, each with its own book.  The students get to choose which book they would like to read so that they are interested in the material, and it is reading level they are comfortable with.  The group then organizes a time schedule for when each chapter should be read.  This way every group can finish their book at the same time.

For each literature circle class time, each student in the group plays a role.  These roles help the students talk about their book and make greater realizations.  Roles can be: Discussion Director, Worthy Writer, Word Wizard, Connector Captain, Summarizer, Illustrator, Investigator, and Presenter.   (these can be shortened and rearranged easily)  For each role there is a worksheet that needs to be filled out on the chapter they just read together.  Groups will meet with the teacher called "LC Conferences" at least once a week to check up on comprehension, assignments, and enjoyment :)

Well....I'm super excited to try it out!!!  I think I'll be stopping in at more thrift stores to see what else I can find!

Taking the Dive

A couple of weeks ago I signed a contract to teach grade 4/5 for the 2011-2012 school year!  I'm super excited about the full-time employment with this Christian School.  Now that my other jobs have come to a close, I can put my full efforts into preparing for the upcoming year.

I have decided to make a full-year theme for my class: Take the Dive.   It works well as a slogan not only for  rhyming with five, but also for the unlimited ways I can use this theme!  I keep writing down new ideas in my notebook about all of the things I can incorporate.  Stay tuned for pictures of all of the different ideas coming into play!  (I have to make them yet....)  I want the slogan to represent taking a challenge in learning.  The deeper you dive, the more you can explore and discover.

I am taking the dive by beginning this blog.  Blogging is in someways like an open journal for all to see.  It's a risk by sharing ideas, new thoughts, and creative outtakes on the life in education.  There is so many areas to explore and discuss, especially in the first year of teaching.  It can be scary, just like the thought of plunging into a deep ocean.  But once you are in, soaked with your surroundings, you swim deeper to find new thoughts and theories.  I don't want my first year to be the common "keep your head a float" saying.  I want to be diving deeper into new discoveries, just like I'm going to challenge my students.   

On this note, my diving technique will be as follows:
-try blogging about new experiences and challenges as a first year teacher
-discuss educational issues with fellow colleagues ( I hear there might be a teacher strike for the public schools in the fall...)
-have students present their work (with permission of course!)
-share new ideas and projects (great ways to use technology)
-share stories about the wonderful discoveries we have made

Well, I've taken up the challenge....now we will see what happens!  Hope you'll enjoy it too!