Morning Meetings Update (First Week)

I started Morning Meetings on Tuesday the 4th and I am already finding good things are happening with the class! The students have really begun to accept me as their teacher. I have found that I need to keep the activities fun and simple and easy for them to do. They LOVED "Oliver Twist" that we did today, but yesterday when I did "Mrs. Marbles", it didn't go over to well. I don't think I introduced it very well.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I did the Greetings with the basic sit in a circle and shake hands with the person to their right. Yesterday I had them draw a student's name from cards in the middle of the circle and greet the person they drew. Today I had them draw a name out of a hat and then greet that person. They are getting to where they giggle less and look at the other person's face and do it seriously.

I started it with all 4 components and I don't regret it. They are accepting of it and I believe our classroom community is growing.

I'll keep posting about my Morning Meetings. It truly is a community builder and I am a firm believer more than ever before!

Morning Meetings Here I Come!

Guess what?! My CT is going to let me do Morning Meetings during Field!!! I start tomorrow! I'm going to incorporate Literacy into the News and Announcements. I'm so excited!

Tiering Has Gone To My Head!

My husband and I went on a run/walk and we were talking about each others day. He is a High School teacher in Orem and teaches Social Studies, Government, etc. His students have been giving Public Policy Presentations on 911. Well, you know how when your husband is talking and your half-listening to the whole story because your thinking about all the things you've got to do? Yeah, me too. So, he says he "teared up" today in class. I said, "You tiered your lesson today?" He says, "I TEARED UP." Still not getting it I asked, "You mean you're starting to tier your lessons?" Thinking the whole time that he'd be impressed with my new teacher vocabulary! "NO!", he says. "I teared up because the presentation was emotional!" OOOOOH! I got it! Teared Up as in, eyes are watering! Not, TIERING to support the learner!

Yeah, I was laughing inside! I couldn't laugh outloud because my husband was still telling his story about the 911 audio that made him "tear up"!!!! :]

Too Shy!

I can't believe myself! I swear I am getting shyer and shyer the older I get! What is wrong with me!!!??? :] I can't hardly get up infront of our cohort to give a presentation and that didn't used to bother me so much. I hope I snap out of it!

I Love Fall Colors! Our Vine From Grandpa Olsons

Hailey girl by the vine.

Panic Attack!

Okay, I'm really freaking out! I probably shouldn't admit this, but I don't know if I'm on top of it (life) enough to be able to do all that I need to do for the next week and a half AND get ready for Field! I'm really scared because I don't have things "sticking" in my brain with regards to all the assignments that are required during field and after field. I seriously don't know what I'm doing! So much information coming at me! I think my brain has shut off!! What if I can't cut it as a teacher? Oh yeah, and I'm worried I won't pass the Praxis on Nov. 15th! I know I can DO things and I know I'm smart, but I have a hard time remembering things! Also, I don't know what happened to Fall Break! I thought I had ALL this time to get organized and prepared and then all of a sudden it was Monday again! WHAT HAPPENED?! I have to get a grip, but at this moment, I am really worried! AHHHHHHHHH! That helped a little. Okay, I just have to get through Thursday and then I HAVE GOT TO GET MY POOP IN A GROUP! I keep saying, "One day at a time, one day at a time", but each day flies by and I seem to be no further ahead! AHHHHHHHHH! I may come cry on your shoulder! :]

Pages 120-162

On pages 120-143 & 153-156. I'm thinking that these examples would work really well for older grades (4-6) as they are, but that they would have to be revised to be "more friendly" for the younger grades (K-3).

I love the rubric examples. I don't have to re-invent the wheel! I would use those and adapt them according to the grade I teach.

I think the Learning Contracts are a great way to make students accountable and responsible for their learning, especially for the behavior problem student.

I absolutely love the idea of the Multiple -Entry Jounaling. What a great way to assess the student's comprehension and understanding of assignments and tasks on an ongoing basis. I like that they can draw pictures and write about their learning.

I like that the book provides examples that we can copy and use in our classroom. As mentioned before, depending on the grade, I would have to modify the example, but at least I'd have a place to start from.

These examples are a great way to differentiate and tier the learning process of my students.