What in the day?

What in the day?

Reflections on the day

1. I introduced my students to making tutorial screencasts to teach others how to use an app.  Oh my, were they excited! (So was I because people would WAY rather listen to them than to me!)  

First posted screencast was for Toontastic.  Thanks, JS!

2.  We read Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters and talked about possible themes in the book.  They've come so far in their understanding of theme.  I put their assignment in a Seesaw Activity, so that was a first for me.  I love it that they know more than I do!  

Here's BS's theme and support.  Good job! (Oh how I love 💜 teaching themes!)

3.  Introduced new fluency passages.  We are studying themes, so the passages are about themes.  It is so awesome that they have this routine down.

All in all a sunshine kind of day!  

Goal for this week?  

Made at recite.com

Joy in our hearts

Joy in our room

Joy in our learning

Here's what I know about Team Awesome 174

1.  They love to sing. 🎼🎵🎤
2.  If given the chance, most will dance. 

When talking with my principal the other day he asked me, "When are they at their best?" then continued to say,  "Use that structure more often." 

3.  RAZ Kids tops EPIC and Front Row.  
4.  Spelling City, Flocabulary, and Ed City are equally enjoyed.
5.  Team Awesome 174 appreciates having choices.  📕📚📰📖📝

So this got me thinking.  
When ARE they at their best?

6.  They are creators and thinkers. 💡
7.  They love to post on Seesaw and Twitter.
8.  Making a video is right up there in preferred activities.  📹🎞📽

And I narrowed it down a bit.

9. When a story is being told, they are enraptured. 
10.  Sharing is important to them. 

And here's what I came up with for myself as their educational leader.  I narrowed it down to four things I need to remember as I plan lessons and experiences for Team Awesome 174.

😎 Read aloud to them every single day.  #morereadaloudsin2018 (Okay, so this is already one of my goals.  Carry on...)

🐰 Loosen up.  Choices matter.  I find myself wanting to control all content distribution at all times.  I am thinking that is not entirely as necessary as I think it is.
  
🍑 Play a song during transitions.  It makes everyone happy.

🏆 Give them more opportunities to work with partners.  Trust them.  😀😀

Now to think of what this means for implementation.  The song and read aloud are rolling.  What about the choices and partners?

I'll be back when I figure that out!  

Joy in our hearts

Joy in our room

Joy in our learning

Share something you are excited about in your classroom

So, our agenda for our meeting this morning came through an email last night.  

Item #1: Share something you are excited about in your classroom.

Well, I am glad you asked. It is funny that yesterday I had an exciting and delightful day with Team Awesome 174. So I am happy to share! Some of the things I am excited about?

Fluency-Poetry-Flocabulary-Themes

1. Fluency Practice  

I let the students pick a poem from 5 different ones this week. I was curious which ones they would pick. (Would they pick the "easiest" one?) Some interesting results. Many chose the easiest poem. But it was surprising who chose the hardest one. I listened to one boy read his and had to grin from ear to ear. Because of the nature of the poem, he started singing it. (Did you know you can make QR codes for Seesaw posts?)

2.  We used the book of poems by Doug Florian (one of my FAVORITE poets) yesterday titled Insectopedia.  

One of the members of this book group wanted to record it onto Seesaw.  I said sure and he went into the middle room to record.  He stayed there for 27 minutes!  These poems are not easy.  His fortitude amazed me.  

3.  I 💙 Flocabulary so much!  I love raps!  I love it when students create!  Some of my students have started writing raps with the vocabulary they are learning.  Here is one that J wrote: 

4.  I always get excited when theme is the subject of the hour.  We watched the story of the The Monkey King yesterday and talked about the themes in that story (sacrifice, changing behavior, greed).  Then later we read Half Chicken (Journeys 2nd Grade Vol. 2) and one of the students notice a part where the fire sacrifices itself for the sake of the chicken.  Making connections is VERY exciting, wouldn't you say?

And one last thing, if I may.  

As you can see, we are getting our read aloud in!

What are you excited about in YOUR classroom? Do tell!

Now what about that Twitter goal, Ms. Hostetler? Ok, ok...I'm on it!

Follow us @teamawesome174

Joy in our hearts

Joy in our room

Joy in our learning