I have been wondering what "new" professional book I should read this summer in order to strenthen my reading/writing instruction. But in this short blog, I am instead going to begin re-reading Debbie Miller and Kathy Collins. Reading With Meaning Teaching With Intention Growing Readers Reading for Real As I read, I will post on my blog of how this reading will be reflected in next year's curriculum. Happy Reading!

TC, here I come! (again) Only 5 days and counting until I head to Teacher’s College for five days of the July Reading institute. You didn’t think I’d leave you behind, did you? Mark your calendars for a Mini Institute of your own, July 6th- 10th. I'll share what I learn right here on Once Upon a Reader' sWorkshop! Read More...

Today is my first official day of summer vacation. I finished summer school on Friday so today was my first chance to take a deep breath. You may wonder why my title is cleaning and breathing. As I posted in my last blog,

I spent some afternoons after the kids left in summer school cleaning and organizing. I can't imagine how to describe the difference I feel now that I have left my classroom for six whole weeks. I feel as if years of weight have been lifted from my shoulders. It was the cleaning and reorganizing, moving and setting up,

that has given me the chance to walk away and not struggle over what I plan to change in the classroom setup come August. If you have read my blogs, you realize that I am a strong believer in the workshop approach of teaching. The changes that I made will hopefully allow my students the flexibility to learn in a more acceptable environment. I read on Proteacher of other's themes for their classroom and look at pictures and realize that for many of us, our summers are not spent in relaxation as the old saying goes--what is the best part of teaching? June, July, August. To strive to set up the environment in ways to allow the upmost respect for teacher's philosophies and goals is noticed in the pictures that are posted. I have made our classroom continue to be surrounded by baskets of books. The changes that I did within the cleaning were in that I have more defined areas for math, poetry, non-fiction, writing, and chapter books. I have taken the time to sort, organize, and toss, toss, toss! I made a section for our writing portfolios (one inch binders) in the group meeting area. I want the notebooks to be used--read, noticed more. In the years past, I just had them stored on a bookcase--out of the way--and only got them out at different times throughout the year for the students to add to their portfolio. I am hoping that the children will see themselves as writers to a greater degree because they are housed in our library that surrounds our meeting area. I noticed last year how the children loved to read their poetry books. They were housed in their independent reading baskets. They were read daily. I want to instill in the children how important their writing is. Math workshop has been a continued goal of mine, but one that I really have failed at tremendously. I know it. I admit it. I have used our math time as whole group instruction and independent working using manipulatives and worksheets. I can grumble that it is mainly because our math has to be covered at such a pace to cover the majority of standards before our achievement tests. Yes, I can use this as an excuse. But I can continue to strive for improvement. I moved the math books to a separate area and set up the area to give Math a more predominate place in the classroom. I actually sorted manipulatives, labeled them in their own baskets, set up workstations for independent practice. We will see. Writing was also moved to a new location. By organizing writing materials I am giving the children a choice in the type of paper they will use, the ability to become writers! More on this later! Not only will I continue to use the Units of Study as my primary sources, I will strive to merge writing and reading strategies together. (This is my next focus--the evaluation of my curriculum goals for last year and the re-writing of next year's goals). So, yes, today was my chance to take a deep breath. Today was my chance to reflect of the changes that I made in the classroom. Tomorrow is my chance to look to the future. For in reality, summers do not take the teacher out of me.

Hello, friends! About three weeks ago I wrote a very long blog (so what else is new), but lost the whole dang thing when I went to spell check it. No spell checking this time. Read More...

Hello, Everybody! It's officially summer . . . meaning I'm finished with summer school! Hallelujuah!!! I slept as late as I wanted yesterday AND today!!!!! Of course I don't want to do that every day, but for

now it's feeling really good to decide when I want to get up instead of knowing that at a certain time I have to get up. Yesterday my granddaughter came to stay with me while her parents and older siblings went to a ball game. The heat index was over 100!!!! We played on the computer, played

Bunco (Gracie's version!!!!!!) and got ice cream sundaes. It was nice to relax and enjoy the time with her without thinking about what I needed to teach the next day! I'm reading The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy right now. Has anyone else read any of Conroy's books? I am going to start reading The Daily 5 soon, and I plan to air my thinking here on my blog. I'm hoping some proteacher friends will join in -- share ideas -- as I am thinking and planning. :) Right here at ProTeacher one summer a group of us read and discussed Guiding Readers and Writers by Fountas and Pinnell. That was the best book study ever! I'm still using strategies and ideas I learned from that book AND from other teachers who shared their knowledge and expertise. Later . . .

I hate having to do this! I usually have to do it 2-3 times a year, and always on a Tuesday. Recover what? My mini-dumpster!Read More...

My kids moved out of my home two weeks ago. The very next day, I started the overwhelming task of trying to bring home my belongings from 3 storage units. (See previous blog entries for more details.) After not seeing most of my things for nearly 2 1/2 years.....my question is.....where, oh where did all this stuff come from?Read More...

So I promised my family I would not spend the whole summer on school related matters and I truly meant it. And I have kept my end of the bargain...mostly;)!Read More...

***TMI ALERT!***TMI ALERT!***TMI ALERT!*** Consider yourself warned. Recovery from the sinus surgery has been well, interesting.Read More...

:)Just 2 more days of summer school!:) I've enjoyed working with my summer school students, but I am really ready for it to end. We were required to do academics -- reading/math -- for the first 4.5 hours, but the afternoon

was more exploratory. My class did Mini-Society. We are having our last business session tomorrow morning. I'm hoping I can get my students to help with the packing and cleaning up. All the things I brought down to use have to be boxed up so the custodians can carry it all back up to my classroom. July

off sounds like heaven! I went to my granddaughter's coach-pitch baseball game on Friday and my grandson's baseball game on Saturday. My personal goal for July: do a whole lot more with my family. Believe it or not, I',m still labeling and leveling books. I'm also recording all the info on a spreadsheet as I go. It's hugely time consuming, but seeing all my labeled books on the bookshelves is extremely rewarding. My work goal for July: level/label all the books I brought home from school today!!!!!!!! My professional development goal for July: read Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites by Marcia L. Tate AND readExplicit Direct Instruction by John R. Hollingsworth and Silvia E. Ybarra AND read/study The Daily 5 by the 2 sisters AND read/study The Comprehension Toolkit by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis. YIKES! I guess I'd better get started!!!!! August will be here before I know it! Later . . .