Teaching a love of reading...

  I always have my students read when they have nothing to do. For example... when they come into the classroom after lunch, specials, or recess they are supposed to automatically get out a book and read. I do this because every time I would sub the students would always beg me to give them time to read. Since then I have always tried to give them as much time to read as I can!
  A little background for me is that, because of Accelerated Reader, I lost my love for reading in elementary school. I would spend all of my time reading books and because of my lack of comprehension skills I would fail the tests almost every time. I really would read the book and try my best to pass the test but I usually still failed the test. Ever since then it has been a struggle for me to want to read.
  That being said... One of my 4th grade girls is reading The Hunger Games right now and she is loving it. So yesterday she expressed how much better the book is and how many details the movie leaves out. Since I love the movie and am excited for the new movie this weekend I was instantly interested. Joe got the trilogy last Christmas and I have wanted to read them but never had the drive... until now. When I got home I started reading the first book and I have to say my 4th grader was right. There is so much internal dialogue that they show but don't explain in the movie! I am already on chapter 4 and for me that is a huge deal.
  My biggest lesson through this is that I am not only teaching my students to have a love of reading but they are teaching me to love it as well. I am so blessed to have students that can show me how to love reading again. That is such a wonderful thing!

It's that time of year again...

       Well, it's the beginning of August and I officially start teacher training this Friday and school begins next Friday. At first I was dreading it, because it is hard to give up a summer of being at home, but now I am actually looking forward to getting back to the classroom.
       I have spent so much time on pinterest lately and I am making several lists of new things that I want to implement in the classroom this year. I am just ready for a fresh start with new students and a clean and fresh school year. There are so many things that I want to be better at this year and I really hope to, above all else, stay positive as much as possible. I forget how much I love teaching until I have not done it for awhile. That is what summer is for though, to get refreshed so you can be a great teacher to new students. I just hope that this stays with me!

May Day... May Day...

Well it is that time of year... when testing is over and the students are anxious for summer vacation. They are beginning to act like they have never heard of the rules that we have had all year long and my patience is beginning to be stretched very thin. Though I am so ready for summer I am starting to realize that I am going to miss some of my kiddos a great deal.

Sure there are the ones that are so much work and I am constantly trying to get them back on task. But there are so many that I have a blast with and are able to be sarcastic with me. My high learners are so much fun to push and they really take responsibility for their actions. When I come back from summer they will no longer be my students but someone's and I will be starting the new year with an entirely new group.

I am so ready for a break and to be able to work in our house and get so many projects done. Yet, I am truly going to miss specific students that have helped form my teaching into so much more that I was before this school year. Here's to the end of the year... 16 more school days! :)