The Book Whisperer - Chap.4

I finally received my copy of "The Book Whisperer" by Donalyn Miller yesterday and quickly read the first 4 chapters. I have found a kindred spirit! What I have been doing in my classroom the past 3 years has been validated by her.

As I read authorities on reading and studied for reading courses, I always felt that for a child to succeed as a reader, he or she had to read and read a lot.

Between Miller and the Daily Five, I know what I do is what kids need.

We start the year with 10 minutes of independent reading and by Christmas, my Grade 3 class is usually reading 30 minutes at the beginning of the day. Their only job during this reading time each day is to "read and record". They record their reading each day : Date /Title/ Author/Genre/JR-E-C/No. of stars (their rating up to 5)

I meet with each reader each week for a quick running record if needed and a conference on their reading.

At the end of the year when I have had them fill out a survey, their favourite class activity has always been our independent reading.

Using reader's notebooks is done as well, but never at this time. We read and read and read.

Thank you Donalyn!

At " Thinking of Teaching ", there is a book study on the book and it has been so interesting to see other teachers excited by Miller and what she writes about reading.

I know many of us teachers get so fed up with all the standardized testing, and new jargon and updated curriculum that is foisted on us each year. There is less and less time for reading, for art, for drama and music. Instead we must prepare kids for tests and we are judged as teachers because of test scores.

What I want for each child coming into my class is to love reading and to feel good about themselves. I want them to explore what their strengths and weaknesses are and to try new things.

I am excited about Miller's book and look forward to finishing the book.

I know I will adopt some of her ideas - like the book frenzy, which I do in a modified way. I have never had a genre requirement for the children. I like the idea of setting a guideline for genres as well as the number requirement.

(With Grade 3s, many are still reading picture books well into the school year, so the number might have to be modified.)

Sky Watch Fiday

Time to share our skies at Sky Watch Friday. The skies have been beautiful this week! Our weather has been hot, with no rain. Lots of blue skies, but also skies with clouds. Great sky watching weather!

(Today)

(Earlier in the week)

Be sure to stop by here to view awesome skies from around the world.

Wishcasting Wednesday

Each week Jamie Ridler asks a very pointed question, one that gets us to look inward and seek out our deepest desires.

This week it is no different. She asks us:

What do you wish to ask for?

As I thought about it this morning, several things flitted through my mind. But, the wish that dominated was that I wish to ask for a kindred spirit, someone to share things with, to laugh with, to do things with.

Since moving here 6 years ago I have met many people through work and church. I am friendly with them, but it doesn't extend much past church or school functions. I miss my old friends but the distance is such that we can't see each other often. Yes, I have a loving husband and we do many things together, but a woman friend is quite different and I miss that.

I tend to be shy, to hang back. I don't push myself on people. As I get older it seems to be more of a challenge to really connect with people on a deeper level. Hence the term "kindred spirit" (from "Anne of Green Gables" one of my favourite books). So I ask for a kindred spirit!

As Jamie says:

"You can be a maker of magic and a tender of wishes. It’s easy. Answer the wish prompt above on your blog . Support wishes by visiting other participants. It’s that simple. There is great power in wishing together."

Sunday Weekly Wrap Up

Sunday Weekly Wrap-Up gives me a chance to highlight some of the work I have done this past week, especially for challenges.

The "Summer of Colour" challenge at "Twinkle, Twinkle" was a focus on brown. My first response was ugh! But I played with the colour and had fun with paint and altho I am not enamoured of the colour, it worked out okay in the end.

Here I used a piece of scrunched-up plastic to move brown paint around the page.

This was the usual magazine clips of brown and adding white paint to each layer. I am enjoying these 2 experiments each week.

With some leftover brown and white paint I splotched some ATC cards for backgrounds.

The Artist's Way"

We are halfway through Chapter 1 of "The Artist's Way". I have read through the chapter once but need to go back and reread more thoroughly.

I have started a quote booklet to help me keep track of favourite quotes.

Morning papers continue to be sporadic and done at different times. I am on summer break so my routines have been a wee bit mixed-up! Making lists for "52 Lists in 52 Weeks" (see previous post), made me realize I still have feelings of not being good enough. I have to work on those negative words.

My artist dates this past week have times to create. I am enjoying giving myself time to just play - with paint, and with collage.

I will work on the tasks this week and make more of an effort to do the morning papers.

Visit Paula's blog to connect with other members of this great group.

Photography

I had fun with the camera this week and was able to grab another shot of the 2 robin eggs. I still am amazed she laid 2 more eggs! (Sorry for the fuzziness - she was squawking at me from the fence as I hovered over her nest!)

Skies and flowers were again my main focus.

52 Lists in 52 Weeks

One of my favourite past times is blog hopping - going from one blog to another blog. I always discover wonderful bloggers and new challenges. Yesterday was no exception.

I discovered Kellie's blog On the Brink of Something Beautiful, where she provides a great prompt each week for creating 52 Lists in 52 Weeks. They are at Week 6, so it's not too far into the challenge.

I have been looking for some way to celebrate my next birthday, when I turn 60. I am already dreading that birthday! I want to feel more positive, but so far there are only negative feelings!

So when I saw Kellie's challenge, I thought I would adapt it and do 60 lists in 60 weeks. It will extend past my birthday but that is exciting.

At 25, I said there were not many firsts left. How wrong I have been! I want there to be many many more.

This week the list to produce is: What Do I Need To Let Go of?

I need to let go of:

1. negativity/ negative thoughts

2. my extra pounds

3. art and crafts supplies I don't use or need

4. books - I have too, too many

5. things in the house that I don't love or have a use for

6. digital files I don't need

7. guilt from the past

8. magazines - again, I have too many

9. teacher files and books I am not using

10. the feeling of not being good enough

I have started a scrapbook for the lists and will add extras as I need. I plan to catch up on the 5 other lists from Kellie's blog. What a great idea! If you'd like to join in the fun check it out here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

It,s that special time of the week to share shadows. So many times these shadows are more interesting than the original object.
Here are a few from my garden:

I had to include a shot of our old girl Fluffy. She is now 19! The arm in the photo is from our concrete jockey.

And would you believe, we have a new nest on the ladder on our porch and 2 new eggs! ! have never seen that before - a second nest of eggs especially so late!

Be sure to check out the great shadow-chasers at "Hey Harriet" - that superf un meme created by Tracy.

More Linky Fun - 10 Things About Me

Mrs. Owens is holding a linky Party as a way to get to know fellow teaching bloggers. I have only recently started following teaching blogs regularly and this is a chance to meet me.


10 Things About Me.

10. I remarried at 50 after vowing never to marry again. We celebrated our 9th anniversary yesterday.

9. When I met my husband I knew he had kidney problems. If you have ever experienced or known someone who has been on dialysis, you know how limiting it is, even though it saves lives. I was compatible with my husband and was able to donate a kidney to him in '03. He is still doing well.

8. I have 3 children and 5 stepchildren, all living on their own. Only my stepchildren have chilren - 9 grandchildren.

7. My favourite show right now is "So You Think You Can Dance". And I am in heaven as both the Canadian and American versions are on right now, so there are 4 nights of dance.

6. I love dancing as my favourite form of exercise. Although swimming is a close second.

5. My first teaching job was in the North West Territories in a tiny native village south of Inuvik. I stayed for 3 years and loved it. My oldest son was born in Inuvik.

4. I love art and creating things. I always have a craft club at school. When I grow up I want to be an art teacher and an artist!

3. I had a serious car accident in'85 and to this day I cannot drive on major highways. I still suffer from the whiplash I had then.

2. I love reading - anything and everything. I have books everywhere. When my children were growing up, if they asked for a toy or candy at the store , I'd say no. But if they asked for a book - I never said no! I want my class to love reading and we read, read, read every chance we can get.

1. I always wanted to be a teacher. I can remember lining up my dolls and stuffed toys to teach them when I was 8. I could retire this year but I am not ready to, for a number of reasons. I still love teaching, inspite of the political landscape. (in spite of Grade 3 testing!) I have taught Grade 3 now for 17 years and I find it a special year.

Thanks, Mrs. Owens for the chance to share a bit about me. Check out her blog for more interesting teachers and a great download!