Breathe in, breathe out #SOLC18

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It's coming

We can't stop it

Teachers are worried

The emails keep coming.

Schedules in disarray

"I'll see you when it's over"

Resources stretched thin

How many students make a small group?

It's important to assess

It's important for planning,

for setting goals,

for knowing they are growing.

But yet

I wonder

How sitting in front of a computer screen

for 3 days in a row

Can help "them"

decide how much our students have

learned and grown and changed

into who they will be

some day.

Breathe in,

breathe out.

It will be over soon.

Sunshine #SOL18

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Sunshine

Essential and bright energy source

warming the Earth

coaxing the plants from their winter slumber.

Center of our universe

encourages outdoor activity

even when temperatures are frigid.

Largely motivating,

ever present behind the clouds,

a force to reckon with.

Sunshine

Ode to my washing machine SOLC #5

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I'm a huge fan of Jack Prelutsky's poetry.  One of his poems, Homework! Oh, Homework! popped into my head tonight as I ran my third load of laundry.  The rhythm of his poem inspired me to write about how much I love my washing machine.

Washer, oh, washer, 

I love you!  It's true!

Your spinning and cycling 

keep my jeans dark blue.

If all of my troubles 

could be scrubbed away,

I'd put them in you, washer, 

every single day!

Washer, oh, washer,

I love you!  You make

laundry a task I can easily take.

I fill up the soap,

I shove in the clothes, 

Lovely scents of detergent

fill up my nose!

Washer, oh, washer,

I love you!  Don't stop!

Keep filling with water

and bubbles that pop.

I can leave you alone

to work on your own.

Washer, oh, washer,

Without you, I'd groan!

Does anyone else adore one of their appliances?  :)

Friday SOLC #29

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Blue skies

Sunshine

Feelings of 

Gratitude for our beautiful earth

Neighbors

Cleaning yards

Scrubbing cars

Smile and wave

Shopping

Cooking

Laughing and talking

Preparing for a family holiday

Thankful 

Peaceful

Calm

Relaxed 

Friday

Tuesday's Verbs

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Scene:  Home

Toss, turn

Sneeze, cough

Hear, ignore, press, repeat

Jump, coax, prepare, frown, smile, sigh

Shower, dry, dress

Remember

Change, pack, race

Scene:  School

Chat, brainstorm, thank

Meet, teach, coax, smile, 

Eat, copy, staple, panic, breathe

Teach, read, listen, laugh, scold, compliment

Greet, facilitate, smile, share, reflect

Carry, drive, call

Scene:  Home

Juggle, drop

Kiss, hug

Drive, pickup, listen, coach

Text, understand

Eat, smile, chuckle, breathe

Fix, fill, check, kick, fuel

Sort, fold

Sit, think, read, type, slice

Sunday Morning Symphony - SOLC #25

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Sunday Morning Symphony

Cardinals singing, “whoop whoop pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty”

Cars whooshing, rushing

Music flowing out of neighbor’s windows

Church bells pealing – inviting, celebrating

Airplanes accelerating

Children giggling, calling out, “Watch me!”

Dogs barking, announcing joggers pounding the pavement

Dishes and silverware chiming

Parakeet chattering, answering the outside birds

Hammer banging

Fingers tapping the keys

Sunday Morning Symphony

Poetry Frenzy

I am very thankful for my public library!  Today I had a wide-eyed stare from the gal at the check-out counter.  "Wow, that's a lot of books!" she proclaimed.  Working as a team, we had the pile of titles back into my book bags in a flash.

At my school this week we are hosting a poetry night.  I am ready with books!!  We plan to read aloud poems, and have parents and children read poems together (and enjoy the great illustrations).  Then we will see what happens when children and parents write poems together.

Before all this happens, I get to enjoy my stack of poetry titles, many by authors I haven't read before.  I plan to post my favorites.

It may be April 30th, but I wish you ...
Happy National Poetry Month!

Love This Book, Loved That Dog

Love That Dog by Sharon Creech is among my top ten favorite books.  I have read it with a few of my small groups over the years.  This time Love That Dog might be a tricky read.  It's great for poetry month.  It's written in verse, and students can totally relate to Jack and his dislike of writing.  You might think, "Tricky?  Why?"  Well, it's about a boy, his dislike of poetry, and his dog.  Sniff.
Our black lab, Candy, lived to the ripe old age of 16.  She was a crazy puppy when we adopted her and chewed many things.  She didn't have great manners and nearly bit your finger when you gave her a treat because her eyesight was terrible.  These memories were conveniently forgotten when she was gone.
Loved that dog.

I warned my 5th graders that there is a sad part in the book regarding the dog.  I tried not to give anything away, but they caught on.  One student shared a sad dog story with the group.  I explained that I used to have a dog.  One student immediately recommended I get a puppy.  I replied that puppies make me tired!

I think this will be a great read for my small group of students.  It's too bad that most of them haven't experienced the happiness (and challenges) of having a pet.  I told them how excited I am to share this book with them.  It will be our first book and author study.  Wish us luck!