• Aug172008
    Working on the Work

    POSTED AT 03:56 PM

    One of the goals for my kids this year and every year is to teach them how to stick with things when they are challenging.  To me, work feels good and natural.  I love the look on my kids' faces when they know they've worked hard to accomplish something or understand something that may not have come easily to them.  As teachers and parents, we have to be creative in these days in which we are living to provide those opportunities for our children.  Math is a perfect arena where work, practice, and a "sticking to it" attitude pay off.  There are many new topics for sixth grade mathematics - decimal computations, percents to decimals to fractions, and advanced reasoning skills associated with word problems.  It is not easy.  The kids will hear me say it a million times this year, "You must STUDY math.  You must PRACTICE math to get good at it." 
    I am blown away at the determination and work ethic of our USA Olympic athletes.  Eight Olympic medals didn't come easily for Michael Phelps (although he seemed to make it look that way!).  He has given our family great opportunities to discuss the value and rewards associated with hard work and sacrifice.  I hear people say it all the time, "Our kids don't know how to work."  Then....do your part to teach them.  Join us in Room 36 as we WORK ON THE WORK every day. 
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    Aug082008
    My Favorite Days

    POSTED AT 05:42 PM

    7:45 on Wednesday morning - the bell rang, and I felt like I was going to sixth grade.  I was nervous, excited, smiling, and thinking.  I was crouched at the classroom window watching my kids cross the street.  They were darling.  I don't think we could have had a smoother opening of school in our classroom.  We did a ton of stuff this week.  We organized for the year by being very intentional and specific about how we would use our materials.  Organization is a must for me.  I am so much more productive and smooth when things are in order.  The kids seem to like this required organization, too.
     
    Can I say we love the new tables and chairs?  I'm so thankful we get to use these in our classroom.  Learning seems natural, and work seems smooth using our new work space furnishings.  The SMART Board is working out nicely, too.  The best part, however, is the kids.  They are sweet, working hard, loving books already, and asking tons of questions in math.  It's all good.  Let's keep a good thing going.
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    Jul112008
    New Enthusiasms

    POSTED AT 08:40 AM

    I am thrilled to begin thinking about school again.  Usually during the summer, I give myself about six weeks of "white space" to refresh my thinking about school.  The summer has been full of rest, seeing friends and family, swimming, reading, exercising, eating vegetables from the garden, and learning new things.  What have you learned this summer?  I can't wait to find out.  For me, I have been allowing my family to teach me neat things they know about technology.  WOW!  I've made a Mii, dabbled with eBay, learned to blog, and made a podcast.  Not bad for a girl who still is learning the finer points of text messaging - like how to send one.  I've read eight books about Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, found a new favorite show, Jon and Kate Plus Eight, and found a new shopping haven, IKEA.  There are just so many fun and interesting things in the world - I hope you will be able to keep up with me when school officially begins.  The journey begins on Route 21!  (more on that later...)
     
    What did you learn this summer? 
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