Sad. During Recess Reading, JB has decided to sit in MP's desk. He is moving on Friday and I think he will sorely miss who we all think to be his crush. 

I have turned my kids into nerds. Many of them now opt out of recess to come into the classroom and read. Love it. 

Growing pains

Our kids have been growing their own plants for the last two weeks. They have been controlling the variables (water, sun, etc). The results have been hilarious. We have bone dry cups and cups with floating soil. 

After they assess how their experiments have been going, we will be planting new plants. 

Hilarious. 

Spanish vs. English

Yesterday, we read a book about a family returning to Mexico for a visit. A lot of my students really connected with it. 

As I was writing back to YG's journal today, I noticed that she had written something inspired by the book. It was about how some of the people in her family always tease her or pick on her until she'll say something in English. Her teacher last year was also known to talk about how Spanish was "not what we use here." 

I feel so sad for my kids who are taught not to appreciate their native language. Knowing another language is so wonderful. 

Needless to say, I wrote back to her in Spanish. She beamed. 

Reader's Workshop

Thanks to Ms. Wright's planning, my kids read and write in the workshop style. There is an article today about workshop in NYTimes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/books/30reading.html

Camoflauge and Mimicry Museum

We are studying animals this unit in science. Today is camo and mimicry day. To start this out, we are having a gallery walk in the classroom. Classical music is playing and there is a no talking rule as they peruse the "animal art" and take notes on how the animals are hiding and hypothesizing as to why they might be hiding. 

Admission is free if you're interested :) 

Sick..booo

I am home sick ALREADY! I was planning on trying not to miss nearly as many days as last year as a year two "vet." So much for that.

I had great reports about the kiddies today. They make me so proud! I have to thank my superstar TFA colleagues for taking on a few extra kids for the day as I didn't realize I was sick early enough this morning to get a sub. I don't know what I would do without all of their support. Half of my kids got to return to their 3rd or 2nd grade teachers which was a lot of fun for them. The majority went to Ms. Wright's class which is AWESOME as our classes are essentially identical so they didn't miss a thing!

YG called right after school to "check on me" and see if I would be at school tomorrow. She told me she would bring me soup if I would please come to school. I love them.