We can't...

...seriously be done with half the school year, can we? How did we already get to this point? Maybe it's just me getting old, but it seems like these milestone moments of the year come and go in a flash. Before I know it, Easter will be here! But I won't get ahead of myself...
Being that this is the middle of our school year, it seems like a good time to reflect on some of the highlights for this year.

  • Math this year brought about a change of structure, and I really like it. Using the Daily 3 model allows me to really get a lot of face time with students at the individual levels they are working at. This model really requires me to put the responsibility of learning in the students' hands, and I need to trust that the students are making good choices with what they are working on when they are not working with me. We have also made a change to the system we use for learning multiplication and division facts. Beginning last year and then over the summer, I worked on a math committee to study a resource for fact fluency, and we rolled it out as a whole school this year. The system has the students work through sets of math facts through a literature link and game-based play, not moving on to new sets of facts until the whole class is secure. There have been some hits and misses with some of the books and games, but I am hopeful that the outcome will produce solid math fact fluency for the students.
  • With the visit we had this summer from Jan Richardson, I think my literacy structure has had a nice improvement. I've done the Daily 5 model for a couple of years now, and the visit from Jan was a nice refresher for some areas and opened my eyes to other things. I definitely think I ask more in-depth questions of the students. In writing, we are now in our second year using Lucy Calkins, and it has helped to improve my skills in teaching writing, which I think is one of the more challenging subject areas to teach. 
  • I have been very pleased about the technology changes that have occurred this year! For starters, I have my own class set of Chromebooks, so it is great to be able to have access to them on a regular basis and not have to worry about if they are being used by another class. Another change that we've undergone is a transition to Canvas, which we are using as our class website and more. If you don't know what it is, it can be described as Google Classroom on steroids. It took a little getting used to at first, but I really like it!
  • Probably the biggest change this year, however, is my classroom environment. I'll be honest, I was nervous and excited at the same time when I decided to do away with my traditional seating and went to the flexible model. There are some more classroom management pieces to take into consideration, but I don't see myself changing back. I like the space that my classroom has become and the constant learning opportunities that my students are engaging in. Even though it can be a struggle at times to help the students see the choices they are making might not be the best, I think it is important for them to see how their choices impact them and others.
  • Last, but not least, is my blog. I'm proud to say that I've been consistent in my goal of posting every Thursday. Some weeks I have more to say than others, but the reflection time is good to have.
Mindfulness thought for the week: Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken. --Oscar Wilde

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