SOL: Dear Li'l T: A Letter to Li'l Readers Everywhere.

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Dear Li'l T,

We've watched you grow up so much this year!  Your sense of humor amazes me.  You are bold and funny.  Sometimes it is at the right time.  Sometimes it's not.  (And then I have to hide my giggles for the sake of parenting...but only sometimes...)

I've been thinking about you as a reader a lot lately.  You are so good at it.  I want you to love it.  

I've been wondering about the day when I would see you linger in a stack of books deciding which one to read next.  I've tried not to push and prod.  But I just want to see you excited about books.  And for the longest time, you tolerated them at best.  

I would recommend.  I pleaded.  I begged.  I may have even told you-"You had to."  Ugh.  I'm sorry about that.  

And then Your Dad and I backed off.  As much as I wanted you to embrace all the reading all the time, I just waited.  

Dad still read to you.  We still took you to the library all the time.  You were able to read whatever you wanted.  There just wasn't "The One" for you.

We kept trying.  For 8 (almost 9) years we've been trying.

And this summer....I'm so happy I could squeal.  But I won't because cool Mamas don't do that.  :)
I think it's happening.  I think you might be falling in love with reading.

As I was watching again today, I've learned so much about how you are growing as a reader:

• You can't go wrong with animal books.
• The chapter books have to include adventure, but they can't be scary.
• My heart may have melted when you started picking up cook books.  We'll keep working on that Mac n' Cheese recipe.  (And it may have spurred a rough draft about gender roles and books.  I'm not good at this style of writing, but will try it anyway!)  
• You can Always pick up the picture books I grab for school.  Always.  

I've learned in these almost 9 years that this is a winding river for you that we will follow as long as you need us to.  

Yes, You can Read That.  

Joy!
Kendra

It's Monday! Here's What I'm Reading...

Visit Jen at Teach MentorTexts and Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders to see what they've been reading, along with everyone else who link up.

Dear Friends,  

It's been 6 months since I've written about my reading!  Thanks for being a supportive blogging community.  I've been thinking and tending to ideas around this little blog to help me process learning.  But that story is for another day.

Let's look at what is in my book stack this week.  The theme of the stack?  It's really about staying connected to my 12 year old.  He really is an avid reader, and this summer we have really gotten in a groove of recommending books back and forth.  (And he's even been reading some of my favorites!)  I'm hopeful that books will keep us connected as we enter teenageland.  13 doesn't scare me.  We have books.  :)

Big A recommended this series, and both my Mr. and I can't put it down.  I know it's a couple years old.  If you love fairy tales, you may really enjoy this series!  Yes, we pre-ordered the next one already.  

So after Big A had is Mama and his Auntie bugging him about this series.  He finished 3 and said, "That's not cool.  What happens next?"  After a little research, I learned there was a 4!  

As I've picked this one up, I can't help but think of kids I want to hand this one to when I'm finished.  

Who is doing #cyber pd?  See you there!

Joy!
Kendra

The Curious Classroom-Some Final Thoughts.

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Hi Friends.  :)

A confession.  I tend to linger in professional development books.  

I often feel like I'm "behind" because I'll read something and linger with it in my classroom for awhile.  

I want to see if the reading really impacts my classroom practice.

I know I'm not really behind.  

Anyone else ever feel this way?  

So I read this gem over vacation:

A fantastic read!  I know I've said this several times, but I felt so encouraged and empowered as I was reading this!  You too can have a Curious Classroom!  

I blogged about the beginning and chapter two separately.  

A Little Request:  Could you click on "the beginning" link and consider helping me?  It's a piece about my own curiosity and state rocks.  :)  

Today, I'm thinking about the rest of the book and how it had so many authentic suggestions to incorporate and encourage curiosity in the classroom.

Here are 7 I'll be considering as I plan for next year:

1.  Run right to page 44 and check out the wonder board!  Mrs. Limback's First Grade will have one of those this year!  Stay tuned.  

2.  As I consider the start to my day, I'm a fan of soft starts.  I love the lingering in books, the chatting, time to get ready.  Let's go ahead and add some research and journal time on a topic of interest to the child as they arrive at school each day.  (See Chapter 4 for more on soft starts!)

3.  News.  (Chapter 5).  I'll admit, I tend to shy away from this, but am learning rapidly not to do that anymore.  I'll be gathering and organizing kid news sites and webcams to be accessible for students.  I'll use Symbaloo, because that is the tool I like.  :)

4.  See more about experts in chapter 6.  As I reflected on this, my kids were exposed to 7 experts last year, including:  fire fighters, police officers, actors/actresses, the organizer of a food pantry, a dog handler, a park conservationist, and experts at our zoo.  I'm looking to add a few more for this year.  

5.  It was great to be reminded of Genius Hour.  I'll be adding that to my schedule this year.  

6.  Mini Inquiries that connect to curriucular units.  So, I tried to do a more project based approach last year, but didn't feel like I completely hit that mark.  So this year, as I write a yearly plan, I intend to build up time to investigate the questions that students have on the topic.  

*Also a moment here.  I teach P.E. as part of my New-ish gig.  If you do, get right to page 148-149 and read about connecting inquiry and nonfiction writing.  Or find your P.E. teacher and collaborate a little.  :)

7.  Crisis.  Lean right into it.  Ugh.  We had to last year when two of our finest were shot and killed less than a mile from my school.  We had to talk about it.  We had to wonder about it.  We had to "do" about it.  It resulted in a forming relationship with our police department.  It built empathy and concern like I've never seen before.  There were tears from kids and grown ups along the way.    I pray we don't have to lean in like we did last year.  But this one I would say is the most important.  Get right in there friends.  Don't shy away from the hard stuff.  

I was left with these encouraging words from The Curious Classroom:

Let Your fears go.

Take some risks.

Have fun.  

This is a book I'll be hauling around a lot this fall as we settle in!  I hope you have a chance to read it!
Joy!
Kendra

The Curious Classroom Day 2

Chapter 2 focuses on Investigating Ourselves as Classmates.  

As I consider the tie-ins to Writer's Workshop here, I have already begun outlining what the first few days of school will look like during this time.  

On page 25, the explanation of Identity Maps is explained.  Examples are shared in the next few pages.  As kids write about themselves in the first days, this gives them not only a positive self identity, but an opportunity to develop a working list of writing topics.  

As I read about identity maps, I also considered Georgia Heard's idea of Heart Maps. As my students are writing in the early days of the school year, I want that positive self identity that comes with this work.  I also want them to see that they have a story to tell, and it belongs to them.  

In the idea of partner venns (pages 28-29) kids are working side by side on a chart paper.  They begin by working on ways to describe their own identity.  Then, they study each other's side of the venn diagram, looking for things that they have in common.  As the students find them, they put them in the center section of the venn.  

2 more strategies that struck me from reading chapter two:  Step in, Step out. (page 34)  Also, the Morning Greeting Ritual.  I reflected on this so much when I was reading!  

I use the Responsive Classroom's method of a Morning Meeting to begin each day.  (I'll be writing about this later...)  But what I envision when I consider my schedule, is a check-in ritual around Mid-Morning.  With singing and dancing and a "Lightning Share".   A Lightning Share is a quick trip around your classroom circle to just check in and see what is on the minds of the kids.  I always let them pass if they don't have anything to share at this time.  

I'll say it again.  This was such an empowering read for me!  Get this book!  :)

Joy!
Kendra

The Curious Classroom: Day One

Dear Friends,

For the past 9 days I have wandered around the Midwest.  From porch time in a little town in Nebraska, to hiking in the Black Hills of South Dakota.  It's been a fantastic way to start the summer.

While sitting on the porch in Nebraska, I had the chance to read this gem:  (Also a fantastic way to start the summer)



Have you read it?  Just go do that now if you haven't.  It was confirming and encouraging and empowering.  After I read it, I left feeling like I could make some easy changes to what I'm doing to encourage more curiosity in my classroom.  I'll be writing more about that in the upcoming days.

But as I was hiking with my family through South Dakota, my 12 year old jumped onto an idea with me.  It was at Jewel Cave Monument, as we were hiking through the canyon that I had an idea.  And Friends, I could use your help.

Big A (the 12 year old) and I were fascinated by the geology of the state of South Dakota.  Which lead to me thinking about the geology in all the states.   Big A and I are wondering if we can collect state rocks from all 50 states.

I teach a unit on the United States, and incorporating some geology into this unit would be an opportunity to authentically model something that I'm curious and excited about.

Big A loves to collect and organize and synthesize information.  It could come in handy at school, but he's really just excited about the prospect of connecting with teachers and their state rocks.  :)  We've had great conversations about what this blog post should look like.

So, if you are willing to help us by sending rocks from your state and a fact or two, would you either DM me on Twitter?  Or you can leave an email in the comments, and I will get in touch with you.  We would be so thankful for the help.

There are no expectations on number/size of rocks.  Just something that we can share and study.  We are also excited to hear about your perspective and thoughts on the geology of your state.

Thanks Friends!
Joy!
Kendra