Summer Learning

This summer is the first that I have not been in school in years! But not really. I took the Team Oregon Motorcycle Training Class and got my endorsement. It is something I kept putting off, probably because I was always in school! Now that I have it, it is time to ride! Of course I had to buy a bike! Isn't she a beauty? Soon, I will be cruisin' the open road!

I have also spent some time in the car taking in the sights from Portland to Twin Falls. I learned that I like road trips when I am not driving! The view from the passenger seat is pretty nice. Once in Twin Falls, the family spent some time learning to zip line so we could "Zip the Snake"! We all did four zip-line courses through the Snake River Valley in Twin Falls. It was awesome!

Portland

Sign speaks for itself

Portland to Idaho

Wind!

The View From the Passenger Seat

This just looked like Idaho!

Shoshone Falls

Zip training

Idaho Land

Zip the Snake!

Starting tomorrow, I will be taking a class three days a week for the next four weeks to get my ESOL endorsement. I can't say it will be as fun as zip lining or riding a motorcycle, but it will worth it. I love learning and hopefully it will make me more marketable. Because the other thing I am learning is that it is NO FUN looking for a job!

Ancora Imparo!

Graduation Day at Lewis and Clark!

Such a great day! My Masters Degree! This day was a long time coming. 

Spring Ideas and the Poet Tree

Last year, I worked in a 4th and 5th grade Behavior Learning Center. I was lucky enough to be able to do many fun art activities. We also read and wrote poetry. The students loved being creative and producing work that they took pride in. 

Water color butterflies on canvas. 

I had groups of students paint water color paper with liquid water color paint. Then, we used a butterfly punch to punch out the pretty insects. Finally, we hot glued them on canvas that had been painted blue. They turned out lovely!

   

Lots of Spring art. 

Frogs were made out of green bags, die cut circles, and accordion folded strips of paper. We also made cool flowers out of recycled magazines. 

Here we used black paint to paint the branches and the bottom of a 1 liter soda bottle to stamp pink paint blossom. 

The Poet Tree

Everyday we celebrated poems written by students with "snaps". Students were so proud of their work. Every time they wrote a poem, they would put it on the Poet Tree. The end of the unit was celebrated with a "Poetry Jam" attended by parents, administrators, teachers, and other students. Every student in the class wrote poems and read their own work. The audience showed their appreciation with finger snaps. It was a very heart warming day for me. Students is this class very rarely feel proud of themselves. This day they were Rock Stars!

First Grade Animal Reports are Underway!

Inquiry Journals and Organizers

Animal Report Cover

Habitat Report and Habitat Map

Appearance and Diagram

First Grade Exercise Balls

Walking into any first grade classroom across the country and you will see wiggly, bouncy kids. This year, my students wiggle and bounce too. However, the first graders in my room sit on stability balls. I have noticed increased concentration and an improvement in student work. Not to mention, perching on a stability ball also promotes good posture, strengthens abdominal muscles and improves circulation, balance and coordination.

The Rules

Only small bounces

keep your bottom or knees on the ball

Tuck your ball in when you get up

What happens if the rules are forgotten?

Warning

Lose the ball for the period

Lose the ball for the day

Choice

Choice is important. Sometimes students ask to sit on a chair. They may just need a

 break from the posture required to sit on a stability ball. 

Students were introduced to the stability balls a few 

months into the school year.

Below is a link to a USA Today article about another classroom with stability balls.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-03-07-class-chairs_N.htm

Images from the classroom

3 D Math

    Earth Day Buddies

First Graders Crack Me Up!

Four Seasons Tree

Thoughts on Teaching

Every classroom needs to be a safe place for children to grow and learn.

 A classroom should be a place where students learn to be confident, persistent, empathetic, and responsible citizens of our learning community.  In order to establish the necessary supportive and respectful relationship the students and I work together establishing norms from the beginning of the year. Incorporating classroom meetings as a basis for teaching collaborative problem solving skills is also is a part of establishing a positive community. This collaboration allows students the opportunity to learn from each other, understanding that every person within the community has valuable ideas.  I share myself and my culture with the students and encourage them do the same. Understanding each other’s backgrounds and cultures helps students to become culturally responsive. I take time to reflect on my own preconceptions and am open to new ways of thinking, while encouraging my students to do the same.

I am a facilitator of learning who possesses knowledge -not the keeper of knowledge.

Traditional pedagogical teaching puts the teacher in the front of the room bestowing knowledge upon their students. I prefer to guide students to become involved in their own learning. My classroom is a place where subjects are introduced and ideas are welcome.  I choose to lead my learners to find new understanding within themselves, to stimulate thinking, exploration, and connections. It is my responsibility to know what knowledge and experiences my students bring to the table. Through ongoing assessment, I can provide the scaffolding that they need to be successful in reaching our learning goals. I believe that this type of learning is enduring, meaningful, and authentic.