Connected from the Start - A Review

I have learned the power of connecting through my involvement on Twitter.  This "social media" site has transformed my reading, learning, and teaching.  My colleagues on Twitter have inspired me to take even more risks, stand up for what I believe in, and expand my thinking.  This has spilled over into my classroom, and I strive to provide these same opportunities for my first graders. But I am still learning and figuring out how to make it happen!

Connected from the Start: Global Learning in the Primary Grades
by Kathy Cassidy, Published by PLP Network

A new book was released in the past week that affirmed much of what I am already doing and has motivated me to do more. It will absolutely need to be on your list of "must read" books! Connected from the Start: Global Learning in the Primary Grades was written by Kathy Cassidy of Moose Jaw, SK, Canada. I am not kidding when I tell you to stop what you're doing and head over to the PLP Network site to download it!

As I've written about before, we have somewhat limited technology access at my school. Kathy's insights have pushed me to continue to seek out opportunities and make the most of what we do have. She shares her journey with all of its trials and successes, as well as many of the tools she has used to help her students get connected.

What resonated with me throughout the book was Kathy's idea of teaching young learners safety and etiquette for being digital learners right from the start. Instead of limiting their access and connections, we have to assume they are already participating in these online communities. It's important to teach them safe ways of being a part of a global society and model appropriate ways of interacting.

For those who don't consider themselves "tech-savvy," Kathy breaks down her message into easy-to-read and easy-to-manage directions to help you move forward. She will walk you through everything from Skype to blogging. There are lots of links and videos that add to her message and illustrate her students' learning. There was very much an "If I can do it, you can do it" feel to the book, so don't be afraid to jump in!

I've been fortunate to have a connection with Kathy through our weekly #1stchat on Twitter. She is a regular contributor who joins in the conversation, asks important questions, and shares her thinking.  I very easily could have finished reading her book in one sitting, but just like our weekly chats, my brain was on fire and I had to pause to let some of it simmer down. Since I did plow through the book on my first reading, I do plan on returning to it to reread and savor what Kathy offers us. I will also be recommending it to my colleagues (and anyone else who will listen!)

I'm excited to chat with others who have read Kathy's book to compare notes and ideas! It's a book that I know will have a profound impact on teachers.


My review, submitted to PLP Network's site:
"Kathy Cassidy's newly released e-book is an absolute must-read for elementary educators. This media-rich book is filled with practical tips, years of experience, and honest writing from a teacher's perspective. She opens teachers' eyes while calming their fears about seamlessly integrating technology into classrooms, even in the earliest grades. Authentic learning is the focus of her work, and she inspires us to do more with whatever we have. This is a book you won't want to miss!'"  

Access - Slice of Life

It's an exciting time to be an educator in my district! We are moving forward in so many ways and are implementing new ways of helping our students to achieve in greater capacities. As we work our way through this sometimes overwhelming process, I'm finding that many of us are using the excuse of "not having access to technology" as a way to justify keeping our years-old routines. For a long time, I have been one of those people. Up until recently.

In my classroom, I have one desktop computer and (as of last week) a built-in LCD projector. And yet...

We have a class blog.
My kids have their own individual KidBlogs.
We connect with other classes through our Twitter account.
We've Skyped with an author.
We use Biblionasium as one way to keep track of our reading.
We use the Today's Meet site as a means of sharing our thinking.
We use digital cameras to take pictures of our work and show our thinking.


We're making it happen. I've taken advantage of what we have in our classroom as well as our computer labs which sit empty for much of the day. Would we love to have access to more tech tools? Well, of course! But we are making things happen with what we do have.

Because my own learning and connecting has changed dramatically in recent years, I know the power of being connected. I strive to provide these opportunities for my first graders, in ways that are "safe" and appropriate for them. I am very fortunate to have an amazing network of educators at my fingertips through Twitter which makes it easier for us to connect with other classes.

I know that I have a lot to learn and that there is so much more I could/should/will be doing... but it's a start.

Writing - Slice of Life

Thanks to Ruth and Stacey from the Two Writing Teachers blog
for hosting the Slice of Life Challenge!

I fully understand, appreciate, and agree with how important it is for us to share our reading and writing lives with our students. By walking into our classroom, I think anyone can see how much I/we value reading! But I can't always say the same about writing.

Yes, I value writing. Yes, I write. Yes, my first graders write. But while I share a lot about my reading life, I hesitate to share my writing life with my students. But I find that is changing.

Because of our class blog and this blog, I find myself sharing more with my students about my struggles and joys with writing. I talked with them about the Slice of Life challenge last month and shared some of what I had written.

Kelly Gallagher says we should be writing in front of our students. A lot. It's hard, but kids need to see that. Kids need to see us struggling and finding our way through it. As I was working with a group today during our intervention time, I put this into practice.

We had read the book Dogku by Andrew Clements and were figuring out what haiku poetry is all about. We learned the 5-7-5 syllable pattern and counted syllables from pages of the book. And then... I wrote this in front of the kids.

Recommendations.

We ask our friends to help us

Choose new books to read.

I explained how the first word had jumped out at me from across the room, off of a chart many of them had commented on yesterday. I asked for their help in making sure I'd followed the 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Since these were students from 5 different first grade classrooms, we talked about how book recommendations are a huge part of our reading lives in our classroom. And I made sure to tell them how shocked I was to have written my first haiku this easily!

If I want my students to know I am a fellow reader and writer in the classroom, I have to be willing to take the same risks I am asking them to take. I have to be willing to share freely and listen carefully. Today was a step in the right direction!

Celebrating - Slice of Life #31

Whew!! We made it!! It's the last day of March, and I have successfully written each and every day this month. Here's where I've been...

Word cloud made with WordItOut

During this year's challenge, I realized a few things about myself as a writer.


*I still don't think I'm a very good writer (but I'm willing to bet a lot of folks feel that way!) However, I do think my "voice" comes through when I write.

*When I can't find the words, I turn to free form poetry to get me through it. I never thought I'd say I write poetry!!

*You might not know this about me (wink, wink) but I do have strong opinions sometimes. I hesitate to share these in my writing and am still trying to figure out why.

*Unlike others, I don't always feel like writing about something helps me sort it out in my head. Occasionally, it does, but more often, it brings up more questions. That's not always a bad thing!

*I'm not a "notebook writer." I have lots and lots of great notebooks and continue to buy more... but I don't write in them. Even if I have to jot myself a reminder note, I turn to my devices... my phone, my iPad, my computer. This is interesting as I tend to remember things better if I physically write them instead of typing them!


Last year, I intended to keep up with the weekly Slice challenge that Stacey and Ruth offer from the Two Writing Teachers blog. That didn't happen so much. I would like to see myself writing more regularly throughout the year, so I'm going to attempt to connect to their weekly Slice post! Thanks to both of them for offering this challenge and to all of the wonderful people who have commented and inspired me along the way!

Performing - Slice of Life #30

When we return from Spring Break on Monday, we have 9 weeks left. Part of that 9 weeks will be spent planning and practicing for our end-of-the-year performance. And my brain is hurting just thinking about it. First, let's back up for a moment...

The Ancient History

During my first year of teaching, we spent HOURS every day in late April and May practicing The Wizard of Oz with our first graders. I am not exaggerating. HOURS. Daily. There were costumes and parts and sets and props. There were lines to memorize and songs to sing. And it was exhausting.

When our first grade team grew, we no longer had the space to include all first graders on stage at one time for The Wizard of Oz. So we switched to performing The Wackadoo Zoo. We spent HOURS every day in late April and early May practicing. There were costumes and parts and sets and props. There were lines to memorize and songs to sing. And it was exhausting.

After The Wackadoo Zoo, we realized it was just too much for us and for the kids, so we began exploring other options. We found a butterfly play in one of our resource books and rewrote it so there were just enough parts for one class. Each first grade class practiced and performed in our own classrooms. We kept it this way for years. Eventually, we also added on The ABCs of First Grade to remember and share things from our year together.

Years later, I found myself still dreading April and May. It would be time to start handing out lines and spending hours practicing. I. Just. Couldn't. Do. It. Most of my teammates still do the butterfly play; a few have changed it up and do a different play/Readers' Theater on careers. But I wanted ours to be more of a celebration of reading, and so...

The Recent History

I talked to friends at one of our sister schools and found out they do a Literacy Luncheon. Families come in on one of two days and eat lunch in the classroom with their first grader. I decided to combine this with the ABCs of First Grade and a few simple Reader's Theater scripts. We added a few of our favorite songs. And that was that. But I had chosen the Reader's Theaters, I had written the ABCs script (after getting their ideas and  input,) and it still just didn't feel right to me.

Making History

That brings us to the "now." Now what? My classes have done the Literacy Luncheon/mini-performance for a few years now. I plan to keep the Literacy Luncheon. While they're eating, families read books and make lists of their favorite books to hang in the hallway beside the lists my first graders have made on their own. Last year, I used their lists to create a possible summer reading list for them. I'd like to keep that part of it. 

But I'm torn on what to do with the performance portion! After reading Debbie Miller's 2nd edition of Reading with Meaning, I'm toying with the idea of having my first graders share the poetry they'll be writing this month. She talks about a coffeehouse poetry type of event. And we could still sing our favorite songs from our year together...

Now what?

It's an unwritten expectation in first grade that we do this "performance" at the end of our year together. I just have to figure out what that will look like for us.

So, what do you think? Do you have any end-of-the-year celebrations? Do your kids "perform"? What could we do that would come from my kids? I'd love to hear from you!! I'll also be asking my kids these same questions as we move forward.

Cheez Whiz - Slice of Life #29

Here it is, 25 minutes before today's cut-off for submitting Slices. I'm rushing to type some words on the page so I can continue attempting to write something, anything, every day this month. I had great plans for spending the afternoon with my niece and then coming home to write. And then my mom mumbles, "Well, you know... I couldn't find Cheez Whiz yesterday at the Jewel."

Ugh.

Now she didn't say it. And I know she would never ask. But I picked up on the implied meaning. I inferred what it really meant for me. And so, at 8:30 tonight, as we were leaving my sister's house, I knew what I had to do.

Three stores and two towns later, I'm pleased to say my mom now has two bottles of Cheez Whiz for the traditional Green Rice for our family's Easter dinner.

And with 18 minutes to spare, I've written a quick Slice about my day and will happily be able to continue my writing streak! 

Delirious - Slice of Life #28

Driving

For eleven hours

Anticipating

What awaits us

Hurrying

To see her

Speeding

As our excitement grows

Squealing

From inside her house

Smiling

When her face shows pure joy

Delirious

To finally see each other again

After a long 5 days.

********************************************************

We're home after a short trip, but it was the longest period of time that my mom and I had gone without seeing my niece. I laughed as we walked in and she growled at us. Apparently, she didn't like being away from us either. It brought tears to my eyes to see the joy in that little girl's eyes as she grabbed onto her Nana's neck and hugged her over and over. Playing with poetry this morning, hoping that it captures a little bit of this experience.