Slice of Life: OLW final thoughts on my quest

Last Saturday, I wrote a celebration post about choosing to find JOY in little moments of everyday.  "As I was thinking about this post, I was wavering from a Slice of Life and celebration.  Slicing helps me think about the whole picture which isn't always easy, and celebrations help me look inside the whole picture to find the joy."  This thought received several comments, and I have been reflecting about the contrast between celebrating and slicking. Slicing is a much more difficult post for me to write.  Thinking deeply is not a choice that I always want to make, and a slice requires difficult reflection and often I'm hesitant to publish it.

Is it possible to fight with your OLW word? I would say my OLW (quest) and I had several battles throughout 2016.. I was constantly asking why is this my word? I was uncomfortable with my word.  In August when I invited 27 learners into their classroom, I realized quickly that this school year was going to be unique. There have been several challenges that I have encouraged my learners through this year. To be honest I started to list the challenges, and I decided that their quests is their story to share. I deleted those statements. We’ve been on a quest for almost four months, and the path has been crooked with road bumps along the way; however, I celebrate all their learning as we continue to grow on our quest to become better and stronger learners as well as stronger citizens within our classroom and outside in the community. 

2016 is creeping to a close. Christmas vacation is right around the corner reminding me that there is a chance to take a break and rejuvenate. I always anticipate the time with our children as we continue to build more holiday memories in Charleston, South Carolina. I hope everyone has a special holiday season with their family. As the years roll on, I realize the true gift of the season is time spent with my family and a chance to breathe deeply. Thank you for slicing along with me. 

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Quest: Shift #1

Summer is my time to shift into longer leisurely mornings, more time on the dock to read or look at the clouds reflection in our pond, travel to places we've never visited and even back to some of our favorite locations.  But I am constantly on a quest to reflect and think about what shifts I am going to make in my classroom.  I think it's almost impossible to turn off my teacher brain in the summer.  Even in Key West, I was snapping photos that I will use this year in word work and science.  The clock is ticking two weeks left of my summer and we have one more excursion which I think will be the most fun. Spending next week taking our daughter back to Charleston and helping her set up her new classroom and "watch" her move to a new place will be a highlight of our summer.  I have to visualize where she is when we start again our daily phone calls after school.  It's never easy to say goodbye, but we are always connected.

FIRST SHIFT:  Student Ownership toward Independence
I've always thought I did pretty well with this concept. I typically allow long enough wait time. Students have constant choice in their writing and JR books.  Last year, I allowed for almost totally free open seating. I believed I had this idea under control.  However, through several opportunities this summer, I realized there are other opportunities for me to shift ownership.

• Starting the fist day of school, I'm not making name tags, and I am not assigning seats. Students are going to choose where they want their home base to be for the year. This will not be where they are required to sit but where their supplies will live. The extra supplies will live in large gallon Ziploc baggies in a tub so if they need something they can go shopping in the storage cabinets.
• I am going to have them create their own name tag which will be my first opportunity to learn about them.  I have crated my own with icons around it that tell a little bit about me.  My name tag will include books, flowers, map, stick figure 4 person family, OSU football, and a dictionary.  Nothing elaborate which will not only model for them but also send a message that we are all unique but similar.  I imagine playing the game if you have ---- then move to the north side of the room. 
• Sending the message that we are all learners the first day of school will be an important message.  Sharing what we learned over the summer will introduce inquiry and curiosity. I envision a sentence strip with a new fact.  Same idea how are they similar & different. Could we compare or contrast our new learning.  

The first day/week is going to look very different for me. It won't be similar to the other 27 first days of school.  I'm excited about these shifts and there are more to come and I will be posting them.  Happy Sunday! 

Slice of Life: Summer Learning on a Quest

It's Tuesday and time to reflect on my Slice of Life.  It's the last day of May and it's time to reflect on my OLW: quest.  There are only five days of school left.  I will have completed my 28 year of teaching. With all of these wrapped into a little package, it's time to launch into my summer quest. 

This summer is going to be different for me.  It's not all going to be all about professional learning. I am anxious to be on a quest for reflection time.  I enjoy taking the time for thinking about what went well during the school year although I don't spend a lot of time on that to be honest. Last summer everything centered around math workshop. What did the standards mean? How can workshop become a standard and not an isolation? I focused on these concepts throughout the year and I am pleased at the shifts I made in math. I am typically thinking about the glitches during the school year or looking back in my notebook to read some comments that I have left for myself so I don't forget what I need to focus on.  This summer I want to focus on 

• talk in my classroom - What does it look like? Sound like? Most importantly how can I not be in charge of talk?  How do I shift ownership of talk?
• inquiry:  How can I build more inquiry into every subject?  I've always had a sense of wonder in my classroom; however, I am thinking more deeply about how can questioning be an integral part of all subject areas? 

I'm excited to slice, reflect and celebrate the last day of the month.  I appreciate all the Slicers and their comments.  The blogging community is an integral part of my learning, and I'm excited to continue this summer.  

Celebration: Lemonade is a Quest

II’ve been writing this post for the past week. Each day as my students prepare to open for business. I am so proud of each student as they step up to create posters, commercials, announcements along with counting raffle tickets.  To be honest, I rarely needed to step in and use my "teacher talk."  Realizing it's the end of the month again, I've been thinking about my OLW: quest. I appreciate the reminder to focus on the positive throughout the week in both my personal and school life.  Thanks to Ruth for the reminders to celebrate weekly.  

Our lemonade stand is my celebration. OMG (is that allowed in the blogging world?) it has been an amazing journey. Thursday we had our last meeting with principal.  I couldn’t have been prouder as every student shook his hand and thanked him for coming in today. The schedule is set after a zillion revisions including selling to our preschool unit to the supplies; which are loaded on the table. With this past week being state testing there was a rainbow in the afternoon as they finalized the plans for our stand which is opening this Tuesday and Thursday.

It’s been a “quest” for me although one without a road map.  I wasn’t sure several times what the class vote would be when making huge decisions. Sitting back and listening not adding my voice to the conversation wasn’t easy; however I am thankful that I did.  I have received several parent emails expressing how much their child is enjoying the process.  It’s so much fun when students enter the classroom saying, “Only four more days until we open for business.”  It’s been an amazing